There are now several hundred thousand children in the United States and in Canada who have pledged themselves to this good work.  If these children are faithful to the pledge which they have signed, an immense amount of good will be done.  Children who are taught to be kind to animals and to each other make good citizens.

TO THE TEACHER.

Bands of mercy.

So much of childish, cruelty is thoughtless that the help to be obtained from Bands of Mercy is apparent.  To make a boy understand the misery that his air-gun and his fishhook may cause, to show the cowardly cruelty in throwing stones and in hurting innocent and defenseless creatures—­this is what the Band of Mercy may accomplish.  There is abundant testimony from teachers who have introduced humane teaching into their schools, to the effect that the children are not only kinder to the lower animals, but also more thoughtful and considerate towards each other.

We want our boys and girls to be strong and brave, but in no way can their strength and bravery be made more certain than in protecting the weak and helpless.

When young people learn to respect the rights of animals and to think about the causes of pain and suffering, they will apply these thoughts to their everyday life.  They will learn to respect each other’s rights, and crime of all kinds will be diminished.

Upon teachers and parents a great responsibility rests.  They are forming the minds and the habits of the coming generation.  Upon their instruction may depend future peace or war, good citizenship or a low standard of patriotism and morals.

With the best intention of implanting the humane idea, teachers sometimes indirectly teach what is not really humane.  For example, physiology lessons are sometimes illustrated by parts of dead animals, which must be obtained from a butcher’s shop or a slaughterhouse.

This is not directly cruel, because the animals are already dead, but it is not refining to the sensibilities.

Sometimes the teacher enlarges on the special use of animals for food.  It is unnecessary to lay emphasis on the use of animal food, when we remember that the number of people who live without it is constantly increasing, and that these people maintain at least as high a standard of health as those who make use of it; indeed, it is claimed that their health is better and that they are more likely to be free from certain diseases to which meat eaters are subject.

The Bands of Mercy are valuable in teaching young people the highest ideals of life, and in showing them that the universal law of love is the only law which will bring what we all desire, “Peace on earth, and good will to all.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUBJECTS FOR COMPOSITIONS.

In connection with school work, compositions may be written on some of the subjects suggested below:—­