The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-25

Paris has just had COCK Growing
competition open to the whole world.
The birds in the Paris competition are
brought by their owners in darkened
boxes. AS each competitors turn
comes the cock is suddenly taken out
into the light of day and placed on
platform.
The bird imagines that he is there to
herald a supposed dawn, and begins to
crow vigorously. At the same moment
q special timepiece is started. The ut
terer of the greatest number of cock-sI
doodle-does in a quarter of an hour is
the one which is proclaimed champion
|, chanticleer.
At Huddersfeld they have an asso-
citation for the promotion of lark sing
ing. The association has now been in
existence for about twenty years, and
last year 313 birds were entered for
the various competitions. At each
'sing" about fifteen birds are entered.
These contests, together with lark
breeding, form a very attractive hobby
to many people in Huddersfeld and
the surrounding villages.
: The manner in which such competi-
tions are managed is very interesting.
Asa rule. the, birds are kept for a con.
siderable time IN the dark, and when
the competitors turn" comes he is
brought in his darkened cage before
mirror. Light is thrown upon the mir
ror, and when he sees his own refec-
ton he takes it to be rival.
After about half minute in which
to scan the enemy" his cage is taken
j., front of the window. AS soon as
this takes place he bursts into song,
spreading his wings and singing for
considerable time Still, he is remark
ably sensitive while singing; the least
thing, such as taking out a pocket
handkerchief, may put an end to his
lay.
The bird also abhors noise, so alb
solute quiet must be maintained in or
der to give him fair play. Last year
three birds sang for about ten minutes
without cessation. thus gaining the
championship.
; Frog catching contests are just about
the newest thing in these competitions.
The greatest struggle in the fancy"
occurred a short time ago, and resulted
in victory for James Ahern, who re-
Gently won the fishing championship.
The frog catching challenge was is
sued by John Leger, who last summer
caught thirty contralto, sixteen So
prano, ten tenor and twenty-seVen bass
frogs in three hours.
The conditions of the contest stated
that any frogs whose legs were under
two inches should not be counted. AL
together, about 200 men went down to
the ponds chosen at 2 o'clock in the af-
ternoon, and the contest lasted for two
hours.
The contestants had red flannel for
bait, and were armed with small shot
guns and clubs. The first frog cap
tured was a large one Of the bass va
riety, and he was felled with club.
When "time" was called the winner of
the competition had nineteen frogs.
In some variations Of frog catching
contests the expedient of spearing
frogs in their holes is sometimes re-
sorted to, but this is not very sue
cessful method. After the competition
mentioned a prize medal was given to
the winner at dinner held IN his
horror
Flowing contests are quite common
in the country. The man who was
best known as the champion ploWman
won about $4,000 in prizes. This was
Jim Baker, of Ipswich. Being thrift
ty man he amassed comfortable COM
petency as a result of his success in
these competitions.
A novel competition was recently
started by q Newfoundland feet dur
ing fishing. This was competition
to sec who could eat the largest guam
tity OF salted cod. The winner in this
case was seized with terrible thirst;
he drained off a decanter and fell un-
conscious to the ground. The contest
proved fatal, Inflammation of the stom-
ach being produced.
The members of the Hoxton Consti-
tutional Club have taken part IN
novel prolonged smoking competition.
Seventy of the members were each
supplied with an eighth of an ounce OF
shac tobacco. The object of the COM
petition was to decide which could
keen his pipe going the longest, no sec
ond lighting being allowed.
The winner. gentleman named Mr..
sanderson, succeeded in keeping his
pipe going for one hour and ten min
utes 50 he was proclaimed the victor
amid loud cheers.
In a similar competition held at the
Shoreditch Constitutional Club this
performance was eclipsed. The win
ner of the first prize succeeded in
keeping his pipe alight for one hour
and twenty -nine minutes, during the
whole of which time he was smoking
continuously.
A cigar smoking competition has
taken place at club in ThailfnSen.
In this case the object of the competi-
ton was to decide who could smoke
cigar for the longest possible period
without letting. it go out. The prize
winner succeeded in smoking his cigar
for seventy-four and one-half minutes.
Not one Of his competitors had a rec
ord of oyer one hour.