Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-01-09
TRUE TO THE QUEEN.
A SCHOOLGIRLS DISPLAY OF PLUCK
 RAISES A TuMULT.

BelIeville's High School Up In Arms The
 Girls Say She Is 'Horrid." but tue Boys
 Declare They wm Stand by Her wheth-
 CT She Re Right or Wrong.
 Pretty Polly Biller's action in tear ing up an American flag and taking England's side on the Venezuelan ques- tion before the scholars of the high school at Belleville, N. J., continues to be the talk of the town. The fact that she stamped the stars and stripes under her feet is lost sight of in the admira- tion of the pluck of the girl in defying the entire school when she thought she was right. Since the incident occurred Polly's name has been placed upon the pedestal of local fame as heroine.
 The Biller family Bible says Miss Polly's Christian name is Mary, but she is universally called Polly. She is the bright 16-year- r-old daughter of Lawyer George Biller of Newark, and is as pretty as she is bright They teach patri- otism in the Belleville high school, and Miss Mabel Dodge, the teacher of the class of which Polly is scholar, some time ago inaugurated plan of discuss ing the news of the day. It served to keep the pupils informed of all the prin- cipal events transpiring in the world outside of Belleville.
 The day before the close for the Christ mas holidays the news of the week was discussed, as usual. The presidents message to congress on the Venezuelan question came in for the greatest share of attention. The American boys aud girls pulled the tail of the British lion so hard that Polly's blood fairly boiled. She was born under the British flag, and has English blood in her veins. While sHe loved America, she loved England better, and she wanted to ex- press her feelings, but could not because she had not been called upon.
 When sweet Kitty Grieves, with 8 fascinating lisp, got up and said that Eng gland must take care or the Belleville high school would rise in it's might and wipe the British island off the map, it was more than she could bear. She bot tied her indignation, though, when the teacher announced that Miss Polly was chosen to deliver the recitation of the day, which would close the afternoon session.
 Miss Polly did not take luncheon dur ing the recess hour. She was busily oc- cupied in her room in her father com fortable home in Holmes street. When she came down stairs, her appearance was made more attractive by the out lines of two flags embroidered upon the bosom of her dress. On one side was the American stars and stripes and upon the other the British flag. Her appear anee in the sehoolroom caused some- thing more than commotion. The girls sneered at her and criticised the work manship of the embroidery Finally Miss Polly was called to the platform for the recitation, and then the excite. ment became intense. She became elo- quent over the fight for her country, and this, considered with her personal attractions and general popularity, won over one-half the scholars. It was the section to which the boys belonged.
 One of the girls waved an American flag ill her face. Some say it was little Reletta Simms, but it makes no differ enee who 1t was. In an instant Miss Polly had charged upon the flag bearer and returned to the platform tearing the flag into shreds, and then she stamped them under her feet, and pandemonium broke loose.
 The boys stood with pretty Polly and said that even if she was fighting on the wrong side they would uphold her. "Oh, how horridp' chorused the girls, and then school was dismissed.
 s'I am sorry Polly is not at home, " Mrs. Biller said the other day, flor the papers have got the wrong version of the incident :"
 Then Miss Kate, Polly's sister, told just how it happened. Several of the boys who espoused the cause of the plucky English girl were seen and substantiated the statement. They describe her as the belle of the younger element of the town. She is tall and willowy, with handsome dark eyes and black hair, and is one of the stars of St. John Episco- pal church Sunday school of Woodside.
 MT. Biller and family live in con- fortable residence on Holmes street, near Washington. and move in excellent society. Mir. Biller regards the incident as huge joke, and the majority of the grown folks look upon it in the same light. but the younger ones, and espe- cially the high school girls, say it may become a serious international subject, and that when war does come it would find the Belleville girls in line to fight and die, if needs be, for their country.
 koxx, " J,~1~