The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-18
LOCAL MATTERS.


Mr.. HENRY BERGH's LECTURE SAT-
URDAY NIGHT.-0wing to the short and
insufficient notice given of Mr.. Bergh's lee
ture at the Capitol, on Saturday evening,
but small audience assembled on the oc-
casion.
AT quarter past eight O'Clock General
j. d. Imboden called the meeting to order
and proposed Colonel II. Coalter Cabell as
chairman, which proposition was carried.
Colonel Cabell took the chair and in
troduced Mr.. Bergh to the audience.
Mr.. Bergh said that over-work and close
application in the discharge of his duties
accounted for his presence at this time be-
fore Richmond audience. He had per-
haps devoted himself too earnestly, and
even recklessly, so far as health was con-
cerned, to the work which had engaged SO
many years of his life. Seven years ago.
so far as he knew, there was not in all the
length and breadth of our land, single
statutory law for the protection of the
lower beings of Gods creation. They
were regarded by the common law merely
as mans boots or wheelbarrow are re-
garded; as property, it is true, but as hav-
ing no especial claims to our regard or pro-
lection. Up to the present time, however,
eighteen States of the Union have adopted
laws similar to the pioneer law of the State
of New York, and have even adopted the
shield Of the society first organized for the
prevention of cruelty to ANNALS. Feeling
sensibly the injustice which was
being heaped upon the lower, yet
feeling, sensiate beings of creation, by this
plain and unaccountable neglect to provide
for their protection from the brutality of
unfeeling men, he had taken the initiative in
a reform, which has had most gratifying
results. What has been effected by that
attempt is perhaps unknown to many /; but
as the audience would be wearied by the
details, he would briefly say that large
number of the states of our country have
adopted and are enforcing the laws for the
protection of dumb creatures of the earth
This, he thought, and his auditors would
no doubt agree with him, was
most gratifying result accomplished within
the short space of six or seven years and
its influence has extended into Canada,
where there are three societies, all w orking
under substantially the same laws.
During his walks about Richmond, he
had become painfully sensible of the need
of similar society here, and if anything he
could do or say would aid in its formation,
he would be more than repaid for his labor.
Civilization resembles in some respects the
diamond. One of the angles of the precious
stone represents the animal creation, and
if, through the neglect or cruelty of man,
this angle is allowed to remain obscured
and tarnished, our civilization is incomplete
and imperfect. Man cannot live without
the products of the earth, and how are we
to make the earth fruitful without the aid
of animal labor?
The speaker then traced the early history
of the introduction of animals into the do
mestic economy of the world, and spoke Of
the intimate relations and Identity of inter-
ests existing between the human and brute
creations. Like ourselves, the animals are
created and controlled by the laws of ma
ture, and are subjected to many Of the keen
sensibilities of the human being. God. in
creating the animals, had direct care for
their protection and happiness, and endow-
ed them with feelings of joy and sorrow.
He cited many scriptural passages denoting
the Divine care of the dumb portion of the
creation, among them the command through
Moses forbidding the muzzling of the OK
while treading out the grain, and the in
junction concerning the day of rest; and
as showing the power Of the Divine infla-
ence over every living thing referred to the
beautiful apocryphal lesson that when
Mary fled into Egypt with the infant Jesus
the lions and tigers, which were wont to
spring forth upon all human prey, meekly
approached and licked the infants hand.
In the oriental countries domestic ami
mails are treated with more consideration
than in our own land. There they are
treated almost as well as any member of
the family. AS curious historical fact
bearing upon the subject, the speaker re-
ferred to the discovery of rude monu-
ment in central India, whose inscriptions
have for years baffied all attempts to dcci-
pher. Modern science and learning have
at last, however, discovered that the in
scription is royal edict preventing cruelty
to animals, and it is dated one hundred and
fifty years before Christ.
The speaker referred to many of the COM
mon forms of cruelty to the dumb creatures,
of the earth-the robbing Of BIRDS nests,
overlooking street-cars, to the tortures of
the slaughter-pen, the race-course and the
cockpit, and to the demoralizing effect of
all cruelty upon the human family. Nor
ality, as well as public and private interest,
invoke our care and protection of the dumb
creatures of the earth. The lecture was
replete with facts, figures, anecdotes and
illustrations, and won the deepest interest
and attention of the audience.
AT the close Of the lecture, on motion of
Gen. Imboden, the hearty thanks of the
audience were rendered to MIR. Bergh for
his noble utterances, and a formal and
unanimous resolution passed, inviting him
the present week. Mr.. Bergh signifled his
willingness to comply with the request,
when the meeting adjourned.