Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-31
"Yesl yesl hurrah for Gordonp'
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XIII
| THE COURSE OF OBSERVANCE OF
| SUNDAY-SNOW-B ALLING DONOVAN AND
| BRIAN--IETENsE COLD--THE QUESTION OF
| FUEL--EXCURsION TO THE TRAP WOODS
| VISIT TO SLOUGH BAY-sEALS AND PEN
| GUMS.
The winter season had fairly set IN by
the last of May on Chairman Island, and
was sure TO last at least five months-it
the island was south Of New Zealand, aa
the boys had good reason to believe. 1t
was more than probable, therefore, that
| the young colonsts would be confined in
| the French Cave until early in OctoI"
| without being able to make any long ex
cur5ion to other points on the island; Sc
! Gordon very wisely set about preparing 0
| list OF daily tasks for each and every mem
Der of the little colony.
| The institution of tagging, which there
| hal once been some talk of Introducing
! into the Chairman School, was regarded
! with even less favor on the island of that
| name, for GordOn's every effort tended tC
| acCustom these lads to the idea that they
were almost mon in order to induce them
TO net like men. Consequently there were
no fags in the French Den; thHt is to say
| the younger lads were not compelled tC
| wall upon the Older ones; bat in all 9th o.
respects the customs of English schools in
general were faithfully observed. Indeed
! far from expressing the smaller lads with
tnsls beyond their years, they were urged
| to embrace every opportunity to develop
their bodies as well as their minds. When
| the weather permitted they were even
compelled to run about in the omen mir
| ana 10 engage III manual labor suited 10
| their strength
| In short, the order of their daily life was
| founded upon these prtncipics-the basis
of Anglo Saxon education!
Whenever you dread II thing, do it,"
"Neyer lose an opportunity to make any
| practicable effort"
"Scorn fatigue, for nothing worth
achieving can he achieved without it,"
| In carrying these precepts into practice
the body becomes sturdy, and the mind
also.
The plan which was submitted to the
| approval or the little colony, and subse'
| 'quently adopted was rs follows
Two hours of every morning and after.
noon were to be spent in study In the hall.
| Brian, Donovan, Cross, and Baxter of the
| Fifth Division, and Wilcox and Webb OF
! the Fourth, acting in turn, rs teachers to
| their comrades of the Third, Second and
| First Divisions; instructing them in
mathematics, geography, and history, with
| the aid of the books In the library, and
the knowledge they had previously acs
qurod. This would prevent the older
boys from forgetting what they already
knew, and thus be of great advantage, In
addition to this, twice week-on Sunday
| and Thursday-thore was to be discus
sion upon some subject in science, history,
or in everyday life, in which all were to
! take part.
Gordon, as governor of the colony, was
! to see that this programme was faithfully
carried out; subject, of course, to such
notifications as circumstances might de-
mand.
One of the most important duties to be
performed was the measurement of the
time They had the calendar of the
"Sioughi," aud each day, rs it passed,
Must br carefully rtlaced from 1t. They
| also had several watches and clocks, and
these must be regularly and carefully
| wound, in order to keep the exact time.
Two OF the larger boys Wilcox and BaX.
ter--werc ntrusted with these tasks, while
the record of tire daily indications of the
! Thermometer and barometer was intrusted
to Webb.
The necessity and expedeucy of keeping
q daily record OF all that occurred during
their stay on the island being also appar-
ent to everyone, Baxter offered to perform
this duty; and thanks to him, the journal
OF the French Cave was sure to prove both
reliable aud interesting.
| A no less important task was the wash
ing for which soap was not lacking, very
| fortunately. for the little fellows got their
| clothes terribly dirty, IN spite of Gordon's
warnings, when they played out-of-doors,
| or tished from the river bank. How often
| they were scolded aud even threatened
with punishment on this account 1t was
consequently too great task for Moko,
though he understood the process perfect
| ly, and In spite of their distaste for the
work, the larger boys were obliged to as
slst him in order TO keep the family cloth
ing in presentable condition.
Tho following day was Sunday, and
everyone knows how vigorously Sundays
are observed in England aud America.
Life 49, as it were, suspended alike in
cities, towns, and villages Upon that
| NdN aAl hiNNiHlbh GIN dliAhNtllChbH NAN
strictly forbidden by custom One must
not only feel bored, but have the appear
auce of being SO, and this rule il as strict.
" enforced upon children as upon older
persons.
Upon the island, however, it was deoid.
! ed that rather more freedom should be
| allowed, and ON this particular day the
! youthful colousts were even allowed to
make an excursion along the borders OF
the lake; but rs the weather was very
cold, after a two hours walk followed by
race in which the small boys took part.
they all were glad to return TO the French
Cave, where they found u hot dinner
awaiting them,
Then came 4 concert. in which Garuett' i
accordion took the place OF An orchestra,
while tho Others sung more or less out OF
tune, with TRUE SaNoa yigor. The only
member Of the party with really fine
voice WAS jack; but in his present de
pressed state 81 mind he rarely took part
Ia his comrades diversions and III spite
Of their ,ntreaties refused to give then
one Of the songs oG which he Ind been st