New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-26
President BROOKLYN city Mission Society
Brooklyn Nov. q. lC.
A RECRUIT FOR THE AUDUBON SOCIETY.
SOME STRONG OPINIONS UPON THE WEARING or
BIRDS AS MILLINERY ADoRNMEN

BIRDS As MILLINERY ADoRNMENTs
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR. Several years ago a French gentleman who
had been spending half a year In Scotland wrote.
on leaving the country 10 a Glasgow paper. ana
summed up his Impressions in these words:
"You have much money here. but you want what
money cannot buy-heart cultivation -whlch makes
respect for gentle things"
II seems to me this would be reproach which
American women could I'll afford 10 deserve; but
am reminded " Il every time ! meet richiy
dressed woman with dead bird, or some mutt
lated part OF one, on her head
This letter has nothing TO do with the unitarian
,spect OF the controversy begun lately in another
pnp,r against the Audubon Society. Those con
sidrratlons were treated In letters 10 the same
paper and they explained the aims ana methods OF
the Audubon Society 80 clearly and fairly that TO
remain uniformed on the subject one must |
should think. have determined beforehand 10 DE
preJud!ced In the matter.
one or two Of the letters expressed the disgust
men Zee, when they meet women with dead bros
on their hats and | should Ike TO add that the
men OF my own family have long expressed SIM
liar disgust
Foolish comparisons have been made between the
w.ar,nR OF furs and the wearing Of feathers. Furs
are worn for warmth; feathers are worn for MOTH
ing but ornament. Is there not. when you look 1t
In the face something sIngularly ncongruous with
tho idea OF womanness still more OF Christianity
! III
We shall nee US n up pb s was 9 used aiei in
,.r,0rnnh which advocated the exemption OF the
heron because It's death implied the destruction OF
the young birds But the inference that =, thar was
cynical az the phrase was descriptive. Women
when men deny 'HGm t true SsJ o
lcssness could not rouse in women the instinct TO
snare and to protect we should have nothIhB 10
answer to this Indictment. But It Is not true
As for the right to be decorated. which few
women are defending with the ardor OF aborignes
] for hcI
cannot be glinsald but It's exercise does not pro-
duco the result which its defenders believe 1t does
Few things stir the silent laughter OF the satlrst
more than spectacle OF a fine: strong woman; In
fun war paint with hundred feathered spikes
! sticking up NJ all angles from her bonnet, and
giass-cycd head keeping guard above her own like
/ a ngure I'm Christmas pantomims "a
/ The proposal for an anti Audubon society. with
tho letters which followed It lately In one OF the
eject In directing attention TO the need there is OF
education among our educated classes; and IN rous-
! Ing women who. Ike the writer. had uhtii nov
! thought il enough 10 feel warm respect and sym
pathy for the Audubon Society and Its work. or
realize that their sympathy ought now 10 advance
| from "A passive to an active stage.
PERSONALLY l shall be glad TO count myself. as
soon as may be. among the sentimental members OF
| the Audubon Society. whose lives express compas-
whatever be meet out to them. he IT sehshncss and
tyranny. or Justice and mercy ,o,, ,oc,,,,,,,
N : Wy lfE Nov, g. 1907 ~
REASONS FOR HARvARD's DEFEATS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune:
| Sir: The statement IL made IN your columns To-
! day that the reason why Harvard does not win
more victories athletics Is to be found In favorit
ism In the choice OF teams Allow me to say that
the charge is an old one. very familiar to the
ears OF Harvard men, for 1t has been made fire.
! quently within the last dozen years. While this
! charge may have been justified. / do not
! believe nor does any one else who keeps In touch
with Harvard matters, that favorsm account
OF social standing has at present any influence
| worth mentioning on the choice OF the teams The
| reason why Harvard has not beaten Yale more U.s.
! in my opinion. simply this: Yale men put sue
| cess la athletics first. and give up anything else
! for Il; Harvard men don't
a HARVARD GRADUATE.
! Schenectady n. Y. Nov. q. 1891
| JOHN ALDENS NUMEROUS DESCENDANTS.
! To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Whoever I'm The Tribune of this date men,
lions the discovery OF eighteen descendants Of John
| Alden and Priscilla Mullens ION the books OF the
Mayhowcr Society" does not speak by the book,
| and evidently Is not familiar with the society or
! its membership The undersigned has passed
| eighty descendants of John Alden and Priscilla
| VINO admitted into the Ncw-York society alone,
and each Of the other societies in Massachusetts,