Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-07-09
LIBERTY FOR ANIMALS
Desire Of John Burroughs, vener-
able American Naturalist.
BELONG IN WOOD AND FIELD.

'NeS w <oos-No ohe 6enenteo ana
Real Habits of Animals Are obscured
He Declares.
John burroughs, whose long career
MS Il naturalist, author and exponent of
simple living has brought him wide re-
pute, took a walk through the Lincoln
park 700 in Chicago the other day and
commented thereon. Mr.. Burroughs,
vino was returning from four months
trip to the Hawaiian Islands. stopped
in Chicago on the way to his home
The theme of his remarks as he pass
cd from one cage to another In the zoo,
searching the inmates with his keen
eyes, was, There Is really no legiti-
mate excuse for keeping these poor
children Of the wild In captivity"
Nv. Burroughs opinion of Gagged col
lPctions of live animals and birds ap-
plies to all.
IF were the absolute ruler of this
country" he said. every one of these
animals would be turned back Into the
woods and fields. don't know why
we need geological gardens. IL we
must keep animals for study they
should be turned loose in large nation
nj parks where they can be free and live
the lives Intended for them by nature.
Nobody gets any good from Gagged
animals. They are only objects Of idle
curiosity. Their real habits are OBJ
scurcd. 1t really is awful for them to
be dragged from their proper surround
ings and shut up within four walls.
All that can be learned from them here
is how they adapt themselves to the
/ conditions of an Inferno And to learn
| even this would take weeks Of observa-
| tion 50 great Is the lethargy into
! which they soon fall
Just look at those poor birdsv'
| The aged naturalist stepped up to
| the railing outside the large, dome
! shaped cage of the owls and eagles.
| Two bald eagles were hunched mo-
tionless on a. perch a few feet above
J the ground.
THAT is the bird which this nation
! has chosen as its emblem" he said his
! eyes showing the pity he felt He Is
! a bird of the rugged cliffs and the
mountain tops. He loves the high air,
the freedom of the upper attitudes. the
wild winging life Of the bird of prey.
And see to what state he is brought
how detected he looks! His plumage
is all frayed and his beak hangs open
rs if he didn't care what happened to
! 10 q
seems almost to feel the shame.
Il wonder If he remembers how 1t
feels to circle high up in the sky and
see the earth spreading out beneath
him? A stuffed eagle would answer
this purpose--to sit and be gaZed at
as well as live one. Stuffed animals
would answer the ends Of the painter
and sculptor too Taxidermists are
such artists in these days that they
can reproduce life. In the New York
museum are groups of animals shown
in their natural surroundings so ac-
curately that the effect is marvellous. l
have seen stuffed stag so poised that
ii seemed you could even see his breath.
Groups like that afford a much better
education for people than all the AMI
mails in captivity"
Mr.. Burroughs went to see the Amer
we're ten or twelve special kinds he
called them by name almost as quick
ly as his eyes could see them.
Hello. There's a little mistake"
ne exclaimed. THAT cage is labeled
Snow Buntings,' but those are not
snow buntings. They are snowbirds
or. as they are called, juncos. The
snow bunting is a larger bird, and its
plumage is white"
/ Nothing about the imprisoned crea-
/ lures escaped Mr.. Burroughs eyes. OF
nearly every species-birds. foxes,
Zahras. kangaroos, bears. sea lions-he
had bits of learning to impart. He
seemed to be acquainted with every
creature he saw.
The naturalist looked long time at
/ the waterfowl.
THE keeper should know" he COM
mentcd, that these geese should have
fresh grass to eat. If you would cut
some and throw 1t In to them you
would see how fast they would gobble
il up"
The size Of the bison herd drew from
him an expression Of surprise.
81 had no idea there were so many
here. They should send them up to
the northwest where the government
is building up herd and trying des-
perately to save the splendid beasts
from extinction. You don't need so
many here. One would do just as
we'll And how they would thrive If
they could get out on the plains again"
The big elephant was standing under
her shed. swinging her head and lash
1iug her tail ceaselessly, when Mr.. Bur
7 roughs paused.
She's just like machine" was the
comment of the naturalist. "She has
rOthing to do but stand there swinging
Ter trunk and heaving her body back
and forth. Elephants in the jungle or
those having work to do never act that
way. She will probably be standing
there just like that all day, curling and
uncurling her trunk. That is a won
lrrful instrument. that trunk. 1t moves
like a big worm. curling and coiling
ccaselessly.
"rhc elephant has better brain
tlan any Of the other large animals.
The horse Is stupid compared with 1t.
When asked what he thought Of Gag
ing human animals in cities Mr.. Bur
L.. Ill