The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
MRS. M'NiLLY'S GREAT HEN.
Unsatisfs ctory Result Of a scientific InNesti'
cation Into the Hens Laying Capacities.

CRoMPTON, II. l., May 10 The question as
10 the trnthtulnsss Of the stories regarding 'he
hen-laying abilities of Mrs. Bridget McNallys
hon will probably never be settled 10 the salts
faction of the thousands of persons VINO lot
the past month have followed the daily record
Of the alleged wonderful performances OF this
remark able bird. Az related In THE Sun several
DAYS ago. this hen is said TO have laid twenty
nine eggs in one day. This vas a record perform
ance. but the laying Of half a dozen eggs IN
one day was nm ordinary event. As the PEOPLE
OF the State had taken sides in the matter. IL
was thought best to subject the hen 10 scien-
tiflc scrutiny. and the State being lucky TO
have an agricultural college within its con-
fines. the hen was packed of to that institu-
ton to do her laying under the supervision OF
men learned In the knowledge of her kind
There were many who shook their heads when
they learned that the hen had been moved
These henwise people declared that no ordl-
nary hen would Iayi In "A strange place unul lohs
roundinss. But the McNally hen is no ordinary
hen and she disproved the theory of the know
ing ones by laying the very next DAY aiter her
arrlya! at the colleGe, ShSS was at n me dl Inf1,
thar period she laid six eggs. Just as her ad-
mirers were beginning 70 believe that she was
gn,,'nTS dGWn to h oTds ndia ,bai ;,b SO b sp sbe e rs,
VIZ AltAtA NV ~ ~ =
turned to her. She said she had been told
by her neighbors that she had made a mis-
take in letting the hen be removed from the
farm and that the chances were all against her
ever LAYING again. So she wanted the hen back
as quickly as possible before irretrievable
damage had been done.
II was with a feeling of sadness that the
messenger went 10 the college al Kingston
and asked that the hen be returned 10 him.
He expected TO be met with expostulRtions on
the part of the professor TO the effect that the
hen had not had a proper show and that she had
not he"W AZ the institution long enough for a
thorough observation. His reception, however.
was very cool. indeed. The hen was bundled in
10 n box aud handed ont 10 tho messenger in n
manner which indicated much stronger than
words could that the college authorities were glad
10 be rid of her. In fact, there was every EVIL
dence for the conclusion that the professor
believed they had had their legs pulled" and
that th@ dignity of the Institution had been
compromised by the admission Of the hen.
Mrs McNally. however. was glad enough
TO receive her biddy home again, and the hen.
70 celebrate her release, SO Mrs. McNally says.
laid fourteen eggs the day after her return.
There l.. of course, great disappointment
throughout the State over the failure of the
official Investigation So far as those who
undertook TO have the question settled are
concerned, the Incident is closed. These men
have washed their hands entirely of the mat
ter and now, rs before. there are doubters and
believers. Mrs. MCNally. however. is serene
through II all: she does not care what people
think as long a. the Eggs are coming her way.
Ard the hen lays on.