326 
AMERICAN ACRICULTURIST. 
f September, 
RACE F O K THE 
INTENSELY EXCITING- AND GREAT 
clothe ns like human beings, and Ave do the best 
AAm can to act like men in all the different cir¬ 
cumstances in life in Avhich A\m see them. We 
find it a a- ery great aid to us in successful imi¬ 
tation, to study the motives of men, and by 
these AA"e judge of their actions. 
This is Avhat leads me to Avrite to you —and 
noAA^ to come directly to the point. It appears 
to us that to make people take an interest in tlie 
things Avhich are of most value to them, is a 
gieat ait. Thus subjects of no use interest 
everybody, but only tlie Avise among men are 
interested in matters Avhich promise lastino- 
enefit to mankind, or even to themselves! 
.f" '■"'’“‘“'‘3' “'S-oged to perform 
at some of tl.e minor Agrio-eltaral Pairs and 
Catde ShoAVS, and the general features of those 
exhibitions have impressed ns most favorablv 
but It seems to us passing strange, Avhile a tOAvn 
IS full of strangers attracted by the fair, and the 
pounds surrounding are quite croAVclecl, that so 
OAv people enter the enclosure until the time 
lor the horse-race, the balloon ascension, or our 
monkey-shoAv. Once in, these people see and 
learn a great deal of use to them. In our inno- 
pnce,ve supposed that the horse-races Avere 
leally trials of speed, and tended to improve the 
bleeds of that fine animal, but from Avhat aa’c 
lem-n from the horses, this is not so, for they 
seldom are alloAved to exhibit their good qual¬ 
ities, being held back or urged foinvard, accord- 
A L L - W IH PURSE OP THE JOCKO CLUB 
MORAL ATTRACTION OP THE MUTUA 
iiig to their jockey’s A\diims, and these jockeys 
or pivers are influenced by pay received from 
vaiions parties, and so make the honest horses 
lose or Avin the race, not on their merits, but 
accoiding as they are paid by their employer or 
by those inimical to him; or, as it often happens, 
the OAvners arrange the race betAveen them- 
sehms, and, Avinning or losing, divide the purse. 
Noav monkeys are good riders, and so far as 
they knoAV, they are honest, and money is of no 
A^alue to them; and, besides, being morally irre¬ 
sponsible, the employment of Jocko for a jockey 
would prevent the distressing moral corruption 
to Avhich these drivers and riders are subjected. 
\ hy not then, I ask, employ monkeys and apes 
at these ‘agricultural fairs” more extensively? 
Moreovm', as this racing, instead of being ben¬ 
eficial, 13 injurious to horses, Ave would sim-n-est 
the employment of dogs, as less liable to inbn-v 
and ansAvering Avell, vith monkey-riders, the’ 
sole purpose of horse-races, as conducted by 
agricultuml societies,-that of diWAA’ing a crowth 
t,. of this couii- 
1 . -n 'discreditable to have anything to 
all ar f dotting of horses, so by 
aitfully selected names the Fair manao-ers 
thehorse-inces 
A Inch they superintend. They are, they sav 
tests of peed,” »trials of vind, bottom, and em 
miiance, pd simply, the-best means for the 
jueges to decide upon tlie relative merits of dif- 
L BENEFIT AGRICULTURAL UNION. 
feieiit horses. This, we see, is all a pretence. 
The tiuth is, they want an exciting scene, and 
though they regret the betting and gambling 
which aliAmys attends horse-races, (at any rate 
after the first year or tAA’o,) yet they know of no 
other wvay to draAv a croAvd, to fill up their treas- 
PW their premiums, and so do all the good 
they can Avitli their Agricultural Society. The 
employment of us and our dogs Avill give all the 
excitement, draAV the same croAA'd, and interest 
more peojAle, AAdille it wdll neither foster gam¬ 
bling, betting, calling things by false names, nor 
immorality of any sort. Moral or immoral, it 
is all one to us, yet even Ave dislike to have the 
good jAeople Avound their consciences, and play 
the hypocrite to no good purpose. Please ob¬ 
serve that Ave require no race-course, but only a 
smooth bit of turf or tan-bark. Where race¬ 
courses, (called “ tracks,”) cannot be afforded, 
“ female equestrianism” has, I believe, been tried 
Avith entire success, so far as gathering the 
croAvd, (to do them good,) is concerned, but the 
effects upon the females are said to be anything 
but good, from the nioral and modest stand¬ 
point from wdiich Ave poor monkeys are forced 
to vieAv these things for the reasons stated. 
I enclose a picture of Avhat might, I think, 
take the place of horse-racing and of all im¬ 
moral and indelicate shoAvs at fairs. Let your 
leaders see it, and then judge for themselves. 
1 ours, jocularly,' Jocko the Jockey. 
