MANAGEMENT OF FAIRS. 33 



territory from which we draw is continually growing smaller, those 

 interested in the merits of the products grown in their own town or 

 vicinity lose their interest, consequenty the visitors grow less, the 

 receipts grow smaller, and in time the fair is found a failure. So it 

 is safe to assume that the larger the territory we can draw from, 

 the larger the number of exhibits ; the larger the exhibits, the more 

 visitors ; the more visitors, the larger the receipts and the surer that 

 the fair will be a success. So, I claim that it is policy, as well as 

 courtes}', on the part of the management to see to it that those who 

 make the greatest effort to attend the fair be treated in every respect 

 as well as those who only have to open the fairground gate to step in. 

 Visitors may be termed as the interested public. There is no 

 responsibilities resting upon them ; they come to see what is to be 

 seen. Now, there is no set of managers so stupid as to not know 

 that the fair is the thriftiest when the crowd is the thickest. And if 

 money does not flow into the association's till through the gate, that 

 financial failure must be the result. So it should stand us in hand 

 to devise every possible means to satisfy them. We should endeavor 

 to create a spirit of readiness on their part to work and use their 

 influence for the success of the fair, also to obtain their good will, 

 which is the paramount secret of success of ever}' fair. Now, what 

 makes the visitors interested? Why, it is simply this: A certain 

 man carries a fine horse to the fair, and his friends follow him 

 to see him compete with another horse, who also has another 

 set of friends. Now, it does not stop with horses. It is the 

 same with the oxen, the steers, the colts, cows and dairy pro- 

 due's, and every thing that is on exhibition. Consequently ever}- 

 body becomes interested, and every eye is looking and every ear 

 is barkening, to see and to hear if their favorites are fairly dealt 

 with ; ever on the alert to demand of the managers that all transac- 

 tions be free from tricks and sharp practices, and that all business 

 be conducted under strict business principles. Visitors also demand 

 that the fair be strictl}' industrial in all its features, with the excep- 

 tion of what other moral attractions that may be needed to make it 

 interesting. It should be just what it is advertised to be It should 

 not be all horse or horse trots, but the horse should have his place 

 without favors. There is nothing mentioned in our advertisements 

 about the wheel of fortune, that glistening nickle plated gun, so 

 famous in attracting the boys' attention, (so constructed as to miss 

 the bull's eye ninety-nine times out of every hundred,) or other 



