THE HEN FEVER. 245 



then affixing to the committee's report the name of Mr. 



A , instead of his own, to deceive the public, that he 



was not interested. Mr. C intended that justice should 



not be done his competitor, by withholding his right as to 

 the first premium ; and I challenge him to an impartial exhi- 

 bition of the poultry (although some of his number were 

 borrowed), for the sum of one hundred dollars, to be de- 

 cided by three disinterested men." 



Another member of this committee then states that, 

 "being one of the Committee on Poultry at the late State 

 Fair, held in Providence, R. I., and having seen the report 

 of the same, I feel it my duty to say that such was not the 

 decision of the committee. Two were in favor of giving 



to the first premium ; as we could not agree, wc 



decided to award a premium of twelve dollars to , 



also the same to Mr. C , provided each were repre- 

 sented equal in the report." 



Now, this was a very trifling aflair to trouble the public 



with, yet it shows " how the thing was done." Mr. C 



had a happy way of " laying 'em all out," when /was not 

 in the field. If the advertisements " to the public " were 

 paid for duly (and I presume they were), I have no doubt 



the public are satisfied ; and Mr. , the iiy^red party, 



must keep his eyes open tight, if he trains in company with 

 experienced hen-men. This is but " a part of the system," 

 man ! 



Now, as this sort of thing was of very common occur- 

 rence among the hucksters who kept the hen-trade alive, for 

 21* 



