The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-08

Duette. mir. Ashworth and Miss Pratt
The banquet room, at the beginning, had
been darkened and Mr.. Stewart was
brought in. Suddenly the lights were
turned on and the music began. Professor
David Il. Allen then made speech Of vel
come and Mr.. Stewart replied in q thank
full, hearty manner.
In speaking to his toast Mr.. Collins made
an address brimful of wit, all his remarks
being to the point that, although SCHOOL
marms" may be deficient in other house
keeping accomplishments, they know how
to bring up children and to make smart
men and women of them.
Mr.. Brinton, in response to 1.-THE Trials
of Country School Teacher" gave some
of his own experiences, provoking much
laughter by his humorous manner Of relat-
ing them.
DIR. Park made very brief remarks, but
paid Mr.. Stewart compliment in the
course of them.
The music was of the most excellent
character, Miss Pratt and Miss Snyder
fairly SURPRISING themselves, and the reci-
tation OF Mrs. Colbrook was very good
piece of emotional work.
Mr.. Ashworths response was a perfect
bon ms and we glve0it in full:
To contrast the schools Of to-day with those
OF the past IS no easy task. In referring to the
past shall do so as carefully as possible, lest
my words awaken unpleasant recollections-
We are told that the past is all dream. TO
some OF us it is horrible nightmare; our
school day reoollectons are not all sunshine.
Utah in her childhood could not demand
everything she wanted. and as teachers did not
labor for love IN those days, they were scarce
article. Occasionally, however, some humanity
loving professor could be induced to teach and
take his pay in vegetables; but We all know
that the average school teacher does not thrive
well on pumpkins and corn, especially if he has
TO shell the corn. Cons eqUe1t Y the places were
hlled with farmers, who grrnbled about the
water and disagreeable persons who were
placed there to practice patience or to get rid
of their society.
The principal qualifications of teacher
in those days were well developed biceps,
long finger nails, square toed shoes and the
ability TO hold spelling book right side up
Saving wood and sweeping out the school
room were the chief exercises. Friday
afternoon the parents were invited to hear
| their children speak pieces and sing the
multiplication table or to witness spell
ing match.
| These Friday exercises were rather irk-
some to some of the pupils as they were
obliged to wear suspenders and to button
| their shoes on such occasions. 1t was
customary in those days for all those tax
| ing part to make a bow before proceeding
| if this was not properly done, the in
| structor would have the bow repeated.
pupils, and was encouraged by the trus-
tees. The discipline was excellent; a per
| son entering the school room could in
stantly detect look of submission on the
! faces OF all present except the professor,
whose countenance fell only when the trus-
| tees visited the school, and as this only &C.
Cured about once in three years, he man
aged to keep his nerves pretty steady, and
melted out justice to all.
ii1 "a A.
taste of the professor and the capacity of
the building. When room was scarce
pupils were placed back to back, and to
make this as comfortable as possible, tha
| backs OF the benches were generally left Off
| The bench was usually made of slabs with
the bark removed.
| The principal sat at the head of the room
with his ruler in his hand for, although the
district, in most cases, was too poor to buy
! him bell, they always furnished him with
| hard wood or gutta percha ruler, for
which the pupils were very thankful. The
lady teachers generally used their finger
/ nails or the fiat OF their hands, but some OF
them could use ruler and | am informed,
on the authority of Professor Toronto, that
one lady teacher used birch fishpoie.
This lady seated herself in the center OF
the room on revolving stool, and the
children took position in circle around
/
large girls. Any boy chewing gum re-
ceived number Of raps in the teeth with
the teachers ruler. If the offence was
committed by female the penalty was tc
kiss the schoolmaster. The boys claimed
that this was the only offence committed
oy the girls that was severely dealt with
For hardness, the schoolmam, (beine
unable to resist warm dinner) usually
locked her pupils in at noon while she wen
n fhrNx univ -,
the teacher, the students were referred Il
their parents. For throwing sulphur
on the stove or for pushing dowr
q stove pipe to force holiday. the pupi
was hanged by his thumbs to nails in the
wall. Before proceeding with the morn
ing's exercises the instructor in the sum
Iner, gave lecture on tight lacing or th,
evil effects produced by eating locus
blossoms. This was followed by a story
telling how the teachers little sister hat
died from the effects Of eating those things
In the winter the lecture was changed Il
snow balling and a story was told how The
professors brother had been struck by al
iced snow ball and his mental facultie.
impaired for life. Such was the school oil
the past when boys went to school will
marbles in their pockets, and warts or
their hands; and their sisters followed then
with brass kettle full Of biscuits anC
nlolasses, for their and their brothers
dinner.
All is changed. The pupil of to-day
enters the school grounds with his peck g
full of chips, but Of another kind. He il
preceded by his sister who carries look
ing glass and bottle of scent. The pro
lessor instead of a scowl has smile OF
his face that reminds you of the picture
OF the boy that used Pears soap. Tn,
children look upon him with as littl,
fear as they do upon their grandmothers
When he rings the bell, they all take
drink, and they are so familiar with him tina
they take no offense ii he rings the bell
dozen times and severeiyohastizest them witt
his tongue, and when he tells his little stor,
in the morning, about the cruel teachers
he went to school to, to show how littl,
they fear him the pupils will sometime
venture to pin piece of paper to his Goa
tail or will throw an apple core at him
The teacher of to-day is not world,
minded, Of course; he has to eat and live
but money is no object to him. Love is tn
principal trait in his character. School i
to him what dew is to the flower. AS sun
shine falls on the little plant and causes /
to open its little eye, so his word falls Oh
the ears of the little child and causes it t
open its mouth and yawn.
The lady teacher of to-day is model o