Mr. Hewitt on Show Management. 
1 73 
an exhibitor actually came up to us and stated directly, ‘ Those are the best pens in the show, and 
win wherever they go. They were at the time not judged, and I am glad to say were fairly beaten. 
Another case quite as annoying to those on whose awards all the responsibility depended 
is worthy of mention. Since our largest show has adopted ‘open’ judging, a person who had 
obtained access by payment of the admission money for that especial day — a sum, by-the-bye, 
which, though large in amount, most probably injures as much one way as it improves in the other 
the general finances (so far as poultry is concerned) of the show — when civilly remonstrated with 
by the arbitrators, urged that he had just as much right there as we had , and purposely continued 
listening to every private remark that emanated from either of us. Finding it simply impossible 
to go on in this way, we courteously explained that ‘either he must go out, or we must.’ Although 
evidently a really well-educated man, and replete with aptly-chosen arguments in defence of his 
paid-for rights, he at length purposely turned his back against the fowls in the next class, to 
prevent our seeing them, and, in a way more conspicuous and offensive than ever, defied our legal 
right to remove him. On remonstrating with the committee, who concurred with us that he was 
not under the influence of liquor, but was most probably trying to provoke others to some show 
of temper, he was at length with his companion removed, but certainly more by coercion than by 
coaxing. I may confidently ask, can judges be equally cool and collected under such circumstances 
as though nothing of the kind had transpired ? 
“ I look upon ‘open judging’ as a grave and serious blunder, and I say it because, as in all 
other matters, so in the management of poultry exhibitions by committees, perfection can alone be 
obtained either by dearly-paid-for experience on the one hand, or by availing themselves of the 
recorded conclusions of those who have preceded them. My own impression is simply that, in 
every case where it is possible to carry out the plan (and excepting in an open field, this is easily 
managed), no person beyond a careful man accustomed to handle poultry should be admitted to the 
show at all, from the time the birds are all penned until the awards are fully completed. This one 
attendant (or one to each set of judges) should be a man well practised in taking birds in and out 
of the show-pens ; and should the judges require his assistance to ascertain beyond question, ‘ by 
handling,’ any dubious point that may arise, he should be always ready to take out any fowls 
selected for especial examination, and then withdraw a few yards, beyond earshot, during the time 
occupied in final consideration. 
“This leads me on to another item not less deserving of attention, viz., the wilful injury of 
prize birds at exhibitions. A brief anecdote will be my best explanation. Not long since I was 
waiting to begin judging at a show, where the arrangements, from a variety of mishaps, proved 
incomplete for more than two hours after the time originally fixed. I had walked about the field 
fully that time (or even more) ‘ doing nothing ,’ when it suddenly commenced raining with great 
violence. I was making off for shelter to the inn, about two hundred yards away, but a 
committee-man called out, ‘Mr. Hewitt, come into the tent, or you’ll get soaked to the skin.’ I 
complied, and sat myself down on an empty basket at the entrance. Shortly afterwards, an 
exhibitor’s man came into the tent, and spoke to me as he passed as to the weather , my ej e 
naturally wandered after him, as he took a basket he was carrying to a large class of Asiatic fowls, 
many pens containing specimens at once ponderous and characteristically pci feet. Aftei piomptl) 
penning the birds with which he was entrusted, he hastily glanced along the class, and seeing a pair 
he well knew must beat him, put his hand through the door, abruptly grasped the hen by one leg. 
and shook her violently. I was not long in leaving my seat ; and getting alongside, abruptly asked, 
‘ What on earth did you do that for ? ’ His reply was a lie— for it is quite as well to call things by 
their proper names — ‘They were foighting.’ I rejoined, ‘ If you don t get off at once, I 11 fetch the 
