The times., 1898-11-28

boys fighting when he considered the pro-
vocation had not been sufficient to war
rant a resort to blows he would order
them to take turns at sitting in each
others lap for an hour or two. Needless
to say, this compulsory attitude of alec
tion was highly distasteful to the young
belligerents and led them to resolve never
to invite 1t again.
Hugging trees was a form of punish
ment in great vogue in the case of Idle
boys. The youngster whose laziness pre-
vented him from studying In the class
room repented of his wasted time when
he was sent outdoors to stand with his
arm stretched around the trunk of a great
oak or elm for stated period. One of the
townspeople of Washington tells of an
occasion when, coming TO a place where
the road forked near the school. he found
the signpost being embraced in anything
but sentimental way by a most un-
happy-looking Gunnery boy, whose only
reply to sympathetic questions was, I'm
poor. miserable sinner" This was the
penitential formula prescribed by the mas
ter as an answer to possible queries.
Several boys who had been guilty of
stealing apples from a neighboring or
chard were once required to draw up a
formal address of apology, to bear this
to the owner of the orchard and to deliver
little lad, noted throughout the school for
his awkwardness, who had for the second
time killed "A young chicken by stepping
on It, had to wear the bird suspended
from string around his neck for an en-
tire day. Mr.. Gum had once cured a dog
of killing chickens by, adopting this meth
cd, and he evidently thought it ought to
work equally well with a boy. Cruelty to
animals was never allowed and n young
srrl tell az. nf ctn ha
cows was sent that evening into the barn
yard TO deliver penitent Grafton in a
loud voice to theaassenbled herd.
Thus, If there were space, story after
story like these related by the former
Gunnery boys, might be related here.
There was the incident of the dirty boy
who was. sent, 10 the. washerwoman with
instructions to offer her a quarter for
washing him up ,properly--if. she We're
willing for so small a sum to undertake
so large a contract Then there was the
time of the epidemic of sham Illness, in
vented to escape lessons, but bitterly re-
eretted when the master ordered each of
the invalids TO receive a good dose of
boneset from Mrs. Gum, and then to go
straight to bed.
For final specimen of the Gunnery
punishments-apd one which, moreover.
illustrates the kindly nature of the mas
ter-may be mentioned an occasion when
caller, approaching the house, saw Mr..
Gum sitting upon the piazza holding in
| his lap little fellow whose mouth was
securely bandaged up. Has he a tooth
! ache?" asked the sympathetic visitor.
oh no. replied Mr.. Gum, calmly. but
| his mouth is disabled so that he cannot
speak the truth. and / am trying to see If
this will cure it Lying, In fact. was to
the masters mind the worst sin of which
his boys could be guilty. He punished II
| oftentimes with considerable severity. and
| if he found. as occasionally happened. that
he could not break boy af-the habit he
dismissed him from the school. Drinking
and smoking he held IN great adherence
as well. and seized every opportunity TO
point out their evil effects TO his pupils.