The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-01-21
THE CALLOF THE WILD
Hon. George o Shields Champions
f. Bird and Animal,

| An Oskaioosa audience was prlvi-
LEGGED to listen to noted man Monday
leyening. George o. Shields, of New
York City, editor of Shields Magazine
and the champion of every form OF
Iwild life from the Atlantic to the Pa
lcffic and from Alaska to the Gulf OF
Mexico, gave an illustrated lecture in
1.-THE Y. NJ. c. A. auditorium on big
Game on the National Ranges and
ROCKY Mountain Snowslldes."
Nj. Shields was introduced in a
pleasing manner by former Congress
man John F. Lacey, who has worked
with him and for him in his efforts to
lpreserve the bird and the animal life
| of the country. Mr. Lacey told some
Thing of the man and of what he was
trying to do. He Immediately inter
ested the audience in the subject by
Irelatlng the incident of the great pig.
con roost" that was formerly located
| short distance east of Oskaloosa on
ISpring Creek, near the site OF the old
IQuaker church Here countless thous'
ands of the wild pigeons had their
home Within a few years the bird
became extinct. Mr.. Shields, said
IMr. Lacey, is interested in a work
that seeks to protect and preserve the
bird and animal life OF the country
and to prevent the disappearing OF
other forms of life as the pigeon has
disappeared. -,.. o., ,-.'1lGE
MIR. SHEDS is possessed of a pleasing
personality. He Is an easy talker and
lat once is upon the best terms with
his audience. In responding to his in.
production he complimented Mr., Lacey
land asserted that the failure of the
Sixth district and of the people OF
Iowa to return Major Lacey to CON
gress was a national calamity. AT
the present time" asserted the speak
er, there is not, in all congress, "a
man who cares an iota what becomes
of the birds and the animals of the
wild life of the land" He then stated
briefly what Major Lacey had done in
this direction, and went into the midst
| OF his lecture upon the bird and ami
NAL life as he had known it. The
lecture was illustrated by stereopticon
land every picture was story and a
llesson in itself. Some of the pictures
lhad been secured at the expense oil
time, patience and great personal risk
and they make up a rare collection
1.-THE like of which is possessed by nc
other man in the land, and the value
of which cannot be estimated. Those
who were so fortunate as to hear Mr.
Shields learned many things about
birds and animals OF our land, of theiI
usefulness and of the real work that
Ithey accomplish. For instance, the
loss of the prairie chicken. and the
disappearing of the quail, which Mr.
shields showed was rapidly becoming
lextinct in this part of the country
is annually costing the agricultural in
Iterests of the land millions of dollaIs
The lecturer in telling of the squirrel
lnoted with pleasure the disposition oil
Oskaloosa people toward friendly re
lations with the little animals. Where
terror has existed in reference to the
ways and habits OF certain birds oil
animals Mr.Shields told what he knew
from personal experience and correct
ed wrong impressions.
The pictures OF the big game or lifc
of the maintain and the deep forest
were intensely interesting, coupled
with the descriptions given and the
stories told The audience was as
pleased with the stories of the life Of
which it knew little or nothing, as
with the picture of animal or bird that
was familiar. And no one heard the
speaker who does not have a higher
kindlier regard for the animal and
bird life. All were glad to know Mr.
Shields and Of his work and should he
care to come to oskaloosa again he
would ill the largest auditorium in the
lefty.