Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-06-13
WOODSTOCK, VT. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1883. WHOLE
ARTHUR AS A POET.
The President as SchOOlmaster - An
EARLY Poetical EffusiOn-IIOw He En-
cOuraged Difiident Youth.

""A "CAs "D A oHAs
The President as n schoOimaster - An
Early Poetical ETusiOn-IOw He En-
couraged a Difiident Youth.
A pleasant Renaissance of Presi-
dent Arthur's college days is told by
Dr. Asa G. Stillman, of Abba, a sub
urb of Troy. In the little village of
North Pownal, VT, thirty-one years
ago, Chester A. Arthur, then stu
dent of Williams college, taught school
during vacation at the college to earn
money to help defray the expenses of
his education. Among the country
lads who were placed under the in
struction of thestruggling student was
Stillman, then boy of eight sum-
,mers. 1t appears that the future presi-
dent of the United States was unusual
ly strict in the rules governing his
rural school, and vigorously insisted
that each of the young ideas in his
charge should speak a piece every ex-
animation day. Young Stillman lacked
the courage to declaim in the presence
of the visitors who called to note the
progress of the pupils. This want of
bravery served as sufficient excuse
for exemption until Mr.. Arthur re-
solved that it was no longer available,
and insisted that Stillman should spout
with the rest of the boys. Stillman
had been led to believe that the pieces
the other lads had recited were all
original, and complained that he was
unable to compose anything that
would prove acceptable. The day be-
fore the examination arrived, and all
the scholars excepting Stillman were
prepared for burst of eloquence on
the morrow. Stillman was requested
to remain after the school had been
dismissed, and visions of boy receiv-
ing the benefit of a birch rod, welded
by our chief magistrate, fitted through
his mind. The scholars had all de-
parted, when Mr.. Arthur, addressing
the qualing Stillman, said smilingly:
"Dont you think you can speak a
piece tomorrow"
81 haven't got one" was the answer.
"Will you learn one if l write it
down for you?'
"Td try, but I can't read writing
well enough" was the reply of the
boy, anxious to be excused.
"Then I'll print it for you said the
persistent tutor. "Will you learn it if
/ do?"
"I'll do my best" sighed the juve-
nile, corpered at last.
Mr.. Arthur thereupon printed in
, letters large ana distinct the following
"poetic gen." The original manuscript
has been preserved by DR.. Stillman
since the day President Arthur printed
the verses in that little Vermont school
house:
Pray, how shall I, a little lad,
In speaking make figure;
You are but jesting, I'm afraid,
Do wait till | get bigger.
But since you wish to hear my part
And urge me TO begin it,
I'll strive ior praise with all my art
Though small my chance to wini it.
I'll tell q tale how Farmer John
| little roam colt bred, sir,
And every night and every morn,
He watered and he ted, sir.
Sail Neighbor Joe to Farmer John,
"You surely are dolt, sir,
To spend such daily care upon
A little useless colt SIR"
The farmer answered wondering joe
81 bring my little colt up
Not for the good he now can do,
| But may do when he's grown up"
The moral you may plainly see,
To keep the tale from spelling,
1He ltlle coit you 'Hlnh Is uei
know it by your smiling.
now entreat you TO excuse,
My lisping and my stammers, views,
And since you've learned my parents
IN hnmby make my manners.
When Asa Stillman made "his man
ners" after relieving himself of the
above, he was met with the congratu-
lations of his teacher, his parents and
the visitors. President Arthur fire.
quently refers to this maiden effort in
letters to the physician, whose first
son he named Chester Arthur Still
man. This boy, at Sunday-school
gathering, few evenings ago, re-
cited the simple lines, he having then
arrived at precisely the same age as
his father was when the latter deliver
ed them. thicdgo Tribune.