New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
contribute to the health and pleasure of the boys

contribute to the health and pleasure OF the boys as
when they sent off On long walks. They were
encouraged In all sorts of manly exercises ana ganes
and Mr.. Gum the leader In them all Far moro
slgnfc ant however, his choice OF Indoor aInuse-
ments 1t must have taken as much courage to
introduce card playing round dances and theatrical
entertainments In a Puritancal New England village
when he did so, It did to fight intempcrance and
savery-perhaps more but he saw the essential inno
cence Of these amuSemcnts under proper surround
ings, and decided that it better for his sch lars
to know them innocently rather than otherwise. lilo
turned the school theatrical exhibitions, which were
great treat to the nelghborhood. to good account
by presenting Unco Toms Cabin,' Neighbor Jack
wood,' other plays that brought home u the audi
ence the evils of slavery. lie did almost as much
for the social life of the village as for that Of tho
school, but there is space to dwell upon that here
Mr. Gum seems continually to have recognized
the fact that boys entitled to have good time
Every teacher and every head scnooI snould
read his address delivered before teachers conven-
ton In Hartford, Conn., In 1877, on Confidence
Between Boys and Teachers and which is Included
in this volume. Upon this point Of amusement,
he says
Our Declaration Of Independence enumerates among
the inalenable rights OF men, life, Liberty and mo
pursuit of happiness. But boys, with their scanty
expressive word. Strange that one small word should
nvey much Of meaning TO the boy-heart. tdni
Puritan forefathers thought all fun was devtl hip,
and they put under the ban they drove II from Tho
left It only to harbor in the village tavern and tho
country store TN within few years cards GasS
not for any special form l would not admit any
amusement that has the least taint of vice but DO
charge you young teachers, let the boys have thcr
fun Nay, provide IT, preside over II, protect lt
not bar the thing itself-rather share II with them
How much Of a boys life is comprised In that ono
word How much of healthy discipline, both OF
mind and body, it may BRING While sharing direct
ing wisely, and cheerily helping on the iun without
cherished dignity you may easily find your way into
the boy heart persuaded that very much OF
dissipation the contamination Of bad company tho
frequent corruption of taste and manners, and some
higher institutions of learning, would be- avoided u
some rich and wlso friend of oech college wonld
endlw therein a Professorship of Fun. ! think It
might go far TO prevent the hazng which in some
colleges has become barbarlsm, II some genial tutor
professor had 1T for his to prepare the s'pho-
more class TO entertain with suitable plays. games
and theatricals tho incoming freshmen. An
evening thus spent in social and friendly way would
tend powerfully to establish Just and kind reati. rs
every student a brother. But, II not necessary
for young men, surely the boys should have their
fun
Mr.. Gums methods original himself,
and 1t would not be worth anybodys while TO attempt
TO initiate him. He was happy, too, in bis surround
ngs which lent themselves to the play OF his nature
But there not many teachers who could read tho
story Of his life, It is lovingly told by his pupils
without learning something from It Of the need Of
human warmth I'm the work of teaching. The face
Of tho "Master OF the Gunnery" heads the book. It
Is Of the most Kindly genial, merry, and yet
Of the earnest and honest OF faces There IS not
line in 1t that goes wrong; you look into It you
understand why the busy men who have put this
volume togethcr-statesman, lawyers, artist, etc
turned aside from their daily tasks to pay him a
tribute such no other teacher, perhaps, ever re-
ceived.