The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-08-14
FAIR SPIRIT SPREADING.
Movement for Agricultural Uplift
Steadily Expanding
By HERMAN J. sEIFERRH in Times

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Fairs are farm feasts, they typify
plenty, they celebrate victory, they
are progressive reunions and patriotic
rallies. They are good for the men,
the women and the children of the
farm, inspiring them to work and to
work together, instilhng pride in their
section and its possibilities and
achievements, furnishing the impetus
of comparison and friendly rivalry,
broadening their vision and knowl-
edge, holding out the incentive of re-
ward OF labor and learning how, and
rubbing off the rough edges by con-
tact with the world of action and the,
common touch that is the worlds hui
manizing factor.
They are as useful for the business
man, whom they impress with the inn
portanee of agriculture and with his
duty to cooperate with the interests
of the farm folk. If he is only enlist
ed by the selfish argument, If he con-
tributes to prizes and attractions
merely because of the outlook of
drawing a large crowd to which he
can dispose Of enough merchandise to
make his outlay profitable, he is miss
ing half his chance to be of benefit
and to benefit himself. By establish
ing the stronger bond Of mutual striv
ing for the general good he can make
the fair the elimination of and tri-
butte to a prosperous year in which the
farmer and his home have become
places of larger gain and content and
have, in turn, built business upon a
more solid and satisfactory founda-
ton, with both realizing a finer citi-
zenship reflected in the improvement
of roads and schools, living and civic
Iconditions, and prompt response to
every call to broaden and heighten
Icommunal welfare.
| The attention and investment of
capital will be attracted, industrial ac-
tivity induced, transportation facili-
ties secured with less urging, values
enhanced and immigration assured at
| less advertising cost.
The fairs also afford ready and easy
means to the cities and towns to
bridge the misunderstanding and the
Ijealousies which have too long part
| ed them and prevented them from
harmonious combination for the
| grander commonwealth. They are al
so the expedient most potent to en-
! able the city women to vitallze the
wish and hope to clasp hands with
their country sisters, prove the sim
cerity Of their intent by roofing deep
the social side which counts most and
which will yield the ardent alliance
which will attain the educational and
harvest that will cheaper
living in crowded centers and open
| the door to finer comfort and fuller
opportunity to the families on the
/ farms.
It will not require much investiga-
ton to ascertain that the most adj
i vaneed sections have the best fairs,
or, to put it the other way with equal
! truth, the best fairs illustrate the
most extensive advance made by the
sections around them. In the richest
farm states eacn farm county has its
fair and considers that fair part Of
its years operations.
/ The Louisiana parishes have only
begun to develope into modern diver
i sifed farm areas, and the fair move
ment is consequently young. The
i spread of the fairs is one of the mosi
i lconvincing and encouraging signs fol
/ the future. With the single croI
| system still keeping the farmers in &
/ groove, with bankers and merchants
i Just beginning to back the newborn
spirit, with the slow march of ticl
eradication keeping back the rush 0.
{ champion cattle from all over tht
| country the development in Louisi
J ana farming has nevertheless beer
nothing short Of marvellous. Th'
, proof of this is furnished by the ex
Il pansion of the fairs. Less than fiv,
$ years ago there were scarcely tha
q number Of fairs. Now there ar
: twenty-nine, including the splendi
! finale at Shreveport.
And these fairs will be worth look
; ing at. There will be crops and cat
, tie matchless in the land. The cour
: try people, merchants and farmers
: will be there. 1t will pay the cite
81 to have comprehensive exhibits an
representative citizens at all of then
and it will pay the city women to G
: along and assist in sealing the con
pact of cooperation for all time I
;, come.