FIRST PROFESSIONAL WORK 71 



From that I had elaborated ideas as to mounting 

 birds, based partly on what I had seen in mu- 

 seums, but largely suggested by my familiarity 

 with life out of doors. 



Now I began to realize that this handicraft had 

 a commercial value, and thought to myself, " Here 

 is a possible way at least of making a living and 

 becoming self-supporting," I went in and asked 

 if John Wallace was to be seen ; a stout, dark- 

 haired man, whom I shall never forget, a forceful- 

 looking man, rather short in stature, and with a 

 decided cockney English accent, told me that he 

 was the proprietor. Briefly I stated to Mr. Wal- 

 lace what my accomplishments were as a taxider- 

 mist, and asked him if he would give me a job. I 

 was not quite twenty-two years old, smooth-faced 

 and juvenile in appearance. He looked me over 

 with apparent interest, and finally said, " When do 

 you want to begin ? " I answered, " Any time," 

 and he queried, " Now ? " " Yes," I replied. 

 " Then take your coat off and sit down ; I'll give 

 you something to do to try you." 



Presently I was seated at a bench in company 

 with half a dozen other workmen ; a dozen or 

 more bluebirds, song-sparrows, and thrushes were 

 thrown down on the table in front of me, and Mr. 

 Wallace asked me to skin them as fast as I could, 

 poison them, and then show him the result of my 

 work. So, with dirty knives and scissors of an 



