Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25

every place or spot upon which they set
their unholy feet, 1t matters but little
what influence or motive impels the act,
or stimulates to the transgression. They
Will scratch, II Is their nature TO
scratch. | am down on them for scratch.
Ing, aud down on the carelessness and
Indifference which tolerate them at large
that they may scratch.
II some heed is not given to this sub
ject and some improvement effected be-
fore the next September election. the
whole matter shall be brought directly
before the people as a plank in the plat
form OF their political principles, and
made the grand rallying point OF the
campaign. The merits of the case will
justify such course, and the present
attitude and relation of parties In the
State will commend the action. No man
should be allowed TO represent any town,
precinct or burrough, or be chosen to
any Office OF profit, responsibility or
trust, pound-keeper, poor, master or high
way surveyor, who allows, permits, or
In any manner sanctions the running at
large of hens or other fowl, with the
full knowledge and understanding that
they will and do scratch. When such a
position is taken by the people of the
commonwealth, and candidates for Office
are squared to the principles and quail
flca,ions herein set forth, then most GER
tainly aud assuredly will our prominent
citizens and aspiring politicians shut up
or otherwise take care of their hens.
Now l am, and always have been, a
great admirer and something Of a lover
Of hens, especially of broied chicken
and poached eggs. am in no sense I'M
friendly to any particular breed class or
variety of hens. But their unwhole-
some encroachmeuts, the misChievous
depredations of this species of personal
estate, so sadly and dedantly committed
upon our reserved retreats and gardens
| green Mercy horse-hoes and dray-
rakes are nothing in comparison with
them. An old hen and her bumble-bee
brood, for stirring, mellowing and pull
verizing the soil, stand first and fore
most in the ranks Of agricultural inven-
lions. They scratch and keep scratch
ing in constant and undated motion,
from the grey Of the morning until noon
tide and until the blaze of day retires
before the shades of evening. 1t is a
law Of their being and q decree in their
destiny to scratch, and that continually.
But, as have stated, good dish Of
ham and eggs for breakfast, or q we'll
prepared "get-up" of chicken. fxings for
dinner, are very agreeable refreshments
and well calculated to reconcile the
stoms chs, If not the feelings, of the most
dainty and sensitive. But then, those
fowls would relish far better, and that
dish of eggs would nourish and give
equally as good satfaction were they
the sole product Of their owners indus
try, instead Of being fattened at neigh
boring pig stye, or grown from the
crumbs of an adjacent household.
Every man who keeps hens, therefore,
should keep land enough to keep them
on, especially during the season of hatch
ing and scratching.
l might enlarge upon this important
matter, and give other and weghtier
reasons for the positions taken. But a
hint to the wise is deemed sufficient. I
will add, however, in concluding this
article, that large amount Of personal
difficulty between neighbors, and g
goodly share of unpleasant feeling among
them, to say nothing about actual dam
ages, would be avoided were the owners
of hens more careful in relation to their
running at large in villages or thickly-
settled localities during seasons Of the
year when their presence in our fields
and gardens is rery wnscele0me. NJ. P.