The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-23
EARLY YANKEE rEAcnERs WEST.
Some "Reminiscences of Their traits.
school Time Episodes.


There is scarcely a community Gong the
Ohio river between Cincinnati and Louis
vile that il rot rich in local tradition of
the yankee schoolmasters. who came
west with the first settlers of this par
ticular section and continued long to be
the leaders OF education and opinion
among the people--in some parts even up
to the time of the civil war.
They were a distinct type of men,
shrewd, persevering, and In many IN
stances possessed amusing and remarka-
bic traits. Edward Eggleston, the dis
tinguished American novelist, whose early
years were spent on the Ohio at the
little town OF Vevay, Ind, and who knew
all about them from personal experience,
says they were sometimes mere clock
members or tin peddlers tired of drifting
about and because of the scarcity of in
structors could get a school. Then again
they were men of fine education. But
all were so gifted with the proverbal
yankee sharpness that they won their way
anywhere.
Travel at the time was mainly ON the
Ohio; and the little hamlets springing up
along it's course afforded such desirable
opportunities for teachers that the coun-
try between Cincinnati and Louisville be-
came vertable haven to these adventur-
Gus wanderers. The school Zachary Tay-
lor attended, i've miles from Louisville,
- an tNtttltuA ehdilblt vi AHt KIM AitN
conducted, and the traditions of II are
quite interesting. Gen. Taylors father
came TO Kentucky in 1885 with the early
settlers and it was ten years afterward
before there were enough people in the
community TO start "A school, and even
then the Indians troubled them so re-
peatedly that pedasog and urchins were
a school and garrison az the same time.
Elisha Ayres of Connecticut was the
New Highlander who established the school
and who gave the future military leader
and president the rudiments OF an edu-
cation only the simplest branches being
| taught them. Mr.. Ayres declared the
Kentuekians to be very spirited and chv-
alrous. lie helped to prepare the biogra-
| ply Of Gen. Taylor for the presidential
| canvass of lSiS, and stated that In con-
| junction with what the sons of the pio-
neers learned from him they were taught
| the art of forest warfare by a man Whet-
| sci, who lived near the school house, and
| was quite a local hero. Once while out
| In the forest several Indians had attack
| ed MIN, and by running and firing, too,
| lac mad wounded and beaten Off the whole
| party OF his pursuers. This made him
| the authority on military tactics and
Zachary Taylor learned from him the
| skilful use Of firearms
A ldnsman OF Gen. Taylor who was ar
| terWard educated IN the same neighbor-
hood school, has given the writer the fol-
lowing account OF the pedagogs who sue
ceeded Elisha Ayres. by the time Zach
airy Taylor reached maturity the commune
| ity was more thoroughly settled, and the
increased means Of the farmers enabled
them to give their children better oppor-
tunites for learning, although the small
! pioneer windows and split-log benches con-
| tinued In use a long while. The yankee in
| structors I'm those days were so harsh in
| their discipline that they made all the boys
MOO nd fpl astI .
that the trustees had to find fellow who
was as strong in muscle as in mind. When
we boys were in our most rebellious way,
one Of these rowing teachers was employed
as especially capable In Greek, Latin and
using the rawhide, and he ruled with a
high hand from the first
IAN teachers OF his type had great
passion for eloduence, and he was quite
possessed by II, determining 10 develop
| the elOcutiOnary talent of every chap In
| school. OF course the small boys were
bashful, and, when put on the platform.
spoke only in a squeaky, half-hearted
! way. This would set him In "A fury OF
| temper. and he would clap his hands to-
gether like the report OF a gun. and yell
| out:
'Dern a. I'll put fire and animation In
! yer" and every urchin Tho Was too much
| overcome TO proceed with his address was
hustled back to his scat by a sharp lash
III
the teacher would call to the boy who
| failed:
Now. sir. come back here and try
| that again sa
chicken fighting was quite favorlte
| sport among the boys then. and Il used
to anger the teacher not a little. The
chickens were brought TO school, put
safely away until noon recess, and then
we would have the fight ont IN tho forest.
| one day a boy put his chicken In his desk
| during school. Everything went on as
usual until some fowls from a neighbor-
Ing yard came pecking about the door
| and cluCking IN that contcnted WAY
chickens have. This aroused the rooster
| in the desk. and he BEGAN 70 respond with
| the same sounds
Where's that chicken" asked the
| teacher. firing up.
Oh. outside there. / reckon answered
the keeper Of the lighting fowl. beginning
TO feel the lash already. He was found
out and paid dear penalty. But this only
served TO intensity the general wrath
| against tho teacher and the next thing
We did was 10 supply ourselves with pa
paws. for " was then autumn and give
his horse smcaringrsll over Then his
| harshness and rawhidc became almost UNI
endurable. The trustees and parents In
every family stood by him. and no mat
| ter how severely he dashed az al school
II we spoke OF u ~ home we were sure
OF punishment there scarcely less warm.
and 70 We finally decided to act Tor our
selves.
"iie had promised ~ half-holiday.
but some rascality We cut up chnnged hls
| mind. and az the end OF the noon recess
| that day Doe called ug TO come in Most
| Of The boys mad suspected biz Intentions
ana secured their school bars and dinner
| buckets But another fellow and L. who
| had not went around the back way 10
| zip ours ana run. The teacher caught
my companion ana proceeded 90 punish
him. ! went 10 NO. ala right al once. ana
| thcrc was "a hghi httween uH such al had
never been seen there before. Finally be-
was giving ~ 10 my eomrads 90 heavily
| thaf / seized the bottoms ~ tho psdaRor'H
/ pants, lerkci hiH feet from under him.
ana While hr was HraNiipF W. afampHf-
rd. fhe trustees held 4 mfeilnr that
week ana dismissed him ag muscuiarIy
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