Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-03
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY.
Has Been in Existence Nearly Twenty
Years.

formed. Even as early az 1873 Forest
ana Stream WAS calling attention of
the public to the fact that rnyriads Of
swallows and other small birds were
being killed to supply the miliners
with material for h1t decoration, and
urging the necessity for bird prOtec-
ton in America. During the next two
years this subject received the close
attention it deserved from many MEM
hers Of the newly organized American
OrnitholOgists' Union. and others now
famous in one department of natural
history or another. Among these men
were the late DR.. Elliott Coues, DR.. c.
Hart Merriam, DR.. George B. Grinnell,
William Brewster, Eugene p. Bicknell,
William butcher, DR.. A. K. Fisher, Dr.
J. A. Allen, George B. Sennett, Frank
NJ. Chapman. Montague Chamberlain
Col. n. S. Goss and others. These men
met frequently and did a lot of good
hard work. collecting data concerning
the slaughter of birds, framing laws
for their protection, writing strong
articles, securing appropriations from
Congress to further the cause of bird
protection. and in score of ways
awakening an interest in the feathered
population, which they found to be so
rapidly decreasing.
George Rird Grinncll, editor of For
est and Stream, was among the most
active, and the columns of his paper
We're always open, as indeed they are
to- this day, to writers able to preach
the gospel of the preservation of birds
To the untiring efforts of this publica-
tion was due in no small measure such
success as attended the early efforts
to prevent the slaughter OF birds for
mercantile purposes. On February
II. 1886. it published an editorial en-
titled 1.-THE Audubon Society," one
paragraph Of which ran as follows:
eve propose the formation of an as
ISOLATION for the protection of wild
birds and their eggs, which shall be
called The Audubon Society. Its MEM
bership is to be free to every one who
is willing to lend a helping hand in
forwarding the objects for which it is
formed. THESE objects shall be to pre-
vent, so far as possible. a. the killing
OF any wild birds not used for food;
e, the destruction of nests or eggs of
any wild birds. and (3) the wearing of
feathers as ornaments or trimming for
DRESS
The wide reaching effects of this edi-
torial, seconded, as it was, by the
efforts of many such men as l have
mentioned above, ire now we'll known.
Members flOclied to the standard, and
in four months the new society had
more than ten thousand members. The
movement spread rapidly, and attract
ed the attention of the most able minds
in the country, including Oliver Wen
dell Holmes. John Greenleaf Whittier
Bishop Henry .. Potter, and Henry
Ward Beecher, all of whom wrote let
teIs to Forest and Stream, expressing
approval OF and sympathy with the
aims of The Audubon Society. Charles
Dudley Warner thus tersely expressed
himself on the subject:
"A dead bird does not help the ap-
pearance of an ugly woman, and
pretty woman needs no such adorn-
meMt.''
Six months after the appearance of
the famous editorial in Forest and
Stream the Audubon Society for tho
Protection OF Birds was incorporated
in the city of New York with a MEM
bership of 11.u00. The incorporators
We're George Bird Gr!nneii. Edward Il.
Wilbur. Charles B. Reyr olds, Joel A.
Allen and William D. Page.
In January, 1887. additional impetus
was given TO the great movement by
the appearance of the Audubon Maya
zine, periodical published by tie
Forest and Stream Conn any. and ex-
pressly designed to be the organ of the
new society. This magazine was de-
voted to outdoor matters in general,
and to popular ORTHODOXY in particu
lar. Each number contained a full
page illustration of some we'll known
bird, and the life of the great natural
ist Audubon was published as serial.
In August. 1897, the secretary of the
society reported a membership of 49,
400.
But in 1883 interest in the movement
began to wane. The novelty had worn
off, the press devoted little space to
the subject Of bird protection, and
many people became discouraged, be-
cause. in spite of the good work which
had been done, birds We're still slaugh-
tered by thousands to satisfy the de-
mandS of fashion. Subscriptions to
the Audubon Magazine fell off to such
an extent that on the completion of the
second volume in December, 1883, it
was discontinued and organized effort
for the protection of American birds
was Tor the time being at an end.
But, in spite of the lack of interest |
and support on the part of the public, |
the men whose hearts were in the work |
never slackenad their hold upon it. |
AS the weaker men became discour- |
aged and drew out. fell by the way,
resigning from committees, and giving |
up the cause. the strong ones showed |
their strength by drawing closer to- |
Gether and lighting back to back. |
Like all real men, they saw their diff |
cu.ties, not rs obstacles to bar their |
paths or to trip and fall over, but as |
so many enemies to be stamped under |
foot. And under their feet they |
stamped them, one by one, and thew
gained victory after victory, until by
their fine example they again awak--
ered interest in the cause for which !
they fought and the battle for the pro-
lection of our Wild birds once more be-
came general. This battle still con-
tinues. but the bird lovers are daily
raining ground and with tho crn,,n1