498 Bird -Lore 



ville, Culpeper, and many other places. A large number of Junior Classes 

 were formed, and there was great enthusiasm among the children. 



I was invited by Dr. Chandler, Superintendent of Schools, to visit the 

 schools of Richmond in February, when I spoke to about 20,000 children. 

 These meetings usually opened with a bird-song and a short address by the 

 superintendent, followed by my talk of fifteen or twenty minutes. I find the 

 General Assembly a good time to reach all the children, and it is not so labo- 

 , rious as visiting twelve to fifteen rooms in a day. I enjoyed the little lunches 

 with the teachers, when we could discuss our work. Many teachers in 

 Virginia are doing splendid work for the birds, but often cannot get the required 

 munber — ten — to pay the fee, so that the strength of bird-study cannot be 

 gauged by the number of Junior Classes. This session we had 165 classes, 

 with a membership of 3,000. From Richmond I went to Petersburg and was 

 there the 22nd of February. It was not "blue-bird weather," for a heavy 

 snow-storm raged, yet the children came in, marching and singing, and waving 

 their flags. After being seated, I gave them a talk on our birds, emphasizing 

 the remarkable history of the Eagle and the Dove as national emblems. 



On my return to Richmond, I found that our committee had sent in the 

 petitions of the Virginia Woman's Clubs, signed by prominent men and women 

 all over the state, hundreds of business firms, banks, civic and patriotic organi- 

 zations, farmers, and private individuals giving their signatures. The petitions 

 were tied in packages with the club colors, blue and gold, and presented by 

 the committee to Senator Blackburn Smith, of Berryville, who did such splen- 

 cnd work for the Robin petition. Just before we took it to the Senate, I had a 

 picture taken of the two children who carried in the Robin petition. Norma 

 Dietz and Merrywether Fry, as a souvenir of these two occasions. We were 

 present when Senator Smith presented the petitions to the Legislature. One 

 senator asked Mr. Smith how many farmers had signed that petition; he 

 replied that he had not counted, them, but they were many. Our clubs extend 

 all through the rural districts, and there was no difficulty in getting signatures 

 from farmers, as all felt the need of the passage of the game bill, and it was a 

 great blow to fail by so small a vote (only four votes more were needed to carry 

 it) ; but we are hoping for better things in 1916. I went with Mr. Hart and Mrs. 

 Smithey to call on the Governor, about Bird Day. He received us most gra- 

 ciously, asked for our literature, and, after a study of our work, he gave us a 

 splendid proclamation for May 4, which we regard as a model for all states. 

 Bird Day should be a national day, and I suggest that we urge the choice of 

 the 4th of May, Audubon's Birthday. Such an anniversary would bring all 

 bird-workers closer together. Governor Stuart's proclamation was empha- 

 sized in all summer schools, and we are hoping great results from these addresses. 

 Bird Day was generally celebrated in the schools, and there is a growing inter- 

 est in nature-study. The last Legislature gave the state a Forester, with head- 

 quarters at the University of Virginia, and an Arbor Day. This will give a 



