St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-09-10
John Chinaman at School.

established in Philadel phia, and the
Times OF that CITY tells how John Chi
naman is improving the shining hour:
Mr.. SO is forty years of age, and al
though he has lived in America five
years he hash even mastered the SIM
pie beauties OF ''pidgin' English. He
is the dolI OF the school, but that fact
d0esn. seem to disturb him particle,
and the look of pleased astonishmel,t
his face wore Yesterday when he was
told for the twentieth time that "A is
the first letter OF the alphabet would
have driven any but a Christian teacher
to distraction.
A LESSON IN SPELLING.
"H-e-n," said the teacher, as he
wrote those letters on the blackboard,
and received an approving smile from
Mr.. SO.
"What does that spell?'' continued
the instructor.
The pupil smiled, scratched his left
side and reflected.
THAT is hen-a chicken said the
teacher.
.Me sabe hem" replied Mr. SO, as
coolly as though the information was
not by any means new.
"Well, write it, said the teacher
thrusting a piece of chalk into the
Monaghan right hand. The idea Of
asking him to write struck the other
seekers after knowledge as extremely
funny, and Sam Hing, King Gee, Moi
kee and Chang Lung gi5sled like over
grown schoolboys. The slow pupil
smiled, eyed the writing on the black
board critically, graSped his cravon
firmly, and. to the establishment OF the
Caucasians in the room, executed an
almost perfect imitation of the teachers
ch5royraphy OF the word hen.
Read it said the teacher.
"Chlicken,' was the nonchalant re-
Spouse of the pupil, as he moved toward
his seat.
mot chicken, hen," said the in
structor in correction.
ALE same hen, ale same chicken.
replied Mr.. So, philosophically. as he
dropped into his seat and tanned his
fevered brow with his primer.
CELESTIAL PHILOSOPHY.
A lady and gentleman were the only
teachers in this school yesterday. The
lady devoted herself to All How, while
John Lung looked on and yawned at
regular intervals as though he was
dreadlully bored. All How, however,
appeared to take great interest in Ills
studies. The male teacher spent the
greater part of the school hour in in
structing Quong VIVA and All Loon,
the latter being much the brighter stu
dent. The fox has a hen,' said the
teacher, reading from the primer. 1.-The
fox has a hem returned the pupils,
spelling out the words.
This is the picture" said the tutor,
pointing to an engraving.
ME sabe fox. me sabe hen re-
piled All Loon, cycling the picture.
"What fol fox got him hen?' in
quired Quong, examining the wood
cut. 4
HE wants to eat it." answered the
teacher.
Belly good fox was the senten-
tious criticism of Quong, as he looked
grayely at the teacher, who was evil
IDENTIFY unprepared for any such philo-
sophical utterance and consequently did
not attempt to reply to it.
About this time the attention of near
ly every one in the room was attracted
by the suppressed laughter of Moi kee
and King Gee, who were enjoying the
tiuttering of a paper butterfly. manufac-
tured and set atloat by Sam Hing. The
artificial insect was captured and the
course of study went on. The teach
ers hear the lessons of each pupil sepa-
rately, and so long as they are under
the eyes of their preceptors the pupils
are as meek and studious as any one
could wish, but their other moments
are not spent in study-that is, to any
great extent. The teachers, however,
are loud in their praises of the scholars
and say they learn with remarkable
rapidity.