The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-26
THE ELEETTNG SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies.

sense of personal danger. A writer in the Boston Herald says;
 "There have been tons of arsenic used within the last few years in the preser- vatlon of the bodies and feathers of dead birds These are worn daily in the hats of ladies and children. The proportion of arsenic used in this article of traffic is much greater in proportion than has ever been used in paper hang ings and carpets, and it comes into closer contact with the person. It can sometimes be detected by the fine pow der that escapes from these goods. In such instances it will settle upon the person, entering the eyes and nostrils, and causing headache and other ill- feelings"
 It is not unreasonable to suppose that many people have suffered a measure of punishment for their thoughtlessness in just this way And are they deserv- ing of sympathy while they persist in carrying about what Celia Thaxter called "withered corpses, cured with arsenic?"
 The efforts of naturalists and ornithol- ogists, of the Humane Societies and of thinking people everywhere have brought about some diminution in the traffic of birds bodies and wings and egrets. Yet the destruction continues, because with many women the love of following what they consider a pretty fashion is stronger than their intelli- gence. It would be a good thing for the world if, in every country, the gov l ernment would prohibit this traffic sole ly from motives of economy. In the United States alone it is estimated that the birds save to agricultural purposes $100 900 annually. In many sections of this couhtry insect life is only kept in check by birds, and there is no place where, were this check removed, 1t | would not greatly hold the balance of power. It has been said: "A garden without flowers, childhood without laughter, an orchard without blossoms, a sky without color, roses without per fume, are the analogues of a country without song4birds. And the United States are going straight and swift into that desert condition" This is rather poetic way of clothing the bare fact that since insects destroy vegetation and without vegetation there can be no life, unless we protect the birds that de- stroy the insects we invite famine and desolation.
 While M. Casimlr-Perier was presi- dent of the French republic his wife or ganized a crusade against the use of birds for decorative purposes. A move ment thus authorized Is likely to be att | l. to hn that the husbands abdication of his po- sition will not affect Mime. Caslmir- Perier's influence in this matter. When Paris dictates in matters of fashion England and America bow their heads In delighted submission Let us hope that from thence the fiat may go forth --'Let no more dead birds be worn." It may save us from plague and pesti- lence.
 SUCH IS FAMEl
 "Who is this pr. Holmes?" asked a lady of New England bookseller re- gently, according to "The Boston Liter ary World;" I've never heard of him, but his wife (Mary J. Holmes) writes lovely books"
 
 thing, that everyone is talking about?" asked a young woman of another, the other day q haven't read it." was the reply, "but I believe that it is a story of English society written by man named Moriah and illustrated by a l man named Whistler"
 The third story is told in "Pote-Lore" The village store, which coptains the books of a circulating library as well as boots and bacon, cabbages and cali coes, is the scene &pf the comedy. A lady looking over the books inqures, Have you Browning?" The clerk an- swers respectfully, and not knowing just what kind of an article Browning might l be: "No, we have not" Then with the animation of one who is eager to please he added, "But we have blacking and bluelng, and we have man who does whiting, We occasionally do pinking. Would any of these do?"
 ANOTHER NEW OCCUPATION.
 We are constantly hearing of new en- ployments for women, and of strange new paths into which ambitious girls strike bravely when the need of money-getting presents itself. One of | the latest. of these ventures is that of l the young woman in London who ad- vertised herself as willing for a modest remuneration, to take dogs out for daily | promenades and to attend to their meals and toilets; a dogs nursery governess, so to speak. Newer yet, and queerer is an occupation suggested for bright lit tie girls. This also was found in a Lon l don paper:
 Wanted, two bright little girls to come two or three hours day to amuse a sick cat"
 Evidently the eats preferences were not consulted, as a sick animal usually and very wisely seeks solitude rather than society. But perhaps Pussy was only homesick and needed to be cheered by the pranks and capers of bright little playmates. If so, why should not homesick animals in geological gardens be greatly enlivened and comforted by | the attentions of children, who for a trifiing stipend would be only too happy to dance and sing and recite for them Kinder Symphonies" might be played before an audience of depressed ami | mals Dining for the freedom of native