Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-05-07
A Battle in Maine.
Our Dumb Animals. }

our DUMP AnimaiS.)
Word comes to US that q gentle,
humane, and brave woman, of the
Pine Tree State one who has
done as much as any other in that
State to promote our "Bands of
Mercy" and who is now translat,ng,
without charge, our "Black Beauty
into Italian, that it may reach another
wide field Of usefulness (NIrs. Eliza
beth Cavazza Of Portland is fighting,
through the public press, brave bat
tie to prevent the resembling of the
merciful law which prohibits persons
from that and other States shooting,
in their gambling matches. in Maine,
live pigeons from traps for sport.
We gladly try to aid this good
woman in her merciful battle, by ask
ing our brother editors of Maine, all OF
whom receive this paper monthly, to
kindly take up their editorial pens.
which are the lances Of modern
chlvalry. thousand times more power
full than the lances of the middle ages
and drive from their halls of legislation
all who seek renewal Of this bruta
sport.
Many years ago we abolished it in
Massachusetts by an overwhelming
vote of both Senate and House. and
the law has never been violated bu
once to my knowledge since. If il
had been, with our nearly FIVE hundred
agents scattered through the State,
should have been almost sure to have
known it.
Ia that case the young men who
violated both the law and the Sabbath
were promptly arrested and punished
Our pigeon clubs are entirely satisfied
with the various substitutes which
have taken the place Of live birds, and
can now invite their wive. and little
daughters to witness their feats OF
craftsmanship.
The law was passed in Massachusetts
because our best citizens did not care
t" have our Fast Days, Thanksgivings
and Sundays used for such purposes
carried to the legislature the
petition Of several hundreds of our
leading clergy, and could have carried.
II necessary. the petition Of nearly
every Protestant and Roman Catholic
clergyman in the State.
1t was passed because it involved
cruelty:
0 In the cruel ways of catching
the sometimes with baited
iish-hooks
90 In keeping them long times
confined IN verv narrow and uncom-
Portable quarters.
(3) In various practices Of pulling
out feathers. putting out an eve. etc,
to affect their flight and help win
gambling bets
a. In the wounding of bird, that
were not killed.
CD In accustomlng these shooters
ana their sous aud Others to enjoy
unnecessary suffering
Pigeon shooting from traps. like dog
fights and cock fights. would hardly
be practisrd if gambling bets were
thrown out.
The men Who wish to engage in
such sports will find no encouragement
from reading the lives OF Lincoln,
Grant. Sherman, Garfield, or any OF
the great soldiers or statesmen who in
lime, Of danger have not hesitated to
risk their all for their country.
\ law that permits club men to bet
on pigeon shoots encourages thousands
OF hoodlums TO engage in similar sports
with smaller and less expensive birds,
or IN other sports sill more brutal.
After so many Of our States have
prohibited and are preventing this
brutal sport. it would be terrible pity
for the good old New England State
Of Maine to take step backward in
the progress Of humanity and civiliza-
ton. GEO. T. ANGEL,
President OF the American Humane
Education Society. the Massa-
chuseit9 society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty to Animals. and the
Parent American Band OF Mercy
- Mix 1t Boston.