|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on May 9, 2006 0:31:48 GMT -4
This is the exhibit that was part of the ASPCA ceremonies at Green-Wood Cemetery, described in another thread in this forum. NO ONE ever did more for animals than Henry Bergh, often at the risk of his life. HENRY BERGH |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on May 9, 2006 0:40:20 GMT -4
Henry Bergh is a man who in retrospect was treated highly unfavorably by his contemporaries of the Gilded Age. It was because he discovered he had a heart, and people of his class were not supposed to reveal this except to their intimates and family.
Born to wealth, Bergh discovered one day that he disliked something that people took for granted too much of the time: the beating and mistreatment of horses. In those pre-gas engine vehicle days, horses were the main method of urban transportation. The America of the 1870s had it's traffic jams, but they were due to horse drawn vehicle collisions. The drivers saw nothing wrong with using whips and other items to force their horses to move in a certain way to break-up the jams. Bergh was revolted by this. Too frequently the horses were badly bleeding (or worse) after such treatment.
Bergh soon noticed the same happened with smaller animals, like dogs, cats, pigs (New York Streets still had pigs running around eating horse manure and refuse), and chickens. Finally he got a few friends to support him, and created the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The jokes that resulted from this decent impulse are astounding. Even Thomas Nast got into the act - he drew a cartoon where Bergh insisted that animals who are cold in the winter wear coats and hats! Bergh resented the jokes, but he kept up his crusade.
He continued fighting for the viability of the A.S.P.C.A., but he is also going to fight for a new organization as well: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
|
|
|
|
Post by pinky on May 9, 2006 0:42:43 GMT -4
What a kind man!
|
|
|
|
Post by jeannie on May 9, 2006 13:54:22 GMT -4
The horse ambulance is pretty interesting! Can you imagine?
|
|
|
|
Post by Andrea on May 9, 2006 15:30:16 GMT -4
That is a wonderful tribute!
It's amazing what one person can do that will affect us so much later on... Thank You Henry Bergh!
|
|
|
|
Post by megs on May 9, 2006 17:49:55 GMT -4
I enjoyed the pictures, DF. Thank you  I especially like the child with the puppies. |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on May 9, 2006 18:01:13 GMT -4
The horse ambulance is pretty interesting! Can you imagine? That is an exact replica. I just wonder how they got the horse in it, if really ill. I think the horse had to be at least ambulatory. The exhibit will be open for months. Drop by and visit. |
|
|
|
Post by Die Fledermaus on May 21, 2006 10:07:08 GMT -4
The Wisconsin Historical Society has on their site the only know statue of Bergh located in Milwaukee. RIGHT HERE |
|
