feared is a new enemy which is soon to appear
upon the horizon, if indeed he is not already
there. Considering what has been the fate of all
accessible woodland in our state we can hardly
suppose that this tract, small as it is, can stand
unchanged much longer. As means of access
and facility in handling timber increase, the'
man of business will appear, and what with
“prop” and “pulp” and “box shooks” the trees
are likely to disappear as have those of other
districts; and then shorn of one of its chief
beauties, swept by fire, and harassed by spasmodic
efforts at “reclamation”‘we shall scarcely recog
nize our old-time Bear Meadows again. Our only
hope is in this, that either the evil day may be
long deferred, or tnat a more enlightened policy
of land and forest economy may prevail. On
this latter suggestion the following seems perti
nent. Assuming that the great need of Agricul
ture in Pennsylvania is-not more land but better
care and culture of that now under the plough,
and that there is to be a continuous demand for
lumber of various kinds, why sweep away the
forest growth of the Meadows at onc'e as a far
mer does his crop of grain ? The latter can be re
placed in a year, but the former in scarcely a
century. Is it too much to hope for the success
of some such project as the following :
A stock company of (a) some practical men
who have keen eyes ,for business, (and have repu
tation for being long-headed), (b) Some gentle
men . so fond of the sport of hunting and fishing
that they would be glad to have it close at home,
(c) Some enthusiasts who believe that forests can
be raised as corn and grass can, arid that we can
afford to do something for posterity even though
posterity has done nothing for us. Let such a
company purchase the Meadows and sufficient ad
joining mountain land to make a tract* of five,
ten or more square miles. At some convenient
point from which the whole can be under its con
trol, place a forester and gamekeeper. Then let
trees be cut and used only when they are ready
for it, the young growth allowed to remain, the
THE FREE LANCE.
portions now supporting but a scanty growth
planted anew, the fires kept down and the cattle
out, the old game and fish protected and new
introduced—in short,let there be intelligent work
and supervision throughout, having for its object
not the greatest immediate return, disregarding
every other consideration, but rather a careful
husbanding of resources, a using without abusing,
and a just regard for the future of the property.
Pennsylvania has no such great unoccupied area
as the Adirondack of New York or the Yellowstone
of Wyoming, which she can hold for the public
good, but, scattered up and down along the Ap
palachians, are many places like this of the'Bear
Meadows which under private ownership can be
made to serve well the interests of the immediate
owners, and at the same time reserve the integ
rity of many interesting natural features, and
conserve our timber and water supply.
Time and space are insufficient to enter into
the details of the plan of which this is but an
outline, and of the advantages which would ac
crue from it. It is to be hoped however that
private interest and public spii it may be so com
bined as to give us a few such reserves. The
mountain region is well fitted for them and the
Bear Meadows an excellent place to begin on.
Blau College, Pa,
HAIL, MORNING STARS !
I send my spirit through wide hinds
And llvo doad ages,
To olasp the kind, Immortal hands
Ol curly sages.
I road tho weird, half-shapen thought
Of bards or Hindoo,
And hall tho truth divinely taught
By Boers of Hebrew.
1 hear, beneath .auroral lights,
The Xor’land Jtiddas ;
And think how Ormazd evil tights
In vales of Shiraz.
From talks of Socrates I learn,
I think with Plato;
And foul tho throbs of passion burn
In songs of Sappho.
The morning stars that brought the dawn
At noon are shining;. . , ,
Tlielr light, In stronger light withdrawn,.
Thu eye divining.
I> TMOBMVON OIMOKDi