The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-05-19

he erected a small cottage on one Of the
islands for the use of warden and ad
vertised in the New York Herald for some
one to occupy it and look after the birds
Each year in April since then the ad'
vertisement has appeared in one form OF
another, but never revealing, except tc
the applicant accepted, where the island
was located, by whom it was owned OF
why lone dweller was wanted there,
For the first five or six years he stipu-
lated a certain compensation to be paid,
but found that the men who sought the
place as a paid job were not satisfactory
so now he asks for those who want to so
without compensation beyond food, cloth
ing and shelter, and finds that in this
way he obtains a much better class of
gull guardians.
For one who enjoys solitude and the
lonely life nothing could be more ideal.
Suppose you were the lucky applicant for
the job; here is about what you would
have to do. You could go there in your
.pajAmas, If you like, for all necessary
clothing Is supplied to your order. The
house is a particularly snug little abode,
sheltered by a grove Of eedars and very
close to the waters edge. 1t is cosey
and warm, with a large cooking range,
ample furniture, romantic little verandas,
vine covered and looking out over the
lake. There are corners for books and
room for a piano, il you like, and pleasant
windows where the sun comes in at
morning and the breeze from the lake
floats in at night. Up in a little loft
you find guns and fishing tackle A few
yards distant is a dock, and there you
have several rowbosts and a fine motor
boat, the Fly, named in commemoration
of Mr.. Hatch's, campaign against the
house fly which has extended to every
part of the country.
AnTdeal Vacation.
The advertisement tells you the island
Is eight miles from the mainland. 1t
isn't. 1t is exactly two miles to Mr..
Hsteh's estate, where all supplies are
furnished. 81 made it Just as bad as
could" said Mr.. Hatch, in telling about
his experience in getting a proper gull
guardian. But It is only two miles to
the Hatch dock, and the truth is there
is mighty good society and the best of
everything in the way of provisions at the
Hatch country home, with which you
are expected to keep in communication.
So there you are with a speedy motor
boat. two or three rowboats, plenty of
fishing tackle and guns, all the books you
want, q piano If you choose, no restric-
tons as to shore leave, good food, plenty
of society two miles away, the best air
in the world, health and happiness on all
sides, and all you have to do is to be
good to the gulls. And that duty becomes
a real pleasure after you get acquainted
with them.
If all Of Us had become as well &C
quainted with the gulls as has Mr.. Hatch
it would be quite easy to understand why
he cares for them with such singular
solicitude. They are the most aristo-
cratic, best behaved, best self-governed
birds in the world. Each male gull takes
his mate for life, and there are never any
or divorces in this summer col
ony. Each pair live much by themselves
and attend strictly to their own business
and insist on all other members Of the
colony doing the same.
For hundreds of years this particular
solOny has made the -Four Brother
Islands their nursery. In the days when
the French dominated that part Of the
country the islands were known as les
lies des Quatres Vents Isles Of the
-Four Hinds-and tia gaIlS we're thse