American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-20
Miscellany.
Conquered without Whipping.

elIany.
Conquered Without Whipping.
Mr.. ROBERT DALE OWEN, in an inter
esting account of his Experience OF
Community Life" in the September At
Iantic, tells the following story:
When / first took charge of the school
finding that the teachers occasionally EN-
ployed corporal punishment, l strictly
forbade it. After a time the master of the
eldest boys class said to me one day, 81
find it impossible to control these unruly
rascals- They know 1 am not allowed to
fog them, and when l seek to enforce
rules of order they defy me-"
/ sought to show him how he might
manage them without the rod, but he per
sisted: eff you'd try it yourself for few
days, Mr.. Owen, you'd find out that I'm
right"
@Good," said I. ''I'll take them in hand
for a week or two"
They icere a 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, l 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 or
derby and obedient. won't require from
intend to be severe with you. But what
ever tell you, has to be done. and shall be
done, sooner or later" Here l observed,
on one or two faces, a smile that looked
like Incredulity; but all l added, was !;
"You'll save time If you do it at once"
Ny lessons, often oral, interested Them
and things went on quietly for a few days.
knew the crisis would come. 1t did, in
this wise 1t was May, the thermometer
ranging toward ninety, and l resolved to
take the class TO battle in the Wabash,
much to their delight. l told 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 1
called, Time upr 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 schOolroOm; then asked the class,
-'Doy you remember my saying to you thst
whatever told you TO do had to be done
sooner or laterP They looked at Ben,
and said "Yes." Then went on: II am
determined that if take you to battle
again, you shall stay in fifteen minutes
age that?" They looked at Ben again,
and seemed puzzled, never, very surely,
having been asked such a question before.
HAS no one any plane" said.
At length a youngster suggested, "I
guess you'd best thrash him, Mr.. Owen"
II don't wish to do that" replied, Il
think it does boys harm: Besides never
was whipped myself, 1 never whipped
anybody, and know it must be a very
unpleasant thing 10 DO. Can't some OF
you think of better plans'
One OF the class suggested: There's a
closet in the garnet, 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
ats dark as hell"
you mustn't talk so, my child. You
can't tell whether there is such place as
hell at all.lYou mean that the closet is
quite dark, don't you s'Ss =
Then yea otighf to siayso. But think
Ben would not like to be shut up in the
dark for heasly an hour
mo; but then ice don't like to be kept
from bathing just for him."
Then one little fellow, with some hest
r,
Owen, wouldn't it do to leave him in the
playgrounds'
III Could be sure that he would stay
there; but he might get out and 90 bath
ing, and remafn 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 scase-burst forth: "Mr Owen,
if you'll leave me in the playground when
they goto bathe next time, I'll never stir
from it, 4 won't You'll see won't"
"Well, Ben," said L. I've meyer known
you to tell a falsehood, and III take your
word for it this time. But remember! If
you De 70 me once I shall never he able
to trust you again We couldn't believe
known liars if we were to try." = 4 t
So the next time we went bathing, l left
Ben in the play ground. When we return
ed he met me, with eager face, at the gate
'1've never left even for a minute ask
tt EN- If have" pointing to some boys at
play.
Your word is enough. l believe vou.n !
Thereafter Ben came out of the water |
promptly - soon as time was called; and |
whenever any Of his comrades fingered. |
he was the first to chide them for disobey.
ing orders. -..
THE wages of the freedmen in Virginia,
as farm laborers, range from $12 to S15 |
per month and board, or 25 per cent. |
more to board themselves For having.
81 So per day, and work from sun to sun;
$500 to $3.50, work from six
to six. s-'f erst St
AMERICA went into the Vienna EXPOSE
ton with the meekness of lamb, but !
comes out with the lions share of honors.
The most prominent thing exhibited in |
the American Department seems to have |
been Yankee shrewdness.
Now that, the new comets are being |
frequently discovered, the Professors hav-
ing them in charge should give them a
little less ascension and more descen-
sion, to place them within the reach of