Audubon's paintings eclipsed his writing and it is so unfortuate that we are seldom given this glimpse into the life and style of Audubon. He was an arrogant, selfish, and self-serving man. But, why not. The life of an artist living from one crust to the next, always promoting his work in hopes that the subscriber of yesterday would become the provider of today.
He had to stanchly defend his own work while diminishing the work of others, who after all, were competing in the same market. And once having gained a modicum of recognition guarded it like any mother would. It is sad that as Donald C. Peattie says regarding Audubon's attacks on George Catlin, "Had Audubon seen these same Dakota scenes before Catlin, how different might have been his account! But the very fact that Catlin saw the Mandan country first is enough to stir Audubon's greatest failing, that of professional jealousy. Catlin, with his dashing pictures, right from life, in the days when life in North Dakota (and South Dakota) must have been worth living, invaded the very province that Audubon liked to consider uniquely his own. This, unconsciously, he cannot forgive his predecesor and, when he can, he catches him out in error."
Ah, too bad that George Catlin could not have reviewed Audubon's writings. He would have made much of Audubon, the naturalist, calling the lowly cocklebur, a perennial. Most likely he would have in examining the seed hull, noted the two seeds contained therein and that nature had provided that while one would sprout and emerge readily in the next season, the other might lie dormant for years prior to sprouting, thus giving the impression of a perennial but being in actual fact an annual!
Nevertheless, the writings of John Audubon, his companion Edward Harris on the trip up the Missouri, Edward Sullivan in his "Rambles" and George Catlin provide us with a view of the changing life of the Indian that is unsurpassed.
*** The pages of Audubon's Journals are filled with observations not only of the birds, quadrapeds, flora and climatic conditions but of colourful stories of the people who peopled the areas. His recording of events which were changed to protect the identity of a visitor (Rafinesque) to his home make pleasant reading.
Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (today recognized as a first class naturalist) was keen in observations, a scholar in acquiring scientific knowledge and known for his unkept appearance, his abrasive nature, and his lack of modesty. This marked him as a person to know. But, also one to be reserved with when dealing. However, Audubon (perhaps because he shared some of these same traits) went toe-to-toe with Rafinesque. He relates a most interesting visit with Rafinesque at Audubon's Kentucky residence. To wit:
"It was summer and the heat was so great the the windows were all open... When it waxed late, I showed him to the apartment intended for him during his stay, and endeavored to render him comfortable, leaving him writing materials in abundance. I was indeed heartily glad to have a naturalist under my roof. We had all retired to rest. Every person I imagined was in deep slumber save myself, when of a sudden I heard a great uproar in the naturalist's room. I got up, reached the place in a few moments, and opened the door, when to my astonishment, I saw my guest running about the room naked, holding the handle of my favorite violin, the body of which he had battered to pieces against the walls in attempting to kill the bats which had entered by the open wihndow, probably attracted by the insects flying around his candle. I stood amazed, but he continued jumping and running round and round, until he was fairly exhaused, when he begged me to procure one of the animals for him, as he felt convinced they belonged to 'a new species.' Although I was convinced to the contrary, I took up the bow of my demolished Cremona, and administered a smart tap to each of the bats as it came up, soon got specimins enough. The war ended, I again bade him good-night, but could not help observing the state of the room. It was strewed with plants, which it would seem he had arranged into groups, but which were not scattered about in confusion. 'Never mind Mr. Audubon,' quoth the eccentric naturalist, 'never mind, I'll soon arrange them again. I have the bats, and that's enough.'"
I might add that to Audubon's chagrin, Rafenisque had discovered a species of bat that had not to that time been classified, and in Audubon's house no less! Rafenisque as it turns out was much more than just an indexer of animal species. He developed (according to Peattie) an evolutionary theory much earlier than Darwin. And Rafenisque died much like he lived, in contriversy, he died of cancer and destitute; when his landlord threatened to sell his body to the medical college to pay past due rent, Rafenisque's friends stole the body by lowering it from a second story window, and buryed it in an unmarked grave. Personally, I believe Constantine Samuel Rafenisque-Schmaltz would have whole heartedly approved!
Many other stories abound in Audubon's Journals as well as those of Edward Harris. (In keeping with the recording habits of Lewis and Clark, Audubon was not above "borrowing" the writings of others and claiming them as his own. This is borne out in a story having to do with a buffalo hunt, which Harris described in detail. Lo and behold, the identical wording appears in the Audubon Journal. It was obviously Harris' tale as the buffalo almost won this one and only by the swift retreat of the hunters were they spared. Audubon was in his later years at this time and was assigned to a prominance where he could observe the action without being endangered. Harris wrote that the buffalo was less than three feet behind him when he jumped aside, narrowly missing the opportunity to feel the buffalo's horns, Audubon used the identical wording.)
*** Excerpts from Aububon's America, edited by Donald Culross Peattie and published in 1940 by Houghton Mifflin Company. The book has many facsimile reproductions of Audubon's prints and paintings. Very well composed by Peattie and written to give a balanced view of Audubon's life and his work. And, his comments on Rafinisque makes reading the book in their own right.
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