The Innocent Seals.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 7

The Innocent Seals.

A man stood in front of a furrier's store, contemplating seal' garments in the windows. " I never see a eeal coat," he eaid, •' that I am not reminded of a .heartbreaking day I parted among the seal-killers." Then he told of going an expedition when he was a young man, and going out for the sport of seal-killing. They knocked the pretty creatures on the head. ; The seals - are so tame, affectionate 1 ' ahd'fearlesq fchat When the hunters landed and canie among them they crowded round 1% dogs, making thoir little friendly bark and fawning upon the murderous Hands chat procjeaqd -to search! their blbody cbrpses uponthe beach. 9?he man related how" sick at heart he- got, how 1 he tried to! go away from the massacre of the innocents, and to thia day a sealskin coat recalled his wretched experience as a murdering criminal among the seals. But the women to wbdin he told this harrowing tale wenti right into the store and bought coats, inquiring particularly if the fur was off yon'ng seals; ' I believe if wottien heard tftat £h6 skins' we're more durable if taken off the poor little beast alive, every mother's daughter would insist' on vivisection. A clab of women latefy mefc to discuss the' awful cruelties sHpwn tb. cats by the man on a certaip : 'Bifeet who 'fired Revolvers and bbbtjticks frbm'back windows of nights at theirfayouirites, and by actiial count as many as;5Q, I birds and 100 { beasts Had been slaughter'elito'podtice'thV winter g'armentjs' in whidh' they' were attired. ' (,' ( ,' ',A l! f woman lately" rjeturned ' fro.ifl Bui'cpe brings' a reception f g6wn that mußt have 2^o littje brown birds fastening a rose ? colbured crepe upon &l& l s%t silk!;; "A circlet of-'tpese little f 'featih''ere'd creatures' is" for., the ' ' * I "believe it would be' a' ,|;oo t d''^'ress' for a character to wear at a.Qostume'bali,"; said its owner : '" only I' wßtil^KijbwwKdfc 1 to cull it. What would f du' ; kay 'i 6r a nan% ?"

" Cruelty to animals," replied the friend. Certainly the first thought that crosses one's mind at seeing this dross is one of horror at the slaughter of these poor little creatures that a gown might be trimmed with their bodies, Almost every year some such .costume turns up, and it fires the in vwtive genius of many a' silly girl.