The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-11-01
read and studied carefully. 1t fol-

read and studied carefully. 1t fol-
lows:
AS the 1919 fair season comes to a
close brief discussion of the status
of the county fair is pertinent. Many
Of these fairs suspended during the
American participation in the world
war. Some of the well-known county
and district fairs of the northwest did
not open this year.
During the fair season now com
ing to close certain tendencies in
evidence even before the war have
been manifested in a remarkably
prominent way. Reference is had to
the disposition of fair managers and
boards of directors to subordinate ag-
ricultural displays and place the maj
or time, expense and attention on
amusement features. The movement
is unquestionably in the direction indi-
Gated Is it healthy and desirable or
to be discouraged? Does the prom
inence of amusement result from real
or fancied public demand?
The county fair in its original con-
ception was get-together meeting
for the people of district. The maj
or interest was in competitive display
of activities, and the social side re-
suited from the assemblage of throngs
interested in educational features of
the fair and attracted by the friendly
rivalaries of those who sought to at
tain awards designating high attain
ment in agriculture. A great deal of
ground space formerly used to house
farm. and garden products and the
fine arts now takes care of noisy earn
ival and vaudeville. The live stock
parade, still a feature of great interest
when properly staged, has often Civ
en- way to the professional bronco bus
ter. In fact, at some county fairs this
year the agricultural display was al
mist entirely absent. Little premium
money was set aside for the agricul-
tural side, and no effort made to
take care of those features.
Want Amusement Only?
Fair managers are saying that the
people "do not care to see pumpkins,
but want to be amused" The writer
has heard it urged that at the end Of
the summer the farmers want relaxa-
ton after strenuous toll and like to
see something exciting-that the only
way to get crowds of country people
is to emphasize unusual and spectacul-
ar track events and to offer carnival
features of a somewhat sensational
nature. Do the readers of the Farmer
believe that the above really reflects
The country view? Are country people |
any different from city I
people?
There is no section of our spopula
ion so sound at core as the agricul-
.ural class They take the same in
erests in track events that the ordi
larry normal individual takes. They
ire not, in the long run, to be pleased
md amused with freak shows and sOff
,olor" dancing and other carnival fea-
ures.
The materiahstic Interpretation of
ocial needs of our people is not justi-
led by facts. In several places in
he intermountain country real coun-
v fairs and stock shows have been
uccessfully staged this year.
These real fairs of 1918 have en-
hasized agricultural products, com
nonly designated by the friends of a
carnival fair as the pumpkin;
hey have had large and highly cred
table exhibits of live stock; the home
as been dignified by displays Of
eedlework and culinary skill; the
Dung people have been a prominent
eature, not in winning the kewp1e
oil after many turns OF the wheel,
ut have been busy in useful and IN
aresting things, such as Judging con-
ssts, canning demonstrations and
Their tests of accompllshmeLI ano