1
niK omah a srmw bkk: march 12, irnn.
The Busy Bees
Their Own Page
WHILE the March winds are. blowing, our feathered friends who
hate been sojourning In the Southland, are planning the long
flight bark to the familiar home they had with us. last year
for they know right well that warm, balmy days follow close
upon the blustery days of March.
Are you on the lookout, Busy Dees, for the first robin? Or did you
think, you had seen him last Sunday?
"The Return of the Birds" Is the subject for the next prize contest In
cnf clrcle.f For the best story written by a Busy Bee on this subject during
the coming month, a special prtie book will be awarded. Send in your
stories early. Busy Bees, and the prise story will be announced early in
April.
The Busy Bees are reminded that every story sent to this page must
be original or it will not be published. This week, the editor received two
stories, one of the wind and the sun from a little girl in Farwell. Neb., and
the other "A Poor Old Man" from a girl In Rlverdale, Neb. . These stories
were copied out of some book so they
basket
Clarence McAullffe of the Blue
Walter Preston, Jr., of the Red Side,
won Honorable Mention.
Little Stories
(Prise Blory.)
Spring it Coming.
By Hsrenre MrAiillffe. Aired 12 Years,
I2l Howard Street, Omaha. Ulue Klrte.
I am very glad the spring la coming, for
this Is the time of the year that the
flowers begin to bloom and the trees to
have leaves. I also like the spring he
cause It Is the time our national sport
base ball begins. Many other games can
alio be played at this time of the year.
The children are especially glad because
they know they soon shall have their
long summer vseatlcri. Everyone begins
to start life over, It seems, when spring
comes. The air is fresh In the morning
and it In much better during the day at
this time of the yesr than In summer. I
am sure the old people as well as the
young are always glad when anting la
coming. At this time of the year not
only the people of the earth, but every
thing on the earth seems to get full of
gsyety and Joy.
(Honorable Mention.)
The Swimming; Hole.
By Walter Preston, Jr., 101 Routh Thirty
fourth Street. Omaha, lied Hide.
After we got through with the chorea
ws decided we would go over to a creek
about three miles away and go In swim
ming. '
This creek was called Thomas creek.
On one side was a steep bsnk about fifty
feet high. It had a ledge about two feet
, above the water that we dove off of.
There was a strong current flowing. It
was very hard to swim against It. We
would go way up stream snd float down
with ths current.
Where we dovs off, the cliff extended
out in ths water and formed a deep hole.
This was a good place to dive In because
you would not strike bottom. This place
was about nine feet deep.
The water was quite cold, but it sure
felt fins on a hot day.
Tou could see many and sometimes
large fish. Many times schools of flan
would swim by and we would dive into
them and scare them away.
P. B.Thls. creek ran through, a farm
In Facramcnto valley, California. From
that ranch you could see Mount I-aenen
smoking.. The people on the ranch saw
U In eruption last summer. .
(Honorable Mention.) ,
, Th Fisherman.
ttj stebert Reynolds. Aed IS Tears, 104
North Thirty-first Avenue, Omaha.
' Blue Kid.
A silent figure stole along the hank of
a Rocky; mountain stream. ' He wss
clothed in brown and a bsaket hung at
his left side, while In one hand he held
a fishing rod. 1
Then ha waded Into the cold, shallow
stream, casting his rod In each pool as
he made his way upstream. Ho never
gets discouraged, though he loses many
fish.
Now he sees something snd gives his
' line a Jerk. Ant He has booked a lares
speckled trout, and now comes a battle.
He lets out his Hue, giving the fish his
freedom for a minute; then he slowly
reels In his line. He does this sgaln and
again; each time ths flah gets more ex
hausted until finally he pulls it out. It
la a dark color with many black spots on
lis back. He puts ths fish In his basket
and slowly continues his upstresm
Journey, ,
The Treei in Winter.
By Orsce R. Moore, Ased IS Years. Silver
Creek, Neb. Ulue Pide.
To many people in this world the win
ter Is thought to bo bare and cheerless.
Ths trees are bars and naked and the
flowers are under snow. Ths birds have
flown, and the only bright and cheery
spot is ths winter fireside. But. after all.
winter Is not lifeless and cheerless. It Is
only dormant. Because we have not been
trained to see and to know, the uold
weather prevents us from studying na
ture. In summer ws distinguish the trees
chiefly by means of their shape and foli
age, and In winter may distinguish the
shape and the framework of the tree If
ws were only trained better to see snd to
know. The outline of a tree Is very beau
tiful agalnat the dull winter sky If we
would only stop and look. Notice height,
snap and sixe. how many branches
It has and whether the twigs ars few or
many. There are many species or klnda
of trees that ws may study. Among the
common trees are the hickory, oak and
maple. Ws can alao notlcs the colpr of
each tree. We should look st these thlnjw
and think about them, for they suggest
thoughts and feelings for us. Komettmes
a tree is quiet and restful snd sgain it
Is weeplag.
Grandma's Story.
BJ!Y'i Fr"r' Hradley. Aged IS Years',
1010 Center Bireet. Ouutha. lilue Bide.
"Grandma, grandma, tell us a story,
tell us a story." cried Jean. Doris and
little Bob. as they ran and sat down by
their grandma, who had been reading,
very eager for her to begin.
"Oh, goodness, what shall I tell them
about," though poor grandma, and then.
lo u since you inalat on my
telling you a story, X will tell you one of
my sxperletices when I was little,
"Once when I wss v'sitlng my grand
parents on ths farm, ons of my aunts
was there also with her lit la. adopted son.
Francis. Francis warn't a aean child, but
ho liked to tea.se rue.
"One day I wss walking over a pond
near ths house on a very narrow board.
Francis saw mo and ran and turned ths
board. Of tourse I fell into the water.
I screamed and Francis ran Into the house
to get help. Tl.ey had a terrible time
getting me out I got a cold which after
ward turned into pneumonia.
While I was sick Francis came In
cry day to se me and he always
found their way into the waste paper
'
8lde won the prize book this week.
and Robert Raynolds, of the Blue Side,
by Little Folk
brought me flo.vers and lm- lnrl:s he
thought I liked. Well children, to nrnka
a lout story short, tills Francis 1 sm
speaking about Is your Grandpa Law
rence,'' Carried the Pork.
Ry 1eona Welter, Aed 10 Yeats. Wahoo,
NVU. Hlue Hide.
A farmer owned a large dumb-looking
dog. thai mas useful around III farm
but had never been taught ninny tricks.
A city friend owned a smart little fox
terrier that htd been taurjht lumong
other tricks) to rniry t lip meat home
from the meat market. One day the city
friend was explaining to the farmer and
bragging shout the rmartness of his dog,
snd to Illustrate, he called st the meat
market and gave the dog a packsge of
pork chops to't-airy home. The city dog
went ahead with the package of mest,
closely followed by the farmer's dog. As
the city dog turned the corner It Jarred
the packnge loose snd a pork chop fell
out, which the farmer's dog quickly
swallowed, snd then kept on following
tho other dog. Soon nnothrr chop fell
out, and by the time the city dog reached
home It was csrrylng the wrapper snd
string, while the dumb country dog wss
csrrylng the pork chops. .
George Washington.
By Orsce I,. Moore, Aged 10 Years, Sil
ver Creek, Neb. Blue JSIds.
George Wsshlngton was born February
23, 1731, Just 1M years ago this Feb
ruary. Shortly after his birth his par
ents went to live on the Rappahannock
river, and George spent his esrly child
hood there.
He Is ths grestest man in our his
tory, snd many true stories are told
about him. Perhaps the moat famous
Is about his new red hatchet. We are
told that his father . planted young
cherry trees in his garden. - And he al
ways visited them every day, and ons
dsy hs saw that one wss badly hacked.
On all Virginia plantations there were
msny negro boys ' always running about,
so he thought ons of them must have
done It. Mr. Washington was shout to
punish one of them, when George stop
ped him, saying, "Father, I csnnot tell
a lie; 1 did It with my little hatchet.'
Fido'i Adventurei.
By George Fletenfoyer, Aged Years,
Houth Bide, Omaha. lilue Hide.
Fldo was a little dog who lived In the
suburbs of New York. He had often
heard from tho tramp dogs what a good
time they had at night and what good
tlilnjis they had to eat out of the garbage
cans. Bo he decided to run away a ad
have a good time, for himself. He ran
along an alley until he came to a can
where a Mif dog was Just sticking Its
noes In. Fldo walked up to It and said,
"Oood evening, tnsy I have some of your
supper V
'Uo away, you little shrimp,' and at
tend your own business, I haven't any
time to bother with you."
l"ldo said, "What's the matter with
you? to yoi think you own tho town?
.Maybe you think yu do, but you don t.
At that the dog Jumped on him and gave
him an awful beating, although Fldo
growled and showed his teeth terribly.
Fldo slunk borne with his tail between
his legs, snd never went back again.
Jack the Hero.
By Maurice Boyle. Aged A Years. Routs
;. Fieniout, Neb. lied Bide.
One day as I was taking care of my
little sister I heard an awful nolae In the
bunhea. I didn't know what it was, but
pretty soon I ssw a big black sntmsl
wlthlery eyea. He was coming nesrer
to May and me, but Jack checked him
by Jumping at his neck snd killing the
old wolf. I ran with my sister to the
house snd told papa. Ha went down and
skinned the wolf an.1 took the hide to
town. We fed Jack some good mest and
bread for supper. Ws got some money
for the fur. but Jsck made every bit of
it. Jack Is a good dog and a hero. 1
want to be on the lied Hide,
The Boy and the Frori.
By Fred Bertram. Aged 11 Vmn, South
mm, umiihi. lied riMo.
Once a boy wss having great pleasure
In throwing stones at some frogs In a
pond near his home. He enjoyed this
sport for an hour or more.
As ho had been up ths night before
snd waa very aleepy, he lay down under
a Urge tree after a time and went to
aleep.
He dreamed that he was s frog and
boys were throwing stones at him. One
stone hit him on the head, snother hit
him on his leg. Just ss another stone
was coming through the air he awoke.
Oh, how glad he was that he was not
a frog, but a boy. After that he realised
how much It hurt ths frogs, and decided
not to throw stones at frogs any mors.
Tale of Indian Maiden.
By Merle Devenney, Aged Years, Te
cumaeh. Neb... Blue Fide.
I enjoyed the story of a girl who lived
In Munlsing, Mich., because she was
a schoolmate of mine. There lived In
an Indian village three slaters. The
smallest slater bad to do all ths work
snd ths oldest slaters would put her
head In the ashes and scsrs would corns
on her face. There was sn Indian chief
alas and ha would marry no ons but
purs people. 80 one of the older slaters,
put sn her beads and went to see hiru.
Ills name was Team. Team's sister
asked. "Can you fee Team?" and aha
answered, "I can see him very well." "Of
what then Is ths cord insdo of?" snd shs
said, "It Is of mooBs." Ths sister drove
She Likes the
1 - -v mm
N-i fund
Wr4
7
FRANCES JONES
her oat and ths seoond sister tried snd
did not better, so little Scar Face wanted
to go. 80 shs wsnt to see Team. The
sister Invited her in. Soon they heard
footsteps. The sister asked little Scarfsoe
If shs could see Team and she said, "Yos."
"Of what then ' Is ths eord mads of?"
and shs said, "Why It is ths rainbow."
Team was pleased and ha said, "Elder
sister, baths her face In maglo water."
And all ths scars cams off and shs mar
ried Team. This is not a true story.
The Wiljow'i Lossei.
By Margaret Crosby, Aged 13 Tsars.
Butherlsnd. Neb. Uluo Bids.
One fine spring day a mother willow
tree was waving her fins branches with
ths baby willows on them, and the naoty
north wind came up snd Interrupted her
by saying, "Mrs. Willow, some of these
fins sunny days I am going to blow all
of your children off." Poor Mrs. Willow
hung her head sadly. "Why do you say
that; my pretty children havs never done
any harm to any one, why should they
get punished for no wrong deed of any
klndr
"That's all right, Mrs. Willow; Just
you wait and see If I don't do as I snid
I . would,", said the wind very gruffly.
Mrs. Willow said: "Pleaso do tell mc
why you will do such a ridiculous thing
to an Innocent tree." But the wind wss
gone and didn't hoar her pleading words.
Mrs. Willow hadn't done a thing to
the wind, but the wind was envious of
her fine children and her happiness and
so hs thought he would destroy all of the
happiness of 11 fo and the children. And
now the days of her tfe were far differ
ent than the ones before the wind came,
and she could not sing or be happy for
tho thoughts of her poor children and her
happiness. f
Days passed and Mr, North Wind came
as hs had promised hs would and said:
"Now, Mrs, Willow, only about two or
three dsys mora for you and your' chil
dren to snjoy things." 8 he kept crying
and pleading, but in rain. ' Hs would
not even listen to them. .
Bhe would say, "Oh wind, do spare my
life and I wijl always be kind to you.
O, please do," but the wind would say In
reply, "Oh. hs, ha, ha. You'll be good to
me, no such a thing. You will do to 111
the same as you always do. You mnk
ime tired you talk such nonsenre. You
wait. Just wait, goodby," and ho wai
gone again.
Poor Mrs! Willow wss still sadt'rr than
ever and cried and cried till she thouRM
her heart would break, but the crylnj
did no good, for as ths wind fa Id h
came In two days with the west wind for
bis helper and began to work. The poor
babies dropped to the ground ons by
one until they were all gone and the two
winds went away taylng: "We won't
hear much of that Mrs. Wlllow'a chil
dren and her happiness."
Meanwhile poor Mrs. Willow's weeping
waa ) pitiful that no one could express
ber aadneas and her neighbors were all
sad for her and her poor babies lying
on the hare ground. It la true Mrs. Wil
low could never bother the wind a-tiln.
For this the winds were so severely p in
lahed that to this day when we hear t"i
wind howling he i crlng from the pun
ishment. ,
I received my book and thanka tor the
rame. It la the beat book I ever read. I
have it nearly half read now.
Boy Find Gold.
By Koas Hhnke. Arrrt Yeara, Rock-
vine, ,-Neo. niue r-ui.
In the Rocky mountalna once lived
poor family. The father waa a gold
seeker. There were two boys, John and
Charley, The children could not go to
school. Ons day ss their father had gone
to seek for gold, tho boys went a halt
mile from home to play. Where they
played were some large rocks. John saw
Bonis yellow spots In ths rocks. Hs called
his brother, Charley, who said, "They
air not gold." That night, when their
fsther came home, ths boys went to
meet him. They tc'.d him about the rocks
and they went over to ses them. The
father said. "They ars gold." Then ths
fsther worked hard to dig the rocks loose.
Then hs sent ths rocks to Denver to b
5 zihi.iii'mmk
f . ; I
Lc' J
Busy Bee Stories
. . '. aw ri 1 1 1 fi 1 1
1 il
smelted. A week after hs got mossy (or
the gold.
Then the family lived happy tsgsthsr,
snd ths boys got sn education.
If my story Is worthy I J will soem writ
sgaln.
Find Home the Beit
By Margaret Crosby, Aged 18 Tsars,
Sutherland. Neb. Blue Cuds.
In Msrch ws corns to maks the Msxch
snows and winds blow. Ws are dressed
for this month with our whits caps, Ilka
ths snow, and our yellow pantaloons and
red. Jackets, with large whits bottoms.
Our tiny legs ars brown, with shoes that
go to the peak at ths end, our hats ars
the aame shape at ths peak, "only tt la
red with trimmings of whit. Ths lady
Imphs and girls havs short yellow skirts.
We live In the leavings of leaves and
the hollowed trees. We can make a fins
horns of any plsce. This is our descrip
tion. And now I will tell ths ,whols
story of one of our families.
First comes father Imphf Mother Iraph,
Janle Impli, Johnnie Imph, and last and
least comes "Baby Imph. The tiniest Is
the bent of all.
One 'day they -were Invited out for din
ner, so they all dressed In their best
clothes and. started to Mr. and Mrs.
Squirrel's fesst. When they got there
they unwrapped and began to get ready
for the feaat. But. of course, dinner
wasn't served until evening, though ths
Imphs thought they would havs dinner
st noon, instead of at evening. So they
waited and waited for the meal, - until
at last dinner was served. Now, of
course. Johnnie and Janle and baby
were tired and didn't want much to eat.
The flrat course was nuts, and to bs
sure the pcor Imphs could not bits ths
hard nuts ss the squirrels did, beoauss
they had very sharp teeth and the Imphs'
teeth tire very dull. Another thing they
had was called win'er salad. They didn't
have tea nor milk nor water and this
wss very hard to eat wltliout things. The
two courses were all they had, then the
Imphs went home and never wanted to
I a vMting again. They went hems
happy and said at last they saw that
theie was no plsce like home, after ail.
I was glad to think that I got ths
ptixe for the month and hops to receive
the ..book soon. I liked all ths other
stories alao on i'inUr Sports."
Bees Save the Day.
By Feliua Young, Aged 10 Years, Chap
pell, Neb. Ulue Side.
In the time of the revolutionary war,
when Oeorge Vahtugton was president,
they had placed a camp Just, outside of
Philadelphia. In this town lived a little
girl by the name of Grace. He father
and brother were off to war and her
mother was desd. He had kept a great
many bees and now Grace had to take
care of then)- One day as Grace wss In
the yard sho hesrd a nolae In the weeds
near the house. Bhe and ber dog went to
see what was ths matter. They ssw a
man of their own navy. He said that hs
had been a spy and that ha had Juat
escaped from a dangerous place. His
clothes were ragged and he was Juat
about stsrved. He told the girl to take
hla horse and tell Washington that the
other army would attack Monday. Grace
got on the horse snd rode swsy as fast
aa she could. Hhe looked down the road
and she saw a group of men coming after
her. Bhe rode faster than ever, but shs
could not ride fsst enough, for ths men
saw her. Just then she grabbed a stick
and hit each bee hive. The bees all came
out In swarms. Bhe threw the stick at
the men and the bees stung them so
badly that they could not go any farther,
so the little girl got to General Wash
ington In time to save her country. This
la my flrat atory snd I hops to -Join ths
Blue side.
About Little Sister.
By I.uelle Orlffin. A red 1 Yesrs, St.
Psul. Neb. Blue Side.
I sin going to tell you about my little
baby sister. Bhs will be 1 year old next
Bunday, ss shs wss born March i, 191&. It
was an awful cold night. Ws went after
ths doctor In, a sleigh, and coming back
they had many upsets In ths snow, but
baby lived throughout It all. Bhs Is about
ths eutest and prettieatt baby on earth,
so I think. Bhs had ths whooping cough
when she was about months old, but
shs Is over with It now.
Well, as my letter is getting long I
will doss. I hops Mr. Wsste Psper Flas
ket la over fa ths war sons.'
Trip
to Lincoln,
By Marlon H. Marsh, A red 7 Yeses. Routs
No. 1, srownvllle. Neb. Blue Bide.
This Is my second letter to Ths Bee pag.
I will tell you about my vacation . at
Christmas. Ws havs a week's vacation
In our school, and my grandma, brother
and I went to Lincoln. Ws started
Mondsy after Christmas. That night ws
went to see ths municipal Christmas
trees there were two of them. They
lit them every night until sifter New
Year. They had beautiful decora
tions on them. X lore to go to Lincoln
because I used to live there. Ws wsnt to
see my aunt, uncle and two cousins. The
smallest Is U years old and ths other 18.
Ws stayed there a week, but it seemed
a pretty big week to me. It waa ths first
time that my little brother rods on a
train, for hs is-only I years old. My
mother wss glad to see us and I was glad
to ses her, too. I like to read ths Busy
Bees' page.
My letter Is getting long so I will oloso.
I hops Mr. Waste Basket Is on a trip to
ths North Pols.
Auto Trip Muddy.
By Blanche Hall, Ageil Years, Hayes
Csnter, Neb. Blue Bide.
X woujd like to Join the Busy Bess. So
I will tell you of mamma, papa and my
two sisters snd ons brother's trip whloh
we took to Omaha last fall in our auto.
Ws had nice roads all the way to Omaha
We went to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben and
It rained so hard while we were there.
Ws went to a friend's snd had a nice
time whlls there, snd when ws started
for horns ws travelej In the mud from
Omaha until ws psased Crte, Neb. I
guess that Is over 1S miles. Then the
roads were good again until we reached
home, and It stsrted to rain again.
I hops my letter will miss Mr. Waste
Baskat. I like to reau ths Busy Bees'
letters vsry much.
An Automobile Accident.
By Irene Sutherland. Aired 8 Years, Elm
wood, Neb. Red Bide.
One day last summer my sister and I
went Into the orchard to get some spples.
Ws ssw a car corns down ths hill. My
sister sahd to me: "That car had better
slow up or it will run off ths bridge."
Ws wars watching It when we saw it hit
the railing. The man could not stop It in
tlms to turn. Wo looked again. We saw
a woman thrown out en the bridge. Ws
ran to ths houss to tell papa. Hs went
down to ths bridge to ses if any of them
were hurt. Ws all wsnt down to ses it
Ws all thought it an awful sight' It
took ths man tha whola afternoon to get
ths oar out of the creek. There has been
many othsr cars run off of that bridge.
Enjoyi Beading Stories.
By Vara Terry, Aged 9 Yeans, Creaosnt.
uus Diae.
Z go to ths Crescent school and I am in
ths fourth grade and in tha third room.
My teacher's nam is Miss Mas Adams
and X Ilka her very znnoh, I enjoy read
ing your stories, so X thought X would
writs. I havs on sister and two brother.
My sister's nams is Oracs Irons and shs la
IT months old. My oldest brother's stams
Is Merle and hs is 7 years old. My young
est brothsfs nams is Harold and hs to 3
years old. Ws havs lots of chickens,
two colts, two mules, two cows and four
horses. Ws havs a little pet dog named
Midget. If my letter escapes ths waats
baskst X wlU writs again.
Nine-Year-Old Soldier.
By Donald Woodard, Aged Years, No-'
nraaaa Military School, Lincoln.
Neb. Tted Side.
After I heard you were going to print
my picture I thought I would writs a
letter. X sm a big soldier boy, almost
t years old. My horns is at Shenandoah,
la, but I go to school out here. I am a
military boy. A boy gets more attention
hers than he does in ths public school,
and ho has a lot more to do, too. That's
what keeps a fellow out of mischief, and
If a fellow la a lazy drone, they maks
him work, so after a while ha gets out
of the habit of being lasy. We havs ten
teachers snd sixty boys snd surely do
havs a lot of fun.
Poor Sport.
By Marls Thomsen, 1919 Emmet Street,
0111a na. Ked Bide. ,
I once had a very beautiful dog named
Sport. I used to play with him and had
lota of fun. But ons day soma boys
hit him with a stick with nails In It.
The dog was so mad he bit ths boy.
Ths boy went home. His father called
ths doctor. It wss not a bad bite, but
ths police said either shoot ths dog or
taka him away.
My ratner sent Kport away with a
friend that had a farm.
Sport killed so many chickens that they
killed him. That was ths end of Sport.
Saves Bird's Life.
By Mabel Oelser. Aged 10 Years, Colum
bus, Neb. Blus Bide.
Ons day last summer my slaters and
I were playing in ths haybarn and I
said there is something In tha hay, so
I went to look and it was a tlttls btrd
almost dead. I took It In the houss and
gavs It soma crumbs to eat and sums
water, then I took It and put it In
Its nest. When X put it in ths nest it
flew away. Then It came back to the
neat and stsyed there. Well I think I
will doss. This Is a troe story.
Likei Busy Bee Stories.
By Xrma Goodell, Aged lo Years, Beaver
Lrostilug, Neb. lted Mae.
I live in a littls town called Beaver
Crossing. My nams is Irma Goodell. I
would like to Jom the Red Bide. I read
the Busy Bees' stories every Sunday. I
am In the fourth grade at school and I
am 10 years old. My teacher's nams la
Miss Kdlth Ogle. I like her very well. I
hops Mr. Wssts Baaket is on a visit
when my story reaches you.
Dolly Is Her Pet.
By Helen Peterson. Agd ( Years, S37
riortn Thlrty-eeventh Street Omaha,
Hed tilde.
We have a little puppy named Polly.
Bhe is very cuts snd does many tricks,
Bhe will sit up snd shake hands. When
she wants to get Id ths house shs sits up
sud barks until ws let her In. Ons day
my slater snd I threw out some crumbs
to the birds. As soon ss we had thrown
them out Dolly ate them.
Enjoys Prize Book.
By Mary lxjuie Killeii. Lincoln, Neb.
Blue Mide.
I received your book some time ago, and
wish to thank you for it. 1 have read It
and enjoyed It very much. I waa glnd
my story got ths prltc. I like to v. rite
Stories of Nebraska History
1 ur a-
03y special permission of tha author.
The Bee will publish chapters from tho
History of Nebraska, by A, XX Sheldon,
from week to week.)
The Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers were among ths worst
enemies of the early settlers of Nebraska.
They were not ths common green or yel
low ktnd which yon see Jumping in the
fields today, nor yet ths red, yellow and
black-winged "dustry readers" which
boys chaso down ths lana These were
the Rocky mountain grasshoppers, with
slender bodies, light gray wings and enor
mous appetltea Their home waa on ths
high plains and among ths hills at the
foot of the great mountains of tho west
Hers they lived and raised their famlllea
In dry years there were mors children
SJd less food at homo. Then they assem
bled and flsw away in great swarms to
tho east and sooth. They traveled hun
dreds of irdlea Bomstimes in clear, warm
moonlight they flew all night. Mors
often they settled down late in ths after
noon to rest and feed, and pursued their
Journey on ths morrow.
It waa a sad day for ths settlers wbsrs
ths 1 grasshoppers lighted. Bight times
between 1857 and 1875 aorna parts of our
stats were visited by thorn, but ths great
grsashopper raid cams on July to, n and
21. U74. Suddenly, along tha entire fron
tier of Nsbraska, Kansas, Dakota and
Minnesota the air was filled with grass
hoppers. There were bflUons) of thsm in
ths great clouds Whloh darkened tha sun.
Ths vibration of their wings filled tha ear
with a roaring sovwd Uka a rushing
storm, followed by a deep trash as they
dropped to tha earth and began to devour
the crops. , .
All ths corn was satan rn a stasia day.
Where green fields stood at sunrise noth
ing remained at night but stumps of
stalks swarming with hungry hoppers
struggling for ths last btta. Thar stripped
the garden patahes bars they gnawed
great holes In carpets and ruga pot out
to savs favorite plants. Tha bods and
bark of fruit trees wars oonaomsdi they
followed potatoes and onions Into tha
earth. Whsn they had finished tha gar
dens and green crops they attacked tha
wheat and oats In tha shook and tho wfld
grass in ths nnptowed fialda Only two
green crops escaped thsm, broomoom and
sorghum cane. They did not seem to
have a sweet eyetooth. ICverywhera tha
earth was covered with a gray man -et
struggling, biting grasshoppers. Torkaya
and chickens fe anted on themj dogs and
pigs learned to oat them. It waa hard to
drive a team across a field booanaa tha
swarm of grasshoppers flaw op tn front
and strack ths horses tn tha faoa with
such foroa,
Wa thought when they war BDsa Osry
would fly away. Not at all. They Dawd
us so well they, concluded to Isasw their
children wtth na. Tha mother aTsashos-
psrs began to pierce tha earth wtth holes
and fill tha holes with eggs. Saoh one
laid about U0 aggs. Than they died and
stories and 6opa to be a writer whan
through school. I am sending a snap
shot of Bhep and myself at ttacls Ed's
farm, by tha haystack.
I thank yets heartily for tha book.
A Surprise for Teacher.
By XOdyths Olsen, Aged '10 Tears. Weep
ing Water, Neb. Red Side.
February xl wss our teacher's birth
day. We had a surprise for her. Bhs did
not know anything about It. About t
o'clock all our fathers and mothers oaroe.
Tha school house waa about full. Ws did
not have school the rest of tha day. Our
teacher's name Is Miss mtchman. X am
In tha sixth grade. Wa teter-tottered
and "played games until about 4 o'clock;
then wa bad lunch. For lunch wa bad
sandwiches, pickles, loo. cream and
cookies and coffee for the ones that liked
it . Then ws went home.
I hope Mr. Waste Baskst Is out playing
when my letter reaches you.
Rose Seed Blossoms.
By Chsrlott Tomllnson. Aged 11 Tsars,
, n. r . i. i. itox 3, r ori jrooa
' Xeb. lilue Side.
The first I remember I was a little seed.
Very soon I began to sprout and shot up
out of ths ground. Ons day a little girl
cams out and said, "Oh. sister, do come
and see the little rose bush coming up."
The little girl who first saw ma said.
"Do not hurt tho Uttls plant"
It was about la Juno when I bora lots
tiretty roses.
Paris Takes Kindly
To the Movie Show,
Trying it in School
(Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
PARIS, Feb. a. The motion picture ss
a factor In public education has been the
subject of inquiry by a parliamentary
commission, which has Just published a
report recommending the official adoption
of picture Instruction by all government
schools nd collegea
Military haspltala havs been using
moving films for ths physical re-education
of disabled war victims, and ons
primary school in Paris has introduced
cinematograph projections in Its curric
ulum. In both cases the results have
been most encouraging.
Ths report explains the application of
film education in its general outlines. In
primary schools, for example, spelling,
writing, arithmetic, geography, snd espe
cially history, can be Illustrated on the
screen with greater vividness than by
the teacher, whereas in more advanced
schools ths study of foreign languages
csn be profitably supplemented by views
of the countries where these tongues are
spoken, their customs snd institutions.
In high schools ths cinematograph would
play an even more Important role, espe
cially In the study of science. Chemistry,
botany, biology, mechanics, etc, particu
larly In their comparative aspects, lend
themselves more then sny other studies
to film Illustration, particularly as It Is
possible to atop fhe film at any mdment
ao as to emphasize or reiterate some
point. Public lectures and patriotic In
struction are alao, aa has been repeatedly
proved, greatly aided by ths cinemato
graph. Ths commission is of the opinion
that the ministry of public Instruction
should either create a special source of
production for these films, or, wtth ths
help of editors of rlnematogrHph films,
establish a repertory ot already existing
films which could be utilized for educa
tional purposea, and give ordera for cre
ating new ones to suit the needs of
schools snd colleges. The widespread
continuous demand for such films would
amply repay the cost of production.
tha goand waa covered with their dead
bodlea.
Most of tha psopla on ths frontier wcrs
very poor. It was "hard times" even be
fore tha grasshoppers came. There was
a great panlo in tha land. Many settlers
had nothing to llvs on during the winter
but their sod 00 rn and garden. These were
gons. It looked like starvation. The future
held no hope, for the very soli was filled
with eggs whloh would hatch a hundred
times as many grasshoppers the next
spring. Those wars the darkeat days fcr
the Nebraska pioneers. Their covered
wagons used to pass with this palmed
on the canvas:
"EATEN OUT BY GRASSHOPPERS.
GOING BACK EAST TO LIVE WITH
WIFESS FOLKS."
During tha fall and winter those men
brave enough to stay took the tearr.s
and worked wherever they could get a
Job In the older settlements. Some bunted
gams and lived aa ths Indians did on
dried buffalo meat, trading the robes
for other suppllea Relief funds were
rajeed farther, east and food, seed airi
clothing distributed to those not too
proud to apply for them. Thus the daric
winter of 1874-75 was lived through.
In tha spring the settlers sowed their
small grain and millions of young grass
hoppers hatched to eat it. These littls :
fsUows could not fly. They oould only
hop short hops. So tha settlers mads
ditches and drove thsm In. ""Wind rows of '
straw were laid aorosa tha fields. Tha '
young grasshoppers crawled into ths
straw to get warm and tha settlers set ;
It oa firs. Bushels of them were caught ,
tn wide shallow pans with kerosene in tha
bottom which were Bet low and drawn
across tha fields. Nature helped tha
settlers. It waa a oold rainy spring whlco .
fross ths young brood, Littls parasites) .
bored holes In tha eggs and In the lltt's '
fellows. Tha birds, then aa now tha far I
mar's beat friends, came from tha eoutii
and Joined la tha good work of fighting j
grasshoppers.
lcb tha next two or three years there
wara some saarfwppera and tha fear ef !
mora alone tha frontier. Then tha ReV.
mountain graashoppeis disappeared f roraa'
tha settlement. They have never beesi
seen m such vast numbers sines and tha '
1 ins
will
hard trmes they brought on ths lahd
pronasiy new again return. Those
wne.
Imea
rmav '
left their claims have wished many timea
ma they had stayed by their farms.
which seemed aw worthless tn those early :
yearThas who bald on to their land
through, hardship and suffering, wits '
hearts tsrong tad (kith firm In the futura
t Nebraska, have Bred to see their later
ysara mads glad by generous crops snd
happy homes ejshera children asking for ,
toriss of tha long ago are told ths story '
of tho dark days when the grasshopper
Boy Scouts Take
Place of Parlor
Maids and Butlers
(Correorpontlenoa of tha Associated Press.)
XXWDOTf,' Tdb. Boy scouts have
laen tntrodooed in many English homes
to taka tha place of parlor maids. This '
on f ths attempts made here to cir
cumvent tha servant problem brought
about by tha war. Butlers and footmen
have discarded their liveries and donned
khaki, while thousands of young women
who used to earn their living aa servants
have gone to serve ths country (and. In
cidentally, to earn better wages) as mu
nition workers. In searching about for'
a solution of the problem some Ingenious .
housewives hit upon ths idea of employ. '
VJng boy scouts, with tha result that tha ,
jivinuv, a no ooy a
scout waits at table, cleans tha sllvy
and answers tha door. He looks snsftxt'
In his uniform and his scout training
makes him an efficient and satisfactory
substitute for tha parlor maid.
I
Says Public Economy
Has Hurt Education
(Correspondence of tha Associated Press.)
LONDON, Feb. .- Is absurd to tall
about capturing German trade and meeUi
Ing foreign competition after ths way,
when so much harm la now dons to tha I
British elementary schools tn tha naraai
of publio economy, declared T. Gautrey,'
secretary of ths London Teachers' aaso-,
elation, in a recent interview.
"Education Is being raided because it
Is so easy to do it." he said, "but thoss !
who ars doing ,4 1 have no vision for ths
future welfare of the empire, which must I
rest flrat on national efficiency. A sound '
elementary education is the base on,
which all forma of higher education must
be built, especially those of the mora
practical character than are now sup.
plied."
The war savings committee of the Lon-
Ann nniintw Mim.ll 1. . . . ..
" . j na, iiioirucieu ma
education committee to effect a saving
of $2,000,000 In the coming fiscal vear. V.
ginning April L This alao means tha' 9
stoppage of all building projects, which,
in normal times amounts to at leant
$:.510,000. The county would thus savs
I4.WO.000 on education the next school
year.
Mr. Gautrey says It Is not shown how
this saving would aid the war, and im
plies that It only eases the burden of the
taxpayers.
1 OPEN NOSTRILS! END
A COLD OR CATARRH
How To Oat Relief Whan T1..A
X and Nose are Stuffed Up.
. Count fifty! Your cold in head or ca
tarrh disappears. Your clogged nowtrlls
will open, the air pusaugca of your head
will clear and you can. breathe freely.
No more snuffling, hawking, mucous di
rharge, dryness or headache; no strug
gling for breath at night.
Get a email bottle of Kly's Cream lial'S.
from your druggistuid apply a little i.f
this fragrant antiseptic cream in your
nostrils. It penetrates through evtSjilp
passage of the hear1, soothing and tiAa
Inf the kwnllpn .... Inflom. ivim-miM lilcili '
brane, giving you inxmnt relief. Iliad
colds and catarrh yir-Ul lllt muif. Iici'l
stay stuffed-up utvt ml icluO! . r.e'lt
Is sure. Adv ci ! l.-or-.eui