Work For Some But Fun For Others.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 November 1936, Page 1 (Supplement)

Work For Some But Fun For Others.

The beauty of the show lies very much in the' eye of the beholder. There is, for instance,' a profound difference in the attitude toward the event in the mind of the small boy and in the mind of »the farmer. Between these two lie dozens of different types, who each of them see in the greatest show and parade of stock in the year something to take the imagination. It means nothing to a lot of people that the displays of some of the sections of sheep are un-l surpassed by those of any other show, but to the farmers who are there in hundreds this is a significant fact. The first day of the show is the day of business. It is the day to which the exhibitor have looked and worked through months of preparation. It is their final test of skill in the eyes of their fellows, and during the long; process of judging there is many a tenseness which can be dis-| pelled only when the awards are known. Farmers, at least hundreds who, are exhibitors in the stock sec-; lion, can see little fun or jollity in the judging day at the show. It is a day of suspense, and generally of toil, which starts early in the morning and finishes only when the day is well advanced and the stock is safely housed lor the night. It is a day of business, and the general farming garb for the occasion is a pair of dun garecs and an old coat. People’s day may become a time in which the farmer can expand, meet his friends, display his prize-winning animals, and pursue those financial courses by which he turns small, coloured cardboard tickets into cash; but judging day is reserved for business.

Day of Business. The ordinary mortal, unless he concentrates on the ring events arranged before his eyes, or on the pleasures of Side-show Alley, must feel a little out of it. Ihe country man is having his day, and into the mysteries, which be regards as the plainest normalities few townspeople will dare to pry. On people’s day, perhaps, the town man may venture questions, but on judging day a businesslike back bent over a pen of sheep discourages conversation j of the lighter sort.