The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-06-30
THE ROBIN SCHOOL.

For number of years sort of new
tangled notion has been creeping into
the heads OF great many people that
boys ought not to be flogged at school.
They say it is relic of barbarism, and
some stuck-up people regard it as an
insult to their blood for their boy,
however devll-bent on wickedness
to be 'thrashed" by the teacher:
Such persons might get different
view of things by reading the follow
ing concerning the most talked-of man
In America, perhaps.
We take it from "Facts and Fiction ~
"When Admiral Dewey was boy,
| Major q. K Panghorn, now a resident
OF New jersey, and for thirty years the
editor OF the Evening journal OF Jer-
sey City, being then fresh from college
undertook the management of a dis
trict school at Montpelier, Vt. The
school had been in rebellion for long
time, and the boy Dewey was the lead
er of the ahti-teacher brigade. Sever
al previous teachers had been "-emov-
ed" one had been stood upon his head
in bank, and it was generally
said at Montpelier that nobody could
govern that school.
When Mr.. Pangborn appeared at
school the first day of the session he
noticed Dewey up a tree tthrowir1g
stones at small boys. He told him
quietly that he must stop that. The
'reply was that the teacher could
Ego to" the place reserved for a certain
class OF departed mortals, and Dewey
did not come down. School went
smoothly that day, but there were in.
d;cations that showed the teacher that
trouble was coming. So he provided
himself with nice rawhide whip
which he tucked away over the door
and then placed several sticks of good
hickory on the top OF the pile in the
old wood box.
Next day the fun began. Anothe,
boy who was disorderly was told tc
take his seat. He did so; and seven
of the big boys joined him ON his
bench. Then Dewey stepped up. and
| cooily informed the teacher that they
were ''going to give him the best lick
ing that he had ever had"
$50 to your seat !" commanded the
teacher, who was not so big man ply.
sically as either of the two boys men,
toned.
| Dewey struck out, and the next in
slant the rawlhde was playing catch-and.
go all over him. The other "biggest
boy" entered the fight, and was prompt.
ly laid low with blow from one of the
hickory sticks. Dewey was by this
time lying upon the floor bowling for
"quits," and the other boy lay near
him unconscious. The rebellion was
over, and Mr.. Pangborn had no further
trouble with that. school.
The father of the other boy tried to
have Mr.. Pangborn arrested, but could
! not find Il magistrate who would issue
warrant. They all said that anyone
who could govern young Dewey and
his like was too good a man to be in
terfered with by any process of law
Young Dewey's father took the opposite
course and thanked the teacher.
Young Dewey remained at school.
He soon became good scholar, and
under his friends tuition, fitted for the
Annapolis Academy. Years after these
| events he was wont to visit Major
Pangborn at his home in Boston, where
the former teacher was editor of the
old Atlas and Bee. On one OF these
| visits he said to him: ~ shall never
cease to be grateful to you. You made
a man OF me. But for that thrashing
you gave me / should probably now be
in the state prison."