GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



November, 1917 



the automobile my oldest gTandson, who was 

 to accompany us, was suddenly taken ill. 

 It was too late then to make other arrange- 

 ments. 



The next night the doctor was to give the 

 same talk in Massillon, some 40 miles from 

 Medina. Just as we were ready to start, a 

 thunderstorm came up, and I decided to go 

 by train. The train would reach destination 

 in time provided it were " on time." When 

 we were near Massillon two freight cars ran 

 ofO the track and thus blockaded the road. 

 Of course, I did not knew what the trouble 

 was, and Avas inclined to chafe and fret and 

 scold about the railroad companies being 

 " always behind," etc. But I remembered 

 Dr. Barker's vehement injunction to take 

 things cool, look pleasant, and beware of 

 finding fault. I told the conductor and his 

 assistant how anxious I Avas to hear Dr. 

 Bai'ker, and then they explained the condi- 

 tion of things. They said they had to walk 

 a mile and a half to reach a telephone. But 

 things were very soon rightecl, altho the 

 train came in an hour late. A stranger in- 

 formed me that I could reach the Chautau- 

 qua tent by a walk of about six minutes, 

 and then I started off. Now, Massillon is a 

 very pretty town. In fact, it is almost a 

 forest of shade-trees. These trees, while 

 very grateful on a hot day, obstruct the 

 electric lights, especiallj' during a cloudy 

 rainy night. I inquired the way several 

 limes, and rushed ahead in the darkness. 

 An elderly lady overheard my inquiry, and 

 suggested that, as some of the walks were 

 in a bad condition, I would have to be a 

 little careful. When I told her I was ex- 

 ceedingly anxious to hear as much as pos- 

 sible of Dr. Barker's talk, she said there 

 was great danger of my getting but very 

 little of it, and suggested that she would go 

 out of her way until I could get sight of 

 the Chautauqua tent; and when we came to 

 a bad piece in the walk where there was 

 little or no light, she kindly touched my arm 

 and directed my course. When I told her 

 who I was she said : 



"Oh dear me! Is this Mr. A. I. Root? 

 Years ago I took Oleanings and had your 

 ABC book-; and it is a great delight to me 

 to meet you and give you a little help in a 

 time like this." 



Do you see, friends, where our text comes 

 in — -"He shall direct thy paths"? She was 

 a lady of culture and intelligence; and 

 God's method of directing the footsteps of 

 a poor unfortunate is often thru the medium 

 of kindly, neighborly people. 



Dr. Barker's talk lasted an hour and ten 

 minutes. I crowded right up in front and 

 managed to hear just about the last ten 



minutes. He gave it while going thru his 

 gymnastics on a sort of cot placed be- 

 fore the audience. At the close of his talk 

 he asked the audience to come up, one and 

 all, and ask him questions. He said he was 

 glad to direct to the best of his ability any 

 who needed advice he could give. A great 

 crowd clustered around him. As a matter 

 of courtesy the men stood back and let th? 

 women folks come tirst. I waited as long as 

 I felt I could stand it, for I dislike to in- 

 terrupt the women, but finally I managed to 

 push up and say : 



"Doctor, I am A. I. Root. I have just 

 managed to get in to hear the closing part 

 of your talk." 



"Why, bless your heart, Mr. Root, I am 

 exceedingly glad to see you." 



Then he turned to the crowd and said : 



"I wonder if you people all know who 

 tliis man is that I have by the hand." 



Somebody replied, "It is the greatest bee- 

 keeper in the state of Ohio." 



Another woman in tlie crowd caught her 

 up and said: 



" Ohio! Why, he is the greatest author- 

 ity on bees and bee culture in the whole 

 xoide world." 



At this point I protested, saying, "No, no, 

 friends. Don't give me more credit than I 

 deserAe. Years ago I was something of an 

 anthorit}^; but just now the credit belongs 

 to my sons and sons-in-law. But I want to' 

 ask the good doctor a question. Is it not 

 possible that brisk exercise in our 'war 

 gardens' so as to get into a profuse per- 

 spiration out in the sunshine once a day or 

 more will answer the purpose of the gym- 

 nasties?" 



The doctor replied : 



"Yes, Mr. Root, it will answer perfectly 

 if you get into a good sweat out in the open 

 air once every day of your life. But what 

 are you going to clo when it comes winter?" 



On the impulse of the moment I called 

 out so everybody present could hear it dis- 

 tinctly, "Go down to Florida." 



This provoked a big laugh, and so many 

 of the crowd gathered around me to ask 

 questions that attention was diverted from 

 the good doctor to myself; and as he was 

 rather tired I do not know but he was 

 glad of it. 



The longer I live, dear friends, the more 

 I am convinced that a greater part of the 

 troubles with our health, and I might add 

 happiness too, comes from lack of exercii-:e 

 out in the open air that God intended we 

 should enjoy like the animals; and had time 

 permitted I should have included in my 

 reply that we should wear just as little 

 clothing as possible while taking this open- 



