358 
FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 


which is to be held in Hartford, December 16-19. Com- 
mittees on special premiums, purchasing exhibition coops 
for the Society, amending the Constitution, etc., were 
appointed, and it was voted to hold the next quarterly 
meeting in New Haven. 
A very lively discussion concerning the new standard 
took place, resulting in the adoption of the following reso- 
lution, which was opposed by only one speaker and two or 
three votes: 
HART¥ORD, May 12, 1874. 
To THE AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION. 
Ata meeting of the Connecticut State Poultry Society, held in Hart- 
ford, May 12th, it was 
Resolved, That this Society recognize the American Poultry Associa- 
tion as composed of high-minded, honorable gentlemen, every way quali- 
fied to pass upon and adopt a Standard of Excellence such as shall meet 
the approbation of breeders generally throughout the country; that we 
commend their labors at the Convention at Buffalo, and are willing to 
stand by them and give our support in their endeavors to “perpetually 
improve” the standard of breeding in this country; that we learn with 
pleasure that an early meeting of the Society is to be called for the pur- 
pose of correcting the errors which are apparent in the first edition of 
the Standard. H. H. Sropparp, 
C. A. PITKIN, 
J.S. GILMAN, 
Committee on Resolutions. 
The feeling—almost unanimous, I may say—among fan- 
ciers and breeders in this vicinity relating to the standard 
is, that while it is not perfect, it is not faulty through any 
intention on the part of the compilers. There is a strong 
feeling of confidence in the officers and members of the 
American Association. They are considered gentlemen who 
have only the best interest of the poultry breeders and 
fanciers at heart, and it is believed that every honest criti- 
cism and every notice of omissions or errors will receive at 
their hands only courteous and prompt attention. In this 
belief and with this feeling the meeting thought it advisable 
to say what it did in the resolution above given. 
And now—if you will allow me space—just one word 
from your correspondent. JI have probably read every 
article (some twenty-five in number) that has appeared 
against the standard, and carefully separating the honest 
criticisms and notes on apparent typographical and other 
errors from the articles which are clearly prompted from 
jealousy and chagrin, I find that the American Association 
can very easily make such corrections as will render the 
standard generally acceptable to the breeders of the coun- 
try. The Association has drawn out the respect and ad- 
miration of all right-thinking and honest breeders by the 
very dignified and courteous course it has pursued through 
all the mud and rotten-egg throwing it has had to endure 
since three or four persons, who care more for a little cheap 
notoriety than for a clear conscience, commenced their bil- 
lingsgate and contemptible personalties in writing upon the 
new standard. 
The American Association, I know, is above all that sort 
of thing, and can not be injured by it; but the temptation 
was strong to make it hot for the anonymous and other 
villifiers, and, for one, I am pleased to note that the per- 
sons attacked have thought their powder worth more than 
the game. Evidently every person who has real cause for 
complaint will be heard, and corrections made accordingly ; 
so that those who are attempting to create a disturbance for 
the sake of bringing themselves into notice will be the only 
dissatisfied ones in the country. The best thing they can 
do is to call a convention and see what a figure they will 
cut before the country. I should like to read over the list 
of persons who would attend it, and above all, I should like 
to have Mr. Burnham write it up under the head of the 

Standard Fever, and show up its humbuggery, as he once 
did the questionable transactions of the old-time fanciers. 
Mr. Burnham would certainly find a fine field at that con- 
vention for the flow of his genial humor. 
I am glad to see the call from the Secretary of the Ameri- 
can Association for corrections, and to learn that those who 
have found omissions and errors are promptly notifying 
him of the same, as the officers evidently intend to correct 
the standard at once. 
The prospects for the best exhibition ever held in this 
State are very flattering for next fall. 
Mr. Andrew Sugden, of Hartford, has imported a fine 
flock of Crevecceurs. 
A FEW WORDS OF EXPLANATION. 
It seems to be scarcely appreciated by our Hartford cor- 
respondent, this week, that the Fanciers’ Journal is not in 
the habit of indulging in ‘throwing mud,’ ete. We must 
insist that our friends also must not, in these columns, com- 
mit this folly. 
We have patiently heard and given in our paper space to 
both sides, upon this standard question. Our writers have 
accompanied their strictures with their proper signatures, 
or we know them all. And we have, editorially and other- 
wise, contended that the American Poultry Association is 
the only proper authority to call a new convention, if one be 
held, and through its auspices that the standard should be 
revised—as that Association proposes to do. 
The resolution passed by the Connecticut Poultry Society, 
May 12, 1874, is perfectly proper, but we do not opine that 
the A. P. A. needs any such indorsement. No body, that 
we remember, has said aught against this national organi- 
zation (certainly not in our columns), but the comments 
published, generally, have rather pointed in the main to the ~ 
hurried action of some of the ‘‘Committees of the Buffalo 
Convention,’ ete. That faults exist in the standard is evi- 
dent, since the officers of the A. P. A. have already an- 
nounced that they desire communications from all our 
fanciers, with a view to correcting the errors, omissions, etc., 
which may be fairly pointed out. This is as it should be, 
and no one can reasonably object to it. 
Our Hartford correspondent’s idea that Mr. G. P. Burn- © 
ham, who twenty years ago wrote such‘a lively, humorous 
record of the ‘hen fever” of that time, might, under. the 
head of the ‘‘ ‘standard fever,’ to-day, show up its humbug- 
gery, as he formerly did the questionable transactions of the 
old-time fanciers,’’ is not a bad one. We agree with our 
Hartford friend, that ‘Mr. B. would certainly find a fine 
field at the Convention for. the flow of his genial humor.” 
As to the American Poultry Association, itself, however, 
we yield to none in our estimation of the high-minded and 
honorable character of the gentlemen composing it. And, 
since our Hartford correspondent finds that ‘the A. P. A. 
can very easily make such corrections as will render the new 
standard generally acceptable,” we trust that what they pro- 
pose to do, in this direction, will end further controversy, as 
it ought to. But we fail to see where the “ billingsgate,”’ 
the ‘“‘contemptible personalities,’”’ or the ‘“mud and rotten- 
egg throwing”? comes in, as yet. We repeat it, in these 
columns, while we shall continuously contend for courtesy 
and civility with all our correspondents, we shall not forget 
the requirements of fair play, in all legitimate discussions, 
and shall insist in such matters upon the adoption of ‘the 
golden rule.” 
ee ee a ee ee 
aia aan ac hl i i aca ll ream iae i aaiac tila a 

