New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-07

l its efficiency, and retained but a nomna
, existence. 1t was to be deprived of the RICH
TO arrest any offender in the act; long an(
tedious legal proceedings were to be substi
tuted, which would have secured perfect I'M
punity to the culprit. Mr.. Bergh left nc
stone unturncd to Illustrate this malignant
design. He published articles for the pur.
pose of enlightening the public on the merits
OF the case, and used all his influence to
defeat the infamous bill in the Legislature
1t passed the Assembly Notwithstanding, but
was fortunately defeated in the Senate. In
spite Of all opposition, the influence of the
society is evidently growing. In no less than
seventeen States as well as in Canada, sOcie-
ties for the prevention of cruelty to animals
have been likewise formed, and exercise
their wholesome influence. 1t is true that
besides the open antagonists, there are even
among people who pretend to be highly re-
fined, many who sheer at Bergh's and his
co-workers' activity rs mere folly, and rid-
Guile them as sentimental half-crazy fanatics.
For the present, there are not as many men
yet as one might think, who have learned to
look on the animals as their natural friends
and allies, their fellOw-suflerers in the struc-
gle with the hostile forces of nature, whose
affection will afford an incxhaustible source
OF pleasure and qualification to him who
knows how to win and appreciate it.
Much as Mr.. Bcrgh's time is engaged, he
yet finds leisure to lecture on the animals
claims in New York as well as i'm other cities
In the former place he spoke several times
before the children who are brought up in
orphan asylums and other charitable insti-
buttons, in order to open the minds of the
rising generation to Il perception of their
duties in this direction. a large part of his
time he spends at the Office of the society ON
broadway, where he can be met almost
every day. He produces a most prepos-
scssing impression. Of tall and noble
figure, he has something aristocratc and dis
tinSuished in his appearance, and the easy.
polite forms OfsOcial intercourse i'm him seem
but the outward manifestation ofhis profound
human kindness and his sclf-sacrificinr be-
nevolence. His very approach awakens that
kind of unrescrved confidence which we en-
terrain for a tried friend. His features bear
n peculiar, melancholy expression, as if the
suilcrngs of his prosecuted, ill-treated wards
were weighing heavily on him.
In conclusion, two episodes from the many
that characterize Bergh and his activity In
Il crowded part of the city a man was leading
Il cow, his assistant her calf. The udder OF
the COW was excessively extended, and the
calf was evidently starving for the want of
the accustomed nourishment, which, how
ever, ii was not allowed, because the owner,
who was going to sell the cow, probably
hoped to pass her for an extraordinary giyer
OF milk, and expected to conclude better
bargain. 1t was n lucky chance that Mr.
Bergh just happened to pass. He perceived
directly what was needed, stopped the man
and ordered the owner to release the calf anC
let it drink of its mother. First he refused
but when he discovered that resistance wOult
not avail him, he allowed Mr.. Bergh to unite
the calf, who fastened directly to the fami
liar fountain. Tho artist of a well-knOwI
Illustrated paper who just passed by, has
preserved this scene in an excellent illustra
ton. In the centre the cow is carcsslng he
calf; on one side the owner and his assistan
are seen; on the other Mr.. Bergh will
folded arms, enjoying the sight, and behind
him crowd of spectators who have gathered
, round the scene. The artist has most strik
ingly rendered the contrast Aetween the
. nearly human, yet perfectly natural expires
, sion of maternal tenderness in the COW and til,
thoroughly genuine pig-like Irish physiogno
mics of the two cattle-trivers.
5 The other occurrence is Of more thrillin,
3 nature, and was attended by more importan
: results.
l One day Il woman appeared in the Office Q
: the society to request Mr.. Bergh's interior
: encc in favor of n cruelty ill-treatcd child
;, From her window she could look into neigh
5 boring yard, and had frequently noticed tn
: shocking cruelty practiced by woman upo
= a poor orphan girl, whom she had taken int
l., her house, ostensibly ont of pure mercy
5 The kind-hearted neighbOr did not know wha
o steps to take in order to stop the offender i
n her criminal course, and therefore applied t
= Bergh-" for" she sail, "a man who show
G so much mercy to animals, cannot but l.
J. equally kind to men," She was not disal
+. pointed in her confidence. Mr. Bergh pr,
l. cured directly writ of habcas corpus, IN
'e compelled the tormentor of a human bcI
l. to give up the child. a few days after, q
ID old woman of eighty, from Connecticut, a.
he peared in New York, who was no other tina
1, the grandmother Of the girl. 1t was disco
ly cred that the villainous woman, who had o.
G. tanned the custody of the child from Il
SC grandmother, her only relative, on the Sc
ly emn promise that she would treat her lii
he her own daughter, had deceived both
A many years, in order to secure for herself Il
81 continued services of the girl. To each
ne them she represented that the other W
IL dead, and only through the newspaper repor
st. of the occurrence, which produced consider
a bic sensation, the old lady had learned til
C. her granddaughter was still living. The e.
ne need not be told. Full of gratitude iowa
IA Bcrgh and the kind neighbor, the gran
"a mother and the girl started together for CO
1ir necticut. o. A.