The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-17

A curious instance of Jefferson's care
to correct any wrong impression or
sentiment concerning America resulted
from a public dinner in Paris, which
he attended late in 1856. Among the
other distinguished men present was
the celebrated naturalist Burton, then
great authority, says the Youths
Companion. The fauna Of America
were not well known at that time in
Europe. Button himself had never
| seen the American panther, the elk, the
moose, and he held the theory that
all American animals were generally
inferior to their congeners of the old
world. With his usual postiveness
Button expressed this opinion in the
course Of his remarks at the dinner.
When he had finished Jefferson rose
and with due courtesy to so aged and
learned a man, expressed his convfc-
ton that the great naturalist had fall
en- into grave error. He mentioned GER
tain American birds and fish which
compare favorably in appearance and
size with their like of Europe and
Asia; he spoke next of the panther
and bear; and then, passing on to the
numerous species of American deer,
described the size, weight and antlers
of the elk and moose. His account
of the moose, particularly as to the
weight which it attains and the great
breadth of it's antlers, was listened to
with general establishment and with
| something like goodnatured incredul-
| ity on the part of BuffCn. Now, the
matter was of some Importance, for
Button was then at the head of a great
museum of natural history in Paris.
Jefferson went home from the dinner
| determined to sustain his assertions.
He wrote to Gen. John Sullivan, then
| president of the state Of New Hamp-
shire, to procure the antlers, bones
and hide Of large bull moose and
have the same shipped to Paris, as
we'll as the heads of some other deer.
Letters were then two months in tran
sit from France to America, and JEFF
ferson's letter reached Durham, N. H,
early in the winter. Gen. Sullivan at
once set about organizing a grand
moose hunt. On the third or fourth
day herd Of six was found in a we'll
trodden yard, one of which was an
antlered male. The labors of the hunt
ing party had but begun, however. the
place was twenty miles distant from
settlements, in the midst of so dense
a wilderness that a road had to be
cleared almost continuously for the
rude sled on which the carcass was
drawn out by the woodsmen. When
they reached Durham the head, antlers,
hide and bones, along with the heads
Of three or four deer, were all put
into a very large, strong, cleated box,
which was duly hauled by teamsters
to Boston, for shipment by sailing YES
sci to Paris. Freight was long on its
way from America to France, in 1887,
and this big box unfortunately went
astray. 1t was not till the following
autumn, indeed, that it arrived at Mr..
Jefferson's door in the French capital.
The bill of expense for it had arrived
in the previous summer and was a
somewhat formidable document, con-
sisting of many items, from the hire
Of hunters and woodsmen to the final
charges for transportation across the
Atlantic. The total was more than
ESQ, or fully $3.50 of the United States
money of that time. Thomas jefferson
was never a rich man, but he paid the
bill with good humor and set the item
down to the bad side of profit and loss.
Nearly two months later the famous
box, now grown somewhat malodorous
and covered over with the signs and
symbols of ships and custom houses
arrived safe if not altogether sound
and was sent to the museum, along
with a note to Button, from the Amer
lean donor. Button gazed in astonish-
ment on the mighty antlers, great
bones and heavy hide of the New
Hampshire moose and made haste to
admit that no deer in Europe, Asia OF
Africa was greater than this uncouth
denizen of the new world. II should
have consulted you, SIR Button wrote
with characteristic frankness. 81
could wish that I lad known this be-
fore preparing my work on natural
history" Many politicians of that time
and Daniel Webster in later days
used to tell of the moose bill" as a
good joke on Jefferson. But, from the
broader point of view, the money was
well spent, and in a manner which be-
spoke the practical patriot, the man
who spares neither trouble nor his
purse to score a point for his country.
Living Happily.