The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-02-26
HE LOVES THE BIRDS.
FRANCOIS CoPPee AND HIS FRIENDS
IN THE JARDlN DU LUXEMBOURG.

the hlng, mas great many lrlellUs III
Paris but mono Of them is moro devoted
chan the little birds that live in the Jar
din du Luxembourg. They know him ms
soon as they see him come in at one Of
the wide gates, his shoulders dropping,
his head hanging forward, his face pale
from i'll health They know in just
which one Of his pockets he carries the
big piece of bread which he is going 10
divide into crumbs for their benefit, and
they probably say in their. own special
language:
"Ah, here is Friend Coppce, bless
him ~
They are not the only ones that know
what Coppee has IN his pocket. All the
Latin quarter people who come and go
through that corner Of the Luxembourg
garden which faces the Odeon know that
the gentle author rarely misses day in
his devotion to the birds. And when he
appears with peculiar swollen appear
ance about one Of his pockets they draw
quietly off to n respectful distance to
watch.
AS soon as the circle Of spectators
worlmen in bluo blouses, students in
corduroy and slouch hats, nursemaids
with bareloggod childron--as soon as
these elements, which might possibly
be disturbing, have taken themselves far
enough out Of the way, the birds close
in around tho poet until sometimes
hundred Of them will bofuttering about
his head or hopping about his feet.
Then he takes out his piece Of bread,
and crumbling off ono corner tosses
morsel mp in tho air. Instantly there is
flutter of wings, and two or three Of
the birds dart upward and the most for
tunate one catches the crumb in its fight
and settles down again to his place in
the flock
One crumb after another is thrown
ont in this direction and that and oc-
casicnally a few are scattered on the
ground, so that the less adventurous and
weaker spirits may have their share.
Finally good fat crumb is pinched off,
but not thrown. It is held invitingly
between the thumb and finger, while
tho poet looks at his birds as much as to
say:
Come, come. You know your friend
Coppee. Give me proof Of your affec-
tion, as 1 am giving you proof of
mine"
There is great flutter then among
the birds, a great cooking of pretty
heads, much sharp glancing of bright
eyes. Finally one particularly brave
little creature makes wide curve to-
ward the imprisoned crumb, but his
courage deserts him on the way, and he
20 10 ,,1a x,,sth
prize. Coppee rubs the crumb q little,
so that tiny morsel Of it falls to the
ground, where it is quickly picked up.
1t is as if he said to his small flock:
"See, my little friends, it is a good
crumb Where is your confidence? Have
ever betrayed you?"
As il ashamed of having hesitated so
long, bird makes o dart toward the
outstretched hand, poises with flutter-
ing wings above it, picks daintily at the
crumb and then bears it away triumph
antly in its bill. After that it all goes
merry as q marriage bell. Two or three
birds will be eating from his hand at
the same time. They light ON his shoul-
der, on his arm, on his hat.
Thespectators meanwhile are full Of
breathless interest. A child whose LOUD
cry of delight startled the birds into
sudden flight is unceremoniously jerked
back by his nurse with an emphatic
''Tais-toi. 2" The students talk in an un-
dertone about the dear master, as they
call Coppee.
Last winter, when there was an un-
usual amount Of snow in Paris, Coppee
was particularly attentive to the wants
of his birds, which in their turn were
more than ever appreciative of his good
offices, for the snow made pretty poor
picking for them. And ON cold days it
was no uncommon sight to see the stu
dents rush up to the poet after he had
finished his dole and turn up his coat
COLLAR or tighten his muffler or button
his overcoat
Dear MASTER" they would say affec-
tionately, ''you must be more careful of
yourself. You know you are not strong,
and 1t is cold, and we need you as much
as the birds do. -
To the birds and thestudents he is al
ways 'the dear master. +" 1t was Coppee
who wrote and read tine poem for the
unwilling of the bust Of Henri Murger
in that same Jardin dr. Luxembourg
Murger's name Is idolized by the whole
Latin quarter, and 1t is doubtful if the
students would have permitted any one
of whom they did not approve to take
part in the ceremonies at&he unveiling
of his monument
Coppee is not married, although, in
French fashion, he has friend to whom
he makes mysterious references in his
writings an one who is dear TO him and
in whose heart he knows hewill leave
inconsolable regret when ne dies. How
ever that may be, he will be sure Of
plenty Of sincere mourners-thestuden
Of the Latin quarter and the birds of the
Jardin du Luxembourg. New York
Sun.
WlndprOoG
A farmer In the Kansas cyclone dis
trict was building stone wall. Hewas
nutfinp IL there Tn stav buildiu0 IL X