The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-21

~ Chicago paper proposes thdt 'h0
~ eagle be dethroned as the nation
al bird and the hen elevated IN !
it's place. 1t holds that the eagle is
cowardly creature and never makes
war except upon weaker things. III
never earned an honest dollar In its lie
and its daily food is stolen from some
moor bird too small and too weak 10
defend itself and its property. More
over. the eagle swoops down upon
children, lambs and other innocent
things and bears them to lis nome
among the mountain crags. This alone
is sufficient to GUST it from the position
of being the bird of America and pre-
vent it's picture from continuing on our
dollars. On the other hand, the men Is
a sweet tempered, hard working pro-
ductiye creature. She is Identified with
orr home life and our domestice and
national prosperity. She lays $290ooo'ooo
worth of eggs every year. or Tour ana
fraction eggs for each individual IN the
land. When the eagle is loafing around
waiting TO steal something to eat the
modest hen is attending To business
And after life of activity. laying eggs
cacklng. laying more eggs ana hatch-
ing little chicks, she gives up her NE
that the American boarding house may
thrive and wax fat.
This proposition of course Will re-
ceive the enthusiastic support of that
eminent poultry faneier the Helena
independent, but before the final deci-
sion is made the claims of other promi-
nent barnyard fowls should be carefuliy
considered Among several objections
to the hen as the national bird, her sex
is a serious drawback Masculinity mas
always been regarded as essential in
these matters. The hen, moreover, is
100 loquacious and verbose, her CONVEX
sation too desultory and diffuse. She
is thrifty and industrious and all that,
but she is lacking in character and dig
nifty: she is all fuss and feathers, ana
as she gets advanced in years she grows
decidedly tough. If either is TO be
chosen 10 the high office now occupied
by the eagle, it should be the hens con-
sort. the rooster who in respect Of the
qualifications of pride and dignity ful-
fills all the requirements.
The rooster is an assertive individual;
he let's his presence be known in the
world at frequent intervals Ivy vocal
exercises. which. If not So sharp and
ringing as the eagles, are on the whole
more melodious. flexible, artistic and
triumphant. His military character
cannot be called in question. When
necessity arises. he is as warlike and
beIligerent as they make them. He
takes a deep. fatherly interest in his
family, he is with them constantly
they look to him for succor and pro
lection. he is a born leader. The gandei
may excel him in naval demonstrations
the turkey gobbler in magnitude and
ma jesty of mien. the peacock in brill
liant improvisations of tail; but the
rooster is more typical of the American
character than any Of them. lie car
ries his pride TO the extent of boastful'
ness, but he is smart, active. energetic
and enterprising; he possesses an eageI
and inquiring mind; he is constantly
looking into things and calling atten
ton 10 his discoveries in a vivaciou
and victorious tone of voice; he is prom
to 81; on the fence a good share of tn
time, but Wnen occasion really uelnanu
he comes down off the perch and j
ready for business or pleasure. Hi
presence may not be so pompous an
commanding as certain Distinguish
beasts of prey, but we leave il to tn
calm judgment of an enlightened an
dispassionate world whether the crow
ing of the American cock is not sweetel
,,ot,fa, mare fnspirfppr music 10 IN
ears of civilization than the roaring q
the British lion. the growing Of tn
Russian bear, or the yelping Of IN
miserable Spanish cur.