The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-06-14
Our Private Schools.

AS the examination at Giles Col
lege is now over, and | have com
pleted my course, if not with dis
tinction, l hope at least with res
probability, 1 concluded to spend
the ensuing week in attending the
closing exercises of our other
schools. l witnessed the splendid
examination at Martin College, and
will only say, what our whole peo-
pie have already said, that these
exercises have given such an impe-
tus to our popular college that its
most ardent friends never dreamed
of.
Whilst l with palpitating heart
might secretly think that some one
fair spark shone with a brighter
lustre than the dazzling galaxy of
beauty around her, am too gal
liant to particularize, and while the
air is sill resonant with the thun
ders of well-deserved applause, l
would call your attention to another
school of humber pretentions. 1
refer to the private school of Col.
A. H. Alternately, the pater .fa,nilias
of all the teachers. / saw the pro
ficiencysof his classes and heard
competent judges pronounce them
equal in every respect to any in
Giles or Martin College of cores
ponding age. During the exercises
a very affecting incident occurred,
which 1 will relate: Prof. Clack
was formerly a pupil of the colo
nel's, though during Prof. Clack's
whole term of office as snperinten-
dent of public instruction, he and
the colonel have differed widely on
many school subjects, and many
are the heated discussions which
they have had. Prof Clack, en-
thusiastIc and progressive, with a
fine contempt for every phase of
old foggism, would trample under
foot anything which opposes the
normal system, whilst the colonel |
with ripper experience and more
conservative views would hold fast |
that which he has proven rather
than experiment with something
else. AS a mark of courtesy dur
ing the examination, the colonel
Prof Clack to examine
the classes, which he did and
pressed them all the day.
At the conclusion the colonel
asked him to talk to the school a
little and express his opinion of the
exercises, whereupon the professor,
with dignity and grace, arose, and
instead of addressing either the
school or audience, turned toward
the colonel and with feeling said:
"My venerable teacher, your star
which shone with such surprising
through the halls of
Giles College for more than twenty
years, beams with equal splendor
in this hall to-day"
Then the colonel, with heaving
bosom and voice tremulous with
emotion, arose and said ''such a
high compliment from an old pu-
pill has nonplussed me, words are
to fifty reply" Then
pointing to Mr.. McCallum said,
''ladies and gentlemen, the love a
teacher bears his pupils is unknown
to the world; that to me is not the
grave, matured citizen but my old
pupil Jimmie" Then referring to
Rev. J. B. Anderson, he continued,
shat to me,is not the Rev. Mr.. An
derson, the eloquent and logical
minister to whom the multitudes
listen with rapt attention, but my
pupil Jerome, to whom taught the
Latin and Creek" and then turn
ing to Prof Clack, "that to me is
not the proficient and scholarly SUI
perintendent of all our schools, but
my little pupil Spencer, to whom 1
taught the spelling book" What
must have been the feelings of those
gentlemen as they looked with af-
lection on this old teacher, now
past his three score years, still in
his chosen profession, and with his
Did maxim whatever is worth do
ing is worth doing WE'LL" And
what were the feelings of that
teacher as he viewed with pride
hose former pupils, one a cultured
farmer, one an honored minister of
5he gospel, and one a faithful and
teacher, each treading
With manly step the path of duty
On toward his beings destination?
L. G. B.