12 KEV. F. D. HUNTINGTON'S 



the day of publication, as have been sold of this popular 

 humorous work, and the demand still continues unabated. 



Out of over three hundred voluntary criticisms and 

 notices of Bumham's "History of the Hen Fever," but 

 four have yet been seen that were not favorable, or lauda- 

 tory of its merits. 



Thte religious press have given the work a warm ap- 

 proval, generally ; and yet the Rev. Mr. Huntington, of 

 Boston, attacked this popular book in his pulpit, and de- 

 clared, in substance, that he was grieved and astonished to 

 hear that it was read by all cl^s'es, found on all centre- 

 tables, and placed in the hands of youth. Sooner than 

 have his boy obtain wealth by such practices as were in 

 that work presented as "shrewdness," he "would rather he 

 would live all his' days in an almshouse, and be buried 

 without a coffin." '' 



The author of the "History of the Hen Fevek" 

 would ordinarily deem comment of his own unnecessary, 

 after quoting the above opinions of the religious press, and 

 of the Rev. Mr. Huntington in juxtaposition. But, as he 

 feels that he has written but "a plain, unvarnished" and 

 truthful history of a generally unprofitable mania, — which 

 record cannot but have the effect to open the eyes of hun- 

 dreds and thousands to the ridiculousness of its details, — so 

 he cannot tacitly submit to censure, without offering to the 

 public the explanation that thus seems to be demanded, 

 after the promulgation of the extraordinary strictures that 

 have been uttered by the reverend gentleman who so 

 earnestly and ruthlessly denounces this book from hia^ 

 pulpit. 



