Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-13


Henry Bersh's everyday life during nearly
twenty years has been an expression Of sym
psthy with our poor earth-born companions
ard ieIlow-mortals +" tina dumb creatures.
He was born in New Yoik City in the year
1923 His father was wealthy man. the
leading American shipiuilder OF his time.
He was naive of th- Enpire State, aud q
longtime resident of New York City, which
deeply nourned his less when, ct the age of
SO, he departed this life. Mr.. Bergh's grand
lather was native of Germany. His moth
er's maiden name was Elizabeth Ivers. She
was the daughter of Connections family dis
tin2uished for It's excellent qualili=s Blessed
vita parents posses ing ample means,
MIR. Bergh received superior educa
ton, but did not complete the course at
Columbis College. He married while young
Miss Taylor, daughter of English parents.
Il 1862 he Was appointed Secretary of Lega-
ton at st. Petersburg. and bryan there an
active interference in behalf OF the right of
animals to kind treatment. His services to
abused animals in the Russian capital were
effective. Mr.. Bsrgh resigned his position on
account of ill-health. On kis way home he
INDUCED in the luxury Of leisurelY travel and
became acquainted with ths Earl of Har.
rowby, President of the Royal Socisty for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Lon.
don. Ths Society Of which Mr.. Bergh was
the founder ia modelled largely sitter the Eng
lish one presided over by this noblemsn until
his death. He returned to New York in
1864, and spent year in maturing his plans
for the establishment of means to check and
prevent cruelty to animals. The American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami.
mails was instituted in 1865 In 1866 il was
given BY statute the powers of prosecution
and arrest, which it still possesses. Mr..
Bergh has been its President since its incep-
ton. He stands six feet high, and his appear
aucs and carriage denote a power of will
which readily commands respect. But his
appeal to the moral sense and his disinterest-
edness are the principal elements Of mis- sue
cess. He receives no salary for his W TX, and
freely gives his time and energies to it. The
statute of 1866 constitutes MIR. Bergh an
Assistant ID strict Attorney in New York
City and Assistant Of the Attorney General
Of the State in the enforcement Of the laws
against cruelty to animals. He is member
Of the Bar, and effective in the Court room.
The New York Society has S25 workers in
the State. Tbirty-six States in the Union
have founded similar organizations, and Mr..
Bergh's correspondence contains many appli-
cations from foreign laids for Information as
to his methods and the laws under which he
works. During the first year of its existence
as an agency enforcing that law of the State
which iaclnded principle Few in American
jurisprudence, namely, that mems ownership
OF interior creatures is limited by the claims
Of an enlightened humanity, the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to An
finals prosecuted lOl persons; in 1881, S55.
and the total number of prosecutions up to
the eud of last year was Q III. The total
number Of disabled animals suspended from
work in the cities of New York aud Brook.
Ign from 1861 20 1881 was q, POI. NJ arrests
were made in these cases, bus the drivers or
owners were warned and advised. A total of
nearly 000 animals was destroyed by agents
Of the Society in 1881 Mr.. B.rah's Society
owns three ambulsnces for tie removal Of
disabled animals from the street, and der
rick to rescue them from excava'ioDs into
which they might fall. Dog-fgbting men,
rat-baiters and ock-6ghters, as matter of
course, regard Dir. BeIgh as an enemy. The
discussion as TO the p 'opriety Of vivissction is
still open, but is may be well TO recall the
fact that Msjendie, the dissector Of $1,000
unfortunate living creatures, declared vivi-
section to be failure. Dog. fighting as pro-
vided and exhibited on Long Island may now
be regarded as q thing of the psst. About
thres years ago the attempt was made to in.
stituse the sport of bull. Lighting 10 New
York City. Men had arrived from Spain for
OEls DufPOrcs aAcA1 hai bCNh A-ufAtf ILL
performances we're announced, when Mr..
Bergh with some fifty policemen pu. sn end
to the enterprise, with great loss to its pre-
moters. There ia 40 possibility nf such an
experiment being tried again in Nsw York.
The income of the Society in 1881 was $685.
$50 %, end the bslsnce in its favor a. the
enc of the year vas 81, S64 - It has been
assisted powerfully by beauests. especially
that OF Louis Bonard. of $50, 600. contested
by relatives, but confrned the properly OF
the Society by Judicial decision. "Our An
| imal Friends" is tie name OF a pictorial
monthly magazine published under the aus
pics of the Socisty, and which has large
humber Of appreciative readers.
TIE value of Mr.. Bersh's work is incalcu.
| liable. From the standpoint OF mere econ
ony, kindress to animals is cheaper than
cruelty and far more productive, as many
men who have come uudsr the influence oi
| Mr.. Bergh's persuasion, though once they
opposed il, now admit. To Increase the hap.
p;ness of the animals depesdent upon us and
| to avoid cruelty toward all creatures pos.
sessed of conscious life, is grati cation of q
| high order, and q means to moral improve.
ment of great importance, az the experience
| of sll persons thus ac.usted coz firms. Btu.
tslity and cruelty sre checked and punished
by the means enforced by Mr.. Bergh, ard
| Young people observe and take warning. l.
short moral progress, and therefore happi
ness, are directly assisted by the work cont
| by him and those everywhere who employ
| themselves 10 the ssme humane manner.