If the business section of a town is burning down, no one goes into the suburbs to lecture on architecture, or exhibit pictures of fire apparatus.  The rush is for water, fire-engines, red-blooded men and dynamite.  When the birds all around you are being shot to death by poachers who fear not God nor regard man, and you need help to stop it on the instant, run to your neighbor’s house, and ring his bell.  If he fails to hear the bell, pound on his door until you jar the whole house.

When he comes down half-dressed, blinking and rubbing his eyes, shout at him: 

“Come out!  Your birds are all being shot to pieces!”

“Are they?” he will say.  “But what can I do about it?  I can’t help it!  I’m no game warden.”

“Put on your clothes, get your shot-gun and come out and drive off the killing gang.”

“But what good will that do?  They will come back again.”

“Not if we do our duty.  We must have them arrested, and appear against them in court.”

“But,” says the sleepy citizen, “That won’t do much good.  The laws are not strict enough; and besides, they are not well enforced, even as they are!”

“Then let’s make it our business to see that the present laws are enforced, and go to our members of the legislature, and have them pass some stronger laws.”

And this brings me to a very important subject: 

* * * * *

HOW TO PASS A NEW LAW

We venture to say that the average citizen little realizes how possible it is to secure the passage of a law that is clearly necessary for the better protection of wild life and forests.  Because of this, and of the necessity for exact knowledge, I shall here set down specific instructions on this subject.

THE PERSONAL EQUATION.—­One determined man can secure the passage of a good law, provided he is reasonably intelligent and sufficiently determined.  The man who starts a movement must make up his mind to follow it up, direct its fortunes, stay with it when the storms of opposition beat upon it, and never give up until it is signed by the governor.  He must be willing to sacrifice his personal convenience, many of his pleasures, and work when his friends are asleep or pleasuring.

In working for the protection of wild life there is one mighty and unfailing source of consolation.  It is this: 

Your cause always gains in strength, and the cause of the destroyers always loses strength!

THE CHOICE OF A CAUSE.—­Be broad-minded.  Do not rush to the legislature with a demand for a law to permit the taking of bull-heads with June-bugs in the creeks of your township, or to give your county a specially early open season on quail in order that your boy may try his new gun before he goes back to college. Don’t propose any “local” legislation; for in progressive states, local game legislation is coming strongly into disfavor,—­just as it should!  Legislate for your whole state, and nothing less.