306 THR HISTORY OF THE HEN FEVER. 



the Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Charlotte Gough, the 

 Qountess of Bradford, Rt. Hon. Countess of Littlefield, Lady 

 Chetwynd, Hon. Viscountess Hill, Lady Littleton, Hon. 

 Mrs. Percy, Lady Scott, and ^ host of other noble and 

 royal lords and ladies, whose names are well known among 

 the lines of English aristocracy. 



But, as time advanced, the star of Shanghae-ism began to 

 wane. The nobility tired of the excitement, and the people 

 of England and of the United States began to ascertain that 

 there was absolutely nothing in this " hum," save what the 

 " importers and breeders " had made, through the influence 

 of the newspapers ; and while a few of the last men were 

 examining the, thickness of the shell, cautiously and warily, 

 the long-inflated bubble burst! and, as the fragments 

 descended upon the devoted heads of the unlucky star-gaz- 

 ers, a cry was faintly heard, from beneath the ruins — 

 " Stand from finder ! " 



I had fjeen. watching for this climax for several months,; 

 and when the explosion occurred, as nrairly as I can " cal- 

 'late," / was n't thar ! 



