Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-20
FORTY YEARS AGO.
The s.District School'' at Turn
Verein Hall.

The 81 District SchO0l' - AT IuTh
Verein Hall.
A yery unique entertainment was that
presented at the Turn Verein Hall last
night, when some OF the talented mem
bers Of the First Congregational church
gave a representation OF how district
school was conducted forty years ago. A
good-sized audience was present to par
ticipate in the fun, and for the two hours
that it lasted bursts OF merriment, re-
sounding from all parts Of the room,
showed how heartily all present were en-
loving themselves. The scene was
schoolroom such as might have existed
| in the '40's in the backwoods of the
Mississippi, and the dramatis persone
| had evidently been through the mill,
| for they looked and acted their parts to
perfection. The "boys" were attired in
all sorts of quaint costumes, patches
being conspicuous and coats scarce, as
were evidently also handkerchiefs, judg-
| ing by the manner the wristbands were
called into requisition. The "girls"
looked as If they had been
the originals of the caricatures
held up to ridicule by the blue-stocking
misses Of the present day and corkscrew
ringlets and bloomer costumes of good,
old fashioned print brought back to the
old timers present the days of old, which
were so faithfully represented. OF the
village pedagogue, Professor Ira More
made a mastery creation, as with fob
dangling by his side and cutaway shiny
black coat he brandished aloft birch
and cast terror into his scholars by
threats of forthcoming castigations.
~, &c - ,,1s~I,fs In
called represented the arrival OF the
Squire, and member of the Board Of
Education, who expressed desire to see
the pupils ''put through SO that judg-
ment might be passed upon the mode Of
instruction. Some very humorous incl
dents occurred while this was being
done as essays on "Cats," "Spring,"
Bruno" and other similar subjects
were read by the prize pupils while the
rest of the class contented them
selves by hurling missiles at
each other and stolidly murching
apple, whenever they got an opportunity
to do 50 without detection. At the end
of the examination the Squire declared
himself dissatisfied, for, said he, he
didn't believe in the new-fspgled way of
sticking ''g" onto the end Of ''goin'",
or using any other spelling-book besides
Webster's, the member of the Board Of
Education expressing himself of the
same opinion by stating "Tbem's my
sentiments" The teacher was therefore
discharged, but he consoled his weeping
pupils by telling them that he had
only been getting $l7 month and
found there, and that he had had an
offer from the next district of $l9 aud
found. which he. would at once take.
The tears were therefore dried, all Joined
hands and sang "Auld Lang Syne," and
the proceedings terminated, the curtain
going down amidst tumult of applause.
The following is a list of the entertain
ers: Mr.. and Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. E. G.
Bosbyshell, Miss Cover, Mr.. and Mrs.
Peck, Professor and Mrs. Ira More, Mr.
and Mrs. Braiperd Smith, Mr.. and Mrs.
Calvin Smith, Mrs. Spencer. Mrs. w. F.
Bosbyshell, Mr.. King, Mr.. and Mrs.
Nance, Mr.. Buddinger, Mrs. Porley,
Mrs. Case, Mr.. and Mrs. Van Etten, Mr..
and Mrs. Judd, Mrs. DR.. Cole, Mrs.
Swan, Miss Myer, Miss FANNY Tuesneil,
Miss Dunn, Mr.. and Mrs Dunn, Mr..
James Green, Mr.. and Mrs. Clapp.