The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-09-18
Auduboh.

! Auduboh.
| It is worthy of note that neither o.
the great American ornithologists was
in the strict sense an American. Viii
son was Scotch weaver, who came te
this country when a young man; and
Audubon, though born in Louisiana
then French colony, passed his youth
and was educated in France, Of which
country his father was a native. His
mother was Spanish lady. Wilson
brought out his work in this country,
but Audubon was compelled to seek the
patronage of British capital.
Audubon seems to have conceived
his passion for ornithology while a
youth in France, where he received les
sons in drawing from David, and first
exercised his hand in tracing objects Of
natural history. He also made collec.
tions of European birds, and displeased
his father, who was a rigid disciplin-
arian, by his wild and wandering hab-
it's. His subsequent career presents a
series Of experiences and adventures
remarkably curious and animated. At
the age of seventeen we 6nd him a gay,
hansone youth, established in the coun-
try on one of his fathers estates called
Min Grove, in the vicinity of Philadel.
phia. passing his time in hunting, fishing,
drawing, attending balls and parties, and
raising all sorts of fowls. He is an ad-
mirable marksman, an expert swimmer,
good dancer and skater, plays on the
fute and violin, is skilled in training
dogs, and in stuhing and preserving ami
mails and birds, has great bodily strength,
and beauty of form and feature. At
this age he was preposterously fond of
dress, and loved to hunt il black satin
breeches, pumps, and ru6led shirts, OBJ
tanned from Paris.
This is his day, his Towering season,
and the efaorescence i'd quite extraordi-
nary but the bitter winds. aud storms
and the nipping frosts are sure to fol
low. He marries at tho age of twenty
eight, moves to the west, and in various
business ventures at Louisville and Hen
dersenville, his property, which is con-
siderable, IS entirely swept away, main
ly because of his own preoccupation and
distaste for business. Then follows the
Eneid of his life-his wanderings in
the west and southwest; his struggles
to earn livelihood, which he does as
a crayon portrait painter and teacher OF
drawing; bis passionate pursuit of his
beloved birds his adventures in Ken
tucky and along the Mississippi-twelve
checkered years, putting his patience
and purpose to the scverest tests,
but rich 10 pathological studies and ex-
periences. At one time, in New Orleans,
be is too poor to buy book to write his
journal in bnt, on hearing that an ex-
pedition is talked of, to survey the boun-
dary line between Mexico and the Uni
ted States, his spirits revive, and, thirst
ing forne fields of adventure, he writes
to President Monroe for an appointment
as draughtsman and naturalist to the ex-
pedition. The project ightens his heart
instantly, and in immagination he sees
the new aud rare birds which await
him in those unexplored regions. He
seeks q Recommendation from Wander
lyn, the historical painter, then living
in New Orleans, and, with the perspi-
ration streaming down bis face, the OBJ
scure naturalist opens his portfolio, apd
lays bis drawings out before the critical
eve Of the famous artist. Vanderlyn
is impressed, and gives him a compli-
meutary note, evidently feeling that he
il not the mendicant be at first sight took
him to be. But, unluckily, Audubon
does not 20 to the Pacific, and, a few
years later. desperately bent on improv'
ing his financial condition, he turns dam
cling master at Bayou Sara, where
his wife holds a position as govern
ess. His music and instructions are
appreciated, and his pecuniary prospects
brighten. On one occasion he is re-
quested by his delighted pupils and
their festive parents to dance to his OWE
music, which he does till the whole room
comes down in the thunders Of ap'
plause.
He isforty-six years old before his OWE
earnings, added to those Of his brave
and hopeful wife, furnish him with the lit
tie capital with which he hopes to take thu
first step towards publishing bi. draw
ings. Meeting with nothing bat dis
enlargement in this country, he set
sail for England,- where he arrives, il
July 1926, where his drawings are pub
lished by subscription, and in style tba
eclipses anything Of the kind befor'
known. When completed he undertake.
in Edinburgh his "American Ornitho
logical Biography" the first volume o
which il brought out in 1881, ant
which is also a great success. Befor'
the inal completion of ,'ie works, b
makes several return visigs 70 this coun
try and extends his Iaehbles north
south and west in quest Of new
material. In lS46, the first Of hi
"Quadrupeds of North America " ii
mostly preparpared by his sons Victor
AMI John, and has been published sine
their fathers death
In person Audubon was finely forme.
and in his mature life, with his hair fal
ling to his shoulders. bis open throat
his keen eye, and animated movements
was fgure of mark wherever he ap
peared. In the streets of Edinburgh
he attracted much attention, and say
that his hair gave him as much notori
} ETY. as his drawings did. He was per
haps little boyish and immature il
} certain phases Of his character, and hi
eagerness for tame, which occasionl..
breaks ont in his journal. is hardly con