Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-19
WE YOU PROMISED YOUR
CHILD A BUNNY FOR EASTER?
Cruelties Parents Encourage in Their Chill
dren by Allowing Them to Maui These
Helpless Little Creatures

oES your little girl very much desire
bunny" for Easter? Or a little
WY chicken? II so, begin now to dis
fage this idea. very slowly and tact
ne little rabbit shut up in a small back
~ IL very lonely and miserable; 1t
dly ever lives sor any length of time.
~ the same with the tiny yellow chicks
1e sees In the stores. 1t Is an example
NJ the greatest cruelty to pen those tiny
efle creatures in for weeks, to be finally
ID and, most probably squeezed to death
some unconsciously cruel childs chub.
v hands.
"A love for animal life should be encour-
N9sd in the child. undoubtedly; but have
you never seen poor. helpless little rab-
D eh mauled around by group of children
y NWhile their elders looked on amused? I
<4>member hearing last year of a woman
who allowed her child to buy a tiny
'<06icken and place 1t in her muff to carry
< Nome. or course, the poor little thing
|tuas dead when they reached home. Yet
& TIE mother never expressed one word Of
S1oeling for the little life, but comforted
I ehe child by telling her not to mind-that
z!ehe could have another!
From M. O., living in the suburbs, has
some the following communication:
1T would be difficult to estimate to what
tHtent the propaganda for prevention of
ruelty to animals has been furthered
\ during the last few years by the introduce
Hon of nature study in the primary
Brades Of the public schools Tor all such
~ result is incidental and not the educa-
ttonal objective, 1t has been none the less
real. Those who are in a position to
watch children at work and at play have
iremarked how different is the attitude Of
the youngster Of today toward all forms
Sof life than was his brothers of a dozen
Years ago. He is far more gentle and
hind and far more interested in all living
things. Where once it was his delight
- tease and torture. he now finds it a
pleasure to watch and observe, and it is
~ common sight to see crowd Of these
lttic ones gathered around some curious
Dug eagerly studying it's maneuvers in
1ttad Of amusing themselves by submit
ft1ng 1t to a slow death.
1T all goes to show that knowledge. is
- the root Of sympathy and that to un-
derAtand is to be kind. Fines. imprison-
ments and legislative action may all have
sthelr place in the protection of dumb
orestures. hnt as far as the child is con-
cerned far more can be accomplished by
putting the moral involved into story
form' and making him feel that pain and
rlcasIre are common to all life 1t is n
healthy sign that the formation of
Friendly Clubs and the signing ofepledges
- be gentle and kind are giving way to
me actual study Of plant and animal life
~ the school and in popular juvenile fc-
31cn. Children are cruel because thought
1oss but once their eyes have been opened
~ suffering there are none so quick 10
sfeqpond with sympathy. In order to i'm
press upon them the broad truth of gen.
tleness 1t is necessary to dress our pre-
'cept up In some human shape and speak
~ some particular bug in the light of pa,
ma and the little one.