The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-05-09
THE BENEFITS OF PARISH FAIRS.

Our forefathers undoubtedly found the
exchange of ideas and observation of the
results of others methods just as helpful
as we find them to-day. Meetings with
such objects in view were common in
England in the sixteenth century. Royal
approval was sought before holding them,
and laws governing them were part of the
code. France, Germany, Russia and even
India fostered this idea. The fair became
an established custom long before our an
cestors immigrated to America, and it was
therefore thing to be taken up again SO
soon as the hard conditions of pioneer life
permitted.
The desire for information and the wish
to initiate others achievements is in
grained in our nature, especially along the
lines of mans daily avocation. Nothing,
for agricultural communities, can take the
place of our annual fair as spur to
greater efforts and more whole souled in
terest. Large sums of money are ex-
pended by nations and states to enable the
teaching, by object lessons, of the best
methods: to stimulate the peoples
thoughts along the line of discoveries and
betterment of ways and means of making
their products the best possible; to Tighten
the labor of doing their work, and creating
real interest to relieve that work of its
drudgery.
Why should they not spend money in
such fashion? since on the farmer and
what he produces depends the prosperity
of the country. To be parsimonious about
such spending would be like killing the
goose that laid the golden egg. Progress
sive representatives of trade in large cities
are the prime movers in getting these ap-
preparations, so convinced are they of the
Importance to the whole nation of the
farmers success. Many other occupations
would be glad of such opportunities as are
given the farmer, but no such Importance
is relatively attached to any other branch
of trade as is bestowed on agricultural
problems. How are we, as farmers, to i'm
prove our condition if we don't follow the
example of the ages and meet for the ex-
change of helpful ideas and plans? We
can't all go to Jamestown, or even to the
State Fair, but we can all attend our own
Fair, in our own parish, and help our
selves, our children and our neighbors.
The proper place for a parish fair is in
the center of the most enterprising com
munity. This, of course, is the result OF
a natural law of selection, depending on
the public spirit of the citizens. These
men should be assisted by every one to
the extreme limit of their ability. The
benefits are far reaching and the results
belong to us all. The better showing we
make ourselves and the more interest we
manifest the greater the interest shown us
The system of fairs inaugurated in con.
nection with the State Fair is one Of the
finest schemes in the line of such achieve.
ments and will do much to bring about al
improved condition of our State as an ag.
ricultural section. It is generally con.
!. ceded that teaching is best done by objec
lessons. Here we have the opportunity t.
compare one mans work with that O
another. We get the results of the bes
study and effort by the brainiest mel
among our own people, and of new meth
: DDS tried for our benefit by the officers 0
the State and Nation.
A young country boy followed a faki
through the Agricultural Hall Of the Lou
isiana Purchase Exposition at st. Louis
He couldn't see anything except the brigh
trinket in the fakir's hand. His com
: panion asked him why he didn't stop an
:. look at the farm produce. He replied
n 80 pshaw! | see those things every da
e in the week." The boy came from shee
raising country His friend called his at
s tention to some wool from New Zealand
: In five minutes that boys eyes were nearl
popping out of his head with surprise an
= wonder, and he became a student fror
that time on. This also proves the oil
saying None SO blind as those VIII
: 'front.' see. l.. c. B.