CHAPTER XV. 



ADVERTISING EXTRAORDINARY. 



From the outset of my experience in the final attack of 

 the hen fever, I took advantage of every possible opportu- 

 nity to disseminate the now world-wide known fact that 

 nobody else but myself possessed any " pure-bred " poul- 

 try ! I could have proved this by the afBdavits of more 

 than a thousand " disinterested witnesses," at any time 

 after April and May, 1851, had I been called upon so to 

 do. But as no one doubted this, there was then no con- 

 troversy. 



But, as time wore along, competition became rife, and 

 the foremiost chicken-raisers began to look about them for 

 the readiest means obtainable with which to cut each other's 

 throats ; not " with a feather," by any means, because that 

 would have " smelt of the shop ; " but whenever, wherever, 

 or however, their neighbors could be traduced, maligned, 

 vilified, or injured (in this pursuit), they embraced the 

 opportunity, and followed it up, without stint, especially 

 towards my humble self, until most of them, fortunately. 



