The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-08-23
70 PROTECT BIRDS
Movement in Holland to Save
SOngSterS From Destruction.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
Dogs Used as Burden Bearers-Mal-
treatment Common-Government's
Novel Campaign Of Education
Slaughter Houses Open to Public
Appeal to Self Interest.

Appear 10 SET interest.
ly sent out circulars to the heads OF
all schools in the country asking
them to cooperate with the govern
ment in movement to protect AMI
mails and birds, writes a correspond
ent in the Chicago News. He wishes
it to be impressed upon the minds
of school children that it is mean
and cowardly to be cruel to animals.
To comply with the minister's re-
quest school principals and inspec-
tors are holding conferences with all
classes of teachers as to the best meth
Cd of accomplishing the desired end.
Laws are also in force to punish more
stringently than heretofore all who
are guilty of cruelty to animals.
That it will take some time to Grad
icate the old ideas about the treat
ment of animals is certain. Here, as
elsewhere in Europe, the overwork-
ing and ill-treatment of horses and
dogs is common. Dogs are used for
hauling purposes in Holland as well
as in Belgium, but in the latter coun-
try, much has been done to improve
the breed of large dogs, while the
use of small dogs for drawing carts
has been prohibited. This is due to
the efforts of a society for the pre-
vention Of cruelty to dogs. A similar
society is formed and branches are
being established in various parts or
Holland Some of the owners OF
working dogs are humane but many
appear to be totally devoid Of feel
ing, and foreigners are often sadden-
ed by seeing the treatment to which,
small overworked and underfed dogs
are subjected The carts used by the
peasants near The Hague to convey
produce to the market are low, two
wheeled affairs. They are drawn by
one, two or three dogs of various
sizes and mongrel breeds, the sorriest
looking creatures one can we'll i'm
agine. All day long from sunrise I'M
til late in the afternoon these carts
go up and down the streets while the
owners are peddling their wares. Then
the homeward journey is begun.
Often the native village is many
miles distant from The Hague. The
"baas," or proprietor of the dog cart,
generally has refreshed" himself at
various inns and is in a hilarious
mood. He halls all acquaintance on
the road and invites perhaps two or
even three of his cronies to make
use of the cart, and seated on top OF
ii with their legs dangling over the
sides these lords of creation prove
their right to that title by the way
they belabor and otherwise maltreat
the exhausted animals that are doing
their best to carry them home. The
men dare not get into the cart while
within tie precincts of the city, as
there is an ordinance forbidding it,
but just as soon as the limits is pass
ed they ride. It Is rare thing to
see these fellows show any kindness
to their dogs, and it will not be easy
to convince the children of the peas
ants that the animals should be kind
ly treated.
Another thing that has a bad effect
on children, and perhaps on grown
people as we'll, is the public slaughter
ing of cattle, sheep and pigs. Happi-
ly, in the most of the large towns there
are abattoirs, entrance to which is
strictly forbidden, but The Hague does
not possess such an institution. Crowds
of adults and children stand about
the doors Of the slaughter houses, or
If the doors are closed peer through
crevices or windows to see what is
going on.
1t has been found that the best way
to induce grown people to treat the
animals they own better is to prove
to them that it is to their advantage
to do so-that a well-groomed, we'll
fed and well-treated horse or dog can
do more work and that it pays to be
kind. This may not be the highest
ethical method, but it is a beginning
They will treat their beasts of bur-
Den better and will teach their chill
drer to do likewise. In this way, too,
1t is proposed to enlist the help III
the farmers in giving protection 10
birds by showing them how useful
the feathered songsters are. If they
are made to understand that birds are
waglng a continual war on destruc-
tive insects the agriculturalists will
soon come to the conclusion that the1r
winged friends must be protected
Some species already enjoy an almost
regard, such, for instance,
BIS the stork, the swallow and the
wagtail But there are other species
that deserve equal consideration and
fail to get it.
The Minister of the Interior has ON
dered large colored plates Of the USE
full birds and of the insects they de-
stroy to be distributed throughout
the country with pamphlets showing
III xya111n Of tha birds in a o,;o,,I+,,ra