THE HISTORY OF THE HEN FEVER. 83 



Where wei j ye all on that eventful night, when six hun- 

 dred sober, " respectable " representatives of "the people" 

 were assembled within the walls of our time-honored state 

 edifice upoi Beacon Hill, in serious and animated conclave, 

 to decide the momentous question that " hens was hens,'' 

 notwithstanding, nevertheless ! 



" Mr. President," exclaimed one of these gentlemen 

 'whose speech was not publicly reported, I think), "Mr. 

 President, the times is propishus. We 're a-enterin' on a 

 new ery. The people is a-movin' in this 'ere great, and 

 wonderful, and extraordinary — I may say, Mr. President, 

 this 'ere soul-stirrin' and 'lectrefyin — branch of interestin' 

 rural erconomy." (Applause, during which the speaker 

 advanced a step or two nearer to the presiding officer's desk, 

 wiped his nose fiercely upon a fiery-fed bandanna handker- 

 chief, and proceeded.) 



" The world, Mr. President," he continued, " is a-growin' 

 wiser ev'ry day, — I may say ev'ry hour, Mr. President ! 

 Ay, sir, ev'ry minute." (Loud applause, amid which one- 

 old gentleman in a bob-wig was particularly vociferous.) 



" I say, Mr. President, the people is a-growin' wiser con- 

 tinu'lly ; and by that expression, sir, I mean to convey the 

 idee that they are a-gettin' to know more, sir ! Who wUl 

 gainsay this position ? Whar 's the man — whar 's the 

 er — individooal, sir — that '11 stan' up 'ere to-night, in this 

 hallowed hall, under the shadder of this doom above our 



