New-York tribune., 1912-04-21

here in Flushing, which is famous Tor us
magnificent old trees, we have many plIu
neighbors. and all spring and summer our
own lawn is frequented by many difereht
birds. I worked with these little visitors
as models. When l had produced one oI
nv birds I used to go out and stand II IN
the grass or on the low limb OF a tree ana
cononare II with the real bird, then taking
II back into the studio and pcrfecting II oil
| by bit.
",rbe nose Of the robin was one Of the
! things 7 learned. I had drawn my robin
nearly horizontal as most birds stand, ana
as the robin often stands, Of course. But as
! watched the robins on my lawn one day
noticed that their most characteristic po-
sition was that Of standing almost erect
rushed into my studio, got paper penHi,
! scissors and colors and In five minutes
had made an entirely new robin looKlhs
! as II he could chirp if he wished. Nheh
had finished him I placed him on bush
IN the lawn. and presently, when a nciGh-
bor ran in. I casually called her attention
70 him. She never for an instant suspected
that he was not live robin. Then l was
satisfied"
The Beard stand-up birds are most clev-
erlv but simply contrlved. When the oody
hos beep cut out and the base is pasted
and bent the bird stands up firmly Inc
wings. which are separately cut out are
attached to the body by simple notchIhs
device which permits them TO rise and iail
hut not to slip off. The wings are ADJUST
| able and may be closely folded or ralseu
ae % for flight. Each bird brings with MN
! ,nstructions as TO where he may be found
and at what season and little description
~ his song, More birds are constantly
be,ng added TO the series. which now In
cIudes about one dozen Of the best bird
friends the children have. Among them
are the bluebird, the robin. Baltimore orr
ole. red-winged blackbird, scarlet tanager
rose-breasted grosbeak, woodpecker and
meadow lark.
These stand-up birds have been intro
duced into the public schools of a number
of other large cities and into many private
schools. Miss Mary #. Anderson, supervisor
/ Of nature study In Horace Mann School IS
going to use them during the coming sum-
mer at "Bluebird Farm" her camp foi
children in Northern Vermont.
In a corner OF Miss Boards studio, upon
the branch Of tree brought in from the
woods, perches a full choir Of her blrds
arranged in such natural positions that II
is hard TO believe they are not alive and
will not burst into song at any moment
Below them sits Miss Adcla, merrily ht-
ting a new member Of the bird family with
it's wings and having quite as much fun
she declares, as the little children who will
presently play with these bird toys.
| There IS ever so much TO sec IN this
studio besides the birds. 1t is fascinating
place. full Of games and playthings and a
thousand and one things made from crepe
paper, cotton WOOL toothpicks, matches
spools, egeshells, peanuts hairpins-alI
things that a child can find easily and
without expense. Miss Lima Beard and her
sister Miss Adelia-anectionately called
.Deedy" by the entire famly-share the
Uell-known Beard bent for making
/ thincs" For years Dan Beard has been
! tne patron saint Of the small boy who
wanted 10 learn to do things for himself
! and II there aren't "matron saints there
ought TO he. for his sisters have filled the
same relation TO little girldom as has Dan
Beard to the American boy. In the studio
/ Of their commoGous wide-porched cottage
over in Flushing these two ingenious wo-
men have worked out hundreds OF fasci-
mating and worthwhile things which a 1T
tie girl can make with the common. every
| day materials found around the house
They arc the co-authors Of five or six fat
volumes telling Of the things a girl can
make and do.
Miss Lima Beard has recently invented a
most realistic hobby horse inside of which
child may stand and prance spirltedly
/ about A pair Of false legs fastened 10 the
cardboard sides OF the animal give the i'm
pression Of a horseback rider, while the