FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



other Continental Powers have thought it worth 

 while for many years past to lavish tens of 

 thousands of pounds annually for the carrying out 

 of the very work to which our voluntary associa- 

 tions were devoting themselves without a charge 

 to the taxpayer of a single halfpenny. The aid of 

 these organizations will be more than ever neces- 

 sary to agriculture and the nation at large when 

 peace returns, and all who realize this must unite 

 in their support. 



The rekindling of interest will have to be 

 energetically and systematically undertaken, and 

 it will be very much a fight for existence with many 

 societies, resulting in the survival of the fittest. 

 A record of good service in the past always counts 

 for much, but is far from being all-sufficient. 

 There is some truth in the assertion that " grati- 

 tude is a sense of favours to come," and societies 

 will have to show their capacity to fulfil expecta- 

 tions in order to count upon that gratitude which 

 expresses itself in a rendering of such practical help 

 as is represented by a provision of the sinews 

 of war. 



50 



