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THE JOURNAL OF MISSISSIPPI HISTORY
she used her newspaper?s editorial voice to crusade against what she viewed as two forms of cruelty to nature, mistreatment of animals and mistreatment of mankind in the sport called boxing (or prize fighting).
Shortly before Eliza Jane Holbrook married her second husband, George Nicholson, in June, 1878, she was made an honorary member of the Mississippi Press Association. In a letter of reply to the Mississippi editors, Mrs. Holbrook observed that she had one idea that she hoped the Mississippi press, and, indeed, newspapers across the nation, would support: "turn your attention to men who are guilty of cruelty to animals.?1 It was not the Picayune's first expression on the subject of cruelty to animals, but it was an early expression of a topic which Eliza Jane was to champion the remainder of her life. For two decades she devoted many hours of her time and invested many dollars of her income in the cause of protecting what she called ?dumb beasts.?
Beginning in 1877, Mrs. Nicholson and a few other interested citizens had begun to revise a Louisiana statute protecting beasts from maltreatment. The Picayune, obviously reflecting its owner?s position, objected vigorously to dog fights, pleaded with horse owners to treat their animals more kindly by not using the "checkrein? to injure their horses, and denounced the severe beating of mules and horses which were used by their owners to carry heavy burdens of merchandise or material through the poorly-paved streets of New Orleans. In January, 1879, the Picayune reported that a few women of New Orleans had prepared a bill to punish those persons who cruelly treated animals and that the introduction of the proposed bill into that year?s legislature was assured. If the bill passed, said the newspaper, the ladies intended to form a society to prevent cruelty
' The Mississippi Press Convention,? Picayune, June 11, 1878, p. 8; Proceedings of the Mississippi Press Association (1866-84) (Jackson. 1885). 133-34. Nicholson was business manager of the newspaper and had acquired an interest in the Picayune in June. 1876.
AN EDITOR?S VIEWS ON ANTI-CRUELTY
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to animals, similar to societies which then existed in other major American cities.1
In February, 1879, the Picayune announced on page one the enactment of a new law ?to protect animals from cruel treatment.? Punishment, upon conviction, was a $100 fine or three months in jail, or both. In an editorial, the newspaper claimed credit for the passage of the law. "Through the efforts of the Picayune the legislature was induced at its last session" to pass the measure, said the editorial. The newspappr called upon New Orleanians to assist the enforcement of the Uw; the newspaper also demanded that New Orleans police enforce the anticruelty law "energetically, vigorously, effectively ,?s Less than thirty days later, two men staged a fight between two bulldogs and were arrested by police. But, in court, the presiding judge ruled that the recently-enacted law did not covor dog fights, and he dismissed the case. A projected second do^ fight did not materialize.1
In the 1880 session of the legislature, another bill was placed before the Louisiana lawmakers. The Picayune, supporting its passage, commented at one point: ?It is the duty of the Government to repress the instinct of cruelty and to cultivate in its stead the quality of mercy.? A boy who kicks or maims a dog today, claimed the editorial, may be the Nero of tomorrow.? In the fall, Act 44 of the 1880 Assembly was passed, strengthening the statutes against cruelty to animals. The Picayune printed in full the text of the bill and reprinted this text for several weeks.' In the meantime, the newspaper had opposed a scheduled bull fight at the Fair Grounds (it was stopped by city officials) and then had protested personally to police officials
?"Horse and Mule Beating,? Picayune. January 16, 1879. p. 4.
??Take Notice," Picayune. February 9, 1879, p. 1; "Enforce the New Law,** Picayune, same date. p. 4.
'"Dog Fighting Vs. Decency,? Picayune, March 4. 1879, p. 4.
'?The Appetite of Cruelty,? Picayune, February 17, 1880, p. 2.
'"Cruelty to Animals,? Picayune, October 14. 1881. p. 4.