New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19

The true teacher IS born to his trade as much as
tho poet. What IS that mysterious quality which
enables one person to command the instant respect
and even affection Of children, while another OF equal
abilities and tho same good intentions can neither
control nor win them1 What IS 1t that makes
philosopher helpless before roomfull OF urch'Ds'
while another man Of far inferior attachments finds
them as obedent soldiers TO their generalf Tho
sure, quick way children have OF measuring their
instructors and piercing through the weak spot In their
armor Is surprising. There was poor -, one OF
our professors al college He was cultivated, schol
arly man. He could have taught us much II we would
only have let him. But found out somehow that
no could not control us, and there was an end OF
tho influence he might have had There was con-
tnual disorder and confusion, and the plotting OF mis-
chief wont on steadily. Was it because we were
cruel and thoughtless beyond tho average OF boysf
Hardly that for we worse than others, taking
the general OF u.s. and We made passable appear
ance, intellectually and morally, In other class-rooms
The whole difficulty was that, well-meanlng as nc
was, he not in his right place. We saw IL ana
made him feel It in the mercllcss way boys have.
No doubt, we caused him many an hour OF anguish,
and when I saw the announcement OF his death tho
other day, pang went through me at the memory
OF those careless days that must have meant real
unhapplness to sensitive, incompetent man.
Tho personality OF tho teacher, then, IS OF vast
mportance, more within certain limits than his
scholarship. Now and then therc appears teacher
who the embodiment Of this truth, which parents
too often forget in choosing instructor They Will
take pains to discover whore teacher was gradu-
ated but they never ask themselves how big his heart
IS The career of the late Frederick W. Gum, whose
school at Washington Conn.,, was so long known as
the Gunaeryo IS a remarkable example OF the extent
to which ardent and generous personality can
enter into and influence the growth of pupils trlb-
ute has Just been made to his memory by his former
tiful volume, lovingly put together by number OF
his "boys.n George A. Hckox lays the foundation
for correct understanding Of Mr.. Gums life and
work with an account of old times" in his native
village, including the rise OF tho temperance and anti
slavery movements, both of which had strong infu
cnce upon his character and in both Of which he took
leading part The account given herc Of the con-
test in the church and his accommodation Is viva
picture OF the way in which this controversy shook
the little community, It did so many Others. Or
vile H. Plat, of tho boys who now sits In the
United States Senate, writes Of tho early life and
etruesloo Of tho Maotor OF tho Ounnory- Ehriok X
RoSsiter, OF Mr. Gum citizen; Clarence Dcming,
two papers-One Mr. Gum as the schoolmaster,
and the other Gunnery" sports; James p. Patt
on the home life, and H. W. b. Howard on the last
days and tho last rites. These gathered together
I'm a handsomely printed volume, small quarto which
W. Hamilton Gibson has enriched with nearly hun
dred sketches Of them made for this book that
catch in a poetic spirit the beauty of the boys
favortc hauns-the little bay in the lake where they
fshed, the running brook overhung with branches,
the woods where they set the rabbitrap In the snow,
tho orchard where they studied under the trees and
scores Of other places which must be dear to tho
hearts of those who passed their school days among
these pleasant Connecticut hills. The whole makes
a testimonial Of tho affection and appreciation Of
pupils which Is as beautiful it Is novel Many
a writing about himself or for himself books
that promptly went to Wondering on the shelf at
tho time when the busy, earnest schoomastcr was
writing his name in tho sand you would have said
What moro perlshable memorial than the love and
gratitude of boys Yet here springs from it book
that Is unique and will live.