The San Francisco call., 1910-07-03
THE MARTIN
by ARTHUR MoRGAN LANGwORTHY

kept the bird store in Prairieville The
short visit the boys intended to pay
him became a long one. as il took up
so much time to inspect all the mar
velous things he had to show them.
Finally he led the way into the garden.
II want to show you my martin
house. which is the purple martins
capitol for this part of the country. 1t
has 81 rooms, and here all the martins
gather to make their lawsl" jokingly
explained Mr.. Burton.
That's great!r cried Frank. as he
surveyed the large. white painted bird
house 1t was an exact copy of the
capitol at Washington and stood on a
post about 15 feet high and about 90
feet from the farmhouse It's lively
feathered tenants chartered and chirped
and flew in and out the various win
dows, while the visitors looked on and
admired.
II never knew people built martin
houses said Frank. Mr.. Burton smiled
rather sadly as he answered: Thirty
years ago there were many of them
throughout this region, and think that
crops were much better as direct re-
suit of their presence. You see." he
went on. ''the purple martin is the
largest variety of the swallow family
and is great consumer of the in
furious winged insects that do an i'm
mense amount Of crop damage every
season."
Then why don't people have them
around?" asked Frank.
When the early settlers took up
these prairie lands they built martin
houses. Just as they had done back
home, and there were plenty of martins
then. but OF late years people haven't
built any houses, and so the martins
don't stop any more
And won't they stop unless you give
EN- hotel accommodationsT asked
Frank, with grin.
No. the purple martin is a migra-
tory bird. Usually he nests in hollow
trees unless he becomes civilized. and
most of his species have been civilized
for long time for the benefit of
their war on the bad winged insects
and for their perpetual cheerfulness.
Ii home is ready made for him he'll
quickly move into 1t on his migration
from the south, which occurs during
spring. and he'll stay until fall, when
he returns south again.
I'D think the farmers would realize
what a help he'd be and make it pleas
ant enough for him to stay" com
mented Frank.
My boy. they would If they were
awake to It's Importance, but this gem
Grafton seems to have forgotten how
useful he is. The agricultural depart
ment Is taking a deep interest in the
martin. though. and several bird So
cieties are trying to revive his useful
ness, but 1t is slow work"
har
thought, which was finally interrupted
by most clamorous outburst of chirps'
and chatter from the martins capitol
This made Frank laugh and he re-
marked: Yes, they've heard our con-
versation. and they've read what's In
my mind. And now congress has as
sembled and the purple statesmen are
Just passing the Williams bill--no /
don't mean Bill Williams" winking ait
his wondering younger brother.
Mr.. Burton looked puzzled
It'll explain what 1 mean" said
Frank. 'I've decided to start a new
industry This martin house PROPOSE
tion looks like big thing to me, and
the Williams bill. that is meeting with
such approval up in the capitol, is the
Incorporation of the great Martin House
association-Frank Williams president
Ito show the farmers what they're
missing and to make money showing
emf
How Mr.. Burton laughed But he
promised to help, though. and 10 days
later the Martin House association was
ready for business.
1t consisted of Frank. Bill, Jim Spen-
Ger and Ned Wilson. Frank was presi-
dent and general manager. Bill was
vice president, assisting Frank Jim
was secretary because he could borrow
his older abrother's typewriter to type
the firms business letters on, and Ned
Wilson was treasurer because his
father was rich and also indulgent,
making Ned a princely allowance that
dazzled Juvenile Prairievile
Through Mr.. Burton's kindness they
had MANAGED to get nlans and mnch in