San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-07
# is NOT CRUEL.
The Keeping of Gagged Birds Is Not a
Cruelty If One Is Merciful.


A good deal of sentiment is expended
upon Gagged birds. From tender hearts,
and from others not so tender, we often
hear, II can't bear to keep a bird in a
cagel' Now, without in any way advo.
eating the caging of birds, must say that
there are two sides to this, as to most
questions.
1t is true the captive is at the mercy of
his owner, his food depends upon some
ones memory, his comfort, his very life,
are I'M the power of another; but the same
is true of the household dog and cat, still
more of the horse. Moreover, the last
named animal is so much worse off that
, he is made to work, and often sadly abused
by his owner, yet we hear little sympathy
expressed for his state of slavery.
1t is cruel to capture an adult bird ac
customed to freedom and to caring fol
himself and confine him in a cage; it is
worse than cruel, it is brutal, to neglect to
provide carefully for his comfort when
thus imprisoned. But that a captive bird,
properly caught and properly cherished,
must necessarily be unhappy. emphatic
ally deny, and my opinion is based upon
several years. close study of birds in con-
finement. ..Hf..'H .r t..ts..-s
By properly caught" l mean taken
from the nest or when Just out of it. BY
properly cherished" mean not only fed
fand watered as regularly and carefully as
we attend to our own physical needs, but
in every other way made as happy as is
possible, by loving attention and thought
full consideration.
As to the canary, born in cage of Gagged
ancestry, he is utterly incapacitated for
freedom. So far from being a kindness to
give him his liberty, it is a positive cruelty
He has never sought food or shelter; he
has no notion of doing either, and he must
inevitably perish Birds that have been
taken from the nest are in similar condl-
ton of ignorance. Unless kept in captivity
a very short time, and afterward supplied
with food till they learn to care for them.
selves, to thrust them out is like, taking a
child brought up in luxury and forcing
him into the streets to pick up his own liy.
ing This comparison is not in the least
exaggerated. A young bird is taught by
his parents where and how to get his food
Close observers may see this instruction
going on all summer, when nesting is owe.
and young birds are out. If, then, this pc
riod of instruction is passed in house, and
he is adult when turned adrift, there is no
one to teach him, and he must learn by
hard experience or die in the attempt
| have read stories of children being in
duced to set free their pets because they
would be so much happier. One in par
ticular / remember, because was SO in
dignant about it, where the bird refused TO
be left in the park. 1t flew back several
times and alighted in its owners grounds
and they had to scheme to get away from
it. 1t was told as self sacrificing and
virtuous deed, when as matter of fact it
was undoubtedly pure cruelty, and that
bird, accustomed to care and shelter, prob
ably died of want and exposure.
Another use of Gagged bird, or any cap
tive, that is of great value as | look at it,
is the opportunity it gives for lessons in
consideration and care for others, and love
and kindness to animals. 1t has been as
certained by statistics, carefully gathered
from training schools and prisons, that
very few men who in boyhood owned or
cared for pet animal, or who were in
structed in. kindness TO the lower orders,
are to be found among criminals.y This
fact, which should not astonish us when
we think of the elevating tendency of un
selfishness, puts into the hands of parents
and teachers powerful weapon for good.
Not only does the pet bird or beast enter
tain and amuse the boy, but under proper
direction it trains him in gentle ways, in a
sense of justice, and it goes far toinsure an
honest life.-Olive Thorne Miller in Har-
per's Bazaar.