The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-30
A Friend of the Birds.

To the Editor: We are all to some ex-
tent familiar with the workings OF the
Audubon Society. We know that the
purpose of the organization is to protect
our wild fowls from determination by wan
ton sportsmen, pot-hunters, and plumage
collectors But why the name, Audubon?
Perhaps an article on this most interesting
and eccentric citizen of our country would
be appreciated by the readers OF the News
and Observer.
John James Audubon was born in the
territory Of Louisiana, not far from New
Orleans, in the year 1881. His father was
a French sea- captain who had acquired
considerable wealth, mostly in the form
of various estates in America, In France
and in the Island of San Domingo, then
a possession of France. HIS mother was
native of Louisiana, and was OF Spanish
extraction. This unfortunate lady was at
forwards slain by the negro revolutlomsts
of San Domingo, having previously taken
up her residence on her husbands estate
on that island After this unhappy event
young Audubon was carried to France by
his father and grew to manhood there. His
father early designed him for military
|
was not at all to the young mans liking,
so he was sent to America to superlntend.
an estate which his father had purchased
in the State of Pennsylvania.
From his boyhood Audubon had been
deeply interested in birds. His earliest
recollections were of lying among the
! flowers about his Louisiana home and
watching the movements OF the hooking
birds in the orange trees over his head.
When he came to America as young
landlord his estate sometimes suffered
while he roamed the forests looking for
strange birds and their nests.
Near Audubon lived an Englishman with
pretty daughter, Lucy Bokewell. But
he was too much Of Frenchman to have
anything to do with them, until one day
chance meeting with the old gentleman
while out goose hunting tuSned the tide
of affairs. He was a good shot and
great hunter and that quite counterbal-
anced the fact that he was an Englshman
! Audubon could dance and play the violin
and draw and sing. He fascinated the
gentle Lucy, was fascinated in turn, and
they were accordingly married. Let us
here pause to say that but for the conf
dence, enthusiasm and patient sacrifice of
this noble woman, it is hardly possible
that Audubon's name would ever have
been known to fame. When others
thought him to be a proving never-do-
well, roaming the woods because he was
too lazy to work, she cheered his sensi-
tive soul with her affection and never
doubted that he was destined for great
ness.
While living at Mill Grove, his Penn
sylvania estate, Audubon conceived the
idea of publishing d great work on Ameri-
can Ornthology. work that he could
not possibly finish i'll less than a life
time, and of which he could not even be-
gin to reap the reward until he should be
an old man. Let us consider we'll this
fact when contemplating his labors. 1t
takes high courage to begin an under
taking that insures lifelong poverty and
exacting labor uncheered by applause, for
this only in return, fame and success when
one is too old to enjoy them. This did
Audubon choose. and this marks him as
no ordinary man.
An account of his business affairs IS
heart rending He was always unsuccess-
full whether he undertook to manage a
farm or a stock of merchandise. Early IN
life he had completely lost the patrimony
which he had inherited. and was reduced
to the necessity of painting portraits for
a living, and even to teaching a dancing
school. His wife was a heroic helper,
often making larger share of the family
support by teaching the children OF
wealthy people than Audubon made him
self. The reason that he never succeeded
in business is very plain; he neglected it
to watch the birds, he just could not stay
away from the woods and the society of
his feathered friends.
We must remember that at this time
many of our American birds had no names
and their haunts and habits were but hit
tie known. No one had blazed the trail
for Audubon, he was a Columbus in the
bird kingdom.
His method of studying the birds IN
volved much hard labor, and considerable
expense. To meet this latter he was fire.
quently obliged to cease his researches
for period and paint portraits. But moth
ing could detain him long from his be-
loved study and we find him traverslng
frozen Salvador, the woods of Maine and
Pennsylvania, the pine forests of Georgia
and the Carolinas, the savannas OF Floll-
ia, the praries of Texas, or threading his
way amid the archapelagoes of the Carl
bean. He visited the far west, going
further than the hardest adventures