THE WEARING OF FURS [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sni,—The appearance in your columns last week of letters pleading for the humane slaughter of animals, and the pro- hibition of the export of worn-out horses encourages me to hope that you will be willing to insert yet another appeal on behalf of the unhappy creatures who are being tortured to death for the sake of their furs. I am allowed by the courtesy of the author to quote the following sentences from The Autobiography of a Wanderer, by Major A. Radclyffe Dugmore, F.R.G.S., one of the greatest living authorities
on the subject of wild life :-
" My own feeling is that in the whole world there is no more terrible form of cruelty to animals, and the strange thing is that women are almost entirely responsible for it. They demand beautiful furs and consequently they get them. They used to demand the skins of beautiful birds, and they got them until a vigorous fight was made to stop the vile trade. People declared that it could never be stopped ; that birds' feathers were necessary for women's hats. To-day, we see the answer. The impossible was accomplished, and to-day in most countries we are free from the ghastly sight of wretched birds' skins disgracing women's headgear."
The author hopes that this fur question, too, may one day be solved. He adds :
" In the meantime, wherever we go, be it outdoors or indoors, at theatres or in churches, there are the furs, nearly every one be-a-ring mute testimony of an agonizing death."
If animals must be killed for the sake of their fur, let it
be in a lethal chamber at fur farms, but I can assure your readers from personal experience that a properly lined artificial fur coat gives ample warmth even when motoring in - the coldest weather.—I am, Sir, &c., REBE STORR (Mrs.). Sheepfolds, Echo Pit Lane, Guildford.
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