Frank C. Pellett

              1910

Figure

FRANK C. PELLETT
ATLANTIC, IOWA
The Naturalist with a New Message in Popular Lectures
Management EMPIRE LYCEUM BUREAU, Syracuse, N. Y.



INTRODUCTION
In offering to Lecture Courses and Chautauquas such lectures as these by Frank C. Pellett, the well known naturalist, we believe that a special opportunity is given the public to enjoy things which only an ardent naturalist can apprehend and reveal.

A lifetime of personal observation of wild creatures in their natural haunts has supplied the inspiration, as well as much of the material, for these lectures.

In giving up the practice of law, to devote his life to the work which had occupied so much of his time since childhood, he remarked that he was born a naturalist, but that circumstances had made him a lawyer.  Several years of work upon the platform and in contributing to the leading outdoor magazines, have abundantly justified his course, when he abandoned the law, and literally took to the woods.  The public has received him very cordially, and the best evidence of his success is the constantly increasing number of calls upon his time.

Mr. Pellett has appeared before audiences of various kinds, ranging from those composed of children, to scientific men and educators.  While those who make a study of these subjects will take special delight in following him, yet the average audience of business and professional men and women, as well as children, will find these lectures full of the very best entertainment, as well as instruction.


Mr. Pellett is called by the Sioux Indians
IKTOMI TONKA, (Big Spider)


As much of his time as possible is spent in the open air, not only the days, but many of the nights, as well, being spent under the open sky, without as much as a tent.  Thunderstorms in the wilderness, many miles from shelter, and with no protection but a tarpaulin, prairie fires burning over hundreds of square miles of territory and similar experiences, are frequent incidents in his life.

He knows nature as only one can know her, who has courted her assiduously in her various moods, for long periods of time.  One can no more appreciate and understand the hidden things of nature, without expending infinite patience in that direction, than one can acquire a knowledge and appreciation of art or music, without long training.  A naturalist has as fine a message for the public, as has a master musician or artist.

Mr. Pellett holds the office of State Bee Inspector of Iowa.  The office was created for the purpose of checking disease among the bees.




Popular Lectures

THE LIVE BEE DEMONSTRATION


LITTLE GIANTS This lecture deals with the work of the lower animals in government, architecture, engineering, aeronautics, etc.  It is guaranteed to please any audience.

ECONOMY OF NATURE IN THE PLAN OF EDEN A popular presentation of the part played by various creatures in contributing to the supply of man's physical needs.

Surprising sidelights on the cost of living and cause of old world famines, are presented.  Has received universal commendation everywhere.

RELIGION OF THE INDIAN.  You have perhaps become so accustomed to looking upon the Indian as worshiping a Great Spirit and looking forward to a Happy Hunting ground that you will be surprised to learn that nothing approaching this idea can be found among the American tribes save as implanted by missionaries.  An interesting discussion of the religious beliefs of primitive Americans.



Educational Lectures
OUR BACK-DOOR NEIGHBORS.  An illustrated lecture showing by means of pictures, the relationship of birds, animals and insects to each other and to man.  Many of the slides are made from original photographs taken in the field.

PASSING OF THE RED MAN.  An interesting and sympathetic picture of the pathetic condition of a once powerful race which has found it difficult to adapt itself to the white man's ways of living.  The photos illustrating this lecture were obtained by means of some hundreds of miles of travel among the Indians on the reservations in company with teachers and missionaries who have spent many years among them.

BEES.  (With live bee demonstration)—During the progress of this lecture a colony of bees is brought forward, the hive is opened and thousands of insects swarm about the cage in which the demonstration is given.  They are picked up by handfuls, and panfuls of them are poured over the head to illustrate the thought that any creature may be safely handled by one who fully understands its nature and is in sympathy with it.

SHORT COURSE IN NATURE STUDY.  A series of lectures designed to be both popular and interesting, while instructing the hearers concerning the many interesting fields open for exploration on every hand.  Birds, animals, butterflies, moths, bees and many other wild creatures are presented and in many cases specimens of the animals themselves are used to illustrate the lectures.

LIVES OF THE FOUR-FOOTED, dealing with little known animals and WINGED JOURNEYS which deals with bird migration are examples of this course.




F. L. WASHBURN, Professor of Entomology. University of Minnesota:
I was quite pleased with the lecture given before the Wisconsin Horticultural Society, particularly so since the lecture combined not only an aesthetic view of nature and nature's children, but it was very practical, and contained information which it would be well to place before those engaged in Agricultural and Horticultural work.



W. C. WILCOX, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Iowa State University:
A few weeks ago it was my good fortune to see Mr. Frank C. Pellett, of Altantic, Iowa, in his Bee Demonstration before a large audience of teachers.  I have never witnessed a more interesting illustration of the practical side of nature study, and I have rarely seen a company of teachers so thoroughly instructed and entertained by a number on an institute program.



W. S. BUTTERBAUGH, M. D., Instructor in Natural Science Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska:
Mr. Pellett is a naturalist of no ordinary ability and his illustrations and comparisons of the corelationship and mutual interchange of the powers and forces of nature are a revelation to many minds.



PROF. F. F. KING, Supt. Schools, Escanaba, Mich.
He entertains and instructs.  His demonstration as to the proper handling of bees is unique and surprisingly successful.  I shall not hesitate to recommend him for any institute or lecture course in which I may be interested.



AMOS E. GRIFFITH, Pastor M. E. Church, Perry, Iowa:
The audience was delighted and enthusiastic in its praise.  It was well prepared, well delivered, entertaining, and instructive.  He displayed natural ability, careful insight, close observation and much original investigation of natural life; a practical knowledge of plants, insects, birds and animals; as well as an acquaintance with the specialists in science; backing up his conclusions with quotations from highest authority that made a cumulative and profound impression upon his hearers.


Mr. Pellett is a student and observer of nature who has but few equals.—
The Curio Collector.



REV. B. J. RHODES, Pastor Congregational Church, Oakland, Iowa:
He not only instructed but entertained as well, and was listened to with rapt attention to the end.  He gave complete satisfaction.



CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, REPUBLICAN
Frank C. Pellett of Atlantic, Iowa, was then introduced, and before he had finished with the audience created no small sensation.  His subject was 'Bees' and he brought his subjects, (for they were many indeed) along with him, and after a while they were on his hands and on his head and he seemed altogether at their mercy.  But he was calm and collected amid it all, not seeming to care any more for them than had the insects been a shower of spring blossoms.  * * * He took the bees in his hands, he shook them into a tin pan and he upset a quantity of them over his head.  All this went forward while he continued to talk.  * * * In other ways he concluded a demonstration, alike remarkable in its character and highly instructive in its teachings.



SALEM, MISSOURI, MONITOR
The Economy of Nature in the Plan of Eden, an address by Frank C. Pellett, of Atlantic, Iowa, was the feature of the teachers' meeting at the opera house Friday night, and proved an intellectual treat to those who heard it.  Mr. Pellett does not deal with the question from the standpoint of the theologian, but rather as a naturalist, and his conclusion that the present burden of labor required to make the earth produce its sustaining fruits is the result of man's violation of the laws of nature and interference with nature's own process is supported by such reasonable and logical statements of fact as to leave scarcely a doubt in the minds of his hearers of the value of his investigations.



REV. J. GEORGE, A. M., D. D., Miami, Florida:
Mr. Pellett presents his subject so that it is interesting to old and young alike.  He is clear, forcible and pleasing in his address.



W. D. FROST, Professor of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin:
I was very much pleased indeed with his manner of presenting the subject.  (Our Backdoor Neighbors).  He spoke from accurate knowledge, with clearness and precision, and held his audience from start to finish.  His are the kind of lectures that I like to see given before educational bodies.  He talks as an intimate friend of animals and plants, and I recommend him most cordially.


Those who failed to hear him missed one of the best things of the season and we predict that should he ever come to Elliott again he will be greeted by a crowded house.—
Elliott (Iowa) Graphic.


The address was one of exceeding interest, as Mr. Pellett is a fine speaker.  * * * It dealt for the most part with the part played by a large variety of animal life in ministering to man's welfare or detracting from his comfort.  * * The material for the lecture had been largely gathered by personal observations extending over a number of years, and the slides to a great extent made from original photographs taken in the field.—
Madison (Wis.) Democrat.


Mr. Pellett is a close student of Nature and Living Things and his lectures are much appreciated.—
Council Bluffs Nonpareil.


Mr. Pellett proved himself to be a naturalist of the highest type, ranking with the foremost of the day.—
Dubuque Telegraph-Herald.


Mr. Pellett is a naturalist of rare ability.—
Warrenton (Mo.) Banner.

THE GARDNER PRESS, PRINTERS, ATLANTIC, IOWA