I04 Report of Committee ofi Bird Protection. I J^i- 



from time to time. Altogether 114 letters have been sent to 

 residents of 65 Counties on the subject of Bird Day in schools. 

 In about half of these it was 'announced that an effort would be 

 made to secure favorable legislation during the winter, and those 

 addressed were asked to interest the members from their district 

 in the subject of bird protection. As a result of the interest 

 awakened, in March, 1897, the amendment to the game law was 

 passed. Since that time I have been in communication with the 

 Hunters' Clubs in Arkansas, urging them to join with other 

 friends of the song birds in having the law printed in large type 

 and posted in every post office in the State. Thus far polite 

 answers have been received promising cooperation. 



" As to Bird Day in the schools, much interest has been aroused 

 and I trust will result in good. The State Superintendent of 

 Public Instruction called attention to the matter through the pub- 

 lic print, and also arranged interesting programs for five consecu- 

 tive Fridays, beginning with March 26 and ending April 23,, 

 which, at my request, he designated Bird Day proper. 



'•' So far as the legislation is concerned, I am aware that little 

 can be hoped for in the way of bird protection unless the law is. 

 reinforced by healthy public sentiment. This, in my opinion, 

 can be aroused in no better way than through the medium of 

 schools." 



Later Mrs. Stephenson writes : " There are some experiences 

 which are so hopeful in their promise for the future that I ven- 

 ture to send them. Late in September I received a letter from a 

 friend who is the principal of a female seminary in Tacoma, 

 Washington, which ran thus : ' I see in the last report of the 

 National Science Club that you have succeeded in getting Bird 

 Day inaugurated as a regular thing in the public schools in 

 Arkansas. Is it asking too much for you to tell me just what is 

 done on this day and just how it is carried out? I am down for 

 a paper on birds in our club, and as I have no personal observa- 

 tions to report I am trying to get what information I can on the 

 subject that may be of interest ? ' 



" You would smile if you could see the list of questions which 

 she added, since they covered two pages of her letter, but the 

 above is all that seems pertinent. Of course, I answered at once,, 



