182 LORD LILFORD 



a plea for mercy to the birds from ' the fairest 

 of creation,' with a graceful hint that where 

 Nature had already given so much, little extra 

 decoration was needed. The personal influence 

 of the pleader, combined possibly with the 

 implied compliment, certainly gained him some 

 converts, whose headgear, in consequence, 

 underwent a considerable change for the 

 better. 



To Miss Annie Schletter. 



' Lilford : April 24, 1894. 



' Estimadisima Dona y Senorita de toda mi 

 consideracion, There is no harm whatever in 

 wearing ostrich feathers, as these birds are 

 farmed for feminine adornment, and suffer only 

 temporary inconvenience from being plucked at 

 the proper season. What we, and I hope now 

 you, will do your best to discountenance, is the 

 destruction of thousands of lovely and harmless 

 creatures at home and abroad for the sole pur- 

 pose of putting money into the pockets of 

 feather-dealers, and feathers on to the heads and 

 other parts of sometimes innocent, but always 

 ignorant, women. I say ignorant because I do 



