COSTLY MILLINERY. 



283 



sist in your refusal to head the League 

 work in your State? Will you compel me 

 to hunt another year for some man to 

 take the place? I would be willing to do 

 this if certain I should succeed even then; 

 but when I remember how little interest 

 anybody feels in this subject and how the 

 999 men refuse to even answer my letters, 

 it makes me sick at heart to think of it. 



You need not devote one hour a week to 

 League work unless you see fit to do so. 

 If you will do that, it is more than 

 the other 999 men are willing to do. 

 Even if not willing to do that, now, you 

 could let the organization hang together 

 for the time being, and perhaps take up 

 the work some time in the future. 



As I said in a previous letter, you were 

 one of the first -good, strong friends Rec- 

 reation ever had. You sent me 150 sub- 

 scriptions at a time when every dollar I 

 got was worth $10 to me. The League is 

 now in the position Recreation was in 

 then. Some time the League will have 



100,000 members. I shall be under the 

 sod and shall be forgotten before that time, 

 but there will then be plenty of men who 

 will be scrambling for the offices and the 

 honors. Now is the time when we need 

 help. 



My dear friend, think this over again 

 and see whether in the face of all the 

 work I have done for the sportsmen of 

 your State, as well as others, you will 

 still compel me to start in on another 

 search. 



Awaiting your kind reply, I am, 

 Yours truly, 



G. O. SHIELDS. 



Two days later I got a telegram which 

 read: 



I herebv withdraw my resignation; will 

 help you stir up the other 999. 



Then I said to myself: "There are 

 some sensible men in the world after 

 all." 



COSTLY MILLINERY. 



MARY A. THOMSON. 



" 'Twas perfection !" the hat that Geraldine 

 wore, 

 Cried a conclave of maidens and wives ; 

 That hat had cost forty-five dollars or 

 more, 

 And also eight innocent lives. 



The birds on the crown — a beautiful pair — 

 For Fashion's caprice had been slain ; 



Their yellow glass eyes seemed to mourn- 

 fully glare 

 As though looking for pity in vain. 



And the six tiny birds in the mossy nest 

 left, 



All callow and helpless and weak, 

 Had died of starvation, of parents bereft, 



And too young for provisions to seek. 



But what matter? Fair Geraldine's hat 

 was in style, 

 And admired and envied was she ; 

 And "the birds on the crown," she said 

 with a smile, 

 "Are extremely becoming to me." 



O matrons and maidens! let pity awake; 



Against cruel Fashion rebel ; 

 Bid the ruthless collectors their trade to 

 forsake, 

 And refuse ye their profits to swell. 



i 

 Refuse, not in pity to bird life alone, 

 For if none will the massacre stay, 

 America's songbirds will soon be un- 

 known, 

 And her woods' sweetest charm passed 

 away. 



Judge — I see you lost 2 front teeth in the 

 fracas. 



Prisoner — No, your Honor, I didn't lose 

 them. 



Judge — But they are missing. 



Prisoner — Yes, I swallowed them. — 

 Chicago News. 



