El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-23

REaMBERS OF the AuuuDDA SD-Ac-a
MI are deeply interested in legis-
4V4 lation relating to the protection
Of birds. As Col Roosevelt has said:
1T is a disgrace to America that we
should permit the sale OF the alSreLs-
When some aigret company tried 20
establish itself In New Jersey presl-
dent wilson. who was then governor
Of that state, killed the bill that would
have allowed this indecent tra1Ilc- ana
EXPRESSED himself in these words Il
think New Jersey can get along with
The aigret is torn from the live MOTH
er bird in the nesting season and the
Htele ones are left TO starFe- one o.
the plume hunters Of a southern cOun-
try writes The natives OF the cOun-
try do virtually all Of the hunting Tor
feathers. I have seen them frequently
pull the plumes from Lne WOuhilS4
birds leaving the crippled birds to die
of starvation. unable to respond 10 the
cries Of their young IN the nests above
which were calling for food I have
known these people to tie and prop Up
wounded egrets on the marsh where
they would attract the attention OF Oth-
er birds flying Dy- 1nese Qecoys are
kept in this position until they die OF
their wounds or from the attacks OF
insects I have seen the terrible red
ants Of that country actually eating
out the eyes Of these wounded, help
less birds, tied up by the plume hunt
ers within sound OF the can or Inelr
young I could write you many pages
Of horrors practiced in gathering al
gret feathers in Venezuela BY the ma
tives for the millinery trade OF Paris
Intelligent kind hearted women wear
these aigrets, birds Of paradise and
other hat adOrnments because they are
ignorant as 10 the manner IN Wnlcn
these things are obtained. No self
respecting woman (and. above all. no
mother with anything resembling a
heart. win consent to wear aigrets or
certain furs, once she has learned OF
the unspeakable horrors that attend
their procuring ostrich feathers are
humanely obtained and may be worn
with a clear conscience.
There is need fer immediate action
on the part Of those interested in striv-
ing TO put an end 10 this nefariOus
aigret traffic in the United States.
President wilson has convened q
special session OF congress for the pur-
pose OF passing the revised tarlrI act
The Officers Of the Audubon society
have strong grounds for believing that
IL will be possible to have inserted in
this a provision prohibiting the inn
pOrtatiOn Of aigrets. provided a wide
campaign Of publicity can be immedi-
ately iDaugurated-
No woman who has seen the mother
seal skinned alive because the with
lngs make the work OF skinning easier
than If II were dead; no woman who
has seen the timid ermine. with its
tongue fast TO the metal that has been
smeared for its capture. no woman who
has ever looked at the steel trap ready
and set for work no woman who Is
half woman can know of these things
and consent to wear furs- 1t is to be
hoped that enlightened women in all
our cities viii meet (as a number OF
women in New York recently net in
order to discuss ways and means OF
putting stop to these unspeakablo
things
AS to the aiEret. American women can
help this movement by notifying milli-
ners that they VIII Withdraw patron
age from any millinery establishment
that permits the sale OF aigrets or other
plumes. barbarOusly obtained Women
entering a strange millinery establish
ment can be Of the greatest service If
before making any purchases. they viii
inquire whether or not aigrets are sold
by the establishment
There viii undoubtedly be strong
opposition to the proposed laW-OpDo-
siuOn on the part Of merchant milli-
ners who encourage the aigreC atrOcf-
ties as a source Of -evenue
The matter is in the hands OF the
American women
Minnie. Madden Flske.
George Arlts8