This small book (approximately 5 x 7 inches) of 120 pages was published in 1895
by the London firm of T. Nelson and Sons, Paternoster
Row, and also lists offices in Edinburgh and New York. What it amazingly does not
list, however, is the name of its author. The title page has a quote from Wordsworth,
"And surely never did there live on earth A man of kindlier nature."
The book presents a very romanticized, and often historically inaccurate, story
of Audubon, in the moralistic tone of 1895. Here are some excerpts for your enjoyment.
"Book Second, Audubon's Life.
"Chapter I. Early Years, Marriage, and Commercial Speculations.
OHN JAMES AUDUBON was born in Louisiana. While yet a child he removed with his parents
to San Domingo, where he resided for a brief period, previous to his departure for
France.
"His home in France was fixed at Nantes. Here he spent a very happy childhood, under
the fostering care of a step-mother, who was all that step-mothers are popularly
supposed not to be. Then came a time, however, when it was necessary that
his education should begin. For music-master he had a skillful professional, who
taught him to play with taste and effect on the violin, flute, flageolet, and guitar.
His drawing-master was David, a wild, revolutionary artist, whose genius has triumphed
over his signal defects of style. He also made good progress in graver studies -
mathematics, geography, history.
"At an early age his love of Nature manifested itself. Equipped with a haversack
of provisions, he would make frequent excursions into the country, returning loaded
with natural curiosities - birds' nests, birds' eggs, wild flowers, rare mosses,
and the like. He also began to draw sketches of the birds of France - a task which
he carried on with so much enthusiasm that he completed no fewer than two hundred
specimens.
"Having attained to manhood, his father sent him to America to take the management
of some properties he possessed there. He took up his residence at Mill Grove, on
the Perkiominy Creek, where he found a close acquaintance with an English family
of the name of Bakewell. During the following winter the friendship deepened. Mr.
Bakewell had a pretty daughter, named Lucy, to whom the young naturalist taught
drawing, receiving lessons in English in return. The consequences may be imagined.
Audubon fell in love with Lucy, and Lucy with Audubon; and on the 8th of April 1808,
the well-matched pair were married.
"The young couple removed to Louisville, where Audubon commenced trade under favourable
auspices; but continued to devote every leisure hour, and many hours that were not
leisure, to the study of natural history, and more particularly the pursuit of birds.
He entered into partnership with a friend named Rosser, and for awhile the firm
prospered, the business being left to the management of Rosser, who was energetic
and industrious, and Audubon abandoning himself more and more to an errant and unsettled
life. The war with Great Britain in 1812 brought ruin to many American houses, and
gave such a shock to the stability of our young firm that they were forced to leave
Louisville, and make a fresh start at Hendersonville. Before his departure, however,
Audubon made the acquaintance of Wilson, the American ornithologist; an acquaintance
which produced no pleasant fruit, but served to stimulate Audubon's zoological enthusiasm.
"From Hendersonville, before long a migration was accomplished to St. Geneviève..."
"Audubon, however, was not long in discovering that it was not an agreeable residence
for the son of a French gentleman. Its population were mostly low-bred French Canadians,
in whose company he took no pleasure. He wearied to be back at Hendersonville beside
his young wife. Rosser, his partner, found a wife at Geneviève, and to him
Audubon sold his share of the business. Then he purchased a horse, bade adieu to
his friend, and started homeward across the prairies...."
"At Hendersonville he once more started in business, this time with his brother-in-law
for partner; he embarked all the remainder of his fortune in speculation. But, with
characteristic restlessness, he went hunting in Kentucky, instead of attending to
his interests, and he soon learned that all his money had been swallowed up in profitless
undertakings.
"At this juncture his father died, leaving him an estate in France - of which, however,
he took no steps to obtain possession; and seventeen thousand dollars in the hands
of a merchant in Richmond, Virginia, for which he did not apply until the merchant
died insolvent! Audubon, not the less, preserved his usual equanimity. Gathering
together a few hundred dollars, he purchased some goods in Louisville, and returned
to business in Hendersonville. At first he prospered. He purchased land, and a log-cabin,
and seemed on the high road to fortune, when he was tempted to erect a steam-mill,
which in no long time led to the ruin of all concerned; and once more the naturalist
was adrift on the stream of life. No mishaps could quench the man's wonderful bouyancy
of spirit; and taking with him his wife and children, his gun, his dog, and his
drawings, he returned to Louisville, where he conceived the idea of starting as
a portrait draughtsman. For this occupation, he was well fitted by his natural tastes
and acquired skill. His reputation spread over all Kentucky. He was invited to Cincinatti,
where he opened a drawing-school, and received the appointment of Curator of the
Museum. Once more he began to thrive; and as he had leisure for the prosecution
of his favourite studies, there can be no doubt that this period of his life was
really happy.
"During his rambles in Kentucky he made the acquaintance of the famous backwoodsman
Daniel Boon, of whose wonderful skill as a marksman he relates some interesting
proofs.
"How shall we follow Audubon through all the wanderings of the next few years? In
1820, he left Cincinnati in search of fresh fields for his enterprise, and, having
accomplished a scientific expedition down the Mississippi, he reached New Orleans.
Here he heard of a projected expedition to Mexico, and made the most vigorous but
unsuccessful efforts to join it. Meantime, he experienced almost every phase of
fortune; but into whatever depths of penury he sank, his happy spirit and bouyant
energy never failed to raise him out of them. If one day he was searching for a
patron, by taking whose portrait he might gain a few dollars; the next day he was
dining with high dignitaries, and obtaining the most flattering letters of recommendation.
Fortune's wheel might turn and turn; clouds might darken, or sunshine break through
a tiny rift; but this extraordinary man was always the same - full of confidence
in himself, eager, restless, enthusiastic, genial, and never bating one jot of heart
or hope, however stern a face the world might show him!"
"Chapter II. Wanderings.
E next find Audubon bound on a journey to Shipping Port, Kentucky. In the course
of it he met with many adventures, and, it is unnecessary to say, added largely
to his stores of ornithological knowledge. Returning to New Orleans, he was joined
by his wife and sons (1822), where the difficulties of their position increased
to such an extent that Mrs. Audubon was obliged to accept a situation. He then betook
himself, in search of employment, to Natchez, where he obtained some engagements
as a drawing-master. As soon as he found himself doing somewhat better, he sent
for his wife, and the family were again reunited - though only for a brief interval.
In 1824 we find our erratic genius at Philadelphia, where he made the acquaintance
of Prince Canino, son of Lucien Bonaparte, and an excellent ornithologist. He also
obtained introductions to Sully the painter, Le Sellur, and other influential persons,
who were struck with admiration by the beauty of Audubon's drawings, and strongly
advised him to take them to England, where they would not fail to procure for the
author a wide and liberal patronage. He now contemplated the production of a great
work on American ornithology, and with this object in view hastened to New York
- whose publishers, however, gave him but scant encouragement. He was somewhat cheered
in these unfortunate circumstances by the good news he received from his wife. By
the exercise of her talents she was earning an annual income of three thousand dollars,
and with noble affection she placed it at her husband's disposal, that he might
complete the magnum opus destined to immortalize his name. He was able, therefore,
to resolve on the long-meditated voyage to Great Britain, where alone he could hope
to obtain the means of publishing on a suitable scale the colossal result of years
of labour. He returned accordingly to Bayou Sara, where he took leave of his wife
and children, and then journeyed to New Orleans. Here he engaged a passage to Liverpool
on board the ship Delos; and on the 19th of May 1826, the undaunted wanderer
bade a temporary farewell to the shores of America."
"Audubon arrived at Liverpool on the 20th of July 1826. He received a cordial welcome
from Roscoe, the historian, and Lord Stanley, and made £100 by the exhibition
of his pictures at the Royal Institution. Thence he removed to Manchester, and from
Manchester to Edinburgh, where his romantic appearance and undoubted genius made
him one of the most attractive 'lions' of the Scottish capital. He was fêted
and favoured by peers and baronets, civic dignitaries and men of letters: by the
Earl of Elgin and Sir Walter Scott; by Sir William Jardine and Professors Jameson
and Lizars, a trio of illustrious naturalists; by Professor Wilson ('Christopher
North'), then in the flush of his fame; by Basil Hall, Selby, Dr. Knox, George Combe,
and the Earl of Morton. He obtained numerous subscribers to his great work, which
he had the satisfaction of seeing put in hand for publication. At conversaziones
and dinners, and public and private assemblies, he was overwhelmed with courteous
attentions, which his natural vanity - his one foible - made him receive as only
a fitting acknowledgement of his superior merit. His admirable qualities of mind
and heart, however, were recognized by his Scottish friends, on whom he produced
a very favourable impression."
"From Edinburgh, Audubon visited Newcastle, Leeds, York, Shrewsbury, and Manchester,
securing a few subscribers of two hundred pounds. Then he went to London, where
he secured the powerful patronage of Sir Thomas Lawrence. George IV. honored him
with permission to publish his work under 'his particular patronage, approbation,
and protection;' and the magnum opus itself finally saw the light, receiving,
as it deserved to receive, the enthusiastic commendation of every man of taste and
lover of natural history. After a short trip to Paris, where he made the acquaintance
of Cuvier, he returned to London, enjoying to the uttermost the sunshine of fame
and prosperity which had burst upon him, and reaping the reward of his perseverance,
energy, and self-devotion.
"In May 1829 he returned to the United States, delighted to share his good fortune
with his wife and family. He remained at Bayou Sara three months, actively employed
in hunting the woods for birds and animals, of which he made drawings for his work,
which was still appearing in parts of London. Having made some important additions
to his collection, he once more sailed for England, accompanied, this time, by Mrs.
Audubon; and together they visited London, Manchester, Leeds, York, Hull, Scarborough,
Whitby, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. At the last-named place, he writes in his journal
under the date of April 15: - 'I have balanced my accounts with the "Birds of America,"
and the whole business is really wonderful: forty thousand dollars have passed through
my hands for the completion of the first volume. Who would believe that a lonely
individual, who landed in England without a friend in the whole country, and with
only sufficient pecuniary means to travel through it as a visitor, could have accomplished
such a task as this publication! Who would believe that once, in London, Audubon
had only one sovereign left in his pocket, and did not know of a single individual
to whom he could apply to borrow another, when he was on the verge of failure in
the very beginning of his undertaking; and above all, who would believe that he
extricated himself from all his difficulties, not by borrowing money, but by rising
at four o'clock in the morning, working hard all day, and disposing of his pictures
at a price which a common labourer would have thought little more than sufficient
remuneration for his work? To give you an idea of my actual difficulties during
the publication of the first volume, it will be sufficient to say, that in the four
years required to bring that volume before the world, no less than fifty of my subscribers,
representing the sum of fifty-six thousand dollars, abandoned me! And whenever a
few withdrew, I was forced to leave London and go to the provinces to obtain others
to supply their places, in order to enable me to raise the money to meet the expenses
of engraving, colouring, paper, and printing; and that with all my constant exertions,
fatigues, and vexations, I find myself now having but one hundred and thirty standing
names on my list.' These, however, represented a sum of £2600.
"We have given this extract for the sake of the lesson it conveys. Our young readers
may rest assured that, with an energy and a courage and a resolution equal to Audubon's,
they will not be less successful than he was in grappling with Fortune, and conquering
it. And it is to be observed that Audubon was free from all sordid motives; he was
animated by a genuine love of knowledge; his devotion to science was sincere. He
studied Nature from a desire to learn her secrets and comprehend her beauties, and
not because the study might become a means of gaining fame or wealth. It is in this
spirit only that we should strive after knowledge; and she will not be gracious
to her worshippers if in any other spirit we approach her shrine.
'To some she is the goddess great:
To some the milch-cow of the field;
Their wisdom is to calculate
What butter she will yield!'
"Ah, reader, if you are dazzled by the delusive hope of renown or mere worldly prosperity,
you will never be a true student, and the golden fruit you so eagerly grasp will
turn to ashes on your lips! There is no merit in self-help, no virtue in resolute
industry, unless its inspiration be pure and lofty; unless we look beyond this toiling,
sinful life to the life hereafter, which shall be crowned with the fulness of eternal
glory! Then, indeed, we shall not quail if dangers threaten, or turn faint at heart
if obstacles present themselves; for looking beyond the transitory present and its
trials, we shall confidently expect our reward in the unchanging future.
"In 1831 Audubon returned to New York, and shortly afterwards started on an expedition
to East Florida, with the view of increasing his ornithological collections, and
rendering more complete his work on the 'Birds of America.'"
"Chapter III. Last Years.
E have no space to dwell upon Audubon's visits to New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy,
and Labrador. Though advanced in years, he retained all the fire and energy of early
manhood, and his love of Nature had undergone no abatement. In April 1834, with
his wife and his son John, he embarked for England; and, nineteen days later, landed
at Liverpool. Thence, by way of Birmingham, he repaired to London. Here he resided
until the autumn, busily engaged on a new book, and arranging for its publication.
Afterwards they removed to Edinburgh, where he hired a house, and spent upwards
of eighteen months. Some idea of his amazing industry at this period may be gained
from the fact that the introduction to the second volume of his 'American Ornithological
Biography,' - a volume containing five hundred and eighty pages of closely printed
material - is dated December 1st, 1834; and that in just one twelvemonth from that
date, the third volume, of six hundred and thirty-eight pages, was published.
"In the summer of 1836 we find Audubon again in London. He settled his family in
Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square, while he made his preparations to return to America,
and undertake an excursion into some of the Southern States, for the purpose of
increasing the new varieties of birds for his immortal work.
"With his son John he sailed from Portsmouth on the 2nd of August, and five weeks
after leaving England came in sight of the well-known green hills of Staten Island.
After a short stay in New York, he visited Philadelphia, Boston, and Salem. In November
he betook himself to Washington, and was very warmly received by the President,
General Jackson. Thence he began his contemplated excursion southward. He spent
the winter of 1836-37 in Charleston, occasionally diverging into the interior, or
making short trips to the neighbouring sea-islands, and visiting also Savannah and
Florida. At the same time he began the researches, the results of which he gave
to the world in his interesting work on the 'Quadrupeds of North America.'
"Early in the spring of 1837 he was occupied in a series of interesting explorations
in the Gulf of Mexico. He inspected the coast of America from the mouth of the Mississippi
to Galveston Bay, in Texas; examining the habits of the birds of that region, and
searching for new species, to furnish materials for the completion of the fourth
volume of the 'Birds of America.' Then he returned to New York, and in the latter
part of the summer the indefatigable man sailed for Liverpool. Arriving safely in
Edinburgh, he devoted himself with characteristic energy to prepare for the press
the last volume but one of his 'Ornithological Biography.' This occupied him until
the autumn of 1838; it was published in the November of that year. The winter was
spent in finishing the drawings for the 'Birds of America,' and in completing the
last volume of his 'Ornithological Biography,' which appeared in May 1838.
"In the fall of 1839 he returned to America with his family, and settled at New
York, to spend the remainder of his days. In 1843 he made his final excursion, travelling
across the great Western Prairies, and voyaging up the Missouri and Big Sioux River.
He had now reached nearly his seventieth year, but he continued to labour with all
the fire and diligence of his youth. About 1845, however, his strength began to
fail him. The physical and mental energies which had induced so protracted a strain
showed symptoms of rapid declension. The ardour which had glowed so steadfastly
in the naturalist's heart was going out gradually. Yet, as Mr. Buchanan remarks,
there are but few things in his life more interesting and beautiful than the tranquil
happiness he enjoyed in the bosom of his family - with his two sons and their children
under the same roof - in the short interval between the return from his last earthly
expedition and the time when his sight and mind began to grow dim, until mental
twilight closed in upon him, before the darkness of death ended all.
"After 1846 his intellect entirely failed him; and for the last few years of his
life his eye had lost all its brightness, and he had to be led to his daily walks
by the hand of a servant. This continued until the Monday before his death. On the
morning of that 'last day' he declined to take any breakfast, and was unable to
enjoy his usual morning walk. His devoted and affectionate wife, who had been the
faithful partner of all his joys and sorrows, and to whom he was indebted for much
valuable assistance in his scientific labours, caused him to be put to bed. He lay
without any signs of suffering, but refusing to receive any nourishment, until five
o'clock on Thursday morning, January 27th, 1851, when his wife observed a deep pallor
overspreading his countenance. She immediately summoned the other members of the
family. Then, though unable to speak, his eyes, which had so long been nearly quenched,
rekindled into their former expressive lustre, as if his soul were conscious that
it neared the shore of the Eternal Land. One of the sons remarked, 'Minnie, father's
eyes have now their natural expression;' and the dying Audubon stretched out his
arms, pressed his wife and children's hands within his own, and passed into his
rest.
"He had led a guileless life, marked by energy, industry, and an intense love of
the pure and beautiful; brightened by many virtues, stained by no vices, though
somewhat dimmed, it may be, by a few foibles; a life of honest labour and generous
aspiration; and God, in His mercy, crowned it with a happy death.
"Reader, so live that, when the last hour cometh, you may rest in the knowledge
of a life not idly spent, and commend yourself, tremblingly yet trustingly, to the
loving compassion of a God of infinite love.
"As you sow, so shall you reap: the spring is heavy with the good or evil promise
of the autumn: if you sow tares, do you expect to gather in a harvest of fine wheat?"