The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-04
Writer to Mail Bag Criti-
ciSeS Fashion of
Women.
ASKS FOR REVOLT
AGAINST PRACTICE
Says Tearing Skins From Animals
Is Form of Bar
bariSm.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
Winter is drawing near, and the
furs begin 10 be seen again
II we lived in snow huts in the Arc
tic regions. and lived from of the fat
OF seals. then to clOthe ourselves in
sealskin were neither as unreasOn-
able nor as barbarous a custom as
il IS for civilized" ladies Of temperate
zones 10 adorn themselves in the coat
which by right belongs to another.
That Esquimos, who have nothing else
TO live on than the flesh OF murdered
seal, and nothing else to clothe them
selves in than the skins. are still en-
gagged in the occupation Of murder
ing seal, whose every part they util-
ize, is, though deplOrable, not as de-
pIOrable, not as revolving, as that
gentle ladies" of Christian" lands
send armed troops to Alaska TO bring
havoc among the seals TO satisfy
wOman's vanity, the skin is often
torn from the living seal-what does
the hunter care?
Moreover, the glossiness Of the skin
IS thus best retained.
Before the Eskimo knew Of the whites
he had not made study Of how 90 tor
ture seals. Whether the glossiness OF
the fur were retained or not was a mat
ter Of no cencern 20 Eskimo man and
woman. The rnaddened rush Of trade
was unknown to them and altOgeth Fl
the seal Jared much better in the days
that we call dark. when polar bear
and Eskimo preyed upon the seal, but
not the Christian lady.
As a result of the demand for seal
skin among sO-called civilized people
/ the seal has been well-nigh extermin-
ated. Well for the seal IL he only were
exterminated: but this is not the hearts
| desire Of man. who desires seals 10 live
10 make money out Of them As a re
suit, 10 make the skins valueless and
/ stop the hunt for a while. many seals
have been branded. and the lady in the
| sealsllin coat has had nothing whatever
70 say.
Not a savage race on the face OF the
earth Is the cause Of SO much suffering
! as is the race which calls itself civ
I iliZcd' and refined" When the day
| seems near 1t hand, that the sufferings
I OF the seal may be ended through total
! eXteru)ination Of their prosecuted race
| then methods that only demons could
! devise. are thought OF by means OF
which the threatened determination is
! prevented, and the seal is saved" tC
/ be tortured again in the name OF trade
I ana the vanity OF woman. such Is
] Christian civilization
| II, instead Of branding a few remain,
4 ing seals. how much better IL the Crue
/ death StrOke--thOUgh never more Crue
/ than brandinS-had been dealt these re
/ naming ones as well. thus bringing al
/ last 10 an end the sufferings OF a race
/ whose tortured members are kept alive
| simply 10 be pTeyed on, simply that q
! cruel trade may flourish among peOpl,
/ who call themselves civilized" simply
/ that the treasured badge OF barbarity
| may be worn Dy woman. She could put
/ the trade to an end and relieve the sea
] from its greatest peT.secutOr, she cOulC
/ take the first step by burning all hel
/ CHASTITY skins and never buying more
I as long as she insists that she be sup
/ plieO with the booty. she reveals hersel
\ TO be exactly as cruel as is man.
] Nor is there less cruelty ASSOCIATED
/ with the obtaining OF other furS thar
/ with the obtaining 4 seal skin. Til,
! cruel traps that are Used by man caus,
! more suffering than any suffering which
| lion or tiger can occasion. Were rneT
| able 10 realize whe- the ermine suffers
| while the unfOrtu 11te creature stand.
/ for DAYS with its tongue frozen to Z
| rock, unable 20 get away. he would finC
! the Queens eTDiue-lined train more dis
| gusting than beautiful to look at: tn,
! barbarian alone can find the ceremonie.
| sacred which have their root II
| cruelty.
! Women, let tradesmen advertise thei
stolen furs and feathers in vain. Treas
ure more highly than outward "adorn
ment'' the; gem OF compassion within
| your soul MARIE GUNpERSEN.