Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-06-26
The Song or the Brown Thrush.

We may be able TO account, in part
at least for the disappointment which
an inexperienced observer meets with
when. fresh from the perusal Of (for ex-
ample) the thirteenth chapter of Dar-
wins Descent of Man. he goes into the
woods TO look about for himself. He
expects to find here and there two or
three songsters, each in turn doing his
utmost to surpass the brilliancy and
power of the others music; while a
feminine auditor sits in full view, pre-
pairing to render her verdict, and re-
ward the successful competitor with
her own precious self. This would be
pretty picture. Unfortunately, it is
looked for in vain. The two or three
singers may be found. likely enough;
but the female, il she be indeed within
hearing, is modestly hidns away some
where in the bushes, an our student
is none the wiser. lie. him watch as
long as he please, he will hardly see
the prize awarded.
Nevertheless he need not feel that
his time has been wasted. He certain
ly will not, if he be one who loves mu-
sic; for birds like all true artists, can
do their best only on great occasions.
Our brown thrush, for instance, is
magnificent singer, albeit h. is not of
the best school, being too sensational"
to suit the most exacting case. His
song is a great improvisation: q good
deal jumbled, to be sure, and without
any recognizable form or theme; and
yet, like Liszt rhapsody. it perfectly
answers its purpose, that is, it giTes
the performer full scope to show what
he can do with his instrument You
may laugh a little if you like, at an
occasional grotesque or overwrought
passage, but unless you are well used
to it you will surely be astonished.
Such power and range of voice; such
startling transitions; such endless va
riety! And withal such boundless en-
thusiasm and incredible endurance!
Considered as pure music, one strain of
the hermit thrush is to my mind worth
the whole of it; just as single move
ment of Beethoven's is better than a
world of Liszt transcriptions. But in
its own way it is unsurpassable.
Still, though this is meagre and
quite unexaggerated account of the or
dinary song of the brown thrush, 1
have discovered that even he can be
outdone-by himself. One morning in
early May came upon three birds of
this species, all singing at once, in a
kind of jealous frenzy. As they sang
they continually shifted from tree to
tree, and one in particular (the one
that was nearest to where l stood)
could hardly be quiet a moment.
Once he sang with full power while on
the ground (or close to it, for he was
just then behind low bush), after
which he mounted to the very tip of a
tall pine, which bent beneath his
weight. In the midst of the hurly-bur-
ly one of the trio suddenly sounded the
whip-poor-will's call twice,-a abso-
lutely perfect reproduction.
The significance Of all this sound and
fury; what the prize was, if any, and
who obtained it,--this another can con-
lecture as well as myself. 1 know no
more than old Kaspar:--
why that can not tcll,' Se;;d he,
But t was famous v!ctofy,'"
AS l turned to come away, the con-
test all at once ceased, and the silence
of the woods. or what seemed like si-
lence, was really impressive. The
chewinks and field sparrows were sing
ing, but it was like the music of viii
lage singer after Patti; or, to make the
comparison less UNJUST like the Pas
toral Symphony OF Handel after n
Wagner tempest. Bradford 1o,rey in
AprI Atlantic
In the days of biliousness, when you
liver is torpid and your skin yellow, re
member you have never failing frient
in DR.. Jones' Red Glover Tonic, which
is unequaled in purity and efficacious
ness. In cases of dyspepsia, costiveness
ague and malaria diseases and diseases
of the blood and kidneys, its action i!
prompt and cure speedy. Price 81
cents of D. J. Humphrey.