Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08
School Children Form Bands Of Mercy.

I bring out even more strongly than usual
the necessity of having fair play. Boys
that one who does not deal fairly IL
coward. After that the comparison is
apparent. Another method l employ is
to tell them that in the case Of a murder
people who knew of it, but did nothing
to prevent the crime. are tried accesso-
ries to the crime. Ii they stand by and
watch animals mistreated without lending
what aid they can, l ask them what they
are but accessories to that mistreatment"
The results or this work are continu-
ally being seen, and several incidents in
which children have playeo prominent
parts are told by various members of the
Humane Society. One which Is told by
Miss Harold. and as she says also yeri-
fed. is perhaps entitled to take first place.
1T was one Of the first grade boys. a
little fellow OF six. Taking the pledge
to him was a very serious affair. A short
time after he had Joined his class band
he walked up to a policeman and asked
that official to take him to the station
house. What for, my little man? asked
the policeman in establishment. What
have you been doing?' Well answered
the little chap. I'm a Band of Mercy
boy. and / promised not to hurt animals.
and this morning l got mad and beat
my dog. and so you oughter arrest me-.
When that story was told me l confess
thought 1t simply a product of some
fertile imagination. but on investigation ]
found that it had actually happened"
Il find the children. Of all ages ready to
listen to me-" said Miss Harold, return
ing to her work. 1t is in the third and
fourth grades. however, that i hear the
most gruesome tales of crueltles wit
messed In various places. Sometimes I
am made almost i'll until I realize that
perhaps much is merely the result or a
childish imagination. But with the
younger ones it is different, and they are
ready at once to pour into my ear these
terrible tales OF things they have seen or
I'd nh Mt nn1 / al
confronted with the necessity of answer
ing unusual questions, but at times OF
putting my teaching to practical use.
During the recess hour the boys often
come to me, and on one occasion l was
presented with a bird with broken wing
and asked what should be done. j dis
liked the thought OF killing II. but the
poor little thing was almost dead as Is
was. So we all decided that IL was kind
est to drown IL. and that was what one
Of the boys did.
With about six months work already
done, there Is still about one-half yet To
do Twenty-one thousand, four hundred
and sixty-nine children are already en-
rolled in GAL bands These bands have
been formed I'm 81 schools. with about ~
vet to visit. OF the work already ac-
complished six odd thousand members are
colored. with total OF lo4 bands In 90
schools.
At the present time attractive little leaf
lets are being distributed among the
bands, copies OF BLACK Beauty are
given them, and this, with Our Dumb
animals" keeps them I'm touch with the
work. The latter especially does much 10
keep up interest, as Ii records the work
being done i'm this city. Each month s rec
ord is sent to Boston. and the number OF
bands formed. together with the names
of the band officers. is printed. This does
considerable to keep the interest at high
pressure, not to mention increasing the
Importance of the band officers. The
leaflets are gotten up in such form g.
to prove attractive to the children.
Each leafiet contains a picture of the
kind of animals of which IL treats. and
contains poems by famous poets relative
to the subject. Birds, horses. rabbits, cat
tie. cats. dogs and other animals all have
their own separate pamphlets OF poetry
and story. Especially in the care of the
horse Is there an abundance of ltera-
ture, as II is this animal more than any
other abused by careless drivers and UNI
mindful owners. The work done by the
members Of the various Bands of Mercy
beyond their own homes is practically al
ways in the case of horses. One piece OF
literature regarding the horse takes the
form Of = Horses Prayer