384 The Canary Book. 



concerned, the show was successful enough, but the weather 

 was wretched, for the rain came pelting down in torrents, 

 at short intervals, during the whole time the exhibition was 

 open, and consequently the attendance of the public was of 

 the most meagre description possible. I acted as secretary, 

 and the lesson which I learnt was not readily forgotten by 

 me, nor by other individuals, I should imagine, who were 

 likewise interested in the undertaking. However, after the 

 lapse of a few more years, and with the infusion of "new 

 blood " among us, we ventured to get up another upon a more 

 extended scale, and this was attended with better success, 

 and it continued to prosper for a little while; but through 

 a too reckless expenditure and too liberal a programme, it 

 ultimately proved a failure and its members had to "pay 

 the piper." Since that time I have had a good deal of expe- 

 rience in getting up shows, and having been permitted to 

 exercise my own discretion almost entirely in managing a 

 new society, formed by myself, in a different town to the 

 one previously referred to, and which has on every occasion been 

 attended with brilliant success a good balance having been 

 left in hand after the conclusion of each show, after every 

 expense was satisfactorily liquidated, and this, too, in the 

 face of a liberal programme and no niggardly " cheeseparing " 

 policy in the management I will proceed, for the benefit 

 of those fanciers who have repeatedly been called upon to 

 put their hands in their pockets and pay large sums to make 

 up the deficiencies caused by losses incurred by exhibitions 

 of this sort, to detail fully the plan which I adopted, and which 

 has been so far attended with beneficial and satisfactory 

 results ; and if the advice given be strictly followed, any show 

 conducted with energy and determination will, I am con- 

 vinced, be a success. 



One of the principal requirements in commencing an " open " 

 show is to get a good secretary, for much depends upon 

 this functionary for the success or otherwise of the under- 

 taking. What is required is a sober, steady, industrious, 

 intelligent man, active in mind and body, of good address, 

 bland and conciliatory manners, and capable of expressing 



