Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-02

which, were TINS check removed, 1t would moi
greatly hold the balance of power. The
number of flies, mosquitoes, gnats and other
small insects destroyed in one day in a small
area by warbers swallows and hycatchers
alone, is beyond computation. From daylight
until dark, all through the summer months,
these birds wage incessant war on the enemies
of man."
A great French authority, Michelet, has
stated that there could be no vegetation, and
therefore no life. if the birds were all de
stroyed Is this to be put to practical test
for fashions sake?
Now, it is quite evident that such cruel
practice is wrong, and the only defense that
can be set up will not bear examination. The
first excuse is, that women do not know
of this state of affairs-that they cannot bt
expected to trace the origin Of every piece Of
personal apparel they wear; but this will moi
answer at the present day Sufficient light
has been thrown upon the subject until igno
rance Is inexcusable.
Another class, who know that the fashion
involves dreadful slaughter, contend that
the birds would die anyhow True enough
but they would not die by millions year,
nor would entire species be rendered extinct
by natural causes. And here it is well to
call attention to the fact that when a species
is extinct, it is never revived; when the last
bird of paradise is slain, the world will never
see another.
s1s it any worse" says another apologist,
ito kill bird for hat than it is to kill
young goats for gloves or calves for shoes?'
Yes. a hundred times. Gloves and shoes
are necessaries, and goats and calves furnish
food for mankind; but birds are killed for
fashions sake, and a hundred substitutes
are possible.
Flowers, feathers, imitation fruits and
grasses, as well as ribbons, will ornament
hats and bonnets as well as any bird, how
ever resplendent in plumage, and there was
a time when fashion SO decreed.
Then there is a reckless class who say,
"But these are only birds"
The woman who decorates herself with
the body of a bird whose little heart was
wrung with anguish when it was torn from
its helpless nestlings, and they were left to
die in the slow torture of starvation, Is hard
ly logical when she claims to possess rights,
or objects to having her mother love out
ragged: 90
to FIJI with sweet sounds the summer air; to
GLADDEN. the eyes and cheer the heart of
rational men; to be to him the type and en-
blem of glad and free existence now and in
They are surely not made to be captured
in millions by shot, or snare, OF trap; to
have their eyes put out; to have their happy
dwelling places turned into scenes OF miser-
able suffering and their gentle songs into
piteous cries; to be wiped out OF existence
altogether, if need be, to gratify desire tor
personal adornment.
not seem to be very difficult. 1t is admitted
by everybody that fashion is responsible for
This cruelty. and if the fashion changes the
moor little birds will be saved
Now it is a well-known fact that in every
v;ilape. town or city in the land the fashion
is set by one. two, or at the outside score
Of ladies, who are recognized as leaders" !"
Whatever Y ~ they wear. no matter how new or
strange it may be, is faithfully copied by all
The The reform rests entirely with these
headers. If they will discard birds and use
ribbons. feathers or anything else that is be
coming. the milhners will not buy birds and
the hunters will not kill them. In the name
Of kindness and justice. surely this is not
too much to ask.