The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-10-19
For the Times.
John Leland Kennedy.

Not long agr we read The announcement Of
the death of this distinguished Teacher. When
such man drops out of the circle which he has
filled long and So uscfully to the rising gen
Grafton, it is n serious loss to society-a loss
very difficult to supply.
Mr.. Kennedy was an instructor fuciic princcps.
The lessons we received from him in youth were
indcliblv stamped upon our mind. lie was an
admirable disc,plnarian-a firm believer in the
virtue of Solumon's roland when n boy crossed
the threshold uf his school room he was under
IA dcspotism which acknowledged no superior and
brooked no outside interference. lie was ''mas-
ter of the situation" and his eagle eye
uuick to offer the reward of merit to the good
boy rs to intlict punishm mt upon the tHlc or
vicious one. p
MIR. Kennedy the son of the Rev. John
Kennedy, "a Presbyterian Minister of the old
type) OF Laurens, and Il branch of the Kennedy
family Of this County, of whom MIR. BENJAMIN
KExNEpy, Of Browns Greek, Mr.. Thomas Ken
ncdy-who lived where the Poor House now
stauds-and Mrs. CLowNEY, mother OF the Hon.
Wm Kennedy Clowny, who represented this
County in the Legislature and in Congress for
many years. are honorable representatives.
MIR. Kennedy graduated ut Franklin Univer
sty Athens, Geo. but not satisfied with the
CURRICULUM he afterwards entered the South
Carolina College, and graduated in 1925.
lie began his career rs an instructor OF youth
in the Irish settlement of this County, in one
of those conventional log schoolhouseS with n
puucheon chimney almost as wide as the end vi
the house log cut out Of the other end, Tor
IL window, punchcOn writing desk below IT.
and under that rude shelf for toolscap, ink
bottles, oak balls and other contraband articles,
with last not least, that
Slave of my thoughts ohcdicn TO my WILL
Natures nOblcst gilt, my gray goose quill
The benches were made Of rude slabs or
luncheon, without backs, and were decorated
with various embens illustrative Of the genius
of the school boy of the period; holes cut for
expressing the crimson juice OF the oak-5all,
out of which we made our ink, by the addition
of a little copperas-for writing fluids and Ma
son & Thompson inks were then unknown
cabalistic figures, known among the initiated as
"Fox and the Goose "Bushel,' and the "Walls
OF Troy" artstcally sculpiured, with here and
there groteSqus neutrality-suspicious. OF that ge-
MUS which distinguished the schoUlbOy of the pc
riol by tie door hung board, marked on either
side IN OUT, n glance at which always indica-
to the thirsty youth whether he could take a run
| to the spring.
The Teacher occupied the only chair in the
house, and hard by his seat might be seer spec
linens of that elastic material, yclcpt hickory.
! The School House stood in large grove of
native woods n very convenient appcndagc, as
! the boys in those days made their own fires
: In front was II clean acrc--thc play ground
whcreon Cat. Chmby, Prisoner 5 Base. Fox and
/ Hounds, Jump the Vine, Swinging, running
Races Jumping Half Harmon, knucks and
humble Peg were INDUCED in at play time.
But Mr., Kenmcdy's reputation soon spread
abroad, and hc was called to more cnlicin" fields
of labor. lie taught tC the clos" of his life, and
! has !c,t behind him mnuy who feel grateful f'r
,hc lessons he taught tII"l.