The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-13
UNCLE SlLAS' WAY.

WHys We were ITlenuS nj SCHOOL,.
Eva Best, in Detroit Free Press.
UNCLE SiLAS' WAY.
A Satisfactory and Successful Civil-Sery-
Ice Examination.
"Tut-tut-tut!" exclaimed old Silas
Wetherel, as he entered his Office, one
morning.
He had advertised for boy, and no
less than twenty applicants were pes
ent. After cursory examination, he
dismissed all Of them but three, who
were about the same age.
Two Of them, Fred Baylis and Harry
st. Clair, were evidently the sons of
well-to-do parents. The attire Of the
other boy, whose name was Charley
Benson. indicated that he belonged to
the poorer class.
well, want but one boy" Uncle
Silas said, as he settled down into his
chair, Illuminating look on his face.
.How am to make selection"
He was stout jovial, loud-yoiced
gentleman, eccentric in his ways par
tial to boys, and always ready to poke
fun at them.
"We'll have Q civil-service examina-
tion." he announced, fash of humor
Frightening his face. where is the
Westminster Abbey of America"
That was q puzzler, and the boys
glanced into one anothers faces.
AT Cambridge" Frad Baylis hesitat-
ingly said.
AT Princeton" suggested Harry st.
Clair.
II don't KNOW" was Charlie Benson's
reply.
Question number two," Uncle Silas
said. How is the word sometimes
pronounced?' and he spelled the word
with the pauses indicated.
.'So-met-i-mes," replied Fred Baylis,
plunging headlong into the trap set for
him.
ut is Latin, isn't it?" asked Harry st.
Clair.
II would pronounce it 'sonse-ttnies.' :
said Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas laughed heartily. and
Fred and Harry grew red in the face.
.'Please hang up this picture" Uncle
Silas said. as he offered Harry ST. Clair
a small picture. and pointed to the wall.
No sooner had Harry complied than he
was ordered to return to his desk.
where was it that twenty-seven
thousand men were killed by the fall
ing of wall?' asked Uncle Silas.
1t was an odd question, and rather an
indefinite one.
II don't know" frankly admitted Har-
ry st. Clair.
~ nj, dva0 fail ar
cident," said Fred.
IAN account of it is given in the BIZ
ble." quietly replied Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas flung up his head in \
pleased way.
'.Where?" he asked.
.In the first Book of Kings. 1t hap
pened in the city Of Aphek."
..IIow many Israelites were killed.
None, sir" replied Charlie. ''They
were Syrians."
"You are right, declared Uncle Silas.
He rubbed the end of his nose for a
few moments, and then, designating
Fred, ordered him to hang up the pict-
ure. Fred complied, but thought it
funny proceeding.
..You may bring it to me again." Tn
Gle Silas said. The picture on his desk
once more, he asked: lis this correct
sentence: Your trunk has Gomez"
A short silence ensued.
ut is" said Fred Baylis.
st u.s." declared Harry St Clair.
Uncle Silas looked at Charlie Benson,
who said:
1T is dramatically correct"
but is it correct?" asked Uncle Silas.
cit isn't correct statement" Charlie
slowly said. "A trunk is an inanimate
thing. 1t can not come. To say your
trunk has been brought would be more
precise"
pretty we'll takcn," Uncle Silas said.
laughingly.
.Of course, thought you meant its
grammatical construction" Fred re-
marked.
1T is bubble" declared Harry.
"Please hang up this picture" Uncle
Silas said, extending it to Charlie, who
complied with the request, and 1t was
not followed with another to return 1t.
Il am sorry that two Of you are to be
! disappointed" Uncle Silas said. "But
how can / help it? There are three
nails in the wall. Master Benson hung
! it on the proper one, with delibera-
ton and an artistic eye. You will OBJ
serve that 1t is equally distant from the
corners Of the wall. and the same height
from the border that the other pictures
are. 1t was a trifling test, but there Is
a good deal in it. / have concluded to
engage Charlie Benson"
"All right" said Fred, rising. Good
for Charlie Benson; he scored one every
timc!'
"'Twas fair field, and you won,
every time. good for you, old fellow!
said Harry.
The boys showed their admiration In
their eyes, and Uncle Silas leaned back
in his chair and beamed on them q.
they bowed themselves out. "iour re
marks do you credit. youngsters-good