THE HISTORY OF IHE HEN FEVER. 205 



"Thehenfever," continued Mr. B , "isbutjustie^'Mw 



to be realized, ladies and gentlemen, among us." (Barnum 

 had been attacked by the malady only a few weeks previous- 

 ly, and had n't " heard from the back counties " then !) 

 " This first exhibition of the National Poultry Society, my 

 friends, is ample evidence in support of this statement. 

 W^as there ever such a show seen, or heard of, ladies and 

 gentlemen, as this which you are now the witnesses of? 

 Never ! Yet, I repeat it, this is but the commencement. 

 The enthusiasm which has attended upon this exhibition, the 

 feelings that have been stirred up by this before unheard-of 

 display, the people of every grade in society that come for- 

 ward here in its support, the zeal which animates the bosoms 

 of the thousands upon thousands who have attended it, and 

 the names of the men connected with its origin and present 

 patronage, afford ample evidence in support of my assertions, 

 that the fire has but just begun — just begun to burn, fairly, 

 ladies and gentlemen ! " (" That 's a fact," was the ready 

 response of a young gentleman who had just paid my 

 agent over three hundred dollars for a few samples of niy 

 " choice " chickens ; the first he ever owned !) 



" / want to say a few words," remarked a stranger, 



under the gallery, at this point. But he was requested by 



the chairman to " hold in ! " until Mr. Barnum concluded. 



After considerable urging, this anxious man was prevailed 



18 



