Mr. Hewitt av Show Management. 173 



an exhibitor actually came up to us and stated directly, ' Those are the best pens in the show, and 

 win wherever they go.' They were at the time not judged, and I am glad to say were fairly beaten. 



" Another case quite as annoying to those on whose awards all the responsibility depended 

 is worthy of mention. Since our largest show has adopted 'open' judging, a person who had 

 obtained access by payment of the admission money for that especial day — a sum, by-the-bye, 

 which, though large in amount, most probably injures as much one way as it improves in the other 

 the general finances (so far as poultry is concerned) of the show — when civilly remonstrated with 

 by the arbitrators, urged that he had just as much right there as ive had, and purposely continued 

 listening to every private remark that emanated from either of us. Finding it simply impossible 

 to go on in this way, we courteously explained that 'either he must go out, or we must.' Although 

 evidently a really well-educated man, and replete with aptly-chosen arguments in defence of his 

 paid-for rights, he at length purposely turned his back against the fowls in the next class, to 

 prevent our seeing them, and, in a way more conspicuous and offensive than ever, defied our legal 

 right to remove him. On remonstrating with the committee, who concurred with us that he was 

 not under the influence of liquor, but was most probably trying to provoke others to some show 

 of temper, he was at length with his companion removed, but certainly more by coercion than by 

 coaxing. I may confidently ask, can judges be equally cool and collected under such circumstances 

 as though nothing of the kind had transpired .■' 



" I look upon 'open judging' as a grave and serious blunder, and I say it because, as in all 

 other matters, so in the management of poultry exhibitions by committees, perfection can alone be 

 obtained either by dearly-paid-for experience on the one hand, or by availing themselves of the 

 recorded conclusions of those who have preceded them. My own impression is simply that, in 

 every case where it is possible to carry out the plan (and excepting in an open field, this is easily 

 managed), no person beyond a careful man accustomed to handle poultry should be admitted to the 

 show at all, from the time the birds are all penned until the awards are fully completed. This one 

 attendant (or one to each set of judges) should be a man well practised in taking birds in and out 

 of the show-pens ; and should the judges require his assistance to ascertain beyond question, ' by 

 handling,' any dubious point that may arise, he should be always ready to take out any fowls 

 selected for especial examination, and then withdraw a few yards, beyond earshot, during the time 

 occupied in final consideration. 



"This leads me on to another item not less deserving of attention, viz., the wilful injury of 

 prize birds at exhibitions. A brief anecdote will be my best explanation. Not long since I was 

 waiting to begin judging at a show, where the arrangements, from a variety of mishaps, proved 

 incomplete for more than two hours after the time originally fixed. I had walked about the field 

 fully that time (or even more) ' doing nothing,' when it suddenly commenced raining with great 

 violence. I was making off for shelter to the inn, about two hundred yards away, but a 

 committee-man called out, ' Mr. Hewitt, come into the tent, or you'll get soaked to the skin.' I 

 complied, and sat myself down on an empty basket at the entrance. Shortly afterwards, an 

 exhibitor's man came into the tent, and spoke to me as he passed as to the weather ; my eye 

 naturally wandered after him, as he took a basket he was carrying to a large class of Asiatic fowls, 

 many pens containing specimens at once ponderous and characteristically perfect. After promptly 

 penning the birds with which he was entrusted, he hastily glanced along tlie class, and J.eeing a pair 

 he well knew must beat him, put his hand through the door, abruptly grasped the hen by one leg, 

 and shook her violently. I was not long in leaving my seat ; and getting alongside, abruptly asked, 

 ' What on earth did you do that for .'' ' His reply was a lie — for it is quite as well to call things by 

 their proper names — ' They were foighting.' I rejoined, ' If you don't get off at once, I'll fetch the 



