Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-15
1ailp Aennebet yournal.
CONQUERED WITHOUT WHIPPING.

Mr.. Robert Dale Owen, in very in
teresting account of his Experience OF
Community Life" In the September At
lantic, tells the following story:
When / first took charge of the school,
finding that the teachers occasionally EN-
ployed corporal punishment, | strictly
forbade It. After time the master of the
eldest boys class said to me one day, 81
fnd 1t impossible to control these unruly
rascals. They know am not allowed to
ho1 them; and when / seek to enforce
rules of order, they defy me-"
l sought to show him how he might
manage them without the rod, but he
persisted: '.If you'd try it yourself a few
days, Mr.. Owen, you'd find ont that I'm
right" -, :,
s.Good," said 1. an take them in hand
for a week or two
They were o rough. boisterous, lawless
set bright enough, quick of observation
capable of learning when they applied
themselves; but accustomed to a free
swing, and impatient of discipline to which
they had never been subjected. l 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
cant learn anything worth knowing.
withou. rules to 60 by. mast have you
orderly and obedient. l won't require
from you anything unreasonable, and l
don't intend to be severe with you. But
whatever tell you, has to be done, and
shall be done, sooner or later Here /
observed on one or two bold faces smile
that looked like incredibly but all adj
ded was, you'll save time, if you do it
at once"
My lessons, often oral, interested them,
and things went on quietly for few days.
knew the crisis would come. Ii did, in
this wise. 1t was May. the thermometer
ranging toward ninety. aud resolved to
take the class to battle in the Wabash,
much to their delight. Itold them. in adj
vance, that by the doctors advice they
were to remain in the water fifteen min
utes only; that was the rule. When l
called, .'Time up" they all came out,
somewhat reluctantly however, except
one tall fellow, named Ben, a good swim
mer, who detained us ten minutes more,
notwithstanding my order, several times
repeated, to come on shore.
l said nothing about it till we returned
to the school-room; then asked the class.
"Do you remember my saying to you that
whatever |, told you to do had to be done
sooner or later9'' They looked at Ben,
and said, Yes Then I went on: am
determined that if l take you to battle
again, you shall stay in fifteen minutes
only. How do you think had best man
age that?" They looked at Ben again,
and seemed puzzled, never, very surely,
having been asked such question be-
fore, alias no one any plan Pr said.
At length a youngster suggested, II
guess you'd best thrash him, Mr.. Owen"
Il don't wish to do that" replied, Il
think it does boys harm. Besides never
was whipped myself, l never whipped
anybody, and know it must be very
unpleasant thing to do. Can't some of
you think of better planp'
One Of the class suggested, "there's a
closet in the garnet, with stout bolt to it.
You might shut him up there till we get
back 7s
THAT is better than fogglng, bnt is the
closet dark ?''
.'It's dark as HE'LL
lyon mustn't talk so, my child You
can't tell whether there is such place as
hell at all. You mean that the closet is
quite dark, don't vou?"
Yes" @ta0r
"Then you ought to say So But
think Ben would not like to be shut up in
the dark for nearly an hour
'.No; but then we don't like TO be kept
from bathing just for him."
Then one little fellow, with some hesi-
tation, put in his word: Please. Mr..
Owen, wouldn't it do to leave him in the
Playground
IF i could be sure that he would stay
there but he might get out and go bathing
and remain in half an hour perhaps
At this point, Ben, no longer able to re-
strain HIMSELF had been getting more
and more restless. turning first to one
cussed his case,-burst forth: ''Mr. Owen
ifyoaH leave me in the playground when
they go to bathenext time, Ill never stir
from it. won't. You'll see won't"
"Well, Ben," said /, ''Fve never known
You to tell falsehood, and I'll take your
word for it this time. Rut remember If
You lie to me once, l shall never be able
to trust you again. We couldn't believe
known liars il We were to try
So the next time we went bathing,
left Ben in the playground. When we re-
turned he met me, with eager face, at the
gate. ave never left even for minute
ask them if have" pointing to some boys
at play.
''Your word is enough. Ibelieye you y
Thereafter Ben came out of the water
promptly as soon as time was called; and
whenever any of his comrades fingered,
he was the first to chide them for dsobey-
ing orders.