Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-11
sketch.


amusing incident which related how
some school-boys played practical
joke on their teacher by all speaking
the same piece in one evening. Some
thing similar and quite as amusing
occurred not a thousand miles from
here, and which was related to me
by one Of the participants.
Said he: Ours was pretty full
country school, composed equally of
boys and girls. Our teacher was
good one, a mild-mannered, quiet,
unobtrusive gentleman. So much so
that the boys called him a "sucker"
and determined to play a practical
joke on him that would show him of
what metal they were made, little
dreaming that the small blows of
their hammers would develop the
tried and hardened steel of his ma
ture.
1t was our custom to have literary
exercises every Friday evening, when
the patrons and dignitaries of the
school gathered ito hear and applaud
u.s. Friday evening had come, and
they were all there. The girls and
smaller boys had read their letters
and compositions, and all were wait
ing expectant for the five larger boys,
who were to make the speeches of
the evening. The teacher, looking
soft and mild and bland, as usual
was sitting in front on raised dais,
with a look Of pride of his school on
his quiet, beaming face. The first
boy came to the front and made that
speech wherein Belisarius-I believe
it was he, am somewhat off in my
history now-addressed the assem-
bled council and declared in fierce
and burning words that his "voice
was still for war" He spoke his
piece we'll and sat down with the APP
proving smile of bis teacher and the
plaudits Of his comrades.
The next boy came, and his voice
was also still for war. The teacher
ooked astonished, but thought it a
coincidence; but when a third boy
also had a voice also for war, it oc-
cured to him that Belisarius was
having too much influence over his
school, and that there were too many
voices for war. His eyes flashed, his
cheeks flushed and we saw a storm
was brewing. He called one Of the
smaller boys to him, whispered in his
ear and sent him out. The fourth
boy came to the front. He was scared,
but his voice-What little he had
was for war also, but it was a feeble
Belisarius who declared for war now,
and he soon shambled through and
sat down amid a silence that was
painful, for there sat before us not
the mild and modest perceptor OF
yore, but Nemesis enthroned. The
boy who had been sent out came in
with a bunch of switches and laid
them down by the masters seat.
Said the teacher: cit seems there
are altogether too many voices here
for war; ] am sitting here with the
power to declare war at will | have
all the implements of the trade con-
venient, and the next boy who has a
voice still for war shall be accommo-
dated. Next proceed" Holy Mo
SEES! What should / do, for / was
next. looked around and saw pal
lid faces on every side and in front
the stern and determined eye of the
master lighted up with fire
that porteDded no good to me.
Even at thus distance of time my
nerves tremble and my hair stands
on end at a contemplation of the
situation. 1t is useless, under the
circumstances, to say had no voice
Or war, bur | must have voice for
something. came to the front, and
the boys do say made a speech that
rang in their ears for many a day.
/ remember few sentences even
now.
Said /: "My voice is for peace, /"
peace at all hazard; a peace that sur.
passes all understanding. 1t is said
that peace hath her victories no less
renowned than war and l hope so.
War is destructive TO all the interests
of country. 1t destroys its COM
merce and industry, ravages its cities
aud makes widows and orphans,
whose voices are the voice of lamen
tation for husbands and sons who
come no more but peace, blessed
peace, comes upon land like the
welcome dews of the morning, every
thing revives under its touch, I'M
til the fields that, erstwhile, shook
under the tramp OF marching thous-
ands and the thunders of hostile can
mons are quiet, and blooming with
all the fragrance of peaceful life.
The ordeal was over, the master
greeted me with smile and a kindly
shake of the head as he said "The
school is now dismissed, but the
young gentlemen who had such ar.
dent and united voices for war must