The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-12
PLACED on THE RACK
Skykomish Schoolmistress SAYS
She Was Mistreated.
DECISION AGAINST HER UNJUST.
She Tells How County and state SUI
perinfendenrs Made an Example
of Her-A Vigorous Defense.

of Her-A Vigorous Defense.
Mrs. Della Buffers. against whom a de-
ciss3n rendered BY County School Superin-
tendent Layhle has been affirmed By State
Superintendent Bean. claims 10 have been
un38stly treated By both officials She has
written to the Post -InteIligencer a letter
signed Yours for Justice" and stating her
side OF the case, which she has presented IN
way that commands attention. Under
date Of skykomish. January S. she says:
Placed I'm False Eight.
IAN article in Mondays issue. entitled
The Teacher Loses places me in a light
the facts do not warrant. AS my name has
been used so publicly. l am entitled 10 the
privilege Of correcting mistakes. one read
ing that article must infer that ] made ap-
plication for temporary certificate without
addueing any evidence OF the required
scholarship. When / applied 10 Prof lay
hue. ! was in doubt whether IL would DO
better 10 forward certificate from Snoho-
nish, expired by Limitation. or first grade
certificate, unexpired. from another state,
or my college diploma. / therefore told
Prof Layhue what credentials / hold. and
waited some intimation from him that
either, or any, would be considered. His
unconditional refusal TO grant my appIi-
cation, with the brutal dietum, You were
not H. precluded sending any certificate.
slated for yfvisection.
II had supposed our state superintendent
a personal friend. for no better reason.
now see. than that his charming public ad-
dresses had won from me an enthusiasm
or friendship for him. However erroneous
~. I thought him my friend. and so, on re-
ceipt OF Prof. Layhue's refusal. l wrote
Superintendent Bean an informal, kindly
letter, asking his advice. He replied, SEEM
ingly, In the same spirit, advising me 10
apply TO 4 court for a mandamus, as con-
suming less time. and because. in event OF
his reversing Prof. Layhue's decision. the
chances were that Prof. LAyhue would re-
fuse obedience; If, however. / preferred 10
deal with the matter otherwise, to appeal
the case TO him ia form prescribed by
school law. A mandamus necessitates per-
sOnai attendance; the same obstacles that
prevented my attending examination made
an attendance at court equally impossible
and therefore ] appealed. Each step Of tho
transaction was I'm exact obedience to Su-
perintendent Beans written direction.
Manifestly, IL is an incident OF vivisection.
Superintendent Bean wanted case for
object teaching. and. like Death, he loves
a shining mark He must not be surprised
IL the victim vivisected shah squirm a
little.
Crippled Services Appreciated.
II cannot let the rest Of the article pass
without comment. The pity expressed for
the district receiving my crippled serv-
ices is gratuitous; the patrons OF the school
only regret the discontinuance of those
crippled services With nice, warm room
only six pupils. untrammeled by anybodys
system / had nothing to do but find out
each childs limitations and remove them.
The results secured were exceedingly graf
flying. to note the growth from day 10 day
n doll hlA sgs.f
and the progress achieved was phenomenal.
Il am glad TO note that Prof. Layhue
finds the trip 10 Skyk0mish so easy. In
the two school years passed this district
has never once been visited by a superin-
terdent. although the law requiring such
inspection is quite as explicit as that COM
handing attendance upon examination.
A Pyrotechnic Fizzle.
ITO conclude. the wall Of sympathy for
the district defrauded OF its public money
BY me is good as a peroration, but Il IS
only for effect / explained 20 both Prof.
L.ayhue and Superintendent Bean that my
unpaid occupancy Of the schoolroorn.
pending decision, or for nine months II
chose. could not imperil the drawing OF
the public money, because. when I was en-
gagged for the winter term q lady was en-
gagged for the spring term, legally quail
fed the holder OF a life certificate. am
glad 10 know that my successor is also
qualified mentally and morally: such quail
fcation IS, unnapp!iy. not Identical with
the legal This Superintendent Bean thor
oughly understood the lachrymose pero-
ration Is simply a decorating powder con-
tanning a maximum of sand with mini
mum Of powder. Moreover. / never recov-
cred from the cold contracted No
Vember 10. but grew continually
worse till IL eliminated I'm innamma-
tory rheumatism which stin holds ME pris-
oner The school had been closed weeks be-
fore the ingredients of the Illuminating YER
diet were made ready TO hurl.
Torture in Its Refinement.
1T is painful in the extreme. 10 parade
these private matters before the public. T
have read Of savages who. in refinement
of cruelty, hilstered their prisoners ana.
deity removing the cuj.cle. left the ex-
posed nerves 10 CULVER With the agony Of
harsh contact So the privacy which was
the shield OF my sensitiyeuess. ny self
love. my pride as a teacher and as a wo-
man. has been rldeiy torn from me. and
the agoniZed nerve loops held up 70 the
harsh DEMONSTRATION and censorious COM
ueBts OF those really ignorant Of the sluia-
ton. Wal the capital manufactured atone
for the pain inflicted? / doubt H.
1T seldom adds 30 the reputation OF
big man IN a fat office TO prosecute a de-
fenseless woman, especially a quiet wo-
man living iu the most primitive corner OF
the state whose highest ambition is 10
make those among whom her Tot is east
little better and haI pier because she lives
"a their midst"