NEW METHODS 



the very thing to appeal to the sporting instincts 

 of town and country alike. Consequently, the 

 rush into our show yard to witness the contest 

 was something to delight the hearts of all con- 

 cerned, the secretary especially. But it could 

 not be said that agriculture was sacrificed on the 

 shrine of sport, for the show of stock, imple- 

 ments, etc., was more extensive than any one 

 previously held in the county, and the crowds 

 attracted by the bit of sport did not confine them- 

 selves to this, but took the opportunity of seeing 

 all tHey could of everything else ; to their benefit, 

 from an educational point of view. 



But another innovation, so far as the Oxford- 

 shire Society was concerned, was introduced for 

 the first time at Witney. When the old methods 

 had failed and new ones had to be found, I went, 

 notebook in hand, to other show yards to pick 

 up what I could. At one of the shows I attended 

 music was made a special feature by the engage- 

 ment of a first-class military band, and when I 

 saw a dense throng round the bandstand at all 

 hours of the day when music was going on, spell- 

 bound by its charm, I returned home thoroughly 

 impressed with the idea that here was another 

 means of bringing grist to our mill. The result 

 was that, for the first time in the Society's annals, 

 a military band that of the Life Guards dis- 

 coursed sweet music at the Witney Show, and 

 ever since music has been one of the 

 attractions. 



We made enough out of this show to set us on 

 our legs and relieve us of any doubt as to the 

 wisdom of our new departure in adopting the 



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