INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR 



It does not stop the misery and suffering caused by 

 ignorance and thoughtlessness.' The object should 

 be c to awaken such a feeling of humane kindness 

 toward the brute creation that people of every class 

 will be led to treat animals tenderly, simply because 

 they feel a natural inclination to do so.' To carry 

 his ideas into practical effect, Mr. Ensign organized 

 The National Humane Alliance, which was incorpo- 

 rated, in 1896, under the laws of New York. The 

 society entered at once upon the general work ot 

 humane education, in accordance with the ideas of its 

 founder, chiefly through the publication and dissemi- 

 nation of humane literature. He gave the society, as 

 its President, much of his time and energy, and con- 

 tributed annually several thousands of dollars for its 

 support. Yet so modestly was this work given and 

 this service rendered, that his personality was never 

 prominent, and but few even of his acquaintances 

 knew anything of the noble benevolence in which he 

 was engaged and which lay so near his heart. He 

 sealed his devotion by the final act of bequeathing to 

 the society the bulk of his not inconsiderable fortune. 

 The essential meanings and accomplishments of 

 Mr. Ensign's life may be gathered from the foregoing, 

 and from the stories in the present collection, which 

 represent what is most significant and distinctive in 



