The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-01-15
WEDNESDAY. JAN. Is. 1879.
Going TO school.

December q, 1873. because we feel that the
moral inculcated by the article is useful one
that should be needed by all. In our humble
judgment m. Quad has hit the nail on the
head.
"Now, children, you have told me how many
members we have in the Legislature, who pre-
sides over each body, how laws are made. and
how often United States Senator is elected,
and 10 return | will"
had reached this point the other evening
when there came ring at the door-bell. and
after minute | discovered that Old Mr. Fogy
had decided on another attack. He meant to
give me fits this time. He brought along two
or three teachers with him, and they at once
walked into my school-room. / did at first have
sign of State Prison over the door, so as to
make it seem Ike regular school-house to the
pupils, but as they insisted upon regarding 1t as
a novelty | removed the sign.
well, you have been teaching, l see 7" OBJ
served Mr.. Old Fogy.
Yes, six of these children belong in the
nelghborhood, and don't attend any regular
school"
I'VE don't exactly agree on the school ques-
ton, you know |" said Mr.. Old Fogy. "You did
rutber stump me the other night, but I'd like
you TO ask some of those teachers few ques-
tions."
Very well, Mr.. Blank, how many bushels of
wheat will make barrel of hourg"
why, that isn't regular question" he re-
piled as he looked around.
Isn't it? Your arithmetic says that sixty
pounds of wheat make bushel. and because 1t
does not say how many bushels make barrel of
-four the farmer who is figuring on bis years
supply must be left in ignorance. Here Is Char
l. n l.
"From four and half to FIVE bushels" the
boy replied.
Now, Mr.. Blank, can you name the more
prominent ?"
Il can, sir"
81 thought so, but can you tell me how many
spokes there are in the front wheel of buggy
can any of your"
II protest !" cried Mr.. Old Fogy. but they
didn't answer for all that.
WELL Mr.. Blank, can you translate Latin ?"
IL can, SIR"
No doubt of it; but can you tell me how to
preserve cder?"
There you go again !" cried Mr.. Old Fogy,
but none of them could tell.
Are you familiar with cube-root, Mr.. Blank p
Il am
but can you tell me the salary of our Gov.
ernor?"
"None of them could.
"Try some of the ladies'" suggested Mr.. Old
Fogy, after few more questions.
"Al right. Miss Blank, are you good in al
gebra?'
81 think SOL
"And can you tell me how many yards of
cotton to buy for pair of pillow slips ?"
why, no."
do you know what will take stains out of q
table cloth, or grease spots out of carpet?"
mo SIR"
"Can you direct cook to make pie-crust Oh
mix biscuit or bread p
No sir"
"Do you know the average length of lace cur
tains ?"
No SIR"
"Can you mix mustard plaster, tell me ready
family antidote for poison, suggest family
remedy for q cold or q sore throat, tell me how
many yards there is in bunch of dress braid
the number ofyards of ticking to make bed-tick
way to remove paint from windows, or how tc
make Cruel for the sick?"
''No sir" l-
What are you driving at ?" Indignantly de-
manded Mr.. Old Fogy.
'I'll let my class go and tell you. Let me
first remark that haven't asked question
which these children here can't answer. Thl
little girl will promptly answer everything have
asked Miss Blank, and yet she is not 10 year,
old. a month ago | told her that alum anC
brown sugar mixed together would relieve tbs
Group. A week ago, at dead of night, rouseC
from sleep by her parents and the walls of be
sick brother, she prepared the remedy while be-
father was after the doctor and her mother ex
cited and helpless, and in halt an hour the crouy
was gone. You ask me what I'm driving at
| Women are called helpless, and we do not lool
to see them have presence of mind? Why arr
they SO 2 Simply because they may know alge
bra by heart and yet not know what Is an anti
dote for almost every poison. They learn as
tronomy; and yet don't know what is good 70
burn, or how to stop the nose-bleed The
know all about botany, and yet cannot tell wha
to do for person who has tainted away"
But I'm not housekeeper," protested Mis-
Blank.
mo; well. every woman looks forward +
marriage. They were born to. Every femal
expects to marry rich, but not one in five bur
dred can so marry as to throw the entire respo1
sibility Of her house on hired help. Six ont q
ten may have servant but unless the mistres
knows how things should go what can be expeC
ted of the girl While the lady sits in the pal
Tor and realizes that she can draw, play the plan
and read French, the help left to experiment.
and having no interest, breaks smashes an
throws away, and the family are soon lookin
for cheaper honse. Miss Blank here ma
marry and never have to lift hand, but if sh
knew every duty-it she knew remedies and r.
cipes-woudnt she have more self-reliance an
be better prepared for her responsibilities p
Gan you name one married lady in Detroi
who makes use of algebra? Can you name on
who is ever Inconvenience for the want of
Knowledge of geometry? Do you know of on
who wouldn't trade off all her Latin tor cur
for corns ?"
Mr.. Old Fogy said be thought it looked as
we would soon have snow-storm.
"Then take the other side. We do not teac
our boys to be observing, and then we tur
around and call them needless. We pass th
things of every day life to let them grasp at th
theoretical. They thus become helpless. The
can name the planets. but they cannot give th
length and width of brick They can nam
every ancient philosopher, but they can't put u
the stove pipe; they can figure IN cube-root, b.
they can't tell Atwood cloth from half-cottoI
We let them go to school for years, are proud t
find that they know so much, and then dlscove
that they can't tell why hickory wood will bur
longer than pine and we hear somebody say
them: He has fine education but no horse
sense --
Mr.. Old Fogy suggested that 1t was gettiu
late.
Now, then, some of you tell me of bushes
man who has made his money throu0h a classic,