ASSOCIATION OF FAIK MANAGERS. ITT 



themselves too little relaxation and amusement; their holidays are too 

 few, and in consequence wc are becoming "l)undles of nerves," "howling 

 dyspeptics," etc. In our own State four large asylums, full of the insane, 

 might also speak in affirmation of this. Who can measure the good tliat 

 may be accomplished by helping our people to throw care to the winds 

 and for a sliort time revert to that primitive state in which those of 

 mature years and responsibilities and labors may romp like children- for 

 the poet speaks truly Avhen he says that "men are but children grown 

 tall," and it also is true that it is necessary to mental and physical 

 health, to put off the artificial state and put on the natural one at longer 

 or shorter intervals. I would lU'ge therefore upon your consideration tlie 

 advisability of making the amusement and entertainment featui'es of 

 our fairs much more conspicuous than they are now. Let a full line of 

 the cleanest and best diversions tliat maj' be had, be provided, such as 

 sliows, and pageants of all kinds, and encourage in every legitimate way 

 something of the free, uproarous mirth to be witnessed at the fairs of 

 Amsterdam and Rotterdam. 



To carry out these ideas successfully, will perhaps require a concen- 

 tration of energies and means. Instead of a fair to every county, let 

 us have foih* or five counties to every fair; it can in time be so arranged 

 as to satisfy each, and instead of a number of puny institutions, which 

 one bad season threatens with extinction, we would have not so- manj% 

 but those more capable of meeting every reasonable demand, and strong 

 enough to maintain themselves against the accidental and casual. 



President Insley: "We have with us this afternoon Mr. J. Q. Thomas, 

 of Rushville, Avho will speak on the subject of "The Fair, Its Object and 

 Benefits to Both Town and Country." 



FAIRS— THEIR OBJECTS AND BENEFITS TO BOTH TOWN AND 



COUNTRY. 



Fairs, as we now know them, are essentially an American product, 

 which has not as yet reached a centennial. After tlieir introduction tliey 

 had many opposing elements with wliicli to contend and overcome. Their 

 l)enefits, and even their necessity, were matters, of conjecture and liad 

 to be demonstrated. They had to outlive the class who, as at the incep- 

 tion of every innovation or new enterprise, oppose everything they do 

 not comprehend or originate. But with untiring zeal the progressive 

 element of the country carried them through to success. Tlie.v met with 

 varying success until a period within the memory of matiy now present; 

 when their purposes became understood and their influence and benefits 

 becanie more and more a])i)ar('nt. tliey took on life and energy and 

 became (•stal)lislied institutions bringing in tlieir train, directly or otlier- 

 wise, comfort to the home, development to agriculture, expansion to 



12-Afri. 



