The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-17
MAYOR AND PUPILS.
School Children Had Marched to His Office
With Petition TO ReInstate Principal.

Geography. like charity. should begin at
home. So believes the Hon. Patrick Jerome
Gleason, Mayor Of Long Island City. To some
400 school children who visited him recently
at the city hall. with q view to getting Martin
Joyce rsinstatsd as principal Of tho Fifth
Ward school In Astoria. he expressed this boz
lief in characteristically unmistakable terms.
With equal emphasis ho declined 10 rejnstate
Mr.. Joyce, because n little examination In
geography sprung upon tho children by the
Mayor showed that their training had not
been all that IL should he, according to the
ideas OF that official. Apparently the children
were about equally divided ON the question
OF retaining Mr.. Joyce, for half OF them cast
their hats into the air with wboops of exulta-
ton when Mayor Gleason announced his der
cision. IL 10 said that many Of them didn't
know what they were marching for, but
Joined the precision aust Tor the fun OF ~;
Drum Corps led the parade with great eclat.
Mayor Gleason had intended to spend only q
short time In the CITY ball. He was Just get
the procession came IN sight. with banners
flying. flies whistling, and drums beating. 30
many were there mat they hlled up the
finally crowded the offices of the commits
sioner OF public works and the corporation
counsel TO the doors. Five girls and five boys
had been selected to head the delegation, and
they stepped forward and confronted the
Mayor. -.
Nobody said "Good morning" in reply, but
Q youth who was evidently first boy" stepped
forward and said in the good, old grammar
school style, with the steady, uninterrupted
unchanging- monotone, pausing not for
comma, semi-colon, or period, which has been
made familiar in times OF yore by such stand
bys as 0My-name-is-N orvAl- ON. the-Grampian-
Hills, ETC., and Neutrality-suspicious..
"This. Is the birthday-of Lincoln. tbe-savi-
our-of- y-he-loved- the children-we.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES : that : jus.
tice- be shown-us-and' our beloved : teacher"
and so he went on until his material rave
out, whom he stopped with q click like a run
"What class are you children in % asked
tho Mayor, who had been listening with great
interest.
"Class B. grammar, - said one of the girls.
The snswer TO that question hadn't been
taught TO the orator, 50 he didn't try to
And now old are youi - asked the Mayor.
"Some OF us are IL, and some Ia and To-"
pretty wei up In your studies, Now let's
see: here are 10 OF you. You believe Mr..
Joyce is a good teacher, yet his scholars can't
pass a Regents examination. Now Wen give
you a chance to try. I'll pick 10 scholars, five
poys and Ave girls. from this same grade or
any other school, and let, you all try an ex,
give So, and IL You make as good a record as
they do we'll keep MIR. Joyce where he Is.
How does that strike you ~
dren weren't prepared tor this, and no reply
came, until u second boy stepped forward
and said:
come here about Mr.. Joyce"
Then getting into his swing he proceeded:
"'rhis petition which / present., Mister
Mayor. Represents the hopes Of six hun.
derd'nforty out Of 500 scholars Of our school,"
etc.
Having spoken his piece, he handed tie petit
ton TO the Mayor. who glanced at IL.
"Bere's a peculiar thing" he remarked;
"about half Of these names seem TO he in the
same handwriting. How comes that
1--WE all got the same copy book" piped q
small voice from the crowd.
There's a boy with brains in his head;
remarked Mayor Gleason with appreciation
yourself some day, my son. Now, then,
children. do you study geography
"Yns. sir. " said a number OF voices.
"I1l try you and SEQ how much you've
learned. Now. you boy that made the adj
dress. do you know where the court house isf'
Silence followed.
"That little girl on the end Of the line; can
you tellr
"weIl, do any Of you know where police
headquarters isf"
An uneasy STIR won't through the crowd, and
then a chiid's voice out In the hail an
nounced:
81 know watts the capital of the United
States"
Is right here at home. You ought to know
something about your own city first. Why, i
should expect children two or three grades
lower to know these things. Now, can any or
you hound IeHg Island city.
"Don't answer him., " cried a woman, fore
ing her way through the hall to the door.
"He's got no call to ask any questions. Don't
sDon' choo be afraid" said a reassuring
voice belonging to some frank and g%uileless
youngster over in one corner. we cant.'
"Are you a teacher. lady 2 asked Mayor
Gleason.
"No. / amt; but I've got a.nephew in that
school"
"You keep quiet, please, till we get through
with this. Who's going to bound Long Island
City, nowf"
Long and oppressive stiffness. broken by
stited gigele. followed.
Every well: you SEQ you're not very we'll
up in geography. Now, you spoko OF Lincoln
as being a friend o: the children. am q
friend of tho children, too; too good a friend
to leave this man in your school. he hasn't
taught you anything that you should know.'
"He comes around TO our houses and teaches
Us and gives as cards when we have our les
sons good, - said n little girl.
'Oh, he does. does kef think those cards
don't do very much good. HIS. business is 20
teach in school, not out. Now. children,
where was this procession organized r.
"a a ~feller's house" said one of the boys.
was NJ"
'Tbat feller's," pointing to the boy who
had been the first speaker.
$50 you got IL up among xonr2elves. Well,
you've made a mistake. Now that you're
here I'll ten you a little something about
Lincoln. whose birthday we are celebrating"
"Wc don't want to hear IL. declared one OF
the 10 leaders. stepping forward boldly. W
want "A def-def-6r-er-def--'
"Definite, Charley whispered n boy behind.
giving the speaker a jab in the ribs with his
elbow.
"In break the face of Won. Danny, 'fy'
get too fresh. F" declared the speaker in a
wrathful aside. turning upon the promnter.
"--a definite answer. We want a definite
answer"
you've got IL. 1 won't appoint. Mr.. Joyce"
"Whoopi Joyce il IN the soup,' sang out n
bow in the outer room.
"Hooray fer Demarestl' shouted another.
"Dr. Demarest will be the new prinnipal."
'Joyce's got 10 in the neckl' I'VE want
another principali" "No, wa wantsJoycel'
even leave school with him. "Hooray for
Paddy Gleasoni' "Joyce l. no goodl' "You
can't get our ~votesi'' "Whoopl Hurrahl'
Tho rival factions began yelling nc a great
rate and several SCRAPS" between enthusi-
astic rooters started up, but were soon
queiled. The children poured out OF tho
building In disorder, and a mass meeting was
suggested, hut failed of accomplishment, be-
cause OF tho apparent strength Of the anti
Loco faAttgts n. - 1850 Wfn No