El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-15
THE most dlscouraging aspect Of

67 HE most dlscouraging aspect Of
the strenuous efforts being made
to save wild bird life is the
steady increase IN the manufacture and
sale of the small types Of guns, tha
purpose Of which is to enable the chill
dren to join in the crest army Of de-
stroyers.
These juvenile bird guns are Of au-
tomato action and generally are de-
signed to use the p calibre, long or
short shells. A boy or EirI from
years old up. armed with one or these
miniature destroying machines can
pick a song bird out Of tai tree ana
they soon acquire unerring aim ana
skill
The sale of these weapons is not con-
fined TO the gun dealers; in tact they
are sold more by toy stores as SANTA
Claus goods
Parents are buying these guns an
over Texas, armlng their Hlue ones
and sending them forth to become
pupils in this kindergarten OF lust 10f
bird blood. No pleasure on earth equals
il with the average boy.
The bird Of exquisite plumaSe anu
his strongest temptation and the value
Of the living bird does not ADDRESS u
self to the boy. These weapons IN LHe
houshOld are menace 10 human lle
as well as bird life.
The agents of the National Assocla-
ton Of Audubon societies have been
collecting data as 70 the huHi1et %
deaths occurring IN IeAas from ING -
cidental discharge Of these y callDre
murdering machines, Wnlcl mas a.
ready reached over 100 for the past -
months There IS not a cemetery IA
Texas, probably, with 500 graves IN ~
bur what mas one or more graves OF
children or adults whose death was
caused by a - calibre, so-called toy
gun. Now these toy guns can XIII az
a range Of 100 yards and even an air
gun can send bullet through a one
inch plank.
The slaughter of innocents by Herod
has come down through the ages as
one of the most mOnstrous crimes com
mftted on earth since Cain slew his
brother Abel There are new Herods
in the land these days VINO are
slaughtering innOcents ana causing IA
mentations, weeping and great moan
ing. Rachael weeping for her children
mourning past comfort for her dead
baby. slain with a p calibre.
II is not only the loss OF the val
liable birds. 50 necessary 20 the eco
homie interests OF the country and
necessary also for their asthetic value
but who viii deny that these 5o.UgO
"tov guns" in the hands or 5u,UuO emil
dren in Texas is training an army
from which a large percentage OF
criminals will be evolved Inc cnlld
who goes out and kills the bird re-
ceives a deeply impressed lesson IN
cruelty. The boy who spends all OF
Ills idle time in the destruction Of
birds. who spends all Of his pocket
money for the purchase Of ammuni-
ton. viii not that boy grow up a con-
firued destroyer, reckless and dlsre-
CAREFUL of the sweetest emotions OF
life
The amazing part Of it is that the
parents will purachse these little guns
and turn them over to their OIL
The same dealers who supply these
iuvenile pump guns TO the children
also sell kOdaks. Now why not buy
the Kodak Why not tell the boy and
the girl to go out and make a picture
Of the bird? A kodak picture Of a
bird. the execution of which picture is
up to the standard Of modern times,
win sell for a good price if pains is
taken TO open up correspondence with
MAGAZINES and other publications,
{ which are so much inclined these days
to add TO the attractiveness Of their
pages by the insertion or illustra-
tons.
The adult killer Of wild life may NOT
be reformed No argument viii reach
them and If you cannot stop this fear
! full condition of affairs the passing
away Of the adult-gUnners viii not
end the slaughter, for the ranks win
( constantly be recruited and as one
/ generation goes out another will come,
I inspired by the very same spirit that
/ swept the American bison from the
continent destroyed the passenger