Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-04-21
A Mr.. Durham. Of !

The HEN FEvER.-A Mr.. Durham, Of j
ton, who rivals Barnum in the art of hum
buggcry, has just published book exposing
the manner in which simple minded poultry
fanciers were imposed upon, by him and his
associates, q few years ago. We clip out the
following extract, which affords a key to the
whole book:
'Will it be credited that, during the summer
Of 1850, had dozens of full grown men-gen
tlemen-blt enthusiastic hen -fancieTs-who hau
contracted the fever suddeny-who came to my
residence for Cochin China eggs, at one dollar
each. and who upon being informed that had
not one in the house, would quietly sit down in
my parlof, and wait two, three, and four hours
at a time for the hens to lay them few that
they might take them away with them? Such
is the fact, however it may be doubted.
] subsequently sold the eggs at ten dollars a
dozen then at six dollars; and finally, the
third and fourth years at five dollars. This
paid me, because | sent off good many.
But they didn't hatch well after being trans
ported away and shaken over in the hands of
careless and ignorant or careless express agents.
Thus the buyers came again. Many of the
earlier fanciers tried this experiment over and
over again, but with similar ill-success: and
when they had expended ten, twenty, or thirty
dollars, perhaps, for eggs, they would begin at
the beginning Alright, and purchase few
chickens to rear, from which they finally could
procure their own eggs, and 60 forward more
successfully But all this took time to bring it
about And meanwhile somebody don't say
who-was sfeathering certain nests as rapidly
as course of high minded and honorable deal
ing with his fellow men would permit"
One day in the height of the epidemic, he
was visited by Southern gentleman, who be-
came purchaser, in the manner and at the
price below related:
GA five ear-old stag mounted the fence at
this moment and sent forth an electrifyng
crow, such rs would at that period, have taken
novice right out Of his boots and beautiful
eight pound pullet showed herself beside him at
the same time. The stranger turned round and
said
"There! What is your price for such pair
as that for instance ?"
"Not for sale, SIR"
"But you will sell them I s'pose?"
"No sir. l have yoYsger ones to dispose of,
but that pair are my models. can't sell
them"
"The genteman's eye vasexactly filled with
this pair of chickens.
"What will you take for those two fowls?''
Gone hundred dollars, sir" 1 replied.
81 guess you will-when you get it," he
added. 'Name your lowest price, now, for
those two. want good ones, if any
g prefer to keep them, rather than to part
with them at any price, l insisted. If, how
ever, a gentleman like yourself, who evidently
knows what good fowls are, desires to procure
the choicest specimens in the country, why,
confess to you that these are the persons into
whose hands prefer my best stock should fall.
But will show you some at lower figure,
continued, driving this pair away from the
fence"
"Don't you! Don't drive 'em away" said
he-"lct's see That's the cock ?"
eyes SIR
"And this the HEMP"
eyes,
Gone hundred dollars! You don't mean this
of course" he persisted
ono. l mean that ! would rather keep
them, SIR
"Wel-I'll-take them, - said the stranger.
"It's cruel But, I'll take them" and he paid
me five twenty-dollar gold pieces down on the
spot, for two ten-months old chickens, from my
splendid Royal Cochin China fowls.
"He had tender spot somewhere, that hit
during the conversation, presume. He took
the two chickens into his carriage, and have
never seen or heard from him from that day to
this. trust, however, if these few lines should
ever meet his eye, that his poultry turned out
we'll, and that he himself is in good health and
spirits"