328 . PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL SOCIETY. 



profligate speculators and reckless adventurers have resulted, as 

 usual, in disaster and financial tribulation. You are no doubt satis- 

 fied to have remained at home, in the steady prosecution of honest 

 industry, rather than to have polluted yourselves "with the vice so 

 prevalent in all classes of community, that of financial gambling, 

 and dabbling in fancy stocks, with the danger of reaping the fearful 

 retribution. With no failure in the substantial resources of the 

 country, rich in all the elements of true wealth, a fearful lack of moral 

 integrity, and increase of profligacy in the business world, have been 

 hurrying us on to ruin. Somewhat remote from the great business 

 centers, the temptations to this sort of stock-gambling are here com- 

 paratively few, and the great blow which threatens the peace of the 

 country will fall upon you harmless. You ought to rejoice in your 

 goodly heritage — that your lines have fallen to you in so pleasant 

 places; and to cherish an honest pride in being a farmer, a farmer's 

 wife, son, or daughter, in the beautiful valley of the Piscataquis. 

 And above all, you ought respectively to earn your title to this 

 honorable distinction, by an intelligent pursuit of your great inter- 

 ests, by frugal living, by multiplying the substantial comforts of life, 

 and by paying for it the real price of labor, which above wealth or 

 any social advantage, is knowledge and virtue. 



Some of the premiums awarded, are as follows : 



Horses. For best stock horse, to Americus Crockett of Guilford, 

 on a fine Messenger horse, eight years old ; second best, to L. S. 

 Crafts of Monson, on a Morgan, seven years old. 



Best carriage horse and best saddle horse, to E. G. Thompson of 

 Foxcroft. 



Best pair matched horses, to W. N. Thompson of Sangerville. 



Best trotting horse, to Daniel Wyman, jr., for one of "French 

 Tiger" blood. 



Bulls. Best Durham bull, to Nathaniel Fish ; second best do., 

 to G. Brown. 



Best Hereford bull, to P. M. Jeffrods. ^ 



Cows. Best milch cow, to Thomas Proctor, for a grade Dur- 

 ham; second best do., to Nathaniel i'ish. 



