Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20

fongbt nv John Sullivan or Kilrain. to the
great low and delight of the youthful spec
tators under the management ana uirec-
ton of that good. wise man Robert hyIand'
who still lives-nearly ninety years OK age,
to enjoy the respect, esteem, ana love OF
oil of his friends and acquaintance
puxrsHMENTs.
Let me astonish Superintendent Fox and
nv friend Major Pendleton, OF the Central
School, by telling them OF some OF the pun
ishments which were inflicted upon US
boys in the old-feld schools OF the olden
time. am sure that fol. the first TWO OF
three years Of my school-days got al ieas,
one whipping every day. WASH pau ,
/ was mischieyous, full of fun. and would
talk and whisper IN school hours. and some
times play innocent tricks upon the boys.
and even upon the teacher himself. and
| got licked for it. My old schoolmaster,
whose memory still revere, for he GER
tainly pointed out the pathway to his boys,
which, il they had pursued 1t as he direct
ed would surely have lead to the acquire
ment of much greater knowledge than
any Of us ever afterward obtained, was III
the habit every afternoon or taxing =
watch him and when he got fairly under
way the fun would begin. Paper pellets
would be seen crossing and recrossing each
other. thrown by the boys, sometimes at
one another and sometimes at the teacher
himself, and all the various arts OF fun and
mischief which boys well know how 10
practice would be silently carried on so as
not TO wake up the schoolmaster. A boy
would tear small piece OF cloth from his
jacket, wrap It around his hnger. steai
quietly to the fireplace, and rub 1t in the
charcoal. and then softly walk up 10 the
schoolmaster and smut his nose. his fore
head, and his cheeks: or another would do
a sum on his slate, carry 1t up to him put
the slate close before his face, drawing 1t
back and putting il nearer, TO suit the back
ward and forward motion of the sleeper's
head, until finally little jerk would bring
his nose in contact with the slate and wake
HIM up. The teachers first exclamation
before he was really awake was usually,
"Silence. Robert |" and the boy standing
before him, who was Robert himself, would
reply. Mr.. b.. it amt me! Here's
SUMS it right?" My readers may
imagine what the other boys were doing
while this was going on. II often ended
IN some half dozen Of us or more getting
O sound tbrashing. but we didn't mind
that. We had prepared for it. In the morn
ing before we came into school we had
gone out into the woods and gathered
q good many leaves. and then we took Oh
our Jackets or coats and on the inside or
them sewed or pinned thick lager OF the
leaves to prevent being hurt by the ex-
pected whipping. After awhile, however,
our teacher found out our ruse and he
changed his tactics. and instead of whip
ping us over the shoulders and back he be-
gan TO whip us on our naked legs and feet,
which did hurt exceedingly and restrained
us to considerable extent from the
further prosecution of our mischief.
STANDING on ONE LIMB.
have seen schoomaster make bare
footed boy stand upon "A table on one leg.
with his hands stretched out nj full length.
holding IN each one of them q slate, on
which was placed some heavy books, and
ordered to remain in that position until he
was released. and threatened If he did not
with whipping. The boy had 70 balance
himself well TO keep from falling, and 20
heighten his difficulty usually some
little urchin sat AT his feet with pin IN
his hand TO stick in his uplifted foot If
he rested it on the table. IL frequently
happened that the culprit boy. watching
his opportunity. when the little fellow was
making feints to stick his foot. would kick
him on the side of the head, and down
would come table, slate. books boy, and
all fiat upon the floor. Imagine. what a
rumpus that would produce and bow the
other boys would be affected by such ca
tastrophe. and also imagine the state of
mind of the teacher at this contempt of
his authority and the severe castigatlons
which would inevitably follow.
PUTTING LEAVES IN THE MOUTH.
Ihave seen schOolmaster call up boy
for talking in school, send another out to
bring him bundle Of MULLEN leaves, and
then make the boy open his mouth wide
and lie would stuff it chock-full of the
leaves and then take his ruler and ram
them down so as TO make it impossible for
the boy to use his tongue and let them re-
main there until he thought proper to
have them removed; and have seen him
take those same leaves out of the boys
mouth and attempt 10 ram them
down the throat of another boy,
who successfully resisted 1t, and the
schoolmaster exclaiming, "Oh, you have
Virginia pluck in you. have your" would
take the boy and throw him fiat on the
floor and order him TO remain still, under
penalty of hogging if he stirred. And
they would make the boy hold
his hand out, palm upward, and then catch
hold of il by the fingers and bend them
back. and then paddle the open palm until
it was blue with a ruler. Imagine the pain.
And they had punishment which was
called "horsing the boys" A large boy
was ordered to get down on all tours. The
boy to be punished was put upon his back
and his legs and arms were fastened around
the body of the large boy, and while he lay
helpless in that condition the teacher
would paddle him to his hearts content
with wide leather strap or ruler.
THE OLD AND THE NEW WAY.
Truly the road to learning in the olden
DAYS was rough. tborny one, and yet |
know of many who pushed their way sue
cessfully through all its difficulties and be-
came in after life distinguished preachers.
lawyers, doctors. aud intelligent, good citi-
zens. How different it is now. Elegant
school-houses. learned teachers, multi
plicity of books, all greet the school-boy
every day. Flowers are strewn around his
way. Moral suason is the only discipline
he endures, strengthened by merit and
If the boys were whipped
now there would sure to be a row
among their mothers. They would
certainly denounce the teacher and appeal
to the the School Board. Taylor Ellyson
and TAYLOR Stratton would make speeches
on the boys side, and Colonel Cary, who Is
IN old teacher and knows how 1t is him.
self" would finally favor the boys. and the
Door teacher would get a slight reprlmand.
The mothers and the boys and girls are n
power in this land. am glad it is 50, and
you may count me always on their side. |
hope he BOYS and girls will realize the
favorable circumstances by which they are
and that they will so use
them as to become fully equipped to act
well in every contingency of life which
they may hereafter be called upon to
meet. Il. ID. W.
A Nuisance That Ought to BE Abated.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
II is an almost universal practice for ne
groes to sweep the sidewalk on Main street
and other leading thoroughfares without
first sprinkling them about the hours that
our citizens are vending their way to their
places of business. In dry. hot weather it
IS extremely disagreeable to be covered
with dust, when it might be avoided with
so little circumspection and trouble.
The clean wearing apparel one dons in
the morning and the cleansing. cooling
ablutions which are indispensable to
make one feel comfortable and look re-
spectacle, are all swept away in moment
by this barbarous and unnecessary prac-
Lice.
If there is no sprinkler to be had conve-
e