The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-02-16
Intelligent Geese.


1t must have been in the 4Os that
my great uncle, Charles N, was
graduated from college and begun to
teach school Communication was
not so rapid then as now, and the ex-
change of ideas was accomplished
with more difficulty. Tho country
was not oyerrun with teachess' manu-
ais and guides, and there ..ere few
educational works. IL was only by
gathering together and exchanging
ideas that teachers were able to pro-
gress. To facilitate this several
would in the summer time travel from
place to place, holding what they
called institutes, to which ell who
taught in the neighboring country
wonld flock to receive or disseminate
new ideas, and to discuss methods OF
study.
My uncle and friend OF his had
started on tour of this kind, and on
Saturday arrived at town where they
were to hold an ''institute" the fol-
lowing Monday.
Sunday afternoon they took stroll
in the outskirts of the town, on the
banks of a stream, and were engaged
in deep conversation when my uncle's
friend espied a flock OF geese APP
proaching in a solemn procession.
Moved by sudden impulse, he took
off his hat, made low bow and, adj
dressing the geese, said: "Allow me
to introduce to you my friend, Mr..
N, who will hold an institute in
this town tomorrow. cordially in
vite you to be present" The geese
appeared to listen attentively to the
young mans words, and when he had
finished they waddled gravely away.
The incident passed quickly from
their minds, the next afternoon ar
rived, and the friends repaired to the
church where they were to expound
| their educational views to those who
were assembled for instruction and
| profit. The day was beautiful and
sunshiny and everything beamed pro-
pitiously on my uncle as he arose from
his seat behind the pulpit to address
the dignified gathering
Hardly had he opened his mouth to
speak when something in the wide
open door attracted his attention
There stood the old gander, leader OF
the flock they had seen the day before,
and behind him were all the geese
Having completed his survey, to my
uncle's horror and chagrin, he wad-
died slowly up the middle aisle, fol-
lowed by the rest
| Was ever a young man in more
painfully embarrassing situation? At
this moment he received tug on his
coat tail and plainly heard the par
tally suppressed amusement of his
friend and the whispered exclamation,
They've come!"
| My uncle grew redder and hotter
as the geese approached in front and
the tugs on his coat tail continued be-
hind He could only stutter and
stammer, each moment becoming more
painfully aware of the awkwardness
of his position.
At last, with the timely assistance
of the congregation, the unwelcome
intruders we're expelled amid quack-
ings, confusion and uproar.
1t is almost unnecessary to add that
| WV VI uHtiC CAVIhchSo W 0r
checked for the time being, and con-
sequently his disquisition on the edu.
cation of the young was not as edify-
ing as it might have been under
ordinary circumstances.
This did not end the matter, how
ever. My uncle's friend for many
years after, at every dinner when he
was called upon for speech, managed
to recount this incident. Ii my uncle
was there it only added to the general
enjoyment.
Tiring of this in the course Of years,
Uncle Charles once arose, after his
friend had related the story, and said
'There was one point to which
sufficient attention has not been called,
namely, why did the geese understand
so perfectly all that my friend said?''
Atlanta Journal.