Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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12 THE ACORN Clarence Erickson of the class of '3 3. As you know he is travelling in the interest of Bethel Academy and doubtless his speech will be well worth listening to.” He arose, began speaking and succeeded in holding the attention of his audience for an hour and a half. Loud was the applause that followed. Mr. Erickson then seated himself at the piano and played The March of '13.” his latest composition. While he was playing I turned to Fred Johnson, who had, during the greater part of the evening discussed public ownership. In the course of our conversation he informed me that he was acting as instructor at the Agricultural School. 1 thought, probably he was teaching the value of music, and great was my astonishment when he told me that he taught practical farming and chicken raising. Later I was informed that his course was the most popular in the whole school. Before the next speaker was announced I was called to the phone, and soon 1 heard a voice say. This is Frank Erickson, I am sorry, that as secretary of the class, I am unable to be present tonight, but my wife is cleaning bouse and I have to stay at home and help her. However, I received a letter from Olivia Johnson to-day. As you know she went to the Phillipines. Some time ago she met an. aeroplane agent who convinced her that his airship was the best ever made and wished her io set sail with him. Olivia’s ambitions, as you know, have always been high, and so I guess she consented. “Within three days.” she writes, we landed in the heart of Africa, and here we are both engaged in doing missionary work.” This bit of news interested me very much, but T was equally anxious to find out how Frank had fared. In answer to my question he said, Why. 1 am en- tangled somewhat in political affairs. ! ran for president last fall on the democratic ticket, but 1 was defeated. However, I am going to run again in 1923. I wished Frank better success asid hung up the receiver. When I returned Oscar Peterson was delivering an address on Words’. i found he was saying that the great need of the present generation is a better rhetoric. So I took upon myself the stupendous task of giving to the world a book, dealing with the art of prose composition. The trouble with the present day student is his inability to use words with more than one syllable. Without gasconading I wish to say that I believe this accomplishment of mine will be greatly appreciated by the essay writing student.” His speech was splendid, it showed us all the limits of our vocabulary. While Mr. Peterson was speaking 1 noticed a dignified looking fellow rapidly writing shorthand. My curiosity got the better of me, and so I turned to Miss Lundberg, .who sat on my left, and asked her who the silent man was, for he had scarsely said a dozen words during the entire evening. “Why, she exclaimed, don’t you recognize Reuben Allen? He is always to be found at all social affairs because he is society reporter for the St. Paul Dispatch.” Just at this moment the President oi the Alumni Association arose and announced the banquet at an end. As J went home that night I tried to think what was the most pleasing feature of the evening and came to the conclusion that the knowledge of the fact that the members of the class of 1913 were all launched on successful careers, was the most delightful of all. Ruth Swanson—T3

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THE ACORN 11 CLASS PROPHECY. One morning in Hie latter part of May, the mail man handed me a letter which bore a St. Paul postmark. For years I had been away from the Saintly City and only now and then did I receive any news from the Twin Cities. When I opened the letter, out dropped an invitation to the annual alumni banquet of Bethel Academy. Not since 1913 had I attended an alumni banquet and now to my great joy I found it possible to journey back to my Alma Mater. In the northern part of Canada, news from my class mates had not reached ine often, and now while on the train 1 sat pondering about them and found to my great astonishment that I had lost track of the most of them. Suddenly my soliloquy was broken by someone calling close at my elbow, Peanuts, popcorn, peanuts. popcorn!” Oh, that voice. I would have known- it among a thousand. it could belong to no other than Milton Lind. For a while he ceased calling peanuts and popcorn, and we had quite a chat. ‘‘I never had this occupation in mind.” he said, but lately I discovered that I had quite a voice an-d so I chose this means of developing it. I am going to spend another year on the train and then I am going to enter a conservatory anil have it train-sd. 1 then asked Milton concerning the other members of the class and he said that he only corresponded with Mr. Crook and so he didn't know anything definite about the most of them. He then handed me a letter sent from Peking. China. Milton continued down the aisle and I began to peruse the letter. Mr. Crook was as droll as ever. One paragraph ran thus, toil ask me. why I ever went to China. Well you know that yellow was always my favorite color and so naturally I chose the yellow race to work amongst. At present I am teaching geography lo a large class of Chinese and they have become so enthusiastic about America that two of them are very desirous of sailing for U. S. and furthering their education at Bethel Academy. ’ The train sped cn. and ere long I found myself in the crowd pouring into the Union Depot at Minneapolis. I felt like Rip Van Winkle after his twenty years sleep. Everything was changed. 1 was at a loss where to take a car, and so l stepped up to ask a policeman. Car for Retliel Academy,” he said, that’s easy. They’re running special cars for the banquet to-night. Take any Bethel Academy car and you’ll get there. I'll be there as soon as I get off duty. I gasped, and just as I boarded the car 1 recognized the accomodating little policeman as Peter Cqulst. The car was packed with people, but l recognized no one. However, soon a penetrating voice reached my ear, “If 1 have to fight for this until I am a hundred years old, I will not give up. I have spent ten years in awakening the nation to the fact that the day is not far hence when women will arise and demand their rights. When I have gained my cause m America I am going to England to use my influence there. They have struggled—” Bethel Academy, called the conductor, and as the speaker arose from her seat I was not at all astonished to recognize Esther Lundberg. Bethel Academy , Oh! what a grand institution. We recognized it as the building in-reality which a former student once dreamed it to be. Soon we found ourselves in the dimly lighted banquet room. ”1913 class this way- called the usher. In a few moments I was seated with several of my classmates at the table. Soon the clatter of knives and forks ceased and the President of the Alumni Association arose and called for order. “The first speech this evening will be by

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THE ACORN 13 CLASS HISTORY. Rudolph Crook.—It was in the Land of the Midnight Sun that Rudolph Crook, our class president, first began to adjust himself to his environments. He was born in Bjornesteiv, Sweden, April 20, 1892. Becoming dissatisfied with life in the Old World, he decided to emigrate to the United States, the shores of which he reached Sept. 12, 1901. His first place of abode was in Winne Boujoun. Wis. Later he moved to Lake Nebagamon, Wis.. thence to Stillwater, Minn., and finally to St. Paul. Mr. Crcok learned his a, b, c's under the ferule of the Swedish schoolmaster. He attended school in Sweden for two years, and spent seven years in the public schools of America. Beginning in the rail of 1910, he spent three years In mastering obstacles at Bethel. While in Bethel he has distinguished himself as a faithrul student, athlete, president of the Alpha Beta Literary Society and Student Volunteer Band, and Editor ol the Acorn. During vacation he has worked as elevator operator, machinist apprentice, painter, and has also done contract work on ice boxes. Mr. Crook has chosen as his favorite flower, the Lily-of-theValley. His motto is: “If you know you are right, do it.” He expects some day to take up foreign missionary work, and intends to continue his studies at some university, specializing in medicine. Ruth Swanson.—On Jan. 1, 1S92, the world was startled by the vociferous laughter of a bright-faced little girl, who made her appearance at Coon Creek. Minn. This little girl soon took a liking to the Windy City and turned her hack thither. But she did not stay very long, and was soon back in Minnesota, where she first resided in. Minneapolis, and later in North St. Paul. After two years In the country school, Ruth Florence Swanson, for that was her name, entered the public schools of Chicago, where she learned to multiply. Aside from that she has received all her education in Minnesota, having attended the Prairie Star School, and the Garfield School. Beginning in 1908, Ruth spent one year at the South High School in Minneapolis, then went back to the farm and came to Bethel in 1910. Miss Swanson has been prominent in Society work, and is especially interested in the study of Physics. She has dis- played distinct abilities as a prognosticator. Her favorite flower is the Sweet Pea. and her favoiite saying is “Don't Worry.” Reuben Allen.—A very modest little boy is Reuben Allen. He arrived in St. Paul, Minn., on the ninth of June, 1S92. After a residence there of two years he gathered his possessions together and set out for St. Anthony Park, where he has resided over since. He has spent his spare time in making himself useful about his father s grocery store. The time came on when Reuben must begin his education-, so he entered the Murray school as a freshmen, remaining there only four years, however. He then finished his elementary course in the Baker School. Mr. Allen arrived in Bethel 1909, but remained only one year. After a vacation of- one year however, he decided to come back, and so he resumed his course in Bethel in the fall of 1911. After two years of faithful work he decided he would graduate with the class of T3. Mr. Allen lias been too busy to decide which was his favorite flower, but Indications seem to point to. the pansy. His motto. “Silence is golden,” is well chosen. Next Tall we expect to meet Reuben at the U. of M. Continued page lf .