Gardeh
VOL. LXII
INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE  29,   1907.
NO. 26
THE COUNTY   FAIR.
The Value of an Ideal.
1st Premium.—Our progress in this life
has  been brought about  at  all  times  by
imitation    and    remodeling    of    executed
ideas.     One person conceives the greatest
idea possible to him (at that time) of some
necessity,     convenience   or   pleasure,   and
puts   it  into  execution.       Sometimes   his
superior, and many times his inferior, in
thought and learning, adds to this, making
it more nearly the universal idea sought,
and hands it to the people as something
of utility    or    orna-       ______________________
mentation. The
dwarf can see farther than the giant
when- standing on
Ihe giant's shoulders. Thus we see
we are constantly
growing and developing, in all lines of
thought and action,
l.y idealization of the
rt.il thing at hand,
and then the realization of this new-
ideal in whole or.
part. Mind       can
work upon itself to
good advantage, but
we often find that
one and one are
more than two, as
shown in a friendly
discussion where
each concludes with
a better knowledge
of the subject than
either had at the
outset. .Mind
sharpeneth mind,
nnd by association ===^=
we pick up new ideas and thoughts which
strengthen us and fit us to be more helpful to our selves and our associates.
Our advancement along the five institutional lines, Industry, Society, Government. Education and Religion, has been
almost phenomenal during the last century, ami we no doubt owe the greater
part of this to friendly association and
general good-will "mixing." We have
Comparatively few leaders, but many followers or imitators, and, in order for the
latter classes to come in contact with that
which they need most to lift them to higher spheres of thinking ami acting, we find
it necessary to have stated organized gathering. Society is universal, but in order
to further develop all five ideas, as above
mentioned, we see nothing more nearly
fitting than our old time District, county
or State fairs. It is here that one can
"find" himself. We may attend these
fairs and see how we were, are and woulil
aspire to be, by a careful observance of
the walks, talks, looks, dress and actions
of others. This often forms within ns
a disgust for our past, dissatisfaction with
our present, and a high determined inspiration for our future, thus causing
many to go home with lofty ideals by
which they are able to free themselves
from many of society's bonds and limitations.
This intermingling gives all a chance
to exchange ideas, observe the best plans
of others on exhibition, and above all to
receive a real inspiration and uplift which
will cause them to go home determined to
he more economical, energetic, social and,
maybe, religious.      I might add here that
it would be well to remove much of the
emphasis from the speed ring and place
ic on industry and art. The mass of people are directly concerned in making their
living by agriculture, manufacturing aud
trade, while only the few hope to be engaged in breeding for speed; hence my reasons for a further encouragement of the
arts nnd industries at fairs. It is well
to read of nice things and things of value,
but when we attend our fairs and find
the real animals, cereals, vegetables, etc.,
as raised by our fellow farmers, we are
more than ever persuaded that greater
pessiliiities lie within us. Our expecta-
tations are fully realized wheu we find on
no queen was ever prouder than she on
Whose sample the blue ribbon was pinned.
The prizes were arranged so that every
member of the family might be interested,
and it was a common thing for the boys
and girls to plan iir the spring to raise
something to be exhibited at the fair.
But interest in the county fair has
waned, and we are at a loss to know why
this is so. There never was a time when
there was more interest taken in live
stuck, when they were better cared for
or brought higher prices. Never before
has so great au effort been made to learn
the science of agriculture and the methods
by  which  the  largest crops may be  pro-
The $100,000 Live Stock   Pavilion   now     being  built    at   the  State  Fair Orounds.
cultural pursuts. The desire to excel is
ever present, and the prizes offered for the
best exhiliits are an incentive to increased
endeavor. It is considered an honor to
have something worthy to be exhibited at
the fair, and a matter of great rejoicing
io be declared the winner. Since only
the hest can compete successfully, an ef-
I'eert is made to produce the best. This
brings a desire for the best breeds of live
slock and the hest methods of handling
them; also a desire for the best varieties of grains, fruits and vegetables and
the best methods of cultivation, that their
possibilities may be fully developed.
This striving for the best results in pro-
-    gress.
At the fair we see
the products of others and learn what
they have accomplished, and under
what circumsitances
we may accomplish
the same. This mingling with people and
the observation of
their ways and methods serves to broaden anil uplift us and
is educational and
beneficial. Since the
welfare and standing
of the community
depends on the individual, it i.s important that each strive
for the hest iu his
own line of endeavor
and that he add his
mite to the general
progress and development. If the
county fair can aid
in this, which no
donbt it can, let us
have it. ,T.
exhibition the best the farm has produced
or the factory made, or the hand or mind
executed. The one who has put most
brain behind his exhibit carries off first
prize.
We need a greater spirit of excellence,
and nothing seems more conducive to it
than coming in contact with the thing
made and maker of things which surpass
our past efforts. We are believers and
practicers of the thought that whatever
has been done is a pattern by which we
can do better. I.et us have fairs, and
let them be of such a character that those
who attend may go home assured that
they have come in contact with ideas
which will prompt them to do more and
better service than ever before.
P. V. K.
Ought to be a Big Event.
2d Premium.—There was a time when
nearly every county had its fair and it
was considered one of the chief events of
the year. Unless it was the circus, nothing else drew so large a crowd, and the
interest 'was not confined to the country
people alone. Tradesmen, manufacturers, artists and others not directly connected with agricultural pursuits, vied
with each other in a friendly rivalry for
the honors of the blue ribbon. There
were not only horses, cattle, sheep, swine,
grains and fruits, but also a variety of
things to show the handiwork of the
housewife: .Tellies through which a newspaper conld be read; preserves which
would sharpen the appetite of the most
confirmed dyspeptic; and butter which
would put to shame the purest gold: and
duced. The fanner was never before so
highly respected: the advantages of the
country life are now so generally understood that the cry "Back to the farm" has
been raised. lt is evident that the decline of the county fair has not come
about through any lack of interest in the
country life. Perhaps one of the obstacles in some localities is the thought that
it does not pay, the premiums are too
small to compensate for the time and expense of making an exhibit. There has
been much complaint about the large
purses given in the races and the relatively small ones offered as premiums in other
classes. We  presume  there  is  hardly
anyone but who loves a beautiful horse
and enjoys an exhibition of speed, but the
gambling which often prevails round a
race track, and the unfair methods practiced by which the race is often given to
the slower horse, have tended to destroy
an interest in the races. But if this has
caused the county fair to deteriorate it is
a condition which could easily be remedied. A judicious distribution of the prizes
would, no doubt, remedy most of the complaint.
There are many ways in which a community may be benefited by a good county
or district fair. It is beneficial to a town
or city, not only for the increased trade,
but for the advertising and the added
prestige it brings. A town that can afford a successful fair is regarded as enterprising and up-to-date. It is looked
upon as a wide-awake place, where bargains may be looked for. But tbe greatest direct benefit, perhaps, is in the increased interest a fair stimulates in agri-
The Fair Helps the  County.
3d Premium.—There are a great many
ways in which a good county fair benfits
a community. In the first place it brings
the people together, for miles each way,
where the farmers and farmers' wives can
exchange ideas that will he beneficial to
all. We never get too old to learn. Then
too, if we are accustomed to having a
county fair in our community, and take
an active part and are interested in it,
we will make every effort to produce the
best stock we can, nnd have it look the
very best. Not only will we produce the
best stock, but also we will raise the best
produce, grain, and in fact everything that
is raised on the farm. It will also cause
many of us to read and think that otherwise would be more unconcerned. To
my way of thinking the man that does
not read, and put in practice what he
reads, is the man that is not very successful as a rule today.
The very best machinery of all kinds
that the farmer is obliged to have he can
see at the fair. He has the privilege
of seeing it work under the management
of the most efficient agent, for the best
men will be at the fair. We can also hear
from other men that have tried the machine, ami can learn much about it. In
that way we can derive a great deal of
benefit.
My wife and I attended two county
lairs last year, besides the International,
and I am sure the county that has the
fair is far ahead of the one that does
not. Subscriber.