The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-12-20
For Inc Bulletin


For ne Bulletin.
Old-Time Christmas Sports.
MEssRs. EDITORS Christmas is almost
upon US again, and It's return will awaken
in the recollection of many an old settler,
melancholy "Reminiscences of the way it was
kept in "auld lang syne." What would you
give, Mr.. Editor, to see a real, oId-fashioned
backwoods Christmas frolic, or Christmas
country dance, Christmas quilting, or best
of all, a genuine Christmas wedding.
mistake you much, if with all your known
appreciation of modern improvements, the
bare mention of it does not excite your en-
thusiasm, and he must have little venera-
ton, indeed, who can think Of it without
emotion. Why, your town parties, balls,
soirces and ali that, are nothing in compare
son; there Is little heart about them and no
nature. But the contrast makes ME sad. and
leave it. In these times of modern dcgen-
crazy, who ever hears of school bows barring
out the master? In my early days that war
one OF the regular Observanccs of Christmas
holidays. Perhaps you don't understand
this custom Of carly times in Tennessee, and
need to have it explained Ii either you or
your readers have 20 far wandered from the
paths trodden by our ycncrated fathers as to
require it described, l will do so BY first
saying that in the nomenclature of early
times Out here, the school boy was synony-
nous with your present pupil, scholar, stu
dent, academian or collcgian, and the differ
/ cnt grades OF freshman, sophomore, Junior,
senior, graduate and under graduate, bache-
Tor and master of arts, were as little known
as the secrets Of astrology or the Metamor-
phoses OF Ovid. A country school had but
two classes, viz: the big boys and the little
boys-sonictimcs third, the girls. Again.
| IN the backwoods vocabulary, master was
synonymous with your present teacher, pre-
ceptor, tutor, professor, principal, superin-
tendent, rector and president Academy,
institute, college and university, were words
not adapted to these parallels Of latitude,
and II you had spoken of a matriculation
ticket, the employer employee, parent, mas
ter and boys would all have been astoundcd.
They expressed the same idea by 4 simple
form: John Smith has signed the school
article and Jim will be here tomorrow.
Barring out the master was effected thus: A
school is a large community in miniature,
and school master a monarch upon a
small scale. Boys sometimes claim the
right OF self-governmcnt rs inherent and di-
vine, and like older politicians, declare
! themselves, especially about Chrirtmas, to be
free and equal, and if that declaration Is
not sanctioned by others they claim the right
of maintaining it, even By revolution. The
master, on the other hand, is as tenacious of
his shOrt-lived authority as the autocrat of
Russia or any European Icgitimist, and re-
slsts at its inception the first invasion of his
| Prcrogative. short time before the usual
| outbreak 4 spirit of INSTRUMENTATION and
greater familiarity is manifested in the
school, to suppress which the master as
sumes a sterner dcmcanor becoming cap
tious, arbitrary and tyrannical. His sub
jccts become, of course, less patient of re-
stralnt, and call convention, some one
born to command" proposing the bold
measure Of rebellion, and the dethronement
OF the despot. The proposition meets the
general concurrence Of the school, and Fri
day morning before Christmas is appointed
as the time for carrying the purpose into
execution. At an early hour they take pos
session OF the school house, kindIc large fires
in the chimncys, barricadc the door, and
wait, with shouts of defiance, for the APP
proach OF the master. He arrives, and is
denied entrance. He commands submission,
asserts his authority and attempts to enter
by force, but Is rcPulsed, sometimes call
ing others to assist in rc-estabIishing his
authority. but the besieged refuse to surren-
der, unless upon terms OF honorable capitu-
lation-a treat and week of holidays
COnfcrccs OF both parties are appointed to
negotiate the treaty; the terms are arranged
and the belligercnts are at peace, and mes
sengcr is started of for apples and cider, and
sometimes for refreshing OF more stimula-
ting kind. A general merriment and exhil-
aration follow, the holidays are spent in ru-
raj sports and manly amuscments The
good wishes OF the season Oblitcrate all rec
objection of past differences between master
and boys and on the next Monday when
books" is called, each one quietly and
cheerfully resumes his proper position in the
school house, the masters authority is rccog-
! nizcd as legitimate and his instructions
duly valued. The boys, late successful in
surgents, have voluntarily returned to their
allegiance, and after pleasant relaxation
from their studies, are again prosecuting
them with diligence and profit, continuing
so until the approach of the next Christmas.
ANONYMOUS.
TooE's, Dec. L, 1877.
| SHERIFFS SALE.