First Acquaintance 
My experience with the honey-bee reaches 
through a period of twenty-five years. In 
Princeton I kept a colony of the pretty, cu- 
rious, and useful creatures in my room dur- 
ing my whole time there. I continue as en- 
thusiastic over them as ever, because they 
are a never-ending source of stimulating na- 
ture study, beautiful to look at, wonderfully 
interesting in their operations, provide mer- 
ry recreation in their housing and care, 
stock our larder the year through with de- 
licious honey, and buy all the books in any 
one year that the tastes of a modest minis- 
ter ^and his household demand. These 
should be good reasons why other ministers 
who love nature ought to be keeping bees 
for pleasure, health, and profit— and just as 
good reasons why lawyers and physicians, 
even with homes where there are only the 
smallest of yards or lots, may get gentle but 
wholesome diversion and supply their tables 
with the nicest of all natural sweets. 
Professional people need not only exercise 
but recreational pastimes. Whatever learn- 
ed walk a man may be in, he would be hap- 
pier for keeping a few colonies of these hon- 
ey-makers, curiosity-begetters, mind-rous- 
ers, and devotion-creators all combined. I 
can think of no hobby more respectable, no 
exercise less irksome, no study of nature 
more fascinating, no small bank account 
more readily possessed, than are assured to 
the busy professional who will devote a lit- 
tle time and means to it. I usually limit 
