The New York herald., 1876-07-20
THE vEXED TURTLE QUESTION.
July Is, 1875.


To THE EDITOR OF THE HRRALD:-
One Of Mr. Berghs pecuisrities is, when worstcd in
court 20 appeal to the public in rather prolix news
paper articles in which he invariably finds fault with
the judges, the witnesses and the facts In lengthy
statement emanating from Mr.. Bergh, which appeared
in the HERALD of the 7th relative alleged cruelty
to turtles, in which the defendant Mr. Bergh Is
inclined to advance the somewhat novel that since
hc is the presiding officer OF the Society the Pre-.
vention OF Cruelty to Animals, he must enjoy a
certain immunity, and must be endowed with a
peculiar prestige which ought to elevate him
tar above the opinion OF ordinary judges she
common Law OF the land. In palmer uagc Mr. Bergh
is to be considered the fountain head IRON whence
all humanity must necessarily now, and that copse-
quenty no one IN the United States has the right to
discriminate to what Is or is not cruel animals
himself. Though Mr. Bergh's actions, no doubt
kindly intended partake OF tho character OF crusade
there something SO Quixotc about thcm that they
open to rdicule 1t is the mission of the relormer
outstep at times the dictates OF senses but
Mr.. Berah whose addresses to the public have been
mostly rather tedious than retul, has, in his con,mu
nicaon OF the 7th, passed quite outside OF the bounds
Of good breeding In impugning the testimony Of
out OF tho way To conrovert the opinion Of
this scientific expert by holding up to the public
the fact that Dr. Reed is a Baptist 1t seems then TO
Mr. Bergh quite Incompatible that a clergyman could
no cruelty in turning turtles on their backs or
tesherng their ppcrs but then he rather the
Rev. Dr. Read for this wicked opinion by the state
mept that he 10 Baptist.
Maybe Mr.. Bereh would like to draw ane religious
20 lar as to consider Soft Shell Baptists more
humane to the tcstudo family generally than Hard
Sholl Baptss. beg to stale that have never taken
the trouble to inquire into the gious belief either
Professor Chandler Dr. Bell who testified In favor
OF Mr.. Bergh, nor do know what persuasions Pro-
fcssors Baird Cope and Wilder Drs. Mitchell Ham,
mond or Flint belong though ali The latter thought
Mr. Berghs charges OF cruelty to turtles be sense
less Putting ASIDE Professor Agasslzs religion as
not necessary to the case point, | beg to
state 10 Mr. Beigh that with tho utmost respect
for the scientific authority 0f this distinguished nat
ralst, when Agassiz says 'that the turning upside
down OF the turtles is sufficient prevent their eggs
from hatching" l take the liberty of suggesting 10
the President OF tho Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty TO Animals that turtles brought to New
York like hens to lay eggs and those who deal in
turtles quite indifferent, cruelty in fact as 10
whether turtles incubate or not would like 10 ask
Mr. Bergh why he did no, produce In court the turtle
brought some ten days previous TO the trial and
kept hs belly, with hippers loose until 1t had be-
emaciaed and bruised that IL totally unfit
for food Was ne afraid OF his wtnessesY Permit
to conclude by assuring Mr. Bcrgh that among his
numerous admirers irrespective OF their relgion)
many of them think that true humanity should be
woven out OF broader CLOTH and that he too often
irtters away his time and Injuries the justice OF his
cause by giving his attention TO what might be called
the irllings the cdgng and the iurbelows Of his
ject Dettante hurnaniiariansm is as impossible AS It
Is ridiculous. have the honor TO yours very
truly, EUGENE G. BLACKBOARD