St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-01
A DEWEY ANECDOTE.
L. M. Burlington Writes an Interesting Story
for the CALIFORNIAN.


L. M. FuIIington Writes an Interesting Story
for the CALIFORNIAN.
When H. K. Pangborn, now editor-in-
chief and publisher of the Evening Jour
nal, Jersey City, N. J., and the late Henry
Wood OF Boston, for long time assist
ant secretary of state in Massachusetts,
were at the head of the Lamoille county
grammar school in Johnson, George
Dewey and the writer attended school,
boarding with the teachers at Hon. A.
W. Caldwell's.
l recall that Miss Carrie Taplin Of
Montpelier was an assistant teacher,
and merited the unstinted praise
looked, spoken and thought, that was
showered upon her.
What pushiul, brainy, polished lot of
people those teachers were, every one,
whether in the schoolhouse, on the street,
or together, or with the students in So
cial functions.
1t was the winter and spring of so and
'53. George Deweys room and the
writer's ''cornered" and our seats were
at the same end of the long table. He
studied we'll and recited better, for he
was never "rattled.'
He never INDUCED in debates on per-
sonal, local, or public topics, nor crti-
cised any one, youngsler, oldster, or in
termediate. He loved to tell good
story and yet aimed not to be a profess
sional story teller.
He believed in a proper division OF
duty and his rule was that the listeners
should do all the laughing since he did
all the telling and the same rule obtained
when he listened and another told.
The following was one of his best
stories:
about five or six years ago, one
blazing hot day in July. father was
whiting a dry goods box that he sal
on, on the shady side of the streets ir
Montpelier, and halt dozen other mer
were near by killing time in a lazy
way, not far off, when James Langdor
came up and commenced to walk, with
his head down, back and forth in front
of the loafers. At last one of the mer
said:
What's the matter, Jim?'
Haven't made dollar today
But he kept walking faster and faster
head down as before.
At last some one said: 'Langdon
what on earth ails you, tearing bacl
and forth this hot day..
4 tell you, haven't made a dollar
today and he laid the fore6nger of hi
right hand, with sincere solemnity il
the palm of his left hand.
Between Langdon's first and seconc
remarks father had laid his first parable
for )ims overthrow.
I'll save you from being skunked, Mr.
Langdon. I've got to 60 to Berlin t.
see patient this afternoon, six miles
carry me out and I'll cut the cat in two
right in the middle.
All right, I'll do it, and he started TO
home to grease his wagon and brush VI
his horse. 'Micawber was himself again.
1t was agreed that they should get al
early dinner and at a little after twelv
they were off, but it was a red hot da,
and they didn't get there till after two
Father insisted on taking every strap OF
of the horse and hitching him to a bi,
shady tree, so he wouldn't melt;;' thel
put the wagon in the barn floor so tn
telloes wouldn't catch a fire.
Then he took the patient, questioned
her, and then her husband and re-ques
toned. Somehow he couldn't find a
once what he wanted in his trunk, and i
took him long time to get what b
needed in the house, all the while tellin!
stories, either to the mother or to tn
children land there was crowd of 'em
or to the father, bright talkatve Irish
man.
Before father was half through witt
the case Jim was on pins and needles tt
start tor home, but father pacfied hin
by telling him he couldn't rush tn
treatment etc., etc.
Pretty soon Langdon began to wall
back and forth with, Come, julie, it
time to start More walking, and then
I say, julie, it'll be pitch dark before w
get home if you don't quit the everlast
ing dawdlng'
Now, Jim, must see what effect tn
medicine has on the speed of the pulse
and | might just as we'll be telling storie
as to sit here as mum as an oyster. It'll
be cooler, perhaps, after the sun gets
tritle lower. That last remark was tn
straw that almost broke the camel
back and Langdon got his team up t.
the door in hurry
All ready come on, doctor! i
All right, Just as quick as can fix tn
medicines Tor tomorrow and next da,
and write down the directions, how
mnch, and when, and how often.
won't do to leave chance for mistake
in this business In fifteen minute
father was seated in the wagon, whel
out rushed the Irishman, hat off, an,
wallet in his hand. How. much is you
bill, doctor1 I'll pay now
: Hell! l should have gone fishing
Give me quarter'"