Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-01-18


was to be held on the morrow. we were in
duced, perhaps more by our curiosity
than the invitation to stay over to see it.
The school house was essentially log, its
four walls being made of the hewn timber
simply barked, notched and piled one on
top of the other. Its roof was shingled,
but not with such shingles as your eyes are
accustomed to, but merely splinters,
chopped from thetree, varying from twelve
to eighteen inches long, and from three to
four inches wide, placed in any position so
long as they are serviceable in shedding
water. Windows. in the backwoods. would
be an irrsgularity; so, simply square
opening is made, and a more extended one
for the door. There is besides these. plenty
of fine space between each log. and a san
itary commissioner could but envy the ven
tilation. Inside, the desks are rough pine
boards nailed together in such a manner
as to form rest for writing, and a shelf
for the educational utensils, these being
very dilspidated and dirty books, irregular
shaped states in shaky condition, regular
old splutterers of pens, inky writing books,
piles of sugar cane, dinner pals and
crumbs, crusts and pork rinds. The seats
were rough forms. In this particular
school We were informed that the teacher
had introduced some modern and northern
improvements. They proved to be black
board and heavy fer1tLs. We were some
what astonished, on arriving at the school,
to find between seventy and eighty indi-
viduals assembled, halt being scholars
ranging from three years to twenty-three
in age; and the others we're parents aud
friends who had gathered to witness the
exhibition, novelty to them, as this was
the first one ever held in that country.
must give praise to the appearance Of the
assembly. Each one was dressed in clothes
fresh and clean, and although not of ex-
pensive fabrics, they we're good. Every
person presented perfect picture of
health, and was brimful of happiness.
There was freshness to each face, spar
kle to each eye, and a bloom to each
cheek, speaking volumes for pork, corn
bread. sugar cane, ozone and South Flor
ida climate.
The exercises opened with the regular
school programme, and continued to the
close, here and there interlarded with sing
ing, speeches, recitations, dialogues, etc.,
except on an occasion Of which l will
speak farther on. At noon, a recess was
taken, and, as each family had come to
make day off it, provision baskets were
produced and eating commenced. It was
during the afternoon exercises that an idea
entered my mind, caused by reverting to
my own childhood's school days. 1t was
evident to me that the only reward reaped
by the scholars of this backwoods school
was in their appreciation Of the assembly
bestowed for perfecting themselves in
their exhibitions, and scquitsing them
selves as best they could I remembered
in the schools attended, besides appro-
baton, we received medals, books and 9TH
er marks of honor. Imagined the effect
of such on the scholars before me, and re-
collecting the exquisite pleasure with
which, l as boy, when fortunate enough,
received such prizes. determined to try
it with them. Mentioning it to my friends,
they heartily co-operated, ard as we were
not possessed of medals, or books, VIC sub
stituted something as readily acceptable
cash.
drew up schedule and we gave our
aggregate of prizes distri buted as follows;
2 to the oldest scholars being the most
valuable prizes; to the intermediate,
and 8 to the youngest. When l announced
our intention to the scholars, they fairly
jumped with joy, and entered into the
competition with a vim and energy quite
surprising. 1t was a hard fought battle,
and the victors fairly earned their spoils.
may mention the subjects for eompeti-
ton, they were mainly, reading, spelling
and mathematics; and in the latter put
questions which have puzzled eollegeans,
being catch questions, but answered them
with ready ease. Taking the people all
round, the faculty of mental calculation
seem inherent here.
The prizes were distributed with a little
speech by your humble correspondent, and
l gave them encouragement as to their fu-
ture in quoting the many illustrious wo-
men and men whose names adon this
country's scroll Of fame, who received
their education in a backwocds school.
must acknowledge the bright talents seY-
eral of the scholars possessed, and they
would figure well compared to the best in
our high schools With them it is to be la
mented that their abilities have not the
scope they need Even these talents have
only months in the year to develope
themselves, as that is ali the time that a
backwood's school is open in every year,
the school fund not being ample to allow
of more.
Considering this, and the teachers en-
ployed, it must be conceded it Is wonder
full to see such a standard as we saw. At
ter the school exhibition invitations poured
in upon US, and if we had accepted all, our
next years expenses would have been very
low. We respectfully declined, and con-
tinued our way. After journeying for
seven days we arrived at a settlement
called town, named
BARsToW.
It is the county seat of Polk, and con-
sists of the Court House, stores and few
houses. 1t is very small, but is immedi-
ately surrounded by farmers and settlers,
so as to make it somewhat of a trading
port; and possessing Post Office, and e1-
cellent people, bids fair to be known in
the future.
This being 40 miles from Tampa, here
l bid adleu to my two friends. cheerful
ly resigned to them the steers and wagon,
and hired me pony. 1t was not one of
those gay, slick, glossy coated, chatting,
paving ponies, with arched neck, long
name, extended eyes, and distended nos
trils; indeed, no; it was one of the most
simple creatures of the equine race. He
was hero too, having been severely
burned in a prairie and wood fire. On
each side of him large areas of hair had