428 Bird - Lore 



dice, only caution, and but few cases of conservatism. The hindrance to our 

 work lies in the fact that there is a surprising lack of knowledge of the exis- 

 tence of an Audubon Society, and, of course, a total ignorance of its aims and 

 purposes, and rather than admit in any way that they are unfamiliar with 

 the organization and its work, some appear to oppose it. Opposition without 

 reasons was at first mistaken for prejudice. This cannot continue much 

 longer, but it makes it clear to your agent that in Ohio at least, before 

 there can be that widespread interest and measure of public attention 

 that Audubon educational work deserves, we must educate the educators. 

 Some effective method of doing so should be put into operation as soon as 

 possible. 



A successful superintendent in a town that has 2,000 school children was 

 good-naturedly and politely, but firmly, refusing to permit the organization 

 of even one Junior Class, and your agent had dropped the matter and was 

 about to leave; but, thinking the opinion of such a one must have value, 

 asked him as man to man for his real reason in opposing Audubon educational 

 work. He flared up in this manner: 



"See here, sir! I don't know who that Audubon fellow is, but he must 

 run a big business and must make a lot of money out of this in some way, 

 to pay men like you to go about the country selling his bird pictures. You 

 will have to get permission from the Board of Education before you can sell 

 any in the schools of this town." 



On my first opportunity, I mailed to him a short biography of John J. 

 Audubon, and enclosed a personal note, a part of which was his own words, 

 as just quoted. 



Those unacquainted with the fact can hardly realize to what extent the 

 Ohio floods last spring interfered with the Audubon educational work. Some 

 orders for leaflets were lost before they reached this office; some orders that 

 had been filled and expressed never reached their destination, and there 

 were numerous classes partially formed with membership fees paid. Some 

 of the teachers only waited for the stragglers to come in, and, when the flood 

 came, instead of ordering leaflets, diverted their class fees to the flood-sufferers' 

 funds. Numbers of others, who would have formed classes and enjoyed bird- 

 study, were totally diverted from this by the flood. 



Within the last year, there have been some interesting phases developed 

 in state legislation touching the welfare of wild life. The State Game and Fish 

 Commission had been abolished, and the Agricultural Commission delegated 

 to the work previously performed by the Game and Fish Commission. A 

 hunter's license of $1.25 has been instituted, and, best of all, Bobwhites, 

 Doves, and the Ruffed Grouse have been given a closed season until 1915. 

 The law authorizes the expenditure of 50 per cent of the game funds for the 

 purpose of restocking, and an export limit for non-resident license has been 

 reduced by half. The Audubon interests in Ohio were influential in bringing 



