The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-01-15
TRUE TO THE QUEEN.
ccAooLGlRL,s DISPLAY OF PLUCK
RAISES A TUMULT.

Doc,are They Will Stand by Her Wheth-
She BE Right or Wrong.
Pretty Polly Biller's action in tear
;,o no an American flag and taking
Fnnland's side on the Venezuelan ques-
+;on before the scholars of the high
u SaG at Belleville, N. j., continues to
10 the talk of the town. The fact that
sbo stamped the stars and stripes under
p feet is lost sight Of in the admira-
ton of the pluck of the girl in defylng
mo entire school when she thought she
1+,os right Since the incident occurred
Pollv's name has been placed upon the
1,odestal of local fame as heroine.
The Biller family Bible says Miss
pollv's Christian name is Mary, but she
d universally called Polly. She is the
hriobt 16-year daughter of Lawyer
George Biller of Newark, and is as
rrptty as she is bright. They teach patri-
otism in the Belleville high school, and
Miss Mabel Dodge, the teacher OF the
LASS of which Polly is scholar. some
time ago inaugurated plan of discuss
mo the news of the day. 1t served to
kpen the pupils informed of all the prin-
cipal events transporting in the world
ontside 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
onestiOn came in for the greatest share
If attention. The American boys and
GIRLS pulled the tail of the British lion
50 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-
nress her feelings, but could not because
she had not been called upon.
When sweet Kitty Grieves, with a
fascinating lisp,>got up and said that
ENGLAND must take care or the Belleville
high school would rise in its might and
wine 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 fathers COM
Portable 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
ance in the schoolroom 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-
uuent over the fight for her country,
and this, considered with her personal
attractions and general popularity, won
over one-half the scholars. 1t was the
section to which the boys belonged.
One of the girls waved an American
flag in her face. Some say it was little
Reletta Simms, but it makes no differ
,ence who it 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.
al, AIo fr1c
and then school was dismissed.
Il am sorry Polly is not at home, )"
Mrs Biller said the other day, 'for 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. Johns Episco-
pal church Sunday school of Woodside
Mr.. Biller and family live in COM
Portable residence on Holmes street,
near Washington, and move in excellent
society. Mr.. 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-
clally the high school girls, say it may
become a serious international subject,
and that when war does come it would
lind the Belleville girls in line to fight
and die, if needs be, for their country.
New York Journal