The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-22
a PI.EA ron rmE BIRDS.

The Treatment of Birds Il Dis
grace to Our Civilization.
Yorhyille Enquirer.
The Enquirer is usually alert on
matters affecting the public good. The
Improvement Of our roads, the develop
ment of the AGRICULTURAL, mining and
Monumental interests OF the county,
the abate ment OF the liquor evil, and
the integrity Of our courts OF justice
receive deserved attention.
There is, however, q subject Of great
public Importance which seems to have
escaped your notice-the preservation
of the birds. The need Of the educa-
ton of public opinion ON this subject
con5traips me to speak through your
columns, hoping to attract some atten-
ton to it. Ignorance and thoughtless-
= ness are the roots of the great evil OF
bird destruction.
The feathered tribes are an essential
element in the economy OF nature.
The creation Of them was one of the
fret steps in preparing the earth for
the habitation Of man. They are Il
benefcent provision of God for the pro-
lection and pleasure OF u man. The
numerous forms OF insects and worms
s.are among our great enemies. If there
was no provision of nature to check
their depredations, all crops would be
destroyed by them, no trees could long
exist, and we would be subjected to
other sources of intolerable injury and
annoyance from them.
The birds are Natures provision.
Insects and worms are their natural
food, and while feeding themselves
they protect as. the quantity OF in.
sects and worms required to support
q little bird las given by naturalists)
Ia almost Incredible. 1t Is interesting
to watch the little things as they hop
from branch to branch OF the trees,
searching limbs and leaves for worms.
The woodpecker is the special provis,
ion against the worms which lie con,
cealed in the bark Of trees. l have
noticed even the pestiferous little
English sparrow going to and frC
between its nest and the cabbage bed,
carrying worms to feed its young.
The usefulness OF birds as mans pro
tector is recognized by all enlightened
governments. The laws of u State
forbid the killing Of all but IA few kinds
[ understand that the state OF Virgini;
does no permit any bird to be killed
at anytime. Some years ago, owing
to the determination Of birds in France
injury from insects became SO grea
that most stringent laws for the pro
lection of surviving birds were made
and large quantities were imported.
Birds are essential not only for our
protection, but also for the beauty ant
attractiveness of the world. The grca
variety in their sizes, plumage ant
song, is our nations most charmin,
features. No prima donna can eoua
the notes of the hooking bird, thu
Nightingale Of the South" Nomusi
SO sweet as the joyful song of the bird
in the early summer morning. Ifther,
were no birds to fly ~joyfully about AM
pour out their glad, bright songs, tn,
world would be lacking 10 an essentia
element of beauty and attractiveness
So much for the usefulness aid al
Effectiveness of the birds.
How are they treated by man
these pretty, happy, useful little crca
lures? In a word, they are recklessl
and mercilessly destroyed.
The sport OF the country consist
largely in butchering them. Stroni
men, furnished with rapidly irin;
guns, scour the country with dog
trained for the purpose, and find thei
pleasure in shooting them down q
they try to escape. Many wounded
escape instant death, to die slowl
from pain and starvation. This is tn
sport Of strong men. The principe
sport of our civilized, christianize
country.
But rnis high (?) order ofsport is nc
confined to the more advanced sport.
men, and to certain kinds of litti
birds" But guns are so cheap tina
very little boy, white and colored, ca
use one. The small boy goes out to Sc
:" at he can do in the way of bir
XII Ing, and woe to any little bid tina
he can find-be it mocking bird, thrus.
or ~sparrow--its happy, useful life i
sacrificed to tho momentary gratihca
tion OF killing a bird. He feels as prou
OF being able to bring down the sitting
singing thrush as his big brother doe
in bringing down the frightened, fly
ing partridge.
The destruction of birds nests i
another shameful form of bird extcr
mination. The propensity of boys t
destroy birds nests Is one of the stron
violence OF the naturally savage ma
ture Of man They take a savap
delight in tearing down the nests
breaking the eggs and killing tn
young birds.
To furnish sport for mon and bows
the birds Of all kinds are being de
stroyed. At the present rate Of dc
struction, In a few years q bird will b.
a rarity. Nothing to tan between
us and the insect pests which arc con
tlnually becoming more serious. n,
sweet warblers pouring out their glat
songs. This, | repeat, is a seriou
matter. Far more serious than aucs
tions of county division, etc. IN,
country needs "reform =" along thi,
line. Our laws forbid the killing O
birds Except a few kinds). Ever,
good citizen should see that the law
is enforced. The enforcement of tn,
penalty a few times, would have {.
salutary effect or a community.
Landowners ought to post" theiI
"A. tAnd2--nnf nnrmiffinr N hid l;1I.. =
put foot on them. Shut them uut q;
enemies to the public good. Parents
teachers and others having ir auenc,
over children, should impress then
with proper sentiments towards tn,
birds. All having public good at heart
should contribute their influence TO
wards a better public sentiment. Tn,
prevailing treatment Of the birds is ,
crime against God, nature and man
and a disgrace to our civilization.
PROTESTANT.