Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-20

in the Armory. This consisted of hot
| coffee, beans, brown and white bread
| with pickles and other little fiXingS. 1t
| was not elaborate at all but substantial
| The promoters of the fair contracted
| with the Winslow Grange to furnish
| this dinner SO it was all that could be
| desired and both sides got a good trade
Jolly good cheer reigned supreme at
! the tables and it was a delightful meal.
The members of the Grange who had
charge had the time of their lives sup
plying the wants of every one but they
did it and the way they hustled was a
! caution. 1t was a happy crowd to
serve and the hour or so spent at the
| tables was among the most pleasant of
| the whole day.
! In the afternoon there was larger
| attendance than in the forenoon and
! the program proved to be all that mad
been anticipated-bright. instructive
and interesting with lots of good IDEAS.
(, Halls orchestra was present to furnish
music and this was very much enjoyed.
The afternoon session was after the
/ style of the farmers institutes that are
being held all over the State and Com
! missioner Gilman presidedS The gen
! eral subject was the management OF
agricultural fairs.
| Professor Feick of Connecticut was
, introduced as the first speaker and had
| for his subject Should the Educatlonal
Feature of Fairs be Made Mare Prom
!, inent." Education, he said, was the
chief aim at the very start and most
! encouraged by those most interested IN
/ fairs. State aid was first sought on the
/ educational feature basis and was given
for the general betterment of the State
as a whole and not because any one
farmer could make a penny where he
had only made half penny before.
He thought that judgment for awards
are TOO often influenced by prejudice
He thought the judges should be as
interested persons from some other
county or state and that their Judgment
should be final and their word taken
as law. ~
! IJe considered the fair as an object
lesson as very valuable, but that one
great trouble is that people do not see
right and do not see what is nearest.
! He believed that the fair should do
q great deal to encourage the young
people. as they are soon to be in charge.
The fair could do much to stem the tlde
from the farm to the city. premiums
might be offered for the best EXHIBITS
of wild flowers, weeds, injurious IN
sects, the best plot of corn and many
other things.
He thought that it would be better
plan to offer prizes for the best acre OF
corn as shown by carefully compiled
r<N,, lrIc.1 ,N1 10
may be selected from large quantity.
The record of a dairy COW carefully and
honestly kept, he believed would be
more valuable than a judgment based
on widely varying standards
In closing he stated that he believed
that by giving more prominence to the
educational features the fair might be
made a much greater benefit to all
classes.
Dr.. G. M. Twitchell, editor of the
Maine Farmer, was then called upon
He had not expected to speak and was
allowed to choose his own subject. He
told some neat little stories to illus
trate his position. He believed that
the fairs had drifted too far away from
the fundamental principles-the pro-
motion of agriculture and the advance
ment of mechanics. 1t is the era of
sharper. keener insight and expert
knowledge in every calling. This can
be secured by friendly close COMPETE
ton. He thought every judge should
remain on the grounds at least half
day to instruct and confer with ex-
hibitors. Much of the judging should
!, be done in public where the judges can
answer questions and give reasons for
their Judgments. Judges who are not
capable of giving their reasons for
Judgment are not fit to be judges n
The fairs of the future he believed
must stimulate competition and help
. to a better education so that the ex-
hibitors can go home seeing more and
better able to solve the problems that
! are constantly arising
4 DR.. Smead of New York, was next
introduced to discuss the subject "In
What Way Should the Agricultural
Fair Encourage Horse Racing?" He
thought that New York might be called
the Empire State on account Of the
abundance of agricultural horse trots
although there are some good. genuine
: fairs. He said he has seen resources
here in Maine that New York woul6
tbe proud Of. He had never seen an,