The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-07-27
BANDS OF MERCY.
How the Junior Christian EndeavOr-
ers and Others Can be Helpful in
Humane Education and Kindness TO
Dumb Beasts.
(North state EHdctyorcrD

moi III '''''1' i'''''' - ''''''
III Friends hip st. .prOvldence-R Ri.
April II. 1879
DEAR JrNIoE SUrE#lNTENDENTs:
Your State superintendent beng
interested in the branch OF work
which specially Interested me. has
invited me to send this greeting to
yOU. ! do not know YOU well enough
10 know whether yOu are all deeply
impressed with the Importance OF
Band Of Mercy WORK. but ! believe
Won must be. a. the many Superin-
tcndenta with whom ! have had per
soma! CORES pondence in all parts Of
the country are
In case yDu have not given much
attention 10 This subject previously,
allow me TO state that am not alone
iu believing that it IS one Of the best
forms Of citizenship work that can be
taught the Juniors or be done by
them. i humane education worker
in California ha- spent some time IN
preparing statement concerning
ihc Importance Of the work. especially
in schools Allow me to quote 4 Re"
"hU--ia. hefmahE- Norway, ana
almost every European nation, has
experimental with this instruction
until it ha~ become matter OF
statistic, that humane education
lowers The criminal record- France
I"n@ 20" discovered that teaching
rhi'!rcn kindnc~s to animals teaches
also kindness 10 each other ms Is
natural enough. " hen a child -
speaking kindly. whether TO play
mates or animals. he i developing
and tr"ngthcning the tender and
noble side Of his character. When
h" - thoughticSo and cruel, the
lower and brutal elements Of his
natur" are developed. The child who
i, kind to animals Will never forget
the obligations he owes to his fellow
man.
,-MahiH- due allowance for the
natural difference in disposition en-
i~ting in children. there are few who
cannot be taught that kindness is
one OF the virtues the possession Of
which is essential before any man or
woman can command the goodwill
or respect Of others.
1t has been estimated that the
United States suffers q loss OF Sl,UGJ,-
900 annually because OF lack Of care.
ovorioadiu9, over-driving. beating,
and other forms Of abuse OF the one
animal, the horse. The birds that
are wantonIy slaughtered each year
for sport. or to satisfy the demands
OF fashion, mean q great loss to the
agrlcnItHrlSt. Long agO the Smith
>"nian Institute sent out a warming
TO farmers against the heeiless
destruction Of birds, stating that all
except those birds that are domestic
Gated Woul! soon become extinct. If
humane education we're universally
ad"pted poverty, crime and war
would be very greatly diminished.
and the amount Of money expended
to sustain the officers Of prisons.
armies and n;ivies, would be saved
for the benefit Of the people"
50 much for the necessity Of the
work. and the GOOD accomplished by
it.
Many pcrintcndents write asking
how the interest can be maintained,
and what permanent work can be
given to the members to do. One
superintendent has written of the
special work given to each Committee
in her Society for which that Com
mlttcr is responsible for Il certain
length OF time. They report at the
mrctinv, what they have been able