The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-19
CHILDREN WERE SCARED.
Thought Dereetor Devett's
Graphophone was a Vac
einating Machine.

| Z There was a terrible state of affairs
| yesterday afternoon in Public School No
e, on Zabriskie street. You couldn't find
a. little boy or girl who wasn't squeezing
his or her little fist. many of them very
dirty. into his or her eye. What was it
all about?
A few days ago the principal of the
school asked Mr.. Henry Dewitt, a MEM
Der of the Board of Education, to give
the children the pleasure of hearing his,
Director Devitt's, graphohone. Now the
Director, who is one of the most oblig-
ing and courteous gentlemen in the
world. willingly consented. The principal
knew that Notwithstanding the able and
efficient talks to the children about mod
ern inventions. to which he was in the
habit of treating them, there was Moth
ing like a little practical Illustration, and
remembering that Director Dewitt pos
sessed an Instrument illustrating the
sound wav theory, he made the above
mentioned request with the above men
toned gratifying success.
Accordingly, Principal Townby told his
teachers. and they in turn told the chill
dren. that on Tuesday, May Is, yester-
day afternoon, the usual and dreary, to
the children. study of the three Rs, would
be suspended and they would hear the
wonders of the graphophone. The chill
dren went home with their little heads
filed with that compound Greek word,
and there was no wonder thai in their
small minds they got things somewhat
mixed. "Graphaphone" was a new word
to them. 1t sounded like these hard
words doctors and other dreadful sort Of
people are fond of using.
Mamma" aid one small pupil, when
she reached home, there is a man; such
a nice looking mt mamma who is GO
ing to vaccinate us tomorrow afternoon.
I don't var to be vaccinated. mamma
do IT.,
Mamma though such a proceeding
highly unnecessary, and sent the follow
ing note to one of the teaehers:-
"a. - May IS, 1897.
Is understand they intend to vaccinate
{ VIII. you kindly see that Mary is not
V~accinated, as / prefer my own doctor.
Yours sincerely,
MRS. q. SCHUYLER.
When the time. yesterday afternoon,
came to redeem the promise, Director
Dewitt was punctually on hand with his
graphophone and box of records" He
enteredtthe school room and was amazed
to find the children in tears. No sooner
did the little ones catch sight of the big
tin funnel-like receiver thar a distinctly
audiable chorus Of boo-hoos', struck his
ears.
Why, what IS dthe matter?" he asked
OF the teachers. n they quickly in
formed him of the state of affairs. When
he had recovered his gravity the kindly
Director told the children that the in
strument he had brought with him was
not Of. the surgical kind, but intended to
give pleasure instead of pain, and, oh.
my! whats lot of smiles there were, only
to be increased when he put on his "rec-
receiver, which they thought was to
vaccinate them. came the fascinating
strains trains Ct i want yer, ma honey" Mrs.
songs, marches. symphonies and sonatas
even, for Mr.. Dewitt has a rare collection
Of them. Their Wonder, surprise and
delight n establishment was complete.
When it was all over the Director said to
them
well, children, how do you like to
be ~yaccinated?"
us Oh saa STR piped a shrill chorus Of de-
again. please" He will.