The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-07
Written for the Regfster.l
FIFTY YEARS AGO.


In the winter of 1921, living in a vii
lage in the Northern part Of Pennsyl-
sylvania, I spent my spare hours in
making sleds for the coasters. Bob
Thompson, son of the village school
master, wanted to purchase an iron
shod sled that l contemplated making.
Knowing Bob to be destitute OF truth,
refused to contract with him, except
the cash was paid in advance. Bob
could not make sled, but could talk
eloquently Of his honor and veracity.
His father came and stated that he
wanted to purchase the sled was
making; that his word was as good as
his bond, &c.
The Professor was one Of those men
who are not satisfied to remain in the
estimation OF the community as God
made them; who delight to see their
name in the papers, and be remade out
ofprinters ink.
He was constantly complaining OF the
want of line OF denarcation; that,
Notwithstanding the difference in men
Intellectually, they all occupy the same
level in the community; that he knew
of no editor in the North competent to
write an article sufficiently pointed to
enable the reader to distinguish the tall
magnolia from the common trees Of the
forest.
The art of manufacturing men out OF
printers ink has not advanced in the
past half century in proportion to the
steam engine, as may be seen by the
following sample OF a puff in the village
paper Of that day:
When taking a walk out the Mead
vile road in company with that excel
lent tutor, Prof. Thompson, gentleman
whose extreme modesty compels him
to occupy position in society far below
his proper level, when we came to the
bridge which spans the head waters Of
Slippery Rock, the Professor, who is
always on the lookout for the dangers
that beset Tyroes and for the good Of
the community, pointed out dangerous
bathing place, near the bridge. 1t was
with extreme pleasure we heard the
Professor, who has a superior knowl-
edge of science and the movements Of
bodies celestial and terrestrial, delineate
with brevity and perspicuity the action
of the water in forming this hole. The
Professor has speut thirty-eight years
as a successful educator, is himself a
profound and singularly ripe scholar,
possessing unbounded veracity, eloquent
and refined; man of science, who
sheds the rays Of his genius far beyond
the atmosphere in which he moves; is
thoroughly acquainted with the best
systems OF instruction in the world, and
brings the knowledge derived from long
experience and extensive study to meet
the requirements Of the age.
Willie White, a good boy, who lived
over the road, wanted this sled and
had a bright half dollar which he freely
offered. did not like to violate my
word with the Professor, and preferred
Willie as a customer. While hating
between opinions the Professor arrived,
examined aud was well pleased with
the sled. | requested him to please give
me the half dollar, as | wanted TO pur-
chase material for another sled. He
remarked that he would call next week
and pay me, as he had no small money
at that time. took hold Of the sled
and observed that Willie White would
take it, and had the money. The
Professor raised his cane and exclaimed
that he would thrash me for doubling
his veracity; that the same was above
suspicion. SO it was, but held on to
the sled. Ny mother hearing the
fracas, appeared and commanded me
to let 20.
! have always had an exalted opinion
of my mother, and believe that none
more upright is now lying beneath the
green sod in the Peninsula Valley, at
Greenwood, or the alternate robes OF
green and white at Mt. Wood. | could
not avoid harboring the thought, if she
had been infallible, she would not
have commanded me to let 90 my sled
witho ut compensation.
In the spring Bob and the children
Of the trustees came to school with
new Arithmetic Tie Professor mott
fled the scholars where to obtain the
book, and added that those who did not
procure the same that week would
have to leave his school. This new book
caused quite commotion and resulted
in Town meeting. The Professor at.
tended and requested to be heard, and
stated that it was for the good of the
school that the trustees had intro
duced the book; being satisfied
of its superiority they could not avoid
recommending it. That he had at their
request informed the scholars that those
who did not procure the same would
have to leave school, and, consequently,
if they neglected or refused to provide
the book, he would be compelled to
vin1icate his word by debarring them,
as nothing could be more detrimental
TO the welfare OF the school than to
have a suspicion cast on his veracty.
These remarks being similar to those
made when he took my sled, caused me
to become excited and exclaim, ale
did not pay me for the sled | made for
Bob The audience applauded and
demanded TO hear, the sled transaction.
was taken forward and stood on a
bench, and related the transaction with
the Professor. When order vas re-
stored, the Professor stated that it could
not be expected Of him to. stoop to.discuss
the question OF sleds with boy; that
some enemy of his and of education
had represented that he was the author
OF the book; that the Trustees and him
were combined in its introduction for the
purpose of making money; that the
statement was false, it being well known