Reports of Field Agents 397 



endar at once and passed, if possible, by January 19, General Lee's birthday, 

 as a tribute to him^ and to his love and tenderness to the lower orders of life, 

 as exemplified in his devotion to his world-famous war horse, 'Traveller.' 



I had written to the Hon. A. M. Bowman, asking him to be the patron of 

 the bill, and he accepted at once and did faithful work to the end. Our 

 bill and petition were carried to Richmond by the Hon. C. C. Carlin, of Alex- 

 andria, Representative in Congress of the 8th District, and put in the hands of 

 the Hon. R. C. L. Moncure and Hon. A. M. Bowman. It was soon on the 

 House Calendar, and it passed that body, in its original form, with a splendid 

 vote; but it was most difficult to get it before the Senate, where the real fight 

 was to occur. Just here we owe much to the influence of the Hon. C. C. Carlin, 

 Judge L. C. Barley, and Judge J. K. M. Norton, framer of the bill, whose 

 presence in Richmond and influence saved the day. On February 29 the bill 

 passed and was soon signed by our Governor. During the session of the Assem- 

 bly I spent some weeks in the city of Richmond, working in the interest of 

 our bill for a State Game Commissioner and the Children's Robin Bill. We 

 deeply regret the failure of the bill for a State Game Commissioner, but we 

 hope for a better result in 19 14. 



When not occupied with legislative work, I visited the twenty-four schools 

 of Richmond, with fourteen thousand pupils, speaking aU day in the interest 

 of Junior Audubon Classes and getting the Robin petition signed by the chil- 

 dren. I secured about ten thousand signatures, and we gained about thirty 

 Junior Classes through the six weeks of hard work. 



I also visited the schools at Ginter Park, Swansboro and other places near 

 Richmond, several of the large private schools in Richmond, and gave a talk 

 before the Humane Association. 



Notwithstanding the time given to legislative work, its difficulties and 

 many trials, we rejoice to learn from the National Secretary's Report that 

 Virginia stands first among the southern states m Junior Audubon Classes 

 and also in junior membership. 



There is much to report of work done if we had the space, — of hundreds of 

 letters written and received from aU parts of the state, some from outside 

 states, others from foreign countries (Turkey, Italy and England), asking 

 questions and displaying interest in the Virginia Audubon work; of letters to 

 and talks with the game-wardens of the state; many lantern-slide lectures; 

 talks during summer normal school sessions to about four thousand teachers 

 and educators from thirty-four states and three foreign countries; of local 

 work in and about the city of Alexandria, etc. 



Our Junior Classes have steadily increased in number and varied activi- 

 ties, such as establishing feeding-grounds, and caring for the birds during the 

 last terrible winter. Hundreds of boxes have been made and put up by the 

 boys and girls, and by many prominent gentlemen of our state. Bird's Christ- 

 mas trees have been quite numerous, and many of the children took the Christ- 



