Connecticut western news., 1888-03-21
HENRY BIRCH DEAD.
The Philantrophist and Friend O.
 Dumb Animals.

Henry Dergh, the founder and President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals died on Monday.
 MT. Bergh was born in New York City in the year 1893. His father was Christian Bergh, the leading shipbuilder of his time. His ship yard was at the foot of Gouverneur street, in the Seventh ward, where he owned a large tract of land bordering on the East River He was in business from 1910 to about 184O. Dur ing the latter years of his life his sons, Edwin and Henry. became his partners. They con- tinued the business until 1872.
 Henry Bergh had received good grammar school education and entered Columbia Col lege, but did not finish the course. Afterward he studied law. After being admitted to the Bar he visited England for short time, and O, his return welded Miss Taylor, the daugh- ter of Thomas Taylor, an English gentleman of wealth, residing here, well known to the social and business circles of New York of that day.
 After the marriage the young couple tray elled extensively ill Europe, finally settling in 8 little cottage on the banks of the Rhine with in few miles of the birthplace of his grand father. Here MT. Bergh wrote legendary story, founded on romance told of tho Castle of Lahneck. entitled 'Love's Alterations" He also wrcts several plays some of which were successfully performed in London.
 He returned to New York in 1861 and in the following year was appointed Secretary of Le- gation at St. Petersburg. His wife accompan- jed him to the Russian capitol and it was there that he began that active interference in behalf of the right of animals to kind treatment that has gained him world wide reputation. He resigned his office on account of i'll health. On his way home inc lived for some months in Lt n lon, studying the methods of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami mals under the personal direction of the Earl of Narrowly, the President. He returned to New York in 1861 and spent year in maturing the plans for the establishment of society to prevent and check cruelty to animals. In 1865 Mir. Bergh's society wac instituted and in 1865 it was given the powers of prosecution and even arrest, which it still possesses.
 Then began the labo- of MT. Bergh's life. Although a good lawyer, he seldom after ap- to the interests of the society, serving as pres ident from the society's inception without sal ary of any kind. The public knew this and honored and respected him for the sacrifices he has made.
 The handsome office of the society, on the corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-second street, was erected ill 1875 out of a bequest of $15O,O0O left by Louis Bonard, Frenchman who made fortune trading with the Indians.
 It was Mir. Bergh's habit to reach the office at o'clock and to devote the greater part of each day to the routine workings of tho socie- ty.% He was frequently called upon to appear in the police courts, and usually acted as both counsel and complainant.
 Henry BergE was slender, of medium height, and carried himself erect and with great dig nity. His face was thin and marked with deep lines of care and he wore thin, black mustache.
 His most distinguished characteristic was his forehead, massive in breadth and height, His voice was charming one, always under perfect control. Mir Bergh was noted figure in the social life of New York, and one of those men who are missed.