A Kindergarten Experiment 241 



The habit of owning pets, like most habits, 

 seems to be progressive. I owned two birds, and 

 longed for more. But I was not certain just what 

 to procure. I did not care for a parrot a vulgar 

 and garrulous creature, whose education, both moral 

 and intellectual, requires almost more care than that 

 of a child ; a cockatoo seemed little better, except 

 that he is less gaudy ; while a mocking-bird becomes 

 in time altogether too confidential. And so I did 

 not extend the confines of my aviary. 



It was while in this state of mind that I one 

 evening attended the chicken-show at Madison 

 Square Garden. I found it very interesting. What 

 kings those roosters were, and how proud and defiant ! 

 And how docile and domestic the little hens seemed, 

 even in such a strange and public place ! All of 

 these creatures were busy and alert, doing their best 

 to entertain the company, although it was far beyond 

 their usual hour for retiring. At last I came to a 

 spot that appeared to possess special attractiveness. 

 It would be hard to say whether it most resembled 

 a hospital, a foundry, or an asylum. It was the 

 incubator. I looked through the windows on the 



