The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-05-01
ARBOR And BIRD DAY
Jefferson School Only One In City
Celebrating Occasion.

Jefferson school OF Second ward
was the only school in the city cele-
braiing "Arbof and Bird Day" this
season. They had porgram OF spe-
cial features Friday afternoon, one
that will be remembered by those par
| ticipating.
In the morning some of the rooms
/ had photograph concert and this to-
gether with kindergarten programs
was the part OF the smA Mn t6ta M ,the
days celebration.
All of the grade pupils were gather
ed in two rooms for the afternoon eel
ebration and programs appropriate to
the occasion were given in manner
that showed the interest of the chill
dren in both birds and trees.
While no special ceremony marked
the planting of trees a number of
vines were set out along the east
wall of the school building.
Major John F. Lacey, one of the
very first men of the nation who, in
congress-, offered protective, measures
for our feathered friends, had been
asked to address the children and he
gladly accepted the Invitation. He
taught most wholesome lesson of
protection of bird and animal life,
lesson that was taken home by every
boy and girl who heard him. He
told stories of bird and animal life
that appealed to the knowledge and
the understanding of his audience.
And now and then bit of humor was
introduced to the amusement of the
young people. Major Lacey told in
graphic way of the wanton slaughter
of the birds and of our wild life. His
talk about the robins was wonderfully
interesting Robin Red-Breast" seem.
ed to be the favorite bird of both girls
and boys The Major sketched the
robins life here at home, where he
wakes us at dawn with his song that
never grows tiresome, and then told
the children what happens to the birds
when they migrate to the Southland
for the winter months. The scarlet
tanager, the woodpecker family, the
breasted grossbeak, thrushes,
hooking birds, swallows and other
figured in the story told by the veter-
an nature lover. His description of
the pigeon roost" formerly located
near Spring Greek. northeast of the
city, where millions and millions of
the DlTuS came every evening lot rest
and shelter, was heard by the young
people in undivided attention. The
Major told how the birds had been
slaughtered and how they had disap-
peared until today the specie is ex-
tinct. Only one of the birds Is alive
today and this one also must soon die.
And of all that ,feathered host which
only a few years ago was common,
not one remains. :, ,.,h. '.-.-.-,f,. So
In addition to the talk of Major La
cey an interesting program was given
by the children and numerous musical
numbers appropriate to Bird and Ar
Dor Day we're sung. ''st -
Mrs Roxie Cournyer delighted the
children with nature story that fair
ly breathed the atmosphere OF the
woods and wild life.
Miss Adrienne Lewis, in her charm
ing way, contributed to the numbers
of the program in a reading. r.
All in all, the day was a big sue
cess, one of the sort that, leaves de-
sire for more occasions of the same
sort. The teachers OF the Jefferson
school are pleased at the outcome of
the effort upon which they were en-
abled TO devote very little time in the
line of preparation.