The Birch Rod

OF THE Emi\BOR<J STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
Volume II

MONDAY, APRIL 28. 1813

SENIOR GIRLS

No. IS

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
GIVEN BY THE CLASS OF 1913

Basketball Cup Winners.

In accordance with the established custom.
Arbor Day was celebrated at the Normal on
Friday afternoon, April 25. The senior class,
fortunate in retaining the co-operation of the
underclassmen and securing helpful suggestions
and realizing the beneficial aid of the faculty,
conducted the exercises in a most delightful and
unique manner.
At 1:30 o’clock the members of the senior
class assembled at Normal Hall and marched
in a well organized body across the campus
around recitation hall, up in front of Haven
Hall, where they formed a crescent facing the
veranda. Previous arrangements were sufficient
promise for an afternoon worth while and
many were present, among whom were Prin­
ciple and Mrs. Baker, the faculty, underclass­
men and many town visitors, who assembled
on the south side of Science Hall near enough
to hear the following program given from
Haven Hall veranda.

Elhel Case Anna Quirk Ruth Smith He'en Whiting
M .rjorie Fisher Frances McKinley Mabe! Morton

TCUT BIEN, ON RIEN.
The Seniors scoff ! Well, let them, pray,
For, truly, queer ideas have they;
They cannot see what is our worth.
They fain would use us for their mirth.
But since we’l. soon be rid of them.
And they’ll ne’er trouble us again.
We’ll let them scoff, and let them mock.
We can afford to let them talk.

Orchestra
Proclamation of GovernorQuincy Vincent
Essay----------------------------------- "Origin of Arbor Day"
Freda Mitchell
Declamation — "Why We Should Celebrate Arbor Day"
Adiia Dickey
Poem------------------------------- "There’s a Ruling Hand"
Catherine Crawford
Music-------------------------------—------ Class Song 1913
Senior Class arose and sang in a body.
piJ "Trees" _______________
Reading | n^ppi^
_____________
Edna Sammons
Reading--------------------- "The Oak and the Ivy"—Field
Verna Markel
Declamation ---------- "Beautifying the School Grounds"
Charles Marsh
Orchestra

Great Cicero, could you but see
The way the Seniors quote from thee!
They put your works to such vile use.
That it comes very near abuse.
But hold your wrath! Next year they’ll be
Far out upon the world’s broad sea.
This year they’re Seniors in the strife.
Next, Freshmen in the school of life.
’15.

Jamestown Defeats Edinboro.
Saturday, the baseball team journeyed to
Jamestown where they were defeated by the
onesided score, 11-1. The defeat was partly
due to the fact that the pitchers were not in
form. The team expects to make things lively
for Jamestown when they come here to play
the return game.

The Philo orchestra under the direction of
Mr. Gleason furnished the music. The class
then marched in order to the place selected
for the important ceremony of the day, and
following the procession came the tree in a
conveyance artistically decorated with the
senior class "class colors," red and blue, drawn
by six senior girls, dressed in white. Miss Swift
and Miss Walker stood in the conveyance and
with fairy like lines skillfully guided their fairy
steeds to the appointed place. The tree was
placed in the ground, then the senior class
president, Arthur Johnson, gave the tree oration.
After the class yell and tree song each member
of the class proceeded to throw a spadeful of
earth about the roots of the tree, during which

time the enthusiasm and cheer of the class was
expressed in Edinboro songs. Then with Miss
Vere Steadman, as the accompanist, the pro­
cession singing, marched to the melody of "To
the Maypole let us on," over on the campus in
front of the gymnasium where the red and
blue ribbons streaming from the top of the
Maypole was the center of attraction. Twentyfour girls formed in a circle by two’s around
the Maypole, then two folk dances, the Shoe­
maker dance and Danish Dance of Greeting
were given preliminary to the Maypole Dance.
After the Maypole Dance the exercises closed
with the singing of "Domine Salvam Fac" by
the class.
It has been well said, "All three dances
were beautifully done and the beauty and
dignity of the whole program reflects great
credit upon Miss Bauman, who arranged the
literary exercises; Mr. Hayes, who had chargd
of the dances and Charles Marsh, chairman of
the class committee," and permit the class to
add "upon Mr. Barnes, who helped us much
with his suggestions, and composed, set to
music and led all the cheerful songs we sang
on that day."
The class unaminously extend a vote of
thanks to the faculty for the interest they
showed in our efforts, especially to those who
took such a beneficial part in the exercises, to
the underclassmen for their co-operation and
to the visitors who showed their interest in the
school.

Why We Should Celebrate Arbor Day.
We, the seniors of the Edinboro Normal
School, have gathered together to-day to cele­
brate a day, the dignity of which is fully
adequate to that of any other of our holidays.
I feel that as prospective teachers, we should
manifest a deep interest in the celebration of
this day. It will be but a very short time until.
we go out to do our small part in teaching the
public schools of this country. We shall not
only teach those things which are found in the
text-books of the schools, but we shall also
teach many other things that will influence the
entire lives of the boys and girls with whom
we associate. We shall be associated with
these young people at a time in their lives
when they will learq things that will stay with
them far longer and stick to them far more
closely than the things learned in after years.

Page Two
So, for this reason I feel that we, as teachers,
should, by devoting at least one day of our
school year to the planting of trees, create a
spirit of interest concerning one of the most
vital questions which now confronts the people
of our nation. That is, the conservation and
preservation of our forests!
The lesson of Arbor Day is the use and
value of the tree in the life of the nation.
The diversion of setting out a few trees and
the exercises by which school hours are en­
livened, should be regarded as a means to an
end rather than the end itself—an intelligent
and lasting impression in the mind of the child.
While isolated trees along the country road­
side or in the city streets, please the eye and
cool the air with refreshing shade, the true
message of Arbor Day is found in the forest
where wood is grown to supply material for
houses, fuel, and industries, where the tree
protected soil is storing the waters for streams,
to be used for quenching thirst, irrigating land,
driving mills, or filling rivers deep so as to bear
traffic. The forest is thus the producer and
custodian of the necessaries of life.
The
science of forestry is based on the idea that
exact knowledge makes it possible to co-operate
with nature in bringing the forest to its fullest
usefulness as a source of wood, as a protection
to the soil, or as a natural reservoir. Arbor
Day should be the occetsion of imparting to
children some simple forest laws; the planting
of a few trees, without reference to the forest’s
productive value and commercial utilities is
certainly but a small part of the day’s work.
The vast amount of our forests used in the
civilization and strength of this nation has been
exceeded by the amount that has decayed and
been burned.
Notwithstanding this great
wastefulness, the commerce in forest products
has aJways been great, and according to
statistics in 1900 their value was second only
to the trade in agricultural products. By later
statistics, the interest on the forest principal is
found to be much greater than the return from
the capital invested in all our railroads combined.
We use per capita many times more
timber than any other nation. Two of the
things which one might consider of minor im­
portance in regard to the amount of wood re­
quired in their manfacture are lead pencils and
paper.
We make each year more than
315,000,000 lead pencils, the manufaeture of
which requires more than 7,000,000 cubic
feet of cedar. The amount of wood pulp used
in making paper each year is about two
million five hundred thousand tons. This
means one million acres of wood pulp per
year, yet the amount of timber cut for this
purpose is less than five per cent of what is
cut for lumber.
The value obtained from our forests directly

THE BIRCH

ROD

is much less than that obtained Indirectly.
The Forests are vast reservoirs. They regu­
late the supply of water for domestic and com­
mercial purposes, and prevent excessive erosion
and floods. In eastern United States the de­
structive effects of deforestation are becoming
noticeable by the impairing of the at one time
excellent water powers of its many rivers by
rendering these rivers less navigable; by the
erosion that is making much of our tillable land
unproductive; by the great floods such as dev­
astated the valley of the Mississippi but a few
weeks ago destroying many farms and planta­
tions with the cost of millions of dollars and
many human lives.
In addition to these few commercial and
utilitarian uses mentioned, for all ages and all
peoples forests have had much influence mor­
ally and aesthetically. Health, sanity, broad­
ness, hope, liberty. I am sure you would say
this is the message of a beautiful forest. In
William Cullen Bryant’s forest hymn, he says:
" The groves were God’s first temples,
Ere man learned
To hew the shaft and lay the architrave,
To spread the roof above him ere he framed
The lofty volt, to gather and roll back
The sound of anthems ; in the darkling wood.
Amid the cool and silence, he knelt down
And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks
and supplication."

A. D.

Beautifying the School Grounds.
Who has not felt a sigh of regret that the
place of all outside of the home should be so
neglected ? Even in the most thrifty, enterpris­
ing, progressive agricultural districts an improved

school ground is rarely seen. In hilly forest
regions, they are often denuded of soil and full
of stones and stumps, and on the prairie, many
are well nigh as bare, bleak and inhospitable
as when they formed part of the unsettled plain.
The cause of this lack of Improvement seems
to lie in the failure to see the importance of
comfort and beauty in education, and to
realize the interest of the American youth in
the natural world around him.
Some err so far as to mistrust the willingness
of the boys and girls to allow trees and shrubs
to grow unmolested on the school ground.
This is a flagrant misinterpretation of childhood.
With a better understanding of youthful nature
one sees an easily awakened regard for things
beautiful and a disposition to respect and help
all well-directed activities for the improvement
of school life.
Others maintain that trees, shrubs and
flowers will not grow on the school yard.
True, within the history of some schools
nothing has grown on the grounds but "white
top" and "briars." But if the farmers in the
west can successfully grow hundreds of millions
of trees in a country that at one time formed
part of the great American desert, and on
whose grassy plains scientists declared that trees
would not grow ; and in twenty years transform
that region into a beautiful territory adorned
with trees and shrubs of almost endless variety;
can not the tactful teacher do as much for the
small lot that surrounds the school building?
Compare the grounds of the average con­
solidated rural school, or the one room district
(Continued on Page Seven)

Edinboro State Normal School
.. IZ STANDS FOR

~

A HIGH STANDARD OF SCHOLARSHIP
THE AMATEUR SPIRIT IN ATHLETICS
WHOLESOME SOCIAL ASSOCIATIONS
_

IT ALSO ::TTr:______

BELIEVES IN AND SUPPORTS

The Birch Rod
Address the Principal

Edinboro, Pa.

THE BIRCH ROD

Page Three

Letter from an Alumnus.
Redondo Beach, Cal., April 1, 1913.
Dear Marsh: I have been thinking for some
time that I ought to send you some greetings of
some kind and at last I am doing it. I trust
the shock will not be serious.
I had a fine trip across and found the man I
was hunting without trouble.
I saw Pikes Peak in the distance as I came
through Colorado Springs. After we left the
Springs we went through the Royal Gorge.
It was one of the finest sights I ever expect to
see.
Rocks of varied hues as high as one
could see from the train. The track was cut
into the side of the mountains, and crossed and
recrossed a little mountain tonent that the con­
ductor told us was the Arkansas river. It has
been so long since I took the trip that I do not
remember time accurately, but we passed
many things of note.
The most pleasing to me were the beauti­
ful orchards and fields around Salt Lake City,
the finest I have ever seen. Unfortunately I
had no time to more than look into the sta­
tion at that city. I found it the finest building
of that description I had ever seen, resembling
a church maie than anything I can think of.
After leaving Salt Lake we went to Ogden.
From there we started west again across Great
Salt Lake. We crossed the lake in about an
hour and a half and then passed mile after
mile of sage brush and alkali land. The al­
kali was so strong that the air in the car be­
came very disagreeable and irritating.
We got into San Francisco Sunday morn­
ing, and had until four In the afternoon. A
trip through Golden Gate Park took the time
in a very agreeable manner. We saw the
location of the Panama Exposition, and the
foundations of some of the buildings for that
event. We also saw the territory that was
swept by the fire following the earthquake and
now rebuilt by beautiful buildings. San Fran­
cisco is the most beautiful of the western cities,
in my estimation.
Leaving San Francisco at four in the after­
noon, we arrived at Los Angeles at nine
thirty the next morning. To tell the truth I
was disappointed in the city. I had expected
a wonderful place and did not find it. They
had had no rain and the hills were brown and
dry, and even the yards were burned brown,
unless they had kept them watered all the
time. The business blocks did not compare
with the new buildings of San Francisco or
Denver. I did not stay long in the city, but
left at once for Redondo and my first view of
the ocean.
Now more than six months of school are
over, and I am liking this western land better
[Concluded on Page Six]

H
Greater Erie's Greater Store—Boston Store

A Comfortable
Store
A large, roomg comfortable store in which to do
gour shopping—that is what we claim for the BOSTON
STORE. In considering the comfort and convenience
of our customers, we have studied how best we could
arrange store facilities to make this the most attract­
ive store in Erie in which to do pour trading.
Our out of town customers we have had particularlg in mind and we have provided Rest Rooms, Bu­
reau of Information, etc., for their comfort. You mag
have gour wraps and other parcels checked at the In­
formation Bureau, Main Floor, thus leaving gou unemcumbered when doing gour shopping.
Then the Din­
ing Room in the Basement gou will find most restful
and cheerful after a shopping tour. Regular Dinner
served dailg and lunches at all times. You would not
expect better or tastier cooking in gour own home than
gou will find in our dining room.
The merchandise of a store, of course, is the
backbone of its success, and we claim larger and bet­
ter assorted stocks and as low if not lower prices than
gou will find elsewhere.
To the students of Edinboro Normal and their
friends especiallg we extend an invitation to make the
BOSTON STORE gour store home.

ERIE DRY GOODS CO.,
State Street, Erie, Pa.

iBi

Page Four

THE BIRCH

THE BIRCH ROD

The Need for a New Laundry.

A fortnightly newspaper edited by the stu­
dents of The Edinboro State Normal
School, and published at the print
shop of the Edinboro
Independent.
TERMS—This newspaper will be supplied for the
school year, 1912-13, for the sum of fifty cents, or
five cents a copy.
This paper is entered as second-class mail matter at
the postoffice at Edinboro, Pa.

ROD

Have you visited the old laundry which
stands behind South Hall? This disreputable
looking old building is a disgrace to our campus
and to our school, not only in appearance, but
as a menace to the health of the students.
The floor of the wash-room is usually slippery
with dirty water from leaky tubs and the two
battered, leaky pails which serve to carry water
to fill the tubs. The stoves are old, warped,
and nearly worn-out with poorly regulated air
drafts. There are no conveniences whatever
for making starch. Many of the irons are
rusty while the ironing boards are usually en­
cased in dirty covers. Fortunate, indeed, is
the person who can succeed in getting her
clothes clean in spite of these disadvantages
and still keep her health and temper. It seems
to us that the time has come to discard this old
building and erect in its place a new laundry
which would furnish at least cleanliness and a
few modern conveniences.
R. K.

EDITORIAL STAFF
Editors...................................Charles Marsh; Donald Richey
Athletic Editor................................................ Hubert Bentley
News Editor......................................................... Alice Walker
Alumni Editor................................................. Helen Whiting
Manager.................................................William T McKelvey
Assistant Manager........................................John Harbaugh

We Should Observe Nay Day.
May Day should hold a special place in the
cycle of the Normal School events. Thou­
sands of years ago the ancient Druids cele­
brated the day by lighting immense fires, and
even now the custom survives among the Irish.
We do not need to build fires, but instead we
may decorate a May pole with flowers. In
procuring the flowers we should forget that the
school house means " hiding place," and should
go out into God’s out of doors, the woods,
there to hunt among rusty leaves for the little
trailing arbutus, or the star-like hepatica. How
sweet it would be to return to nature with a
renewed interest in her beauties. But in the
present time. May Day seems to have passed
out of existence. We do not appear to be in­
terested in its whereabouts, nor do we seek to
bring it back. Truly, there are few of us who
realize that God planted this earth garden;
and, indeed, that it is the purest of human
pleasures as the greatest refreshment to the
spirits of man.
H. M.

The Philo Play.
The members of the Philo society, under the
direction of Miss Bauman, are busily engaged
in preparing a play which promises to be a
success. The play is an extract from Charles
Dickens’ Christmas story, "The Holly Tree
Inn.” It is to be given May 30 in Normal
Hall.
M. S.

“Watch Us Grow.”

Osborne

-

Erie’s
Leading Readg-to-Wear
Specialists

Coats
$8.50 up to $35.00

Suits
$10.00 up to $45.00

V

1

'

Harsh Criticisms.

Norman Co.

^

The Birch Rod is a fortnightly newspaper
published by the students of the Edinboro
Normal School. The Birch Rod has many
faults, some of which I shall try to enumerate.
School papers are supposed to be full of school
and re-echo what takes place in school life.
The Birch Rod does not show half of the
school spirit of the Normal School and is
altogether too grave and uninteresting. The
students do not contribute to the paper and it
is impossible for the Editors to find all of the
news. The paper is practically without jokes.
At least one column should be reserved for this.
It gives no account of the students outside of
the dormitories whatever, and the accounts of
the students in them are so mysterious that few
who read them can understand. It shows the
work of some few people and is the same
thing every two weeks. There is altogether
too much space taken for advertisements.
There are many ways of improving the paper,
which would no doubt add many subscribers
to the list.
A. A.

Cheer Up! the expression of your face is
reflected in the face of your fellow students.
Of course you have your troubles, a great
many things worry you. But your real trouble
is selfishness, you are feeling sorry for number
one instead of pitying your classmates. Never
doubt for a moment but they also have their
troubles and probably greater ones than you.
Quit borrowing gloom. If you don’t have
your lessons bluff your way through and smile.
Keep on smiling and thus cheer up others.
M. H.

Erie's Fastest Growing
Department Store

1024-26-28 State St
Osborne - Norman
ERIE, PA.

Co.

Page Five

THE BIRCH ROD
Edinboro State Normal School.

Home of Good Shoes

Footwear
Elegance

For

Young
Women

Why not go to Edinboro State Normal
School ? It is situated in a quiet little place,
which makes an ideal school town. The lake
affords great pleasure to the students who seek
recreation in boating, skating and fishing. We
have something to be especially proud of in
the fact that one of the largest fish caught in
the state came from our lake.
Edinboro is situated in a very suitable loca­
tion. Although there are ample means of
transportation, we do not have the noise and
smoke which is connected with steam railroads.
The campus is a delightful place to walk or
spend a leisurely hour. The faculty is not to
be found fault with, while the course of in­
struction is as good as any Normal School in
the state, and is constantly being bettered. The
two societies, the Christian Associations and
the Athletic Association, are so well conducted
that they hold the interest of all.
Considering everything, where will you find
a better school than the one in Edinboro ?
E. H..

T^ask
Prescott &
Richardson Co.
9th and State Streets
ERIE, PA.

DISTRIBUTORS OF
HIGH GRADE MERCHANDISE
AT POPULAR PRICES

The Country Schools.

Better, Daintier, or More
Elegant Footwear than
we are now showing
has never been
made
This fact is well proven bp the
great interest that women who
know are taking in our displap.
The real swell shoes come in
patent, dull or tan leather, with
all the new stple effects worked
to the limit.
Frice, $3.00, $3.50, $4.00, $4.50

TROST & LACEY
Home of Good Goods

828 STATE ST, ERIE, PA.

The country schools of Pennsylvania must
develop in two ways. They must have a
play ground and a library. The country boy
hurries home from school to do the chores on
the farm. The town boy uses the hours from
four to six for play. The town school to-day
is putting in a playground on the old barren
schoolgrounds. A playground apparatus is not
costly and will be of great benefit to the users.
The slide, which is such a success, can be
made by any carpenter. The teacher can put
up swings. Another exercise of the child is a
circular swmg constructed by sinking a post
into the ground then fastening ropes to a re­
volving socket in the top of the post.
In the
winter, drills can be done indoors. A well
equipped school today has its library The
teacher should submit a list of good books for
boys and girls to the trustees then if they will
not act upon your suggestion you can get a
number of books from publishers on credit
paying for them by having box socials and
subscription.
W. M.
Lack of loyalty:—There seems to be some­
thing wrong among the usually very loyal
students of this school. For we are allowing
our beautiful campus to be disfigured. Ugly,
crooked, white paths are being worn across the
grass by those who are in too much of a hurry
to go around by the walk. If it was the seven
o’clock study bell ringing no one would be
seen making short cuts. If they are not then
why should they be made at any time?
H. M.

A Department Store where con­
fidence in the goodness of the
merchandise sold enables us to
sap, “ Your monep back on anp
unsatisfactorp purchase.”
We
attribute our success to the giv­
ing of the best values at prices at
all times lowest on dependable
goods. An ever increasing busi­
ness is ample proof that this as­
sertion is so.
New merchandise on displap.

Trask
Prescott &.
Richardson Co.
9th and State Streets
ERIE, PA.

Page Six

THE BIRCH

Letter from an Alumnus.
[Concluded from Page Three.]
every day. I am teaching seventh and eighth
grade boys. The work is fascinating and
never palls on me. When I get a little blue I
go down to the shore and watch the waves.
They are always different and a sure cure for
the blues. The weather here is perfect. The
winter rains have started vegetation and every­
thing is beautiful. Enough cannot be said for
this country. It may not appeal to one at first,
but if he stays a few months there is a fascina­
tion that will hold him in spite of anything that
other lands may offer. It is the land for me.
There are several E. S. N. S. alumni here:
A. B. Brooks, ’88, supervising principal at
Glendale; F. H, Gaut, ’08, principal Cen­
tral School, Redondo; Mabel Oakes, ’08,
third grade. Central School, Redondo ; Leon
Oakes, ’00, principal at Alpaugh, California ;
Tetro Oakes, ’08; teacher at Alpaugh, Cali­
fornia.
Yours sincerely,
CYRUS F. QUICK.

Accidents Will Happen.
On the anniversary of the battle of Lexing­
ton Cambridge High School celebrated with
some made-to-order history. She defeated
Edinboro Normal in a slow error-laden game
for the first and last time in the existence of the
Normal.
Cambridge started the game off in the third
inning with one count and followed this by a
shutout for the Normal in the first of the fourth.
Cambridge scored four more in her half of the
fourth and held Edinboro to one run in first of
the filth. In the last of the fifth, Cambridge
sc(xed once and Normal again counted in the
first of die fifth. Then followed a long, barren
period when "bonehead” stuff and sleep was
conspicuous on both sides. In the first of the
ninth Edinboro got next for four counts tieing
the score. In the last half of the ninth the
Cambridge lads came back strong and filled
the second and third prizes. Then came an
eager and ambitious lad to the big stick and
rolled out a scratcher.
Shriver promptly
fielded said scratcher and mistaking it for the
third out played for the runner. He got him
but before the ball could be returned the win­
ning run meandered in and a noise like storm­
ing Port Arthur made manifest the fact that
Cambridge had smashed all previous records
and manufactured a brand new one, which
will of course be sadly soiled in year of
1913-14.
Soft stuff and bum decisions were features
of the game and the faces of the few loyal
Normalites looked long enough to run a Mara­
thon on after the first few innings but the look

ROD

gradually changed to one of joy, showing that
the Edinboro crowd was a game one, if a
losing one.
Shriver pitched a fighting game but seemed
to be troubled by an ankle that he had spiked
the day before in fielding a mean fly. Ander­
son, for Cambridge, pitched well and had
better support than had Shriver. Dundon,
Cambridge’s second sacker, seems to be equal
to the best in fielding his position but not
equal to Captain Drake in receiving throws.
Cambridge’s ringer catcher is a pretty receiver
and has an unusual line of hot stuff to hand
the sticker but looked scared when an Edin­
boro man started to steal. Obert, as usual.
peppered to Drake for purloiner, repeatedly.
Cambridge’s oulfield was a mighty good bunch
of children. Baby Green made a star catch
and pegged a peach to Blakeslee at third, sup­
porting his football record.
The line up.
Cambridge
ELdinboro
Brown, c.
Obert, c
Anderson, p.
Shriver, p.
McDuff, 1 st b.
De Remer, 1st b.
Dundon, 2d b.
Drake, 2d b.
Traupe, 3d b.
Blakeslee, 3d b.
Jewell, ss.
Wilbur, ss.
Bolard, 1. f.
Fuller, 1. f.
Hickey, r. f.
Babcock, r, (.
Rhodes, c. f.
Green, c. f.
Strike outs—Shriver 7, Anderson 4. Bases on ballsShriver 9, Anderson 3. Umpire—Finney.

That Which We Must Fear.
There is frightful torment, well-known to a
student, however perverse he may be, and this
is the illegitimate hiding in some retired comer,
after being expelled from a school; it is the de­
finite and compelled holiday which he is con­
strained to take advantage of, while his fellow
students pass by him with their books and
writings under the.r arms, proceeding to their
daily task. That school, formerly so hated,
then assumes a most desirable form; the scholar
occupies his mind with great affairs of themes
and exercises; to which he before so little di­
rected his attention, and which are being pro­
ceeded with in his absence. There is a great
similarity between a pupil so expelled by his
teacher and a man who has been excommuni­
cated for his impiety, and who no longer has a
right to enter the church,although burning with
a desire to hear a mass.
Let’s live in hope that none of us will ever
have the misfortune of finding the key which
would unlock the real meaning of the above.
Paul Webb.
Ethel and Florence seeing Mr. Siddell wait­
ing for a car.
Ethel—"Oh, Mr. Siddell, are you going
away to be married ?"
Mr. S.—"I will answer you as the little boy
said who spilt the ink."
Florence—"How was that
Mr. S.—"It remains to be seen ."

It’s a store that was founded
in 1852 on such principles
that have built for Erie
a great store.

THESE
PRINCIPLES
ARE:
Recommending nothing which is
not a true value; if found other­
wise, a return of goods and re­
fund of moneg.
Alwags on the lookout for the new
things, and when such things
are created in the fashion cen­
ters of the world that co-operate
with good stgle and good judg­
ment, theg’re brought forth and
recommended to gou, and noth­
ing that represents an exhorbitant profit.
A force of intelligent sales people
striving to be of service to gou.
A store where visitors are welcome
the same as customers to stroll
about and feel at the same ease
as theg would in their own
homes.

WARNER BROS.,
ERIE, PENITA

Page Seven

THE BIRCH ROD
Beautifying the School Grounds.
[Concluded from Page Two.]
school, in northwestern Pennsylvania, with our
beautiful campus; and you will catch a glimpse
of the vast field of opportunity that is lying be­
fore the country school teacher of the future.
Arbor Day is the only occasion which is de­
voted to the future rather than the past. It
does not seek to commemorate dead heroes
and statesmen, but it seeks to do something
which in years to come, will be of growing
benefit to the community at large.
In its practical observances Arbor Day
should be more than a mere holiday or an
occasion for the speaking of "pieces.” A por­
tion of the day should be devoted to the plant­
ing of trees, shrubs and vines, the same
typifying the great principle of origin and
growth, at the same time beautifying the school
buildings and grounds.
The great lesson coming from this planting
is not so much a lesson in plants, nor yet a lesson
in Agriculture or Forestry. The greatest good
of this work comes from the creative spirit it
engenders, with the industry that gathers about.
In advance of the school system of America
and throughout the civilized world, dealing
with real things and real life is the watchword.
The life of usefulness before the child calls for
more than mere schoolroom instruction from
books.
If in the children who celebrate Arbor Day
there is not awakened a love for trees and
flowers, and a desire to know more about them,
the day is hardly worth while except in a ma­
terial way. It should be properly the culmina­
tion of Nature Study pursued throughout the
whole year.
It is because Arbor Day has other values
than the merely commercial and because it has
ceased to stand narrowly for the planting of
trees —though that is still its primary object—
that it is of such great importance in the grow­
ing movement for civic betterment. The Arbor
Day exercises may consist merely in the beau­
tification of the school grounds—though that in
itself is a great deal. But beautiful school
grounds must mean in the end more beautiful
surroundings elsewhere. The children trained
to study flowers and trees, and to take delight
in their cultivation, will, in time, see to it that
city streets and country highways are also made
attractive.
This new ideal presents a grand ojjportunity
for the progressive, energetic teacher of the
20th century. The pupils will fairly boil over
with enthusiasm in any attempt to beautify the
school grounds. So the tactful teacher, whose
heart is in the work, whose soul yearns for kin­
ship with the grand and sublime, whose high­
est aim is to brighten and to bless, may be a
world of usefulness in any community. In cul-

tivating an appreciation for the beauty in na­
ture one cultivates the aesthetic sentiment, which
is a recognized psychological factor for morality.
Artistic beautifying of the school grounds and
the surrounding community is certainly a step
toward intellectalizing, spiritueJizing and ideal­
izing rural life.
C. M.
THERE’S A RULING HAND.
All winter long the acorn lay
Beneath the snow on its bed of clay ;
Damp and dark and cold and chill,
Wondering what mission it had to fill;
Till aroused one day by the murmur of spring.
Challenging the forest a cheer to bring,
Then a bird rose high and began to sing
A beautiful song.
The acorn laughed, ’’won’t it be fine ?
Some day a song like that will be mine.
And the birds, and flowers, and sky, and sea.
Will listen with envy to a song from me."
Then a new little life beat in his breast.
And his fluttering heart and a strange unrest.
Broke open the coat in which he was drest
All winter long.

My Heavenly Father hasn’t asked me to sing.
Patiently I’ll wait, perhaps I’ll be king."
And he bade defiance to the storms from the west.
He held out his branches for the bird’s to nest.
And offered his shade for the laborer’s rest.
And children’s play.
Centuries passed, his song was the same ;
He asked no longer for princely fame.
His venerable column stood every storm.
For a lordly service he found to perform ;
At length his green mantled comrades left him alone.
And he saw the young forest rush for the throne.
The old monarch said, in a counseling tone,
" There’s a ruling hand."

c. c.
Dr. Bishop, Dean of School of Engineering,
brought the greetings of the University of
Pittsburgh to Exiinboro last week.

Foot Comfort
for the
Athletic Girl

But the little acorn didn’t know
That nature was great, and God made it so.
He raised his head from the grassy ground.
And looked at the forest all around.
" 111 grow till these look so small," he said,
" Till I reach the sky above their heads.
My arms so far and wide I’ll spread
When summer is here."
Then a little sunbeam floated along.
And around it danced a myriad throng;
And the eager acorn’s heart was thrilled.
As it burst still wider the shell it filled.
And he said, " I’ll crown my head with these sunbeams
gay.
And scatter them to subjects under my sway.
For I’ll be king of the forest some day.
When 1 grow old.”

In Patent
Dull Leather
or Tan

The little sunbeam gently smiled,
" You' ve much to learn, you’re only a child."
And the acorn, as angry as he could be.
Threw off his shell and started the tree.
" Where there’s a will there’s a way; I’ll sing my song.
I’ll reach the clouds, it won’t take long.
And I shall hold the charter of the forest throng
As years pass by.”

$3.50 and $4

Years he waited to sing his song.
One day a breeze came swaying along.
Danced through the leaves of the oak wood child.
Sent through the forest his song notes wild.
"I’m sad to hear such a blustering song,
But I’ll grow so fair and stalwart and strong.
That tender creatures to my shelter will throng.
And I will protect."
Faster and faster the little oak grew ;
Farther and wider his arms he threw.
Trembling wildly with life to spare.
Burst op>en his heart his joys to share.
And he sang of the glory of his boughs, until
The fitful wind sank, and the forest was still.
And nature’s lullaby hushed o’er the hill.
And left him to think.
" I’m getting old," he said, with a sigh,
" My branches gray are far from the sky;

H. G. GILLASPIE
EDINBORO, PA.

PROUD’S
Little White Store on the Corner
I

j)

Lowne^’s Box Candp
Ice Cream, Soft Drinks
Fruits, Cigars,
Magazines
School Supplies

■

S-*'- y-.

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Page Eight

{

Schluraff Floral Co.

ikTHt BIRCH ROD
JUNIOR CLASS TEAM.
Basketball Cup Winners.

Leave all orders for
flowers with The Birch
Rod. We order them
free of charge bg tele­
phone.
ERIE, PA.

MASONIC TEMPLE

People’s Barber Shop
J. H. BENNETT, Prop.

-

,

Potter Society.

’ Just a word to the new students, please.
Potter Hall is on the second floor of Commer­
cial Hall. Its name is printed on the door so
you cannot miss it. Regular meetings of the
Society are held on Saturday evening. We
invite you to come.
The first program for the Spring term was
given by the new cabinet, and was certainly a
credit to its authors. We expect to do very
successful work this term, for with such in­
genious and enterprising leaders as Quincy
Vincent, Agnes McCartney and Helen
Bathurst, failure would be out of the question.

Shaving
Hair Cutting
Shampooing
NEWS DEPOT.

DAILY and SUNDAY
PAPERS

Students always welcome

DANNY SULLIVAN
Ladies' and Genti

TAILOR
Suits Cleaned and Pressed
—

50c -=^

Top Row (left to right)—Matthews, Hood.
Middle Row—Babcock, Hayes, Blakeslee.
Bottom Row—Webster, Green, Goodrich.

NEW SONG

Arbor Day.

A Grand Success

Arbor Day exercises are over and 1913
certainly have shown what the class is made of
and that ’ 1 3 will be remembered in years to
come. Quincy Vincent, with his fine voice,
delivered his oration in a manner much to be
praised. Freda Mitchell showed much taste
in writing and giving her essay. The declama­
tion given by Adlia Dickey was highly
appreciated and received much applause.
The poem given by Catherine Crawford and
and the readings by Edna Sammons and
Verna Markel were highly entertaining and
they showed marked taste in delivering them.
Charles Marsh’s declamation will long be re­
membered and all Seniors are proud to call
him a member of class ’ 1 3. The music fur­
nished by the orchestra was soft and dreamy
and would inspire any one. The Senior songs
showed the work of Mr. Barnes’ composing
and were very appropriate for the occaision.
After the exercises the sturdy young tree was
planted and each shovel of dirt placed at its
roots seemed to have a good wish for the
young tree to have it prosper as the class of
’ 1 3 will.
The program was closed with the Senior girls
folk dances and Maypole dance and all re­
turned home reporting the 1913 Arbor Day

WINDS of MEMOR Y
Written from Edinhoto
Normal School da^s.
Send 15 cents for a copg.
MRS. D. G. CHURCH
Mesilla Park, New Mexico

Edinboro Hotel
E. J. SWANSON, Prop’r

Meals and Lunches at gll
Hours.
ICE CREAM

OYSTERS

John V. Laver
FLORIST
Greenhouses: E. 6th St.
Store: 704 State St, Erm
PHONE YOUR ORDERS

exercises a success.

Out Theg Go

-'•A

Time you gave your old hat a lift, any­
way. Change it for the snappiest stifle
you ever wore.
New syring things are crowding in
daily. Come and see them; buy if you
want to. You’ll see the quality at a
glance and our mirror will do the rest.
Needn’t look around, your prefer­
ence is here at

$2.00
Exclusive Patterns in New
Caps for Spring.
Fancg Bands in all Class Colors

908 State Street
ERIE, PA.

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