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Show THK HrLLETIN John James Audubon, Painter of Birds, Now Revealed as an Important Writer Follow These Rules When Addressing Christmas Cards j A General Quiz The Questions i Which of the following is an oblate spheroid an ece. the earth, or a baseball? 2. According to tradition what great author of tragedies was killed by a tortoise, which an eagle k-- fall on his head? 3. George Washington's estate was valued at a sum that would now be how much? 4. What Greek philosopher was nagged by his wife Xanthippe? d. mate's words "Ecce Homo" are translated to mean what?. 0. What is mulled wine? ' 7. What is a bluchcr shoe? 8. What ship started for Amer ica with the Mayflower, but had to turn back? , 1. Who Was 'Witness to Our Heroic Age' By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Rrifascd by Weitcrn Newspaper Union. I MOST Jtsk Me .Another t Americans the TOsynonymous "Audubon" is with just "birds." Three species bear his name, as does the society which is dedicated to the study, protection and preservation of those feathered denizens of Amerg ica which were his passion. We remember him of a also as the author-artifellow-scientiset of books which a once called "the most magnificent monument that art has yet raised to ornithology." Yet there is anotherand possibly a better reason why John James Audubon should be remembered one word i life-lon- The Answers st st gratefully IN ADDRESSING Christmas cards, many questions are bound to arise with regard to correct form. The following tipi on addressing Christmas cards will, therefore, be welcomed by all who have cards to send. by his That is because he was "a witTHE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. ness to our heroic age" and, as an appreciative and understandIt is at this point in his essay libraries and are therefore known ing witness, he was one of its that Mr. Peattie points out how to only a few scholars and speSuch is the Audubon's fame as an ornitholo- cialists in American history. best interpreters. theme of a new book, whose pub- gist, the renown which has made For these reasons Americans lication by the Houghton Mifflin his name synonymous with the know little about Audugenerally a was of Boston, major word "birds," has obscured his bon, the company even though they writer, event of the 1940 publishing sea- value to his as be familiar enough with Au son. The book is "Audubon's "a witness of our heroic age." may dubon, the artist, and what they The Narratives and Moreover, his art as a America painter do know about him as a chroniExperiences of John James Au- has overshadowed his ability as cler of the in which he a with dubon," illustrated nearly a writer. For a professional writ- lived is whenperiod is he quoted "in score of facsimiles of his prints er he was, a man who wrote to evidence for the unbelievable and paintings in full color. sell and who did sell. numbers of the passenger pigBut more important than this "I am not saying that he knew eons, or the destruction of the inclusion of authentic reproduchow to write history like the tions of Audubon's paintings in a learned Parkman, or style like buffalo, or on some other point in natural history." book is the fact popular-price- d Therefore the great value of that his "narratives and expert this book is that it "makes up ences" in it are edited by Donald in some measure for neglect of Culross Peattie. And Mr. Peat-tie- , Audubon's precious testimony." naturalist and author of such For, as Mr. Peattie says, "as edi books as "Singing in the Wildertor, I have preferred to bring ness" and "A Prairie Grove," is him forward less as the naturalprobably the one man in America ist than as one who knew river today who is most competent to captains and roustabouts, pio act as an appreciative and underneers and men of letters, Indians of John standing interpreter and scientists. This without, of James Audubon, a witness to and course, slighting his natural hisan interpreter of our heroic age. tory writings but reducing them Some of the most charming to some reasonable proportion to prose that Mr. Peattie has ever the whole. That whole is the written is included in "What AuAmerica of his day, America as dubon Knew," which serves as an he, and perhaps only he, knew it introduction to the book. It says Audubon's America." in part: How richly that promise is ful"The source of history is the filled is shown by a reading of narratives of those who lived it the chapters which follow the in. . . Now of all those who ever Audubon "What troductory lived here, traveled and greatly 1 Knew," and Mr. Peattie's evaluaadventured, none could bear tion of "Audubon as a Witness." more fascinating testimony than JOHN JAMES AUDUBON Audubon. had He the A John James In oils, made at The titles of those chapters are indicative of the diversity of Auof a being foreigner Beech advantage Woods, Feliciana parish, dubon's experience, the catholicSo that he took nothing for La., in 1822 at the age of 37. ity of bis interests and the scope granted, and in the perspective of a more mature culture, all the choice Thoreau, or that he of his "traveling around North things American struck him as thought as an equal with Emer- America" "Kentucky Days and fresh. He had the further ad- son," observes Mr. Peattie. "I Nights," "Hunters' Tales," "Piovantage that he was a genius, am asserting only that while neer Types," "Deep South," and a genius of art at that, so Cooper went to England while he "Four Proud Fowl," "Down East that to observe, to depict what he wrote 'The Prairie (an unread-abl- y for Birds and Subscribers" and dull book, to my ears), Au- "Out West With Buffalo and Insaw, was habitual and instinctive. "But Audubon had, too, a gen- dubon was on the prairies. That dians." To those who think of Audubon ius for the art of living. He where Emerson knew his Carlyle, lived with zest for the adventure Audubon knew his Mississippi only in terms of birds, the and with personal ardors. He squatters, that while Thoreau was amount of his writing about animals will be revealing. After completing his monumental work, "The Birds of America," he began work on "The Quadrupeds of America" and "into the new project the old master entered with all the zest, so he wrote his young friend Spencer Baird, that he had once felt for birds." So it is appropriate that this new book reproduces almost as many pictures of animals (seven in all) as it does pictures of birds (eight). Not the least interesting feature of the book is a "Biographical Note" (a long "note" albeit, since it covers 22 pages!) which tells in Interesting fashion the story of his life from the date of his birth, April 26, 1785, at the port of Les Cayes or Aux Cayes on the south coast of the republic of Haiti until his death in New York city on January 27, 1851. This biographical sketch discusses the story of his paternity and cites the fact that available documents prove conclusively that he was the natural son of Lieut. Jean Audubon of the French navy and a Creole woman of good birth, whose family name was either Rabin or Fougere. Says Mr. Peattie: "This should set at rest the preposterous claim that has recently (and THE SNOWX IIEEON, OR WHITE EGEET. only recently) been set up for that he was none other than savored everything, even the un- traveling around Concord, Audu him, the lost Dauphin, Louis XVII, was bon around North He saw almost everytraveling savory. majesty disguised as a wanderthing, from 1803 to 1849, from America. While Parkman was ing artist! This legend would be New Audubon was from to history. writing Labrador, Florida too for notice if it were York city to Fort Union on the making and witnessing it" the one story Considering these facts, it not, unfortunately, borders of Montana. He lived Audubon about that sticks in seems indeed in that until strange among Pennsylvania Quakers, minds. Two women no now been many from has biogmade attempt among pioneers Kentucky Virginia, in New Orleans among to bring together into one volume raphers of Audubon have recent-l- y taken it quite seriously, and Indians. He explored Maine and a general selection of the first South Carolina, Texas and Flor- hand narratives of what Mr, thousands of words have been Peattie calls "this shrewd and written in debate on this point. ida. Wide Variety of Experience. eager observer of all conditions They can all be cut short by lay"In the nearly 50 active Amer- and aspects of American men, ing down a fact denied' by noican years of Audubon's life, what manners and scenes." This has body. The unfortunate little Bourother individual had such a va- been due partly to the fact that bon prince had a deformed riety of experience? No one, cer- Audubon s writings have been while Audubon's ears were ear, both wide so a sensitive once scattered assort at was through tainly, and so lusty. No one with his ment of volumes, many of which quite normal. Who will seriously ire to hp founrf only in the larger argue the point hpvond this?" pen and his brush. . ." fellow-America- ns self-portr- ... much-disput- Christmas greeting cards fall into two general classes, formal and informal. If you use printed or engraved cards for formal use, the title Miss, Mr., or Mr. and Mrs. should preferably appear above the greeting. For instance: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Russell wish you a Merry Christmas," rather than "A Merry Christmas from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Russell." Whose name should come first, the husband's or the wile's? Generally, the husband's name comes first On informal cards, signed In ink, it is quite proper to sign, "Bill and Shirley," or Bill and Shirley Adams, depending, of course, upon how well you know the acquaintance. A married woman, whether her husband is alive or not, should be addressed with "Mrs." prefixed to her husband's full name. Every card sent out should bear a Mr., Mrs., or Miss prefix. Failure to use 1. The earth. (Flattened or da- pressed at the poles.) this prefix is an unpardonable Z. Aeschylus. breach of courtesy. 3. $5,000,000. 4 Socr&tps t Do not address a divorcee by her 5! maiden name, unless such nametias "Behold the man!" John 19:5. 6. Wine that is heated, sweet been established by legal procedure. John Robertson may be a busi- ened and spiced. 7. One in which the Quarters ex ness associate of yours, to whom tend forward to the throat of the you want to send s Christmas card, but you do not know his wife. What vamp. Hi 8. The Speedwell. shall you do in a case of this kind? is to send It quite proper your card to Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson, although, on the other hand, it Is equally proper to send the card in his name only. It adds a little of the personal touch to learn the home address and send the card there, although directing the card to a business address is quite proper. Some question as to the propriety of sending out Christmas cards may enter the minds of the family in mourning. By the same token, some question may arise as to the sending of Christmas cards to them. If the bereavement is very recent within a month it may be better for THE SMOKE the family to omit Christmas cards. And cards to be sent to the family OF should be selected with considera- ble care. SLOWER-BURNIN- G Superstitions About Christmas CAMELS YO- U- GIVES according SIGNIFICANT meanings surround Christmas, believed in various parts of the world. ft In Holsteln, Mistletoe is not only supposed to be a cure for all green wounds, but will insure success in the chase and give strength to the wrestler. ft Early Norsemen believed for centuries that the Mistletoe would give protection against both bodily ailments and evil spirits, ft A person who is born on Christmas will have power to see and command spirits, according to a Scottish belief. ft French peasants believe that ture husbands by dropping melted lead Into a pan of cold water. The molten metal would form various shapes in cooling, and thus resemble the insignia of his occupation: hammer shape, a carpenter; shoe shape, a cobbler. Every piece of lead re sembled some occupation to the old mt msw is aBiMAMnsMrJier.Dyy wives. A maiden in Switzerland who accepts a bunch of Edelweiss at Christ mas also accepts the man who proffers it ft An animals In the German Alps can speak on Christmas Eve. ft It Is believed In the Netherlands that nothing sown on Christmas Eve win perish. Even seed sown in the snow win live. ft A Bohemian wife will die within a year if she burns a Christmas cake, ft To Insure an abundant harvest In Denmark, some of the bread baked on Christmas is kept until sowing tune, when It is mixed with the seed, ft It is said that bread baked on Christmas In England never be ft babies born on Christmas have the gift of phophecy. ft If a baby is born st sermon time on Christmas Eve in Middle Europe, it portends that someone In the house will die within the year, ft Daughters born In the Vosges, France, on December 23 will be wise, witty and virtuous, ft A baby born on Christmas In Silesia will become either a lawyer or a thief. ft Girls in the ancient Duchy of Swavla seldom missed the opportunity offered by Christmas to look comes moldy. into the future at their future hus- ft Ashes must not be thrown out on bands. On Christmas Eve they would Christmas day In some sections of go to the woodpile to draw sticks. If Europe, for fear they might be a girl pulled a thick stick, her hus- thrown into the Savior's face. band would be stout; If a long stick, ft Some families in Scandinavia he would be tall; if a crooked stick, place all their shoes together on he would be deformed. They would Christmas. This will cause them to determine the business of their fu livt in harmony throughout the year. wrrrrmrmm AN- D- LESS NICOTINE than the average of the 4 other Christmas Tree Industry 'Aims to Please9 A highly developed industry, Chrittmas tree production aims to satisfy all types of customers. Here a workman after bundling his trees according to size ana is the butts to even Gde sawing In cities where ceilings are high, as in old communities, taller trees are desired. For mod ern living rooms, only medium and shorter sixes find ready market. The most popular kind of Christmas tree is the fir. It is generally preferred because it tends to hold its needles longer than any other evergreen tree. Spruces, pines, hemlocks and are also used as Christmas trees. ed in off the largest-sellin- g cigarettes tested less than any of them according to Independent scientific tests off the smoke Itself. f low-ceUing- ed red-ceda- rs far-fetch- CHARM OF CHRISTMAS chief charm Christmas It is a festival that appeals to everyone because everyone can understand THE it of simplicity. A genuine fellowship pervades our common life a fellowship whose source Is our common share in the world's greatest Life which was given 'to the whole world. Kimball. French Village Portrays Story of Christ's Birth Lei Baux in France, a village of shepherds, puts on one of the most dramaUc Christmas celebrations in the world, and has done it yearly The for over a thousand years. peasants act out the whole Bethlehem story. Joseph and Mary drive into the "City of David" with real oxen. Thousands of visitors come every Christmas eve to see the event. mm |