The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12

| library, and to secure this a liberal cash Of
| fer made. which Nine. Berthoud final
ly accepted. approaching both the liberal
| offer and the fact that the library was the
proper custodian of work Of such general
interest. making the transfer of the books
then not merely a money matter, though
i the fortunes of the old and aristocratic Ber-
thoud family had dwindled to such a de-
gree that by the time the library made Its
| offer the family thought it we'll worth TAX
ing under consideration.
The heavy mahogany case that now holds
the books in the Mercantile Library is the
same that Audubon had made for the pur-
pose. 1t has the appearance of a deep low.
! table, with four feet branching out from
central post, after the popular table design
Of century ago The top is covered with
deep red baize, with wide mahogany Dor
der. The books are taken out at the side.
resting upon slides. The stand is of
height convenient TO lay the books upon
while examining them
These books OF Birds of America" are
done on elephant folio, more than three feet
long and three feet wide. They are ex-
trsmely heavy. magnifcently bound. and
the colors appear to be not at all faded
There are five of these great volumes.
Tho birds. OF which there are a thousand
and ffty-fve specimens. in 435 plates, are
all life size. even to the eagles. When It
was suggested by the publishers of Audu-
pOu u TeuuCe tfle size OI the plates IOr con-
venience in handling the books. he pro-
tested. being satisfied only to present his
work to the world literally true to nature.
Though his drawings were sometimes crti-
c!sed being stiff and lacking in grace.
Audubon but listened to all this politely and
| insisted that It was not his intention to
sacrifice truth and accuracy to mere artis-
ito effect. The most casual student Of
birds must recognize in the big. colored
plates of birds of America the most
! striking fidelity to nature. The tiniest spot
on a feather. the characteristic pose Of q
head, the turn and poise of wing are
all there with faithfulness that at once
conveys an idea Of the immense amount Of
study and labor required to create a work
of such magnitude.
BIRDS of America" was a costly work.
published by subscription. More than $780,
600 was expended upon it There were not
more than seventy-five or eighty subscribers
in this country. OF the copies known to be
in existence arc two sets in the Lenox
Library, New York. one set in the Astor
Library. New York, and the set in the Mer-
camille Library Of st. Louis. the latter the
most valuable of all. since 1t was tho copy
reserved by Audubon and later presented
to his sister in st. Louis.
The life Of Audubon Is full OF sadness, q
youth replete with hardships and misfor-
tunes, with love story running through It
all like golden thread. The devotion Of
Audubons wife would supply theme for
the romancer. In all the years of Audu-
bon's wanderings she steadfastly held to
her faith in him, and in later years his two
sons were as loyal as their mother in their
unfolding OF their father. Success crowned
the later years of Audubop's life, and be-
fore his death he found himself a member
of all the artistic, literary and scientific So
cieties that were worth mentioning in his
day, number Of these at first having had
little faith in his projects.
In Audubon's journal, that part of 1t
given over to detailed account of his
days spent in Missouri, there is an inter-
esting account of all that transpired dur
ing his stay round and about St Geneyfeve
that serves now as valuable bit of Mis-
souri, history.
The date of AUdubon's birth is usually
given as May 4. 1850. though from dates in
his journal this would appear to be fixed
three or four years too early. Audubon's
father was a Frenchman who married a
beautiful Creole woman of Louisiana. On a
plantation belonging to a French Marquis
Mt Vaudeville on the north shore of Lake
Pontchartrain. Audubon and three other
children were born. two other boys and a
girl. The girl. after many ups and downs
in the family. and a removed to France,
returned to America and finally became q
resident Of this city. The husband Of Nine