Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-12-31
SELLING BIRDS. NESTS.
The Odd Industry n French Woman liz
nulIt Hin In Now Work.

I
The Odd Industry n French Woman liza,
i Built Up In New York.
when the Robins Nest Again
seems likely to have future bearing
upon trade. In conversation with q
pretty little French woman the other
day, reporter discovered that the
largest part Of her living was made by
the sale OF natural and artificial birds
nests, containing from three to five
tiny eggs and mounted or not as the
purchaser desired. Her story Is that
In Paris, where she had been EN-.
ployed us an artiiicial-fower maker.
her wages were so low that to exist
was possible, but to lay up a penny for
rainy day was not. An American
lady, who had given her some orders
and been attracted by her pretty face.
offered to pay her expenses to this city
and assist her in small way until
such time as she could swim the sea
OF life alone. She disliked, as all
foreigners do. to leave Paris. This
was not because she had been so
happy there, for hers was u
hard lot. rising early in the morning
and working away into the night
in order to make the few francs per
week which she required to keep body
and soul together. Then there was
the long walk from the little back
street, whore she lived, to the great
shop whore she daily disposed OF the
delicate flowers her deft fingers had
created.
But to make q long story short,
Steamer Day." as Americans call 1t,
arrived, and what little Of this worlds
goods the little French fower-maker
had were easily packed and ample
space left all around them in a small
box not two feet square.
A brilliant idea came to her one day
when she visited toy-shop in Four
teenth street. She there saw birds
nest made by human hands and In II
were glued little eggs about the size
OF an ordinary pill Eureka! Her
day had come and means OF liveli-
hood had dawned upon her anxious
brain. In her enthusiasm she almost
leaped through the streets to go and
lay her scheme before her benefac.
tress. Not long after this an adver-
tisement appeared in one OF the morn
ing daily papers in which an offer OF
fifteen cents was made for natural
birds nests without eggs and twenty.
five cents with them. II had its cruel
side, to be sure, but it was responded
to in double battalions, and for
days after she had no time
on her hands. The small boy occa-
sionally brought in a trophy. but her
purchases were mostly made OF farm
ers, who would bring In the precious
burden. with their produce for the
and go away with satisfied
thinking the fools were not
all dead and that them ere eggs rep.
resented few encroachers which the |
'carecrow would take no part In fright.
ening away from his fruit orchards.
The enterprising little tradeswomau
ives, moves and has her being In
,ontented way. giving no signs OF
through being haunted by
'isitants from the world OF the depart
ID spirits of birdlings. Carriages OF
Wealthy people roll up to the small
hop where her merchandise is. and,
Without hesitation, leave the three dol
ars which is her price for her nest
With eggs, and. being tastefully mount
d on pile OF stones or rustic branches
n the shape Of corner piece. they
make unique decoration for home,
nd bid fair 10 be one OF the most pop
lar articles for sale In the fall. In
his greed for gain on one. hand and q
esire to have beautiful, il forbidden.
'uit on the other no notice is taken
the robins song, which has changed
ON merriment TO woe. No one thinks ,
her as she reaches the home trea
nd finds her nest gone and her bopes
Y. World.