THE WEST SHORE.
Fifteenth Year.
MARCH, lHS'J.
OUR FEATHERED IMMIGRANTS.
ARELY, if ever, in tho
history of tho nation, has
the action of a community
had as deep a foundation
in sentiment as that of an
association of onr citizens
of German descent, in im
poiting to this state tho
song birds of their native
land. It is nothing new
to tako from ono tortion
of the globe for propaga
tion in another, the feath
ered, furred or scaled rep
resentatives of the animal
kingdom, but the moving
impulses have all been of
a more sordid or utilitarian nature than these which
have led to the action of this society. Tho brute cre
ation of the universe has been assembled in menag
eries and museums for the amusement and instruc
tion of the people, and for the pecuniary gain of en
terprising managers. Fish, flesh and fowl have been
transplanted from native haunts to strange bom,
that the sportsman and angler may bettor amuse him
self, or that the people may, at cheaper coat, add to
the attractions of their dinner tables; and even mo
nicipal authorities have engaged in this work of in
troducing birds into city parks, though less from a
feeling of sentiment than a desire to preserve the
trees from the ravages of insect pests. In this action
of our German citizens, however, all considerations
but those of sentiment are eliminated.
As around the scarred trunk of the forest patri
arch twine the fragile vines of spring, so do tender
memories of childhood cling about the sging heart of
man. Go where he will and do what he may, the
home of his youth will ever exist in his mind as a
Garden of Eden, a Happy Valley of Amhari, to
which, at times, his thoughts will turn with a lorteg
tenderness. At such times, any familiar object, even
tho most insignificant, that is identified with those
days of childhood invokes feelings of regard nearly
akin to reverencn. In the same manner, tho exile
from his native land, though his act of expatriation
may havo been a voluntary one, though ho may haro
exchanged a life of privation and labor for one of
easo and comfort, though he may havo forsaken his
homo to escapo tho tyrannical rule of an autocrat to
enjoy the blessings of political freedom, can not but
cherish feelings of tender regard for his native land
and the homo of his youth, which some familiar ob
ject will call into active life. A story Is relaUl of
tho early days in tho Australian mines which illus
trates this redeeming trait in tho human character.
During a time at tho llallarat mines when rioting
was in progress because of tho taxes levied by the
government un tho miners, some Americans notic
ed a great crowd of English miners moving o(T Into
tho country, and suposing that some important pro
ject was on fool, they followed After a journey of
sevetal miles they reached tho hut of a stockman, and
there tho mystery was explained. Hanging in front
of tho door was a largo cage, and within it perched an
English bullfinch, from who throat IsauM the joy.
ous notes of a song them exiled men had not heard
for many weary months and years. Tears carae to
the eyes of many a rough and hardened man, ami for
tho time being the load of years of dissipation and
crime was lifted and tho tender sentiments of tho nat
ural man appeared.
Happily, neither In physical tmt moral condition,
can thei promoters of tho movement to Introdoef
into Oregon ths song birds of Germany, Us compared
with those hardened miners of Hallsrat, but the foun.
tain from which their emotions spring is tho same.
It is not, however, simply a desire to gratify them
selves, that theo gentlemen have taken the action
they have, but, as well, to Improve acd make more
pleasant the conditions of life in tho homo of their