The Lambertville Press

Hunterdon County Fair.

The farmers of our county, most certainly achieved an honorable distinction at, and in, their late fair. Among the rest of mankind, we were there to see, and admire. It was the first affair of the kind we ever graced with our presence, and with dilated peepers we went peering from one point to another, at each glance seeing something that we thought would be hard to beat; and except the beets, we never saw anything in the vegetable way, that could excel those represented there. The vast potatoes, so smooth and fair, made an enduring impression upon our memory. There was corn and wheat, and flour and bread, and butter, &c., &c., and all of the very best. The vegetable, mechanical, and industrial productions of the county were extensively and ably represented. Among other articles of domestic manufacture, were some linen sheets and pillow casing. These, it strikes us, should be purchased, and placed in the archives of the company; otherwise, in a few years, these grateful appendages to wearied humanity, will exist only in tradition. Time was, in our earlier years, when we watched the manufacture of these articles, then filling so important a point in the outfit of our daughters. But alas ! alas! for the good old times, when we slept on the good stout sheets--the fine, flimsy apologies of the present, are nought in comparison. Our recollections hastened back to times gone by, when our mother dear--now departed-discoursed music most sweet upon the spinning-wheel, -then so important a part of household furniture-now put aside as so much useless lumber.

In close proximity to these linen fixings were suspended some beautiful embroidery for the "blessed babies." We wondered what our mother would have thought of such clothing! But not having time to indulge in such speculations and reminiscences, we moved on, concluding that we must be somewhat tinged with "old fogyism." There were also other embroideries, for other purposes, betokening untiring diligence, taste, and perseverance, but on which the public eye will "never gaze again." also handsome bedspreads, &c. These, with the good bread and butter and preserves, manifesting that our wives and daughters were taking an active interest in the success of this laudable enterprise. There was a fine display of millinery, and we noticed the cases enclosing these goods were quite a centre of attraction to the female visitors, but which, perhaps, was not very strange

There was another article of female handiwork that attracted us very much indeed. It was a collection, or arrangement, of natural flowers, by a Mrs. Evans. It was most beautiful. And before we knew it, we were speculating upon the tastes and habits of the fair arranger, and made up our mind that a visit to her garden would, to us, be most delightful.

But we leave the ladies' department and go next among the stock, the collection of which was most respectable, far surpassing anything we had conceived of. There were cows and calves, and sheep and oxen, all exhibiting the onward march of improvement. The memories of the hour passed among these dumb friends is most pleasing. The horses did not attract us, although they are great favorites of ours. The "racing" feature we are opposed to from principle, and believe that it is prostituting the institution from its legitimate design; is injuring the morals of the people, and unless banished, will tend to the inevitable ruin of the enterprise itself. It is argued by its apologists, that "Fairs" cannot be sustained without the excitements of the course. If the standard of morality is to be lowered to sustain the institution, let it go down, -we do not believe that such would be the case. We cannot afford to have our youth--the pride and hope of our country -contaminated by the associations and concomitants of the race course. The laws of the State have abolished it. And surely, we should not countenance, much less support, an institution so fraught with evil, and ruled out by law. We are not one of those who are righteous overmuch; but we felt humiliated, mortified, in the consciousness that we were encouraging this source of evil, so demoralizing in its influence and sequences. For several weeks preceding the Fair, on Saturday afternoons, there were practising and training of the horses on the course;-of the riders, owners, and others at other points, and in other habits, tending only to degradation and ruin. The design of the County Fair is to foster and encourage the finer growth and development of the productions of its own citizens. Premiums are offered for the best, and a healthy competition is thus stimulated. This is right. But why go beyond our limits? Why invite the fast horses from Pennsylvania and New York to come and take the premiums that should be paid out to those of our own citizens- to whom they legitimately belong. There is a gross wrong here-wrong in theory, principle, and practice. It tends to repel the influence and active support of many of our best citizens, who make a conscience of this matter. It was so this season; and if this course is persisted in, at the next year, the number of these will be greatly increased.

It is well, perhaps, to have trials of our native horses to show their speed and bottom; but if training is to be done previously, let it be done at home, but not on the course-keep that closed. The great feature, -the great centre of attraction this year-the great day of the Fair, was the "horse" day. Take your pencil and slate, ye apologists for the racing, and figure out how much, and wherein, the agricultural, manufacturing, or any other producing interest of the county was benefitted by the racing. We are curious to know. If we are wrong in our judgment, we would like to be set right. We feel a deep interest in this matter. We believe in the practical utility of properly conducted institutions of this kind, and would not have them perverted from their legitimate design, nor would we have them fall into disrepute. The "Hunterdon County Fair" has been of great value to the people of the County.

There are many other matters that, had we time and space, we would most gladly commend, but most close our review, by enquiring if it would not be well to make some arrangement by which there would be more equality in entering articles for exhibition. The price of entrance, if we remember correctly, was, on fruit, one dollar. An individual having but a single grape vine, and thinking that it would compare well with others grown by other parties, and also feeling desirous to contribute his share towards the prosperity of the association, must, if he carries his laudable wishes into execution, pay as much as he who enters ten times the number-so of pears, peaches, &c. In such cases the entering fee is prohibitory, particularly if the individual lives at some distance from the place of exhibition. He probably can attend only one day, and his right to attend on the other days is of no value to him whatever. Whereas, if he lived near, and wished to attend every day, it would be the cheapest way of visiting the Fair, even if his articles were only second rate.

Again, the entering fee for best sample of pears was one dollar, and the premium one dollar. The pears might be worth four or six shillings. The entering fee for a horse worth from two to five hundred dollars was ten dollars, but a mere moiety, either of the value of the animal or the premium offered. Does not the fruit growing interest of the County need more fostering than any other? Cannot there be a better tariff of prices arranged? and would not the abolishment of the four free tickets put us more on an equality ?