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62 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



but because it is amusement of such a nature as to intoxicate 

 the many, and draw otf their attention almost wholly from the 

 real object of the association ; because it is an amusement of 

 such a nature as to offend the more sober, and by its excessive 

 claims to alienate them from the fairs, which must be sustained 

 by them or fail. To place a bottle of wine and a glass of water 

 before a man may answer, if he is a perfectly sober citizen. 

 If he is not, the water will be very secure. To place before the 

 undisciplined, uncontrolled populace a horse-race and a lesson 

 in agriculture, is to give the latter the go-by ; is to jilt the gen- 

 tle goddess of husbandry in favor of the wild-eyed, hair-stream- 

 ing deity of the turf. Man is a respectable being ; but if there 

 is one position in which he is less so than another, it is when he 

 is the mere tail of a horse. He seems himself to be well aware 

 of this fact, and usually sinks in his language and tastes to his 

 new position. 



Such are some of the gains and some of the dangers of the 

 agricultural fair. It can only lead to good farming, as it 

 springs from good farming, and is sustained by good farming. 

 A needful and correspondingly noble labor is given to the 

 farmer. He feeds the life of the globe, and should bring to this 

 chief employment the enthusiasm, skill and patience of a great 

 calling. 



