Page 418 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

396 • OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
A fund of $25,000 per year for five years has been guaranteed by the makers of shot-guns, rifles and ammunition, to the American Game Protective and Propagation Association. This is like a limited endow- ment.
In the civilized world there are citizens of many kinds ; but all of them can be placed in two groups: (1) those with a sense of duty toward mankind, and who will do their duty as good citizens; and (2) those who from the cradle to the grave meanly and sordidly study their own selfish interests, who never do aught save in expectation of a quick return benefit, and who recognize no such thing as duty toward mankind at large.
Men and women of the first class are honored in life, mourned when dead, and gratefully remembered by posterity. They leave the world better than they found it, and their lives have been successful.
Men and women of the second class are merely so many pieces of animated furniture; and when they pass out the world cares no more than when old chairs are thrown upon the scrap-heap.
There are many men so selfish, so ignorant and mean of soul that even out of well-filled purses they would not give ten dollars to save the whole bird fauna of North America from annihilation. To all persons of that brand, it is useless to appeal. As soon as you find one, waste notimeuponhim. Getoutofhisneighborhoodasquicklyasyoucan, and look for help among real MEN.
The wild life of the world cannot be saved by a few persons, even though they work their hearts out in the effort. The cause needs two million more helpers; and they must be sought in Group No. 1. They are living, somewhere; but the great trouble is to find them, before it is too late.
There are times and causes in which the good citizen has no option buttorenderservice. Themostimportantofsuchcausesare: therelief of suffering humanity, the conservation of the resources of nature, and the prevention of vandalism. If the American Nation had refused aid to stricken San Francisco, the callous hard-heartedness of it would have shocked the world. If the German army of 1871 had destroyed the art treasures and the libraries of Paris, it would have set the German nation back ten centuries, into the ranks of the lowest barbarians.
And yet, in America, and in the regions now being scourged by the feather trade, a wonderful FAUNA is being destroyed! It took millions of years to develop that marvelous array of wild life ; and when gone it nevercanhereplaced! YettheArmyofDestructionissweepingitaway as joyously as a hired laborer cuts down a field of corn.
That wild life can be saved! If done, it must be done by the men and women of Group No. 1. The means by which it can be saved are: Money,laborandpublicity. Everymanofordinarymeansandintelligence cancontributeeithermoneyorlabor. Themenonthefiringlinemust notbeexpectedtofurnishtheirownfoodandammunition. TheWorkers MUST be provided with the money that active campaign work imper- atively demands! Those who cannot conveniently or successfully labor