THE HISTORV OF THK MEN FEVER. 253 



wto says of the managelnent of the state show there, that 

 this sort of partiality shown in favor of the wire-pullers " is 

 the rock on which the ' New England Poultry Society ' 

 foundered ; and our state society is treading in the foot- 

 steps of its 'illustrious predecessor.' " 



This writer contends that the president of the New 

 York society, who thus received about all the premiums at 

 one of their late shows, was a man of too much discernment 

 not to see that such a farce as some of the judges played 

 •would redound to his discredit. They went too far — over- 

 did the matter ; hence the universal indignation of exhibitors. 

 And then concludes that "poultry-societies generally merge 

 into mere Speculating gatherings, a, few receiving most of 

 the premiums, while the uninitiated exhibitor is made a tool 

 to swell the, income of those who pull the wires. Many 

 breeders exhibit solely for the Bake of the notoriety that 

 their fowls will receive, — a sort oi gratuitous advertising," 

 — and it is now got to be " notorious that an ordet sent to 

 one who receives the first premium for fowls is no more 

 likely, in many cases, to be filled with any better fowls 

 than if sent to one who took no premium at all ; as the prize 

 fowls are not often for sale, and very inferior gpeciihens are 

 sent when orders are received." 



This information would have answered very well, had it 

 been afforded years ago. Now that the fever has disap- 

 peared almost entirely^ and now that everybody has beon 

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