Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-15
Written for the Register
"YE DEEsTRIcT SCHULZ"
BY II. ". TURNER.

After we nave Travelled over TIE
earth for forty years and look back
and contemplate the many changes
which have taken place in the business
world, the mechanical world and the
educational world, we are apt to no.
tice these changes with feelings of
pleasure and to rejoice at the advan-
tages they bring to the present gener-
alton. DO not wish to write of the
changes in business methods nor oftbe
many mechanical inventions, as these
subjects are common, everyday topics,
But when I recently read in the REG
IsTER that the new college building
was ready for occupancy, and l thought
of its comfortable rooms, its improved
heating arrangements, its furniture
and equipment, contrasted with sat-
isfaction the advancement made in ed
ucational matters in the short time
since ! was boy, and wondered if the
boys and girls of today fully appreci-
ate their advantages.
With the hope that it may not prove
uninteresting reading, l will jot down
what l remember Of the days when we
were children and toddled morning
and evening to and from the little old
school l-house stuck out on the corner
of some ones farm or at the forks Of
the public roads. In bringing to mind
the seeming carelessness Of our parents
in permitting schools to be taught and
run in the way they were, say, twen-
ty or thirty years ago, l would not
have the reader to believe for an IN
slant that I look back with any de-
gree Of ingratitude, for l know that
there was great difficulty during the
war in securing teachers and keeping
the schools running at all, and great
difficulty after the war in rebuilding
the school-houses and establishing the
free school system. We must admit,
though, that with good parents, such
as we had, parents whose industry fed
and clothed US in our childhood, and
whose kindly smiles and loving atten-
tions come before our memory every
hour in the day, it is rather singular
that these parents should allow their
children to be housed in such schools
and taught by some Of the teachers in
existence at the time of which we write.
However, our parents did the best
they could, and far better, perhaps,
than we would do for our children
were we surrounded with the same
difficulties.
l shall never forget the first day |
ever went to school. 1t was in 1862,
as near as l can remember, a period
when the ravages Of war possessed our
land, and when children were sent to
school in the morning, often to be
rushed home a few hours later, in
charge of parents or faithful colored
men, before the battle began between
the contending armies. Having an
older sister and brother, | was taken,
lust as a visitor for the day, to the lit
tie old school-house not far from home,
the school being taught by Mr.. Rich
ard. Mr.. Richard was an industrious
man, with all his faults, and prior to
becoming a school-teacher had worked
on farms and had run a thrcshing ma
chine. 1t was while engaged in feed
ing a thresher he met with an accident
which he never forgot, for as he worked
an example in addition and added
sheaf after sheaf of the golden grain to
the machine, that same hungry old
machine worked an example in sub
traction and poor Mr.. Richard came
off minus an arm.
Upon arriving at the school-house
upon the morning mentioned, school
had Faken in, and as | was led like
little lamb into the room my heart
beat rather lively as I beheld Mr..
Richard elevated upon small plat
form, holding in his uplifted remain
der Il mean the hand left in the ex-
ample worked by the machine) a long,
lean, hickory stick. l was lifted to a
seat beside my sister, and then as |
Jet my stubby legs swing pair Of
red top boots back and forth under
| the seat l let my vision roam around
the room, and this is what | saw: AT
the right of the platform stood the
teachers desk, while in the center Of
the room stood large, rusty, cracked
up, old template stove that had con-
tracted the very bad habit of smok-
ing. There were numerous rat-holes
in the floor and in the windows were
stuffed many shawls, coats and hats to
take the places of the glass that had
been shot out, just for fun, by the
passing soldiers. Along each side,
-