The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-06
MANUFACTURED BIRDS.
That Is What Many of the Feathered
Hat Ornaments Are.

New York Ledger.
The millinery exhibits, both In the shops
and on our thoroughfares, furnish no en-
couragement to the anti-bird and plumage
enthusiasts One might be led to wonder
that live bird could be left TO tell the tale
of the woes that have befallen its fellows.
AS matter of fact, while there are many
instances where birds are wantonly slaugh-
tered for their plumage. these instances are
birds that are worn. Experts know what
the salespeople will not say-that is, that
large proportion of the birds and plumage
are made up from feathers, either of the
common barn-yard fowls or geese, which
are plucked at intervals to provide feather
pillows and similar articles for household
use. 1t is quite as easy to take out the wing
feathers as it is to remove the down and
soft feathers from the body of the bird.
These are carefully preserved, and bring
most excellent price in market. Chicken
feathers are saved in great quantities. as
also those Of other birds that are killed for
food.
There is a curious inconsistency in some
of these diatribes on the killing of birds,
and just now the hue and cry against Per-
sian lamb Is something surprising. One can
scarcely discover Why it should be any
worse to kill lamb for it's fur than a seal.
VI course, there Is In one case the double
slaughter, but when the seal is killed there
may be baby seal left to perish. The law
against killing in the breeding season is so
Iaxiy enforced, owing the the difficulty OF
almost dead letter. Be that as 1t may
the probabilities are that as long as manu-
facturers can find an abundance of live
geese feathers and poultry quilts to work
up into the most beautiful birds imaginable
they are going to do 1t, and the societies
VIII have their worry for their pains.
IL is not sought to offer any defense OF
any Kind for the reckless destruction of life
In our forests and byways; indeed. quite the
reverse, sor the Ledger is, and always has
Deen, most enthusiastic advocate of hui
mamty TO all living creatures; but 1t surely
lS not far from an absurdity to condemn
the wearing OF birds with papier mache
DIS, celiuloid legs, and pIumage made from
the market fowls that one may have eaten
Tor dinner If the creature must be killed,
ana this is the principal point at issue, there
certainly can be no harm in making use OF
every portion of it. The making of milli-
merry trimmings out of these otherwise USE
less feathers furnishes lucrative employ
ment Tor large number of persons. and in
a. most worthy class of individuals. Ostrich
plumes are obtained without sacrificing tho
BIRD In the least, or even causing it any
distress to speak of. These birds shed their
feathers at regular intervals, and the poor
mans child would be well off, indeed, If 1t
received the care bestowed upon the ostrich
from the time it breaks It's shell until II
pays the debt of nature. and is incapaci-
tated from furnishing further profit or BEN
eft to its owner. 1t is possible to manu-
facture artificial beaks and legs that will
deceive any one save an expert, and in
dyed feathers one may secure almost any
tint or tone desired.
There should be restrictions put upon the
slaughter of birds, but while certain days
are set apart for the killing of animals OF
all kinds, and while the destruction of life
goes on, It is difficult to discriminate and
what shall shall not be permitted