The Demoralizing Tendency of Agricultural Fairs.—
A Rochester paper, referring to the results of the horse-racing, which has grown to be a leading feature of the cattle shows in Western New York, as well as other parts of the country, says that, whether it is necessary to increase the number and improve the breed of fast horses or not, “it is plain that the numbers of fast young men and women are increased with an unnecessary rapidity; while their morals and manners are not in the least improved. Gambling and betting, drunkenness and profanity, are getting to be as common at county fairs, as at any race-course in the country; and men who regard their characters of any account are obliged to keep away, or be accused of countenancing these growing evils.” One of the satirical writers of the day, in reporting his visit to a cattle show, humorously says, “There was few yoke of oxen on the ground, besides several yokes of sheep and a pile of carrots, and some worsted work, but they didn’t seem to attract much sympathy. The people hanker for pure agricultural hog-trots.”