MR SHAW AND DR. MUNTHE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21255, 29 August 1934, Page 11

MR SHAW AND DR. MUNTHE

_ _#— — Sanctuaries for Birds And Men "NEW SORT OF CONSCIENCE" LONDON, July 19. "There are now many sanctuaries for birds, and that does us credit, because at present there arc none for human beings—although arrangements for shooting them on the largest possible scale have been brought to perfection," said Mr Bernard Shaw at the luncheon at Grosvenor House, in honour of Dr. Axel Munthe, who persuaded Signor Mussolini to decree Capri a bird sanctuary. It was announced that Dr. Munthe. who has suffered many months of insomnia, would be unable to speak; yet by great resolution he addressed the company before the end. "I came to meet the friend of all birds, whose name I have always known," declared Mr Shaw, "though many people more important I have never heard of." He complimented Dr. Munthe on the impetus he has given to the work of protecting birds, and on being one of those pioneers who have created a new sort of conscience in mankind. "Unfortunately for the governing classes," Mr Shaw continued, "part of their education has always been that a bird was created for the purpose of being shot." The interest of the nobleman, the gentleman, the man who had enjoyed the advantages of education, lay in counting the numbers killed; it had never been suggested that the living bird was among the most wonderful things fashioned, but that interest should begin merely when birds were dead and pitiable. "This cult of making a sport of the slaughter of birds may have something to do with 'the sport of kings'—the slaying of men. If \v«? really could protect birds, make the whole earth a sanctuary, that might be one of the most important steps towards turning this world into a sanctuary for human beings." "Champions of the Weak" Dr. Munthe (after Mr Shaw had assured him that attending English public meetings was an infallible cure for insomnia) spoke of the recent act which forbade the caging of wild birds. "The day the cageprisons were opened," he said, "you removed a humiliating and damning indictment against your people by posterity, and revived the old tradition of the English as the champions of the weak and defenders of freedom." The luncheon was arranged by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Messrs Foyle's, and the Duchess of Portland, who presided, mentioned that Dr. Munthe was devoting the Swedish, American, and English royalties from "The Story of San Michele" to the furtherance of bird protection. Poems about birds and beasts inspired! by that "new sort of conscience" of which Mr Shaw had spoken, were read by Mr Walter de la Mare and Mr James Stephens.