Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY
HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE NEARLY
TWENTY YEARS.
Many Obstacles to Overcome, but Still
Has Done a Noble
Work
Written for The Evening Star.

written FOR The Evening Star.
1t is now more than nineteen years since
the original Audubon Society was formed
Even as early as 1888 Forest and Stream
was calling attention of the public to the
fact that myriads of swallows and other
sn all birds were being killed to supply the
milliners with material for hat decoration,
and urging the necessity for bird protection
in America. During the next two years
this subject received the close attention it
deserved from many members of the newly
organized American Ornithologists' Union,
and others now famous in one department
OF natural history another. Among these
men were the late DR.. Elliott Coues, DR.. {.
Hart Merriam, DR. George b. Grinnell,
William Brewster, Eugene Z. Bicknell,
William butcher. DR.. a. X. Fisher, DR.. j.
A. Allen. George B. Sennett, Frank NJ.
Chapman, Montague Chamberlain. Col. \.
S. Goss and others. These men met fire.
quently and id a lot of good. hard work,
collecting data concerning the slaughter
of birds, framing laws for their protection,
writing strong articles, securing appropria-
tons from Congress to further the cause OF
bird protection, and in a score OF ways
awakening an interest in the feathered
population which they found to be so rap
idly decreasing.
George Bird GrinneH. editor Of Forest
and Stream was among the most active,
and the columns Of his paper were always
open, as indeed they are TO this day, TO
writers able to preach the gospel of the
preservation of birds. To the untiring eff
forts of this publication was due in no
small measure such success as attended the
early efforts to prevent the slaughter OF
birds for mercantile purposes. On Febru-
airy II, 1886, 1t published an editorial en-
titled The Audubon Society" one para
graph of which ran as follows:
Objects of the Society.
I'VE propose the formation OF an asso-
citation for the protection of wild birds and
their eggs. which shall be called The Audi
bon Society. Its membership is to be free
to every one who is willing to lend help
ing hand in forwarding the objects for
which IL is formed These objects shall be
to prevent, far possible. % the kill
ing of any wild birds not used for food:
90 the destruction of nests or eggs OF any
wild birds, and CD the wearing of feathers
ornaments or trimming for dress"
The wide-reaching effects of this edi-
torial, seconded, as II was by the efforts
of many such men as l have mentioned
above. now well known. Members
fiocked to the standard and in four months
the society had more than ten thou
sand members. The movement spread rap
idly. and attracted the attention of the
most able minds in the country including
Oliver Wendell Holmes. John Greenleaf
Whittier, Bishop Henry o. Potter. and
Henry Ward Beecher. all of whom wrote
letters 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:
The Truth
"A dead bird does not help the appearance
of an ugly woman, and a pretty woman
needs no such adornment"
Six months after the appearance OF the
famous editorial in Forest and Stream the
Audubon Society for the Protection of Birds
was Incorporated in the city of New York
with a membership of II 600. The incorpc-
rators We're George Bird Grinnel, Edward
r. Wilbur. Charles Il. Reynolds Joel A.
Allen and William d. Page
In January 1887, additional impetus was
given to the great movement by the APP
pearance of the Audubon Magazine. a
periodical published by the Forest and
Stream Company, and expressly designed to
be the organ of the society. This
magazine was devoted to outdoor matters
in general, and to popular ORTHODOXY in
particular. Each number contained a full
page Illustration of some well-known bird
and the life of the great naturalist Audubon
was published as serial, In August. 1887
the secretary of the society reported a
membership of 50, 400.
But in lsS 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, because, in spite of the good
work which had been done birds were still
slaughtered by thousands to satisfy the de-
man6s of fashion. Subscriptions to the
Audubon Magazine fell off to such an eX-
tent that on the completion of the second
volume in December. 1855, 1t was discon-
tinued and organized effort for the protec-
ton of American birds for the time
being at an end.
Gaining Ground.
But, in spite of the lack of interest and
support on the part of the public, the men
" hose hearts were in the work never slack
ened their hold upon it. AS the weaker.
Zen became discouraged and drew out, fell
by the way. resgning from committees,
and giving up the cause, the strong ones
showed their strength by drawing closer ,
together and fighting back to back. Like
all real men, they saw their difficulties. not
as obstacles to bar their paths TO trip
and fan over, but as so many enemies TO be
stamped under foot. And under their feet
they stamped them. one by one and they
gained victory after victory, until by their
fine example they again awakened interest
In the cause for which they fought. and the
battle for the protection of our wild birds
once more became general. This battle
still continues, but the bird-lovers daily
gaining ground and with the ground they
gain they gain also reinforcements. They
are still led by many of the old-time lead
ers-men who refuse to be either discour-
aged or defeated, and it is leaders like tbs
that we want-leaders who. If we Join their
standard and fight, will surely lead US To
victory.
Many State Societies.
One of the first results of the revival of
public interest in. birds was the organiza-
ton, in January, 1896, of a state Audubon
Society in Massachusetts.
In the fall of the same year a similar
society was organized In Pennsylvania. and
in the following year Audubon societies
were organized in New York, Illinois, New
Hampshire, Wisconsin. the District of CO.
lumbia. New Jersey, Iowa, Minnesota, West
Virginia and Rhode Island. All the states
east of the Mississippi are now represented.
except Alabama and Mississippi, and in the
whole country there only about a dozen
territories
put themselves on record as being in favor
of the protection of our wild birds. AS an
Interest in the welfare of birds is a certain
indication of the intelligence of the peopia
of the community where the interest Ia
manifested. let US hope that the few re-
manning states and territories VIII not long
remain conspicuous by their Indifference IL
this matter.
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