140 County Young Men's Christian Association 



This exhibition should be made as a big annual 

 event, if possible, such as will attract all manner 

 of persons and make friends for the county associa- 

 tion. In its ideal arrangement the money expense 

 will be kept down to a minimum. Also keep out 

 the idea of premiums. The contest plan of pro- 

 motion will some day receive its desired consider- 

 ation and lose its place as a means of promoting 

 social and spiritual well-being. As a matter of 

 fact it fosters much envy, ill-feeling, and bitter strife 

 and thus strikes at the root of the good-fellowship 

 which you are striving to encourage. But, urge 

 every boy to bring something for the sake of the help 

 he may contribute and let the honor of this service 

 and the approbation of his fellows be his high reward. 

 One boy may come with a mammoth pumpkin; 

 another with a device of his own invention for catch- 

 ing ground squirrels; still another with a new 

 method of tying a knot; another with a bushel 

 of highly bred corn; others with farm and garden 

 produce of the same attractive nature; others with 

 wild grasses, curios, or geological specimens; others 

 with the parts of a miniature menagerie. One 

 boy may have have caught a badger alive ; another 

 a coyote ; another a jack rabbit ; another a huge 

 turtle. Another may bring a cage of rattlesnakes 

 or a box full of snakes of all sorts ; another a set of 

 original plans and specifications for an ideal 

 farmhouse, or farm barn and surroundings; for 



