The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-03-05
"ouR PUBLIC SCHOOLS"

"oUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS"
(Responce by G. Egbert Coons.I {.
Mr.. ToAsTMAsTER AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE CONTROVERSIAL CLUB:
1t is my pleasure tonight to respond
to the toast "Our Public Schools.
This subject is not at all distasteful
to me, on the contrary it is very pleas
ant. The greater part of the little
knowledge possess was acquired in
the public schools of our country, and
my life too, while ''royal soldier OF
the master" is very bright in my
memory.
It was one of the happiest moments
of my life, when mounted a pony
for the first time in life TO ride by my
self, and started for the public school
one mile distant. On entering the
school room, reports had heard of
the ferocity of the master were fully
confirmed when saw a man with a
long stick (Which / have since learned
was pointer, and long beard, talking
about the base, hypothenuse, triangle
and some other things I knew nothing
about, only taking time to threaten to
thrash boy for talking.
My companions in school were
James, William and John in my
neighborhood, and my old blue-back
spelling book with its mama, and b.
aba and s-a-sa, ect.
My first "work" was to look for the
pictures, and nightly was my curiosity
raised to behold the picture of the
man lying PROSTATE on the ground
and the bear standing over him, and
there, too, 1 first learned that poor
Troy was caught in bad company.
My next "work" was to hunt me a
sweetheart. l soon found little girl
just my size, with curly hair tied
with a "blue" ribbon, and a white
apron bound in "red. Her eyes, too,
were those of fairer world, and On
the whole she was real little angel.
From the moment L saw her, was
her slave, and have scarce extricated
myself from the bonds that bound me
at this late day. Her stores of apples,
candy kisses (and other kinds, too)
picture cards and verses of poetry
were plentifully supplied at my ex-
pense. On the whole L generally had
one point in common with George
Washington, that is we both seldom
or never told a story, but this little
maiden worked revolution for
stoutly denied at all times, and to all
parties that she was my sweetheart
yet 1 was most happy to be accused OF
claiming her. My place in the class
too, was regulated by this girl; al
she would 60 head, / would follow
after her, and when she would get the
head-mark, and go foot, started foo
to meet her. This was the sole
reason 1 was void of hesd-marks in
early youth. AS hours, days and
years passed / grew Older and had by
this time laid aside the blue-back fol
Buffers speller; had also learned the
rule for long division which said some.
thing about diyisor, dividend
curved lines and some other things
have forgotten now. 1t is my mis-.
fortune gentlemen to have very bad
memory. i spent six long days and
the greater part of the nights learning
this rule for long division and now all
that valuable time, and vast amount
of knowledge is lost solely because OF
my bad memory.
For long period in life 1 shared
the bitters and sweets of the public
school boy, had my share of the fights,
led the run when we charged the
British---alias humble bees and vel
| low jackets, was at the end of the line
when we played whip cracker, but ]