The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-11-23
Martyrs or o Fashion.

A reporter ascertainet lately that fully
half million birds are imported in
this country in single month for the
purpose of using their feathers TO deco.
rate the hats which on the heads of wo.
men seem TO the unsophisticated eye the
Chief charm of the costume. There are
about half dozen firms in this CITY
whose average import Of birds ia million
year. A well.known importer of
feathers said this morning that the great
popularity of birds breasts for decors.
ting ladies' hats md bonnets has made
the feather business one of the most
profitable in the country, 1--WE can pur.
chase" eaid lie, "the feathers of the most
beautiful birds in Southern Europe for
prices which to you would seem rdicu-
lous. The only expense we have are the
customhouse duties, which arc very small
The amounts we receive for a feather
range from two cents TO fifty dollars, and
for breasts and wings the same. They
cnme to Us in cases and are packed in
salt.
"Yes, there is fashion in feathers as
we'll as n fashion of feathers. A few
years ago the long ostrich plumes were
at premium and sold for almost fabu
lous prices; now they are comparatively
cheap, although M exceptionally iine
feather will always bring its value.
Fashion now prescrbes multitude of
small feathers, giving the effect in trim
ming OF the entire plumage. 1t is thus
that we utilize the skins. Tho South
American humlning bird, than which
there is nothing more beautiful on earth,
is the farorite. One tiny bird will bring
us from IS to $40. Besides these there
are the toucans, the aracaris, thrushes,
ravens, wrens, lRrks, alectors, curassows
and bluebirds. They all are killed for
the same purpose-that Of adorning wo.
men. In South and Central America
the birds are usually shot by tho natives
and are purchased 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 pecu-
liar 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, aud in conse-
quence there is some difference in price.
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
"S'S"ai"6 th0 uiSosIhB lOT lnuTRet. IL IS
sometimes with considerable difficulty
that We can get sufficient number of
girls to do the work, for it ia not Of the
pleasantest. and the smell from the birds
is not particularly sweet. 1t requires
also a very delicate sense of feeling to
fly them. The flesh aud skin are 80 close
together in a male bird that sometimes
the most expert taxidermist DESTROYS a
really valuable specimen by not paying
the proper attention to the strength Of
the skins resistance.
Then there is also the cleunng of the
feathers. As we get the birds they are
very often clotted with blood that has
dried upon their plumage after they have
been killed. 1t requires the greatest
care &c remove ;heae blood stains with
out damaging the color of the feather.
l suppose you understand that the plum.
ago OF the most brilliantly colored bird
fades very easily aud quickly after its
death. 1t is because of this that the
fashion Of dark shades has received 80
much encouragement from us."-New
York Mail and Express.