Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-14

New England fairs. The common
farm grains are also neglected. Al
some New England fairs this year
'here was not a single exhibit or gram
o.her IMAM corn and mighty poor
showing or that. Now these depart
''ieii'" are worthy of great deVeiop-
i'ie'''' concerning livestock. there Is
one common difficulty in both east ana
west possibly little more notable III
the east, owing to the limited area
represented, that is that the exhibitors
Oh livestock at the various fairs are in
many cases the same Many good
heroS are not represented because the
owner KNOWS that certain othtf
s,ochihah. with animals of perhaps
more merit. is sure to be there and
take me first prize Non-exhibitors
III question do not care to play
second fiddle" and therefore keep
'heif STOCK away from the show en-
t1rely.
anyone who has visited large
NUMBER OF the livestock shows. includ
ii5 me International at Chicago the
"orlu Ialls and the leading state
lalf. Is impressed with this same fact
1t IS problem which is very hard 4"
solve and some even uuestion whether
it is necessary to solve it at all. The
TACT remains however that extent of
our livestock displays could be greatly
iiitrcaSed III the premiums are so
pidccu us TO assure every exhibitor of
iiaElnS Il fair chance This may be
accomplished by offering premiums
iof EXHIBITS from certain territories
ms VIII eliminate the breeder from
another state ANA will give the local
man the preference The manner of
displaying farm crops is also worthy
ol much more study on the part of
the superintendent of these depart
iieitS. AL present considerable lea
way is gwen to exhibitors in this re-
spcct and they are practically allowed
10 place their products as they choose
ne result IS often to the disadvantage
oil the smaller exhibitors and unsatis-
factory as Il whole The grouping Of
pr"oucls OF Il certain kind together
can not be too strongly Recommended,
while an individuals exhibit may look
well with all his products assembled
together, the crop display as whole
Will be much benefited il certain
crops are given certain places There
is another point in favor of this
method which is being followed at
several western fairs ana in one or
wv" cases in New England ana that
Is That the educational value of the
displays is greatly increased"
Mr.. Marquis touched very intcIli
gently upon the moral features of y
itir ana was very plain regarding
some OF the socalled entertainments
usually found at New England fairs
ON this line Mr.. Marquis said:
The entertainment features of orr
ialrs present perhaps y greater subject
nor controversy than any other one
TOPIC. The fact that many fairs have
become degraded into mere vaudeville
SHOWS has had an inHuence in provoke
ihS many managers to state that there
can not be IL successful fair without
THESE adJunctS. No statement was
further from the truth provided con-
dltlonS are we'll kept in mind. II has
been 50 easy for fair managers to
Dflhg their income up to Il good work
ing to'al by selling display rights to
iahirs OF various sorts. that MANY of
u"iii are not disposed to give up these
sources OF income quietly.
III we will accept the evidence how
ever the experiences of successful
lairS. both in New England and the
west prove beyond a doubt that
every AlnG OF questionable. immoral
ana IL hight Saudy nature NAV 10 dis
pehsed with to the ultimate benefit of
everyone concerned. 7 desire narticu-
ariy L" call the attention of the
it"pn I" the success attained at the
concord state fair this wear II wac
me writer's privilege to visit that f,i,.
III 1903 and again in 1906. Tho ar
terence III the tone and moral of tbc
ialf was remarkable In 100; ,uIo.r
cheap ana positively degraded shou..
we're 10 De seen. This y.ar pr,c,i..lI,.
aii OF these had disappcared ana vii,
me exception Of one or two so-co1rn,I
" ''idctlohS which had some Hrbt
uf'S. IN" fair was of the highest
"iucf' YET the management cE,in.d
NE iaif 4 success in every particular
me visitors seemed just as wen s,tis
i'u una those Of the critical turu nr
.i'ihn were pleased much better ,h.,,
III me former years"