Article December 14, 1899 Issue

Another Plea for the Birds

F. R. W.

I have intended for a long time to express thanks for an article which appeared in the Sentinel last spring, entitled, "A Plea for the Birds," by Mr. Henry A. Manning. It was in the number of April 13. I wish to thank both the author and the Sentinel for this article, as it taught me a lesson. The writer expressed deep regret that so many Christian Scientists should wear birds and birds' plumage in their hats, thus encouraging the cruel practice of butchering thousands of beautiful birds — many of them song-birds at that — solely for the purpose of ministering to the feminine love of "pretty things."

I must confess I have been as guilty as any of my sisters. How I could have been asleep so long I don't know. Certain it is that my conscience sometimes pricked me sharply in regard to the matter. I have always flattered myself that I was a sincere lover of birds, especially song-birds, and I recall numerous summer afternoons, in bygone days, when I sat under the trees and read yards of bird poetry, ever and anon pausing to watch the robins and woodpeckers and orioles as they flew by —thinking how beautiful they were, and how dearly I loved them. Could any one possibly love them more than I did? And all the while the little feathered creatures in the branches overhead must have smiled grimly and made sarcastic remarks to each other in bird-language; for was I not displaying in the hat which I was so complacently wearing the plumage of their brethren?

Verily, the jewel of consistency was not mine! Years ago I read an article in a newspaper describing the manner in which the birds are put to death. It was simply horrible, and I have never forgotten it.

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