Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-02-01
The Murder of the Innocents.

Mr.. Editor My sympathies have al.
ways been on the side of the weak and OPP
pressed and | would solicit the aid of your
self and all others in behalf OF the defence.
less against the murderous opPressor every
where Now | do net intend taking up the
cause of Chinese against their unreasonable
conquer0rs in this letter, though do tn ink
that an international mandate should go
forth and demand halt in the unequal com
bat, but my sympathies to day areawakened
in behalf of that which is more innocent and
far dearer to my heart-the birds.
| My sympathes have been excited by this
sad circumstance Last night little cousin
| imprisoned in rude box red bird, the
| Cardinal, and this morning, when he went
| TO feed it, he found it lying on the hoer of
its cell headless and cold, having been muir
| dered by an oppressive cat. Last summer
this bird and her mate were the life OF the
grove, aud their song, the joy of my ram
bes. BY unceasing care and watchfulness
they succeeded in bringing single Hedging
to the age of maturity. That was their sum
mer's work, and | very much doubt that, as
the head OF the family has fallen, | shall be
enlvened by the presence oil the Cardinal
family next spring. OF course the sad fate
ofthe bird was not anticipated by the boy; it
was the work of one of the birds deadliest
enemies---a household nuisance-a thleving,
blood thirsty cat.
The fact that our birds are being slowly
and surely eXterminated must be apparent
to all, and while it is saddening to myself,
it should enlist the sympathies OF all, and
ensure their aid In protecting them against
their numerous and Unsuitable enemies. Ii
there are laws for their protection they are
not enforced. know of no instance in
which the law has been enforced against the
unlawful taking OF birds or fish. A short
time since, after the shooting season had ex
pired, flock of cartridges were driven from
their home in the thickets TO seek subsistence
near barn, and while engaged in picking
up few grains of wheat they were fired
upon and just half Of the flock persisted by
a single shot At the rate in which the in
nocents are being massacred cartridges and
squirrels will soon be II curiosity in this sec
ton. Rabbits, being exceedingly prolific,
will probably hold their own against their
numerous enemies for some years.
How shall we protect our birds? Enforce
the law and destroy their enemies. Mr.
Talmage says that the greatest enemy OF our
song birds is lovely woman Well it would
hardly be advisable to destroy this enemy
of the birds, but her power for evil might
be restrained. If the millions Of birds slaugh-
tered for their plumage to decorate woman's
headgear were allowed TO rest in peace up
on the tree tops woman could do nothing
against them But while her hand is not
raised against the life Of our songsters, her
Influence over the Nimrod of the woods
brings the coveted spoils to her feet and so
long as she receives the stolen treasures she
must be held as an accomplish 10 the THEFT.
Ii was the song and dance OF a beautiful
girl that caused one Of the darkest and most
cruel murders that ever blackened the page
of history, and it is the song, the dance, the
decorated charms Of the modern 5alome
that awakens Il spirit as murderous ~ any
that ever filled the heart Of old HerOd-a
spirit that seeks the innocent heads of the
blest songsters OF the forest.
Remove the English sparrows that swarm
like flies from one side of the continent To
the other. With whiskey, opium, powder
and ball, they are a gift from our ancestors,
and they should be utilized for pot pie and
porridge the world over Remove the guns
from the hands Of our boys If they cannot be
checked in their murdeTous assaults upon
our song birds The gun is a joy forever to
the boy, and it would seem hard TO deprive
him OF this means of enjoyment; so impress
him with the cowardlce, the heartlessness,
that leads 10 the murder Of the innocents,
and encourage him to capture their enc
mics the sparrows, the hawks, the crows, the
opossuns, and, especially, the cats. Let all
unite in an effort TO protect the lives of our
birds and quadrupeds, for without birds our
country would lack one Of its fairest attrac-
tions; it would be as fountain without
water, richly draped table containing no
food
Comus, Jan "a, 1895 Y.