130 The State and the Farmer 



Some of the European systems have demon- 

 strated that it is perfectly feasible and safe to 

 loan money on the industry and honesty of 

 members, thereby not only furnishing the nec- 

 essary funds but putting a premium on char- 

 acter and thrift, and keeping the money at 

 work where it is needed. The cooperative 

 systems find it advantageous to employ agents 

 to instruct their members in farming, becom- 

 ing thereby a social and educational force in 

 the locality. Our banking systems are devised 

 for the handlers of money, whereas some of 

 them, at least, should be devised for the work- 

 ers and common users. Banks, as well as gov- 

 ernment and schools, should be native. 



Fairs. 



The fairs are one of the anomalies of the 

 present time. If one is interested in the evo- 

 lution of institutions and the persistence of 

 customs, he can find here material for long 

 and rewarding study. In great part the fairs 

 are meaningless and are not agricultural insti- 

 tutions. They display the unusual and abnor- 



