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

sparrow He would go into the mo
accessible places to shoot the birds
were to be the models for his dra'
Having secured the birds of a given
both male and female, their eggs,
young and their nests, having l
their habits, their food, their songs,
very poise in the air or on a lin
painted their pictures with life-life
cy and described minutely all that
learned about them. When we remember
that this had to be done for hundreds of
different varieties of birds scattered over
large part of our continent we can get
some idea of the greatness of the work
undertaken by this man
After twenty-five years or more of forest
life, marked by many thrilling adventures,
and let us believe by many rosy hours
in spite of his toll and Obscurity, Audubon
went to London to secure the publication
of his great work, or so much of it as he
had completed
Audubon's scheme of publication was
great thing to undertake. His work was
to be issued periodically, five numbers
each year, for several years. The numbers
were to have five colored plates in each
size, whether they might be sparrows or
wild turkeys. The entire series was to
cost each subscriber more than a thousand
dollars! The entire publication was to
cost Audubon more than a hundred thou
sand dollars, and Audubon had hardly
money enough to pay his travelling ex-
penses while canvassing for subscribers
But he was man not to be mastered by
circumstances. A hundred subscribers
would pay for it's publication and he set
out to get them, canvassing England,
France and the United States OF course
it was only the rich who could be ex-
pected to patronize such work, and very
few rich men cared enough for 1.-THE
Birds of America" to subscribe for it, 1t
took twelve years for the work to go
through the press, during which time Au-
dubon constantly added to the richness
of the latter volumes. His list of sub
scribers also constantly grew, but he never
realized profit from his work eual to the
labor expended upon it. Along with this
work, which consisted for the most part
of engravings, he issued Biographies of
American Birds" The nature of this
work is shown by its title.
While in Europe at different times Au-
dubon excited much attention. He wore
long flowing hair when he made his first
trip, and thus caused much morbid curl
csty. but he was afterwards induced to
have it cut off. In Europe he gained the
friendship of Scott, the novelist, Humboldt
and Cuvier, naturalists, besides other cele-
brated men. He was also made a Fellow
Is cd IN nTlU
other literary honors. In America he was
soon known to the leading spirits in let
tiers, enjoyed the friendship of many EN-.
inent statesmen, and was much esteemed
by Daniel Boone and other backwoods
men.
There is story, which one often hears
repeated, about the rats destroying
great many of Audubon's drawings, and
his being compelled to go to the forests
and spend many months undoing their
vandalism 1t is pathetic story as it is
often told, the heart breaking loss, the
fever as a result, and the devoted wife
leading her convalescent husband to the
gate and pointing him to the forest again.
But the whole story probably grew from
the fact that there is an entry in his diary
stating that two hundred portraits had
been badly injured by breaking bottle
of gunpowder in a chest in which they
were being transported 1t did not seem
to worry him much, however His bio
graphy edited by his wife has no allusion
to the sad occurrence noted above. 1t is
probably an untrue anecdote, too pretty
to let die.
Although Audubon's great work could
be purchased by but few people when it
was first introduced to the public, the
knowledge which it contains, and the very
drawings in miniature, have long since be-
come the common property of mankind.
He is more responsible than any other
man for the fact that almost every State
Legislature is now strictxzfifff? 661z6
Legislature is now restricting the destruc-
ton of birds and preserving the species
for future ages. Could he have foreseen
it, he would probably have considered
no honor so precious as the honor now
accorded him in having his name associat-
ed with the work and mission of THE
Audubon Society"
Audubon was an old man when he gave
up his labors and settled down to enjoy
his declining years at a beautiful home he
had purchased on the Hudson, now the
site of Audubon Park, New York city.
For three years he enjoyed his uiet life.
listening to the birds singing in the great
trees about his house. and watching the
yater-fowls Swimming over the waves of
the river. Then suddenly his great mind
failed, and for the remaining few years
OF his life it was necessary for his to be
led by the hand as little child His
dear wife, who had grown old with him,
and his splendid sons, contributed all they
could to his comfort. He died at the
age of seventy his reason returning to
him, and his eye kindling with its old
time light almost at the instant of his dis
solution HIS body les old Trinity Gene
terry near the Hudson, his fame is indy
ing as long as birds and children and
sweet and gentle things are loved among
men.
CHARLES L. GRAVES.
Reidsville, N C.
EXTRAORDINARY SEASIDE nCURSIoN