30 DECEMBER 1932, Page 16

" PROTECTION " OF ANIMALS

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Lady Lowther's letter, in which she explains the disappearance of the pariah dogs which used to roam the streets in Stamboul, makes mention of the fact that she herself founded a Society for the " Protection " of Animals. She no doubt chose this, instead of the more usual name, because she thought that in Constantinople there was very little deliberate cruelty to prevent ; in fact, she distinctly says that " the Turks are not usually cruel to animals."

It may be of interest to recall a similar opinion expressed by Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, three hundred years ago, although he considered that the Turks were cruel in their conduct towards their fellow men. In his essay on " Goodness and Good Nature," he says : " The inclination to goodness is implanted deeply in the nature of man, insomuch, that if it issue not towards man, it will take unto other living creatures, as it is seen in the Turks, a cruel people, who nevertheless are kind to beasts, and give alms to dogs and birds ; insomuch Busbechius reporteth, a Christian boy in Constantinople had like to have been stoned for gagging, in a waggishness, a long-billed fowl."—I am, Sir, &c.,