24 The Acorn Miscellaneous LONGFELLOW The winds have talked with him confidingly, The trees have whispered to him,and the night Hath held him gently as a mother might, And taught him all sad tones of melody ; The mountains have bowed to him; and the sea In clamorous waves and murmurs exquisite, Hath told him all her sorrow and delight Her legends fair her darkest mystery. His verse blooms like a flower night and day; Bees cluster round his rhymes; and twitterings Of lark and swallow, in an endless May, Are mingling with the tender songs he sings. Nor shall he cease to sing, in every lay Of nature's voice he sings and will alway. J. W. Riley. About a century ago Jules Bern-dote, a gascon adventurer, grew to be marshall of France. At that time Charles XIII was King of Sweden. He was childless and so admired Napoleon and his mar-shalls, that he chose Jules as his successor. Oscar II who just died was the ourh king of this house. He was a linguist, essayist, scientist, historian, poet, orator, and composer of no mean rank. A great many of Sweden's hymns were composed by him. There were few things that he could not do with some degree of skill. Most of all he was a very human man. He united the democrat with the monarch. He was accustomed to say, "If I never forget that I am king, I always remember that I sprang from the people." More has been written of this king than any other. One of his novels is now being published in the principle languages. "OUTLOOK" Heroism, self-respect, and personal reserve are glorious parts of our heritage. Our poverty, or misfortune is not for the ears of the public, but for us to "grin and bear." Persia has at last obtained a written constitution, and a representative assembly of the people, The Acorn 25 but neither the Shah nor his subjects have yet been perfectly educated into a free government. The peasant cannot be expected to see the beauties of this new era, for he has been held down too long, and even now does not have a fair representation in the new Parliment. Liberty of teaching, of the press, of associations, and of assemblage has been proclaimed, but it will be a long time before the country will understand the new government. The people are now on the brink of civil war. Literary Digest. "Professors" among birds are those that are kept for the purpose of teaching their companions to sing. The industry of training young birds flourishes in the Hartz Mountains, and especially at Andeasberg. Nowhere else, it is claimed are the birds so conscientiously brought up. Thanks to the wonderful patience of the German peasants of those parts, the birds learn to modulate their voices produce silvery sounds, and introduce a variety of notes into the long trill, embellishing them with many a grace note. They are taught by a bird organ, which consists of large cylinders full of water. These slide into one another, and are moved by a chain attached to a pulley on a fixed bar. It produces a plaintive, monotonous sound which seems to tame the birds. Harpers Weekly. Ernesto Nathan, the new Major of Rome is half English and half Jew. This election has caused a stir among the Roman Catholic papers, for they all consider him an enemy of the church. Men, however, broader minded state that as Major of Rome, he will prove an economic benefit to the city. One writer brings up as an example, the Jewish Mayors of London. Nathan is well educated, and speaks the Italian Language with unusual ease and elegance. As ninety five percent of the people are Catholic, it is readily seen that he was not elected on account of his religion, but his ability to rule the people. This is one more step towards the separation of church and state. How much greater grows the wrong That is maintained through ages long. Selected. The next examination for candidates for Rhodes scholarship in Oxford University, is to be held on January 21st and 22nd. There are one hundred and sixty men with scholarships. Of the eight first honors in scholarships won, American students took five, the other three going to students from the British colonies. In Athletics the Michigan freshman scholar won four first prizes and one second. Youth's Companion.