Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-22
SOME QUEER PEOPLE.
BY MARGARET 4. SANGSTER.

There are people in this world whose
special use seems to be to amuse their
neighbors, when they do not astonish or
exasperate them. Their particular mis-
sion is to appear as unlike everybody
else as possible. So, in dress and be-
havior and performance they rush off in
to extremes, and at least confer a boon
on their companions by giving them a
legitimate theme for conversation and
criticism.
We have all airily said in our time con-
corning the creations of Dickens pen
that they were exaggerations, carica-
lures, or monstrosities, precisely as if we
had not been meeting them in flesh and
blood all our lives. We have only to ad.
just the stereoscope ofmemory, turn it to
the light and shift the pictures as our
own Mr.. Pickwicks, Sairy Camps,
Harold Skimpoles and Betsey Trotwoods
file before US. Queer people! Why,
they are almos. the only people outside
of our nearest and dearest who do not
fade away from our thoughts, like old
daguerreotypes and who cannot be for
gotten, strive we never SO hard to forget.
They have way of popping up at us,
like Jack-n-the- box, when we happen
sometimes unconsciously to touch their
particular string, and how often have we
mOurned in metaphorical sackcloth and
ashes ever their dreadfully unlucky way
of reminding us of themselves at the
most unfortunate times. In church, for
instance, or at a funeral, or when some
grave anc godly person was making q
decorous and formal speech, to which it
bchooyel us for our good names to take
heed and pay respectful attention.
The first queer person whom | remem-
Der was an odd bundle of peculiarities
and prejudices who taught a village
school Never more generous heart than
hers beat in any human breast. Never
more frequent shout than her laugh,
which rang out blithely on the smallest
occasion with all the force a pair of Ca
pacious lungs could give it. Her i'm
mense shoulders and chest would heavc
and shake with her merriment, and it
would 60 off finally in succession of
little staccato peals, while her frame
quivered and gradually Gained itself, as
Jelly does that is gradually growing
cold. One of her delightful ideas was
that children had remarkable amount
OF common sense, and she deferred to
their supposed wisdom on all occasions.
Her school was riot let loose. The sound
OF It's turbulent uproar was heard afar.
lnreproved and unchecked for the most
part, her pupils beat tattoos on their
desk, played fox and geese on their
states and even In remote corners of the
room performed war dances and carried
on immense enterprises in the house
heeplng line. Blandly seated at her
desk she would survey the noisy scene
with benevolent disregard, getting mean
while, considering the circumstances, a
really amazing amount of grammar, his
Tory and spelling into the brains of her
classes, Occasionally boy who had
exceeded even her easy rule would be
sammonedto her presence Rod in hand
hlss - would peer at him with large,
hSht-blue eyes, as naturalist at some
UNIQUE member of a new species. Then
She would say:
Wen, John, think it is my duty tc
punish you. What is your own opinion
sir: Do you think my Christening you
VIII make you a better Doy:"
II the person in question promptly re-
Picd that he thought not, the teacher
would respond:
Very well, then, you probably know
Know better than do, and ! viii yielc
70 your conviction"
But there were days when, like a sharI
northeastern IN the spring, Miss be
came transformed from an amiable ane
tolerant guardian, charming as fairy
s9dmother, 70 a malignant fury. WbeI
She came IN OF a morning with "a blacl
Jog on her back" woe to the little I'm
4oFtunate who crossed her will or vexeC
her temper. Then there was no courteou.
consideration of the juvenile opinion
aud the children, knowing that the vino
had temporarily changed, were ON thei
best behavior until the general fai
weather came back.
won't go to Martin SIS for tea
SAID this oddity one day He cuts tn
cheese too thin