1132 



(;!,KAXIX(;s IN BEE CULTURE. 



Sept. 1 



For what glorv is it, if, when ye be buffeted for 

 your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye 

 do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 

 acceptable with God.— I. Peter 2 : 20. 



These words of the apostle have lieen re- 

 peated so many times I fear they often fall 

 on our ears without any particular meaning: 

 hut the real devoted follower of the Lortl 

 Jesus C"hri.st will bring out the meaning if he 

 strives earnestly to carry the spirit of it right 

 along with him through all his daily life. 

 Professing Christians, deacons in our church- 

 es, ves. and some of our ministers, fail or 

 forget to make a practical application of 

 these lieautiful words, many times, when 

 thev are suddenly confronted by somebody 

 or some thiny that seems spiteful, malicious, 

 and unkind. To illustrate what 1 mean. I 

 wish to make a quotation from a recent is- 

 sue of The American Bee-keejier: 



At the recent meeting of the Pennsylvania Bee- 

 keepers' Association held at Jenkintown, Pa., one of 

 the " exhibits " which created much amusement was 

 an old man who went about introducing himself as 

 "lam Blanketv Branch" (we omit his real name) 

 and seeming much surprised and disgusted if the re- 

 cipient of the " honor " did not show due delight and 

 adoration. His egotistical antics added much to the 

 entertainment of the visitors. The boys who stay 

 away from the conventions often miss rare enjoy- 

 ment. 



I did not see the above till one of the boys 

 called my attention to it. I do not know 

 whether 'they thought it would hurt me or 

 worry me or not: but I am glad to say it 

 took "my attention for only a few moments 

 until I afterward considered that it is calcu- 

 lated to mar the harmony and pleasant re- 

 lations that have existed In^tweeu the eilitors 

 of all of our bee-journals of late, with some 

 little exception. Of course, my name is not 

 mentioned in the aliove at all: and perhaps 

 I am somewhat in a hurry to — "put the coat 

 on."' Well, it is possibleit had no reference 

 to me at all; Imt it certainly referred to 

 somebody: and if somebody must wear it. 1 

 think I will save further troul)le by putting 

 it on. My shoulders are not very broad, it 

 is true: but I think they are )>road enough to 

 wear the above becomingly. A good manv 

 vears ago my beloved pastor. Kev. A. T. 

 keed. said in "his morning prayer before the 

 church. "O Lord, we thank tliee for our en- 

 emies, because they will tell us our faults 

 when nobody else will." On the same ground 

 I can thank this same brother bee-keeper for 

 telling me of my faults, even if he did not 

 do it with very much Ijrotherly kindness. 

 By the way. while he was about it why did 

 not the writer say, "a stoop-slwiddered old 

 man."' instead of just saying oW wrtH? On 

 page 1002 there is a picture of myself talking 



about the Caucasian bees. Well, now, that 

 picture is going to do me a lot of good. The 

 minute I saw it I said to myself that I would 

 have given somebody a hve-cU^llar bill if he 

 had just clapped me on the shoulders and 

 told me to "sti'aighten up" — at least while 

 my picture was being taken. If Mrs. Root 

 had been present, she certainly would have 

 reminded me that I am getting stoop-skoul- 

 dered. and that I fall into the habit when I do 

 not know it. Well, now. that picture is go- 

 ing to do me a lot of good. Every time I 

 look at it or think of it I involuntarily 

 straighten up and throw my head back. 

 Now tlon't you think, friends, it sometimes 

 does us a lot of good, not only physically 

 but spiritually, to Ise held up before the 

 world as "others see us"?* 



It is true, dear friends, that I made a lit- 

 tle more etfort than usital to be genial and 

 good-natureil and sociable with the great 

 number of friends I made in Jenkintown. 

 Before I consented to go, the boys told me 

 there were many people in the East who 

 were anxious to meet me particularly, at 

 least once in their lives: and I hardly need 

 tell you I found it true. I do not know that 

 I ever in one day shook hands with so many 

 people, and listened to so many kind words, 

 while 1 made an effort to recollect their 

 names and places of residence. I remember 

 that at one time when I was shaking hands 

 with a little group one person stood right 

 before me, apparently unnoticed. After I 

 had shaken hands with the rest I said, ex- 

 tending my hand. "And who is this brother? 

 I am A. I. Root." He put out his hand with 

 some hesitation, but did not seem very much 

 pleased to meet me. If I made a mistake, I 

 am sure God will forgive me. and I guess 

 the rest of the friends will. The l>rother is 

 certainly mistaken, however, in saying that 

 1 was surprised and disgusted because I did 

 not receive the same amount of attention 

 everywhere; and God knows I do not want 

 "adoration." much less do I take any "de- 

 light"" in it. 



It is not my nature to be obtrusive. I am 

 naturally diffident: and it is very unpleasant 

 for me to be obliged to push myself into any 

 place where I am not wanted. I sometimes 

 go into saloons: and if they know who I am 

 they certainly do not w^ant to see me. By 

 the way. I believe it was Prof. Cook who 

 taught me more than anybody else to get 

 over my diffidence and make an effort to get 

 ac(iuainted with the people. Dr. Miller, al- 

 so, while traveling, has been very helpful to 

 me in that way. He has a peculiar grace 

 and gift for making the great outside world 

 smile and look good-natured: yes, and so 

 had our dear departed brother Dr. Mason a 

 gift in the same way. When folks were in- 

 clined to look sour and unsociable he would 

 set them all to laughing: and in this way he 

 honored and gloritied. )iot himself, liut the 

 Lord Jesus Christ, whom he was trying to 

 serve. 



Sometimes when in traveling when I am 



*On the front cover of last issue, I am glad to notice 

 I " straightened up " a good deal better. 



