New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-19
Mrs. Audubon.

eighth of June. by Rev. Charles A. Stod.
dard, a. the funeral of the widow of the
distinguished naturalist, Audubon, who
came t. her death at Louisville, Kentucky,
We find the following exceIlen: sketch Of
her life and character:
Lucy Blackwell was the daughter OF Will
liam Bake well. an English gentlemen. who
had bought tract Of land on the Schuyl-
kill river. and who lived on his estate The
estate which young Audubon received from
his father adioined that of Mr.. Bakewell
| and the intimacy which naturally resulted
from association betvee young people
thus placed led to friendship Lucy Bake.
well taught the young Frenchman the
| English language, and received from him
drawing lessons in return. In due time
they became deeply attached 20 each
other, and. after delays and hipdrances,
we're we're, hap Egdiy married S on the eighth Of
house at ' once Sns with sf' her nsr assse,s
and began remarkable and event.
full career by journey through Penn
sylvania to Pittsburg, and down the Ohio
| river in tiatbOau to Louisville. From that
time onward for more than thirty years she
| had no permanent home, yet her spirits
| never tagged, WEAKNESS never produced
| discomfort. isolation from friends never
CulilCO tuC Va uSI dutCUlOUe, uOr
| did the independent life to which she was
| compelled produce Sc fshness and misan-
| thropy. She had given her heart with her
| hand to her husband, and che identified
| herself entirely with his pursuits, his inter-
| eets and bis hopes. She accompanied him
in his wanderings. encouraged him in trials,
and when msfortunes overlook him she
bent to the task of relieving him with an
| active intellect and a strong will In order
n "a n M m %t.osH nh
and leave him free to pursue his studies in
natural history she took a place as govern
ess in family in New Orleans, and after
ward in Natchez.
When her husband was anxious to 90 to
Europe in order to perfect himself in the
use Of colors, and could not, for lack Of
funds, she established family school at
Bayou Sara and earned the needful money
while she also educated her two children.
When, in the face of many obstacles, and
contrary to the advice of his friends. who
regarded him as q mailman. Audubon de.
termined to pursue ORTHODOXY az his pro-
tession, his wife determined that his genius
should have the opportunity which it
craved. She gave him not only words of
encouragement, but devoted several thou
sand dollars, which she had earned by
teaching. TO help forward the publication Of
bis drawings and insure his success. Twice
she went with her husband upon his voy-
ages to England, and travelled with him
while he obtained subscribers to his great
work. For years she bore the pain Of long
separation patiently, stimulating his enthu-
siasm by her letters, while she provided for
their children by her labors, and rejoiced
in the triumph which che had aided him to
achieve without thought of the
struggles and .privations which it had
cost her. And when the keen eye
that had caught so quickly each shade of
the plumage of birds grew dim, and the
dexterous fingers could no longer ply the
pencil. when '.silent, patient sorrow filled a
broken heart" and paralysis had weakened
body and mind, then tor years, in the beau
tiful home which their mutual efforts had
provided, his wife read to him with untiring
faithiuiness and Christian serenity, till the
last moment of recognition and departure
came together.
After the death of her husband Madame |
Audubon did not sink into inactivity and |
dependency. She interested herself in the
children for whose training she had done !
SO much and gave to chIldren's children |
the benefit of regular and systematic edu- |
cation. Her days were filled with active |
efforts for the good of others, and no |
rust dimmed the mind to which intel |
lectuaI activity had become constant |
delight. She loved to read. to study |
and to teach; she knew how to gain the |
attention of the young, and to fix |
knowledge in their minds. 'If l can |
hold the mind of child to a subject for |
five minutes he will remembe what teach |
him." she once remarked. Acting upon this |
principle, she was as successful at three |
score and ten years in imparting knowledge |
as she had been in early life, when she |
taught in Louisiana.
Nine. Audubon interested herself in all |
that pertained to the welfare of the neigh
borhood in which she lived. Although it |
was not without a pang that she saw her !
sylvan home invaded by the growth of the
city, and all old associations broken up, she |
did not treat those who came to live near |
her as strangers. The death of her hus-
band was at length followed by the death |
of both OF her sons. who had been the |
colaborers and travelling companions OF their
father: the fortune which had rewarded their |
mutual efforts was reduced by unfortunate
and many trials and burdens
pressed upon her declining years; but she
met her trials without shrinking, and bore
her burdens patiently. Cheered by the So
ciety of the intelligent and the good, with
fondness for Intellectual pur-
suits, and still surrounded by descendants
who honored and loved her. she occupied
her time in preparing biography OF her
husband, which is at once noble tribute to
his memory and a monument OF her own
literary ability andindustry. The last years
of Audubon's life had been saddened by the
loss of sight, and partial blindness now cut
her off from reading. But as she had been
eyes to the blind, 80 now a granddaughter,
with rilal affection, supplied her loss of
sight, and read to her for hours from books
of travel and valuable literature, with daily
portions of the Word of God.
When it was contended by English bar
risters that no man should be admitted to