The Newtown bee., 1892-02-12

the fashion for a young lady to have a solid education and be as nearly as possi- ble on an equality with men; but, when I was young, as far as my observation extended, we only studied to keep up with each other in the classes and have our reports all right, forgetting what we learned as fast as possible.
 For instance, I was considered very quick at learning and had been through a whole course of study, at IA years of age. Going to another school, was put superficially through some higher branches and the same at another Lan- guages also. Not a girl l knew could converse decently in French. Had no experience in that; but could translate and read correctly. At 16, had been through every study usually taught, with the exception of Euclid and chemis- try, but, at the same time, had no solid, practical knowledge of English gram mar and rhetoric. As said before, we learned our lessons, that was about all. Everything nowadays is taught on a different plan, as you know.''
 "But, Aunt Becky, did you have any scrapes in your schools?'
 ''Oh, la, yes, lots of them of course. Girls will be girls. I remember at one school, there were four of us roomed to- gether. Two of those girls were up to anything. One day, some one sent us a basket of strawberries, so it was voted we should have supper. We managed to get two dozen hard boiled eggs, some pickles and dried herrings, but bread and milk we must have. It was dark and after hours, but, getting permission from an under teacher, we stal ted for the village, over quarter of mile away. A poor woman let us have small kettle of milk, spoons and bowls, we managed to buy half loaf at another place and get safely back to college. We had our supper and two of those girls ate six hard boiled eggs apiece, besides their share of the other things and in conse- quence, were sick in bed, the next day and had the doctor. But, if you'll be- lieve me, not one of those girls would help carry the brass kettle, bowls and spoons back and they lay hidden under the bed for weeks, till the woman's hus- band threatened us with the faculty and then we managed to get them back some way. n.
 1 believe 1 will tell you of one scrape that came near being a very serious one for us. Our room was badly infested with mice. We would find them some times drowned in the wash bowl. There were droves of them. Every night, they were, actually and truly, girls, in the straw beds under us, digging out the straw, besides running over us all night. We finally bought a trap and caught 10, one evening. Suddenly Nina said, q say, girls, let's go into mourning for these mice; wear some badges just tor the fun of it." Of course, no sooner said than done. We found some black ribbon, made us each large rosette with streamers three quarters of a yard long. for the left arm and, the next morning, marched gravely two and two down the great dining hall to our seats, which were near the lower end. It was always trial for me to go to my meals. Imagine an immensely long room, the largest by far l ever saw even at Sara toga, with 8 row of tables on each side, each table seating about 12, leaving a broad space through the center as much as dozen or 15 feet wide. There were, 1 believe, about 700 students and, if so, that room would seat thousand. To go back to the rosettes. Every one looked, wondered and whispered, but we kept our own counsel, while all sorts of stories flew through the college till they reached the faculty.
 After two days, we put in one white streamer and white loops in the rosettes, making the badges still more conspicu- ous. That was for half mourning.
 In the mean time, our reverend and grave professors held faculty meeting. Our names were brought up and it was decided that we were guilty of grave dis respect to the faculty by wearing those badges.
 A friendly girl came and told us that she had learned that, unless we called on the principal with apologies and ex- plantations, we would be expelled. We were mortified at the result of our foolish freak, but we trouped down to the prin- cipais parlor, the girls insisting that 1 must be the speaker. We knocked, were solemnly ushered in and bidden to be caatad An f,,l oe ments. Finally I said, Professor, we understand our names have been up be- fore the faculty and, as we are not aware of having done anything wrong, we thought we would come and inquire what it meant.'' +~:
 Another painful silence and then: ''Young ladies, why have you worn those badges?''
 The others still keeping silence, I gave a light laugh, saying; "Why, professor, we killed 10 mice one night and, for the fun Of it. thought we would go into for them, that is all.''
 That was a poser. He hardly knew whether to believe me or not, but I look ed as innocent as dove and, really, as had pretty fair record, he could say nothing, so he contented himself with giving us little lecture and ordering us 'o ''take off those things,' which we did md were dismissed feeling we had had ! narrow escape.
 Of course the story leaked out and we lad to bear some ehaffing. One morning, 'n opening our door, we found a string of mice hanging to the knob. Then we received note from some young gentle nen gravely advising us to lie on our