Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
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Vol. XXXI
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1929
No. 8
AUDUBON AND HUMMING BIRDS
John James Audubon was in a sense a truly great
man. He was the first great nature student born in
America. He had a wonderful sense of the beautiful and
he was able to write most entertainingly of the many
F rom the Q uiver of “L ightning L ine .”
phases of “life in the open.’’
Audubon was a product of the South, having been
The wise man attaches the parachute of prudence to
born near New Orleans, May 4th, 1780. He was the balloon of enthusiasm.
educated in France and studied art under the great
painter, David, gaining such skill as was later to win
It isn’t what you ain’t, nor it ain’t what you may be,
for him world-wide and enduring celebrity for his but it is what you is that counts.
Birds of America. ’ ’
It is interesting to note that his “Birds of America’’
One good thing about telling the truth is that you
was written after journeys into the wilds of the coun never have to remember what you’ve said.
try, from Mexico to Canada, and from the Atlantic to
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the Pacific—a tremendously difficult under taking at
Great projects are built on dreams—plus the prac
that time. A great love of nature sustained him in tical knowledge and ability to make them come true.
the work. The result of his exploration of this con
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tinent, “Birds of America,” as before mentioned, was
There arc some opportunities you may have to wait
published by subscription at $1,000.00 per copy. One for, but there are some you can make for yourself, and
is impressed with the fact that not only was Audubon others that you can go out and get.
willing to sacrifice years of his life, to endure hard
ships, but that there were those living in his day who
A successful man is one who has tried, not cried;
appreciated his work so highly as to be willing to give who has worked, not dodged; w’ho has shouldered re
$1,000.00 to possess a printed copy.
sponsibility, not evaded it; who has gotten under the
This great lover of nature died in New' York in
burden, not merely stood off, looking on, giving advice
1851, on the 27th of January. It will be well worth and philosophizing on the situation.
while for our students to read some of the wonderful
word sketches of Audubon. The writer of this little
article cannot resist the temptation to at least outline (F rom the Q uiver of an I ndian C hief )
his “Humming Bird,” as it seems to us to be one of
Doubt alw’ays travels on snow shoes.
the most poetic descriptions that it has ever been our
good fortune to read. We quote:
The Paleface’s arm is longer than his word.
“No sooner has the returning sun again introduced
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the vernal season, and caused millions of plants to ex
When the fox walks lame, old rabbit jumps.
pand their lives and blossoms to his genial beams,
than the little Humming Bird is seen advancing on
A squaw’s tongue runs faster than the wind’s legs.
fairy wings, carefully visiting every opening flower
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cup, and, like a curious florist, removing from each
Before the Paleface came there wTas no poison in the
the injurious insects that otherwise w'ould ere long
Indian’s Corn.
cause their beauteous petals to droop and decay.
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Poised in the air, it is observed peeping cautiously,
The Indian takes his dog to heaven; the Paleface
and w’ith sparkling eyes, into their innermost recesses,
whilst the ethereal motions of its pinions, so rapid and sends his brother to hell.
so light, appear to fan and to cool the flower without
There will be no hungry Palefaces as long as there
(Continued on page 2)
are Indian lands to swallow.