The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-01
BARRING OUT THE sCHooLMAsrER,

Ny early life was made miserable by
one Mulberry Bangs, q gentleman OF the
old school, who devoted himself to read.
Ing and writing, and arithmetic, and the
general use Of a stick. Upon my head
and hands, and other parts Of my person
hO imprinted himself SO positively u at !
can SEQ him now plainly, as II we had part.
ed but yesterday. He was a stout man,
who made in his figure, when seen In a
profile, Hogarth's line Of beauty, being
round sllouldefed and crooked In bis legs.
He was ablonde. The hair Of his head had
that sunny tinge so much admired to-day,
and when rubbed down with q tallOw
candle, as was bis wont Of dress, 1t was so
smooth aud straight that the boys believed
that flies Slipped down upon 1t and broke
their legs. His eyes were dark and fierce,
and hid under the cayernons recesses
made by his busliy red eyebrows, seemed
to watch like evil spirits over bis precious
nose. The nose was ruby nose, bottle
In shape, and when Bangs was angry,
which appeared to be all time, It glow.
ed like tile head light OF locomotive.
His mouth was finished without lips, aud
resembled slit In piece Of sole leather.
Ny early experience gave me disaster
for the whip 10 schools. But am far
from siding with the seutimentalists oil
the present day who advocate kindness
and moral suasiou. The earlier teachings,
not the best, but, 10 fact, the only ones,
are those Of the rod that give us realiz.
ing sense OF pain TO the body, and drill US
into patience and self denial.
Boys are OF two sorts-good little boys,
who die young, and bully boys who can.
moi be killed.
AS the last named only live to be men,
instead Of being translated Into angels It
is well to discipline them through the only
process known to animals, and that Is the
discipline of fear. The old adage Is not
for wrong that said: "Wheu you meet
boy whale him-forif he has not been
in mischief he isgoing I'M" 'r
What may have been my feelings, when
suffering under the stick OF old Bang, my
objection to him now rests not.so much
on the use Of that instrument as the beast
ly appearance and character Of the man.
Later in life, was the scholar Of man
who was as severe with the rod, almost,
as Bangs; but 70 my dying hour ]
shall remember him as Of the noblest
OF men and tile truest friend | ever en-.
oountered. Alexander Kinmont lived and
died in the obscurity Of a select school,
with the generous impulses aud large,
healthy brain that ought to have secured
him high position among the teachers
and leaders OF men. From that school
came boys 50 disciplined to study and so
allied with the love Of learning. that they,
In making their mark In the world, lived
to illustrate the beauty OF this system.
/ did not, however, sit down TO write
ofthis. but give 10 brief some OF my earlier
experiences. It wasunderstood through
out the country that the boys wero justi.
fable in barring out the master, and II
successful, were not only entitled to n
weeks recess, but admiration and praise
of their parents. Old Bangs was famous
for his powers Of resistance, and boasted
that no school Of bis had ever succeeded
In conquring In such attempts. On the
occasion to which | refer we had two big
boys In school named Bill HenniDg. and
Bob Strong. They were knotty headed,
broad shouldered and hard hsted fellows
wlo worked through tile esummerfor means
to attend school during the winter, Each,
In tura, had been numerically whipped
by the master, and II was understood
throughout the school that In the barring
out Master Bangs was to be punished and
old scores settled.
Tie evening before the general engage
inent, Bill and Bob, our noble leaders
with few cOnfederatea stole back TO iht
sehooIhouse, armed with hickory poles
Breaking open the door, they Whitfield or'
end OF these tough saplings to APPOINT, ant
then hardened the pointSin the IRE TheI
placing these Ina corner ready for use
with stout cord, they gave orders to sh'
boys ready to take part In the fight 10 as
semble at the schoolhouse before dAyligll
tue next morning,
At the time indicted, nearly all the lad
were in attendance. some were pale an
trembling, others were noisy aud boaStin
but | observed that the real leaders Al