Audubon, Memoirs, Catlin, Cook, Moore, Bartram, Book learning
There is no way to separate the two, Constantine Rafinesque's personage grows with each discovery about this man and his imagination. One could consider this as a derogatory statement of this Frenchman who claimed America as his own. But it is not, his imagination allowed him to grasp and understand that which passed unnoticed by others. As a case in point, J. J. Audubon either due to modesty, shame or awe when telling of a visit by Rafinesque, disguised the character in his story. But it was Rafinesque, warts and all!
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 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 window, 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 exhausted, 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 specimens 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, Rafinesque had discovered a species of bat that had not to that time been classified, and in Audubon's house no less! Rafinesque as it turns out was much more than just an indexer of animal species. He developed (according to Peattie, see references which follow) an evolutionary theory much earlier than Darwin. And Rafinesque died much like he lived, in controversy, he died of cancer and destitute; when his landlord threatened to sell his body to the medical college to pay past due rent, Rafinesque's friends stole the body by lowering it from a second story window, and buried it in an unmarked grave. Personally, I believe Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz would have whole heartedly approved!
As an additional note in proof of the value of Rafinesque's writings, archaeologist are now debating whether Rafinesque created a 19th Century Hoax. In the Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey, #49, published in 1994, pp 10-44, David M. Oestreicher argued that Rafinesque perpetrated a hoax when he claimed to translate writings of the Delaware Indians (aka Lenape) which were a supposed pictographic and verbal record of the Walam Olum. Rafinesque first published this record complete with his translation. Now you might ask, what was Rafinesque to gain from this? I really don't know, but I will venture a guess that he would be amazed that the current crop of historians could work over his study and gain not only a professional degree from their efforts but perhaps even get their analysis published in book form. Certainly, his lasting reward is that attention has been drawn to studies of American Indian culture and reevaluation of our understanding of the means by which this continent was settled by the Red Man.
As pointed out in Joseph Ewan's bibliography in the Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Rafinesque missed greatness by embracing too many fields of knowledge. Consider, he advocated; construction of the Panama canal, culture of pearls in mussels, houses and ships of fireproof construction, accumulated a herbarium of 50,000 specimens, did the woodcuts for his most important book on medical botany and more. In Medical Flora, he couldn't help digressing when he reached the species Vitis (grapes), he goes on at length on culture, the making and keeping of wine. I suppose if you asked him the time, he would have told you how to build a clock.
If this isn't enough, consider Rafinesque's place in the history of Transylvania University (Lexington, Kentucky). He was a botany professor there and according to the record was fired for either spending too much time with the University president's wife, or not showing up for class. Neither would be considered errors worthy of dismissal in today's climate. Nevertheless, he gained a degree of notoriety which has been perpetuated to today. Even a seven-year curse is attributed to him, the week prior to Halloween is dedicated to him, a secret society may or may not still function in his name and the university grill is named after him.
Supposedly, Rafinesque is buried under the steps of the University's administration building. However, in fitting tribute to him, it is said that the body there is not his.
So now we have a very incomplete story of Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, botanist, writer, evolutionist, translator, teacher and lover. Can we say more?
***
Excerpts from Audubon's America, edited by Donald Culross Peattie and published in 1940 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
With appreciation to Stacy Stroud who provided some "facts" in his posting in the news group, alt.folklore.ghost-stories. April 29, 1996.
Medical Flora, Manual of the Medical Botany of the United States of North America, in two volumes, published in 1828-1830. This is considered Rafinesque's most important work and became the vade-mecum of the Botanic physician. This study of plants attempted to provide a medical botany adapted to the needs of the physician and pharmacist. You can purchase a first edition of this work for a paltry $5,000.00, far more than Rafinesque ever realized for all his works combined, I am sure.
Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Vol. XI, pp 262 (J. Ewan) Charles Schribner's Sons, 1975. Charles C. Gillispie ed.
Atlantic Journal and Friend of Knowledge, reprint for Arnold Arboretum, 1946 by The Murray Printing Company, Cambridge, Mass. Rafinesques' two year journal of science with many of his writings as well as those of Benjamin Franklin and others.
ABOUT Joe Wortham