The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-10-21
COUNTY FAIRS ORICI-
MATED IN EARLY DAYS
Dates Back to Ancient Days When Towns Met and Contested in
Athletics and Games Of Skill and P~rowess-Reason Whv
Grenada Fair Should Be Supported.

History, almost from its earliest
dawn, tells the story Of gatherings
whereby those of a country
country then covered only a small
area--got together in their feats or
festivals not so much for their own
enjoyment or pleasure, but that a
test might be made of what was pre-
dominant then in the life of that peo-
pie, Of that which it was thought es-
%sential to be most highly emphasized
in order that n people or country
might fortify itself against its con
tiguous neighbors. Thus it is that
the record is given the world Of the
Grecian and Roman games. Nothing
exceeded in the mind Of the Grecian,
in the way of distinction that was
open to all classes alike, the Olympic
game whereby the physical endurance
and speed of the people were tested.
The populace gathered from all
quarters and the shouts and hurrahs
row heard at base ball games are
but whispered melodies in compari-
son with the wild and frantic huzzahs
that rent the air when the victor was
declared. Maidens rushed forward
with their flowers and the wreath of
victory. Then there were no fire
arms. Only the crudest and clumsi.
est weapons of defense and offense
were known, hence, it was regarded
necessary that a premium be placed
upon the cultivation of the physical.
Kings regarded Drawn and muscle as
very necessary for their safety and
perpetuity. The Scriptures use the
throng that gathered t. see the Olym-
pic games to emphasize the truth that
life is a race and that u~rnumbered
eyes are upon each individual, in the
passage, Seeing that We are enconl-
passed about by so great a cloud Of
witnesses, therefore let us lay aside
every weight and the sin that doth so
easily beset US, and run with patience
the race set before u.s." In passing
and by way of parenthesis, it might
be said that it appears that only the
youngest child in governments, Am
erica, seems to want to trust humani-
ty and is not standing with drawn
sword lest some other people swoop
down upon her and fitch from her
her identity as a nation and as a
people.
These observations about the
Olympic games before the time of
the Savior, are made with the idea
that the festivals of the period score
as a sort of Adam and Eve for the
State and County Fairs Of the pres
ent day throughout the domain where
the Stars and Stripes so proudly
float.
Today the strength Of the Ameri-
can people is not in the amount of
muscle u the speed with which they
can get oevr the race track, but 1t
lies in their virtue, their moral, in
tegrity and their adherence to Chris
tan standards and the proper cult
walton and use of their brain. Civil
lized society very properly recognizes
these ideals, but it's intelligence and
knowledge also makes it understand
that God expects ones livelihood to
come from the sweat of the brow,
whether that sweat comes from ply
steal or mental toll, and that this be-
ing true, something else needs to be
done besides to train for idealism-
that each and every n needs to
bestir himself to are for his home,
his farm or whatever else is commit
ted to him. The Bible states, "That
he that provideth not for him own
household is worse than infidel." The
question very naturally comes then
20 every normal mind, "How am ! to
quare my acts with the demands Of
he Bible and properly provide for
ny own householder" In the light
f what the best in previous genera
ions have thought and Of what one
ees and observes with his own eyes, I
he answer would seem to be simple
nd easy, EDO your level best On your
arm, with your cattle, in your store,