om which he knew he could secure the most reliable information； and after all the importers had been interviewed； the conviction was unescapable that just in proportion as Bok had dwelt upon the desirability of the aigrette as the hallmark of wealth and fashion； upon its expense； and the fact that women regarded it as the last word in feminine adornment； he had by so much made these facts familiar to thousands of women who had never before known of them； and had created the desire to own one of the precious feathers。
Bok could not and would not accept these conclusions。 It seemed to him incredible that women would go so far as this in the question of personal adornment。 He caused the increased sales to be traced from wholesaler to retailer； and from retailer to customer； and was amazed at the character and standing of the latter。 He had a number of those buyers who lived in adjacent cities； privately approached and interviewed； and ascertained that； save in two instances； they were all his readers； had seen the gruesome pictures he had presented； and then had deliberately purchased the coveted aigrette。
Personally again he sought the most intelligent of his woman…friends； talked with scores of others； and found himself facing the same trait in feminine nature which he had encountered in his advocacy of American fashions。 But this time it seemed to Bok that the facts he had presented went so much deeper。
〃It will be hard for you to believe；〃 said one of his most trusted woman…friends。 〃I grant your arguments： there is no gainsaying them。 But you are fighting the same thing again that you do not understand： the feminine nature that craves outer adornment will secure it at any cost； even at the cost of suffering。〃
〃Yes；〃 argued Bok。 〃But if there is one thing above everything else that we believe a woman feels and understands； it is the mother…instinct。 Do you mean to tell me that it means nothing to her that these birds are killed in their period of motherhood； and that a whole nest of starving baby…birds is the price of every aigrette？〃
〃I won't say that this does not weigh with a woman。 It does； naturally。 But when it comes to her possession of an ornament of beauty； as beautiful as the aigrette； it weighs with her； but it doesn't tip the scale against her possession of it。 I am sorry to have to say this to you； but it is a fact。 A woman will regret that the mother…bird must be tortured and her babies starve； but she will have the aigrette。 She simply trains herself to forget the origin。
〃Take my own case。 You will doubtless be shocked when I tell you that I was perfectly aware of the conditions under which the aigrette is obtained before you began your exposure of the method。 But did it prevent my purchase of one？ Not at all。 Why？ Because I am a woman： I realize that no head ornament will set off my hair so well as an aigrette。 Say I am cruel if you like。 I wish the heron…mother didn't have to be killed or the babies starve； but； Mr。 Bok； I must have my beautiful aigrette！〃
Bok was frankly astounded： he had certainly probed deep this time into the feminine nature。 With every desire and instinct to disbelieve the facts； the deeper his inquiries went； the stronger the evidence rolled up： there was no gainsaying it； no sense in a further disbelief of it。
But Bok was determined that this time he would not fail。 His sense of justice and protection to the mother…bird and her young was now fully aroused。 He resolved that he would； by compulsion； bring about what he had failed to do by persuasion。 He would make it impossible for women to be untrue to their most sacred instinct。 He sought legal talent； had a bill drawn up making it a misdemeanor to import； sell； purchase； or wear an aigrette。 Armed with this measure； and the photographs and articles which he had published； he sought and obtained the interest and promise of support of the most influential legislators in several States。 He felt a sense of pride in his own sex that he had no trouble in winning the immediate interest of every legislator with whom he talked。
Where he had failed with women； he was succeeding with men！ The outrageous butchery of the birds and the circumstances under which they were tortured appealed with direct force to the sporting instinct in every man； and aroused him。 Bok explained to each that he need expect no support for such a measure from women save from the members of the Audubon Societies； and a few humanitarian women and bird…lovers。 Women； as a whole； he argued from his experiences； while they would not go so far as openly to oppose such a measure； for fear of public comment； would do nothing to further its passage； for in their hearts they preferred failure to success for the legislation。 They had frankly told him so： he was not speaking from theory。
In one State after another Bok got into touch with legislators。 He counselled； in each case； a quiet passage for the measure instead of one that would draw public attention to it。
Meanwhile； a strong initiative had come from the Audubon Societies throughout the country； and from the National Association of Audubon Societies； at New York。 This latter society also caused to be introduced bills of its own to the same and in various legislatures； and here Bok had a valuable ally。 It was a curious fact that the Audubon officials encountered their strongest resistance in Bok's own State： Pennsylvania。 But Bok's personal acquaintance with legislators in his Keystone State helped here materially。
The demand for the aigrette constantly increased and rose to hitherto unknown figures。 In one State where Bok's measure was pending before the legislature； he heard of the coming of an unusually large shipment of aigrettes to meet this increased demand。 He wired the legislator in charge of the measure apprising him of this fact； of what he intended to do； and urging speed in securing the passage of the bill。 Then he caused the shipment to be seized at the dock on the ground of illegal importation。
The importing firm at once secured an injunction restraining the seizure。 Bok replied by serving a writ setting the injunction aside。 The lawyers of the importers got busy； of course； but meanwhile the legislator had taken advantage of a special evening session； had the bill passed； and induced the governor to sign it； the act taking effect at once。
This was exactly what Bok had been playing for。 The aigrettes were now useless； they could not be reshipped to another State； they could not be offered for sale。 The suit was dropped； and Bok had the satisfaction of seeing the entire shipment； valued at 160；000； destroyed。 He had not saved the lives of the mother…birds； but； at least； he had prevented hundreds of American women from wearing the hallmark of torture。
State after State now passed an aigrette…prohibition law until fourteen of the principal States； including practically all the large cities； fell into line。
Later； the National Association of Audubon Societies had introduced into the United States Congress and passed a bill prohibiting the importation of bird…feathers into the country； thus bringing a Federal law into existence。
Bok had won his fight； it is true； but he derived little satisfaction from the character of his victory。 His ideal of womanhood had received a severe jolt。 Women had revealed their worst side to him； and he did not like the picture。 He had appealed to what he had been led to believe was the most sacred instinct in a woman's nature。 He received no response。 Moreover； he saw the deeper love for personal vanity and finery absolutely dominate the mother…instinct。 He was conscious that something had toppled off its pedestal which could never be replaced。
He was aware that his mother's words； when he accepted his editorial position； were coming terribly true： 〃I am sorry you are going to take this position。 It will cost you the high ideal you have always held of your mother's sex。 But a nature； as is the feminine nature； wholly swayed inwardly by emotion； and outwardly influenced by an insatiate love for personal adornment； will never stand the analysis you will give it。〃
He realized that he was paying a high price for his success。 Such experiences as theseand； unfortunately； they were only two of severalwere doubtless in his mind when； upon his retirement； the newspapers clamored for his opinions of women。 〃No； thank you；〃 he said to one and all； 〃not a word。〃
He did not give his reasons。
He never will。
XXX。 Cleaning Up the Patent…Medicine and Other Evils
In 1892 The Ladies' Home Journal announced that it would thereafter accept no advertisements of patent medicines for its pages。 It was a pioneer stroke。 During the following two years； seven other newspapers and periodicals followed suit。 The American people were slaves to self…medication； and the patent…medicine makers had it all their own way。 There was little or no legal regulation as to the ingredients in their nostrums； the mails were wide open to their circulars； and the pages of even the most reputable periodicals welcomed their advertisements。 The patent…medicine business in the United States ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars annually。 The business is still large； then it was enormous。
Into this army of deceit and spurious medicines； The Ladies' Home Journal fired the first gun。 Neither the public nor the patent…medicine people paid much attention to the first attacks。 But as they grew； and the evidence multiplied； the public began to comment and the nostrum makers began to get uneasy。
The magazine attacked the evil from every angle。 It aroused the public by showing the actual contents of some of their pet medicines； or the absolute worthlessness of them。 The Editor got the Women's Christian Temperance Union into action against the periodicals for publishing advertisements of medicines containing as high as forty per cent alcohol。 He showed that the most confidential letters written by women with private ailments were opened by young clerks of both sexes； laughed at and gossiped over； and that afterward their names and addresses； which they had been told were held in the strictest confidence； were sold to other lines of business for five cents each。 He held the r