Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-14
TIE HEN FEVER.

Mr.. Burnham, of Boston, who rivals
Barnum in the art of humbuggery, has just
published book exposing the manner in
which simplc-minded poultry fancicrs were
imposed upon, by him and his associates, a
few years ago. We clip out the following
extract, which affords o key TO the whole
book:
"Will 1t be credited, that during the sum-
mer OF 1850, had dozens of full grown mcn
---gentemen-but enthusiastic hen-fanciers
who had contracted the fever suddenly
who came to my residence for Cochin China
eggs. at one dollar each, and who upon being
informed that | had not one in tie house
would quietly sit down in my parlor. and wait
two, three, and four hours ut time fer the
hens to lay them few, that they might take
them away with them? Such is the fact, how
ever it may be doubted.
subsequently sold the eggs at ten dollars
dozen; then at six dollars and finally. the
third and fourth years at FIVE dollars. This
paid me, because ] sent of good many.
But they didn't hatch well after being
transported away and shaken over in the
hands OF careless and ignorant or careless ex-
press agents. Thus the buyers came again.
Many Of the earlier fanciers tried their exper-
iment over and over again, but with similar
ill-success and when they han 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 fnallally could procure their own eggs
and go forward more successfully. But all
this took time to bring it about. And mean
while somebody don't say who---was
featferins certain nests as rapidly as acourse
CT hid-minded and honorable dealing with his
iellow-men would permit"
One day in the height of the epidemic, he
was visited by q Southern gentleman, who
became purchaser, in the manner and at the
price below related:
"a bvc-year-old stag mounted the fence at
this moment, and sent forth an electrifying
craw, such as would at that period, have taken
a novice right out of his boots and n beauti.
full 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 fer instance p
"'Not for sale, SIR
"'But you will sell them, s'pose ?
"'No sir. have younger ones to dispose
OF; but that pair are my models. can't tsell
them
The genteman's eye was exactly filed
with this pair of chickens.
What will you take for those two fowls p
Gone hundred dollars, sir. replied
~ guess you wil!--when you get it, he
added, Name your lowest price, now for
those two want good ones, if any,
al prefer to keep them, rather than to
part with them at any price l insisted. IF,
however, gentleman like yourself who evil |
IDENTIFY knows what good fowls are, desires to
procure the choicest specimens in the country, !
why, confess TO you that these are the per- !
sous into whose hands I prefer my best stock |
should fall But will show you some at |
lower figure l continued, driving this pair !
away from the fence.
"Don't you! Don't drive EN- away" said |
he--let's see. That's the cockr
"'Yes SIR
".And this the hen?
eyes
Zone hundred dollars. You don't mean |,
this Of course he persisted.
"'No. mean that would rather keep
them sir
"'Well-Ill--takct thcm,' said the stran,
ger. Its cruel. But, III take them and
he paid me five. twenty-dolar gold pieces |
down on the spot, for two ten-months old
chickens, from my splendid Royal Cochin
China fowls.
He had 4 tender spot somewhere, that !
hit huYing the conversotion presume. He |
took the two ch:clens into his carriage, aud /
! have never seen or heard from him from !
that day 10 this. tgpst, however if these |
few lines should ever meet bis eye, that his .
poultry turned out well. aud that he himself
is in good health aud spirits"