Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
STORk PHYSICIANS.
How Two Birds Cared for Malm


COmrade.
| From the Presbyterian Banner.
When 7 wen to the east in 1898 Commo-
dore Porter was our minister resident at
the Sublime Porte. says Rev. Cyrus Ham,
| lin
He was residing at the time of my visit
at San Stefano, about ten miles west of
Constantinople, right on the shore of the
beautiful Sea of Marmora 1t was
charming place for a war-worn veteran to
enjoy the quiet evening of life. In all that
region north of the Sea of Marmora ex-
tending beyond the Balkans mountains to
the Danube, the stork is favorite bird.
Along the north of the Marmora, where
there are very few tall trees, the stork
builds it's nest on the tops Of chimneys,
which in the east are always covered, the
smoke issuing from side windows or open
ings. The nests very rude in appear
ance, about as large as a two-bushel bas-
ket Sticks as large as your finger are
skillfully woven into them. They are made
soft and nice with moss and cotton and
wool or whatever the Skillful bird thinks
will make her parlor comfortable.
The stork has two long legs, but for some
reason or other generally stands upon one,
the other drawn up among his feathers. I
think | nave seen as many as fifty in a
row river bank, each one standing on
one leg When thus standing in repose it Is
about three feet high, the chief part of the
height being leg and neck. 1t stalks over
the field with an awkward gait it's neck
alert and its lightning stroke finishes the
| race of any snake, lizard. toad. bug or other
"verrnin'' on the ground. From kitchen
refuse it selects what suits it's taste and Is
bold in claiming it. 1t has voice. The
strange clatter of its broad, fiat bill is in
describabl 1t seems to play rough tunes
to its mate.
Commodore Porter had a stork's nest on
the chimney of his kitchen, building sep
arate from the house and connected by a
covered way. The chimney was tall, round,
like a column, and very picturesGuely COW
cred by this rough nest. The commodore
took great delight in watching the social
ife of his storks, especially when they came
o teach the youngsters to fly. The young,
awkward long-legged thing would stand on
the rim of the nest and flap his wings, but
fear to launch away. while the old Storks
would career around and CHATTER their bills
reprovingly and coaxingly, but yainly. At
length, patience exhausted, an old stork
would give him sudden push and topple
him off He would then use his wings to
purpose. and the parent birds would be
filed with pride and exlIltation. If the un-
tried wings showed signs of failure in re-
turning to the nest, one of the parent birds
would come beneath him and lift him with
powerful wing to n height that would make
his return sure and easy
T-nhappily. one of the cOmm0dore'S dogs.
who knew better. seized one of the storks
by the wing and injured It go that it drag
ged, and. of course the bird could not fly.
The commodore. finding that the wing was
only lacerated, but not broken. bound it up
in place put the stork in a large cage in
the night and had 1t out to feed in the
daytime. Its companions stayed by it in
anxious sympathy all the day. and only
when it was housed would they return to
their nest. 1t seemed so much like human
sympathy that Commodore Porter resolved
that if good feeding would save the wounded
| bird he should be ready for the flight south
ward when all the storks would leave. The
stork at length began to use Its wing for
| flying down. but it was longer in getting
nothing would tempt 1t to regain its nest
| It had lost courage and confidence and was
satisfied with its condition. and had evil
IDENTIFY formed an attachment to the COM
modore.
But now the case assumed another as
poet. Gathering and knocking and scrap
ing was heard high up in the heavens and
behold, thousands of storkS We're carecrine
about. calling out all the storks from river
brook and ssashore, from tree top and
chimney top. to prepare for the southwark
fight large body swept down low over
San Stefano, and deputation of four
aEshted to examine the disabled compan-
ion. After time they rose into high air
made their report and all the storks went
nome Their temperance for their final
| flight was expected in about three or four
days, when they would gather In full force
ana. following one solitary leader they
| would take lofty flight for tropic fields.
| Day after day, for two whole weeks the
| commodore waited for them, when. at
| length, they came in gathering focks. as
far as the eye could reach. probably from
| all Roumelfa. Macedonia and 1t may be
| from the banks of the Danube
| large flock lowered low over the wound
| ed mate. with a tremendous Gathering of
| their big red bills. A few alighted. and
| after due examination and consultat ton ali
| departed but two stalwart fellows who
| We're commissioned to remain and share the
| fate.of the wounded They We're the Chris
| tan commission" of the storks Then one
| stork led off in lofty. steady flight, with
! oufstretched neck toward the south; two
J Others followed. and three. and so on, I'M
| I'll the base of the triangle thus formed
| was some hundreds of feet. Then flock after
| mock fell in and the long column at length
! disappeared.
| Commodore Porter resolved to give the
| three :torks the best possible winter GUAR
! tiers. 1t was not their purpose at all to
| stay. 1t was already very late for their
| able to mount to his native home the
| chimney top, 1t was evident that his two
attendants were preparing for fight
| great gathering of bills called out the
| village that the birds were going to take
| leave. Every one turned out to view the
| start. Never were storks before thus hon
| ored They put off in direct line, the
| wounded one second. He could not quite
| maintain the level of their flight He
| would certainly fall into the Sea of Mar
mora. The commodore followed them with
his glass, and saw the rear guard at length
| on his back and bear him high into the air
for another flight SO they disappeared.
| They will have about fifty miles to fly
on that line before they can find rest and
| fodder. said the commodore, "but those
| gallant fellows will do It, They will do IT
| or all perish together
| Questionable.