The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-26
Letters From Readers of The Ti1nes-Dispatch

hibit the destruction of one OF the at
lrhctivc song and inscctlvorous birds
81 The state, namely. our loved robin
ii ,., The petition reads thus:
-. fctitIon to the General Assembly of
virginia 10 save the robin from de-
sstruction, from the school children of
virginia:
Whereas, The robin IS Il beautiful
song bird, and Is useful to farmers
because of tie Injurious insects IL de-
stroys. and
Whereas. Virginia permits this bird
to be SHOT from February II IL Aprll
!. when 1t is returning to its home TO
make happy thousands OF children in
our state and nation. who always wei
cofnc the lt"dbreast' as the Joyous har-
binger pf spring;
Therefore. we, the children OF vir-
Etnia, whose names are hereunto sub,
scribcd. respectfully and earnestly Pc
titiun your honorable body to so amend
the laws OF the state that in future
II shall be Illegal to Kill these beautiful
birds. which we so much love to have
about our homes.
school Observation-Disclosures.
"Principal. ....... +. O............
"Tcachers .................-
Name Name
This petition, signed by $1,000 school
children. superintendent. principals
teachers Endorsed by our Senators,
Representatives in Congress, Mr. koin-
er. Department of ASriculture: Mr.. j.
d. Eggicston, superintendent Of Pub
lie Instruction; Or. J; G, Chandler;
Schools. and his 10000 school children.
mas been put in the hands OF Colonel
4. NJ. Bowman, patron OF the robin
bill OF the House. and Hon. r. c. l..
Moncur3. 81 the Senate. The pack
ages Were wrapped In white tissue
paper and tied with robin blue rib
bon. presenting u most attractive APP
pearance. The bill passed the House
with practically unanimous vote. 1t
amendments.
Mr.. Editor. these amendments car
ry death TO the bird which the voice
of the children have chosen as the
they love best. Maryland has the
oriole, Kentucky THE cardinal, Ala
bama the yellow hammer" and all
the States of the Union are choosing
a bird 10 represent them. Our chm
dren In this petition have declared
for robin Rcdbreast." That this
simple appeal from our school chill
dren should fail is hard to believe, yet
there nrc sonc members OF that hon
orable body who will do oil in thstr
power to prevent the passage OF the
bill, and IL 1t passes ii will carry with
1t the death-dealing amendments,
Mr.. Koiner. OF the State Department
OF Agriculture, in an open letter, has
ticularly the farmers bird" and says
mat II speak tho sentiment of 90 per
cent. of the farmers in this State when
say that everybody, with few excep-
ions, not only wishes but Is anxious
to see this bill become n law" Yet
this does not seem to come with any
great force, so We must fall back
on sentiment TO aid us. and to quote
from Senator Echols in 4 recent
speech Let II be sentiment, then"
ne said. What would life itself be if
robbed OF it's sentiment" The robin
is now on the game list; 1t Is not
a game bird, but a song and insco-
tiVorous bird, gentle and home-lov-
ing friend of our childhood. 1t seems
Incredible that any father can adj
vocaie the shooting of these loved
tiful legends cluster around him, Civ
ing him a place In the hearts of pagan
and Christian alike. The robin Is the
plrd or song and story. tho Joy Of all
our poets from Whittier on the North
10 our own Southern bard, Lanie-, all
sing mis- praises and rejoice at his
coming In tho spring. The robin is
the theme of the first bird protective
story ever written and over his death
many tears have been shed by the
children Of this land as the bell is
tolled for poor Cock Robin" II was
the song of the robin that called bnck
20 hope and due appreciation OF life
the great John James Audubon whose
name and fame encircie the Garth,
and many Maynard soul has been
brought to himself as the prodigal
OF old as he heard once moro the song
OF this sweet singer, recalling home
ana loved ones gone forever. Surely
with such testimonies as these. of the
love OF the State and nation, for this
simple bird, the call of our, dear chill
uren Tor the life of this little "teath-
cred friend" the hearts OF those who
oppose this bill will be moved, and
tnelr eyes opened to tho ''Redbreast"
from the twentieth century yiewnoint
that one robin In the bush with its
sweet song and glowing breast is
worth twenty on the table"
KATHARINE II. STUART.
fleLd Secretary Va. Audubon ASSN