davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

Il notice that a good many of your
societies are named after men. Why
is that?" Well, because all those per-
sons loved animals and did something
for thems.' said a modest little visitor.
"Just like about Henry Bergh and the
cat, you know"
mo, don't know, Marcia; what did
he do for the cat?'
'FWhy he had a house pretty near
built when he heard a cat crying, and
when he couldn't find it he made the
men tear down the building till they
found the cat that was caught in the
walls.''
you know about Daniel Webster
and the crows?" queriede Kate Swee-
ney, the president of the John Bur-
rough society.
"N-no," stammered the interviewer,
wondering way down in her heart who
was getting the worst of that inter-
view, but not daring to conceal her
Ignorance for fear of more pointed
questions.
''The great men who have loved our
dumb friends" began Kate, "are
many. Webster, who had his farm
stocked with thoroughbreds. was sc
fond of his cattle that just before he
died he had some favorites come to his
window that he might call them by
name and bid them goodbye"
Last year in the Rosa Bonheur So
ciety," she continued, I'VE kept a bird
diary, making notes on the habits OF
birds, when they came, when they went
and how they rested, and then at the
end of each week we read our diaries. -
What do you think you have &C.
complished for the animals?"
'"The boys around our school don't
use sling shots any more to kill birds
Most Of the members of the Bands OF
Mercy sign the pledge in which they
promise to be kind to all living erea-
lures and to protect them from cruel
usage. Then we have found out that
the sparrows aren't so mean as peo-
pie make them out, and that they have
their good points if we only take care
to look for them. Last year we brought
boy to trial for breaking the pledge,
and he promised not to commit the Of
tense again."
Then we try to form bands in other
schools, too" volunteered a little blue
eyed girl. Last February we wrote a
letter Of the points of the society, and
sent them to woman in Indianapolis,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

them; then the kindness is uncon-
sciously extended to each other and
to strangers. With all this moral de-
velopment come, too, the mental,
wholesome bits of knowledge about
natures wonders, pointed, helpful
pieces Of literature and needed life les
sons
What led you to organize this Band
of Mercy, Miss Wright?"
Well Under Way.
"Why, the children pelted the ped
dlers so! We teachers would talk and
scold, but the children could see moth
ing but the choicest fun in snowballlng
the coal men and hectoring vegetable
vendors. The Band of Mercy move
ment is well under way in the East, but
the farther West one goes, the less
evident is the effect in this line. 1t &C.
Cured to me two years ago that, If
we could fasten the attention of the
children upon the need of protection
among the helpless creatures about
them. the idea, once imbedded in their
natures, would gradually envelop the
idea Of kindness to their fellow be-
ings."
I'm these two years, has the organ
ization accomplished what you wished
that it might?"
I'm our school, yes. We have an en-
rollment Of nearly seven hundred pupils
and they all are members Of some one
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

of the fourteen societies of the Bands
of Mercy. We have pledge for them
which they may sign or not as they
choose. So far all have signed 1t. 1t
reads:
"I promise to be kind to all living
creatures and to protect them from
cruel usage
eve have finally impressed upon
them that all living creatures includes
as canaries and cats"
Then your whole school is a Band
of Mercy
Practically. Every grade has its or
ganizatiOn, and from time to time the
children give stereopticon entertain
ments and parlor talks
DO the children pay any member
ship fees
"There are no fees Of any nature.
The children sometimes buy the five
cent Band of Mercy badges"
How often do the societies meet?'
Usually once in two weeks, and then
they have open meetings now and then.
The officers are elected every five
months, except in the smaller grades
where the teachers have to act as presi-
dents. The elections are held in jan
uary and June. The books have not
been fixed up since the last election or
[ could submit complete list Of men,
bers and officers
What interest do the parents take
in this work?"
"That is one Of the most helpful and
beautiful phases of our Bands of
Mercy, for they bring to us so many
lovely people, they bring us into such
pleasant contact with the parents and
the homes and bring the parents into
such helpful familiarity with the school
room and its atmosphere. This alone
makes the result worth the effort
Miss Wright is at present engaged in
helping along the preparation of a
Field entertainment, to be given by
the school the Goth of April.
Marie du Barry.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

so she could start humane work in the
public schools there"
IF people only thought about 1t, I
don't belieye they would hurt animals"
remarked a charitably disposed little
man. Its just cause they don't think
One time woman was at our public
meeting, and when she heard the egret
story and saw the picture she looked so
sorry and uncomfortable, just as if she
was sitting on pins and needles, and
/ was sorry for her."
There is the picture, drawn by John
Schlechta, in The Globe office, and
| also the piece which, he says, that
justly pricks the conscience of aigrette
wearing women.
We have all seen these delicate airy plumes
which stand upright in ladies' hats and bon
nets. They are as white and delicate the
frost work on window pane
These graceful Afi,my plumes are furnished
by the white egret. They inhabt the warm
and swampy regions of our own country
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Texas.
The snowy heron. as3it is sometimes called
was very abundant in these localities twenty
years ago, but now it is the rarest of its
species, and has become entirely extinct in
Florida.
The natural color of the egret plume IS
white. and was quite barbaric enough TO
please the Southern Indians who wore them
But to suit the refined taste of fashion thew
must be dyed variety of brilliant colors
Those who engage in the cruel business of
procuring these plumes for millinery mr.
poses know how to get a great supply of
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
WAR IN A WEEK
op1hion of MIR. Payne, of Wiscon-
s1n' Who Is Just Home From
Washfu rfCn

MILWAUKEE,. Wis. April q = "r
peileve that war within a week is in
ev1tabIe,' said Henry c. Payne. ma
tional Republican committeeman for
Wisconsin, this afternoon, Immediately
after his return from Washington.
Where he talked over the matter with
President Mckinley.
Mr.. Payne returned from Washing
ton at o'clock. When seen by a ie-
porter shortly after his arrival he said:
saw the president day before yesterday.
and spent an hour and half with him. He
very deeply feels the responsibility Of his
position, aside from his feeling as a pa
triotio citizen. He has had tremendous
pressure brought upon him, pressure to
which weak man would have yielded He
looks on war as a last dread resort, and
Will leave nothing consistent with honor
undone to maintain peace. He has had
great difficulty in persuading congress to
walt before taking any rash action.
1t is my opinion that on Monday he will
send a. message, with the correspondence,
favoring the recognition of the independence
of Cuba, and the taking of such steps by
the United States as will terminate the
war in Cuba.
1 believe that war is inevitable and that
we will be in a state of war within week
The feeling in the East is much more in
tense than it appears to be here. In Wash
'ington, with the exception of a few SEN
ators and still fewer representatives con-
gress is more radical than the average
citizens generally, and want more extreme
measures taken.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
IOCAIBANDS OF MERCY

parlor talks" answered the President,
land 1 had a chart with the humming
birds on that John made"
so, you draw the pictures for them,
do you. John?"
Yes. draw the pictures for all the
Bands of Mercy. and sometimes L say
piece about the egret, too"
You do, well l should like both
pieces, but, more than all should like
the pictures
"Oh, they are great big charts" said
John, describing their dimensions, but
if l can have pen and India ink and
some paper I can draw them for you"
In few moments the little artist vas
deaf to the buzz of conversation in the
execution the pen and ink sketches
Tor Itle G b and Priscilla Yale, the
president, wrote out her little parlor
talk to accompany the sketch, both of
Which are here submitted
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03


them with little trouble, in the following
manner
These birds. Sometimes 900 or more in
number, select an Isolated tract Of forest
land or dead tree swamp. Here. in the low
trees. bushes and grassy bush clumps, they
make their nests and lay their eggs And
soon these thousands of nests are full of Young
BIRDS, and what busy life this vast colony
mas! The parents come and 60 travelling no
Ing young. ep
Out of these thousands of nests In this vast
colony the bird picks out his own nest Re-
turning with food for his young, each parent
esret without seconds hesitation picks
out his own nest and for an instant pauses
directly above it high in the air Then he
lets his long legs drop straight down and
throwing his wings up just falls down
thTough the air feet first in the most CONT
cal looking way in the world, though h,
never misses his nest by an inch. but lands
just where he wanted to.4lL1 a
As he thus falls downward these long
delicate plumes,l which are attached in a
clump at his shoulders, and fall gracefully
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

Annie Connolly Is president of the
Rosa Bonheur in the seventh; then
Priscilla Yale is president of the Au-
dubon in the sixth grade, and Ida Poole
of the Agassiz in the fourth grade.
Julia Reddington is president of the
Henry Bergh, and Hazel Maxwell of
the Thoreau society.
THE other society that has a per-
sons name is the Emily Huntington
Miller and Ella Cox is it's president.
The others are little bits of children
and the teachers are the presidents
But what are the names Of these
baby societieS?"
Golden Rule, Sunbeam, Kind
Hearts, Wide Awakes, Little Defenders
and two rooms full of Knights"
But The G II O b e wants to know
something about these little tots, too;
where are they persisted the inter
locuter.
80, s'pose they couldn't come, but
1 could get one or two Of 'em to write
you about their bands, 1 guess" said
the little representative of the Agassiz
society. And sure enough early next
morning came the following baby COM
mIlnicatiOnS:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

over his back. as far down as his longest tail:
hare uD in the air, are reversed and
stand uD in the air as he drops
During the brooding season these birds,
Wnlch are naturally very timid, lose all sense
OF fear in their loving care and anxiety for
their young. Into these happy homes comes
the bird hunter. who has been offered perhaps
S40 on ounce or S640 pound for these plumes.
AS each bird leaves or returns to his nest
he is shot and falls to the ground, a white
and tangled mass. The young ones cape and
cry, but no food comes and they too die.
II the hunter is good marksman he shoots
from a hundred to two hundred birds day
and in a few weeks the slaughter is over.
After each days killing the hunter picks the
clump from each and leaves the carcasses
caying in the sun. Not a bird, young or old
is left alive. The long white lines no longer
cross the country, going to and fro for food.
The white forms no longer appear in the trees,
all is silence and desolation With the
knowledge of this do you think any one could
wear an egret plume?
Love All Animals.
"You all seem to be taken up with
birds. Aren't any of your societies
formed to defend some other creature
than a bird?"
80, my, yes! I belong to the Agassiz
society," said Marcia Sweeney, 1--WE
used to be the Olive Thorne Miller
band, but we we changed to Agassiz,
because we study fish in this grade
(ifth), and Agassiz was especially in
terested in fish, SO We thought it best
to change our name"
Don't you think that people would
like to know why each society bears
the name 1t does, who its officers are,
and what it proposes to do this
spring." was the query addressed to
all the children
Maybe it would help to start bands
in other schools, and l think there
ought be one in every school, cause I
heard the other day that a boy in a
school by us damned bird all UP and
then hung it on the school door," said
John Schleshta, with mournfulness in
eyes and voice
well, then, suppose when school
opens again and you get hold of these
different officers and members, that
you get them to tell the children of the
city, in short letters, why they named
their societies as they did, who the Of
ficers are, what creatures are going to
have their special care this spring,
| and how they are going to work. If
they will write these letters The
G l o e will print them Sundays, so
that children in other schools may see
what you are doing"
the clock struck the noon hour and
the little mercy messengers filed out
In the afternoon Miss Anna B.
Wright. principal of the Monroe school
and organizer of ethe Band of Mercy
work here. talked earnestly of her lit
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
THEIR WATCHWORD IS "MER'
CY, KINDNESS, PEACE"

Seven Hundred Children Organized
Enthusiastically for The PrOtec-
ton of Birds and other Animals
John Schlechta Quite IL Won
der in His Way-Secretary of the
Audubon Society and Something
of "a Lecturer-Eiis Bright Little
Tall. on the Humming 8ird-Re-
VIII the public unrivet its attention
a moment from the steel of armies and
the armament Of battleships, to fix
it upon the bands of mercy and the
little children that lead them? While
grown-up children are crying for JUS
tice and revenge, this band of ungroWn
manhood and womanhood, band now
200 strong, respond t. the watchword
OF Mercy, Kindness, Peace"
The other day when men were bend
ing their mental energies to war and
rumors of war, in the Office of the
Woman's department of The G o e
captains and priVates from this st.
Paul band of mercy Of the Monroe
school We're telling, in their own way
and with ali the enthusiasm and eager
ness Of children. of their labors of mer-
Cy.
Though a little awed at the newspa-
per paraphernalia, the click of the tel
egraphic instruments and the clatter of
the typewriters, they soon foIg got all in
the story of their work.
ciety of the Bands of Mercy" said
Priscilla Yale, child of about twelve
years. Nv were first Monroe Guards,
bat We changed the name to Audubon
because he protected the birds"
But how do you so to work to nro-
tect the birds? I should think you'd
have 10 catch them first"
ON. no" said John Schlechta, the
secretary of the Audubon society. with
a neeting expression CT pity for the be-
nighted ignorance of the questioner
We just study the birds first Miss
O'Neil, our teacher, tells us to get note
books and crumbs and throw them Cthe
crumbs not the note books out of the
window and then stand where they
can't see US and make notes on them,
what they do and all things like that
Like what. John?'
well. what they fight about, znd
where they like 20 be best, and their
song and such things, you know
But how does this protect the
birds?"
Why. we read them at our public
meetings that we have twice a year."
broke in the eager little President, with
a. my!-but What-a-stupid-th ing-you
are tone; and then when the women
hear how the poor little birds have to
suffer they stop wearing aigrettes in
their hats and that stops the command
at the miliiners"
'One woman at our last meeting sad
she'd join our society next year, but
she didn't want TO this year cause she
had hat with nine hundred humming
birds on it and"
'Oh. no, YOU" protested one who had
not had much to say before, ''she mad
just nine humming birds"
No. sir, nine hundred, and she want
ed to get the wear out Of that hat, and
she had 'em on the front of her dress,
too"
why, she couldn't get so many as
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
TO the Van Buren, School,

, To the Van Buren, School,
Friends Of Birds:
We address you as friends of birds
because we know there are many
birds on Dayton's Bluff which you
love. We loved the birds so much
} that two years ago we have banded
} ourselves together to protect them.
The name of our Society was Monroe
Guards. but we thought we would
like to have 1t changed to the name
of one who spent his whole life in the
study of birds, SO we took the name
Of Audubon.
Having changed the name of the
society. we did not change the line
of work, but give special care and
study to the birds.
Our society is fully organized, hav-
ing forty-eight members, a president,
vice president and secretary We
meet every two weeks. At our meet
ings We have songs and recitations.
Z and If there are any communications
they are read by the secretary. and If
there is any business to come before
the meeting, otherwise it is adjourned.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

wrote letter to the Van Buren,
school"
''Who is 'we%"
''Why. the Audubon society of the
sixth grade in the Monroe school," said
the Secretary.
do you remember 1t we'll enough to
dictate it?"
st guess do-Le'me see now.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
st. Paul. April /, 1888.

st. Paul. April /, 1898.
To all who love birds:
We have little society in our
school room. To help us to be kind
, to the Robin and all other birds and
, animals. The name CT it is called
Kind Hearts.
Every Friday afternoon our teacher
lets us were little blue hearts with
little white ribbon on it.
Then we say these words:
I will try to be kind to all living
, creatures, and try to protect them
from cruel usage.
We told our teacher that we were
going to help the Robin build her
nest.
We are going to hang cotton on a
trees and hang thread and straw for
her.
I hop all who read this do so to.
From little friend.
Marcia York.
To the little Globe Readers:
I belong to the Golden Rule Band
of Mercy Society Of the Monroe School.
} We have a meeting every Friday.
) There is singing. speaking and the
children read stories. One Friday DR..
Shiel spoke to us about kindness to
the birds and also about being kind
b to each other.
Every one in our room at school be-
, long to the Band of Mercy Society.
The teacher asks the children How
much kindness they have done that
week.
-Inez Poole, years, B Third grade,
Monroe school.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

the children, quiclsens their powers of
observation, develops the descriptive
and expressive abilities, and yet leaves
latent that worst of children's evils
self When the children
become familiar with animals then
they love them, and, when they love
them, they grow gentle and kind to
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

No class CT birds has been exempt
from the thoughtless cruelty of fash
ion. From the ostrich in the desert,
as tall as man. to these tiny fairies,
sometimes as small as a humble bee,
all have been slaughtered without
mercy.
The Indians called the humming
bird living sunbeam. And SO it is,
for its plumage has all the bright
colors of the rainbow, and as 1t sips
the honey from the flowers it darts
hither and thither with the quickness
of lightning.
We may wonder why the old poets
have not sung of its beauty, but the
old poets had no humming birds. They
are found only in North and South
America and the near islands.
These birds do net sing, but are the
busiest of workers, visiting a hundred
flowers minute. Their bills are cur
iously made, being about one-fourth
the length of their bodies, usually
) straight, but sometimes curved. 1t can
) thrust its tongue far beyond its beak
so that it, can sound the depths of the
honey-suckle and the trumpet-howers.
D the nest is a master piece of Skill
, the male bringing the material, con-
slsune OF ltchen, or moss, and the
female arranges them into a wonder
} full nest and susoends it from laaf
or tWlg; Into this pretty fairy cradle.
} about the size of large hickory nut,
} the mother bird lays, twice year,
, two pure white eggs, each about the
size CT a nee. There are many
) species of these birds in America We
} are most familiar with the Ruby
} throat. so called because of its gem
} colCred throat. But they are most
brilliant and most numerous in the
tropical regions. Here they are caught
and killed by the millions
} The bird hunter takes a leaf from
the mountain palm, some of which
are eighteen feet in length. and strips
IL, leaving the mid-r.b bare. Upon the
tip CT this nid-rib a lump of bird lime
Is placed. 1t is then inserted among
} some bushes, where the birds are Ier-
haps resting, and pruning their feaih-
ers: The bird eyes it curiously for a
while and then pecks at it fearlessly
and the next moment he is dangling
} heiplessly. beating the air with buz-
ENG wings in vain efforts to escape
To preserve the wonderful brilliancy
Of the birds Dlumage it must be
taken from him while he is alive and
, his ieweled coat is at once torn from
his Cuivering body.
THE LITTLE RUBY THROAT.
Brave little humming- bird,
Every eye blesses thee.
Sunlight caresseS thee
Forest and field are the fairer for thee
Now around the woodbine lowering,
Now the morning glory covering,
Now the honeysuckle slipping.
Now the sweet clematise.
Now into the blue-beIl dipping,
Hither, thither, flashing, brightning
Like streak of emerald lightning,
Round the box of milk-white fox,
Round the fragrant four o'clocks,
} Ger the crimson quamoclit
, Lightly dost thou whirl and fit,
, Into each tubed throat
, Dives little Ruby Throat
"a AAAAANAAAmAA AAAAAAMAaNA a,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

'How many societies in these Monroe
Bands Of Mercy did you say you had?''
Fourteen came the response in
chorus.
Name them, some one, will you?"
The first is the John Burrough So
ciety in the eighth grade, and Kate
Sweeney is president of that; and
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
SCHOONER ST. ELMO LOST.

Crew OF Five Men and the Son of
the Captain Victims of the
Wreck.
NANTUCKET. Mass, April .. A
large two-masted schooner foundered
at a point about twelve miles east of
Sankaty light during the night An
underwriters agent sent assistance
early this morning, and the boat re-
turned this afternoon, bringing one
survivor, who was taken from the rig
ging.
He revived sufficiently to give his
name and few other particulars. He
is John A. Reed, first mate of the st.
Elmo, Capt. Henry Bald, from Rock
land. Me-, for New York. with cargo
Of lime. There were five men in the
crew, and the captains son accompa-
MED him on the trip. Reed states that
all on board the vessel, except him.
self. were lost.
The ST. Elmo was of 155 tons net.
eighty-five feet long, and was built at
Bristol, Me-, in 1870
Price doesn't make the best article-Qual-
ity does. The Gordon Hat.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03
nine hundred on her hat!"

She could, too, cause she had 'em
round and round and round the top and
down her front" persisted the little fell
low, and his answer was accompanied
by vigorous descriptive gestures.
What did you tell her that made her
sorry she had the humming birds on at
alp"
Il said the piece I say when we give
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

ora r sending the Twenty-ffth infantry 70
tuS OF the sulf will result in the
HNIi Sst of the post at Fort WisscuI1
M aohdi, ana the portable property there viii
De distributed to other posts in the VI al
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

tie armies. ''Oh, it is a beautiful
work" she said, "and it broadens and
deepens; it awakens the sensibilities of
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

They Wrote Letters.
I'VE wanted to get them to start
Bands of Mercy in other schools so we
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

Price doesn't make the best article-Qual-
ity does. The Gordon Hat.