FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



and experience derived from contact with other 

 sections of the community, representatives of 

 this type, with the advantage of such training, 

 are enabled to deal with affairs somewhat diverse 

 in character in a broad-minded spirit. The work 

 accomplished by the Society, during its long 

 and progressive career of nearly one hundred 

 and fifty years, is the best testimony of the capacity 

 of its administrative body, whilst the support it 

 has received from the chief stock-breeders of the 

 Kingdom, as well as from the leading agricultural 

 implement firms, is good evidence of the practical 

 character of its system of government. 



The Society was very fortunate at its initia- 

 tion in securing the support of men who were 

 not only devoted to its interests, but had the 

 knowledge and capacity to render their zeal 

 effective. Happily, the old tradition still holds 

 good, as the roll of those who hold office in this 

 year of grace amply testifies. At the Society's 

 Centenary Meeting, in 1877, the late Earl of 

 Cork gave appropriate expression to this source 

 of strength when he said : " One of the great 

 causes of the success of this Society is that it 

 has been always managed by thoroughly practical 

 men, who have had their heart and soul in the 

 work. If it had not been for this, if the Society 

 had been left chiefly in the hands of ornamental 

 members meeting only once a year, it is very 

 doubtful whether we should have seen the hun- 

 dredth anniversary," 



The minutes furnish several examples of a 

 continuity of family interest in the Society. An 

 intimate connection between the past and the 



106 



