Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-09-10
JEFFERSON GOT MOOSE
SOME FACTS ABOUT THR
FAUNA OF AMERICA
The Head of a Great Museum Forced
to Admit That No Deer In Europe,
Asia or Africa Was Larger Than This
New Hampshire One. a

A curious instance of Jefferson's care
TO correct any wrong impression or
sentiment concerning America resulted
from public dinner in Paris, which
he attended late in 1855 Among the
other distinguished men present WAS
the celebrated naturalist Button, then
a great authority, says the Youths
Companion. The fauna of America
were not well known al 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
Buflon 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 man, expressed his convict
ton that the great naturalist had fall
en- into grave error He mentioned GER
tain American birds and fish which
compare fayorably 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 its antlers, was listened to
with general establishment and with
something like good-natured incredul-
ity on the part of Button. Now, the
matter was of some Importance, for
Button was then at the head of 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
well 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 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
wilderness that 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 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 MI
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
4 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.
a arrived safe if not altogether sound
! and was sent to the museum, alonf.
|, 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
8 Hampshire moose and made haste to
/, admit that no deer in Europe, Asia or
. Africa was greater than this uneouth
denizen of the new world Il should
have consulted you, sir" Button wrote.
: with characteristic frankness. 81
4 could wish that | had 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 q
good Joke on Jefferson. But, from the
broader point of view. the money was
we'll spent, and in manner which be-
spoke the practical patriot, the man
who spares neither trouble nor his
purse to score point for his country.
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