The Republican journal., 1910-05-26
BARS BIRDS ON BoNNETs.


New Law In Empire State Saves Native
Species. Hat Fashions May Change to
Fruit and Flowers.
New York, May 2sd. That fashion
will soon cease to prescribe the nuptial
plumes of butchered mother birds for
the headgear of American women was
indicated here today, as the result of the
passage of the Audubon bill that Cover
nor Hughes has just made law. Not
only aigrettes, but also the plumage of
the native wild birds that check crop
pests all over the continent, it is pre-
dicted, will be made questionable by
leaders in the millinery centers Of this
city, whose traffic in such stock will be
prohibited by the new law. While the
cruel determination of the aigrette-bear-
ing herons will be stopped, millions of
dollars worth of the country's crops will
be saved as the result of this legislation,
it is declared by officers of the National
Association of Audubon Societies, who
have labored for the last five years to
secure its passage.
Realizing that all trade in aigrettes
must end when the Audubon law takes
effect, the Broadway feather dealers are
today reported to be frantically trying
to dispose of their supplies of the plumes
for which the white herons are slaugh-
tered among their starving young. The
costly products Of this bird butchery are
now said to be becoming drug on the
millinery market, where once they COM
manded fancy prices. Under the circum-
stances it is believed that the milliners
will urge Paris to alter its styles and
check further demand for these barbar-
GUS trophies on women's hats in this
country.
For the first time in the history Of this
State it will De possible to prosecute I'M
der the Audubon law anyone who makes
millinery ornaments out of the economi-
cally valuable wild birds. Now that Neg
York has joined California, Oregon, Mas
sachusetts, Louisiana, Ohio, Missouri,
Iowa, Wisconsin and Washington in pro-
tectlng these feathered crop guards by
law. it is prophesied by agricultural au-
thorities here that much will be accom-
plished toward cutting down the country's
annual crop loss due to insect pests. Fol-
lowing up its victory in this State, the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties is today preparing to procure pro-
tective laws uniform with that in this
State for the birds that guard the farms
of every one Of the United States.
Though tireless efforts have only just
resulted in our obtaining just protec-
ton for the insect-eating birds of New
York State, as we'll as the beautiful
white herons, we mean to keep up our
activities until every farmer in America
is assured of the cooperation of native
birds in guarding his CROP" said William
butcher, president of the National Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies at its head
quarters, 141 Broadway, today. 1.-The
recent victory for the agricultural inter
ests in New York State should urge upon
all farmers the necessity Of Immediately
demanding from their own legislatures
real prote elton for the birds that save
their crops from weed and insect pests"
The Memorial Day Number of The
Youth Companion is an American num-
Der, through and through. The Rose
Colored Acacia,'' by Elsie Singmaster,
is story Of reconciliation over the
graves of the Blue and the Gray. The
story of IA Mans Work." by Garland
P. Terrell, is convincing proof that
story of cowboy life can keep ones IL
terest aroused to the keenest pitch,
without the introduction of single bad
man. James B. Connolly's article on
THE American Boy and the Navy"
shows what opportunities lie open to the
young enlisted man in the American
naval service. And the beautiful cover
of this issue symbolizes a custom which
is growing in our seacoast towns of scat
tering flowers on the sea Memorial day