Imperial Valley press., 1922-02-23

special interest. This fair is designed
to promote the welfare of all the people
of Imperial county in every phase of
their industrial and social life. 1t is to
furnish place and occasion for the
Interchange of ideas, the widening of
acquaintance and for the promotion
of social amenities. The day of dedi-
cation has been wisely chosen, for /
can see in this enterprise the spirit of
patriotic service that this day sym
bolizes This is the anniversary of the
birth of one of the greatest men this
world has vet produced. He was states
man, soldier, diplomat, scholar. He
gave a new meaning to American citi-
zenship. He exemplified it in himself
and he dignified it in those whom he
successfully guided to independence
through the great struggle he led. He
set a sublime example Of devotion to
the public good. And only as that spirit
has been emulated in lesser degree and
in the smaller affairs of life have we
made definite progress toward the
goal of our ambitions. The spirit OF
public service is the moving factor that
must be depended upon to bring tc
successful fruition such projects as the
Imperial county fair. So it is under the
most favorable auspices that we as
semble tc~place the seal of our ap-
proval upon this most worthy thing
And ii is not to be forgotten that
George Washington was a farmer and
profoundly interested in everything
relating to a ricultural life and pro
duction. The isolation of farm life
was to him opportunity for study and
reflection and out of this came his
principles of equity, justice, patroit
ism. and his high thinking and plain
living. The purposes of county fail
are so intimately and largely connect
ed with farm life that it becomes no
great stretch of the imagination to be
lieve that Washington would himself
have been warm supporter of such
enterprises.
What County Fair Is
"'What is the definition of a county
faira The very question brings vivid
lv to the mind of every man of my
generation what the county fair used
to be and what it still is, for it was
the same Yesterday, today and, let US
hope, forever. How it appeals to the
Young, whose skies are rosy tinted and
spanned with rainbows. Its buzz of ex
citement, its flying banners and flaunt
ing pennants, its wonderful exhibits of
the products of the field, flock and
herds; its marvellous exhibits of fine
arts; its side shows, merry go-rounds,
horse races and gala-day crowds all
conspire to impress it upon the minds
of the young in a way never to be for
gotten. And it possesses the same ahld-
ing fascination for grown-ups. These
are what make it an institution o.
American life. 1t has proved itself.
Some times it falls into a state OF
coma, but always to be revived and
present new interest.
'.The sainted President Mckinley in
his speech opening the Buffalo expo
sition, at which time his life was end
cd at the hands of an assassin, de.
elared that expositions are mllestones
marking the progress of civilization,
1t was an epigrammatic utterance. Ex
positions do perform that great ser
vice. They become the treasures OF
scientific and educational achieve,
ments and every one of them have
had beneficial effect upon their
time. This may be said in a smaller
way of county fairs; for each one OF
them is an. exposition of the achieve
ments of the community it represents
Stimulate Rivalry
1.-The value of these smaller expo
sitions, these county fairs, is in stimu-
lating rivalry in the production of live.
stock, and in county like Imperial
this is of the highest Importance. Bring
ing together exhibits of cattle of the
same breeds enables their owners to
compare notes and to discover the new
and better ways of bringing their
stock to maturity. And this assembling
of different kinds admits of comparl-
son of the merits of the different
breeds. And it all goes to emphasize
the need of keeping only blooded ami
+l.a rgF1n Of =