Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-10
A VERY WONDERFUL BIRD

n VERY WONDERFUL BIRD.
We read in the "Arabian Nights " of bird
so huge that its claws are like the trunks of
large trees, that its eggs are Atty pace. in cir
conference, and that its expanded wings
datken the heavens like an immense cloud
Somewhere in the Great Unknown, there
dwells bird, compared with which the fabu-
lous roc dwindles 10 utter nothingness; bird
so enormous that when he visits our country,
Gan event which occurs every four years) the
third primary feather of his left wing brushes
the cones from the most north eastern pine in
Maine, while that of his right wing dips al
ternately In the waters Of the Rio Grsnde and
and those Of the Gulf of California. When
the bird assumes this position, his posterior
appendage (Which has lately been Increased
in length protects Alaska from the embrace
of the Northern Bear, while his beak points
wistfulIy towards the Islands Of Cuba and San
Domingo.
In our country for the past ninety-six years
the praise Of this bird has been the theme of
every school-boy's third composition; the
first and second being devoted to "The Art of
Writing" and "The Seasons" 1t has been
the Alpha and Omega Of every Fourth Of
July nration. 1t formed considerable por-
ton, especially of the magnificent peroration
of the most eloquent speech of the most elo-
quent orator America ever produced. At the
present time, this peroration of Webster's is
;nt; "a. "a ~ ~ ,,la sor;b
able palpitstion Of the heart and quaking Of
the knees which portend first defamation,
and this defamation once committed to mem
DRY, it is. in most cases, considered superfu-
Gus to learn another. The praise of this bird
has been the inspiration Of every American
poet from Tom Jones and John Smith to
Alfred B. Street and Joseph Rodman Drake;
it has added interest to almost every work OF
fiction; it has formed the most ornate portion
of every political essay; it has been the one
CLEAN Of sunshine in the work of every
cynic; 1t has been delicate spice for all our
religious and moral tracts which have been
scattered broadcast over the face of all the
earth; it has suggested the texts for all our
Thank sgiving sermons; it has been thurdered
from the pulpit and re echoed from the bar !;
it is, perhaps, the only subject upon which all
religionists and non-religionists in our country
are supposed TO agree; aud we have been told
how this bird has - SCARED gracefully doea-
soard" and "snooped salianfly uprardr so
often that we believe every word of it and
would not do otherwise, no, not for the world
One thing Is very remarkable. Every po-
| li,ical party that has, or has ever had, an ex.
istance in this country has claimed this bird
as its own especial and peculiar guardian
Never did Cstaline transfer his impious right
hand from the worship of his silver eagle tc
the assassination Of his fellow citizens with
| more confidence than the traitors Of the South
felt when transferring theirs from the pretend-
ed worship of this bird to unhallowed and in
famous war. Never did true Roman soldiers
revere the bird of Wars more than our pat
riots revere the bird beneath the shadow OF
whose pinions they have rushed to victory.
The arrival Of this bird, which is expected
in November, is awaited with the most in
tense interest. Some think that, having as
sumed the white feather, he will be seen wear
ing self-satisdedfsmirk, his face, like full
moon, all aglow with borrowed light, and
bearing the Inscription, -" What I know
about all things" A larger and far more in
telligent portion Of the community are conf.
dent that he will appear in simple and unas-
suming grandeur every way worthy of his
high dignity.
Wells are respectfully recommended for
all not possessed of eagle eyes, a. he is sup.
posed to have spent most of his time for the
last hundred years in close INVESTIGATION of
the sun and other heavenly bodies.
It is sufficiently well ascertained that he
has lately been dining upon the aurora bore.
ais and extracting the fat therefrom to grease
the north pole with a feather, as the sound of
his wings has been distinctly heard in the d.
reciion Of Maine and Vermont.
E. p. DOLE.