Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-17
THE "DEEsTRICT sKUIE.D
It Holds session at New Castle an

II hoids Session at New Castle and
Proves a Great Attraction.
Special correspondence of Gazette and journal
New CASTLE, March 12.-The "Deestrict
School" was given at the Opera House last
night before an appreciative audience of
700 persons. The affair was pronounced
success from beginning to end and it may
be said it scored decided hit here, The
characters were all well-known people and
this, with the old time costumes worn,
made them the more amusing. Among
those who took prominent parts were
George W. Eckles Councilmen Dennison
and Frazer, s. Atwood Stward, Eiwood L..
Wilson, James w. Wise, Jr., Clerk of
Council Jemison. Joseph Il. yantine,
Joseph Hickman. Alexander Biggs, Lewis
IL. Hushebeck, ex-Postmaster j. b. Man
love. William =. Rothwell, B. Frank
Blackburn, Policeman Williams, James
/. Cannon, Principal of Public Schools d.
u. Jones, William Matthews, Andrew j..
Brown, and Mrs. j. Is. Manlove. Mrs.
Thomas Frazer, Misses Bessie Sewell and
Jennie Saunders. Mrs. II. A. Dennison
and Mrs. James C. Jemison.
The exercises opened with the singing of
.rwenty Years Ago. by the Rev. MIR.
Martindale. Then the curtain rose on the
children, vending their way towards the
deestrict skule. Mr.. Eckles as Professor
Swackhammer," with an appropriate cos
tune, appeared and rung the bell. The
scholars, numbering about 40. came thun-
dering in, making the usual confusion, the
boys" falling over benches, chairs and
other obstacles that caught in their big
feet. When the professor had succeeded
in preserving order he called the roll of
the "skule." notwithstanding the Interrupt
tons Of several of his bad pupils. The
Infant class" which was composed of
be heard In lesson. Il brought
out roars of laughter Other classes
heard were the reading, spelling,
composition, geography, &c, At the noon
hour the scholars spread their lunch on
the stage. and .partook of their midday
meal amidst the widest confusion. The
boys played leap frog, marbles, &C., while
the girls amused themselves by jumping
rope, When Professor Swackhammer
called the ''skule'' to order for the after
noon. Mr.. Vantine as George Washing
ton Simpkins," Mr.. Hickman, "Nichode-
mus Smallboy" and MIR. Wilson as
fist-fght right in the school, for which they
were. severely thrashed with CAD i'm the
hands of the professor. Mr.. Hushebeck
as Johnnie Morning-glory, always
missed his lessons and had to sit in the
Ounce chair and wear the customary cap.
AT last the school board visited the school
and the professor was disappointed because
~ eSnoiuis uiu tleir worst instead OF
their best before the commissioners of the
school. Mrs. Simpkins," the mother of
George Washington" came to school
and gave the teacher a piece of her mind
because George was punished. The board
censured the teacher for the bad condition
OF his school and told him before the
scholars that his services would no longer
be required. This moved them all to tears,
and the weeping only ceased when the
closing song, Aud Lang Syne,n was rem
dered.
The Rev. N. NJ. Browne and 80 other
people from Middletown, besides 25 Will
mingtonians, were present.