Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-03-24
AUDUBON SOCIETIES
THIS ARTICLE DEALS WITH WHY
THEY ARE NECESSARY.
There Is Strong Logic on Their Side
Their Aid Inestimable to Man
Not Acne Of Value to the
Feathered Tribe.
Part l.-why they Are Necessary.

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How frequently we hear the expires.
sion "a freak of nature" Yet there is
absolutely no truth in that expression,
for nothing could possibly be less freak
ish than nature. If we think otherwise
on occasion, it is because we have
glanced merely at the surface of things;
If we go deep enough we shall find that
nature is never capricious; for every
single effect there is a good and suffi-
cient cause, and precisely the same eff
fect, every time. In the perpetual
struggle for existence in which we are
all engaged, men, rattlesnakes and
three-toed woodpeckers alike, every act
we do has definite result--a definite
effect on our chance of survival. Ma
ture has no favorites; a man is of no
more consequence to her than a bull
frog or nine-banded armadillo. If he
goes out to meet tiger, armed with a
big-game rifle, and If he is cool-headed
and good shot, the chances are that he
will kill the tiger; if he goes unarmed,
the tiger will kill him just as sure as
eggs are eggs.
Man has to seriously consider then,
under what conditions he is most like
ly to survive. In the case of the person
al encounter with tiger, a rifle was one
of the conditions; where he Is confront
ed with enemies against which rife is
not effective, other conditions are nee
essary. 1t is well-known fact that the
welfare Of the people of this country at
least is dependent on the success Of the
several crops of grain and vegetables
and fruits, and anything which tends to
make these crops failure, must be
combatted as an enemy, not only of the
agriculturist, but of the nation.
Among the most dangerous OF these
enemies may be included floods,
droughts, many species of insects, many
species Of small mammals, and noxious
weeds. If the agriculturist had to de-
pend entirely upon his own efforts, even
with the aid of gun, to keep these enc
mics in check, he'd have no time for ag-
riculture, and the enemies would not be
checked to any appreciable extent, after
all. He must therefore depend to a
large extent upon certain allies to fight
4 his enemies for him, and it would seem
that as matter of ordinary common
sense, not to mention common decency
and fairness, that he in turn should do
all in his power to save these allies
from destruction.
In fighting the first two of these enc
mics, man has no more powerful allies
than the forests, which tend to prevent
both flood and drought. Against all the
Others mentioned, the strongest allies
are the birds, and it is for the purpose OF
seeing that this great army of unpaid
workers soldiers, If you like-get
something approaching fair play, that a
great society has arisen, with branches
in ma man. les. Nest app it is
called the Audubon society, after the
great John James Audubon, who devot-
ed his life to the study of American
birds and Quadrupeds, but chiefly to the
former, of which he has left hundreds Of
powerful descriptions and hundreds Of
wonderful drawings as worthy monu
ment to his remarkable ability, tireless
energy and magnificent courage.
The founding of the Audubon society
was made necessary by the rapid settle
ment of our country by people who hat
not been taught the value of birds, anC
who could not believe that the enor
nous feathered population of hundred
years ago could ever be diminished
And with reasonable care there woult
have been no appreciate diminution TO
long time to come. But birds of al
kinds were slaughtered without tn
slightest thought for the future-thi
one for food, that one for the milliner
until species after species has been ex
tinct or nearly so. This work of destruc
ton was assisted materially by thos
who made extensive collections of eggs
5 bird skins or mounted birds, and b,
those who captured song birds to be pu
into cages 1t was seen by certain
thoughtful persons, that unless hal
was called many sections of the countr,
at least were going to be PRACTICAL,
birdless, and that the entire countr,
would have to pay the penalty So, tn
Audubon society was organized, and i
now great power for good in the land
Next week propose to tell the story o
its organization and give an account o
some of the work it is engaged in for tn
benefit of bird and man.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.
Hopeless.
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