FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



of safeguarding them from disease. Pleasure 

 fairs are rapidly dying out, but our agricultural 

 shows illustrate the doctrine of " the survival 

 of the fittest," and continue to flourish as popular 

 holidays ; at least, they did before the war, and 

 will do so again when peace returns. Now, 

 though, of course, no one would for a moment 

 argue for their continuance if they fulfilled no 

 higher purpose than providing occasions for mere 

 social gatherings, in any plea for their existence 

 it may be pointed out that they do represent 

 popular holidays and no nation can afford to 

 dispense with these which can be enjoyed with- 

 out a suspicion of harm, and with every probability 

 of accruing benefit. I have many a time mingled 

 with the dense crowds thronging a show yard 

 on a Bank Holiday, and have been struck with 

 the remarkable good temper and good order 

 everywhere prevailing. The police have fre- 

 quently corroborated this, and a case of drunken- 

 ness is quite exceptional. 



A factor not by any means the least in the 

 success attained by the agricultural show system 

 must not be left out of the reckoning, especially 

 by one who has had so prolonged an opportunity 

 as I have had of learning how much it represents. 

 Every show secretary can testify to the value of 

 the " spade work " done, without fee or reward, 

 with so much energy and enthusiasm by the 

 committee and stewards of a show. This free 

 gift of good service once, at least, in my experience 

 extorted a spontaneous tribute of admiration 

 from an unexpected quarter. I remember on 

 one occasion the work of removing the debris 



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