Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE ACORN 13 hut overcome by anger and fear he dropped upon the ground, powerless. The mother stooped over her child. Being a typical frontier woman she did not loose her nerve, but began to look around. The experienced mother's eye soon saw and understood. Constance soon revived from her swoon and then her father came and helped to carry Gerald into the house. The blood was washed off from his face and soon signs of life appeared. The father and mother now returned to the garden. Here a beautiful sight greeted them. Jack sat on the bench and in his lap sat Constance, softly stroking his hair. An honest confession had been made and there was now a mutual understanding. The very same night a telegram arrived calling Gerald to the West. And thus went on file another story in Dan Cupids large library. —Joel Burkman ’ll. NATURE. 'Plie snow has disappeared, the birds are here Once more to cheer us with their happy song. O'er nil the world their notes ring clear, We wonder where they've been the winter long. Winds blow the dark and heavy clouds about, To pour the rain o'er barren fields below, And signal to the sleeping buds to sprout As Nature wills that they should live and grow. The grass shoots forth, most everywhere we see Old Mother Earth’s green carpet being wove In colors blended most exquisitely, And harmonizing with the sky above. Henry G. Thunell, ’12. IS CO-EDUCATION DESIRABLE? Co-education is no longer an obscure theory: it has been tried on an extensive scale and proved beneficial. No institution, so far as we know, that has tried the co-educational system has ever abandoned it. This in itself ought to he sufficient to convince the majority of its superiority to ncii-coeducation. It is true that there are many and apparently mighty arguments against co-education, but a careful and candid study of the subject will surely reveal that they are theoretical and imaginary and not consistent with practical experience. A first fruit of co-education is a created tendency towards urging the student on towards greatest exertions in his school work. It is a common argument against co-education, that the students, as a rule, being at an age when they are especially susceptible to the tender passions, arc liable to become absorbed in each other to the neglect of study. Actual experience however does not uphold these views. Before young men and young women meet on equal terms in the class-room, they freely mingle in society, with benefit to both sexes. As soon as their college life is over they once more meet without restraint. And such is the beneficial influence of their polite intercourse that every thoughtful and judicious parent de-

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12 THE ACORN wiped away the teais which she had not been quite able to withhold. As she did so the pale moonlight beat upon her countenance. She looked to hilt as a fragrant rose budding thru golden tracery as she sat there with her yellow hair partly unraveled. He turned from her, still holding her hand. Involuntarily he again looked ar. her. How sweet and beautiful you look, Constance.” She shuddered, but again he had conquered. She even drew closer to him. He looked at her again. Never in his life had he seen anything so beautiful. She looked like a queen of fairy land. Never had he been so enticed. He grasped her other hand. She submitted. Their breath was coining in quick jerks. Those possessing eyes! Those bewitching lips! Oh, how inviting they looked! He breathed heavily! Me stooped: his face felt her warm breath. 'I'he next instant their moist lips were pressed firmly together for a moment, then she withdrew. What have you done?” she cried. Where is Jack? Let us now return for a moment to Jack. When he arrived at his home he immediately retired. A hard day’s labor and the cool evening air had made him drowsy, and ho scon fell into a fitful sleep. He had only been in bed a moment it seemed, when his head felt uncomfortable. He put his hand to his forehead and felt a feverish beat. Turning to his side, he beheld Constance standing there. Never did she look so beautiful. Was this really his beloved sweetheart or was it an angel. He looked again and more intently to sec if she did not have a supernatural halo about her head. No, there was none. This was his Constance. Never did ho love her more. Ah. she had come hack to him. How lovable she looked. He reached forth his hand to seize her. She stepped back. He reached further, she again withdrew. Unable to restrain himself he began to follow. No sooner had he started than she vanished in the distance with Gerald. He looked into the darkness. A feeling of terror came over him. Where was he. With trembling hands he struck a match and looked at his watch. It was half past ten. In a moment he realized that he had been dreaming. As he thought of it the awful truth came to him. Yes, Constance was disappearing with Gerald. Sleep had vanished from him. He dressed and went out into the cold air of the autumnal evening. Involuntarily his steps wound their way to the garden where he had spent so many a happy evening with Ills beloved. He could feel the blood rushing in torrents thru his system. Every twig and branch by the roadside reminded him of her he Lad lost. Everything in life had lost its value. What was there worth living for? Half unconscious lie stumbled rather than walked into the garden. Every step was bringing him closer to her, but he could not stop. In this state of mind lie presently confronted the scene we have just described. The passion of anger siezed him like a monster. With liis eyes shining like those of a raving maniac he rushed forward and grabbed the terrified Gerald by the shoulders. Jn a moment he would - tear to pieces the cause of all his late grief. With the momentary strength of utter madness lie struck the unnerved Gerald blow upon blow. The latter sank upon the ground. Jack, still wild with anger, raised from the prostrate body and turned toward Constance with a gleam of insane delight in his eyes. But Jo! Lying there, seemingly dead, was his beloved. In a moment he realized what he had done. His anger, his hatred left him. Was he a murderer? Meanwhile Constance’s mother had become anxious for her daughter and came into the garden to look for her. It is unnecessary to relate what she found there. As Jack saw her coming, lie tried to flee.

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14 THE ACORN sires it for their children. Actual experience has verified the opinion that attachments arising from coeducation are the exceptions rather than the rule; and when they do take place they do no more disqualify these students for intellectual efforts than the same pure and generous passions, when they arise in later periods, disqualify them for the active duties or life. Instead we often find that such attachments have proved to be a new and mighty impulse, urging on to the highest achievements. Another objection against co-education has been: That the delicate glory and charm of woman would be lost, If for a period of four years the two sexes should meet on equal terms in the class-room; in short, that such a contact would make the young woman mannish. We need, however, do no more than to compare the oriental woman who is excluded from all company and association with men—except. perhaps, that of a brutal husband,— with the young woman of our republic, who freely mingle with the opposite sex without restraint, to be convinced that such fears are purely imaginary. The striking contrast which this comparison presents, speaks highly in favor of woman’s rights and freedom. Yea it not only favors the freedom and rights of woman, but it verifies strongly our claim that the two sexes cannot be educated apart without serious loss. The establishment of separate schools was a declaration of war against nature, and the continuation of them is fighting for a bad cause. In the nature of things boys and girls should be trained up together. God has created the two sexes, each dependent upon the other, and neither of them complete without the other; and since they are to live together as man and woman they need to be taught their true relationship. They are together In the family and mingle in society, not only without harm, but to their mutual advantage.—Why not in College? A third fruit of co-education might be classified under the opportunities which it offers the student of forming a just conception of the real nature and true value of the opposite sex. In the class-room the young man and the young woman appear what they are. A brainless cheap-corner cigaret smoking dude, who might be attractive to a young girl at an evening party, loses his charm on her where his inferiority in the class-room is exposed. And a frivolous girl cannot long attract an ambitious scholarly boy who meets her day after day in the class-room and sees her helplessness there. The chances for young men and young women to form a true conception of the opposite sex, are nowhere better than in coeducational schools. And, as a matter of fact, fewer cases of scandal and run-away matches are known to have oecured in mixed than in separate schools. Jonas Larson, 'll. CRYSTAL LAKE. in and out among the small capes and promontories my little bark was drifting, guided only by a single paddle when the gently flowing tide brought it in direct contact with a projecting log. The water in some places was slightly disturbed, while in other places n perfect calm reign- ed supreme. How like unto life this was! Some times, life's tide is gentle and again at times, very agitated. Just where my canoe was now the waters were squalid and gave one a feeling of misery and shame. A few strokes with my paddle soon