288 



RECREATION 



exposing countless grubs, etc., plants his veg- 

 etables and orchards, which attract many in- 

 sects, which in turn attract the birds, and 

 what is more natural than that these birds 

 should choose to build their nests close to 

 these abundant feeding grounds, for it is no 

 small matter to feed a brood of young and 

 ever-hungry birds. 



Another instance mentioned by Mr. Story 

 of birds being driven from their native 

 haunts, is the chimney-swift forsaking its 

 former nesting place in some hollow tree to 

 occupy the chimney of man's dwelling. It 

 certainly was not the growth of civilization 

 represented in the person of the lumberman 

 that drove these birds to the refuge of our 

 chimneys or well, rather, the swift was quick 

 to recognize the superiority of the chimney 

 where her enemies of the woods could not 

 follow. And now that many persons are cov- 

 ering their chimney tops with wire netting, 

 Mr. Story asks : "What will the chimney 

 swifts do?" Why, what is to prevent their 

 going back to their original hollow tree? — 

 there are plenty of them left. 



'Tis true that many birds in forsaking 

 their old nesting place in their desire to find 

 a safe retreat from their old enemies of the 

 woods, often "jump from the frying pan into 

 the fire," especially when they come too close 

 to man and the many "infernal machines'' of 

 civilization. 



I remember discovering a phoebe's nest 

 under a primitive country drawbridge, and 

 every time the draw was opened the nest 

 went, too ; but so far as I could see, the par- 

 ents did not mind and successfully reared 

 their young. 



Mr. Story's idea for enticing the song birds 

 to our cities would undoubtedly work well 

 in the suburbs, but, unfortunately, our cities 

 are so monopolized by the despicable English 

 sparrow that no self-respecting and peace- 

 loving songbird would care to mingle with 

 such discord and strife. If we would see 

 more of our songbirds we must first thin out 

 the crows and English sparrows, and the 

 songbirds will then have a chance. 

 Yours truly. 

 Oliver B. Coe, Jr., Boston, Mass. 



AN EXPERIENCE. 



Editor Recreation : 



During the many weeks I resided in Chi- 

 cago I was Gonfined to office work during the 

 week as a proofreader, compiler and editor, 

 and of course had but little, if any, appetite 

 for my noon-day lunches, and indeed but lit- 

 tle for my regular meals morning and even- 

 ing, beiiig clogged up for want of out-door 

 exercise and air. Also, almost throughout 

 the entire year I suffered from cold feet, an 

 exaggerated tendency which I had inher- 

 ited. More than all persons within my circle 

 Of acquaintance I was almost constantly and 



ridiculously looking for the warmest point in 

 the office in which to keep my feet. 



Well, one cold windy day in April (ahem! 

 Sunday, of course,) I went to the wilds among 

 the vast grassy swamps and lakes south of 

 Chicago, in company with two young men 

 who were licensed collectors of birds' eggs 

 for museums. Not desiring to be a collector 

 myself, I simply wanted to ramble in com- 

 pany with my friends. On arriving at the 

 place of rendezvous, to my surprise one of 

 these lads had brought along an old pair of 

 wading boots for me to wear ; and they were 

 leaky, too, he precautioned me. Of all things ! 

 The water was ice-cold and the chilly north- 

 west wind persistent ; and I had no idea that 

 it was necessary to wade around all day in 

 order to keep the boys company. But, to 

 show some appreciation of their trouble, I 

 ventured to draw the boots on and wade in, 

 even if for nothing but to show what a deli- 

 cate wreck I was in my endeavor to ac- 

 commodate myself to the. situation. In five 

 seconds my boots were filled with that cold 

 water nearly to the top, above my knees. I 

 looked momentarily for a collapse ; but it 

 did not come, exactly — not even a pain. So 

 I kept on and on, without an ache or chill 

 the rest of the day, — from about ten o'clock 

 until nearly four, with about forty-five min- 

 utes on shore for lunch. I was never so sur- 

 prised at myself in my life. 



Arriving home I ate a hearty supper, and 

 next morning I was ready for a big break- 

 fast just as hearty, which I ate with as raven- 

 ous an appetite as that of a hungry wolf. Ar- 

 riving at the office, I felt "bully" enough to 

 whip any of my fellow-employees in the 

 whole establishment. But, alas ! when noon 

 came I was just as dainty as ever, fully back 

 in the old rut ; and so on through the week. 

 I have had similar experiences at other times 

 in my life. 



Now, if I had headed this letter "The Ne- 

 cessity of Outdoor Air and Exercise," or 

 something like that, scarcely anyone would 

 read it. All the readers of Recreation know 

 this truth practically, without stopping to read 

 anything on the subject. The pity is that all 

 those office and other indoor "rats" who 

 ought to read this and profit by it will not 

 see it : only those who do not need it will see 

 it. A similar remark is often made with ref- 

 erence to works on politeness : only those 

 read such works who do not need them, be- 

 ing already polite by nature : those who need 

 refining never see, and hardly ever hear of, 

 such works. 



But who, even among Recreation readers, 

 would have thought that Nature would or 

 could emphasize the lesson of this letter so 

 intensely as illustrated in my experience as 

 above related? 



Ewing Summers. 



