| Summary: | Newsletter of the North Dakota School for the Deaf. THE NORTH DAKOTA BANNER THE BURDEN OF DEAFNESS. In this whole wide world there is no special class of civilized people id whom periods of recreation are more vitally important than to the deaf. Their lives are spent in a hush of silence beyond the realizations of those who have not experienced it. Theirs is not the quiet stillness that is so soothing to people whose nerves are disturbed by the discordance of numerous noises. Rather it is the blank nothingness that oppresses the totally deaf, and from which there is no relief in change of situation or occupation. Even at work the condition of deafness is manifestly a burden. Their fellow workmen can banter and joke at their daily toil with little hindrance to their efficiency as workmen; but the deaf, with their eyes on their tasks, arc practically prisoners in solitary confinement. Is it any wonder that they yearn for the society of others similarly ' afflicted and enjoy to the utmost the friendly interchange of news and views? Is it surprising to any one of ordinary sense and sentiment, that the gesture language— signs and the finger alphabet—is very dear to them? Thanks to the motion picture theatres, there is one form of entertainment where they are on an equal footing with their more favored brethren. At the ‘movelo” they learn much that* is useful, and enjoy the lightsome and amusing comedies that are projected on the screen. It does not cost much, so the tax on their purses is hardly felt. All of the deaf are grateful for this great boon which the Twentieth Century has brought them. Then there is the lecture in the sign-language, which always is an attraction if the lecturer is a master of arts of picturing things in signs. Since entertainment, like instruction, must be addressed to the eyes of the deaf, in order to be appreciated, they naturally enough are eager devotees of all kinds of athletic sport—such as baseball, football, tennis, and in the winter, basketball, skating and coasting. All of which looks good and satisfactory, and may impel the query, “What more do they want or need to drown monotony and drive dull care away?" But listen, these are the sports of boyhood which can be indulged without loss of time or money, and which fits them with the courage and the ability that helps surmount the obstacles in afterschool life. There is more work than play for the adult deaf, and consequently, much more need for that which heightens the spirit and gives some color to existence. Not that the deaf are glum or even discouraged. The opposite is the case; they are cheerful, hopeful and eager members of every community in which they live. Nevertheless, their lives are more steadily poised if a certain degree of wholesome recreation be among their opportunities. But from first to last, it is always to the eye that education, entertainment, pleas and pleasures, are directed, and it is always through the eye that impressions come and knowledge is received. To some, even the colorless, soundless, motions of the lips convey intelligence that can be grasped. But there is and always will be more depth and soul and meaning brought their inner consciousness through the language of signs. The minister in the pulpit, who expounds the Gospel in impressive gestures, while his homilies may not be classed as recreation, brings solace and comfort to the deaf wayfarers along the road of life.—The New York Journal. TREES. When a tree is cut down, plant another to ta'-e its place—somewhere, anywhere. It costs little or nothing, but it will mean much in wealth and comfort to the next generation. Within the last few years some of the finest maple groves in the world, located in northern Ohio, have been cut down and made up in backs for hair and scrubbing brushes. This is all right—these trees may be of more social value in the form of brushes than standing timber, but— Mot a tree has been planted to take the place of any that have been cut down, and where, for instance is the next generation in the brush industry to get its maple lumber? While extending a principal thorofare i ecentiy in Cleveland 24 fine elms were cut down. Tms had to be done as a matter of public necessity, but not an elm was planted along a side walk or *n a park, or anywhere to ;ake their places. If any of our chldren left a room and the light burning, or the water running in the bathroom we would duly correct them; for it is a matter of immediate waste it can be clearly seen now, without requiring any vision or imagination. But in our failure to plant a tree when one is cut down we waste the time in which another tree might be growing and at no expense, and for the benefit of the next generation in wealth and comfort. * * * The railroads in the country are bitterly complaining today of the scarcity and high cost of cross ties. If the railroads would replace one-tenth of the fine oak trees that they cut down and burned up, as a matter of necessity in clearing their original rights of way, why, they would have grown enough cross ties by now for all their extensions and replacements, with enough lumber besides and the sale of which would contribute most liberally to the reduction of their bonded debts. * * * In many states there are departments of forestry which supply sprouts of all native varieties of trees, at no cost or small cost, to any citizen who will plant them. If there is not such a department in all states there should be one. We forget that while a baby is growing to maturity a tree can be grown to maturity, and for that baby's benefit as a unit of society. Replacing a tree for one cut down should be done as a matter of public conscience rather than as a matter of statute law. It should be done out of consideration for the wealth and comfort of the next generation.— The Bismarck Tribune. deer for the outside world markets, according to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, Canadian Arctic explorer. ■ . With the meat supply of the outside world decreasing annually, some day the bulk of the meat Used in Europe and* America will be brought down from tundra plains lying along the northern edge of the world, the explorer predicted here recently. “Reindeer carcasses can be landed in Seattle at present at a total cost of between $7.00 and $8.00 and bring an average of about $30.00 each, leaving a clear profit of about $22.00 for each animal," Stefansson said. ' At present a large amount of reindeer meat from the Seward Peninsula section of northwestern Alaska is being sold iii Minnesota. The meat retails at a price a bit higher than beef but it is expected to drop in price as the supply irireesaes. Investigations are being made by Stefansson for the Canadian government regarding the feasibility of transplanting reindeer into northeastern Canada for raising for outside market. Over 1,000,000 acres of northern Canada lie ready for the herds, Stefansson estimated. These lands are rich with northern vegetation which it is said will support the animals the year round, regardless of good or bad weather conditions. According to one scheme suggested the reideer would be brought across the Atlantic from Scandinavian countries for the transplanting in northeastern Canada. The northeastern section would be selected because of the fact it is closer than other parts of northern Canada to the markets of Europe. It is said that it costs more to transplant reindeer meat from north-western Alaska to Seattle than from northeastern Canada to England. Nome, Alaska, people recently formed a company to raise and ship reindeer have four large herds and are considering taking an airplane north for use in herding the animals.—Selected. WHERE THEY COME FROM. Horseradish came from England. The turnip came from Rome. The peach came from Persia. The bean is said to be a native of Egypt. The cucumber was originally a tropical vegetable. Pears were brought from the far East by Roman soldiers. Asparagus was a wild seacoast plant in Great Britain. The tomato was a native of South America. Apples were brought from the East by the Roman soldiers. The onion was an object of worship with the Egyptians 2,000 years before the Christian era. It first came from India. Lemons were used by the Romans to keep moths from their garments. The fruit is a native of Asia.—Selected. FORTUNE SEEN IN REINDEER BEEF OF NORTHERN CLIMES. Ne\v fortunes still lie in the far north for adventurers who will go into the Arctic section of Canada and Alaska and raise rein- Each ought to carry himself at this holiday season as an orange tree would if it. could walk in the garden, swinging perfume from every little censer.—Henry Ward Beecher.
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