Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-04

ried the mental picture of the heron,
used as decoy, fastened alive to the
branches Of a tree, within sound of
the plaintive cries of its babies, there
to slowly die of starvation? Oh, no,
the women Of America would find no
beauty in the crucifixion of the
mother bird. The trade has been es-
tablished without the knowledge that
she is the unconscious ally in its main
tenance."
Thousands of letters from women
all over the country poured into Wash
ington urging the passage of the
aigrette bill and signifying their de-
sire that other legislation for the pro-
lection of birds be taken up
Mrs. Fiske believes that consist
ency in these matters will bear active
results. The woman opposed to the
trade should make known her views at
the shops she frequents.
when | go to a milliner's, the first
question l ask is Do you have aigrettes
for 9ale?' n so l do not make any
purchases at that store,'' said Mrs.
Flske. Il believe that this question
rests with the individual woman and
she can do much good by consistently
expressing her individual disapprovai
Of the sale Of bird plumage and letting
it be known at the stores"
Another of the atrocities taxable to
woman's love of finery and luxury, is
that of the trapping profession. The
wearing of furs is quite as reprehen-
sible as the wearing of birds. The
procurer of animal skins sets his traps
az various places nearing the animals
water supply, and then does not return
10 them for days and weeks. The ami
NAL so caught is not mercifully killed
at once but left to suffer for DAYS all
the agonies incident to crushed bones.
These cruelties are unnecessary to the
happiness of women or their comfort
Il have not worn a fur in seven
years Mrs. Fiske asserted, as she con-
Guided the telling of some of the hor-
rors connected with the trapping in
Gustry. AS soon as | became aware
OF its awfulness l banished furs from
my wardrobe, and | find | can be lust
as warmly clad in materials. The man.
ufacturers are making handsome fabric
furs rivaling in beauty the natural
skins and more adaptable, the skins of
animals being awkward 10 handle. The
fabric furs are far prettier in effect
and hope they will eventually take
the place and do away with the market
for dead skins. Besides, physicians
have always maintained that the great
quantities OF arsenic used in the sea
soning of furs is harmful to the health.
many women being peculiarly suscep-
tible to this form of poisoning"
There ISN'T any argument in favor
OF the. wearing Of 'furs for warmth.
thinks Mrs. Fiske. She is exposed to
The rigors Of winter travel and finds
materials just as satisfactory.
In the part she is now playing in
THE High Road Mrs. Fiske appears
In one scene wearing a hat becomingly
draped with lace and trimmed with a
pink rose. II could not be prettier il
It trailed a feather and to the woman
who wears IL, with her knowledge OF
bird carnage, It would be grotesoue
and even hideous, il It carried as orna.
ment an aigrette. Seeing the red
drip from the white plumes," NAV re.
quire lima gination. but il is the imag.
ination without which human kind
are as naught and with which the
heights are scaled
Does one not admire the purposefuI.
ness of a woman like Mrs. Fiske. who
will go out Of her way to reach a helm
Ing hand to the tiny specks OF life left
SO helpless in their struggles? Does
one not know by such simple act that
the spirit of friendliness, heIpfuluess
and love creeps upward embracing all
mankind?
Yet with all her interest In the pres.
ervation of bird life and her horror OF
the trapper, Mrs. Fiske does not claim
for herself one element not possessed
by women everywhere.
Women are not going to tolerate
this monster cruelty carried on in their
name" she says with a finally that in
cludes each and every one.
As vehicle for he's talent. Mrs
Fske has chosen a play which is mod
ern 10 the very day in its setting. and
portraying a type generous in its ex-
preston OF womanhood. II requires a
woPanly woman, sympathetic, alert TO
economic conditions, 20 make a success