The Frailty of the Hert.

Manawatu Herald, 4 February 1897, Page 3

The Frailty of the Hert.

There ia a lot of human nature in the hen. In her susceptibilities and her foibles 9he is of like passions with ourselves, and one touch of nature shows the whole world kin. Bat it has probably never before been discovered that she is differentiated, by national characteristics, and though the capacity of a Scotch hen for the conception of a joke has not yet been tested, it is placed forever on record by this veritable story, taken from & Scotob paper, that Bhe has a keen appreciation of whisky. On the 18th November, at Oban, before Sheriff Mactavish, John Turner, Laggan, claimed £50 damages, against a local distillery company, for injury done to his poultry by the said company in allowing intoxicating material to flow into the Laggan barn. This material, it was alleged, caused drunkenness amongst the partner's poultry, and consequently rendered them of little or no value to him. Pursuer elicited that for some years past be bad been making a considerable income from keeping poultry, but since the starting of the distillery ho bad made little or nothing. His hens and ducks would not eat. They were, he might say, always more or less under the inflnenoe of drink, except on Sundays, when the distillery was not working. On Sundays their condition was pitiable in the extreme. Mondays were their worst days, for then the hens drank excessively, fell into the burn frequently, and lately he had to keep a boy to look after them on Monday morning. They took no food unless they first had a walk to Laggan burn. Their conduct was very reprehensible, and the ducks were no better tban the hens. It took the poultry some time to discover the burn. He thought it was a hen he had bought at Fort William that made the discovery first, and that she had led the rest aßtray. Cross-examined by Mr William South, solicitor : Have you ever observed " gapes " in heos ?— Yea. Do you not consider that your hens are suffering from " gapes?"— Yes, whisky '• gapes." (Laughter.) Did you know anything about this Fort William hen before you bought her ? — Nothing whatever. Superintendent Moss was then asked by Mr Scott to place on the bench a large cage of wickerwork containing the Fort William hen referred to. Ho asked to be allowed to recall the pursuer. Granted. Mr Scott: This ia the Fort William hen ?— lt is. Is it sober ? —It ii not. Anyone could notice that this was. correct, for it sat on the bottom of the cage and put its long neck through the bars, looked sideways at the ceiling, crooning to itself in what was termed a "maudlin style " by the pursuer. This was always noticed, he further stated, when it was " far- gone/ At this stage the hen seemed. to address some forcible remarks to tug-Lordship, who ordered it to be taken away. Examination continued : Was thi3 hen at the distillery burn this morning? Anyone could see that. (Laughter). How are the other hens to-day ? Worse than this one. Was this the only one you oould take to Court ?- Yes. Why ?--The rest wars too drunk. So that on the whole the Fort William hen is not the worst ?— That is _o* How do you account for that? She can stand it better. Cross-examined: What, do the hens do when they return from the barn ?— Sleep. Anything else ?— After a sleep they generally fight. Have you no sober hens at all ?— Yes, bat the drunk ones break their For the pursuer, it was contended that he had made out he was entitled to damages. In an able speech for the defence, it was submitted that the contention had not been proved. The condition of the pursuer's hen might be due to influenza. His Lordship stated that, the case being a peculiar one, he would delay giving a decision that day. The Court was crowded, and the Fort William hen was the object of muoh interest outside. A thoughtfal individual presented to it fully half a glass of whisky, which it took greedily. This revived it considerably, and it cackled at a great rate, to the intense enjoyment of the bystanders.