The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-02
MARTYRS OF A FASHION.
Millions Of Birds Slaughtered to Ornament the
Hats of Fashionable Women.
New York Mail and Express.


A reporter for the MAJ and Express
aseertained lately that fully half million
birds are imported in this country In a
single month for the purpose of using
their feathers to decorate the hats which
on the heads of women seem to the un-
sophisticated eye the chief charm of the
costume. There are about half a dozen
firms in this city whose average import OF
birds is million a year. A well-known
importer of feathers said this morning
that the great popularity of birds breasts
for decorating ladies' hats and bonnets has
made the feather business one of the most
profitable in the country 1--WE can pur-
chase. said he, the feathers of the most
beautiful birds in Southern Europe for
prices which you would seem ridicu-
lous. The only expense we have are the
custom house duties, which are very small
The amounts we receive for feather
range from two cents to fifty dollars, and
for breasts and wings the same. They
come to us in cases and are packed in salt
Eyes, there is fashion in feathers as
well as fashion of feathers. A few years
ago the long ostrich plumes were at pre-
MUM and sold for almost fabulous prices;
now they are comparatively cheap, although
an exceptionally fine feather will always
bring its value Fashion now prescribes a
multitude of small feathers, giving the
effect in trimming of the entire plumage.
1t is thus that we utilize the skins. The
South American humming- bird, than which
there is nothing more beautiful on earth, is
the favorite. One tiny bird will bring us
from S. to SO. Besides there are the
toucans, the aracaris, thrushes, ravens,
wrens, larks, alectors, currassows and blue
birds, They are all killed for the same
IF o1n Tn
South and Central America the birds are
usually shot by the natives and are pur
chased by our agents. In this case we are
compelled to prepare them for the market
ourselves.
The manner in which we make them
marketable is very peculiar too peculiar
in fact for you to publish, because it is the
secret of our trade. We are more careful
in dressing the American birds than
they are in Europe and in con-
sequence there is some difference in
price. A South American humming bird
dressed in Jersey City is more valuable
than pheasant from Algiers. In this city
we employ women to do all the work at
tending the dressing for market. II is
sometimes with considerable difficulty that
we can get sufficient number of girls to
do the work, for it is not of the pleasant
est, and the smell from the birds is not
particularly sweet. 1t requires also very
delicate sense of feeling to fay them. The
flesh and skin are so close together IN
male bird that sometimes the most expert
taxidermist destroys really valuable spec
linen by not paying the proper attention to
the strength of the skins resistance.
'eThen there IL also the cleaning of the
feathers. AS we get the birds they are
very often clothed with blood that has dried
upon their plumage after they have been
killed. It requires the greatest care to re-
move these blood stains without damaging
the color or the feather. l suppose you
understand that the plumage of the most
brilliantly colored bird fades easily and
quickly after its death. 1t Is because OF
this fact that he-fashion of dark shades
has received so much encouragement from
u.s."