St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-09
Senator Hoar's "Bird" Petition.

The petition which was instrumental
in getting the law in Massachusetts pro-
hibiting the wearing of song and insec-
tivorous birds on women's hats is said
to have been written by Senator Hoar.
The petition read as follows:
To the Great and General Court OF the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:-We,
the song birds and their playfelows
make this our humble petition. We
know more about you than you think
we do. We know how good you are.
We have hoped about the roofs and
looked in at your windows of the houses
you have built for poor and sick and
hungry people and little lame and deaf
and blind children We have built our
nests in the trees and sung many song
as we flew about the gardens and parks
you have made so beautiful for your
children, especially your poor children,
to play III. Every year we fly great
way over the country, keeping all the
time where the sun is bright and warm.
And we know that whenever you do any
thing the other people all over this great
land between the seas and the great lakes
find it out, and pretty soon will try to
do the same. We know. We know.
We are Americans just the same as you
are. Some OF us, like some of you, came
across the great sea. But most of the
birds like US have lived here long while;
and the birds like us welcomed your
fathers when they came here many, many
years ago. Our fathers and mothers
have always done their best to please
your fathers and mothers.
Now we have sad story to tell you.
Thoughtless or bad people are trying to
destroy us. They kill us because our
feathers are beautiful. Even pretty and
sweet girls, who we should think would
be our best friends. kill our brothers and
children so that they may wear our
pumage on their hats. Sometimes peo'
pie kill us for mere wantonuess. Cruel
boys destroy our nests and steal our
eggs and our young ones. People with
guns and snares lie in wait to kill us; as
il the place tor bird were not in the sky
alive, but in shop window or in glass
case. If this goes on much longer all oul
song birds will be gone. Already we are
told in some countries that used to b
full of birds. they are now almost gone
Even the nightingales are being killed il
Italy.
Now we humbly pray that you will
stop all this and will save us from thi
sad fate. You have already made Law
that no one shall kill harmless son,
. bird or destroy our nests or our eggs
9 Will YOU please make another one tina
no one shall wear our feathers, so tina
; no one shall kill us to get them? W
1 want them all ourselves. Your prett
girls are pretty enough without then
. We are told that it is as easy for you t
e do it as for blackbird to whistle.
y Ifyou will, we know how to pay yo
:. hundred times over. We will teae
u your children to keep themselves cea
a and neat. We will show them how
live together in peace and love and
do ,,,n We
u build pretty houses which you will iii
s. to see. We will play about your gards
Is and flower beds ourselves like flowe
4" on wings, without any cost toyou. v
- will destroy the wicked insects al
d worms that spoil your cherries and Gu
ID rants and plums and apples and rose
"a We will give you our best songs, al
u make the spring more beautiful and t
" summer sweeter to you. Every Jul
Of morning when you go out into the feel
ID oriole and bluebird and blackbird al
re boboink will fly after you and make t
~ day more delightful to you. And VIII
a. YOU 90 home tired after shutdown, vesp
sparrow will tell you how grateful Y
are. When you sit down on your por
e. after dark, fife-brd and hermit thru
-, and wood thrush will sing to you; al
L. even whip-poor will will cheer you up
n little. We know where we are safe.
al little while all the birds will come
% live in Massachusetts again and eve
In body who loves music will like to ma
a. a summer home with you.
4 The singers are:
re Brown Thrasher. King Bird
-, Robert o. Lincoln. Swallow.
IS Hermit Thrush. Cedar Birt
,e, Vesper Sparrow. Cow Bird.
OF Robin Red Breast. Martin.
~ Song Sparrow. Veery.
,s5 Scarlet Tanager. Vireo.
he Summer Red Bird. Oriole.
Blue Heron. Black BirC
ed Humming Bird. Fife Bird.
Vi Yellow Bird. Wren.
NO Whip-poor-will. Linnet.
RS Water Wagtail. Pee Wee.
all Woodpecker. Phoebe.
le- Pigeon Woodpecker. Yoke Bird
300 Indigo Bird. Lark.
oh Yellow Throat. Sandpiper
of Wilson's Thrush. Chewink.
'ot Chicadee.