The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-28
The BIRDS
DISAPPEAR
Their Rapid Decrease De-
plored by Man.
WORK FOR PROTECTION n
The Audubar Society is Starting a
Campaign Of Education TO Prevent
the Extinction Of the Useful
Birds.
WORK FOR PROTECTION
lsnoo,,, - The TInes .pIspatch. )

fspecial to The Times Dispatch.)
{ YORKTOWN. VA, June 1.-THE rapid
decrease OF the birds Of the field, the
fowl of the air, and the feathered ele-
mont OF various life in the Old Dominion
is a constant source Of grievance to those
who love nature and her children With
this end in view the great Auduban So
ciets Is taking active steps to protect the
game birds, or rather ITO throw around
those which are beneficial In any way, the
protection which the laws Of the state
provide.
The door of the county courthouse Is
ornamented with long linen poster,
provided by the society, calling atten-
ton to these laws and the punishment
rneted out to those who may disregard
them. After careful scrutiny OF the the ~
tire list, one very striking Ssl assfir
presents Itself, the outlawlng Of the de-
spised crow, and the hated English spar
row.
The law as stated practically gives
''carte blanche right to destroy these
pests, at any time or place. and under
any conditions. These two specimens of
the feathered tribe get scant sympathy
and sly stick or stone whenever oppor-
tunity presents Itself.
The efforts Of this most estimable So
ciety are looked upon in various ways
by various people. county official in
ed 1t as "a society OF old maids, with
severe case OF Mysteries over the death
OF crow" y.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
One can never tell the great part the
labor question is playing In the rural
districts Of Virginia, until the farms
themselves are visited and q close scru-
tiny of existing conditions inquired into.
Field after field bare and Idle. the crops
was ted. and even the growing crops, full
OF grass. weeds. and other noxious OBJ
structions Of growth. atest the presence
Z OF the most baneful Of all rural evils the
lack OF help.
The question has become such a serious
one that scarcely any one In the COM
munity escapes the affllction. The
truckers especially fare uncommonly
hard. and are loud ID their denunciation
OF existing conditions Ask the question
why this state OF effairs.'' and unless
the party questioned be an exceptionally
pious man. tho air Immediately becomes
strongly impregnated with sulphur and
( thunder OF the most irate temper fall in
incessant showers upon your head. But,
you are no nearer al solution than be-
fore, only made goose of ourselves and
lost temper, for the greatest disturbing
element of country life, one which brings
greater hardshlps than anything else, the
most disastrous. in Its results Is the ques.
ton OF labor. While help is entirely out
OF the question, the colpred laborer Of
either sex is as scarce as the perver-
bal hen teeth and as independent as the
renowned wood-sawyers. The darkies have
all migrated own diminutive places
themselves, or are severely afflicted with
the dread contagion Of false pride, which
keeps them from serving their white
brother, even unto the extremity Of death
BY starvation.
PROTRAcTED MEETINGS.
The protracted meeting season is fast
tme to co9ntry fSlfs The farm m F WorK IS
ions Of ai days dinner n and and meeting T On
the grounds" as some of the. worldly,
vulgar; younger set transpose It, haunt
istence in. country life as the growing Of
corn or the raising OF cabbage, tomatoes
Vegetable necessities. The body reaSlres
the distraction from hum-drum existence
as m llch as the soul needs the quickening
IKE 81 as h1ssH pe hs %asI
quite remarkable thing. A few miles
p S,v th re- town and somewhat nearer
this point the banks OF the York are pos
f dey sgss IF fp feet g and ID Ss
The point in mind IS an Old farm house.
which has been, there SINCE some time
previous to the late. war. It stood some
distance back from the bank. with we'll
OF excellent water still nearer the rivers
edge. The curbing OF that we'll is now
s s yards below iow-water mark
and st STANDS nc ~, there sentinel 70 the ap
waves. 1t is said that In earlier days the
we'll dug previous to this one shared the
same fate and Is still further out on the
the encroaching river, will soon fall VIC
tim too. and be carried off the next ad-
ditlon to his aquatic majesty's accumula-
ton OF real IR estate .;porArors
The sudden Increase in the price Of
irish potatoes has had quite q stimH-
latng effect on the farmers and truck
in which they have been handled for a.'i the
past few days has been greatly accele-
rated and the way the tubers have been
rushed shows what the steady,go!ng agr-
The price. has advanced from $2.75 to $3.50
per. barrel, quite an Increase. unusual in
ordinary seasons.
days ago by the constable, The dog show tSw
ed every symptom of IA bes, but had not
had the opportunity of biting any one
Az sea9 Re!eh he De new s "a the rest C
imposed on them will have a bappy Of
feet and send more Of the animals to their
happy homes than imaginable Any Of
ne fancy g 20, d makers Of France woua