44 
THE GUIDE 
A Life Devoted to Nature Study. 
Atlantic, Iowa 
To the Editoi : 
I have endeavored to gratify your 
kind wish to secure a short story of 
the work and attainment of our devoted 
friend. Frank C. Pellett, the well-known 
naturalist. 
The writer feels commendable pride 
in the privilege of having Mr. Pellett 
as a friend and neighbor for a number 
of years and becoming thereby measur- 
ably familiar with his first-hand meth- 
ods of study and investigation. His ori- 
ginal researches give him confidence in 
his teaching, and he feels but little re- 
straint in the presence of educated audi- 
ences. The greeting accorded him by 
these audiences is certainly apprecia- 
tive, and they listen with debght to his 
unique instruction and racy illustration. 
Much of this interest is due to his in- 
stinctive and sacred love for his chosen 
work — a very good suggestion for the 
student who may wish to follow his 
example in nature study. 
Bobwhite’s thrilling call, the sweet 
melody of native songsters, the squir- 
rel’s saucy challenge, the hum of bees 
have for him an irresistible inspiration, 
and by some strange psychic power he 
is able to transmit this inspirational in- 
terest to his audiences. His platform 
work seems as free as his unfettered 
research in the field. 
His power of attractive public ad- 
TO NATURE 
dress was discovered in a session of 
the ministerial association of Atlantic, 
Iowa. With some hesitancy he con- 
sented to give for them a short review 
of his study of the small animals that 
trouble the farmer. Much interest was 
felt in his simple, direct and illuminat- 
ing presentation of the facts and fan- 
cies contained in his address, and the 
encouragement received on this occa- 
sion inspired the beginning of Mr. Pel- 
lett’s splendid career in natural history. 
At the time a number of invitations 
were received by him to re- 
peat this address in some of 
the local churches. His trait 
of racy and attractive expres- 
sion is readily seen in his 
books and lectures. 
To facilitate his study of 
their character and habit, he 
kept as pets a variety of the 
“back door neighbors” about 
his home., “with the keys of 
the city,” as he would say 
of their freedom. 
The natural attractions of 
his boyhood home provided 
in a great measure the in- 
spiration of the young nat- 
uralist. In the formation of 
his own home, he located 
near the congenial haunts of 
his boyhood in the midst of 
a grove of romantic scenery, 
the tall, native trees, wild 
flowers and “deep tangled wild- 
wood” abounding in birds, bees and 
squirrels “to the manor born.” This 
sylvan retreat bears the name of Tam- 
akoche, a traditional name among the 
Indians, meaning, my country. The 
library and workroom is euphoniously 
known as the “Bughouse.” Little of 
decorative art is seen about the premis- 
es. They are simply an unfretted piece 
of God’s out-of-doors. 
The Bughouse has been closed and 
the populous apiary silent since “ The 
American Bee Journal” called our friend 
to a place of distinguished honor and 
service. This change was made but 
recently, and we hope that the lure of 
Tamakoche will in good time occasion 
the return of Mr. Pellett and his inter- 
esting family to this congenial sylvan 
retreat. 
A. D. Beckhart. 
MR. PELLETT IX THE ROSEBUD RESERVA- 
TION' WITH BLACK RING. A BROTHER- 
IN-LAW OF CHIEF STTTTNG BULL. 
Mr. Pellett takes a great deal of irterest in the study 
of Primitive Americans. 
