26 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tions dishonestly, and made the Temple a den of thieves. 

 We have our sons and daughters taught music and dancing 

 without fear that they shall become professionals in the ballet. 

 And we play chess, cards and billiards with them, as a family- 

 recreation at home, fearless of contamination by the gambling- 

 hells of our cities and towns, because they are not contami- 

 nated by association with that vicious class who practise those 

 games for professional gain. 



Much of the excess which undoubtedly arises out of a per- 

 verted use of lawful recreation or pleasures, is the result of 

 association with depraved and wicked people. The immoral 

 and depraved practices of many of the professional horse- 

 jockeys are not to be avoided by abstinence from a trial of 

 speed, or of any other quality of the horse, but by avoiding 

 the gambling and immoral associations which too often dis- 

 grace the race-course, and detract from the manly taste which 

 establishes this amusement. In an assembly of farmers, com- 

 posed of gentlemen of character and of moral and religious 

 training, surrounded by their wives and families, a trial of the 

 speed of horses is just as free from moral danger as the trial 

 of the strength of the same' animals, or any contest of skill in 

 power which it may be the intent of the public to initiate for 

 use or pleasure. Our farmers pursue various occupations 

 suited to their taste and convenience, producing respectively 

 such things as the wants of the community call for. And it 

 is the intent of all that equal inducements shall be employed 

 to promote a home-production of the highest order for use or 

 pleasure, and all agricultural sections have profited by a 

 liberal introduction of blooded stock. Therefore, premiums 

 for speed, which shall attract the largest competition, under 

 well-regulated contests, should be promoted for the obvious 

 encouragement of persons engaged in this expensive and 

 hazardous branch of production ; and if this practice shall 

 induce a larger attendance of intelligent and industrious 

 people, for even purposes of relaxation and pleasure, your 

 treasury will be the better supplied for more liberal dispensa- 

 tion of premiums to foster the general purposes of your 

 society, and you will also enlist a livelier interest in the 

 annual meetings, and measurably withdraw young men from 

 other sources of amusement less guarded against temptation. 



