Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-04-27


came through her private secretary,
the Honorable Charlotte Knollys,
who wrote:
"The queen desires me to say in
answer to your letter that she gives
YOU as president full permission to
use her name in any way you think
best to conduce to the protection OF
birds. You know well how kind and
humane the queen Is to all living
creatures; and / am desired to add
that her majesty never wears osprey
feathers herself, and will certainly
do all in her power to discourage
the cruelty practiced on these beau
tiful birds"
Armed with this letter Mr. VIII
liam butcher, the president of tn
National Association of Audubon So
cieties, approached the President,
who replied last July saying he
heartily sympathized, not only With
the work of the association general
! ly, but particularly in their efforts
to stop the sale and use of the So
called "algrettes" or plumes of the
white heron. "1f anything" he
added. "Mrs. Roosevelt feels even
more strongly than do nthe mat
ter"
People are apt to say without re-
lection, Surely there are plenty Of
birds!" But persecution and de-
sruction on the scale I have been
considering will soon wipe out entire
species. In little England 375 spe-
cies are listed as British" birds.
Today a bare 200 of them are regu-
lar residents or visitors. The bird
societies there, like our own Audu-
bon societies, are making every effort
to stir up public opinion by the issue
OF literature and by tn eintroductioD
Of bird and tree day competitions.
Appeals are made TO the sense ana
better taste OF women, giving them
minute details of the cruelty and
waste OF life they are answerable for,
and exposing the frauds by which the
trade sells so-called artificial
plumes-which in reality have been
torn from the backs of the smaller
birds. Heron plumes are sold as
Osprey" trade name.
The osprey OF science, of course, Is
tho Ash hawk, which produces no
plumes at all. At present the sale of
aigrettes from American birds is pro.
hiblted; but there are no laws pre-
venting the sale of imported goods.
1t was argued that legislation t.
self could do little good against the
evil; whereas II public sentiment
were aroused against it. Il would die
a speedy death. And so In 1886 the
first Audubon society was formed
and named after the famous painter
naturalist, whose name will INSOFAR
ably be linked with that of the birds.
The objects were to prevent as far
as possible the killing OF any wild
bird not used for food; the destruc'
! tion OF nests or eggs, and the wear
ing of feathers as ornaments or trim
mings for dress. Great voices wery
raised in support OF the movement
"As only women create the demand,
wrote Henry Ward Beecher, 1T rests
upon them to stay this wonton de
structionI am sure II Is only neces
sary TO bring before America womeI
the cruelty OF this 'slaghter of tn,
innocents' that fashion is carrying
on. to secure a renunciation of thes
J , ornaments and the salvation of tn
birds"
Whittier voiced his indignation
thus: II could almost WISH" h
said, that the shooters of birds, tn
taXidermists who prepare their skin
aud the fashionable wearers OF thei
feathers. might all share the penaIt
which was visited upon the ancieu
mariner OF Coleridge who shot tn
albatross.
Inexorable dame fashion points
finger OF death first at one variety
' then at another. Thus In 1900 sh
again attacked the gulls and term
and dealers declared the demand ia
exceeded the supply. A national al
peal was made to bird lovers by Al
: bott II. Thayer, and through his et
forts a large fund was raised TO b
y used for the special protection c
. sea-hirds during the breeding se'
! son.
But apart from millinery. wome
make cruel and most unnecessary ds
mands upon the smaller birds ia
b. food and Gagged pets. In many place
the sweet voiced. red-breasted llttl
!. robin is merely looked upon as