The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-01
LADIES, SPARE THE BIRDS.
YoUR FEATRERED HEADGEAR THIS
FALL ExOITES DISMAR.

"
The Audubon Society Alarmed for the Results
or the siauuhter OF unneocnts which the
Rashionabie Bonnet new Bespeahs--A
Pabitc Meeting to ne HELD To-SaorroW.
Tho Audubon Society Is up in arms against
tho fall and winter millinery now displayed In
shop windows and on the heads OF tho women
OF this city. This organization, in cooperation
with the American Museum, Of Natural His
tory, proposes to give vent to Its disapproval Mt
q public meeting in the large lecture hau OF tho
museum tomorrow afternoon. The public
Is not only invited, but urged to no present, and
no tickets are necessary. Indeed, tho pro
moters Of the meeting express an earnest hope
that thoro win not be standing room left when
the hour set for the protest, $3.50 o'clock, ar
rives.
Morris X. Jesup, President Of tho museum
and Of tho Audubon Society. will make the in
troductory address, briefly outlining the work
Of the society.
Frank M. Chapman, Chairman of tho ESecu.
tive Committee, will talk on tho Destruction
OF Birds for Millinery Purposes" and the Rev.
Henry Vnndyke, also Of, the Executive Commit
tee. will make q plea for tho Birds as Mes
scngcrs Of Beauty and Good Cheer The last
speaker on the programme Is Prof. H.. s. Bick.
more, curator Of the department Of public In.
s~truction Of the museum. His subject will DO
Method for tho Study Of Birds in Schools
which should prove particularly interesting
Just now to parents and teachers inasmuch as
Charles r. Skinner, State Superintendent OF
Public instruction. is making q successful ef-
fort to have n part Of Arbor Day devoted to the
study Of birds in tho schools throughout tho
State.
Three things gave rise to this public meet.
ing which the society proposes TO hold" said
Mr.. Chapman to q Sun reporter. First, the in.
creased use of birds for millinery purposes has
aroused us to renewed efforts in behalf of the
feathered race. Next, a prevailing and far
reaching sentiment which is cropping up
against this barbarous fashion outside the ranks
of the Audubon Society, and last OF all, the
threat made by a woman signing herself A. E.
c. to form an Anti-Audubon Society In q let
ter to O morning paper.
Among the birds most worn this winter are
the herons, which are killed tor their aigrettes,
the terms, or sea swallows. and gulls; in short,
mostly marsh and maritime birds. Aside
from any question Of humanity, the fact exists
that these birds are OF great economic value.
DR.. George F. Ganmer Of Yucatan stated to me
that the killing Of q great number OF these
shore birds has boon followed by an increase
In human mortality among the inhabitants OF
tho coast, which he 10 assured is q direct result
sisted IN Keeping the beaches and bayous free
from decaying animal matter,
Of 's any r sSIl service SrH not ss P %%snn a tSs but as she e Su 20
yards, whose use 10 30 evident that they are
protected by law as well th as 6y p u tSs s e,,i1.
arc equally useful as scayengers Of the sea.
The dead marine animals which, II unde-
cayinT prove ST a source Of disease. form q large
part Of the food Of the gulls. This 10 most ferei.
Bay 81 which in 9iyriads come each day at high
tide to feed upon the garbage which is dumped
nrn nnrnattrnea comnlafely cut off from the view
Of . person on the tug towing them. and although
tho time for taking the Earbag sss down b,, depends sons
day to day, the gulls are always on hand q: the
right hour, though not one will be in sight q
, ticuiar value in feeding on the larye Of insects
. fnsT % a plague me@ 81 bugs about the middle Of Sep
TENDER, just when the yellow fever epidemic
S SssSeas a ssl I %o4s .r Ss tt %nS ' tsan t sso O Sis'
ease to most saaI people m;r s1d certainly Thsy b 5hs an1 %S:
s aeoe lily attributed By the people p hat city
to two causes. one natural; the other .f que th tI
the mystery of the bugs was no mystery at all,
destroyins the birds. The destruction has beer
coast, for Years. and has been carried on BY pro
) f~essional hunters, WIG kin the birds solely Sn f9,
0 them for table use, Nature rSvengsd herself
a whore marsh and maritime birds are do
stroyed Wholesale.
'This woman who proposed to form an anti
Il Audubon Society declared that our society car
ried its good intent and work to such an ex
o treme that many reasonable women who are In
A cllned to aid its cause are debarrcd from having
- tho privilege. She. like a great many women
Is wofully ignorant concerning the declaration
n not a ~coercive body: our work is entirely educa
y tional. Tho society makes no attempt to &c
u cure legislation for the protection Of birds, TO
n We already have very excellent laws FOR the pro
lection Of song birds and many birds OF econo
milo value, What We aim to do iS to create
n public sentiment that will enforce the existing
O laws. A law Is O dead letter unless there !
a sentiment to uphold 1t. and 10000 laws favor
Tag tho protection of birds will do no good a
n long as women demand them for their persona
"The society has strong hopes of reaching III
younger generation. and we are delighted I
have the cordial help Of State Superintendent
q skinner in establishing bird day in the school
q in connection with Arbor Day. No legislatio
Is necessary to do this. and Mr.: Skinner write
i me that early in the year he shall prepare hi
= usual Arbor Day manual, devotinR q section 9
= 1t to birds, and will publish an edition OF 100
600 copies for distribution among the school
of the State.
" who wear birds and those who do not; thos
who favor the custom. those who oppose II an
the many who are indifferent about IT 10 crow
y the lecture hall at the museum on Thursda
afternoon and hear what the speakers have
o. say on the subject OF fall and winter milliner.
o And we want all the men who will to come, to-
for we desire to create q strong public sent
y ment against the Wholesale slaughter OF birds