A DAY AT THE SHOW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 9

A DAY AT THE SHOW

"THE NAMES, WEIGHTS AND COLOURS OF THE COWS" (Contributed bj "Vox") As a matter of actual fact I put in two days at tho Show. As a, diffuser of knowledge and as an instructor of the people my duties called me thither, and, like a conscientious soldier, I was at my putet, punctual as regards my arrival, and quite inparticular as tec when i lt*ft the lipid, my job being one of those extremely rare jobs nowadays, not regulated, governed and controlled by the inspirations of tho "Court of Awards," and not subject to (he Divine rights of labour agents. Tho superabundance of free air on tho Friday did not contribute to cither tho happiness or tho comfort of the people present, chiefly judges and officials, and including tho prize pigs, the cattle, sheep in pens, and those engaged upon tin; .erection of tents, and the putting into position of "side shows," of: which this year, thero appeared to bo an augmented number—many more than v usual. The committee, being housed in a sited, were sheltered to some extent from the wind, and no doubt by this time next year ample brcakwjnds will be provided, that is, if pressure can not bo brought to bear upon the clerk of tho weather to put on a more suitable atmospheric menu for the time j being. ♦ * ■ ># * i

Everything had a tendency to fly away. Tents and hats Were capering üboiit in tho most lively fashion, and prudence suggested that even the wearers of artificial teeth keep their mouths reasonably closed, otherwise there was a, grave danger of one's masticators joining in tho gidd" frolic. The trees on the western side of the park must, I think, be provided with firmer foundations than some of our latter day theologians: Thev stood their ground, and in fine style too. They arc not carried about by "every wind of doctrine. That, much is plain. t *i* * ■ *

' "The Show" is something more than a. mere show. It is the one day of the vear when town and country meet, when old friendships are renewed and cemented in a friendly, tankard, and some of us are reminded of a fact, very apt to be forgotten, that all wealth comes from the land, and that in the interests of tho first person singular, it is just as well not to forget that fact. If there were no farms there would bo no towns, and every .single privilege and comfort that we enjoy in the city is duo primarily to the country behind it. That s a wholesome truth to remember once a year:at all events. It helps us to take a saner view of life, and to place a rather lower estimate of our own vast importance in the scheme •of things. After all, this country would manage to jog along tolerably well if thero were a considerable weeding out of land agents and other agents, and the clerks and satellites—the very "salt of the earth" I will most cheerfully admit; but after all we could, at a pinch, manage to rub along with a smaller measure of salt,-even if we had ft> eat our meat without seasoning. Too many condiments arc not good for the digestive organs, anyhow, and without the farmer we should have no meat at all. And on "Show. Day" we think of the show days of tho years that "Have slipped d-way from us; those who' "have drunk their cup a round or two before, and one by one crept sibntly to rest, and wo that now make merry in the room they left, and summer dresses in new bloom, ourselves must we beneath the couch of earth descend, we ourselves, and to make a couch for whom?" In their day they were earnest workers, w.orkors< we shall do well to copy, and we now enjov the fruits of their labours. It is good to think of cur fellow passengers who have disembarked. Sometimes, and no time is better than show time.

Many come to the show to turn an honest'penny, as well as those who come to spend. The ground this year was covered with showmen, keen students of human nature every one, who follow up fjhe shows and go all round the country. They must have a varied arid, on the whole, an interesting experience—after closing hours and the cash is counted. I suppose the mbro reflective ponder—ponder upon what a peculiar element human nature really is after all, and bow easy it is to work upon that nature if you just understand "the run of the ropes." Many of them make a living out of "games of skilful chance' —"games of chance"- puro and simple mostly, and the law ipso easily hoodwinked. These games are not new. If they are (not exactly ,"as old as Adam* I think it is a fair thing.to as' same that they a-re as old as Jacob, and Laban apd company. Anyhow., I suppose they had cattlo shows about the time that Jacob thought it would be a ciscreot thing for him to move back to ' the land of his fathers", taking with him his wives, his children, his servants, his followers, and not forgetting his "ring- stro'ked, spotted and speckled cattle," including "two. hundred she goats, twenty' he goats, two hundred f;wes and twenty rams," and a whole additional menagerie as well. Quito time ho moved, as be had found out that Laban had "deceived" him; and when you find that ' you arc in bad company the best thing to do is to quit it, and the sooner the quicker. Obviously Laban's farm was no place for him any more and he, too, was able to reflect when safe out of so dangerous territory that "cheats never prosper," or hardly ever prosper, he himself being a notable exception to the general rule. He was ono of the lucky ones, being born that way and gifted with a good mother.

Messrs Codlin and Moth were my next door neighbours at the Show. They own a r.cat and portable little outfit, covered by an ungaudy canopy. Both are youngish men of presentable appearance, and of most excellent manners, and "manners maketh the man." It is perfectly useless to disguise from myself whatever imposition I may attempt to palm off on to others, but all my life 1 have been "a friend of publicans and sinners." So naturally they arad I wore on the best Qf good terms. Wo seemed to understand one another from tho very jump, and they literally did a roaring trade. The idea of their little game was that you risked sums of money on our patriotic colours. A red, white and blue table stoo'd in front of >cn, and behind this a red, white and blua target You had to throw a dart, and if this struck the colour whereon your money was placed you got it back, and something more to boot; if not you lost it, and it is a. game you,can lose lots of money at too. I know, because inside of ten seconds the two shillings I had been saving up for my lunch "went west," and 1 never saw tno colour of it again. Some people risked a. shilling, others two shillings, and some as much as two or three pounds at a time—and sometimes lost the lot. There were a few winners, and many losers, and at, the close of tho day Messrs Codlin and Moth must have retired with very full pockets indeed. I was so busy I couldn't master tho details of the scheme properly, but I'm sure there's money in it, and that something similar would suit me nicely. No great capital required, no heavy shop rents to pay, or enormous stocks to maintain. And people like being "had" at the hands of a stranger especially. To

"have" people only two fundamental principles are needful: firstly, confidence and secondly, cupidity. Confidence in yourself first of all. Banish timidity for good and all. Then you must establish fiie feeling of confidence in the breasts'of your prospective clients, and then inspire him With a desire for gain, gain easily got, and you've got .him, safe as a church, be the amount involved one shilling or a thousand pounds, the principle is exactly the same in both cases. But remember this, never take down anybody for a small amount, as by so doing you will only succeed in making yourself contemptible in the •■yes of the law, and you are liable to loose your own self respect too. I set out (o describe tho Show, I think, but being a natural born preacher 1 simply ran not help my weakness for giving instruction, in season and cm I of season too. It is a gift.

There was a great -.attendance on "People's" Day. A record attendance, I do believe. Some were thc+c for the first time. Residents some of them for years toe, but never been to the Show before; and somo of these were not onlj surprised, but highly pleased 'with their experience. '.'And.what struck you most?" I have asked several, and, have not managed (0 get any definite reply. But I suppose f.he absolutely stupendous number of motor cars present was one (if the most impressive . sights. It would be interesting exactly how many there were. The motor business now seems to bo THE business, and all other Departments of commerce merely side lines by comparison. . 9'