The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-01-31

EDiroR oT MAgcHEsrER JouRSAL: -
Dear Sir,
W. learn al the meeting 81 the d.
rccson u lhe Baiienkill Fair tia,
many changes we're made 10 better Il.
They voted 10 make an association
track. which will add largely % IL at
fractions. People win Dow take nm IN.
tercsi 10 The races, knowing, under the
rules, they cannot DE ''iroitcd in the
baru.n They know Mr.. RobInson's
artistic taste will make Floral Hall nm
Eden. They know the superintond-
enis Of the different divisions will do
their utmost 10 see that everything is
done Tor the good o. the fair. Bot one
thing they have left out, and that Is
the people. We want 10 call the aiten'
ton Of the directors 10 the first years
Of our fair, when We have had close 10
5000 present in day; when the grounds
were literally packedi when the va
can, 10, fronting the grand stand was
filled with teams; when parties Of
neigbbors and friends and relatives
from diferen, towns gathered together
for sor, Of reunion, and il extended
from the grand stand nearly TO the
horse barn whore the troiters are kept.
In those days hardly man, woman or
child stayed a, home in the surround
ing towns. The roads north, south,
cas-, and ives, were lined with teams
the railroad brought car load after ear
load; everybody wanted TO get there,
and all were in hurry. The people
all looked forward TO the fair, at which
time they gave themselves up 10 recre-
ation. They could come TO the fair,
stay while, go out IL they chose, geta
return check and come back as they
chose. They were treated like honest
men and women.
Finally a change came. An edict
went forth that, because somebody
might lei friend go back on his
check, henceforth no more checks
would be given. And what was the
result People stopped coming. The
whole constituency Of the fair was
treated as though dishonest; as though
each one woalh take the advantage
and steal in. And now instead Of see
ing our roads lined with teams going
with the families, they sec only now
and then a struggling team, and driv-
ing MS il they did not care whether they
got there or not At our last fair, when
the weather was perfect, il would give
man a aft Of the blnes,n he would
be NO lonesome. Now there was from
one 10 two thousand less people pres.
eni than in the olden days when all
were treated rs II they were honest,
Suppose these had beonpresent. Would
not the multitude have been bright
and cheeryi They would have been
happier to have seen each other
and seen the old time crowd than any
thing else. The writer has been among
the people quite a bit, and you hear
like this; "Tbe people this way don't
care for the fair any more, that check
business has been bad And this
same story you hear wherever you go.
II is earnestly 10 be hoped that at
The next meeting Of the directors they
viii reconsider that vote, and, for the
success OF the fair, decide 10 give re-
turn checks, and so convince the peo-
pie that the fair is for the whoie people.
Treat the people as honest and they
will be honest. When this il done and
the people see an inclination to lib
eral, fair management, with one mind
they will take hold aud help the direc-
tors 10 recover our lost prestige, and
will take pride in making our fair
second 10 none, SFocKHoLDER.