Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-03-01


~
1t was sometime after the commencement OF
the colonial troubles when the Grenville ad-
min;stration had determined to enforce the prir-
ciple of the unlimited sovereignty OF Great Bril-
tain over her colonies in America, that | was
placed at a mathematical school at H..
At this school, had long been adopted, a code
of honor, we'll worthy of imitation. The fun
damental articles of which, were adherence to
the truth, and the strict preservation of a secret,
whether impaired in confidence, or acquired by
accident. The observance of these principles
seemed difficult in a school, famed above all
others, for pronehess to mischief of every des-
c~ription. 1t was the settled rule, for every one,
when questioned as to the knowledge of any
transgression. either to stand mute, as obvious
necessity might require, or to answer directly:
and if atfrmativeiy, as he was bound to do IT
C., gnizant, on NO occasion to divulge name of
the cnlprit. On the Introduction OF fresh pu-
pills, these pandects were read with great So
lemnity, and the pains and penalties of infraca
ton, duly impressed upon the memories of the
new comers. The craven who peaehed, was
sjudged to the deepest disgrace; while a trium-
plant procession crowned the martyr of the
birch or ferula, for the constancy which he dis
played IN keeping the secret, and shielding his
itOft QCtCtllOut no i WOO nuNh tt
youngest scholar in the school at the time of
nv initiation, this lecture was twice repeated,
and some fears were INDUCED by the seniors,
that under Trial, | might finch from the casti-
cation which was sure to visit the recusant.-
An opportunity of testing my fidelity very soon
occurred.
There was a little vestibule, having a side
door of entrance into the school-room: and the
eeat of the Dumini was with his back to the
partition, beneath the window, which admitted
the light from those at the outer side. Coming
one morning to school, about half an hour be-
fore the usual time of assembling, found one of
the elder scholars, the son of the organist of the
parish church, himself no doubt, a masicrl gen.
ius, busy at his window, which, by the aid of
the masters desk, with his chair upon the top
of it. he was enabled to reach, The result oil
his labors was soon disclosed after he descen
dcd: for, upon closing the door of the inner en'
trance, and stirring the fire, a faint hum was
heard, which increasing every momen struck
the ear like the drone Of a bag-pipe. The ar
list was excessively well pleased with the per-
Torrance, and explained to me the contrivancel
which was, the afixing of a very sonorous
horse-6ddle between the sashes of the window
which discoursed its cadences, as the intruding
zephyr forced itselfthrough the ~crevice. While
the door was open it ceased. and when the tenn
perature of the room was low, its murmur were
not loud enough to create much annoyance
But when the caioric sslored the ascendent,' il
was like the hun of a dozen spinning wheels in
rapid revolution. Our master was one of the
best men in the world, but a rigid disciplin-
ian. He labored under the defect of vision,
ich ought to have screened him from the
ks of the nischievous, but which, / grieve
:, only aggravated their propensity to an
m; as it could be INDUCED with less
of detection. The inventor of this de-
e instrument was seated near the en-.
e, and well knew how to graduate the
nd. The door was accordingly left a-jal
until all the scholars were assembled, and the
master deeply engaged in working out some diff
fcult problem. When shutting the door, ant
forcing the external air upon the instrument, il
began to exhibit its powers: gradually rising
in its tones, until it reached the climax of per
lection. The whole school was in amazement
with the exception of myself, and the delighted
Inventor. The master was aroused, and an
erily exclaimed, "Stop that whispering, boys
YOU disturb me-" But the noise increased, an.
a fresh blast from without, gave it new voice
He cast his eyes eagerly around, but fndin.
every one in his place, he exclaimed, "Som'
of yes have a buzz, or trumpet, or something
Of the kind: stop it instantly, or | will punisl
YOU severely" But the music would not ceas
1t his bidding, and he arose from his seat, re
solved to detect the cuiprit; passing to tn,
form from which it seemed to proceed, to hi
amazement, he beard the sound in the quartz
ne had left. Indeed, the annoying instrumen
seemed to have the powers of ventriioquism
and wherever the investigator iras,the invisibl
musician was not. Having paced the room i
every quarter, and finding that his dlscoverie
were merely negative, he bethought himself t
call the roll: and one who had been s~uspecte
of some former delinquencies being found alb
sent, it occurred to the master that the SCUM
was from without, and perpetrated by the tru
ant in the vestibulc. Accordingly. on tip-tot
With a birch rod of terrific dimensions in hi
hand, he approached the little door, and gent
lifting the latch, rushed outward. The ROOF
wa vacant, but the front door being open,an
The noise sudt emily ceasing; the Domini can
10 the conclusion that the performer had eysde