Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-08-12
PARADISE PLUMES
IN LAST STAND
Lovely Plumage Is Making Its
Last Appearance in Millinery
Shops, Due to Law.
PROHIBITED BY new TARIFF
Import alton Prohibited Under Law Of
1918, but Omission Of Restrictions
on Sale Left Chance for
Smugglers.

New York.-The plumage of the
bird Of paradise, one of the loveliest
and cruelest of feminine adOrnments,
is making positively its last appear
nnce in New York millinery shops this
season. In another year, 1t is expect
ed, 1t will have completely disap-
peared, because by that time it is 60
ing to be dangerous to sell it. Conse-
quently nearly every hat-shOp window
in the city now contains a gorgeous
display of paradise plumes, marked
down to bargain prices.
The new tariff law, however, con-
tains the necessary restrictions in an
amendment which puts on the dealer
the burden of proving his stock OF
feathers was in this country on or be-
fore 1913. Hence the present intense
anxiety of dealers to dispose of their
paradise feathers before the act is put
into effect.
Under the old law II was the gov
eminent that had to supply the proof,
which was impractical. About the
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 safe as
If they had been formally passed by
the customs officials.
No Shortage Of Plumes.
Thus the smuggling of paradise
feathers into this country has been
proceeding briskly for the last nine
Years, during which time the millinery
market has never been annoyed by
shortage The demand for the plumes,
according to one dealer. Is las steady
IS that for diamonds" so that SNUG
'lers have always been able to dis
lOse of their goods promptly. Most
Il the smuggling has been carried on
" seamen and officers of merchant
hips from the Mediterranean, who
usually conceal the feathers under
their clothing
Lean seamen," one official tells
us have waddled off their ships swol
len and puffed like Falstaffs by layers
upon layers Of plumes strapped to
their limbs and trunks. On some lines
customs inspectors first take glimpse
ut the neck and then at the waist of
the seamen. If they observe No. Ia
neck springing out of a 60-inch torso
they make an arrest and usually re-
cover few thousand dollars worth
of feathers"
All of the confiscated plumes. as
specified in the 1913 law, have been
turned over to the National Associa-
ton Of Audubon societies, which has
formed them into exhibits and dis
tributed them among 60 different mu-
seums throughout the country. About
$4,000 worth Of plumes, it Is said, are
to be found in these collections.
In spite Of these gratifying contri-
buttons to science, the Audubon So
cieties, under the leadership of their
president, T. Gilbert Pearson, have
never ceased to agitate for more eff
fective law. Their only fear has been
that It would come too late-after the
last of the "Manukdewata" (birds Of
the gods), as they are called In East
indian islands, had fallen victim to
feminine fashions.
The birds are found in Papua. New
Guinea and certain parts of Africa,
where they are easily slaughtered by
the natives during the mating season.
Male Bird Gorgeous.
"Only the full grown male bird has
the gorgeous spread of feathers which
is coveted by commerce." explains
New York dealer. who is something of