Morning journal and courier., 1883-03-29
A Canary Contest.
A Novel Match Between Birds for a Sing
 ing Sweepstakes.

| A NOV91 MaGcn Between b1EOS 1OE &A SAH ing Sweepstakes.
 From the Philadelphia Press.l A stranger stepping from the slushy streets | into James Dawson's saloon, at S23 Callow- hill street. last night, would have been con sideYably mystifed by the sights to be seen in the large room in the rear of the bar. Every seat in the place was occupied by si- lent men, whose eyes were all directed to the chimney piece. On the chimney piece was a small wooden cage. and on the perch in the cage sat 8 canary. The occasion was the de- cision of singing sweepstakes of $2 50 each. The conditions provided that each canary should be allowed ten minutes, and the bird that did the most whistling and chirping during that period of time was to be adiudged the winner. There were origi nally five entries but when the contest was called on last night, shortly after o'clock, only three contestants were on hand. George Barlow brought Music" in a neat wooden cage, T. Gill produced ''Flute" from under his overceat, with look of quiet con fidence on his face, while thule" that the canary fanciers pronounced a green ''spar- Ter" was introduced by Dawson, as it was understood, on behalf of an ''unknown" packer.
 At S:3O 'sMusic'' was placed on the chim- ney piece in the full glare of a naked gas jet. Dawson drew out his watch, the taker of the singing time pulled out a 'fyback," and time was called. The fifty spectators leaned back in their chairs and stared at the cage. The ticking of the clock was the only sound to be heard as Music remained as dumb as an oyster. In less than half minute, how ever. the bird, beginning with a plaintiVe ''tweet tweet," burst into full song, and might have chirped out the ten minutes, but an unfortunate individual in the corner sneezed violently, and ''Musie" pulled up short in the middle of what an enthusiast af- terward styled ia boss trill. and cooking his artfuI little head on one side and Tapping his tiny wings wrathfully he declined to favor the company with another note. When time was up Dawson announced that stMusic'' had ''piped" 594 seconds.
 T. Gill then placed "Flute'' and his cage tenderly upon the chimney piece, whisked of the cloth cover, and took up his stand by the timekeeper, evidently brimful of confidence. ''Flute' hopped around the cage for mo- ment or so, then settled on his perch, turned his head rapidly from side to side, murmured 'twset, tweet,'' and became aggra vatingly mute. A little later and he began to sing sweetly, but the outer door closed with 8 bang when the bird had been whistling twenty four seconds, and the canary sang no more. The nameless bird entered by the ''unknown" was the last to go Ion the shelf. " His appearance was greeted with derision. He was mournful looking bird, and it was stated by person with husky voice and sealskin cap that s"Ed 'scraped outer is cage afore Christmas :, an been a hFin' in spar Ter box in Franklin Square ever since, which
 as corrupted i'm like, yer sec" He contln- ned 1: "An' if he pipes at all, yer can bet it'll be more of sparrer's note nor cana ry's." Whether the gentleman was rlgnt or not it is impossible to say the obstinate mule" for it was cross-bred bird, sang nev CT a note, but stuck to his perch and gazed curiously at the gas. until, at the expiration of fen minutes, Dawson called time and de- elared Music the winner of the match and stakes.
 These contests are new in Philadelphia, but they are very common in London and the north of England. Dawson intends shortly to organize singing match on large scale, which he thinks will prove popu- lar, as there are so many fine singers in the city. It was explained at the conclusion of the contest that the reason the canaries would not sing was because the cages were placed too near the gas. The glare of the gas and the heat of the room, it was thought, had scared them.