New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-10
Friends of Helpless Animals.

One OF the biggest young peoples organiza-
lions in the country is the Young Defenders
League. a group OF eighty thousand boys and
girls in New York who believe IN kindness 10
animals and do all they can 20 enforce it, The
league IS attached 20 the American Society fol
the Prevention OF Cruelty TO Animals. which has
its headquarters at Madison evenue and 26th
street. It was founded in 1900. is free 10 all
young persons under ;wenty-one, and is under
the direct management OF Miss Evans, an off,
cai Of the parent society.
The majority OF the members are boys. When
boy wants TO help along in the good work of
humanity. all he has TO do is 10 sign his name
20 the following promise:
To Alfred WagstaT. President
Sir; ] hereby apply for membership I'm the
Young Defenders League Of the American So
Getty for the Prevention of Cruelty TO Animals
and pledge myself that I win be kind TO AMI
mails, and assist the society in protecting them
Upon signing this promise he receives the
handsome league pin badge and is enrolled as
league member.
A great many letters are received from boys
who cannot come in person. but want to Join
and to wear the badge Sometimes as many
Es sixty letters are received in a day and while
they DO not all read quite straight and the writ
ing is crooked and wGbbly. they al show an
earnest desire 10 help and a tender, loving heart
Then, 700. there is joy in the authority Of wear
ing the badge. So when a little Bushwick ave-
nue. lad wrote: please he so kind e. sent me a
hadged for being crule TO animal" there was not
the slightest doubt that he was friend OF ami
mails. and wanted 10 join the league and wear
its pretty gin badge.
A Harlem boy who seems 20 have got his own
name confused with that Of the late president Of
the American Society for the Prevention or
Cruelty 10 Animals wrote: Please send me A
cruelty to animal bag because ! see some boys
hitting the dog. Your loving Sir, John p
EaiDes."
In their eagerness to wear the Young Defend
crs badge, the youngsters sometimes walk long
distances Every now and again a little fellow
viii walk way down from The Bronx in order
10 secure the coveted pin. and once Little
Father walked up from Norfolk street, Juggling
fat infant in his arms. while sister. hardly
more than a baby. toddlcd and dragged along
al his side.
How seriously the youngsters feel their re-
sponsibnties toward the league on the one hand
and The world Of patient. suffering animals on
TIE other Is shown by the fact that one Of them
brought in 100 cats 10 the society's shelter last
summer The cats were abandoned. manned or
sick lie was a star Defender but plenty Of
other boys bring in eight or af,een cats
Every summer and winter afternoon from 3
70 , O'Clock Miss Evans receives the Young
Defenders in the society's museum on me Top
floor to take complaints veritabie chamDef
Of horrors is this museum. and the infamous
cruelty To which II bears witness never faiis 10
impress the boys powerfully. At one end Is
sfest collection 81 whips taken from inhuman
drivers. Opposite Is group Of pitchforks. zee
Dicks ice tongs. straps. spades and other OBJ
secis, each Of which has played its wicked part
n adding 10 the misery Of the world. BUT 10
onset ~ cruelty nOuel
nofseshoeE and rose bags. the bonnets as
,,tlnuied by the society IN summer. model col
ests' etc. which testify 10 steady current sell
Nis toward justice and mercy.
- Tor the complaints lodged by the boys
seL.As these reception hours Miss Evans taxes
,Nn ell the details with the greatest care, ana
eiy arrests and convictions have followed
tyn these childish reports. In summer there
l b almost daily as many as 400 boys In
49,, and the line VIII extend away up Madison
'''Aae' and need the s. z. &. AS 1anltor ana a