The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-17

depravod that moral suaslon could not
reach them. on the whole. this hope was
Justified by events. The example of New
York city was soon afterwarl followed
by the State. No one can say that the
sparing of the rod has been followed by
any noticeable spelling of the children.
ON the contrary, the gentler methods Of
the present have developed a more salts
factory discipline than the brutalities OF
the past
Nevertheless, even IN the United States.
the rod still fingers I'm retroactive COM
munities-especia in those communities
where English blood predominates. In
rural New England girls as well as boys
have 10 submit 10 this moral tonic. Even
the servant maid ls not exempt.
There are certain districts in COnnec-
ticut where a special day rs known as
settling day. All the young people are
summoned TO barn or garnet and made
TO eXplate past transgressions with
shingle or other instrument of vengeance.
Then they. have nothing TO fear until next
settling day comes around.
Custom, indeed al scountenances 70 In the
cities, but IL fiourshes apace in the in-
terror. AT the present moment a good
deal Of public attention has been directed
TO the matter The agitation arose from
the fact that an aggressive and progress
siVe teacher near Bangor, Me- had called
I'm 10 his aid the latest Improvements in
electrical science. lie had invented
sort of galvanic battery which inflicted
q graded number OF shocks upon Offend
ers 1t was more awesOme than the rod
though, in fact. not half so painful. But
il was thought that it might he danger
GUS 20 offenders who sufferd from any
affection of the heart. The Outcry against
Il brought up once more the entire ques-
ton OF corporal punishment.
In the town Of Carol there has long
been discomfort against the methods Of
the local school teacher. The school was
one OF those rough ones, attended by boys
who had almost reached manhood and who
loved nothing better than 20 do the
teacher" Most Of the teachers had. in
fact. been effectively done IN a very short
time after their arrival. At last a mus
cular man came along. He did not parley
with an offender; he simply dealt him
smasher under the ear and pitched him
bodily out OF the window. Though he
kept more orderly school than had
hitherto been known IN that section, he
had 20 yield 70 popular clamor and retire,
after having reduced our burly pupil 10
a cOmatOse condition.
\ Herald correspondent, I'm an inter-
view with prominent member OF the
that In most Of the schools below the
grade OF the High School corporal punish-~
ment Is still inflicted, the severity OF the
correction varying with the disposition
OF the teacher and his physical ability.
Abuses have been reported recently. but
the matter has been hushed up as much
"a possyl The eduCator referred 10
said that the intention OF the authorities
is TO discourage corporal punishment as
much as possible as something that
should be used only in the last resort
In Bangor corporal punishment r. not
know In the high schools. but In the lower
grades II is inflicted when necessary. A
case was reported few days ago from
Guilford, where a pupil after a particu-
larly aggravating offence was made 10
squat on the floor with broomstick I'M
der his knees and his hands clasped in
front OF his legs until his cramped POSI-
ton became intolerable. This caused u
mutiny In the school and great excite
rient in the neighborhood. AS result
the teacher was dismissed and the boys
took revenge on him by pummelling him
when he left 10 take the train. Tnere