The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-23
cry description: parrots, m1caws.
cockatoos, toucans, etc.
Mabel Wrioht's Woods.

A =
Mabel Wrishts Woods.
We went by train from Darien half
hours journey to Fairfield, where we
visited the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.
and the home OF Mrs. Mabel Osgood
Wright. the author. We we're ac-
companied through the bird sanctuary
by Mr.. Wilbur Smith, deputy game
warden of Connecticut, and Mrs.
Wright met us here and gave us q
brief statement as to the origin and
work Of the sanctuary before we were
taken through by the superintendent.
The grounds are not large but their
natural advantages are unsurpassed
for the use Of the birds.
There are only ten acres in the
tract but one could scarcely find an
larea OF such dimensions better suited
to the protecting, feeding and rearing
Iof birds.
About sixty-five nests are known to
have been located within its boundar
les this summer and probably ten
more are believed to be there, but
have not been located. There Is an
antistic house for the superintendent
q small museum containing cases OF
mounted birds with suitable habitat
Accomplishments, showing seasonal
groupings Of the native birds. All the
birds are beautifully mounted in nat
ural positions and the painted back
|grounds give fine panoramic effects.
| Scattered over the grounds are bird
houses of various designs and sizes.
with feeding places and shelters for
winter birds.
/ The character Of grouping Of the
trees. shrubs and plants are such as &c
afford shelter, nesting sites and foo!
Throughout the year. A "cat proof
fence encloses the sanctuary. This,
though somewhat expensive was
found necessary because Of the num-
erous depredatfons committed by
these enemies of the birds.
The superintendent informed me
that the loss Of birds and the destruc-
ton of nests was so great that he was
compelled to wage an unrelenting war
on the cat tribe, and before the fences
were completed he killed more thai
thirty cats in the enclosure. This and
lsimilar experiences in Connecticut
has led the State Audubon society to
issue pamphlet which they are cir
lculating widely on "The Cat, What
Shall We do With it?"
4 The ,erusal of this carefully prepar.
iea pamrhlet. will certainly awaken
the people of the state.to the destruc-
tive properties Of the cat in the bird
world.
The Hcrnc of the Author.
We were ta'en next across the road
to "Waldstein,' the home of Mrs.
Mabel Osgccd Wright We were most
cordially welcomed by Mr.. and Mrs.
/ Wright. who showed us through theif
interesting house and over the beau
itiful grounds. The place comprises
about ten acres and was the birth
place Of Mrs. Wright. One could
hardly conceive a more ideal place
for bird lover and one OF Mrs
Wright's temperament.
/ Readers Of The magazine BIRD
Lore" may remember that several
articles descriptive Of this place ap-
ipeared in its pages some time ago.
In these articles Mrs. Wright told IN
most interesting way what feathered
friends one may have on place Of
this size where the natural conditions
are favorable and the disposition OF
4 the owners is in sympathy The
grounds are most varied in their char
acter, presenting on one side rocky
fern covered heights with grand, old
pines and spruces, at the foot OF
which. is little Uncovered lake, full
of gold fish. Winding drives beneath
grand, old trees brought US to an old
fashioned, roomy frame house. paint
led brown We were ushered into
large dining room. finished and furn-
ished in walnut and hung with fine old
paintings and rare old prints.
The whole house tod of the good
taste and literary tendencies OF its
/ owners. A door at one end of the Nv
ing room led into small chapel ar
sificially lighted, furnished in walnut,
having on one side life sized paint
ing Of Jesus, holding lamb on one
arm, the other hand grasping a stan.
4 IN front Of the painting was PLAIN
! altar and candelabra. In front OF this
stood walnut bench without back
At the rear Of the house was most
attractive old fashioned garden, with
out the least attempt at formal de-
sign. The flowers were all the old
favorites and there was charming
rose covered arbor with a table and
seats within it. while at the front OF
the garden was large well kept fruit
iorchard looking out into the fields
beyond. And this, / thought, has furn.
Ifshed the inspiration for "The Garden
of a Commuters Wife, Popped OF
the Postoff1ce," and her numerous bird
and nature books. I had taken with
me a copy of her book Gray Lady
and the Birds" which she smilinsly
autographed for me.
| Mrs. Wright's husband Is an edI-
Gated, cultured man, very proud of his
talented wife and her old homestead
/ and had much to tell US Of the pecul.
liar features of the place, especially the
| fine old trees and shrubs.
C. E. EH1NGER,
Biological Laboratory, Cold Spring