The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-15
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1891.
THEY SAID SCHOOL BUTTER"
This simple Phrase in the Tennessee
Mountains Produced Strange Results.

This simple Phrase in tho Tennessee
Mountains Produced Strange Results
The people who live in the thinly
settled parts of the Blue Ridge mount
aims Of western North Carolina aud
east Tennessee are perhaps rs PRINT
tive as auv in tie union though pos
sessed of remarkable pluck. courage
and withal keen sensitI-eness, says
The \. Y. World Many of them can
neither read nor write. dozens have
never seen a railroad. and scores have
lived and died without setting foot out
side the limits of their native counties
But they can all shoot u riie-lhat Is.
the men-and their wives can caro-,
spin and weave wool. The race IS
strong, hardy one, and the adventure
of two Young soutnernerS when loi-
lows will show The kind OF pupils
which "A school has when once 1t may
he started in one of these decidedly
rural districts.
The two BOYS were returning from
camping trip OF two weeks III the
mountains 10 their homes IN upper
South Carolina when the experience
was encountered. They were travel
ing in Il one-horsc wagon OF the ordi-
nary farm variety and carried two
guns-one a Remington rifle OF small
calibcr and the other a single-barrel
breech-loading shotgun. 1t was III
the month of August. which to the
farmers of that mountainous country
is the dullest part Of the year, and 1t IS
in this month that the schools, when
there are any. are in full blast.
10 nj N
along smoking and enjoying the ride
when they passed 4 schoolhouse setting
back from the road in a grove OF
Young oak and chestnut trees. They
knew from its appearance that 1t was a
school, though tn building was con-
structed much like rude church, be-
ing made of unplaned pine planks.
1t must be said here that there is a
saving in certain parts of the south
which, though unintelligible aud SEEM
inelv nonsensical, will always put a
schoolbov on his mettlc to uphold the
honor of his teacher and himself. 1t
is school butter" and when one
shouts out the two mystic words IN
passing school he must prepare to
make himself scarce. Naturally in the
mountains, where the people are
rough, the punishment TO the offender
when caught is not confined to bump
ing" or padding" as in town. but he
is apt to. be severely handled-some-
times even manned for life
The boys knew something of this,
but lhoughtlessly gave the shout OF
defiance. The answer WIS not long IN
coming, aud cold chill ran down the
backs of the boys as they saw the
crowd. which almost ut once began &c
pour from the building. To whip VI
the lazy mule was out of the question
and half-dozen wild schemes were
presented To their minds for escape.
But they were futile, for the half-huu
dred men and boys who were coming
for the wagon on a run meant busi'
ness The leader was the teacher him
self in an exceedingly simple garb
consisting of blue pair of jear
trousers and white shirt made o
heavy shccting. He was a six-footer
every inch Of it, and was minus coat
hat and shoes. His pupils rangeC
down from men of about 30 to boys o
Il, and as they came like the charg,
of the light brigade they gathered
stones and sticks for the coming fray
When within 100 feet of the Wagon
ii suddenly stopped. and the two occu
pants picked up their guns and facet
the crowd. The pursuers stopped anl
gared sullenly at the weapons.
What do you want?" said one o
the boys in the wagon.
Did you uns boiler school butter
at us?' was the reply from the leader
The conversation, which was Ions
and evidently cautious on both sides
need not be detailed, as the boys made
Il kind Of apology which the mountain
GERS were forced 10 accept on accoun
of the guns. They turned slowly bacl
and soon filed into school with many
angry chances.
That was n close call. !" said one O
the bows. rs he pu led tie iron clean
ing-rod from the muzzlc of the rifle
where it had been all The time.
Yes said the other rs he openp,
his shotgun at the breech and looked
through the barrel. The cartridge
We're soon rescued from bag in til,
back part of the wagon beneath tn,
baggage
Had the mountainecrs known tn,
guns We're unloaded they would doubt
less have beaten the owners into inscn
sibility.