Arizona republican., 1922-04-28
The End of Fine Feathers

NEW YORK CITY, April 27-The
plumage of the bird of paradise, one
of the loveliest and cruelist of fem
mime adornments, is making posi-
lively its last appearance in New
York millinery shops this season. In
another year, 1t Is expected. 1t viii
have completely disappeared, because
by that time it is going to be dam
gerous to sell it. Consequently near
ly every hat shop window in the city
now contains a gorgeous display OF
paradise plumes, marked down 10
bargain prices.
Because o. the near extinction OF
the bird of paradise species the i'm
portation of paradise feathers was
forbidden in the tariff law or 1913,
but since that act neglected to place
any restrictions upon their sale, they
have continued to appear with per-
sistent regularity in the millinery
market. The new tariff law, however.
contains the necessary restrictions
in an amendment which puts on the
dealer the burden of proving his
stock of feathers was in this country
in or before 1918. Hence. the pres
ent intense anxiety of dealers to dis
pose of their paradise feathers be-
fore the act is put into effect
Under the old law it was the gov
ernment that had to supply the PROOF
which was impractical. ABOUT tns
only way the federal authorities could
obtain a conviction was to catch
smuggler in the act of bringing para
disc feathers into the country. once
they were here they were as sa1e as
If they had been formally passed Dy
the customs officials. The smuggier
had no trouble in disposing OF the
feathers to a 1obber who in turn sold
them to department stores or mil
liners to whom he furnished certil-
icates and other data designed 10
show that the merchandise nad peen
in the United States the required
number of years And as the law did
not question the good faith OF the
dealers who bought feathers on the
strength of these shaky certificates,
neither could the federal district at
torney. -,
Thus the smuggling OF paradise
feathers into this country mas peen
proceeding briskly for the last nine
years. during which time the mlllin
cry market has never been annoysu g
by a shortage. The demand Tor tne
Diumes. according to one dealer. IS
ssas steady as that for diamonds. SO
that smugglers have always been
able to dispose Of their goods prompt
v Most OF the smuggling has been
carried on by seamen and Officers OF
merchant SHIPS from the Mediter-
ranean. who usually conceal the
feathers under their clothing.
Lean seamen," one ofIlclaI teiis
us. have waddled off their shlps
swollen and puffed like FalstaIIs py
layers upon layers of plumes strapped
to their limbs and trunks. On some
lines customs inspectors first take
a glimpse at the neck and then at the
waist OF the seamen. If they observe
a No. IA neck springing out OF a oV
inch torso they make an arrest ana
usually recover a few thousand dol
lars worth of feathers. On one oc-
casion a suspiciously well timpered
and pompous ship captain was
searched and a mere core or kernal
of human being found running
through a huge structure OF feath-
ers."
snecified in the 1913 law. have been
turned over te the National Assocla-
tion Of Audubon Societies, which mas
formed them into exhibits ana als-
tributed them among so different mu :
seums throughout the country. Aoous y
twenty thousand dollars worm Oh
DluIlCS, II ~ . sANt eN~N. - -
these collections.
n spite of these gratifying con-
tributions to science the Audubon So
ciaties under the leadership of their
president, Mr.. I. Gilbert PEARSON
have never ceased to agitate Tor q
more effective Jaw. Their only fear
has been that 1t would come too late,
after the last of the "Manukdewata
(bfrds of the gods) as they are caiieo
Guinea and certain parts OF africa,
in East Indian islands. had 1aileh
Victim TO feminine fashions.
The birds are found In Papua. New
where they are easily slaughtered by
the natives during the mating season.
.sOnly the full grown male bird mas
tbe gorgeous spread of feathers which
ii coveted by commerce" explains
New York dealer. who is sometning
of an authority on the subJect. lnls
is at its best during the counting sea.
son when they hold their annual
the less gorgeous but highly prizeo
females.
Males Hold Exhibition
son This occasion, the male Dlrus
dance and fly about, exhibiting their
attractions in sort OF competitive
examination while the females stand
silently by, cycling them critically ana
finally making a choice. During TINS
dancing party the birds are so pre-
occupied and worried for fear they
won't be chosen that they lose all
their natural caution, and are easily
picked off with blow pipes by the
natives.
at isn't necessary to kill the birds
in order to get their feathers, but Is
usually more convenient. Lately,
since they have been growing SO
scarce, they are frequently trapped
o,,d ,se1aased q ftar the feathers have