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'Make them read that it is no longer the fashion to wear birds upon hats. That will afford relief to your poor milliner and at the same time set free thousands of our darling birds who have been so cruelly used.' Popopo thanked the wise king and followed his advice. The office of every newspaper and magazine in the city was visited by the knook, and then he went to other cities, until there was not a publication in the land that had not a 'new fashion note' in its pages. Sometimes Popopo enchanted the types, so that whoever read the print would see only what the knook wished them to. Sometimes he called upon the busy editors and befuddled their brains until they wrote exactly what he wanted them to. Mortals seldom know how greatly they are influenced by fairies, knooks and ryls, who often put thoughts into their heads that only the wise little immortals could have conceived. The following morning when the poor milliner looked over her newspaper she was overjoyed to read that 'no woman could now wear a bird upon her hat and be in style, for the newest fashion required only ribbons and laces.'

L. Frank Baum#14

MagicEthicsFashionInterventionMedia

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote advocates banning bird feathers on hats to protect wildlife, using magical influence to spread this message through newspapers.
In plain terms
Stop wearing bird feathers on hats to save birds, and use magic to make sure everyone reads about it.
What can you take from it?
Spread awareness through media to change fashion trends and protect animals.

Where it applies

  • fashion activism
  • environmental advocacy
  • publishing ethics

Putting it to work

  • campaign against fur/feather accessories
  • educate editors on animal rights

Questions to consider

  • Is it ethical to force people to adopt moral views?
  • How can we change fashion without coercion?

Another view

Magical mind control undermines genuine consent and free will.

More from L. Frank Baum

  1. Burglars! Good gracious!' cried the little woman, springing from the bed in one bound. The word 'burglar' was a terrible one to her, as it is indeed, to every …

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  2. 'But what can I do?' cried she, spreading out her arms helplessly. 'I can not hew down trees, as my father used; and in all this end of the king's domain there…

    Permalink to quote #15
  3. His father thought he had a wond'rous wise look when he was born, and so he named him Solomon, thinking that if indeed he turned out to be wise the name would …

    Permalink to quote #12

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