New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
AS TO EAGLES.

The bucollc crusade of the Connecticut legis-
lator. Mr.. Main, Of North Stonngton. against the
predatory and devastating eagle has led the
press of the State to investigate the circum-
stances attending the passage of the law now
on the statute books sanctifyng that bird and
making it penal offence to kill him. 1t now
appears that the bill originated some dozen years
ago in the fun-loving propensites of two or three
statesmen, who undertook to set n trap for n
local orator. then member OF the State Sen
ate The orator had a rather imprisoned STYLE
and was accustomed to refer TO the bird in very
complimentary terms on the stump. On one
occasion. borne along upon the torrent of his
own eloquence. he INDUCED in an apostrophe in
which he compared the "Freege Of Edom" with
the "Andor of the Condecs' somewhat to the
disparagcment of the latter bird of prey. 1t was
supposed that the introduction Of this bill would
call out the orator. especially as it was intro
duced on February 22, the birthday Of the
Father of His Country. But ii didn't happen 10.
He sat still in his scat and as no one dared on
snch day 10 say word against such a bird the
bill went through, flying. So. as a result Of this
jocose attempt. the eagle has been sanctifed and
protected by law ever since. and the farmers Of
North Stonington have been obliged to stand by
and look on. helpless while the "Freegle Of
Edom' snatched their poultry and pigs
Speaking Of eagles. ii was reported that dur.
ing the Inauguration ceremonies the other day
an eagle, presumably OF the baldheaded type
used in oratOry, was observed TO circle round
the dome of the Capitol two. or three times and
then soar away This was counted an auspl-
cious omen by persons who dote Oh eagles and
who have been led by the study of Homeric lit
eraure to believe in Omcns and portents, and
attach great significance TO the flight of birds
generally. And 1t is not unlikely that II Farmer
Main, Of North Stonington, had been on the
ground, and had pulled gun on the bird. the
whole American people, far as they were
represented in that cosmopolitan crowd. would
have risen up and mObbed him on the spot As
matter Of fact Of course, the suspicious Omens
were in the Inaugural and not in the crcling
bird OF prey. And in that document there was
not a predatory word or n hint Of the eagles
scream. Perhaps that Is the reason why. after
clrcllng round two or three tmes-tlIree is the
regulation number we believc-the bird went
away. 1t has been limited that IL was n tame
eagle that had been drilled for the occasion and
also that there was string to him. They used
I" 'ii"""Sc '"'Hh 'h"t WI! III greece ana Rome,
until some OF the augurs gave the snap away.
upon which the age Of incredibly was lmmed
ately ushered in. We reject the theory. how
ever. that any such thing was done In Washing
ton. TO be entirely frank about It, we have
grave doubts about there having been any eagle
round the Capitol that day.
There Is really no reason for making SO much
Of the eagle. The bird Is full Of contradictions
rs our National emblem 1t doesn't Ht. II Is what
the late Professor Hadey used to call "a pewter
Imitation OF pinchbeck original" 1t did very
well for the Caesars-who were sellers In more
senses than one-and was not inappropriate for
the First Napoleon, who when he wasn't soar
Ing magnifcently was swoopng down greedIly