Humberside Collegiate Institute - Hermes Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE t'lElQlNfIl2f rising sun was to me like gliding into a land of hope and glory. W'hile at -the museum I went about as though under tfhe spell of a dream, careless of everything except that I was there feasting my eyes on the bird collection, entranced at the mere sight of those gorgeous dis- plays. Oh -Io! -it was wonderful. That visit was the beginning of my studies as a naturalist. Later, when I took trips to the United State and saw the superb museums in America, my ideals were shatter- ed by the contrast, and when I came home I pledged myself to make my museum worthy of its city, its prov- ince and its country. I think l have done that. There is no doubt of it. This was his life work, besides which he had to support his family. To accom- plish something worth while for Canada, Mr. Pearce entered the business of mercantile taxidermy. For twenty years in his store on Queen Street, he worked at his col- lections, living his life of service. .-Xs a result, in 1908, Mr. Pearce pre- sented to the Royal Ontario Mus- eum the only perfect collection in Canada of the birds of prey, eagles, falcons, hawks, which are the most difficult species to collect. His has not been a glamorous car- eer, but one of profound yet moving interest during which he toiled in poverty and grief. He is not sorry for it, only intensely proud, as I gathered when he shook his head .reliectively at me: O money, money, money! I'd rather have a name than all of it. They were busy but happy, profitable years de- voted to the work which the old seer loved best. He took a special pride in his window displays which were so unique and effective that people came from coast to coast to see them and him. Two of these exhibitions he remembered exceed- ingly well. 'fOne winter there was a splendid visitation of Arctic owls as white as the drifting snow. 1 managed to get some tine specimens, which for the next few weeks were all about my store. Looking at them one day, an idea struck me. I bor- rowed a black silk velvet pall from Bates and Dod-ds, the undertakers. and stretched it across the back of the window, finishing it off with black lace. Then I filled the win- dow full of white owls in every con-- ceivable position. NVell, jo, it was such a success that people actually stood outside and stared. Later on in the evening at my re- quest lie told me about the other window. It was a sea-shore scene. I had myself brought the sand and stones and shells, even sea-weed from the lake, and had strewn them over the window-tloor. At the back I set up a blue sky whichl had painted in pastels. On the improvised shore l put gannets of all sizes which made an effective sight with their black feet, red bills and pearl-grey bodies, while above in mid-air, I suspended Hying gulls and gannets on invisible ' I was very proud of my wires. work, for that same year the Duke of York, our present king, was visit- ing Canada, and when in Toronto, his cavalca-de went by my door. He turned and looked at my humble effort-yes, he turned and looked at lt The place on Queen Street was shut down eight years ago when Mr. Pearce set up on the Humber , 44 .

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on f ' - ' gflfj , Qi TH E H gm MQW MX XXX .The singing birds are all his frierzals, Because their rights he well defendsg E'eii chickadees perch on his thumbs Arid search his palms for sue! crumbs. 45