60 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



"It is true that a gizzard capable of getting rid of 

 leaden balls stuck with needles or lancets ought eas- 

 ily to dispose of a few lumps of dough." 



"Besides, heed is taken not to go beyond the fowl's 

 digestive powers. A halt is called as soon as the 

 crop appears to be full. It takes from six weeks to 

 two months of this treatment to bring the poulard to 

 perfection. ' ' 



"I am too fond of the poulard served up as a choice 

 roast to speak ill of what I have just heard ; never- 

 theless I will admit, Uncle, that this barbarous fat- 

 tening process is repulsive to me. I pity those poor 

 things crouching there in the dark, in cells where 

 they cannot move, and forcibly crammed with food 

 until almost stuffed to death. ' ' 



"This sympathy proceeds from a good disposition, 

 and I approve of it ; but, after all, what is to be done? 

 Since we need the poulard, we must needs counte- 

 nance the process by which the hen is turned into the 

 poulard. Our life is sustained by animal life. 

 Therefore all that our pity can do is to lessen as 

 much as possible the unavoidable suffering and, 

 above all, see to it that the victims of our needs do 

 not become also the victims of a useless and stupid 

 brutality." 



