New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-11
4 PARTICULAR FRIEND or BIRDS.
OLIVE THoRNE MILLER AT HOME


From brakes Magazine.
One who knows owe Thornc Miller only ~ NJ
writings Is always disappointed on meeting her, be-
everywhere out of her work w"ll a, the f." years
she has been writing. I,c the impression 81 youth,
and her gray hairs and riy years srihe with sort
Of shock lInt tho more one sces of her me better
he knows that IN heart She !, young ara VII n'Ser
b. otherwise Her short period Of authorship i eN'
planned BY the fact thai She did not BE- gin work with
the pen iii her mother-dutie> verr ncark over
A visit 10 the room of This enihus a,iic lover NJ
birds In. brooklyn months ago was Of great
interest and certainly unique. for. besides being the
familiar home OF dozen or more 81 our naive
birds It was the authors study as we'll on ono
side Of the large front chamber. with is three lons
sunny windows and H. mating covered foor' stood
large desk covered with books AID papers. Before
this. with a tablet I'm hcr lap. a. though wiiung, 80
the bird student. around the room IN every sid'
hung large cages with doors wide opcn. before each
window rested long perch; al III" further era siooa
were two deep tin pie plates. painted DARK color.
aud full Of water for bathing. with convcncn' pet.h
and backbird, orioles and thrushes every here Hero
a buchird splaShing the water FAR ana wide, ihete
solemn thrash deliberately discussing piece ot run
on one side a rose breasted grosbeak summing hims,t
I'm a corner OF the window sash on the other mo
cai-brd searching over the desk for rsi>ins or cur
rants: heavy Kicker running around on the hoor.
aud bmejay standing on his MISTRESS sionh"r
sfufing some treasure into her hair. She dd not
appear To watch them indeed. they seemed a fro
as though she were not there-qnie dinei.n, nom rom
Al the same time not motion of one Of them esrap'd
her. .,,
each one bearing the name Of bird aud anything
peculIar or Interesting any unusual habit or untc
customed sound, at once recorded Thus every
DAYS dnngs safely written up az The moment OF
happening. when the Incidents were mesh ms cous
pursued during the eight or ten months shc usually
Keeps her birds. gives her not only FAIR acluaina'r
with tn, bird and a grat help to the study 81 Mn
In freedom. but a minute record OF his behavior ana
habits under her eye. II bird Is shy, she ohen
turn, her chair around 80 that her back Is toward
them and with hand. glass still watches them
Not much work gets done I'm these mornings oI
study but I'm the summer: when orc aiier aholhrr ut
and writes up her nttle friends and their gdsint
and interesting dongs. The thing She most pride.
herself Is accuracy, both Of observation and ~
statement.
Mis-. Miller Is tan and somewhat stout in figure.
Of icrfcc health and rather jolly manners. She Is
a born book lover. and i rarely srcn without
volume n not In her hands. very near by. Numerous
shelves about her filed tables and desk are loaded.
even ofas and chairs have often to be cleared before
they can hc used.
Tho subject Of this sketch Is native OF Central
Nrw-York. but has spent good many years Of her
NE at the West. I'm Ohio, Wisconsin. and longest IN
Illinois. For the last twelve Shr las
lived In brooklyn. In that part known tho I'LL
Her BIRD studies carried ON not only I'm her own
ROOM I'm the way already mentioned but In Prospect
Park some parts ~ which are quite Wild and unire-
Qucn'ed- and during part ~ every summer in tn
fashionable resorts. Her summer study Is coz
Quoted faithfully her winter study. Every morn
ing. Whatever The wcather-for the heaviest dowupour
does not discourage her. and Wet fcct AMI dragglet
out. hunting mp the birds. watching their work or
play and noting their habits Every obsefy alton goes
Into her note book and after few years Of this close
observation she has tolcrahy full notes Of all tho
birds she has met. Quick To see the MT OF wing
and 10 hear single note from a birds throat. she u
alert To every sign of life and with superior opera
glass her inscnarablo companion. Is able 10 get good
views OF her game without startling II by her nearnes