ENGLISH MARKETS AND FAIRS. 



45 



with the sanction of the Home Secretary, to abolish any 

 fair. 



Much has been said in condemnation and, indeed, 

 little can be said in defence of the " pleasure fair " as it 

 now survives. Those who have had the opportunity of 

 observing a big pleasure fair, such as that of St. Giles at 

 Oxford, will probably agree that, if it possesses redeeming 

 features, they are, to say the least, not very conspicuous. 

 But it would be unfair to include all in one anathema. 

 No doubt a legitimate excuse for the survival of a fair often 

 exists when it is made an occasion for selling live stock. 



There is, and always has been, generally speaking, 

 more direct agricultural interest in markets than in fairs. 

 Obviously, the regular weekly or bi-weekly market must 



