The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1877-09-07
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BARalxs OFT 4 sCnOOLaAsTEa.

My early lie was mndo miserable by
one Mulberry Bangs. r., tlcmnn OF thu
oil school, who devoted himself 10 read.
ing, writing and arithmetic, and the gen.
cral nse Of sti.k. upon my head and
other paris oil my person he imprinted
himself ~ positively that can Soc him
now - plainly ~ II We hsl parted hut
yesterday. Hc was u stout man, who
made IN his figure. when seen in profile,
Hognrth'A line ri beauty. being round.
Hh0nllcred mnd crook Il III the legs. liz
vas blonde The hair III his head had
that sunny tinge ~ much admired 10.
day, and when rubbed down with q tai.
low candle, ~ was lis wont 10 drers il,
Vas - amooth mud straight that the hoys
believed that the fiies slipped down il
Mnd broke their legs. His eyes were dark
aud fierce. AMI hid under the cavcrnons
rcccsses male ~ his bushy rcd eye-
brows, seemed ~ watch like evil sririt~
over hix precious nose. Tho nose wins 4
ruby ms, hOt.lc IN shape, AMI when
Hangs was angry, which appeared 10 be
Nil the time. Il glowed like the headliRh
VI \ locomotive. His mouth was finished
without lips, anil resembl-d slit In
piece VI sole leather.
NY early experience gave me ,listastc
Tor tllc whips IN schools. But am far
from siding with the seniimentalists III
the pres mt day, who advocate Kindness
and moral supAion. Tho easier teach.
tugs-n0t the best, but, III fact, the only
ones---asa those 0f the rod, that gave IN
realising senso of pain ~ the body.
AMI drilled IN into patience and srli.
denial.
Boys are 81 two sorts---gool little boys,
who die young. and bully boys. who can.
not b. killed.
Az the last named only live 10 be men.
instead Of being transplsntes into angels,
u y we'll 10 discipl,ne them through the
only process known 10 animals. aud that
y the discipline Of fear. The old adagc
IN not far wrong that aAid, "Wncn you
meet boy whale him--for, IL he has
not been III mischief, he ii going in."
Whist may have been my feelings when
suffering under the stick III old Bangs.
my objecti0n 10 him now rests not 10
much on hts use 81 that instrument m
The hcastly appearance and character oi
tho mAn. L&tr in life / waH the scholar
~ man Who waA - severe with Abe rid.
almost, ~ my enemy Bangs hut 10 my
dying day shall remember him m ono
u tho noblest ol men and tho trucst
friend ] ever encountered. Alexander
kinmont lived ana died In the ol,scurity
~ select school, with the generous i'm.
pnlscs and large, hearty brain that
ought % have secured him high posi-
sion am0ng the teachers and leaders III
men. From thst school came boys NO
dismpl i 10 study. and % fillrd with
the love IT learning, that they, In max
ing their marx In the world, livel ~ il.
ld.issts thu benuty III the system.
did not, however. nj down 10 write
nl this, but 10 give in brief some oi nv
earlier experiences. Il wAA understood
throughout the country that tho boys
were justAharle III lMrring out tile mas.
t"r, And. II successful, were not only en-.
tlslcl ~ weeks recess, hut the admire
ton and praise III their pascntA. Old
Dsngs was famous for his power III r.
AtstAucc, aud hoaAtea that no school OF
his had ever sur~ceied In eOnquerina in
Mnch nttemptA. On the occasion ii which
] refer ~ hal twa big boys III school.
named Bill Hsmning and Hob strong,
They w.ro kLotty-hs atiesl, hrnAl. ahoui.
dersti anl harl. nstexl fellows. Who
worked through tl,e summer for means
" .ttcnd scho i during tho winter.
Each, IN turn. lad been numerically
whipped hy the muster, aud il wns m.
dcrst4Od throughout the srhool that the
barring mt Of Master Bangs was Ia bc
~. omplishrd and oil scores sestlcd.
The evening before the general IN.
gagement. Dill anil Bob, our noble lead.
Frs. with few confelerat4s, stole hack
~ tho schOOl-h0nAc, armed with hickory
poles. Breaking open the door. ti,ey
Whitfield one end Of these tough saplincs
70 \ point. mud then hardened tho point.
IN the Are. Then placing these In
corner ready for msr. with .tout cord.
they gave orders ID thu boys willing NJ
take part in The 6ght 10 be On hand ii
sha .'hool.houAc before da, light next
morning.
~ tho time indicated nearly I'll Tho
la'ls wvre IN attendance. Hom. were pale
and TREMBLING. osh,Ta were noisy and
boastful; lint | observed that The RAJ
leaders aod reliable soldiers were quiet
- quist. indeed, that 0no might doubt
ths1a. Men are but boys u larger
growth" sid Dryden, and that soIemn
pomp a poet, Wordsworth, s4sures IN
thae "tAe thild Ii father 10 The man.
u The animal propensiii4s snd tas>ra
that survive cur boyhood this ID M.
do1btedly tsue, and many and many ! |