8 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



materially. Even in the early days he said people did not 

 need medicine so much as they needed common sense in treat- 

 ing their bodies. Fifty years ago he believed that hygiene, 

 plenty of water inside and out, rest, and temperance in eat- 

 ing, are far more important than drugs. Our best doctors 

 today would testify that he was fifty years ahead of his time. 

 The modern schools of medicine are advocating less drugs and 

 more hygiene, plenty of good air and water. When Dr. Mil- 

 ler was going thru college he did not know that he could 

 overwork, but soon found that he was burning the candle at 

 both ends. He came out of college a full-fledged graduate 

 with several hundred dollars to the good, but with health 

 broken. All his life he had to be careful what he ate, as a 

 consequence. He was always obliged rigidly to deny himself, 

 but the result was that he kept himself active in mind and 

 body. He was not only a great teacher but a great healer. 



This little sketch would be incomplete, were I not to refer 

 to a very admirable and dominant characteristic in Dr. 

 Miller — that temperament or quality in his nature that makes 

 the world delightful and everything lovely — so much so that 

 it showed out not only in his face but in his writings. I 

 think some of the happiest times of my life have been spent 

 in Dr. Miller's home. Not only did he carry optimism thru 

 the printed page, but we found it at the breakfast-table and 

 all thru the day without a break. He went further. His con- 

 ^'ersation was one ripple of merriment thruout. He never 

 ridieulejJ, but he could see the funny things of life, and some- 

 times I have come away from his table sore from laughter. He 

 had the habit of taking one by conversational surprise, and 

 would have him holding his sides almost before he knew it. 



I said to him 30 years ago: "Doctor, I wish there were 

 some way by which you might reproduce those breezy remarks 

 you make at conventions and in your home — those little side- 

 lines that are so helpful and seem like a drink of cold water 

 on a hot day. Is it not possible that you could send Gleanings 

 a page or two of short items of general comment each month ? 

 and 1 would suggest the name 'Kernels of Wheat,' as we al- 

 ready have a department, 'Heads of Grain.' " 



He liked the idea ; but for a title he suggested that "Stray 



