r76
come to the attention of the Committee. In a parish leaflet issued by a Massachu- setts church is the following quotation from Educational Leaflet No. 7: “The wearing of aigrettes or plumes from the White Heron has now become a question of ethics, which every woman must decide for herselfi It matters not a whit where the plume comes from,—the fact remains that the woman who wears one is party to a cruel wrong, and the plume, itself, becomes a badge pt inhumanity.” Will not the clergymen of the country follow this excellent lead? Certainly human beings will be held re- sponsible for all acts of cruelty to even the most humble of God‘s creaturesiwt D.
The Illinois Society
As a foreword to this report it is perhaps best to state that it covers the time between
the annual meeting of rgog—March 28!.
and thatot win—April ej—and thus, in a tevv items, overlaps the last report published in Bum-Lone.
With the courtesy due to those rare crea- tures that ‘ never lie,’ our figures must speak first. Our membership has been increased bythe addition of 60 adult and 1,573 junior members, making the total numberjoining since our organization April r. 1897, 1,035 adults and 15,059 juniors, atoral of t6,og+ We have sent out 7,060 leaflets, nearly all being the publications of the National Com— mittee, Mr. Dutcher‘s report for the A. O. U. Bird Protection Committee and the National Committee leaflets being sent to all otlr active and associate members. The secretary has received about goo letters rep- resenting nenrly half of our to: counties, and extending from Galena, in the extreme northwest, to Massac county, in the extreme sourh of the state. hers' dues, etc., amounted to $232.76. and our expenses were $225t61. As we began last year with a balance of $57.16, we were able to begin this year with one of $64.31, a sum that must rapidly decrease in response to theconstantlyincreasing demandsupon us.
As to increase these demands, which represent increase of interest. is our reason for being, we must rejoice in this evidence
Our receipts from mem-
Bird - Lore
of success, while we long for the means to meet the demands more generously. The Junior DepartmentI under the leadership of Mrs. w, M. Scudder, is developing in many directions, and is, of course, the most encouraging feature of our work. The teachers of our schools are, in many cases, doing most satisfactory work. to which the children are responding bravely.
Our first legal Bird Day, under the law passed in 1903, was kept this spring, and, through the kindness of the State Superin- tendent of Schools, Mr. Alfred Bayliss, the Audubon Society, through its secretary. was allowed space to present the cause of the birds to the teachers in the excellent Arbor and Bird Day Annual issued by the state.
The usual public meetings have been held in the Chicago Academy of Sciencu. At the one in November an interestingillus- trated address on the “Water Birds in the Chicago District,‘ was given by Mr. Ger- ard Allen Abbott, while the annual meet— ing in April gave us the great pleasure of listening to Mrs. Irene Grosvenor Whee~ lock's charming talk on the ‘Birds of the Farallones.’
The illustrated lecture belonging to the society has been on the road almost can- stantly since February, and is one of our best workers. Our two libraries are slowly winning their way, though far less popular than their more attractive co-worker. The work done by our small band of faithful secretaries—may their tribe increase 14d:- serves special praise. Lacon, Galena, Henry, Princeton, Quincy, Bclvidere. Mo- line, Ravenswood, Streator, Bristol, all should have honorable mention. At the annual meeting it was decided to form a committee on new members, this committee to be made up of persons not on the Board of Directors. The good results of this ac- tion are already proving its wisdom.
That we need for the future more workers, more help, is a twice- and thrice- told tale, but that we do need them is also the proof that the work of the past years has at least laid the foundations for the ‘bird house‘ we are trying to build for the little feathered workmen of our state,
Mrutv DRUMlv‘loND, Secretary.
