304 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



Madame Audubon interested herself in all that pertained 

 to the welfare of the neighborhood where she lived. Although 

 it was not without a pang that she saw her sylvan home in- 

 vaded by the growth of the city, and all old associations broken 

 up, she did not treat those who came to live near her as 

 strangers. She had a large and generous heart, and with her 

 husband had always exercised a liberal hospitality and hearty 

 kindness towards all. In prosperity and adversity she was 

 equally sincere and humble, a friend of all worthy people. . . . 



Mrs. Audubon, during the period of her husband's 

 greatest activity, had traveled much and met people dis- 

 tinguished in every walk of life. If, as some have 

 thought, when Audubon was struggling for recognition, 

 he was somewhat oblivious of the privations which his 

 wife endured, in the sunshine of later years, when fame 

 and fortune had smiled upon him, he showed by every 

 token of affection how fully he realized his debt. Let it 

 also be remembered that the monument by which Ameri- 

 cans have signalized their appreciation of his labors, is 

 honored by the ashes of his beloved Lucy, which rest by 

 his side. 



The original drawings of the plates of The Birds of 

 America were sold by Mrs. Audubon on June 2, 1863, 

 to the Historical Society of New York, 18 and a few of 

 them are now displayed in its building in that city ; it is 

 still hoped that a fire-proof and adequately lighted hall 

 can be constructed so that the whole of this great series 

 of pictures may be exhibited under more perfect con- 

 ditions. The artistic beauty and historical value of these 

 drawings, with the added charm which personal associa- 

 tion has so richly supplied, would render Audubon's 

 "Book of Nature" one of the most unique and interest- 



18 For the privilege of examining this unique collection I am indebted to 

 the courtesy of the Society, and of its librarian, Mr. Kelby. 



