The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-03-20

secured a picture OF a notable old log
houae-once the home OF John James
Audubon. the renowned ornithoioElst.
During the past two years. since the
organization OF Audubon SOCIETIES be-
ran. hundreds OF people have visited
Henderson, KY. 20 see this historic
landmark This rude building was the
home Of Audubon in iS1s-Iong years
before the world knew OF hlm-Ehile
set his life study, IN which be was so
eminently successful. was just begin
ring. This was his home during those
years OF his life when he studied bird
nature simply for the love Of it-neyer
dreaming that he would one day stand
upon the highest pinnacle o. fame's
tsmplS-that he would one day escend
to a plane OF emInsnes and unqueston-
Cd authority in ornithoioEy.
This va his home. when in 1913
Constantine S. Rahnisque, a native OF
GalGto. near Constantinoplc. Turkey. a
naturalist Of great reputation, descend
60 the Ohio river in a rude ark, as
such craft was then called, and learn
ms Of Mr. Audubon's reputation,
sought his acquaintance and joined
BIN in the favorite study Of both.
These two men, with like natures,
tastes. and ambition-soyers Of nature
an her wild songbirds. soon became
intimate, and for months were in
separable.
From this old house, then in the
midst Of a dense woodland. they could
together HE themselves to the virgin
forests. wherein the echo OF the woods
mans ak was seldom heard, there 10
commune with nature and to search
her iunEles and forest Businesses for
knowledge OF her feathered children.
Audubon and RahnisQue we're often
known to wander away into the deep.
painless woods, where they would re-
main for weeks. subsisting upon the
wild fruit and the nesh Of the gama
that fell by their rides, their where
shouts unknown save 10 themselves
and he birds.
g was while Audubon made this
rude. unpretsntious cabin his castle
that he followed a hawk for three days
nycr swervtng from hts course, often
swimming streams rather than lose
sight Of the bird. Thus he followed IL
until he finally killed IL
While the house was Audubon's
home, there stood near II a large pop
Ter tree In a decayed branch Of this
tree, some 30 fee, from the ground. =
flicker" OF yellow haml r.. began
lhborousiy 10 drill q hole. The noise
a. the busy bird ratified away II his
werk attracted Andubon's attention.
and be determined u capture IT, he.
knew II would dnii into the hollow Of
the branch where Il intended TO nest
AS the bird worked diligently. picking
away BY bits the hard wood. Audubon
watched it's progress with childish
eaEerness
IL Vas his intention. when the bird
should work his way into tho branch.
10 climb TO the hole and capture H. II
90 happened. however. tina the watch
tr sas caiied away, During nls sb-
Fenee the bird labored on, and com
piesed the task.
whon Audubon returned his keen
eye saw. instead OF the industrious
bird a round hole re vas kc0uly dis
appointed, a. be feared Il had found
the branch unsuitable for a home and
had aown away 20 some other tree
among the thousands % acres % wood
land that stretched away ia all discs
.iouR late In the afternoon OF the
Gay Of his return his heart Ieaped with
Soy for he heard the ehlrp OF The bird.
he left the house just in time e scs
his Hlokrship" disappear wima the
rowly-made hole.
Immediately. and with no thought OF
ha danger attending the peFiloas
Lsceat of a small tree he began d
climb. nnaily, almost exhausted, reach
ms the coveted hole Audubon thrust
Ais hand IN. and seisinK What be sup
pored ID be The bird, drew Il cut-it
was a snake In hts sudden tsieht Au-
dlbon iootened bis gTaSp on the limb
Az fell. snake and all 10 tho ground,
" feet below.
This fAll resulted IA a fractured les
from which he was several months re-
covering. Il was aarins hta iouvaies
renee that he began drawing produo.
ins with marvJ accuracy pictures
Of the various specimens 81 The bird
kingdom. HISS sketches. which were
drawn IN an the natural eolors, were
wondrously une TO nature Il was
curing his confinement with the brok-
en- limb that he produced many OF the
lectures that in after years appeared in
hts 10 famous work. birds OF Amer
lea"
Tho writer visited the building some
weeks ago for the purpose OF photo
graphing H. While there. through the
kindness Of the occupants IA dalryman
and his family he explored the garrOI
or loft with the hope that some me-
mento OF the great mana sketch or
rsncil mark made by his hand. might
BE- found hidden AWAY there After a