HORSES. 93 



From the general character of the animals exhibited, it was 

 evident that the members of the society do not give much atten- 

 tion to the raising of horses for any purpose. There were but 

 few colts entered for premiums, and the show of stallions was 

 very meagre. The farmers of the river towns obviously find it 

 more profitable to devote their attention to the production of 

 staple crops than to horse-breeding, and they doubtless act with 

 the highest economy in importing the great number of animals 

 required for the various mechanical operations of modern agri- 

 culture. The tendency in farming, as in all other business, is 

 towards a greater division of labor and a more thorough concen- 

 tration of effort upon specialties. If then, horse-breeding is not 

 to be particularly encouraged by your society, what should be 

 the objects of a horse-show and how may they be best attained ? 



In the first place, it is apparent from the number of visitors in 

 attendance that the beauty of fine horses, the speed of fast ones, 

 and the strength and docility of well-trained working teams, are 

 among the most efficient means of attracting, interesting and 

 amusing the masses of the people ; and it is certainly the duty 

 of the managers of our agricultural holidays to render them as 

 enjoyable as is possible within the limits of sobriety and Christian 

 morals. We Americans do not have recreation enough for our 

 best welfare ; we labor too unremittingly, and are often unduly 

 stimulated by the desire of doing or acquiring some immediate 

 good. If we could more frequently lose ourselves in a crowd 

 and have our feelings excited and elicited by something other 

 than our accustomed tasks, we should be healthier, fresher, 

 happier, more useful and more successful in the accomplishment 

 of life's work. But our fairs ought to be instructive as well as 

 entertaining, and the following suggestions are therefore offered, 

 respecting the management of some matters pertaining to them, 

 with special reference, however, to the show at Northampton. 



First. For obvious reasons, tents, peddlers, and side shows 

 should be entirely excluded from the ground inside the track, 

 and especially from the immediate vicinity of the main entrance. 

 If the society have not land enough to accommodate them outside 

 the track, an acre or two more should be purchased for this 

 purpose, and there would be no objection to having it in a 

 square form, fenced on three sides, and opening into the present 

 enclosure. 



