The Portland daily press., 1891-05-09
WHEN WE WERE BOYS.
Is4o-Is5o.
(No. %

Is4o-l85o.
(No. 81
To the Editor of the Press:
After graduating from a schOol.mistress,
the first schoolmaster with whom attended
school was Master Jones. The school house
was located at the same place on Congress
street just above India, where the new one
now stands. Master Jones was rather a
young man to have charge Of such a hard
set of boys, as some OF those boys were
twenty to twenty-f five years old, having per-
haps been at sea all their lives and just CON-
menced to attend school. He was very tall
fine looking man, straight as an arrow. and
was not inclined to use the cowhide much
but when he deemed the occasion demanded
1t, he made 1t fly. In those days we had no
truant officer, and If the teacher mistrusted
that some of the scholars were playing
truant, he would send note at once to the
boys parents and the truth would come out;
then woe to the boy the next time that he
put in an appearance at school. One boy,
stout strapping fellow used to be absent
himself when he pleased, and when called
upon after his return to school would walk
up front of the Masters desk, off with his
coat and take flogging across his shoulders
without flinchihg. and walk back to his seat
with smile on his face, while the other
boys who had received the same treatment
did not appear to be so happy over it. But
at last the secret leaked out, and
Master Jones caught on to 1t, that this boy
packed whole salt fish that was Just the
right size, on his back between linen and
wooden shirt that he wore. The next time
he came to school that way after playing
''hookey." Master Jones piled him pretty
well with the cowhide about his legs, caus-
ing him to jump round in very lively man
ner, and then suddenly took the heavy butt
or handle and laid it over his shoulders with
all the vigor at his command; this broke the
fish all up, and the boy began 10 yell as the
sharp bones found their way into his flesh.
and he sang out, "Ohl OIL murder-mur-
der you are breaking the bones" "What
bones?n said Master Jones In apparent sur
prise; "the fish bones" replied the boy. He
trouncing finished ups in due style before
the whole school, but the habit was cured.
He never played truant afterward, --....se
Once IN year we had whss o,hecS cnnId
be Accommodated, when the scholars were
called upon to give examples of the three
RS, ana recite selections. | recollect OF
decorated high With patfH5 gR f Siae r Ps1g
about yard long tied around his right arm,
and gave to the audience "Casiablanca." AS
on, and 'They wrapped the ship In tender
flames-They caught the flag ON high" each
boy had been taught to suit the action to the
words, and the way the arms went up the
arms went up and the blue ribbon few round
was a caution to the old folks present and
brought down great applause
Changing residence to the West end of the
city, brought me to the school Of
MASTER JACKSON.
This schoolhouse was situated on Spring
street, near Oak and still remains there,
although it has been remodeled in late years
Master jackson was In truth a schoolmaster
in every sense of the word. Poor excuses
did not work with him; you must toe the
mark whether it was about your lessons, be-
ing late at school, or breaking any Of the
rules of the school. The first or second time
you would get off quite easily, but after that,
woe to the delinquent who fell into his
hands. he was a large broad shouldered
heavy built man, but very strong and spry
on his feet as many of US found out when
Whisper ing across the aisle with some Of the
boys, when whack would come down that
cowhide with such crack that 1t made us
good boys for at least two or three weeks
afterward. He was very powerful mao,
and have seen him more than once reach
down suddenly and take by the seat OF his
| pants common size boy, say from fourteen
| to sixteen years old, and instantly hold him
| out at arms length and lay on the hide
| where he pleased, the boys arms and legs
| flying about in all directions. But such was
| his control and command over the scholars
| that it was a noted fact, that the pupils in
| his school progressed about twice as fast as
they did elsewhere.
School houses were heated In those days
by large cast iron box stove set up some
two feet from the floor, but when
| the weather was very cold, the stove did not
/ seem to warm up as much. A favorite
scheme of Master jackson would be to order
| every boy In school to close up his hook and
place 1t in his desk; that being done, every
one was told to step out in the aisle, when
that order was obeyed he would say, Now
want to see who can jump up and down the
longest, stamp the hardest and make the
most noise without stopping, and now COM
mence." Such noise? and such racket
But the warming np that we received by
putting the blood in circulation, would last
us probably until school was dismissed.
AT the time that l attended school with
Master jackson, John g. Hayes Kept hat
and fur store in Market Square, and the
same line of business is still carried on at the
| spot, under the name OF John q. Hayes q
| Co. Mr.. Hayes had for many years large
stuffed bear skin put on rollers, which was
placed out on the side walk every day. A
Il X
committee appointed to go to the store after
dark and "borrOw" the bear to have soml
fun. l do not suppose that was one Of thu
boys, because was good boy and did no
play any Of those tricks unless had goo(
chance. However, be that as 1t may, tina
: night the bear disappeared from the stor
| and passed the night in an alley way in tn
| rear of the school house. The next morning.
i | after the school master and most of tn
scholars had passed in, the bear wa
, / fDlaand in tho and St0u
cod line attached to him Will
, some boy made his way up one of the aisles
D | dropping the line on the floor as he wen
3 along unobserved by the master; being he
> Soon the bear began to walk into the schoC
: by degrees, and had progressed into th
0 | school room some ten feet when the laughte
Q and shouts Of the boys who were not In II
!, drew the attention Of master jackson to th
r bear. Instantly all was commotion. III
o bear was ordered removed to the entry. II
: door closed, books all put away and an II
r | vestlgation began; result: about twent
i boys received good taste Of the cowhid
J. and what was still worse, after school WI
q over that morning, all boys interested we
+ obliged to take hold Of the rope and drag y
d bear down through Congress street to NJ
Hayes store, and each one beg M
Hayes pardon; Master Jackson lea
H.. ing on with his majestic step, al
gang Of boys hs shouting S"ni ,o and Psa h0 lag
IS the rope were not quite so happy or full
n fun as they were the night before, when ca
: turing the bear; know l can speak for o.
% who was willing to be forgiven. The plig
10 that I'VE boys" found ourselves in at tn
Is time, reminds me, at this later day, of I
q epitaph that was found on tombstone doy
70 South few years ago.
ID Here the body of Mary Ann rests,
id With her head on Abraham's breast;
It's very good thing for Mary Ann,
But its very hard lines for Abraham.
= The boys who were outside and enjoyi
= : the fan appeared to think it was a very 60
., thing, but those inside the ring thought
"a very hard lines.
n Master Jackson though stern, was Low,
- respected and esteemed by all who ca
rs under his tuition. AS time passed on,
10 graduated into the High school then local
az at the corner Of Oak and Spring stree
go under the charge Of
"a MASTER LIBBY.
re About the time that l entered the Ill
III