AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 89 



racing alone will make a fair. Horse racing in itself has been 

 one of the best sports of modern times, but it has been abused 

 by the introduction of gambling to such an extent that the mass 

 of the people are ready to pass it by. It has gone by the stage 

 when it furnishes amusement. So bicycle racing and other 

 events have had their dav. 



The fair of to-day in many cases is largely what is so exten- 

 sively advertised ''The Great Midway." Xot a reproduction 

 of that far-famed place, but a place harboring exhibitions of the 

 most questionable character whose performances are witnessed 

 not alone by the lowest dregs of humanity — but by the sons and 

 daughters of the best families in the surrounding country. 

 They must be brought in contact with it for it occupies the most 

 prominent and conspicuous place on the grounds. There is a 

 desire on the part of every boy to see all there is to see and he 

 usually finds sufficient material to set his mind at work on sub- 

 jects which may mean much harm to him in the years to come. 

 It is the first taste of this sort of thing. It is the first chance, 

 and perhaps a winning one, which he takes on some wheel of 

 fortune or other gambling device, which sends him downward 

 on a gambler's career. We will grant that this is education, 

 but is it of the kind you wish your sons to obtain? There are 

 scores of amusements high in character which when partici- 

 pated in, give a sense of gratification and satisfaction. It is 

 not those other things which leave a satisfactory and pleasant 

 taste in one's memory. You will find, too, that the fair associa- 

 tions in the best condition are those that recognize the princi- 

 ples I have mentioned. No fair will be successful whose back- 

 bone is the sporting element. There must be a different idea 

 than this alone. I know of one specific instance, that of the 

 Hillsdale (Mich.) County Fair, which numbers its daily attend- 

 ance by the thousands, often reaching as high as 20,000 to 

 25,000, and it is not because of any favored location or fancy 

 buildings. The management of this fair have never allowed a 

 game of questionable character, or an exhibition or show of any 

 but the highest type. They have all the amusements they can 

 crowd into their grounds. It pays such to be present, and the 

 success of this fair lies in the fact that people for miles around, 

 city and country, are sure that what they are to see will be worth 

 their while, pure, wholesome, enlightening and satisfying. 



