Washington sentinel., 1898-07-30
The TRADE IN BIRD SKINS.

made IN certain quarters that the osprey
plume is as much worn today as ever.
There are very good reasons why these
denials should be discredited, as | hope
to demonstrate further on. Statistics,
at least, show that the destruction of
BIRDS for millinery purposes IS not on
the decline, and / think the recapiiula-
ton Of few items which have derived
from an authentic source will prove OF
interest in this connection, especially
when experts have taken the pains to
correct and verify them. At the same
time they will show that the butcherv of
which all bird lovers complain is one
against which all who are actuated by
the finer feelings OF humanity will set
themselves. Setting aside the sales in
all other cities, and the sales made in
towns and villages, and taking only the
auctions in the city OF London, the great
emporium OF the world for this dlspleas.
ing trade: consignment OF nearly half
a million birds was recently sold, the
details Of which are as follows.
Osprey plumes, 1852 o.; vulture
plumes, 1869 lbs ; peacock feathers.
2I2,o51 bundles; birds OF paradise, a.s62
bundles; Indian parrots, 22S, $50 bundles;
bronze pigeons, including the goura,
1917 bundles; tannagers and sundry
birds, 3SI9s bundles; humming birds,
IIo,49o bundles; jays and kingfishers,
4S,759 bundles; impeydn and other jun
gle fowl, 4,o52 bundles owls and hawks,
7I65 bundles.
Similar sales frequently take place.
How many millions OF birds are annu-
ally sacrificed on the altar of fashion will
never be known. Il has been asserted
lately that there has been great decline
In the bird wearing fashion, but am
afraid this is not so, At any rate, the
decline spoken of must be more appar.
ent than real, for in one OF the most
widely circulated papels the fashionable
news rom Paris begins; "Birds are worn
more than ever, and blouses entirely
made OF feathers are coming into fash.
ION. Rare tropical feathers" ordered
by specialists from abroad, are specified
as the ones most likely to be in demand.
Whole blouses," quothal When will
women be shamed out of this unuttera-
Dly cruel, heartless vanity?
After all these years Of protest, and
all the efforts OF the humanitarian, acting
individually and in association, we have
the doleiul satisfaction of knowing that
what has been done has been of little
avail in saving the lives of our winged
friends. Evidence of the fact comes
10 hano from many lands. Ii is to be
seen IN all large cities and towns. in the
streets and shops Of London Paris and
New York, and, what is worse, our Nav
meetings this year were crowded with
women wearing the osprey plume and
other tokens of Savage beauty" Wings
no longer suffice, the whole carcase of
the bird IS now largely worn, and in
some cases perfect charnel houses of
oeaks and claws and bones and feathers
and glass eyes are stuck upon the fatu.
Gus female head. Foreign birds are no
doubt mainly used but also all the small
British species, from the homely corn.
bunting TO the brilliant kiugfisher, the
emerald of British bird life, and others
OF larger size--turtle doves, jays, owls,
woodpeckers, sandpipers, gulls and
terms.
But 1t is said, these women are plainly
not IN the front rank. Well, all can
say is, that it is impossible TO walk the
length Of fashionable resort like Bond
street without seeing the unmistakable
stuffed bird sported in the usual way, and
painfully common; and the same remark
may very well apply to the fashionable
afternoon concerts-so much so, in tact.
that ! am driven to the conclusion that
woman is bent on advertising TO the
world that she IS either brainless or
heartless. 1t IS not charitable to believe
that woman is merely thoughtlessly
cruel.
A poet tells us that beauty is "When
unadorned, adorned the most" and we
need not trouble to emphasize the point
that women have only fickering faith
IN their personal charms. Occasionally.
Dut too rar,ly one meets a fine spirit,
And how refreshing Is the sight of a
person who has the courage to discoun.
tenance the cruel practice of bird deco
ratlon. such an one recognizes the
Importance Of her own responsibility.
lhere is but one such woman in a hum
| dred, and It is useless to argue with the
remaining ninety. nine FOR general prin.
ciples. If fashion DEGREES this or that.
everything else that truly or vitality con.
Germs its devotee is laughed at and poo
poohed- One woman will mocklrglv
say, why don't you try to save the
little fishes IN the scar" and continue 10
perambulate the town with dozens of
warbIers' wings, making her headgear
hideous. Thousands would loot u,on
the little bleeding bodies with calm in.
dilierence. 1t Is a pleasant sympathy to
those that feel it, that of the love of
birds. Woman feels not that. She is
unconscious that birds play a n important
part In the economy OF nature. and that.
II ali the birds should die, not human
being could live on the earth, II she
knows she cares not. Michelet's dream
was vain one--for him Tender
alliance OF soulsp he cries, why does
II not everywhere exist, be tween US and
our winged brothers, between man and
the universal living nature2" The time
is not yet. The principle that good
John WoOlman asserted was placed IN
every mind which incites to exercise
goodness towards every living creature,
has been unrecognized or neglected.
and the consequence is a degraded and
| dehumaniyed hmm, nit, 81 a. -. ,