The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-29
UNTHINKlNC CRUELTY.
Attention Called to the Respond
bility of Women for the De-
struetion of Birds.

4 This is an age in which as never 10
I any other, women are coming before
the world as workers for reform. They
exhibit in an eyerincreasing degree
the divine unrest" dissatisfaction
with wrong, desire to right it, But
there Is one form of wrong cruelty.
which women are NOT consistently try
Ing to remedy. say not consistently!
The same woman who will interfere in
behalf of an over loaded or ill-treated
horse, and who would perhaps rescue
starving cat orsdoE Is often to be
seen with a flayed- seals skin on
her back, and ON her head the plum
age of slaughtered birds. To all ap-
pearance unconscious of her culpabij-
ity, she adyertisespt the, fact that she
either will not read or does not regard
the statements so well authenticated,
and In the case of bird plumage SO
widely and repeatedly published, con-,
corning the barbarities perpetrated in
obtaining these thiRgs.
Last October, Mr.. William butcher.
of New York city. president of the
National Association OF Audubon So
cieties, made an address In Phlladel-
phia at the annual meeting OF tho
American Humane association, In
which after mentioning what has been
often repeated-tha fact that to OBJ
tain the white aigrette SO largely worn
involves not only the destruction OF
parent birds, for these plumes grow
only at the time OF nesting, but the
death of their young from starvation
he spoke also of the brutal murder
of one of the wardens in the employ
of the association by plume hunter
at Oyster Key, Fla. This law breaker,
for whose nefarious Trade feather
wearing women are responsible, re-
scented the Interference of the warden.
and killed him Such women may now
reflect if they WILL on the fact that the
thoughtieSsness and vanity of their
kind have incidentally been the means
of numbering man, and leaving his
wife "a widow, and his children or
phans. They are also responsible for
encouraging a trade of the NEST brn-
talizing tendencies No man can
spend his time killing, with all the
haste and recklessness possible. inno-
cent birds at the nesting period, leav-
ing the young 10 starYe. without him
self losing the last remnant of feeling.
Such man is getting the education
of criminal. Women who wear the
products of his evil work are before
God responsible. whether they think
about II or not
Much OF the capital in the millinery
trade is invested year by year in bird
plumage because It Is a very profitable |
part of the business. So the sale OF
feathers is industyiously pushed in the |
retail stores. and everything Is said !
which will fiatter the vanity OF the /
woman buyer. and soothe her con
science, should il show signs of awak
ening The birds and plumes are |
manufactured" limitations" very |
clever copies Of the genuine, but never
theless only copies" IL is pity that !
women are not better ornithologists.
Or else gifted with better Judgment. |
Audubon societies in every state and
wardens to protect birds would not
be needed If milliners did NOT use
them, nor would II be necessary to
enact more and stricter laws for their
Many varieties Of birds
are slaughtered every year by thou.
sands and millions. and the feathers
10 the shops are the feathers Of these
same birds. as the ornithologists iD
he Audubon societies will testify. Nc
woman has a shadow OF excuse for
wearing as much as one quill, for the
Audubon societies have discovered
hat these are obtained by trapping
he birds. the quilts being then ruth
essly torn from their wings and tbs
disabled creatures turned loose; IN.
,ble In most cases to fly. and present
ng a piteous spectacle. When 1t Is
wings that are sought. the brutal hunt
rs. grown callous through habit. tear
hem on without In the least caring
zhether OF not the bird is cesd.
One Of the most incOmprehensibls
hings connected with the senseless
nd cruel bird piumage fashion. Il the
dlsnee Of ministers Of the Gospel
Why can tkey lot see that for 8 EOm-