New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-16
THE HORROR OF THE AIGRETTE
Mrs. Fiske and Mr.. Arliss Plead for
Laws to Protect Birds.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Members of the Audubon Society
are deeply Interested IN legislation relat-
ing to the protection of birds. If the bill
has not already passed, we hope sincerely
that IL will be passed as it is incredible
to think that it could meet with any
other fate.
AS Colonel Roosevelt has said, 1T is
disgrace to America that we should per-
INIT the sale OF the aigrettes.
when some aigrette company tried To
establish itself i'm New Jersey president
Wilson, who was then Governor oil tha'
state killed the bin that would have al
lowed this Indecent traffic and expressed
himself i'm these words: ~ think New
Jersey can get along without blood
money"
The algretto is torn from the live mother
bird i'm the nesting season and the lit'ie
ones are left 10 starve.
one of the plume hunters of "a southern
country writes. THE natives of the coun-
trv do virtually AN of the hunting Tor
feathers have seen them frequently
piU the plumes from the wounded birds
leaving the crippled birds 10 die 81 star
walton. unable 10 respond 90 the cries ol
their Young n the pests above. "nicn
were calling for food. / have Known
these people 10 tie aud prop mp wounded
egrets on the marsh where they Wouii
attract the attention OF other birds ilyliS
bv. These dccoys are kept in this posi-
ton until they die of their WOUNDS OF
from tho attacks of insects / have seen
tho terrible red ants of that country
actually eating out the eyes OF these
wounded. helpless birds tied up by the
plume hunters within sound Of the call
of their young. could write you many
pages OF the horrors practsed In gather
INK aigrette feathers In Venezuela by the
natives for the millinery trade of Paris
and New York.
Intelligent kind-hearted women wear
these aigrettes. birds of paradise and
other hat adoruments because they are
Ignorant as 10 the manner In which these
things ara obtained. No self-respecuns
woman uud. above all. no mother with
anything resembling heart will consent
% wear aigrettcs or certain furs. once
she has learned OF the unspeakabie hor-
iors that attend their procuring. Ostrich
feathers are humancly obtained and may
hc worn with clear conscience.
There is need for immediate action on
the part of those Interested in striving TO
put an end ~ this ncfarious aigrette tra;-
nc .n the United States.
President Wilson has this month con-
yeucd a special session OF Congress for
the purpose OF passing the revised tariff
oct. The officers oi tlc Audubon Society
have strong grounds for believing that it
will bee possible 60 have inserted I'm this
a provision prohibiting the importation
of aigrcttes. provided "a wide campaign
of publicity can bee Immediately inaugu-
rated.
American women can help this move
mcnt by notifying millners that they
will withdraw patronage from any mill
inery establishment that permits the sale
OF aigrettes on other plumcs hatbarously
obtained. Women entering strange mill
merry establishment can be of the great
est service IL before making any pur-
chasos they VIII inquire whether or not
aiercttes are sold by the establishment
There will undoubtedly be- strong oppo-