The Slaughter of the Birds.
Fashion seems to be the Moloch of modern civilization. At her imperious behest human beings ruin their own bodies and souls, and thousands of God’s happy, innocent creatures are slaughtered to decorate the devotees who bow at her altar and worship at her shrine. A special dispatch to one of our Cleveland dailies, from a town in Delaware, gives details of the execution of one of the most horrible edicts of this kind. It says:— “At the order of Dame Fashion a sickening slaughter has begun here, and the butchery will continue for two months. Twenty thousand birds must die within that time in order that an amazing contract may be fulfilled, and that the women of Philadelphia and New York may have stylish hats. “Throughout the counties of Kent and Sussex has gone the word to kill and spare not. Eight cents for the body of each bird is the inducement which is filling the woods and fields with gunners, and the favorite haunts of the birds with nets and snares of all kinds. “Of course there is a stringent law against the shooting of song birds and most wild birds. The contract referred to is supposed to be strictly within the law. It calls for owls, backbirds, sea-gulls, red-winged blackbirds, and crows. Upon its face it is irreproachable. But somehow, strange to say, the ‘tip’ has gone out that while eight cents apiece is paid for those birds, higher prices will be in store for the bodies of other birds, which may be found hidden in the hunter’s game string. “No such wholesale slaughter has ever before been planned. It was only two days ago that a representative of ——, commission merchants of New York, arrived in this town. He began asking about the best-known sportsman, and was finally directed to John ——. Mr. —— is at present chief of police here, but his term expires this week. “Mr. —— was asked about the possibility of securing twenty thousand birds from this section within sixty days. He believed the project too large to be undertaken singly, and called —— into consultation. After talking with several other good sportsmen in town, —— and —— believed the slaughter could be accomplished, and the contract was signed. “Word was sent broadcast throughout the country hereabouts, and yesterday the first fruits appeared in the shape of about four hundred birds. The birds were strung upon a long pole, and at a casual glance the string might have been supposed to be made up of crows, blackbirds, and gulls, but close to the pole were what appeared to be a large number of little birds. They were nearly hidden from view by the larger birds on the outside, but the entire string was hurried through the street, and quickly boxed and shipped.” Is there no way to stop this hideous butchery? Is it not time for legislatures to take the matter up and protect the birds? Or are we to have a silent world after a while?