Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-10-07
Conquered Without Whipping.

Mr.. Robert Dale Owen, in an interesting
account of his ..Ex perienco of Community
Life, in the September AHuntic, tells the fol
lowing story: ,t-..
When first took charge of the school,
tnding that the teachers occasionally employ-
cd corporal punishment, l strictly forbade it.
After time the master OF the eldest boys
class SAID to me one day, II find it impossible
to coutroi these unruly rascas. They know
| I'M not allowed to fog them, and when
seek to enforce rules OF order they defy me"
sought to show him how he might manage
them without the rod, butahe persisted: "If
you'd try it yourself for lew days, Mr..
Owen, you'd fad out that I'm right"
Good" said l. "1ll take them in hand
for week or two"
sssThey pere a rough, boistcrous, lawless set F;
bright enough, quick of observation capable
OF learning when they applied themselves
but accustomed to a free swing and impstien /
OF discipline to which they had never been
subjected. said to them, at the start: "Boys,
want you to learn you will be very sorry
when you come to be men if you don't. But
you can't learn anything worth knowing with
out rules to go by / must have you orderly
and cbedient. won't require from YOU any,
thing unreasonable, and don't intend to be
severe with you. < But; whatever I tell you,
has to be done, and shall be done. sooner or
later" Here observed, on one or two faces.
smile that looked like increduity; but all [
added, was :ss''You'l II save time IL you do il at
once"
My. lessons, ioiten oral, interested them, and
things went on quietly for few days. 1
knew the crisis would come It did, in this
wise. 1t was May. the thermometer ranging
toward ninety, and | resolved to take the class
to bathe in the Wabash, much to their de-.
light. / told them; in advance, that by the
doctors advice they we're to remain in the
water fifteen mi6utes only; that was the rule.
When called, Time up!" they all came out
somewhat reluctantly. however-except one
tall fellow, named Ben, good swimmer. who
detained US ten minutes more, nOtwithstand-
ing my order, several times repeated, to come
on shore.
said nothing about it till we returned to
the school room then l asked the class, do
you remember my saying to you that whats
ever l told you to do had to be done sooner or
later p They looked at Ben. and said ~ es -
Then went on !: Il am determined that if I
take you to bsthe again, you shall stay in
fifteen minutes only. How do you think
had best manage that7" They looked at Ben
again, and seemed puzzled, never, very surely,
having been asked such question before
"Has any plan ?'' / said.
At length younGster suggested. az guess
you'd best thrash him, Mr.. Owen"
II don't wish to do that" I replied, 81
think it does boys harm Besides 1 never
Vas whipped myself, never whipped any
body, aud | know it must be very unp!eas-
ant thing to do. Can't some of you think of
a better plan ?''
Que of the class suggested "there's a
closet in the garrett, with small bolt to it.
You might shut him up there till We get back -
That is better than fogging but is the
closet dark z"
"It's dark as hell"
You mustn't talk SO, my child. You cam.
tell whether there is such place as hell at
all, You mean that the closet is quite dark,
don't you g'
"Yes."
''Tben you ought to say SO. But / think
Ben would not like to be shut upiu the dark
for nearly an hour"
'tNo; but then ICE dom. like to be kept
from bathing just for him"