Canary Societies, and Close and Open Shows. 385 



himself in a gentlemanly and becoming style, for it will 

 be part of his duty to enter into correspondence with 

 the elite of the town and neighbourhood where the show is 

 about to take place, asking them for their patronage 

 and support ; and if they were to receive a rude or badly- 

 constructed missive, badly written, it would be calculated 

 to hinder rather than facilitate the object sought to be 

 accomplished. 



OFFICERS. There is no necessity for a code of rules for a 

 society of this description. In the first place, a few fanciers 

 meet together and decide to have a show, to be " open to all 

 England," They then confer together, and select some person 

 whom they consider most suitable to fill the office of secretary. 

 One or two such individuals are usually to be found in most 

 towns of any importance ; but they are not always willing 

 to act in that capacity, for it is both a laborious and an 

 unthankful office. However, if they are of an enthusiastic 

 temperament and are in good health, they rarely refuse when 

 pressed, and more particularly if they are flattered a little, 

 for all men are more or less vain enough to show a little weak- 

 ness in this direction; and, if a man is not naturally an 

 enthusiast, then he is unsuited for such an occupation. A 

 secretary having been duly appointed and a day and place 

 fixed to hold a meeting, it will be his duty to send a written 

 notice, or call upon those fanciers personally whom he con- 

 siders most capable of assisting him in carrying out the pro- 

 ject. Halfpenny post-cards will be found exceedingly useful 

 for giving notice to the office bearers whenever the secretary 

 thinks it desirable to consult them upon any subject on which 

 their advice appears to him necessary. 



It is important that a respectable hotel should be selected 

 for the purpose of holding meetings, &c., and not a low public- 

 house, as is sometimes the case. 



The next consideration of moment is to fix upon a president, 

 and afterwards a vice-president. The office of president is 

 simply honorary, but it is most desirable to have a gentleman 

 of affluence and position, well known and highly esteemed 

 to fill it, for obvious reasons. Having decided upon some 



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