The History of The Hen Fever Part 24

notoriety."

This clown even "regrets that he did not attend this show;" as if it would have made a difference in the result! Well, well!--the impudence and ignorance of some people really astound us, at times! He says "some of the best Brahma Pootra fowls were entered 'Chittagongs.' Now, we declare emphatically that the desire on the part of certain breeders to cla.s.s the _Brahmas_ as identical with the _Chittagong_ fowl is absurd; and we a.s.sert that no man can produce any evidence that the Brahmas are identical with Chittagongs, beyond the fact that many breeders have produced mongrels, by crossing Brahmas with Chittagongs, and now seek to amalgamate the two breeds."

Who ever wished to "produce any evidence" on this subject, pray? "The people" wanted _fowls_; they never sought for "evidence," man! The breeder who could "produce" fowls was the man to succeed in the hen-trade. As you never did this, and only bought and sold wretched mongrels, with long names, you never succeeded. And "the people" said, "Served you right!"

This sapient editor then declares that he "doubts the ability of any _Poultry_ Society to maintain its existence _permanently_, for the reason that such societies will, sooner or later, degenerate into mere _speculating_ cliques, and the premiums will become a matter of _barter_, or a matter of _favor_ to particular men, like the operations of our government."

Is it possible! When did you discover this extraordinary and singular fact, my dear sir? Not until the close of the year 1854! After the cars had long since pa.s.sed by, and the fun was over, effectually and forever, in this country. Your warning was valuable, indeed! The colt had left the stable, and you _now_ come to fasten the door! O, chief of prophets in Henology! how much "the people" owe you for your advice and foresight in this hum!

This writer finally thus wriggles over the action of the "National"

Society at New York, which knocked his "Bother'ems" on the head so effectually, subst.i.tuting their true name (the "Grey Shanghaes") for this ridiculously a.s.sumed cognomen. He continues:

"The most absurd thing which came under our observation at the fair was the _cla.s.sification_ of certain fowls. There were the beautiful white Brahmas, with pencilled neck hackles, placed by the side of fowls of an owl or hawk color, and both cla.s.sed '_Grey Shanghaes_!'

How long will a few old fogies thus stultify themselves? Many exhibitors were highly displeased with this absurdity. They who think that the name of Brahma fowls can be changed to 'Grey Shanghaes' have entirely mistaken their ability to make such an innovation. What did all the nonsense in the resolutions pa.s.sed at the National Poultry Show in New York about the nomenclature of fowls effect? Just nothing at all."

Indeed! Didn't it? Is it possible? You don't say so! My dear friend, you have a great deal to learn yet; and I here advise you, affectionately and lovingly, and with an ardent desire for your present and future good, to--"hold your horses!"

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE.

Poultry exhibitions had been or were now being held all over the country. In the New England States, in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, numerous fairs had come off, at which the customary compet.i.tion among breeders of fancy poultry had been duly shown; and for a time, yet, out of Ma.s.sachusetts, the fever still raged, though with comparative abatement.

It was now a common thing, and certain men were in the habit of visiting the express offices, and examining coops of fowls, and taking the names of the persons to whom they were directed, and then writing them that they would furnish such fowls at a much cheaper rate. This occurred, generally, while the stock was _en route_ to its destination; but it never disturbed _me_.

Among the Rhode Islanders (who, by the way, generally speaking, have raised the best of all the Chinese varieties of fowls, for five years past) a feeling of desperate rivalry had grown up. At the Providence shows, many of the choicest specimens ever seen among us were exhibited and disposed of at high rates. But the management of the fairs there was not satisfactory to certain breeders, who, unfortunately, and naturally, drove rather "too slow coaches" to keep pace with a few of the leaders in the traffic there, as will be seen by the following _expose_, which I find in the shape of an advertis.e.m.e.nt in the _Woonsocket Patriot_:

In a report published subsequently to this State Fair in Rhode Island, the Committee on Poultry at the exhibition held there in the fall of 1854 awarded their first premium to the _chairman_ of the committee. The second premium was awarded to another man, who had just as good fowls, probably, but who wasn't smart enough to "keep up" with his compet.i.tor.

The person who came out thus second-best, only, at once charged, through the public prints, that an attempt had been made by the chairman thus "to hoodwink the public" in their future purchases (which was very likely, because it was a very common matter). The injured party says, in his published "card,"--

"No doubt Mr. C---- was ready to grasp at the appointment as the committee, and he was progressing in the examination, when I remonstrated, and had two other men added to the committee with him, supposing that justice would then be administered to the parties concerned. But Mr. C---- was determined to have the sole arrangement of the report, contending with the other two upwards of five hours, aggrandizing to himself the first premium, and then affixing to the committee's report the name of Mr. A----, instead of his own, to deceive the public, that he was not interested. Mr.

C---- intended that justice should not be done his compet.i.tor, by withholding his right as to the first premium; and I challenge him to an impartial exhibition of the poultry (although some of his number were borrowed), for the sum of one hundred dollars, to be decided by three disinterested men."

Another member of this committee then states that, "being one of the Committee on Poultry at the late State Fair, held in Providence, R.I., and having seen the report of the same, I feel it my duty to say that such was _not_ the decision of the committee. Two were in favor of giving to ---- the _first_ premium; as we could not agree, we decided to award a premium of _twelve dollars_ to ----, also the same to Mr. C----, provided each were represented equal in the report."

Now, this was a very trifling affair to trouble the public with, yet it shows "how the thing was done." Mr. C---- had a happy way of "laying 'em all out," when _I_ was not in the field. If the advertis.e.m.e.nts "to the public" were paid for duly (and I presume they were), I have no doubt the public are satisfied; and Mr. ----, the injured party, must keep his eyes open tight, if he trains in company with experienced hen-men. This is but "a part of the system," man!

Now, as this sort of thing was of very common occurrence among the hucksters who kept the hen-trade alive, for years, this was in nowise a matter of astonishment to the "hard heads" in the business. The only wonder was that the man who performed _this_ trifling trick did not carry out the dodge more effectually, and bear away _all_ the premiums in a similar manner, as had been done by some of his smarter predecessors!

The editor of a New York journal undertook as follows to "inform the public" (in 1854) of a little performance in kind, which had been common for several years at these fairs where "premiums" were awarded, and which proved a very profitable mode of operation, almost from the very beginning of fowl-shows in the United States. In an article upon a recent exhibition, under the caption "_How the Cards are Played_," he says:

"A fowl-breeder, by extraordinary means, raises a _few_ specimens of fowls of great size, which he takes to the exhibition; and, on the appearance and character of those _few_ specimens, he contracts to furnish fowls and eggs of the 'same stock.' He goes home with his pockets full of orders, and with not a _single fowl, for sale_, in his possession at the time, and hastens to purchase of A, B and C, such fowls as he can find, say at $3, $5 to $10 a pair, which he sends to fill his orders at $20 to $50 a pair, and no nearer in value to the stock that appeared on exhibition than a turkey is to a turkey _buzzard_! The same of _eggs_. Now, there are exceptions to this allegation, but we KNOW that such things are done, and we think that the public should be put on their guard."

There is no question about the accuracy of this statement. The writer says he "_knows_ that such things were done;" and I feel sure that no man in New York State ever knew the details of this dodge so well as _he_ did. It was a very common thing everywhere, however, among the hucksters. I had no occasion to resort to this plan; for the game _we_ played was a deeper one, altogether.

There was a "live Yankee," all the way from Rhode Island, who attended the New York show, who took the boys down there after the following style, as appears from another advertis.e.m.e.nt, which I recently met with, and which feat is thus described by one of the sufferers. In a "card"

published soon after that exhibition, this victim of misplaced confidence says, with a show of seeming injured innocence:

"Justice to the public, as well as myself, demands a slight explanation of a few facts connected with the recent National Poultry Show, in New York City.

"Mr. C----, of Woonsocket, R.I., accompanied me to New York for the purpose of attending the fair. On the fourth day of the exhibition it was announced that the judges were about to commence their labors. Mr. C----, seeing that his chance for a premium of _any_ kind on Asiatic fowls was very slim, came to me and requested, nay, even _insisted_, on grounds of mutual friends.h.i.+p, that I should put my two best hens with a c.o.c.k of his, for the purpose of taking the first premium. I finally consented, with the express understanding, _and no other_, that we should each share the honors and proceeds equally. On Friday it was announced, in the lecture-room, that _he_ had taken the first premium on the best pair of Asiatic fowls, of whatever sub-variety. I went to him, at once, and expressed my dissatisfaction, and reminded him of his agreement. He then agreed to see the secretary and all the reporters, and publish, or cause to be published, a card, stating that I was equally ent.i.tled to the premium with himself, as the hens were raised by me; and he furthermore agreed that his name should not be mentioned or published, in relation to the premium, except in connection with my own. How was that agreement fulfilled?

On taking up one of the New York dailies the next morning, I was surprised to see a puff laudatory of Mr. C----, while _my_ name was not alluded to,--which puff, report says, was paid for with a rooster. On my return home, a few days afterwards, I found that he had volunteered to make the following a.s.sertions: 'Well, I have laid 'em all out. I took the first premium on everything, best pair and all, and I can beat the world.' When asked how it was done, he said, 'I will tell you, _some time_, how I played my card.'"

But Mr. C----, with that reserve and indifference peculiar to gentlemen in the hen-trade who have accomplished a "neat operation," did not see fit to explain the process, and hesitated to inform his "friend" how he played his card. And so the aggrieved party resorted to the newspaper, and come the "power of the press" upon Mr. C----, as follows:

"Mr. C---- stated that my stock was 'mongrel,' and inferior.

Whether it be so or not, is for the thousands and tens of thousands who saw them, while on exhibition, to judge. After selecting two of my best hens for Mr. C----'s especial benefit (as it appears), the committee _even then_ saw fit to award me a premium, while his two coops of '_pure, full-blooded_ Asiatic fowls,' which he had cracked up so loud and extensively, did not receive, as I can learn, even a pa.s.sing notice, _except the old c.o.c.k_, which was put in the coop with my 'mongrel hens,' as he is pleased to call them. Perhaps the public would also be gratified to learn the manner in which he obtained the first premium at the recent Agricultural Fair in Providence, R.I. Was it not done by entering several coops of fowls, belonging to another person, in his own name, without that person's knowledge and consent, and pointing out those fowls to one or more of the judges, representing them as his own? No doubt the books of the society, and those of the railroad corporation which conveyed Mr. C----'s poultry to and from the fair, if compared, will throw some light upon the subject.

Is not this the manner in which he has frequently played his card; or, in other words, 'laid 'em all out'? As I have always treated him as a gentleman, a neighbor and friend, to what cause can I impute this low, mean contemptible and underhand manner of exalting himself at my expense? I would advise him, in conclusion, to peruse aesop's moral and instructive fable of the ambitious Jackdaw, and learn from that, that however well a course of deception and duplicity may at first prosper, the day of exposure and disgrace will come, and the ungainly Jackdaw, stripped of his ill-gotten plumage, will stand forth in all his native blackness and deformity."

Now, I have no doubt, that this Mr. C----, when he read the above "card"

(which must have cost its author considerable time and money), felt very badly about it, the more especially as the show-prizes had been duly announced, and he had the premium-money safely in his own pocket! And it certainly must have been a very gratifying circ.u.mstance, to the man who had been thus duped, to see his advertis.e.m.e.nt thus in print, too. Had _I_ been similarly situated, however, after losing my premium and the credit that belonged to my having had the best fowls on exhibition, also (only by thus joining issue with another to gull the "dear people"), I rather think I should not have _published_ the facts, to show myself up a fool as well as a knave. But this is merely a matter of taste. Mr.

B----, who signs this "card," will scarcely be caught in this way again.

We "live to learn."

Mr. B---- had not become apprised of the fact that, from the very commencement, the hen-trade was a huge gull, possessing an unconscionable maw, and most inconceivable powers of digestion. Older heads and wiser men than he had been duped or swallowed by this monster, that stalked about the earth for six long years, seeking whom he might devour. If this is the worst treatment he ever experienced at the hands of those who helped to feed the vampire, Mr. B---- is, indeed, a fortunate man. There _be_ those who would gladly exchange places with this gentleman, and give him large odds.

C---- was _smart_. I have known him for several years. He is one of the few "hen-men" whom I would trust alone with my purse. And whether he raised them, or purchased them, it matters nothing; he has _sold_ some of the best fowls in America.

In all human probability, the author of the "card" last quoted will live long enough (unless he shall have already stepped out) to know that "the people" went into the hen-trade blindfolded, and that the bandages have now dropped from their eyes. He will have ascertained, too, I think, that a resort to the newspapers for redress against such of his "friends" as may get ahead of his time in this way is precious poor consolation, when he reflects that advertis.e.m.e.nts cost money, and that the anathemas of an over-reached chicken-man have never yet been known to harm anybody--as far as heard from! _Selah!_

CHAPTER x.x.xVII.

FINAL DEATH-THROES.

The officers and the judges at the poultry-fairs (most of whom are self-const.i.tuted), as will be seen, usually carried away all the first prizes. At a late show of the New York _State_ Society, the president thereof received about _one third_ of all the premiums awarded, and yet his fowls were nearly all _second_ and _third_ rate, and not one of them, it was stated, was _bred_ by him. He may have bred a few specimens during last season, but not _one_ on exhibition was bred by him. The people and certain greenhorns were astonished to see the way in which the premiums were awarded to him. One of the judges there seemed determined to award to him every premium that his influence could secure, right or wrong; and, from what was learned from exhibitors, it did look very much like an existing understanding between the parties in regard to the premiums.

For the above statement we have the authority of a huckster in New York, who did _not_ obtain any premiums, and who says of the management of the state show there, that this sort of partiality shown in favor of the wire-pullers "is the rock on which the 'New England Poultry Society'

foundered; and our state society is treading in the footsteps of its 'ill.u.s.trious predecessor.'"

This writer contends that the president of the New York society, who thus received about all the premiums at one of their late shows, was a man of too much discernment not to see that such a _farce_ as some of the judges played would redound to his discredit. They went _too far_--overdid the matter; hence the universal indignation of exhibitors.

And then concludes that "poultry-societies generally merge into mere _speculating_ gatherings, a _few_ receiving most of the premiums, while the uninitiated exhibitor is made a tool to swell the income of those who pull the wires. Many breeders exhibit solely for the sake of the _notoriety_ that their fowls will receive,--a sort of _gratuitous_ advertising,"--and it is now got to be "notorious that an order sent to one who receives the _first_ premium for fowls is no more likely, in many cases, to be filled with any better fowls than if sent to one who took no premium at all; as the _prize_ fowls are not often for sale, and very inferior specimens are sent when orders are received."

This information would have answered very well, had it been afforded years ago. Now that the fever has disappeared almost entirely, and now that everybody has been gulled, and gouged, and _gorged_, with the fulsome and glowing accounts of the a.s.serted reality of this thing, from the pen of this very man among the rest, it comes rather late in the day for such an one to "warn the people," and in such a manner!

But, soon after the exhibition above referred to had closed, the president of the society issued a most astounding "card," _declining_ to receive the premiums awarded him, and in which appears the following sentence:

"In connection with the report of the Judges of the late State Poultry Show, allow me to make a statement. As appears from the report, my birds have been unusually successful in the contest for premiums, sixteen out of twenty distinct varieties exhibited being so honored. This was more than I expected, and more than I honestly think they deserved. And I am strongly of opinion that, had they had more time, they would have come to a different conclusion, in two or three cases."

I was prepared for almost anything in the hen-trade, up to this time; but this performance really astonished _me_! The man actually refused to take the premiums awarded him! He even went so far as to show the "judges" who _ought_ to have had the prizes, rather than himself. And he actually sent back to the committee the money they forwarded to him after the exhibition was over!!

Now, if this were not sufficient to astonish "the people," I am very much in error regarding the ordinary strength of their nerves. It was an almost immaculate performance; and the "New York State Poultry Society"