24 The Acorn Music Beethoven, the world's great musician, was born at Bonn, December 16th, 1770. His mother was very kind and considerate; his father quick and severe. Beethoven loved music when but a child. He commenced the study of Latin, Music, Arithmetic, and Reading, when he was four years old, his father being his teacher and a severe one too. He has often said his first lessons were not acquired without tears, but he would not give up. By the time he was nine years old, he had acquired such skill in music that his father was incapable of teaching him more, so in 1779, he was put in care of Pliffra, a tenor singer. Soon after he was ten years old, he wrote a Funeral Cantata in memory of an old friend, Mr. Cressener. In 1787 he took a three months journey to Vienna, where his time was spent in playing for the aristocracy of that city. Shortly after his return home, his mother and sister died, making the remainder of the year very dull for Beethoven; for he loved his mother dearly. About this time he made the acqaintance of Count Waldstein, a Nobleman, who was very useful in encouraging him at a time when the young musician most needed help. During the year of 1788 he joined Elector's band to which he belonged for four years. At this time his father had become a confirmed drunkard, but Beethoven's high position did not make him too proud to acknowledge his unfortunate parent. However, the year 1791 opened well for him: Count Waldstein arranged the plan for a light opera, and Beethoven composed the music. Before this, Elector had taken little notice of him, but now seeing his great ability, he planned a trip to Venice in order that the composer might study at his expense. By November 15th, Beethoven was settled in Venice and at once started to take lessons from Haydn. He became well acquainted with Prince and Princess Lichnowsky of Venice, and lived with them for years. Later he and Haydn traveled together visiting cities of Germany and France. The remainder of his life was spent in the composing of instrumental and vocal music. He died in 1826. His funeral was one of the largest ever held. To-day over his grave, there is a stone bearing a lyre, the emblem of eternity,and the simple name "Beethoven." Success to Our Choir! May they soon be able to give us a new song. Professor Nichols has organized a band of twenty-six pieces, and every noon we realize that the instruments as well as the boys, are in school. Miss Zalia Goddard and Mr. Henry Volker entertained the students at Devotional October nth, with instrumental solos. The solo "Give to the World the Best You Have," sung by Wm. S. Wright was much appreciated by the faculty and students. The Acorn 25 EXCHANGE We will be glad to welcome back all our old exchanges and will be pleased to receive any new ones. We have already received a number of exchanges this year, some of them are: The Utah Eagle, (Ogden, Utah), Student Life (He-ber City), The Polymnian, (Newark, New Jersey), and The High School Register, (Burlington, Vt.). Folks who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do. The Trinitonian (Warahachie, Texas), is very neat and interesting. The Oracle (Bangor, Maine), we suggest that you put the name of your town in a more conspicuous place so that it may be seen without looking through the advertisements. "If we could only see others as we see ourselves, what splendid men and women would inhabit the earth." The cover design of the "Chronicle" is very appropriate. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" exclaimed the excited freshman. "Keep cool," shouted the senior, "You are safe, green things don't burn." Ex. "The White and Blue" is a very well prepared paper, but why have you no "exchange" columns? Stella:" Dou you believe that Miss Oldum came by her complexion honestly?" Mabel: "I know she did. I saw the receipt bill for it." Chicago News. Umpire: "Fowl." Bright Freshie: "Where are its feathers?" Umpire: "'This is a picked team, sir." Ex. No book is worth anything which is not worth much, nor is it serviceable until it has been read, and reread, and loved, and loved again, and marked so you can refer to the passages you want in it, as a