716 
FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
Kinney tell which way is Besior not? At Knight with a 
Leighton the Table he will Hunt or Serch through a Pyle of 
eggs for that Black air bubble. He is a Bonney John when 
he goes to Town , and is Shore to get Rich or a little Riley, 
and goes Twining along the Streator is sure to Tilton some 
Ward police Mann. Budd he some Howe Kern Dodge to the 
very Brink of a Row and get off without Knox. In his 
dealings he is Quicker than a Coon, and Kraft- y as a Fox. 
He says this Spinning Brahma controversy is like Bussing, 
easier Dunn than understood; thinks it’s time the Warr 
Ware ended ; that Blood will tell who is Wright. Bless the 
editor who has to Wade through and Reed such a Riddle. 
However Short, Gay or Cutting he would not Shirk to Burn- 
ham up, every one he could Lighton. He thinks it time to 
stop these Dobbs and no longer Foster this Meagher nonsense, 
which will in Flooding the land Neather be Weller, result in 
any good to the fancier or Farmer. No Friend or Freeman 
would Raub the fancy who values his Pease. Johnny is 
getting ready for the shows and if his P. Cochin Gains as 
fast as usual he May be a Trimmer and first prize Winner. 
He will Fling out the small Fries, and Dainty Commons, 
and the Worst leave for the Hawks. If that little hen he 
first put in his Henry, should Dyer get killed, he would put 
her in a Coffin and on the Morrow have some well posted 
Churchman preach a dignified sermon, and Woodbury her in 
his Field, for was not she the Starr that Brake through the 
Cloud, that made him Centre his affections on, and become 
a Fowler ? Now that Bird is the Flower of his family of pets. 
In sun, Shade, Snow, or rain Storm, he shows no Lull, 
nor does his attention Flagg. He is a Chapin thousand to 
Bless his Pearl — his first love in chiekendom. May he 
ever Seitz thus, and Sweet be life’s Battles through every 
Stage, and Grant free Rhoads even to the other side of 
Jordan. This concludes my Simple story. I omitted Peter 
because he denied his master three times before the cock 
crew. G. O. B. 
Brooklandville, Md. 
TO TRAP FOXES. 
A neighbor of mine, an old trapper, says that the best 
way to catch foxes is to set a steel trap in a woodchuck hole, 
having the trap nicely covered with gravel, leaves, etc., to 
make the place look natural. Put the bait inside of the hole, 
so that the fox will have to pass over the trap to get it. 
Several foxes have been caught in this way the past autumn. 
I write this because I wish every one to know how to catch 
foxes, which are the worst enemy of the poultry raiser in 
these parts at least. C. E. L. Hayward. 
Peterboro, N. H. 
THE CENTENNIAL. 
Despite the sectional jealousy which has made itself ap- 
parent in the carrying out of the noble plan for properly 
celebrating the nation’s first Centennial Anniversary — yet 
such is the liberality of those patriotic hearts who recall the 
nation’s birth-day with pride and affection, that we may 
have full confidence that the matter will be carried to a suc- 
cessful and triumphant conclusion. And among the vast 
numbers of inventions, manufactures, and productions, in- 
dicative of the nation’s growth and advance, shall there be 
no record of our progress and attainments in our favorite 
pursuit — a pursuit which is growing in importance as a 
domestic economy and should be a part and portion of every 
home in the land? Can we not mass together upon that 
occasion the best results of our breeding, from every part of 
our vast country, the finest collection of birds ever exhibited, 
to compete for honors with England’s prize-winners, and 
the choicest birds of France and other lands? The time 
approaches, and it is not too early to consider this matter, 
nor too early to mate up our fowls with a view to special 
cultivation for this purpose. Two more breeding seasons 
only intervene, and will be needed too, with all our skill, if 
we would not see ourselves beaten and discredited by breed- 
ers from across the ocean. Forget the long-winded, tiresome 
claims of some would-be prophet, to the honor of having 
originated this breed or that ; forget and put away the dis- 
putes about this standard or that; and, oh, ye editors, un- 
conscious and innocent, give us, your readers, something 
better and more improving for study and reflection. Let 
breeders advertise their claims to merits and patronage 
properly, and not ambush an advertisement under cover of 
some dispute over a question of no interest to any except 
those directly concerned. 
Frown down these practices, gentlemen, and leave them 
behind, and stand forth united and in earnest to do good 
work in placing before our visitors in 1876 the grandest col- 
lection of fowls ever shown. With our host of veteran 
breeders and lovers of fine fowls, working for a common pur- 
pose and thoroughly united and in earnest there is no chance 
of failure, nor any result but a grand success, such as will be 
felt profitably months and years after. Rightly managed we 
may reverse the balance of trade with England in our favor, 
and export to them as they have so long and profitably done 
to us, grand birds at paying prices, thus giving a lasting im- 
pulse to our favorite economy. 
There should be in every city and village in the country 
where interest in fine fowls manifests itself, some one au- 
thorized to collect and forward to the proper authority, sub- 
scriptions for this purpose ; and enough should be obtained 
and easily too, as to warrant the bestowal of such prizes as 
would bring forward the very best fowls, from not only 
every state in the Union, but from foreign lands. Twenty- 
five thousand dollars is none too much to devote to this pur- 
pose, and will be such a provision as the national character 
of the exhibition demands. Put responsible positions only 
in the hands of gentlemen of national reputation. Select 
judges as are not only above suspicion of wrong doing, but 
well and thoroughly posted, and in every way surround the 
enterprise with energy and good faith that shall be apparent 
in every decision and official undertaking, and, my word for 
it, there will date from then an improvement in fowl fancy- 
ing well worthy the national character. Progress. 
CROTCHETS OF THE POULTRY FANCY. 
BY PETER SIMPLE. 
No. 6. 
“I have so great a contempt and detestation for meanness, that I could 
sooner make a friend of one who had committed murder, than of a man 
who could be capable, in any instance, of the former vice. Under mean- 
ness, I comprehend dishonesty; under dishonesty, ingratitude; under 
ingratitude, irreligion; and under this latter, every species of vice and 
immorality in human nature .” — Laurence Sterne. 
1 was cautious, at the outset, in preparing these brief 
papers for your columns, Mr. Editor, to premise that I 
should only write typically, in my notes upon the “ Crotchets 
of the Fancy,” and I fully agree with the wise author from 
whom I make the brief quotation standing at the head of 
