The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12

Walter Besant md Some English Woman
Uphold This Sacrifice to Fashion.

Walter Besant md Some English Woman
Uphold This Sacrifice to Fashion.
Again tho cry against the use Of birds and
plumage has been raised. This time the Eng
lish papers have taken UP the cudRels in de-
fence Of tho feathered tribe. A certain emf
nent naturalist. Mr.. Hudson. opened the ball
with a letter to the Times. That paper forth
with seized upon the subject as a good theme
upon which to thunder its denunciations. And
then there was an avalanche from all sides Of
such phrases as annual slaughter" ruth
less determination" "heartless staying"
the miserable perishing OF the callow
young" and SO on. For all OF which woman.
doubly- dyed guilty woman. was responsible.
But in the midst OF the universal condemna-
tion Walter Besant has piped boldly up. as he
generally does and wants to know IL there
isn't grain Of uufairneas in laying the whole
blame upon women.
He reminds people that women do not kill the
birds at all. and that II noble. tender hearted.
plying mankind would not go out and enjoy
the dear delight OF shooting them. cold and
stony womankind could not then wear them on
its bonnet. And really" he further remarks.
IF one is to be governed in fashion by the
principle OF wearing nothing that comes from
any slaughtered creature. We should he re-
duced to wool and flannel aud cotton. Most OF
the varieties OF feathers. the seuskns and
furs OF every kind-all would have to be laid
aside. Some people. more sensitive than 9TH
ers might even cry out upon the cruelty OF
conflscating the cocoon OF tho chrysalls-'all
that he has. poor .hing!'-and then we should
have no silk. Nor is it more cruel to shoot
bird for its plumage than for its carcass. The
dying bird; am quite sure, does not inquire
And still another defer OF the present wave
Of sentiment has her little say IN the sans
about natural history than about fashion. had
held forth long and mournfully on tho destruc-
mage lGI oPder to the hungry s T nav as
ion. The writer naturally seizos with great
glee upon this error In his protest Mr.. Aud
obviously tho merest dabbler in fashion. else
would he know that quills are the order of the
fashionable roost. And We must not encour.
age the Interference or man. mere practical
with sToI Nat MAXI
GUS botanist writing to accuse us Of all I'M
because we wear fiowors that
these feathers and these birds through TIE
them from Tho IN en- who killed tho hirdsr
We are not cruel at all we are simply ami.
able ADAPTING ourselves to fashion; and OF
ners are none and her customs, arc brutal!
She never says ,by your leave, or II YOU
preys,' and there are ospreys: let there be
seal skins and thers arc sealsk!ns. But let
Mr. Hudson he persuaded that woman If not
yearnng after the destructio on Of his beloved
quils G. the frctful barn-dDor fowl and tho
foather OF the ostrich. and. by the way. no
ono over utters .ry on behalf OF tho ostr III
Yet do not faacythat there is any authority
for declaring that he likes To nave his feathers
plucked out one by one. Personally. nm con-
ylnred that he hates the sight Of IT, and huries
his head in tho sand solely TO be able TO bear
his pain with self-respcrt."
But all the talk for effect OF these two writer's
who def nd the slaughter OF Innocent. bright.
rlumed birds. does not mask the hGtefulness Of
the practice to every Thoughtful. tendcr-heart-
ed woman.