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Bird-Lore 



BIRD DAY 



The approaching anniversary of John 

 James Audubon's birthday has brought 

 this letter to this office : 



New Orleans, May i, 1903. 

 To the Editor of The Times -Democrat. 



"On May 4, 1780, there was born at 

 Mandeville, one of Louisiana's nnost famous 

 sons, John James Audubon. In after life 

 he became an ornithologist, celebrated for 

 his wonderful abilities not only in this 

 country, but in many foreign countries. 

 The lover of birds and their quiet haunts, 

 he became the associate of the great ones of 

 this world ; kings, rulers, statesmen, scien- 

 tists, found in this humble and brilliant 

 man a worthy associate, and they delighted 

 to honor him. 



"To faithfully depict bird life with brush 

 and pen became the ruling passion of his 

 life ; for that purpose he at times gave up 

 home, family and friends to wander through 

 the pathless forest. The result of his labors 

 in the massive volumes of the ' Birds of 

 North America,' remains today a monu- 

 mental testimony to his industry, persis- 

 tency, accuracy and great attainments. 



"This man loved birds for what they 

 were, — things of life and beauty. Latter- 

 day science has shown that birds are or- 

 dained by the Creator to be a wonderfully 

 effective agency to keep in check the hordes 

 of insect pests, and one would suppose that 

 in this state, so largely dependent upon its 

 agricultural resources, the birds would have 

 the legal protection they so richly deserve ; 

 but, on the contrary, the spirit of lawless- 

 ness and greed has become so bold and 

 defiant that, if such protection is asked for, 

 one must face the insults of those whose 

 business is the destruction of our birds and 

 the open indifference and antagonism of 

 some of our law-makers. In many of the 

 states, Audubon, and his work are highly 

 appreciated; but in this, his home state, 

 we have taken the time to name one of our 

 parks after him and a theater, and that is 

 all. 



"To offset this neglect, I suggest that 

 next Monday the newspapers print articles 

 in commemoration of this remarkable man, 



and that in every school short addresses be 

 made to the children regarding the value of 

 bird- life and the great importance of birds to 

 the welfare of man. In other words, let us 

 have a 'Bird Day,' such as many of -the 

 States have adopted. 



" I suppose it is too much to expect to see 

 upon each recurring anniversary of Audu- 

 bon's birthday all the school children 

 gathered together in Audubon Park to 

 worthily celebrate the man and what his 

 work stands for." 



Frank M. Miller, 



Vice-President Audubon Society of Louisiana. 



"The criticism contained in this letter is 

 merited ; the suggestion made by Mr. 

 Miller is admirable. It is quite true that 

 the just fame of John James Audubon has 

 been somewhat neglected by citizens of the 

 state in which he was born. The anni- 

 versary of his birthday should, as Mr. 

 Miller says, be properly celebrated." . . . 

 — The Times- Democrat. 



The Fall Fashions 



" A study of the styles in women's head- 

 wear now prevailing in Europe for summer 

 wear, and after an inspection of the first 

 models prepared by the Parisian modistes 

 for the coming fall and winter season, we 

 are deepy impressed by the fact that there 

 will be more than an ordinary demand for 

 birds and bird plumage of a variety of 

 styles. Under these conditions, some deal- 

 ers may be tempted to turn an honest (?) 

 penny by investing in goods that are, to 

 use an old army phrase, ' contraband of 

 war ' — in other words, in violation of va- 

 rious state game laws. Dealers are warned 

 against indulging in any method of buying 

 or selling such merchandise that is in viola- 

 tion of the agreement of the Millinery Mer- 

 chants' Protective Association and the Au- 

 dubon Societies, as all violations of law 

 coming to the knowledge of the members of 

 the association will be reported to the proper 

 authorities, and punishment meted out to 

 those who knowingly transgress the law. 

 There is an abundance of birds and plum- 

 age in the market that can be sold safely 

 and at a fair profit without having recourse 

 to law-breaking." — Millinery Trade Re- 

 'vie-iv for July. 



