Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-02
KINDNESS FOR ANIMALS.


which spranE the Boys S. p. A.
The will of the late Mrs. Rebecca Will
ing, widow of DR.. Charles Willing, and
who was buried from herresidence, near
Jenkintown, recently, provides many
charitable bequests.
Conspicuous amoug the number is that
to the young American Humane
union," to which she gives her house,
916 Spruce street, in "Portico row." for
the maintenance Of reading room.
Mrs. Willing was the daughter of Hon.
j. L. Tillinghast, of Rhode Island, and
at the time Of her marriage was consid-
cred one of the most beautiful women
and one of the greatest bellies of society
in the eastern part of the United States.
Endowed with great wealth and occu-
pying high social position, she devoted
herself to works of philanthropy. She
founded, among other institutions, the
first day nursery in Philadelphia, if not
In the country. But she had a special
life work, favorite theory and pecu-
Liar form of benevolence. She did not
believe that kindness was limited to the
human race, but should be extended to
the dumb creatures of the field and the
domestic pets of the hearthstone. Her
theory was preventive rather than re-
parative. Instead Of founding animal
asylums, or hospitals, she believed in.
educating the masses from the tenderest
age Of childhood in humane principles,
and was largely instrumental in inducing
the board of public education to con-
fine the teaching of kindness to the
brute creation, as part of the course of
school instruction, and to supply, with
the smallest possible encroachment upon
time, and without expense to the schools,
the simple system of humane education,
which has been already accepted by
teachers and directors in many sections,
comprising great numbers of schools.
In this work she was the pioneer in this
country.
Encouraged by the principal and the
directors of the Locust street schools, in
1874 she formed society among the
boys of the Grammar school, with the
watchwords, Reverence, Kindness,
Courage" and with the purpose of culti-
waiting among themselves habits of kind
ness, as well as protecting from cruelty
whatever needed their care. It was
called the "Boys' Society for the Protec-
ton Of Animals" and held occasional
school meetings, under the guidance of
the principal, who was president of the
branch in his own school.
There was recitation or reading of hui
name literature such as Longfellow's
poem, "The Alarm Bell of Atri;" the
banner, the color of which represented
that branch, was hung up, new members
were enrolled by the presentation of a
badge, there was a short address, and
books, papers and cards were distributed
for home reading. This simple organi-
zation gradually extended with the sane
tion of teachers and directors and the
strenuous efforts of Mrs. Willing to
seven boys grammar schools, carrying
humane literature to thousands of homes.
A reading room was provided where
many excellent books and magazines
could be enjoyed in the intervals of
school hours and on holidays, and the
"Boys' s. P. A." became source of in
terest and enjoyment as well as an infu-
ence for good.
About the same time the Band of Mer-
cY movement was organized in England,
and during the next eighteen months
rapidly extended. In the meantime Hon.
George T. Angel and Rev. Thomas Tim
minis introduced the English Band Of
Mercy into the schools and homes of
New England, and the Boys society,
founded in Philadelphia by Mrs. Willing,
followed their action by establishing one
In this city, which within three years
had reached a membership of 5000,
gathered by their own efforts and those
Of the committee of ladies, under the
leadership of Mrs. Willing; working with
them in mission schools, orphan homes,
Sunday scools of all denominations and
public schools. The membership of the
boys society being equally large, and its
earlier members having come to man.
hood, the two departments were in 1884
consolidated under the name of "The
Young American Humane union" Its
members, believing humane education
to be the most important part Of the
work of mercy, direct their efforts main
ly to this object, and seek its further
ance by all the means in their power,
having the firm conviction that every
step in teaching mercy is a step to pre-
vent crime.-Philadelphia Press.