Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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T H E A C O R N 16 Another valuable service is to render aid lo the farmer in enforeinj the trespass law. The object ami purpose of same laws is not only to preserve a few anima s, birds and fishes, but to protect them lrom hunters and increase the useful species for the people in general. It not only tends to pieserve game animals and tame birds, but birds of song and plumage and also those which are beneficial in destroying injurious insects and weeds. The game laws also give that class cf persons who find recreation in observing and studying nature a chance of further research. There aie three ways that game is protected in this state: first, by laws restricting shooting; secondly, by regulating time of shooting, and third, laws forbidding the importation of injurious birds and mammals to the native species. These are all good laws and if they are strictly enforced as they !.cui : be. the game wi'l be preserved for many years to come, but viola tions are going cn all the time as you notice by the accounts in the daily press. Human beings are not the only enemy or game. Storms, wet and dry seasons, and various kinds cf insects w«ho prey upon the eggs and young. Over storms, wet and dry seasons, man has no power, hut he can aid the game by distributing grain and food throughout the stricken districts .inhabited by these. This has been tried in different states and found very successful. In some instances the wild species have become nearly domesticated, where this law has been in vogue. The game wardens attend to this an 1 are required to place at regular intervals during inclement weather, food for the game within easy reach where they stay and frequent. This has relieved the suffering animals and aided them to pass the rigid months ami preserved them for many seasons to come. I have failed to find any statistics showing that Minnesota has ever tried this plan. Minnesota has as vet no game preserve or state park where the many species of mammals, game birds and fish and nongame species may live unmolested and perpetuate the different species. This I believe is an important measure cf conservation and certainly would be an item in the conservation of the natural resources of which we have heard so much recently. 1 believe lhat Minnesota should have a game preserve. The northern part, or almost any part of the state is suitable for this. 'Pile stale owns more land in the northern part which is thickly forested and full of lakes and rivers where the aquatic birds and also fishes could find protection and a place to rear their young. Next the people as a w-hole should be educated and informed in regard to the benefits derived from the preservation or insectivorous birds and mammals. The laws that we now have should be enforced to the letter and if the present laws and force of wardens are incapable of bringing the law-breakers to justice, then more laws should be enacted and the present force of wardens enlarged. In this way the offenders would be caught and brought to justice. Thirdly, the people should co-operate with the wardens and inform them ol any depredation and law-violations that may come under their surveillance. If we must have a law regulating the shooting of game birds and animals. I believe, the number stipulated for one hunter to bag should be lessened and the time and season for shooting made shorter and more remote and less frequent. Proper legislation will do this. As soon as the people awaken to the fact that today the nation’s birds and animals are in most cases becoming extinct, and in some cases already extinct, then and not until then, will the proper precautions be taken nnd laws enacted and enforced. —H. G. Thunell, T2.

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THE ACORN 15 brought me into pure, transparent water again, and when 1 stooped over the edge of the boat to gaze into the deep, 1 was amazed by the perfectness of the image 1 saw reflected in the water. Up to this time I had been in the shade and was just now coming out to whe:e the lake broadened considerably. Here the placid water was kissed by the dancing sunbeams which seemed to urge the sparkling spirits to join their dance. My eyes were almost blinded with this brilliant sight. As I looked across to the opposite shore I saw how beautiful and green it was. and I set out at once to cross the sea of diamonds to the green shady shore opposite me. The water in the middle must have been quite deep, for 1 could not sec bottom, nor could I touch it with my short paddle. 1 thought, as I skimmed lightly over the smooth surface, of the many who have been folded into the bosom of the deep, where only the profound silence and oblivion heard their terrified screams. No one knows how many have found their graves in the depth of just this lake whose extreme benutiy tried to cover its possible guilt. My meditation now ended as 1 had reached the shore. The water was very shallow and the bottom was covered with pearly pebbles and shells. Here in the cool shade the pure white water lilies were abundant, and their large Hat pads served as docks for the froggies, which sitting upon them seemed to wonder if I had come to disturb the peaceful calm or their home. Cecelia Karlen, T3. GAME LAWS AND GAME PROTECTED IN MINNESOTA For several years past, the enforcement of criminal laws of all kinds In this state has been entrusted to sheriffs, constables and the police. Up to 1850 this method proved satisfactory until the question of the preservation of game in Minnesota was made a matter of legislation and was acted upon favorably. The men at the head or the state affairs saw that something had to be done to prevent the extinction of the various species of wild animals, birds and fish which inhabited the great lorests, plains, rivers and lakes cf our state. Accordingly a commission was established for the protection of game in Minnesota in the year 1S52. Since the establishement of state offices and departments for the protection or game and fish, the position of warden has assumed an important and dignifiel place amongst state offices. The duties of a warden whether he is in charge of a state or a small area is practically the same. He has the same rights as a sheriff, although he has most of the time to go searching about to find evidence af lawbreaking where a sheriff docs not. This is a very precarious piece of business, and is enhanced with many dangers. During the open season for game his time is spent in examining shipments at the railroad centers and if it is a large center it requires much night work. The deputy wardens are then scouring the woods and keeping the hunters in constant dread or detection, that is, If they have broken the law. The warden also confiscates guns, traps and game and holds auction sales of all contraband goods. When an offender has escaped into another state he procures the proper requisition papers and goes to bring back the fugitive. A game warden also acts as an educator, giving the farmers information concerning game, and distributes standard books on the different species.

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THE ACORN 17 WHEN THE VIOLETS BLOOMED. Little Irene was sitting in her rolling chair. She had been sick all winter, but had been told, that when the violets bloomed, she might be well enough to be out and pick them. How glad she was for every sunny day, noting how the snowdrifts became smaller and smaller, and •’soon , she said, the violets will bloom.’' One day, when it was warm weather, her mother took her out on the veranda, where the fresh, pure air seemed to put new life into her frail body. She was out every nice day after this and enjoyed, not only the fresh air, but. the company of some birds, which were building their nests in a tree near the house. She also watched the grass coming up, and the buds on the trees, and most of all, the spot where the violets were growing. She was planning how she would arrange the flowers and take care of them. Iler parents' hope of their daughter’s recovery revived once more. But one morning she could not sit in her chair. Her eyes were glowing with fever, and she spoke about the violets, which she had expected to come out that day. Towards noontime she grew more quiet, and when the bright sun rays came in thru the window, and she heard the cheerful songs of the birds, she said: “I am so glad that springtime has come, I wish it would never end.” Just then her younger sister came in with some violets from their yard. Irene took the little messengers of spring in her hands, and with new life looked around at her parents and sister with her happy smile and whispered: I am going—where the violets—bloom forever.” She closed her eyes, and in a few moments her spirit was free from earthly bands. The Great Gardener had come to transplant her into a place where death is no more, and where the violets are in constant bloom. Georgina Staverfeldt. BETHEL ACADEMY. O Bethel, Bethel thou hast done A deed that hearts will move— In days that of thy time are gone And days that are thou still do’st loan Thy cunning token from above Of pureness and of love. f J We love the beauty where thou stands And its surrounding hills, The music from celestial bands Us brought by His all-powerful hands, In nature—that our hearts now fills With gladness that us thrills. Thou art not rich and shall not be For those in Mammon’s halls, Try only riches is thy key And guide to those who cannot see A path o’r hills, woods, waterfalls That leads where Knowledge calls. —Joel Anderson. BILLBOARDS. That which will probably first attract the attention of a youngster, at he comes from some remote country place toward a city are the large billboards, with which our cities are so well supplied. These with their attractive advertisements are placed at all favorable points. They will be found surrounding vacant lots, forming barricades along railroads and thoroughfares, thus protecting wayfarers from being suddenly surprised and attacked by robbers. They occupy almost every conceivable spot