The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-09
NOT SO CRUEL AFTER ALL.
The Keeping Of Gagged Birds Is Eu
name, When Properly Done.

The Keeping Of Gagged Birds Is Eu-
name, When Properly Done.
Olive Thorns Miller in Hdrper's Basar.
A good deal OF, sentiment IS expended
upon Gagged birds. From tender hearts, and
from others not 50 tender, We often hear,
II can't bear to keep bird in a eager
Now. without in any way advocating the
caging Of birds, l must say that there are
two sides to this, as 70 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 in
the power of another, but the same is true
Of the household dog and cat, still more of
the horse. Moreover. the last named ami
NAL is much worse off, that be is made TO
work, and often sadly abused by hIs owner.
yet we hear little sympathy expressed for
his state Of slavery.
II is cruel to capture an adult bird accus-
toned to freedom and to caring for himself,
and confine him in a cage, IL is worse than
cruel, 1t is brutal, to neglect TO provide care
fully for his comfort when thus imprisoned.
But that captive bird. properly caught aud
properly cherished. must necessarily be I'M.
happy l emphatically deny, and my opinion
is based upon several years close study of
birds in confinement.
By properly caught" mean taken from
the nest, or when just out OF it. By "properly
cherished mean not only fed and water ed
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 thoughtful consideration.
As to the canary, born in q cage, of Gagged
ancestry, he is utterly incapacitated for
freedom. 80 far from being kindness to
give him his liberty, it is a positive cruelty.
He has never sought food aud shelter. be
has no notion Of doing either, and he must
inevitably perish. Birds that have been
taken from the nest are in a similar con.
dltion Of ignorance. Unless kept in captiv-
ity very short time, and afterward sup
piled with food till they learn to
care for themselves, to thrust them
out is like taking a child brought up in
luxury and forcing him into the streets to
pick up his own living. 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 NAV see
this instruction going on all summer when
nesting ia over and young birds are out. IT,
then. this period Of instruction is passed in
house, and he is adult when turned adr:ft,
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 thew
would be so much happier. One in particu-
lar remember, because l was so indignant
about it, where the bird refused 10 be leftin
the park, but flew back several times and
alighted on its owners, and they actually had
to scheme to get away from it. 1t was told
as self sacrificing and vlrtuous deed, when,
as matter of fact, it was undoubtedly
pure cruelty, aud that bird accustomed TO
care and shelter, probably died of want and
exposure,
Another use Of a Gagged bird, or any cap
tive. that is OF great value as look at it, is
the opportunity it gives for lessons in con-
sideration ana care for others, and love and
Kindness to animals. 1t has been ascer-
tanned by statistics, carefully gathered from
training schools and prisons that very few
men who in boyhood owned or cared for a
pct animal or who were instructed in kind
ness to the lower orders, are to be found
among criminals. This fact, which should
not astonish US when we think Of the eleva-
ting tendency of unselfshness, puts into the
hands OF parents and teachers q powerful
weapon for good. Not only does the pct
bird or beast entertain and amuse the boy,
but. under proper direction, it trains him
in gentle ways. In sense of Justice, and il
goes far to insure an honest lifa