aid the
customer.

"But the effect would be quite spoiled without a wing, or an aigrette,
or something there," exclaimed the milliner. "You wouldn't like it. I
wouldn't think of taking off the bird, if I were you."

"Yes, I shall like it much better with the bird off," returned the lady
quietly. "I have sufficient sins to answer for without any longer
adding the crime of bird slaughter to the list."

The milliner bestowed on her a pitying smile, but evidently was too
politic to get into a discussion of an unpleasant subject. Having
given her final order for the hat, the lady crossed over to the other
side of the room and shook hands with a friend whom she addressed as
Mrs. Brown, who had just come in and was making a purchase at the lace
counter.

"I have been putting my new resolution into effect," she remarked after
the first greetings; "I have just ordered my new hat, and it is not to
have a bird or a wing or a tail on it."

"Oh, I'm glad to hear of one convert to the gospel of mercy," said Mrs.
Brown heartily. "The apathy of our women on this subject is
heart-sickening. Men are denouncing us; the newspapers are full of our
cruelty; the pulpit makes our heartlessness its theme; and yet we keep
on with our barbarous work with an indifference that must make the
angels weep."

Her face glowed with righteous indignation. It was easy to see that
any cause to which she might commit herself was sure of an ardent and
untiring champion.

"But they tell me that chicken feathers, and those of other domestic
fowls are being largely used now instead of birds," said the other lady.

"Oh, yes; they tell us so because they want to prevent us from getting
alarmed, since so much has been said against the destruction of the
birds. It is true that chicken feathers always have been used to some
extent, the straight quills for instance. I know it is frequently
broadly asserted that the most of the birds used are made birds, but
the manufactured creatures are poor deceptions; they are mixed with
bird feathers, and are sold only to the less fastidious customers. The
demand for genuine birds is as great as ever."

"But do you think as many are used now as formerly?" questioned her
companion.

"Yes, indeed! Just think of the feather capes and muffs and
collarettes made of birds. The market for them is increasing all the
time. It takes from eighteen to twenty-five skins for each collar, and
I don't know how many for