St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-11-12

hut It was soon found that while some peopie
were willing to be guided by pleas OF human
ity and by stories Of the destruction OF Tue
growing things because of the rapid increase
=, insect life there were others who could not
he reached by any except hard handed meth
DDS.
so It is that the bird protectors not only
have carried on a great work In the education
of children and in moral suasion among the
elders but they have taken cases INTO court
and have prosecuted wilful and persistent VI
olators of the law, until today the bird protec-
tive laws are as much feared as any other
laws on the statute books. There always nave
been some laws against the wanton Killing o!
useful birds, but until the men and women OF
the American Ornithologists' union ana OF 'ne
Audubon society went earnestly at their labors
the laws were laughed at and violated with I'M
nrnttv and almost always with immunity.
Years ago untold thousands of useful ma
five birds were trapped to be sold as pets III
cages. The women of the south complained
To the women of the north who were engaged
in bird protection work that their mock1ng
birds and red birds (cardnals) were being
trapped in mutitudes because OF the demand
nv the trade in northern cities for caged
songsters The bird protectors OF the nortn
took the matter up and in nearly all places
TODAY it is illegal to sell Gagged wild native
American DlTdS.
About fifteen years ago there was a week
of zero weather in some Of the southern states.
The blue bird, which is a northern favorite,
does not go far enough south in winter to
escane all of the storms of the winter season.
The unusual cold of that winter fifteen years
ago almost annihilated the tribe OF blueolrds.
There were only few left to come back TO
the northern fields in the spring. The plse
bird however was protected, and the ell
cheney of the Audubon society's work was
never more clearly shown than in this case.
The blue birds today have recruited their
ranks under protection and are as numerous
as ever they were.
For years the bird protectionists went
ahead with their work with the treasury at a
low point.
It always had been hoped that some kindly
disposed person would realize the strength
and beauty of bird protection work and would
give of this substance to the cause. The man
known as a scientist nor as bird student
One day, however Albert Wilcox saw news
paper account of some OF the bird protectoh
work done by the national Association OF Au
dubon societies and he wrote letter asking
for more details. He received the Information
that he wanted and he wrote to say that ne
was about to make a new will and felt "a
much pleased with the work OF the society
that he would give it annually during his LIE
time considerable sum OF money to be used
in carrying the work OF the association
and that when he died he would give the soct
ETY. legacy of 100000 in his will, and, ne
added. 1T may not limit it to this amount"
Albert Wilcox died four years ago. He lef
100000 to the Audubon society as he had
promised and In addition he made the society
his residuary legatee to the extent OF one-hal
his estate. Today the National Association. Of
Audubon societies, through the generosity o.
Mr Wilcox, is placed on sure and lasting
foundation. The bird protective work has beer
going on for a quarter OF a century. II mac
all sorts of trials and tribulations, but today
it seems that the friends of the featheret
kingdom have triumphed in their cause TINT
promise is that there will be no cessation q
the work which means so much to the birt
and more to man.