The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
TO PROTECT BIRD LIFE.
THE NEW YoRE AUDUBON SOCIETY
RB0RGANIZED BY WOMEN.

TT object Ts 10 Kin Forever the Present FASH
ton THAT Causes the Slaughter or Birds 90
supply TrimminEs for Hats and hornets.
II a certain bill recently introduced at Albany
becomes a law tho aspect of women's hats and
bonnots will undergo a decided change. Once
moro the rage for decorating millinery with
stuffed birds, wings, feathers, and ~aigrcttes has
laid hold OF womankind. Every bird lover
hoped and sincerely believed that the crusade
against this custom several years ago had killed
1t forever. But hero 1t is again, apparentlymore
deeply rooted than ever before, and there is moth
ing left for bird lovers to do but to go to work
and secure legislation and create q sentiment
against the slAughtering OF myriads Of innocent
songsters.
They arc doing II, too. Some Brooklyn women
set tho ball In motion. The bill to stop the traffic
In birds, already referred to, was introduced by
Assemblyman Abel, but 1t is the result Of tho
personal efforts Of u Brooklyn woman, who was
an enthusiastic worker in tho cause Of the
Audubon Society as long as II existed. Through
her energy an appeal with more than a hundred
signatures has been forwarded to Albany in sup
port OF this bill. Among the signers are authors
and poets, doctors, a minister Of tho Gospel. and
mel and women OF high social standing in the
community. The appeal is as follows:
I'VE, former members of the Audubon Society
Of New York. which was founded In 1886,
also the officers and members Of the women's
Dumb Animal Aid Association and tho Brook
Ign Humane Association. do hereby subscribe
our names, and most earnestly appeal to both
men and women to aid in supprcssing tho
cruel and barbarous fashion of wearing
birds or any parts thereof. for personal
adornment, on articles Of dress and MILL
merry, thereby causing thousands Of these
beautiful creatures to DO slaughtered year
ly. To all persons calling themselves hui
name, the fendish practice Of skinning these in
nocent and helpless little beings alive ought of
itself to enlist universal sympathy in their be-
half. Every woman who wears a bird, or part
thereof, should remember that by doing so shc
countenances their murder and causes the nest
lings to starve to death, and as the birds arc the
farmers best friends in protecting the crops
from the ravages Of numerous insect pests, tho
time is not far distant when what now appears
only a menace will become the terrible reality of
famine"
New York city is beginning to move in tho
matter, and action is being taken to check tho
revived fashion. In 1886, when the fashion OF
wearing birds had reached tho top notch, the
American Ornithologists' Union organized n
committee in this city to protect bird life. It's
main object was to prevent the destruction of
birds and to collect statistics bearing on the
wholesale slaughter then going on. Shortly
after this the Audubon Society was formed.
Its purpose was to discourage the buying
and wearing for ornamental purposes of
the feathers Of any wild bird and to other
wise protect native birds. The influence of
these two associations was such that the evil
was stayed. Thirty thousand people entered tho
ranks Of the Audubon Society, but after accom-
~plishing much good work the society gradually
became disorganized. Most people think that it
fell to pieces because its work was done. This is
a mistake. The society was not run on a strictly
business basis. There were no dues nor fees,
and consequently 1t had no funds to go on
with the work. Sending out n thousand
circulars alone necessitated the expenditure of
$50. But 1t is to be rcorganizcd at once, and
those active in the movement will profit by past
experience. The Executive ommitt will have
ready for distribution in a few days a circular
asking all interested in the movement to join
tho society. In speaking OF the society, Miss
Lockwood, the Secretary. said:
so much has been said. and so ably, upon
the subject Of the ruthless slaughter of bird life
to supply the demands made upon it by muir
dcrous millinery and the story OF the revolving
cruelty Of the aigrette hunter has been told so
often, that the plea Of ignorance on this subject
seems no longer tenable. The time has come for
all who love our birds and care for their pres
protection. The old Audubon Society of New York
did noble work, but that society is no longer
in eSistemse. =, In n February; 1890, Boston took
fine work in that State. Philadelphia followed
this example. and last spring the Pennsylvania
plishing good results.
1T gives me great pleasure to add that there
is now organized in this city an Audubon Society
OF the State OF New York. the circulars OF which
thros ss3" , be ffsfi nan ,S1 a OF N. X. G1su Ini Si fipiS 1oTt
in cooperation with the American Museum OF
Natural History. and It's meGtings viii be held