A SERIOUS QUESTION. 263 



condemnation of the thing. And we cannot help thinking that 

 in various ways, the horse-racing must in a long run, operate 

 unfavorably upon the interests of the agricultural society." 



And, gentlemen, if this is the way that our agricultural fairs 

 ' strike a stranger,' and a foreigner, I ask again, if it is not a 

 serious question for the consideration of all the officers of our 

 agricultural societies, whether they are justified in providing 

 for, and promoting such performances. 



And is it not about time when all societies who are receiving 

 State patronage should be made to run without the aid of fat 

 women, distorted men, gambling tables and horse-racing ? 

 When all gates are taken away, the exhibition made open to the 

 competition of the whole State or county, and free to the whole 

 world ? 



I ask if the time has not come when this step should be 

 taken, as one of the means for the elevation of the standard and 

 character of our agricultural societies ? If our societies cannot 

 be sustained without mixing up public demoralizers, in the shape 

 of gambling establishments and shows of a low character, 

 whereby the evil influence which it has upon a community, and 

 especially upon the rising generation, is greater than the benefit 

 derived, then let them go down. 



Better by far would it be for our State to give to each society 

 twice the sum she now gives, than that debasing influences be 

 resorted to to fill up treasuries ; for no amount of prosperity can 

 compensate for the loss of public morals. 



Better by far would it be if the amount now given to the 

 societies be given to one-half their number, and the other half 

 suffered to die out, than that our young men be educated for 

 horse-racers, drunkards and gamblers ! 



But our State and county fairs may be made useful. They 

 have contributed to the progress of agricultural improvement 

 throughout the country. Thousands have visited them and 

 have seen specimens of this progress. They have learned that 

 their own animals, which they supposed could not be beaten in 

 the whole world, are left quite in the shade by many which they 

 find at the shows. 



The improvements which have been made in everything con- 

 nected with farming operations can be plainly seen in every 

 agricultural community. A better character of farming is 



