23 



And yet, when we look abroad, we cannot avoid seeing how pub- 

 lic sentiment justifies the practice, and requires that more atten- 

 tion be given to the breeding and training of horses. The posses- 

 sion of a remarkably fleet and well-trained horse is not a ne- 

 cessity, and cannot be of use, to a farmer, about his farm. But, 

 to other classes of men, it is often a matter of great importance. 

 Nor do we know from what source, beyond our agricultural dis- 

 tricts, as a general thing, the demand for such animals can find 

 its supply. The exhibition and trial of the best horses at our 

 fairs, tend to encourage the breeding and training of such ani- 

 mals ; which, it must be admitted, is a perfectly legitimate and 

 often an exceedingly remunerative part of a farmer's business. 

 If injury result to the public morals, it does not come of necessity, 

 but only as injury results from other exhibitions and practices, in- 

 nocent in themselves, perverted to immoral ends by base and im- 

 moral men. And this is an evil which will best be prevented by 

 the united and determined efforts of better men to control and 

 regulate these exhibitions, and to raise them to a higher standard 

 of utility and propriety. If this is insufficient ; if the exhibition 

 and trial of horses cannot be controlled, so as to be justified by 

 their propriety and utility, then, though ever so strongly counte- 

 nanced and upheld by popular sentiment, and however much the 

 practice tends to enlarge our annual receipts, let it be abolished. 

 But whatever course is adopted, after mature consideration, let it 

 be carried out with unanimity of feeling, if not with unity of opin- 

 ion ; and let it be the care of all, that no injury to the public 

 morals, and no dishonor to the Society result from the continu- 

 ance of the practice, if that be agreed upon. 



To the exhibition of all horses which are of generally useful 

 character, whether to the farmer, the trader, or the traveller, and 

 to the fairest and fullest display of their qualities, there can be 

 no objection. Indeed there are the strongest reasons for desiring 

 it. Any thing bej^ond this may readily be separated from the 

 general object of the show, by the appointment of an additional 

 day for it. 



Much discouragement and ill success amongst farmers, at this 

 time, may be traced, we apprehend, to the striking change going 

 on in the character and the cost of farm labor ; a change affecting 

 our own section of the country more pei'haps than any other. 

 We know that it is matter of pride and rejoicing with some per- 

 sons, that the earnings of the laborer are so largely increased ; 

 that, as it has been stated, the earnings of a single laborer in this 

 Commonwealth are equal to those of five men in one of the South- 

 ern States. Did the products of that single man's labor bear any 

 thing like a similar proportion, or were the personal improvement 

 and well-being of the man and his family increased in like mea- 



