Evening journal., 1905-12-30
TAKE A BATH
BEFORE SHOW
Chickens Make Elaborate
Toilet Before They Face
the Judges
ARE OILED AND BLUED

Apropos Of the first annual exhibi.
tion Of The Diamond State Poultry
and Pet Stock Association, which will
be held in Turn Hall the second week
in January something Of the experien-
ces that our friend the chanticleer will
have to encounter before the end OF
the show will not be amiss II he
boasts a plumage OF white, well may
ne wish that for the time of the exhi-
bition he might change garb with some
OF his more sombre brethren, even at
the risk Of the prize or ribbon which
his immaculate coat might win for him.
But is just the fact chat his white coat
must be Immaculate that makes his
life at the time of an exhibition. so
much like that of the small boy who
cries because the inexorable mother in
sists that he have his face washed
For the chicken too must take his
bath, so as to look his best when the
impartial judge comes siding past his
coop at the show.
This IS the way the chicken is pre-
pared for the show;
A cake Of good soap Is cut down into
small slices and Is then boiled This
IS put into a tub of lukewarm water
and is stirred so that the water may
take on the consistency OF a light
caste Into this mixture the gallant
rooster, or his timid mate Is dropped
Chat is # they happen to be the poss-
essors of a white coat andthe master
ribs the liquid mass into the feath-
ers. much the same as the washerwo-
man rubs the towels or the soled lin
en-. Rub. rub. rub. rub, rub until every
suspicion of dirt is removed from the
plumage- Then the dripping bird Is
taken from the muciligenous bath Is
dropped into a vessel of lukewarm wa
ter and the evidences of the soap and
rubbing thoroughly washed away
Then arrives the part Of the treatment
40 dear to the heart Of every washer
woman, for the next bath OF the fowl
IS in a tub filed with lukewarm water
into which generous quantities of blu
ing have been deposited This has an
action upon the feathers OF The speci-
men to be exhibited similar to that
which it has upon the boiled shirt
which YOU sport to church on Sunday
mornings. II makes the feathers whit
er and glossier. and when the bird
emerees from the bluing bath he Is
. sight to behold. for eve-y feather
glistens with a brliliancy which is the
admiration Of the spectator.
Care Of His Feet.
Yet he is not at peace. for the feet
of him. and the comb of him. remain
to be prepared for the. show The feet
are thor0uehIy -rnbbdn .dowu with a
preparation Of Arabian aBlsam-or
some other greasy oll-and every par
ticie Of dirt Is removed from beneath
preparation Of Arabian Balsam--or
some soft implement Then the comb
comes under the observation of the
careful exhibitor and n II does not
show up red and brilliant. few wash
ings Of any liquor. of which alcohol is
an ingredient viii polish 1t mp to a
STATE almost reaching perfection
When these trials are over the bird is
put into a. warm -pku IN. Which. a. foot
Of clean wholesome straw has been
spread. and there be stays fo- about a
week or until the day OF the show
His owner visits him upon every avail
able occasion and at every call he
handles him as much as possible. for
the judges must pick him up, and in
order to preclude every fear OF fright
which would ruin his chances of a
prize, the fancicr must take care that
the bird is used to freouent handling.
Birds of colored feather. however.
are not called upon to undergo any
such elaborate preparations. for the
dirt does not show upon their feathers
as It does upon their white brethren
Their feet and combs. though. are
carefully oiled and polished. with
which scanty attention they are as
fortunate as the white birds in winning
prizes in their respective classes.
Diet Looked After.
The diet Of the birds are also care.
fully looked after before the show. as
the general condition Of the fowls
health has a great effect with the
judges. The carriage. plumage. eyes.
proportion of the parts. combs wat
ties tails etc. all command the atten.
tion OF the experienced Judges.
dark feather in a white bird or vice
versa would be a disqualification.
while feather pulled out OF the wings
would deter the judges from giving a
prize TO a bird no matter what its
other qualifications might be- AS the
birds are judged by experts at close
quarterg, one can easily understand
why the fanciers go TO so much ex
pense and trouble TO have their birds
IN the best possible condition