Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-08-18
The Fair Is Next Week.

Some seventy or more years ago few
leading farmers of this county organized
what they called in great big letters THE
Agricultural Society Of Montgomery Coun-
w." with the object of improving the agri-
cultural condition Of this county. Without
money. without great outcry. without
any help from any outside source, they
met quarterly and talked over the crop
prospects and how to raise better and big
DER crops and how to improve the pros
perity of the county. They made no ap-
pearance before the county court to ask
for an appropriation of public funds to
boost the business, but in small way
every man pushed on his own hook, but all
pushed in the same direction. After a
wear or so Of work, they decided to hold
an exhibition to show what they had done.
This was held on the Court House green
in a small tent. and prominent men adj
dressed the assemblaee. Such men as
Allan Bowie Davis. Joseph II. Bradley.
Richard ]. Bowie and many Others were
prominent in the doings Of those days.
and they gave their personal attention to
making the affair success. From TINS
has grown the Fair Of the present day.
To the few now living who saw them, the
memories Of the old Fair. held first at the
Court House and afterward in the grove
near the present grounds. far surpass the
actualities Of the present day. The races
on the straight course down the city road
and the Georgetown pike bear no COMPARE
son with those on the modern circle The
exhibitions Of stock were Of far more in
terest TO the spectator. The garden prod
nets. CROWN from hOme-raised seeds. were
of kinds and sizes now unknown, but they
were sown by near neighbors and the prize
was what they wanted. not the money.
In fact. many Fairs were held at which no
money was paid in premiums at ALL and
even when money prizes began to be offered,
fully half of them were marked donated
in the published list of premiums, as any
one who has access to file OF the "Rock-
Vile Journal" Of those days can see for
himself. The old records show that the
usual receipts of the early Fairs were not
much more than is now paid for one race !;
not as much as the poultry premiums
amount to, or just about what is paid in
the household department.
With this in mind, the people OF the
county should all come to the Fair next week
for vacation. visit to friends they often
see at no other time. day Of pleasure and
not TO hunt for something to critcise. to
find fault with, and to knock without offer
inc any new ideas to put into practice
Unlike other shows which are brought into
the county from outside. the Fair collects
money in small sums and pays II out In
such q way that most of 1t remains in the
homes Of those who attend the exhibitions
and still gives the moneys worth in enjoy
ment il the visitors will only use the oppor-
tunities offered them. For extent II can
not compare with the great exhibitions oil
other States or of some other counties, but
In quality Of the show and for splendid
arrangement in the limited space our Fair
has no equal anywhere. The number oil
entries In the household. farm products
and garden products are in many years
Greater in number than at the Haeerstown
Fair. always more than at Timonium, and
they are nearly always better. This is no
guess, but actual figures from the books OF
other Fairs. They have more room to
show the articles and do not have to pile
them up as our superintendent do and
Of course, the exhibit looks larger.
The exhibit next week promises to be
all that anyone can wish-the races are
filed with a class Of horses that will give
real racing for those who love TO watch
the sport, and there are numerous enter
Thinning vaudeville acts to fill in the spaces
between. Automobile shows, races and
other stunts for the car driver, side shows
for the curious. popcorn, the same old prize
package that cannot be bought anywhere
in the world except at our Fair, and many
other things too numerous to mention viii
be in evidence. All that is needed to make
the Fair success is people, and this is
a cordial invitation TO you to be there
every day.