THE IIISXOKY OF THE HEN PHVEB. 819 



thus disposed of, really, was insufficient to pay the freight 

 bills for bringing them across the Atlantic, to say nothing 

 of their original high cost abroad. The show-man has 

 since left the hen-business, I learn, "a wiser if not a better 

 man;" while John retired with the simple exclamation, 

 "Most extr'ornerry result I hever 'eer 'd of in hall my 

 life ! " 



Soon after this little episode occurred, the second show 

 of the "National Poultry Society" (in January, 1855) 

 came off at Barnum's Museum, in New York ; which, 

 notwithstanding the best endeavors of the "President," was 

 a failure. The "Committee" shut out of their premium 

 list the Grey Shanghaes, altogether ; and the result of this 

 last exhibition was just what I had anticipated. But Mr. 

 Barnum can well afford to foot the bills ; and, as he is per- 

 fectly willing to do this, no objection will be raised to his 

 choice, I presume. This final exhibition at New York, I 

 have no doubt, closed up the business, for the present. 



As soon as this last fair had closed, and when the 

 lucky and unlucky contributors returned to Boston, I 

 invited a party of my former confreres to, my residence, 

 to dinner. I had been preparing for this little event 

 for several days ; and the following was the actual " bill 

 of fare" to which we all sat down, at RusSBT HouSB, 

 Melrose, on the fifth day of February, 1855 : 



