XX 



EEPOETS OF DELEGATES. 



department of this annual fair ; and we may reasonably expect that 

 their efforts to cancel their indebtedness will soon be realized, and 

 they will no longer feel compelled to have a " special benefit," to 

 which the people are invited, and for which no useful lesson for the 

 home, the farm, the shop, or of pleasing, satisfied and refreshing 

 memory is drawn, further than seeing competing horsemen, with 

 noble animals trained to the utmost tension of muscle ; the tedious 

 " scoring" for the lead under the " wire " ; the rush, the skips and 

 breaks of the race ; the best driver ; time, 2.50 ; the horse winning 

 the " heat," time, 2.50 ; horses blanketed ; clearing the track ; bring- 

 ing up the next class. Five or six hours of close and exciting 

 attention are given ; the crowd go home ; the people have had a 

 holida}-. The exhibition is a success, because a §1,200 weight has 

 been lifted from the treasur}\ 



"Whether the extra da}' given to the exhibition was, on the whole, 

 of profit, we need not attempt to "say ; but perhaps we may be 

 allowed to express a fear that horse-racing may create an over- 

 shadowing influence and excitement, which will leave in the back- 

 ground the grand and noble purposes for which our societies were 

 formed. 



From the treasurer's report, it w 



receipts at the gate on the first 

 On the second day, 

 third day, . 

 Grand stand, 

 Rent of grounds, . 

 Entrance fees for horses, 



Assets December I, 1874. 



Fair-grounds, about 17 acres and buildings, . 

 Personal property, ..... 

 Liabilities, ....... 



814,000 00 



300 00 



8,200 00 



A few days since, we received a copy of the Secretary's report, and 

 in looking it over, we were struck with much surprise at the entire" 

 absence of anything in connection with the premiums, except the 

 sum awarded, and to whom. Now is this as it should be? We 

 rarely have met a more intelligent, energetic and successful class of 

 farmers than on this occasion, — men who understand their business 

 and succeed. Those who made the examinations, as committees, 

 thoroughly understood the reasons for their good judgment, and 



