286 Bird - Lore 



Protection, appointed by the American Ornithologists' Union in 1886, and as 

 such was one of the organizers of the first Audubon Society. He remained on 

 this committee for years and later became a director of the National Associa- 

 tion of Audubon Societies and president of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. 



But no estimate of Brewster's work can be exact which does not take into 

 account the character of the man. It was not alone the rare charm of his per- 

 sonality to which I refer, but the sincerity and unselfishness which formed so 

 fundamental a part of his nature that no one who knew him could doubt the 

 absolute truthfulness of his word, spoken or written, or the purity of his motives. 

 Of simple tastes and direct manner, he had an intense dislike of anything 

 approaching ostentation; but whatever he did must be well done, and he im- 

 posed on those in his employ the same high standards which governed his 

 own actions. 



Loving the solitude of wide spaces, Brewster was nevertheless a sociable 

 man. He loved all that is fine in human intercourse, and his thoughtfulness 

 for others, his sympathetic appreciation of and interest in their work, their 

 joys and their sorrows made his friendship one of life's best gifts. But his 

 kindliness and generosity never for a moment made him untrue to his own sense 

 of right and wrong. Neither actively nor passively would he lend support to 

 a cause of which he did not approve, and no fear of consequences prevented 

 him from making his own position plain. 



Fortunate is the man who can number among his memories those of days 

 afield with William Brewster. It is now twenty-eight years since we descended 

 the Suwannee River in a house-boat, and twenty-six have passed since we 

 camped in the forests of Trinidad. But the joy of Brewster's companionship 

 and the pleasures which grew from his enthusiastic appreciation of our sur- 

 roundings and experiences are my most cherished recollections of the expe- 

 ditions. 



I had been in Trinidad the year preceding our visit, and, in returning with 

 Brewster, looked forward to introducing him to the birds and their haunts, as 

 well as to the people I had met there with even keener enjoyment than I did 

 in renewing acquaintance with them myself. There were no disappointments 

 and many unexpected pleasures for us both, but I have always thought most 

 frequently of Brewster's words after we had passed several days with an 

 English official who was a worthy representative of his Queen and of the best 

 traditions of his race. "I believe," said Brewster as we left our host's home, 

 "that there is a nearly perfect man." I have never recalled this incident, dur- 

 ing the quarter of a century which has followed its occurrence, without think- 

 ing how unconsciously deserving of this tribute was its author. 



Frank M. Chapman. 



