The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-06-10
WEARING AlGRETTEs'
WOMEN WHO DO so CONSTITUTE
A THIRD SEX.
A Pathetic Story of the determination
of a Flock of Snowy Herons
S to Crafty Feminine
Vanity. -.-


In the humble opinion Of some Of US
the three sexes no longer consist, al
Sydney Smith (or somebody else) sug
gested, of men. women and clergy
men," but of men, women and 'tht
women who wear aigrettes." The line'
which separate them are not sharply
defined AS we all know, some mer
are exceedingly ladylike. and some
women are so mannish in manner and
dress as to be difficult of Identification
In the same way, it is occasionally
quite easy to mistake one OF the WON
en- who wear the aigrettes" for WON
an, but the types" are now unmistak.
able, always.
| Let me tell you tragic little story
which was told to me by friend wht
some years ago spent large part
his time in Florida. He was wander.
ing in a quiet swamp, when he came
upon a colony of snowy herons, which
had built their rude nests of sticks in
the low bushes which grew from the
water of the little pond.
Many of the beautiful birds wert
walking along the shore of the pond
and many others were sitting on theil
nests. At his approach, the sitting
birds arose, white and silent as great
snowfiakes lifted by the wind, and
alighting in the trees which surrounded
the pond, they stood. anxiously watch
ing the intruder. Their dazzling beauty
was enhanced by their bridal robes
formed of long, airy plumes which
stretched in graceful curves from be-
tween the shoulders, down over the
back and beyond the TAIL the tips
rounding upward and backward with
subtle turn. 1t was wondrous sight
those spotless birds, whose dainty
grace was heightened by contrast with
the rude platforms which held then
pale blue eggs or awkward nestlings;
a sight not to be seen in Florida to-
day.
About a week later, my friend wa!
passing within a mile of this heronry
when he heard the report of gun. II
came from the direction of the little
pond, cad as it was quickly followed
by several other reports, he hurried te
the spot, to find out what the matter
was. AS he went along, many mort
guns were discharged, and when hi
reached the heronry, he saw as sad 8
sight as ever met the eyes of lover
of birds The shores of the little pond
were strewn with the white bodies OF
herons, some already dead, and Others
struggling with the pain of wounds
from from which trickled the blood
which dyed their snowy plumage. 9th.
ers still had evidently been dead for &
day or two, for the flies arose from
them in clouds. On the back of each
of these was large space. clear OF
feathers, and covered with dried blood
showing whence had been torn the
graceful plumes. donned for a bridal
A few wounded herons lay Tapping il
the water. which here and there wa.
streaked with red. At different point,
along the shore and among the treei
were stationed the four men who hao
committed this crime. Now and then
one of the few remaining herons, faith.
full to her young. would come flying
over the ruined city, and alight upor
some lookout perch before going to the
nest with food. This was the momen,
the men were waiting for, and the bans
of the gun was nearly always follow.
ed by the thump of the birds body a.
it struck the ground. There was moth.
ing to be done. These men were plume
Hunters" acting under the protection
of the laws of Florida; hireling slaugh.
ter-house butchers directly in the EN-.
ploy of large millinery establishments
| and indirectly in the employ of soft.
voiced women who would shudder ii
they accidentally stepped upon a worm
Sick at heart at the horror of the
sight, and at the hopelessness of pro.
| test, my friend turned away. But mex
| day he returned to the scene. that he
night know all the facts. The mer
we're gone; their bloody task was done
out the pitiful carcasses of their vic.
Tins still lay rotting in the sun. AL
but one. for faint rustic called attcn.
hon to bird. mangled and bleeding
but still alive, gasping out its last hour
| In agony. All the previous night that
bird had lain, doubtless suffering the
| tortures of the damned. that a woman
might declare herself 'in the fashion
by Haunting its dead plumes upon heI
head. Quickly putting the suffering
| creature out of its misery, my friend
turned his attention to other sound.
| which came from the direction of the
rookery itself. In some of the nests
lay the pale blue eggs, now cold and
| lifeless, and in others tiny young which
had quickly persisted after their par.
ents had ceased to provide for them
But from several came the clamor OF
more advanced nestlings. which were
literally starving to death, simply be.
cause the men who slaughtered theil
parents were not paid to save these
L Urpfcbpd LITTLE hoinUS from linoori,.