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THE COLLEGE SIGNAL

AMHERST, MASS.. OCTOBER 22,

Published Fortnightly by Students of the Massachusetts Agricultural College.

Students and Alumni are requested to contribute. Communications should be addressed. COLLEGE SIGNAL, AMHERST, MASS. THE SIGNAL will be sent to all subscribers until its discontinuance is ordered and arrears are paid. Subscribers who do not receive their paper regularly are requested to notify the Business Manager.

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DIRECTORY.

matter, Post Office at Amherst. CARPENTER MOREHOUSE, PRINTERS.

alumni. Nevertheless there seems to have been ample reason for the management to take the stand it did. Our squad is obviously much too small to undertake such a game in the midst of a season, At such a time the retirement of our best players would seriously handicap us and make us unable to cope with colleges which are nearer of our own class. Although it is obvious that a good showing against Yale would advertize us in no small way. Yet we have still plenty of formidable material with which to try conclusions. Every team upon our schedule is backed by from three to five times as many men and by much greater financial support than is ours. It would seem then that our team is being asked to do all that the circumstances under which we labor would warrant. The telegram from New Haven so soon followed by the report of the Dartmouth game, however, could not but create a sense of satisfaction in the minds of those connected with the College.

FEW people realize.with what implicit confidence the students of a college often accord all power and and right of expression to the editors of the college paper. Into their hands is given the unquestionable right to express with the greatest minuteness the various trend of popular sentiment. Matters rhetorical, social and political are alike submitted to their care and judgment. From their minds must come the thoughts which form the literature of the College and from their pens the facts which would make the paper an authority in local matters. The editors of such a paper may have reason to feel proud of the great compliment paid them but at the same time we cannot but envy those men who stand at the head of a college paper which is published by the student body. The COLLEGE SIGNAL is supposed to be published by the students of this College and not by the editorial board of the paper. Their duty is to compile, correct and to have the general oversight and management of the paper. We would then ask for your hearty coSINCE College opened there has been no little com- operation in the publication of the COLLEGE Signal. ment upon the possible increase of work required by Let us have your views, your comments, the products the military department. Some of the rumors which of your literary talent. Do not place all confidence have reached our ears have been startling in the ex-in the editorial board of a paper which you help to treme and upon investigation we find that the problem support financially and which represents your interests. which confronts the College is no small one. In the general orders No. 94, issued from the Adjutant General's office, Aug. 9th, 1902, we find that for military colleges of the second class, comprising those colleges established under the provisions of the act of Congress of July 2, 1863 and which are required to include military tactics in their curriculum, there shall be practical and theoretical courses which shall comprise infantry. drill regulation, guards and outposts, marches, target practice, instruction in first aid to the injured together with various lectures and special duties. Besides this "A guard shall be mounted five times (weather permitting) in each week of the College year and the guard shall be practically instructed for one hour In the posting and relief of sentinels and About two years ago, Joe and I were down in the their duties." Captain Anderson estimates that about woods, doing a little loggin' on our own hook. A light thirty hours per week will be need to conform with snow had fallen near the close of the day; so next these requirements. At present the orders are being morning when I woke, a new carpet had covered the reconsidered by the War department and pending ground, and weighted down the branches of the firs. further instructions, the students at this College will When I went to the spring I noticed a pretty good be required to take no more work in the military de-sized buck's tracks; and in imagination saw a fine partment than formally. pair of antlers. Joe,' I said as I entered the cabin,

66

A TALE IN CAMP.

Well, yes, I do remember one amusing experi

ence."

I was lying on the bunk, upon the sweetest kind of a bed that Mother Nature provides, fir boughs, and a foot deep. We had just returned from a successful strike. The deer had been cleaned and strung on the bough. We had gathered in a comfortable corner of the cabin. Billie and Gene lay stretched on the lower bunk. The Doctor and Ben, the guide, sat near the stove, pipe in mouth, while, as I stated before, I lay on the upper bunk, waiting for the stories so soon to follow. It was the guide who spoke.

suppose we follow him, meat's a little low and there's picked myself up and looked for Joe I nearly doubled a fine pair of antlers there for some one.'

up for laughter. There he was bent over, holding on to his knees and hopping about like a toad. The tears were rolling down his cheeks and the air was fairly blue.

46

''I'm agreed,' Joe answered. So we struck out as soon as we had the tins all washed. We followed the tracks down the trail half a mile, then across the ravine up the other bank, here we saw his marks as ... How in am I going to get out of these he tried his antlers on the young cherry trees. But woods, I can't walk ten feet. That d-n thing broke on we went over the hill and along the stream for every bone in my legs, and you, you d―n fool stand about a mile and a half. As we neared the bluff on there laughing at me; go and get a stretcher, butthe west side we moved more careful and as we that won't do, you can't carry me. I'll have to stay rounded the bend we saw him, and he was a beauty, here till you can get some one. Why in the d—l did in good view, before you could wink an eye I fired you tell me to grab his legs for, and besides I might and he jumped, but he didn't go more than twenty- have known better. But I'll fix you for this. I won't five feet when he dropped. Oh no I didn't fire again, be able to walk all winter. And the buck's gone too I never make a miss shot, when this 30-30 speaks is it? Shut up, you fool.' she means business, and I make it a point never to follow a hit deer. You let him drop to rest as he must after being hit and you've got him without walking a mile, but chase him and he seems to get strength at each jump. Of course you'll get him in the end but only after a long walk and a lot of trouble. Let him alone and he won't go far.

"I was nearly in a fit laughing, fairly rolling on the ground. 'Oh, let it alone, Joe, you're not killed.' Well, I tell you, I can't walk back to camp. I'm crippled for life.'

"Oh come, sit down and rest a little and we'll talk of getting to camp afterwards.' After he had settled down for half an hour he was all right again, the deer had only numbed his legs, hadn't broken any bones, I knew that by the way he hopped about, so took it easy and got safely back to camp. But the deer,' I exclaimed, he didn't get away,

"Well, he's a dead one, sure 'nuff,' said Joe, and I walked over to the buck. There he lay in a little hollow, with a look in those eyes as though he was still alive; and just as I grasped his antlers in the act of turning him over to clean him, he sprang to his did he? ' feet and the shock nearly sent me flying but I held to Not if I knew it,' Ben replied. When we left the his horns and threw one arm around a tree that tree I pulled out my knife and before we were fairly in chanced to be near, while I called to Joe. He came the bushes, the deer felt its edge. But I never on a run but when he got to the tree he stood there laughed as I did at Joe and now whenever I think of laughing; the deer and I were having a merry-go-round it I burst out. He was a sight well worth seeing." about the tree, and how we did whirl! I managed to keep him at arm length although once or twice he did stab at me, and its a wonder he didn't gore me, but he seemed more anxious to get away than run me through.

RAYMOTH.

BIRD SHOOTING ABOUT AMHERST. Although the time which the average student has to devote to field sports is limited, yet it is not with

You fool,' I cried, grab him by the hind legs, do out a sense of exaltation that we become aware that you want to see me killed before your eyes.' the bird season is once more open. The primitive incan I, when you're going like stincts rise within us and we tear ourselves away from

... How in

that?'

sines and quadrants to take a tramp through the neighboring woods and along the familiar water-courses. We feel a keen delight in being among the falling leaves and fragrant pines and we tiptoe along scarcely daring to breath, awed by the majesty of nature.

A gray squirrel jumps from a pile of brush and darts up the hidden side of a lofty chestnut to reappear

among the topmost branches. But we are out after birds and are glad that we have an excuse to let the creature live. The true sportsman is not a savage or a pot hunter. He does not go into the woods to kill and mangle in a promiscuous manner, but like a true sportsman entering a foot-ball game he endeavors to attain his ends by scientific and humane methods.

The primary essentials for a day's bird-shooting are first a gun, preferably a double-barreled or repeating gun, both have their advocates, but whichever it is, care should be taken in its selection.

The best gun for all-around shooting is a twelve gauge, of some reliable make, weighing between seven and eight pounds and having not more than a modified choke. The full choke is a nuisance as it bunches the shot and causes you to miss birds which you might have got with a more open pattern and mangles birds at the average range.

fall and winter is seen in flocks feeding in open grass plots and in grain stubble. Upon being flushed they rise en masse and fly straight away, generally with the wind, thus giving the hunter opportunity to raise havoc among their ranks.

In the woodcock we have a bird whose successful pursuit calls into action all the better qualities of the sportsman.

The Philopela minor or American woodcock, is very typical of our New England woods although it is seldom taken from the pockets of the amateur sportsman.

Within a week the writer has seen two fine specimens not more than a few hundred feet from the new power station. It is a very intelligent bird and like its half brother the snipe has a remarkable faculty for dodging gun shot. But unlike another half brother, the sand piper, it is never seen in dense flights, being met with singly and in pairs, flying with its peculiar tumbling motion from cover to cover among the dense ravines and watered runs. Oftentimes it lights within plain view, trusting to the natural blending of its plumage to protect it from discovery.

The second requisite is a good dog and let me add that a dog's value does not alone lie in his pedigree as some amateurs seem to think, but in his intelligence and training, furthermore it may be safe to state that a dog's value decreases in proportion to the number of times he is borrowed; use your own dog yourself. While whipping the dog for premature flushing and other misconducts is oftentimes necessary, it should be resorted to only after all other methods have failed. After shooting a bird it is well, if you have a young | In other sections through northorn and western New dog. to stop and train him in "standing "over the dead body. He will work better afterwards.

The first game bird which we shall probably meet is the ruffed grouse, it being the most common and largely known game bird in this country. The variety found about here is Bonasa umbella and is often erroneously called partridge. The flocks are local in their habits and wherever a brood of young is seen in midsummer, there is the place in which to look for them when the open season arrives, although excessive dry or wet seasons may cause them to migrate. Although grouse are not exceedingly plentiful hereabouts the law which has recently passed prohibiting their sale has given them a better chance to multiply and in the runs and sprout lots to the east and north of Amherst there are chances for many a fine day's sport.

The true partridge, Ortyx Virginiana, or quail, as it is called, is more social in its habits and through the

The foregoing constitute the principal game birds, aside from the water-fowl, to be found in New England. In some sections they are nearly extinct, and like the arbutus will doubtless soon be a thing of the past.

England this sort of game is abundant. and protected as it is by state lands and by the posting of private lands bids fair to remain so for years to come.

ACROSS THE LAKE.

(With apologies to Tennyson.)
Moonlight and evening calm,
And one sweet girl with me.

With but the silent stars above to watch
As I put out to sea.

A wealth of golden hair that hides a face
From my beseeching glance,

Falls a shimmering mantle o'er her fair form,
And draws me near.

Silence-and then a kiss,

And after that some more.

For who would dare refuse so sweet a gift .
When off the shore?

And as the sinking moon leaves us alone,
And all around is dark,

I draw her nearer still and ask no more.
Nor seek to guide my bark.

THE COLLEGE SIGNAL

Observations AND Conclusions

The Observer has spent many evenings lately in a way which would have made Ichabod Crane green with envy. With a bright fire in the grate, a pitcher of sweet cider and a waste basket close at hand, the Observer together with four of his bosom friends are wont to sit with feet elevated far above their heads and with the smoking table near by hand while stories of the most imaginative type are "swaped."

added that fifteen minutes out of Boston they fully "came to " and have been all right since.

The fourth of the bosom friends had no use for the big pond and so hied himself to the wild and woolly west where he hoped to find room in which to spread himself. At Miles City, Mo., he attempted to mount his first bronco; four days later he arrived at Miles City again from southern Kansas. His photographs are very good, some of them possibly being taken by starlight in southern Kansas. We may add that our friend has returned to college and is now taking a course in horticulture with the idea in view of later

Now the Observer has a motive for so spending his going into the cattle business in the middle west. valuable time: namely, to obtain material for a story

with which to capture a certain prize offered not long

CALENDAR.

James Draper of Worcester at 7.45 P. M.

since by the SIGNAL, but as yet no story has material- OCT. 22.-Address before Horticultural seminar by ized, mainly for the reason that the accounts of the exploits are so grossly inconsistent with commonsense that the Observer fears that a written copy of them would be rejected.

OCT. 23.-Y. M. C. A. meeting 7-30 P. M. Subject,
Daily Work for God.”

"

"

OCT. 24.-Prof. Petit's dancing-class in Drill Hall at
7-15 P.
Uncle Terry" in Town
Hall at 8-00 P. M.

M.

OCT. 25.-Football game with Tufts at Medford.
OCT. 26.-Services Stone Chapel at 9-15 a. m. Y.
M. C. A. meeting at 3-30 P. M.

The Observer omitted to state that the above mentioned bosom friends have travelled this summer. Perhaps the fact that they never travelled before accounts for the inconsistency of their reports. Three of them have been to Europe! and as it seems, in order to get a pull with the department of animal husbandry, they went on a cattle boat. This scheme OCT. 30.-Regular meeting of Y. M. C. A. at 7-30 would doubtless have worked to perfection, had not the report reached the ears of the department that while on the outward voyage one of the trio had vainly tried to milk a long-horned texan steer to obtain milk for breakfast.

OCT.

Nov.

P. M. Subject "Foundations." 31.-Dancing class in Drill Hall at 7-15 P. M.

1.-Football game with W. P. I. on campus at 3-00 P. M. Meeting of Journal club at 10-30 A. M.

Upon reaching Liverpool they readily passed as immigrants and proceeded to London to see West- Nov. 2.-Regular Sunday services in Stone Chapel.

minster and other historical places. From this time until the date of their return all is a blank as are the photographs which they took.

MEETING OF M. A. C. ALUMNI ATHLETIC

ASSOCIATION.

The Observer hastens to state that he thinks his At a regular meeting of the above association held friends in no way responsible for the falling of the Oct. 14 the following officers were elected: Prof. W. Campanile as the police reports of London state P. Brooks, president; Dr. J. B. Paige, vice-president; plainly that they did not go to the continent. The C. L. Flint, treasurer, and Prof. S. F. Howard, secreturn voyage was exceedingly rough and before they were four days out of Liverpool they had lost all, even their lately acquired reverence for dead English poets. The fact however that they stood upon the same soil as did once the great Shakespeare may aid them materially in passing off junior English. It may be

retary. The above officers together with the following members will constitute a board of directors, Prof. G. E. Stone, Prof. R. E. Smith and C. F. Deuel. It was voted to instruct the directors to select a site for an athletic field and to purchase the same if in their judgment it was deemed advisable.