Connecticut western news., 1882-06-21
{" OLD SLOPE"
RecollectiOns of an Old Time Irish Schoolmaster.

SChOOImaSter.
 There are few, suppose, who do not look back with feeling of regretful tenderness to their school days. Where ever educated, whether in 8 first clas college or a humble school, there are incidents connected with school.lfe which become deeply impressed upon the memory and live forever. Especially I think this is the case with those who have been born in Ireland and attended a village school there. Every incident of their schooI-boy days in the long ago is wildly remembered. In the dear old days, when childhood's cares and troubles consisted only in being obliged to attend school, the writer of this feared no one SO much as him whose nicknsme-irreyerently imposed upon him by his scholars-heads this article. Master of the National village school, he was feared and beloved as much as any teacher in Ireland. Feared by the trembling urchins who sat covering under hls glance; beloved by those who, having left school, retained kindly re- membrance of the good old pedagogue who reigned there severe and stern, the striking of whose ruler upon the desk caused their hearts to beat rapidly, and silence like that of death to pervade the little assembly. Yet he was kind, and cannot say that he was ever severe save when good cause provoked his anger. Looking back now, am sure he never set an extra task to do, or gave us slap on the hand, unless he thought that it was for our good or that he believed we richly deserved it.
 He was, as I have said, called by the irreverent "Old Slope;" but that name during school hours was only spoken by us with bated breath, for never did nick name anger any one more than did this onr respected Mentor. The reason of this name being given him was that in dis missing school his invariable mode of proceeding was to stand erect by his desk and say:
 " First and second divisions, hands down, slope, turn, gol
 With that ready wit which is indigo. nous to the soil, the boys..csught at the ridiculousness of the word slope, and fastened it upon him as nickname for. ever. No need of saying that there was nothing of the Squeers type about him none such exist in Ireland.
 He was severe but never cruel, and would crack his joke and make us ali laugh, or deliver long discourse on landlordism and tenant right that would mystify us. How often have 1 sat listening ill amazement as he di- lated on the past glory of Ireland, ere the Saxon had set foot upon her soil, or told us of the evil effects of the land laws, or gave us the true history of Boney's" defeat at Waterloo, which was caused, he assured us, not by the valor of the British, the genius of Vel lington, nor the opportune arrival of Butcher, but solely by the treachery of Grouchy, who was bought by British gold.
 Often have I wondered in my child ish way, as the words of "learned length and laundering sound issued from his lips, why he was not justice of the peace at least, or member of Parliament. Poor old Slope! I have often thought what calm, monotonous life was his. How peaceful and happy he passed his days in that dear old na- tive place of mine, troubled only with the little cares of his school, which were wont to be augmented somewhat when the inspector from Dublin visited us. Then, indeed, it seemed to poor old Slope as if the educational interests of the Irish people were concentrated in himself, and though few of us had at tained any proficiency in arithmetic be- yond the rule of three, he would with great gusto and importance inform us, as he lighted his pipe and looked grand ly around, that he told the inspector he would not fear to compare his school with the model school of Dublin. Peace to his ashes. He is dead many years. More than quarter of a century has elapsed since I looked upon his face, but the dullest of his scholars, as h often and justly pronounced me to be, pays this slight tribute to his memory. He lies not far from the school-house where so long he reigned supreme May the sod rest lightly on bis breast, and the grass grow green upon his grave