Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-04
WITH SAW AND HAMMER.
Boys At the High school at the Carpen-
ter-s Bench.

WITH SAW AND HAMMER.
Boys at the High school at the Carpen-
ter's Bench.
A LESSON IN PLANES-THE CURRICULUM OF AN EN-
BRYo INDUSTRIAL CoLIEGE-MAKING JOINTS AND
MoRTIsEs-PRACT1CE WITH TOOLs-THE INTEREST
TAKEN BY THE PUPILS.
In the High school the boys are taught to use
their eyes and hands as wei as their minds. The
first attempt OF boy to use hammer or plane
Is an interesting spectacle as showing how hope
leSSly an fnanirnate article can involve even such
smart boys as those that attend the High school,
When boy first takes hold of a hammer 1t Is sim
gular what tricks that apparently harmless tool
VIII play upon him. instead OF striking the spot
which the boy looking at and aims for the perverSe
thing takes it into its metal head to 60 in a diff
ferent direction with the result as rule fwhack-
ing smartly some one OF the fingers of the unfer-
tunate novice The hammer IS but seldom able to
take advantage OF person OF experience, and In
such hands IL becomes very accurate and WELL
behaved tool The High school boys are enjoying
the opportunity Of acquiring this experience. and
each boy has one hour in each week in the little
workshop which has been fitte &c, up In the base,
ment of the school building They come out from
tleir recitation rooms and go down
TO THE WORKSHOP,
under the same rules and regulations that
govern the recitation hours Once down
in the workshop they take OFF their coats and put
aprons such the real carpenter wears, and under
the direction OF their teacher, Mr. Wesson, they go
To work Mr. WessOn Is a graduate OF the school
ut Worcester. Mass, and thoroughly understands
the subject OF manual training. He has the boys
divided into classes OF twelve and beginning with
Instruction in the rise OF the hammer, he advances
by easy stages until the boys are initiated into the
mysteries OF the handsaw, the brace and pits,
planes, chisels. etc: When STAR man visited the
shop he found the boys learning how TO plane the
boards which they had at previous lessons sawed
into squares. In the hands of an experienced
Workman the plane, like the hammer and the saw,
has the appearance OF being well-behaved tool
smooth and easy in its movements and Incapable
OF anything but the most abject submission TO the
Will of the manipulation. Watching the progress OF
ALEssoN IN PLANES
very soon demonstrates to the most Skeptical that
the plane Is not only piece of mechanism, but
that 1t Is endowed with prOpensities which seem
to be indignantly devoted to the annoyance and
discontinue Of the boys. You will see a plane
tnatwill glide the surface OF the board throw
ing out from its smoke stack as ii ii Were, long
curling shaving that is tue delight OF the small
girl, Who uses such shavings for curlS. There Is
something fascinating about the way these
graceful wooden tendrilS spring up and mark the
progress OF the prOsaic plane. They remind one OF
the curling biEowy wreathS OF smoke that arise
rator of the plane especially If he be boy. and
High school boy, admires these graceful heralds
work, when suddenly he is brought up with a
wrench that runs up and down his back bone like
Jersey chill. and he is nearly thrown head first
over the bench. The plane must chuckle over the
discontinue OF the boy, and there Is no doubt that
it Went punging down into the board ON purpose.
The boy pulls himself together as we'll us he can
and looks Il, the plane with suspicion, but the
teacher comes along and tells him that lie bears
too heavily on the plane, but gives not word OF
blame 10 the tool itself. The boy, however, has
his private opinion on this subject, but
nevertheless he resumes his work With the deter
limitation 20 watch closely any future attempts on
his life. The plane moves along smoothly for
some time, until presently Ii gives the board a
vicious turn which lOOsenS IL from the IaSten1ngS
and then, when the boy bends himself for final
effort, the board flies out and the youthful opera
tor attempts to plane the work bench with his
nose. When he is picked out of the loose shavings
lost all confidence III the plane, and his future
operations are marked by an unusual degree OF
cautious warness. Henceforth he knows that it
Is "a contest between himself and the plane, and
unless he cOnQuer5 he will continue through life
to be ANONYMOUSLY thrown over benches and
plunged headlons into piles OF shavings whenever
he takes the plane in hand He had the same eX-
perience with the hammer and the saw. and his
bump OF cautiOusness has been largely de-
lever in the doctrine of the total deprayity OF
inanimate things, although he may not have FORM
ulated his experience in words.
THE PROGRESS OF THE CLASS.
The doctrine, however, is very fully illustrated
in the workshop, and as the visitor glances among
the aproned boys hard at work he sees the ma
lightly of the tools and the suffering humanity at
their mercy. Mr.. Wesson, the teacher, moves
about from bench to bench and lends helping
hand or makes suggestion, and the boys seem to
take great interest In their work. The school is
now in its second year, and although it is only
operating In a small way and is yet something Of
an experiment, still it is gaining ground rapidly
not only in the favor OF the scholars, but OF the
school trustees and parents. The benches which
are now in the workshop were made by the boys
in the last years class and are substantial and
been purchased for each boy, thus making twelve
sets OF tools the property Of the school. 1t is the
Intention to extend the present scope OF the in
s!fuction so as Ia include lathe work. When a
machine shop can be fitted up the boys will also
have a chance TO learn something about
Woodworking. While OF course. in the
one hour week which Is given TO this inStruc-
ton thorough training cannot be given, Yet the
boys interest Is aroused in matters which perhaps
he would pass by without noticing. One OF the
boys, after short experience in the school. an
nOunced one day TO his teacher that he was build
ing back porch at home, and IL is SAID that in this
way ability is brought out which probably would
never be developed. Mr. Paul. the principal OF The
High school, Is deeply interested i'll this class, and
regards IL as a very important adjunct TO the i'll
telectlal training which the school ilnpartS. lie
believes In the training OF the eye and the hand
an aid In the development and training OF the
mental powers.
THE CURRICULUM
In this connection 1t would be Of interest to give
the following short report upon the character and
scope OF the school, which was recently sent to a
member OF the school board:
1.-THE Instruction begins with a hammer exercise
10 ttacn DOtn the OBJECT or employing the mOmen-
tuin OF the hammer and the proper method OF
using 1t in special cases, followed by the study
the hand saw, including explanation OF the differ
enceS In sizes and shapes Of saws and OF saw
teeth with the reasons for these differences, ex-
ercises in the OF the saw and In cutting lum.
Der at definite angleS-always at right angles uI-
| less otherwise specified Next cpnes the discus
sion OF braces and bits with drill in boring per-
| pendicularly tothe surface and without tearing
| the under side Of the wood. Then follow planes
and extended practice in their USE and the chsels
| and gouseS. Having become proficient In the
| knowledge OF the construction OF these tools and
| Incidentally OF such small ones as gOuges, avis,
| etc. and proficient in their use, they are given
| definite problems for solution. The diagram OF
an open tnortise-and-tenon joint is put upon the
board and each student Is required to cut first the
| tenon and then the mortise, and to make first a
driving and then sliding Iit Other joints follow
this in order, the ordinary mOrtise-and-tenon the
/ blind inortise-and-tenon, the dovetaiI, and al
! the joints that Of value for instruction unit
| the student can perform any kind OF bench work
! In wood with accuracy and rapidity. This methOC
| mas been adopted aS the most beneficial to the
! student III giving him correct ideas OF form ant
| Ill educating him TO that skill OF eye and hanC
! which IL Is our main object TO impart."
BADLY STUMBLED MEXICANS.
A Bogus Agent Of Patti Reaps a Bicl