The Washington herald., 1908-03-25

votes its time and attention to alleviating
the suferings Of little children and OF ami
mais, and lends it's influence 20 securing
legislation in their behalf There are
about 400 societies in various parts Of the
country that are affiliated with the asso-
citation in such good work. and the gen
eral effect OF such allied endeaYor is be-
ing felt In many ways. Endowment
funds in the hands Of the various socie-
ties amount 10 about 10000. and a hun
dred times as much could be easily used
10 great advantage. Approximately Sl00,-
000 is spent each year in the work. and
10000 children and $4,000 animals are in
volved. There are paid agents and hun
dreds Of voluntary ones. individuals and
small bands Of men. or women. or chill
dren. who serve for humsnitys sake.
Fifty years ago in ell this country there
was no such thing as society protect
ing children OF advising humane treat
ment of animals In 1865 Henry Bergh.
pioneer of the work in America. began TO
enlist public sentiment in favor OF the
horses and dogs OF New York City, and
was rewarded for his pains by having
dirt thrown in his face and by being car
tooned IN the coarsest fashion. When the
first child was brought into court in this
country. by some one who asked that il
be protected from its parents blows and
neglect, II was brought In under the law
that protected dogs, but It received the
mercy asked. and a horriied citizenry
hastened TO place on its statute books
laws that protected abused children. To-
qox- rD ~ fra
country are still far from the ultima
Thule OF their hopes. they have seen
wonderful strides made in the prevention
OF cruelty 10 children In big cities. have
seen the Gerry Society rise in ifs might
in New York to save many children, and
have helped IN the establishment OF juve-
nile courts and rescue homes where vice
and idleness may be prevented
The American aumane Association goes
about its work with no sentimental sp-
peals for useless endeavor. II puts the
question OF humanity and protection 10
the weak on a common-sense basis. ap-
pealing 70 the fair-minded and big
hearted for wider interest in dumb
animals. for a bit OF thoughtfulness now
and then where the draft animals and
animals raised for food are concerned It
asks that drinking fountains convenient
to horses. mules. and dogs be erected on
the thoroughfares in big cities. that check
reins be lowered in heavy pulls Up long
hills, and that effort be made to secure
general legislation against the docking Of
horses tails. The response has been gen
erous in many cases. A benevolent Bos-
Z r,FF
sand dollars for the erection OF a public
drinking fountain for man AMI beast and
in every city Of considerable size there
has been some suitable but less preten-
tious drinking accommodation made.
either BY a humane society or through
the philanthropy OF some individual
The association. being OF a practical
turn OF mind as suits the trend OF the
/ times. points out that as a matter OF
business the commercial side OF philan-
thropy should be considered In their
] latest report the officers point out this
/ side as well as the humanitarian side,
claiming that millions OF dollars are
wasted each year in the United. States
through negligence For example, they
show that II proper preventive means
were used IN regard TO training children
early in the steps OF good citizenship,
criminals. In the poorhouses OF the coun-
! try there are nearly S2e0o paupers. and
in the prisons over s. 900 criminals 164.e0
people 10 be maintained By taxes levied
on the law-abiGing. industrious citizens.
The annual cost is $4,000 II the mini
mum sum OF 800 a year be allowed for
! the support Of each. These figures do not
| include nearly Sooeoo persons who are
! kept as dependents in various benevolent
/ institutions that arc supported BY private
charity. The whole aSsemblage would
| form an army nearly four times the size
OF the standing army allowed by law, and
/ is always a menace. never a help or pro
lection to civilization.
The practical lesson is further taught
when IL is shown that annually 5S00. 90 90
worth Of grain Is destroyed in the United
States b. noxious insects, because tht
wanton destruction Of insect-eating birds
/ has not been stopped. Every time q
farmer kills a bird. he kills one - nj:
best and ablest allies. The associatio.
/ has compiled figures 20 show that ths
average horse or mule has its life cut
/ from five to ten years shorter by poor
treatment. abuse. stupidity. or ignorance
AS there are over 8OO000 horses and
mules at work in this country. an increast
of their earning capacity by i've years
more would mean a saving in a shorr
while OF over one thousand million dol
lars Lack of proper education in the car,
of cattle. sheep. and hogs in this country
and lack OF humanity on the part o
many OF the owners. loses the countr!
s24. coo a year. all due TO negligence
cruelty. and exposure.
Last spring the association sent com
mission out West to investigate the con
dition Of the range cattle 20 see il any
thing could be done 70 ameliorate .condi
tons among them. The report was not
cheerful one. The committee found cattI,
starving and wholly unprotected. whil
thousands were slfering from mango
Fifty TO 20 per cent of the cattle on IN.
ranges visited had died from neglect an,
cold Horses were found 20 fare better
/ for they paw away the snow from thr
grass. and break the ice for water I,
drink. but cattle cannot do this During
the year ending with March 81. 1905. gov
ernment reports showed that nearly
million and half head Of cattle an,
nearly as many sheep died from exposur,
| IN this country. me ioSSeS lot iSun ant
1907 have been about the same. the value
OF those lost each year approximatinE
Se40oo.oeo. The association hopes. by pre-
senting these figures to thrifty nation
to increase the interest in dumb creature:
through the economic. II not through the
| humane side OF the question.
The food supply OF the nation has com'
in for good bit Of discussion during tho
thirty-one years Of the associations ex-
istence II started out with a plea fol
more sanitary. as well as less painful