The Tupelo journal., 1908-01-10
seeds, the greatest curses to the far

1t VIII deal fairly because it will
serve the best interests of the great
est number; its object will be to secure
the passage Of such laws that the use
and enjoyment of birds and game will
not be confined to any particular class.
It will deal humanely because it will
insist that no birds or game be killed
unless some distinct good is to be ae-
complished; and because it will endeavor
to save for the coming generations Of
this state the abundant winged life that
means to much to the happiness, pros
perity and educational improvement Of
the people.
Birds nave been killed by thousands
merely for the decoration of women's
hats.
Birds have been slaughtered in count
less numbers to satisfy the greed and
recklessness of ~pot-hunters.
Birds have suffered severely from the
unchecked increase of cats and dogs.
Birds have been prosecuted by boys
and other thoughtless persons whose
education in such matters is neglected.
None of these causes that have re.
suited so disastrously to the birds can
be defended in the light of modern civil
l~ization. Every one of them is a form
of inhumanity and criminal wasteful,
ness.
The birds that have been sacrificed to
the millinery fashions have an immense
ly greater value when alive, as a
means of educating the ear, the eye and
| the heart.
The work of the pot-huntr has swept
| almost out of existence the game birds
"a resource that should have continued
for years a means of moderate recrea-
ton and of variation in the national
1iet.
] The song-birds and other insectivo-
rous species killed by boy gunners are
worth thousands upon thousands of dol
lors to the state in which they are
found. The cotton boil weevil is caus-
ing an annual loss of $15,000,000 to
the cotton growing districts now infested
with it; the potato beetle cuts out $10,-
900, 900 from the profits on the potato
crop; the cotton worm has been known
to cause a years damage amounting to
$50, 900, 900. These are the insects that
make up a large part of the diet OF our
birds!
Who can doubt that it is time to deal
vigorously with this subject, and who
can afford to overlook the responsibility
that rests on the people of Mississippi
in this matter. Italy is an example of
a country largely stripped of its birds,
and the picture that it presents, as de-
scribed by graphic and faithful writers,
should be sufficient to urge upon the
good citizens of Mississippi immediate
decisive action in this vital matter.
If you can't work for the cause, give
a membership due. If you can't spare
a membership due, speak to those who
can. Be fair to the best interests of
the state, and do what you can, no mat
ter how little. 1t is a tax, but q small
one, and the returns will astonish you!
Directed to the recent meeting of
County Superintendent in Jackson, and
to all educators directing school work in
Mississippi:
To Superintendent of Education in
Mississippi:
The forestry and agricultural inter
ests of the United States suffer an an
nual loss of 100000 900 from the dep
relations of insects Figures of the De-
partment of Agriculture). The killing
of every insectivorous bird means an
addition to this burden of loss. Does the
school boy know it?
Thousands of dollars are spent an
nually in Mississippi to make better
and more efficient citizens of the next
generation. Is the ground covered by
this expenditure if appreciation of nat
ural resources is omitted from the cur
riculum? Do we spend money to edu-
cate children unskilled in the first prin-
ciples of better care for our feathered
allies?
Are We to wonder at woman's folly
in demanding the slaughtr of birds for
her hats when she has grown up be-
side boys whose only thought of a bird
was to kill it?
If an opportunity to accomplish their
purpose has ever been presented to the
educators of Mississippi, it comes now in
awakening better impulses among chill
dren towards birds-friends of agricul-
ture-objects of many of our whole
soonest pleasures, quickeners of human
observation and intelligence.
Every superintendent in Mississippi
owes it to the teachers and pupils of
his county to initiate them in the
mysteries and economies of feathered
life. Children deprived of the pleasure
of such study are being injured physi-
cally, stunted in their moral natures,
and starved esthetically. Culture,
health and character lie in the study
of nature.
Put your teachers and pupils within
the touch of the bird study and protec-
ton forces in this state. Talk such
matters when you visit your schools;
arrange for them in your courses of
study, and avail yourselves of the books
and leaflets planned for the instruction
and entertainment of school children in
matters of this kind.
Finally, call on the writer if he can
assist you, and give him in turn the
benefit of your suggestions.
III. III. KOPMAN,
Special Agent National Association of
Audubon Societies.
Foundry Projected.
,oroma,t 10 NJ, foot for tho oo,.