18 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1894. 



placards that confront them from every fence, whereof the 

 whole space is let at so much per foot, to advertise — " Game- 

 Cock ! the King of all Whiskeys !" 



The New England, or any other Society that may step into 

 its shoes, misfits at best, comes to Worcester and squats upon 

 an excessive tract of land in the very heart of the City, for 

 which there is legitimate use upon a single week out of the whole 

 year, and from which neither City, County, nor State collect a 

 cent of tax. The silent and ostensibly virtuous partner, — 

 the owner of that land, is a recipient of bounty from the 

 State, taking Six Hundred Dollars ($600.) from the Public 

 Treasury for work in part wherein, to say the least, it does not 

 surpass others less highly favored. Upon that land, bought 

 with fourpences and for which they have since declined an offer 

 in "spot cash" of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand 

 Dollars ($125,000.), they profess to hold for purposes of mere 

 lucre, exhibitions in rivalry with ourselves who throw wide open 

 our doors to any who may choose to compete, or inspect. They 

 claim that bounty from the Commonwealth, to lavish it upon the 

 acrobat and contortionist, for which nevertheless they pay no 

 license, as must every other circus ; and for that bounty this So- 

 ciety pays an equivalent tax of Six Hundred Dollars, exacted 

 because its first floor is leased, as it needs must be, to get some 

 revenue wherefrom to defray current expenses. So far as the 

 State of Massachusetts can accomplish it, there is an actual dis- 

 crimination in money, against us who charge the community 

 nothing, in favor of a Society that does nothing but charge ! Not 

 one of our talents is buried in a napkin or otherwise. And yet, 

 theoretical protectionists as are most of this audience, I dare to 

 challenge any one present to dispute my assertion that the 

 whole effort has been for naught ! To disprove my statement 

 that, while Apples or Pears may have been shown out of sea- 

 son, and therefore immature and unworthy of notice by any 

 Society that has a reputation to guard, the pre-eminence of the 

 Worcester County Horticultural Society remains unim- 

 paired, — scarcely even aftected. And still, — of all this audience 

 who occupy farmstead or grange, is there one who would offer 



