New-York tribune., 1880-06-15
GARFIELD AS A TEACHER.
RECoLLECTIoNs OF AN OLD PUPIL.


THE INSTITUTE AT HIRAM. OHIO. AND ITS YOUNG
Observation-Disclosures IN THE RECITATION
ROOMS, But JOLLY on THE CAMPUS-ILLUs-
TRATIoNs OF A MARVELLOUS INDUSTRY.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CoRRRsPONDEEroF THE TRIBUNE
DANBURY, Conn.,, June 11.-HeariDg that
the Rev ]. L. Dlrse, the Disciples Church e. Camp
bclites) in tins place formerly pupil OF James A.
Garfield, Hiram, Ohio called him today to learn
something about that interesting episode in the candl-
dates llfe.
Yes" he said. attended school at the Western Re-
Eclectic Institute when Garfield principal. and
recall vividy his method OF reaching. He took very
kindly to and assisted me In various ways because
was poor aud jlnor OF the buildings, and swept
them out i'll the morning and built the fires. as he had
dOGe only years before, when he pupil at tho
school He full OF animal spirits. and he used
to ont the green almost every day and play
cricket with lie tall, strong man. but dread
fully awkward Every and then he would get a hit
the nosc aud mued his ball and lost his hat as
regular thing. He lcftbanded too. and that made
him seem all tho cluInslcr Blu; he most powerful
and very quick, and it easy for us to understand
how it that he had acquired the reputation OF nip
ping all tine other muedrvers the canal and OF max
ing himself hero OF thorOugbfare when lie fol-
lowed its tOw-path ten years earlier,
No matter now old the pupils wcre Garfield always
called by first names, and kept himself on the
most familiar terms with ALL He played with us freely
sculcd with sometimes, walked with us In Walking
to and fro and We treated HIM out Of the classroom
Just about 4 VIC did another. Yet he was most
discpparian, and enforced the rules like mar
tnet He combined an afsctionate and conf ling man.
nrr with respect for order successful manner.
II he wanted to soeak to pupil either for repr0Oi or
Appreciation he would generally manage to get one arm
und him and draw him close up to him. He had
peculiar way OF shaking hands. too, giving a twist to
your and drawing right up to him. This sympa-
tnetlc manner has heped Inn TO advancement. When
1 " he usel
about this and that. seriously advising with
can now that my opinion could not have
been Of any value AMI that he probably asked me
partly increase my serespect, and partly to show
that he felt interest in me. certainly was his
TREND all the frmer for 1t.
"But vUu inquired about his teaching. I remember
once asking him what was the best way pursue q
tain study, and he SAID Use several textbooks Get
the views OF different authors as you advance
In that way you can plough broader fur
row. always study in that way He tried nard TO
teach to observe carefully and accurately lie broke
ont one day in tho midst lesson with Henry. how
many posts there under the building down starsi
Henry exprt sscd his opinion. and the question went
around the class hardly one getting 1t right Then 1t
was: How many bOOtscrapers there at the dOOrf
How many windows in the bulllngP How many trees
In the cldf What the cOlOrs Of different rooms and
the prcullaros OF any familiar Objects He Was the
Ike observer ever think he noticed and
nup b'rcd every button coats friend OF mine
walking with HIM through Cleveland one day when
Garfield stopped and dare1 down o cearway, asking
his companion to follow, and briefly padsng 10 explain
himself The sign saws and files was over the door,
and in the depths heard regular clicking sound,
think this fellow is cutting files. said he and have
file cut Down tGey went. and sure
enough, there reCuttiDg an old 1e. and they
STAYED minutes aud found out all about the process
Garfield would never 10 by anything without under
standing II.
| Mr. was " lp q ii
He spoke two or thee times q week. all Of
upIcs, generally scientific, though sometimes literary
or historical lie spoke with great freedom. writ
| ing out what he had to say. and InOw think that
| his lectures were rapid compilation OF his
current reading and that he threw 1t into this form
partly for the purpose impressng II on hs mind.
II facility OF speech was learned when he pupil
! there The societies had rule that every student
should take his stand On tho Platform and
| speak for five minutes any topic sug-
| rrstcn ut the moment by the audience. 1t a
| very irving ordeal. Garfield broke down badly
to t,yo first tines he tried speak but persisted.
WA ~ las. wn,n be- wen to Williams one OF the
hest NJ the hyr-nuuic speakers. When ne returned
prnripl his r,adlnrs. striking AMI remarkable.
| " At the time was ai SCI OOl at lirlm Principal
| q rtirti was n great reader. not OmniyOrOus but
m,tnolicnl and IN trtan lines. He was me most III
d-IriDus man ever knew or heard or AT one lime lie
delivered lectures on geology. held pubic debates ON
sirIttisIn preached SUNDAY, conducted the reel
finn- classes every day, attended To all
rith' I%gsi,lrc, ami studied law be admitted to
trc bnr lie has often sand that he never could ndVe
| prrfDrnrd tnIs labor # II had not been for the
! a,,i,tlnrc of two gifted and earnest women
| Mrs Gunrd herself biS early schOOmate, who
| mad toInwri her husband IN hs studies, aud
| Ml.s A;mrda a. Booth. memrr OF the
| Icnliy The latter was graduate OF Obeiln ana had
hen a teacher II young uiirld when he WAS puW',
nnd now tnrt he had returned head OF the faculty..
sLe continued 10 him ~ sIri Of mO;hcry way nS
iutnr nnd guide when Garfield had speeches 10 make
nm thc Legislature the stump o. lectures TO de-
y.r thr,r two ladies' TanSlckrd tho library By 0hy.
and collected facts ami marked books for his digestion
ui n q ia the propagation OF the discOurse5 at nlSdt
Nr Garfield alwaYs arknO Wlcdgc1 his great ODligi
to Miss Aurdl Booth and Dcr death, recently, he
den, cred one most touching anu eloquent ad-
| dirI1"s Oi his HE. --.-.- A.. a.,
Mr. ttiri will he sure tO get large vote from the
members Oi the Disciples Church IN he country. We
ann her anun half million. Our creed Is the BDe
alone Every man IS at liberty 10 interpret It Tor NM
en- W.. h;iVr written formula except jesus ChIlst
/, me SOW of CiOd' On anything elsr men may Gfrr
NJ, are nmrrsIOnlSs OF cOuISe-mcnbo;s OF tnr great
I,nut II amiy. Garfield wLsUeyrr ordained minister,
bnt he earliest member, al preached III TINS town
IWrny-iuur ears ago this summer. CT zrnN remember
him IA gllInt, awkward youth with trousers about
Ut too short, and big red hands. Bn he had voice
k, 81 trumpet. and when he was fired with his theme
he en- TIrd hs aiIdcnc with him. He att nded the DIS
rlpr, Church III Chicago the very day before hc was
| nominated.