HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, HAMPDEN. xxv 



line the pocket better than broom-corn. And so, without any 

 ad\dce to those who know their own business best, he asks the 

 farmers to remember the good old days of broom-corn, and the 

 time when the "river-gods" made their annual pilgrimage to 

 the State-house, with, perhaps, tobacco in their pockets, but not in 

 their fields. 



A society having its place of exhibit in the immediate precincts 

 of a city or town gives the leading merchants of the place a great 

 advantage in the method of advertising, and adds very much to 

 the show ; but 3'our delegate very much questions the legitimacy 

 or propriety of making such places attractive in such manner. A 

 societ}'- receiving the bounty of the State is expected by the State 

 to show its success in matters appertaining to the agricultm'al, 

 industrial, and mechanical results of the contributors, and to 

 make its halls attractive by decoration. Dry-goods or grocery- 

 stores certainly do not add to the resources of the Commonwealth, 

 especially if premiums are paid therefor. A society ha^sing its 

 place of exhibition in a rural district suffers very much in display 

 in the hall ; and the verdict, " not much of a show," is attributa- 

 ble, sometimes in a very great measure, to the absence of large 

 carpets and party-colored dry-goods suspended from the walls, or 

 huge chests of tea and sugar-samples on its shelves. The show 

 at Northampton was not particularly noticeable for this feature, 

 although there were several Northampton merchants who were 

 shrewd enough to take advantage of this gratuitous and attractive 

 method of advertising their goods among the attendant residents 

 of the rm'al districts ; and a very good display did they make. 



Not having the pleasure of acquaintances in the town, a lonely 

 evening was spent at the hotel, varied with an occasional pedes- 

 trian exercise upon the sidewalk, viewing the interior of shop- 

 windows. An early occupancy of his room was sought by your 

 delegate, with the thought that the exhibition thus far had been 

 successful, and that the next day the equine exhibit would be to 

 him a source of pleasure ; but the next morning, according to his 

 usual custom at such times, the clerk of the weather announced 

 rain ; and, after a brief visit to the grounds, your delegate left, 

 with the impression that the Hampshire Franklin and Hampden 

 Society was, in every respect, worthy of the bounty of the Com- 

 monwealth. 



John A. Hawes. 

 4 



