The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-01
A BIG COMPLIMENT
The Breeders Gazette.
Chicago, Dec. "a, 1908.

chicago, DSC. u, 10Oc'
To the Editor Ocala Banner:
Excuse me while I smile. 1t IS I'M
polite to laugh at people, but ! am
prinning at the residents Of Marion
county. Florida: and I am not afraid
n tell them so. 1t is difficult to get
outside of your shell and look at the
shell. Frequently people on the out
side know you better than yon 10
yourself.
This is no philosophical disquisI-
+ion am merely trying to tell you .
how I am laughing at your efforts 10
hold q county fair You thought you
could not do it. I knew you could |
And hence 7 am smiling at your as
tonished attempts to pinch yourselves
to. he sure that you really did hold
that great fair!
7 have read about it in the Banner
and nv correspondents have written
me While at Woodmar last winter
= urged through your columns the re-
2 establishment of your county fair, and
= 7 earnestly urged it on my friends.
The philosophy Of fairs is readily I'M
j. darstood. There are many good
+ things in this world lost by not ask
l. inc for them. There is no way of d.
|. recting public attention to natural re-
It sources so good as an exhibition Oh
p them Talk is good-verbal, written
nrin+ed-but the skeptiCism Of the
d twentieth century demands a delivery
E. of the goods. A fair makes SUCH De
liverv-palpabIe, impressive, conclu
ID siva That was the kind of fair yor
is recently held.
In this matter I speak as one having
n somewhat of authority. I have seel
ne more of the great agricultural eXhlol
at rions in America the past quarter o
e. = century than any other man. l haV
studied them more closely. The lv
of stock cIassifcations Of the two world
he fairs have passed under my eye Dc
a fore publication by the authorities.
ID think I may thus qualify as a Wltnes
er- as to the value of agricultural fairs.
On AS an investor, in a small way
ed Florida land, and hOme-Duider'
only for a limited residence, am L
ed tanselv interested in the agricultur'
all davaIonment of Marion county.
the have seen its possibilities in crops al
art live stock. I know the county co
+ains farmers Of vast initiative al
las, enterprise. I know that 1T contain
Dm- live stock breeders as disinterest
the and devoted, and as successful as ey
were pioneer improvers OF nau
I'm stock in any country. The aggres
sta ton of the products of these succe
in. full men in soil culture and amin
one breeding brought together at Il
and mot only serves notice on the pub
nall hut stimulates and encourages mig
was lily those thus united in comm
cause.
And now for a Florida state fair
Ocala It may need to come thro'
a central Florida or mid-Florida
ousy trict fair, but the people OF MIDI
'ther county can get it if they will go
, it's after it. They can get it because t
nj have within the borders Of MAI
held county and counties adjacent an
w of ceuent basis of exhibits Of all va
one ties. and they have central locat
rejoice in your triumph.
rman regret thet I could not have contrl
and's cd TO il in a small way and have
, the sonaIly enjoyed it.
And you will please pardon
states while I continue to smile at
7 vic amazement over your own del
,, and stfated merits.
E ono w. R. GOODWI
G list -.