Where he had failed with women, he was succeeding with men! The outrageous butchery of the birds and the circumstances under which they were tortured appealed with direct force to the sporting instinct in every man, and aroused him.Bok explained to each that he need expect no support for such a measure from women save from the members of the Audubon Societies, and a few humanitarian women and bird-lovers.Women, as a whole, he argued from his experiences, while they would not go so far as openly to oppose such a measure, for fear of public comment, would do nothing to further its passage, for in their hearts they preferred failure to success for the legislation.They had frankly told him so: he was not speaking from theory.
In one State after another Bok got into touch with legislators.He counselled, in each case, a quiet passage for the measure instead of one that would draw public attention to it.
Meanwhile, a strong initiative had come from the Audubon Societies throughout the country, and from the National Association of Audubon Societies, at New York.This latter society also caused to be introduced bills of its own to the same and in various legislatures, and here Bok had a valuable ally.It was a curious fact that the Audubon officials encountered their strongest resistance in Bok's own State: Pennsylvania.
But Bok's personal acquaintance with legislators in his Keystone State helped here materially.
The demand for the aigrette constantly increased and rose to hitherto unknown figures.In one State where Bok's measure was pending before the legislature, he heard of the coming of an unusually large shipment of aigrettes to meet this increased demand.He wired the legislator in charge of the measure apprising him of this fact, of what he intended to do, and urging speed in securing the passage of the bill.Then he caused the shipment to be seized at the dock on the ground of illegal importation.
The importing firm at once secured an injunction restraining the seizure.Bok replied by serving a writ setting the injunction aside.The lawyers of the importers got busy, of course, but meanwhile the legislator had taken advantage of a special evening session, had the bill passed, and induced the governor to sign it, the act taking effect at once.
This was exactly what Bok had been playing for.The aigrettes were now useless; they could not be reshipped to another State, they could not be offered for sale.The suit was dropped, and Bok had the satisfaction of seeing the entire shipment, valued at $160,000, destroyed.He had not saved the lives of the mother-birds, but, at least, he had prevented hundreds of American women from wearing the hallmark of torture.
State after State now passed an aigrette-prohibition law until fourteen of the principal States, including practically all the large cities, fell into line.
Later, the National Association of Audubon Societies had introduced into the United States Congress and passed a bill prohibiting the importation of bird-feathers into the country, thus bringing a Federal law into existence.
Bok had won his fight, it is true, but he derived little satisfaction from the character of his victory.His ideal of womanhood had received a severe jolt.Women had revealed their worst side to him, and he did not like the picture.He had appealed to what he had been led to believe was the most sacred instinct in a woman's nature.He received no response.
Moreover, he saw the deeper love for personal vanity and finery absolutely dominate the mother-instinct.He was conscious that something had toppled off its pedestal which could never be replaced.
He was aware that his mother's words, when he accepted his editorial position, were coming terribly true: "I am sorry you are going to take this position.It will cost you the high ideal you have always held of your mother's sex.But a nature, as is the feminine nature, wholly swayed inwardly by emotion, and outwardly influenced by an insatiate love for personal adornment, will never stand the analysis you will give it."He realized that he was paying a high price for his success.Such experiences as these--and, unfortunately, they were only two of several--were doubtless in his mind when, upon his retirement, the newspapers clamored for his opinions of women."No, thank you," he said to one and all, "not a word."He did not give his reasons.
He never will.
