Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-17
To Save IN. Birds.

More strength to the movement 10
save the birds. 1t is pleasure to note
that their wilful destruction at the
dictates Of fashion and in the name OF
sport is being more and more recog-
nized as an evil attended by numerous
has often touched upon this matter in
the past and will be proud of any
good cause. We hope the day is not
far distant when there will be more
birds in the trees and fewer upon
bonnets. Any of us can recall that
there We're many more song birds
few years ago than there are now. All
persons must regret the change. And
it is more than matter of sentiment,
as can be testified by the farmers who
have to fight more than formerly the
caterpillars. bugs and crawling pests
that infest the fruit trees and devour
the crops in garden and field.
IN TINS Ntth - loSbt tht
Farmer has strong editorial dealing
at length with the slaughter of the
birds. With scathing sarcasm which
is fully deserved. it arraigns the
women who adorn their millinery with
the plumaEcs and cnrpses of the most
beautiful and dainty things in God 5
absurd that woman, lovely woman,
the kind. the merciful. who cannot
bear to see a horse whipped or a dog
kicked, who faints at the sight of pain.
will. for the sake of senseless fashion
cause millions of musical. useful little
lives TO be sacrificed What a shame
it is to womanhood. And the
"Christian" women who profess to be
lieve that not even sparrow falls
without Gods notice. fill the church
peWs with the plumage of the birds
upon their heads. 1t is this which is
depopulating the Southern haunts of
the egrct, killing off the gulls on our
coast and making birds Of all kinds
cent paper We find this item: The
enormous destruction of birds to sup
ply trimming for women's hats was
clearly shown at the fire recently in i
factory at Wautagh. L. l.. when
among the property destroyed We're
10000 stuffed seagulls. 10000 wings of
other birds, and 10000 heads Of birds
representing varieties from the pumcd
birds Of the South to the ordinary
Long Island crow"
But the Farmer in speaking of this
gigantic crime for which fashionabl"
woman is responsible, brings the mat
ter home II the farming communities
in a most practical matter. 1t shows
the Importance of the birds to the sue
cess of the crops in orchard and field.
1t quotes French naturalist who as
serts that if the world should become
| birdless man would not inhabit it after
nine years time. in spite of all the
sprays and poisons that could b.
manufactured for the destruction of
| insects. The bugs and slugs would
simply eat up our orchards ana crops.
A writer in the Bangor Commercial
goes farther in the matter than to use
merely appeal and argument. He
quotes the laws Of Maine and says
that if they We're enforced bonnet
wearers and milliners would suffer.
Section Il Of the laws for 1899. chap
ter AZ. reads as follows: Whoever
kills or has in his possession any birds
| commonly known as larks. robins.
swallows. sparroWs, woodpeckers. or
| orioles, or other insectivorous birds
| exCepted forfeits not less than one
dollar nor more than s. for each bird
killed; and the possession Of such dead
bird is prima facie evidence that he
killed such bird. Whoever carries or
transports from place to place. any of
! the birds named in this chapter. for
fcits s. for each bird 50 carried or
| transported" The Commercial cores
pondent doesn't mince words in saying
that he proposes to test this law and
have it enforced in Bangor. and we
wish him all success. Bird protection
is an important matter. There is
| much sentiment in it. but it is also
| practical problem. If woman's heart
We're only equal to her vanity, and hey
reason not dominated by the dictates
Of fashion, there would be no trouble
| in saving the birds.
Reflections OF a Bachelor.