The silver star., 1899-04-13
sehooImaster Oliver Optic

Oliver Optic was a schoolmaster
away back in the SOS. in Boston-oh.
yes, he was schoolmaster, and good
one-he was known by his real name,
William Taylor Adams. says contrib
utor to the Record. It was at this
time that Mr.. P. j. Healy. now prom
snent Chicago business man, made his
acquaintance. Mr.. Healy did not at
first have that regard for oliver OPP
tic which I am sure you would have
| felt could you have known him. But,
you see. Mr.. Healy was mischievous
boy then, and Mr.. Adams was only
"the teacher"
However. Mr.. Healy still relates
some amusing incidents Of those school
days, which may serve to acquaint you
better with the personality of the rare
story-teller who has entertained so
many thousands Of boys and girls.
On one occasion young Healy ar
rived at school very early and placed
some pieces of candy in the desks Of
several little girls who most suited his
juvenile fancy. This proceeding was
strictly against the rules. After school
had been in progress some time a girl
raised her hand and said:
PLEASE. teacher. Master Healy has
been putting candy in the girls
desks"
Mr.. Adams replied instantly:
did he give you any?"
mo. SIR"
"Then sit down."
On another occasion spelling con-
| test was in progress. Each scholar
had written perhaps fifty words on his
slate, and the states were being passed
| from one pupil to another for correc-
| ton When young Healy got his slate
| back he found that all such words as
wagon, "faggot." etc.. which he had
spelled with double letters, as he had
been taught in Europe. were marked as
incorrect by his rival students. But
IL a small boy of ~ might be said to
have a transatlantic reputation as a
good speller young Healy had one. so
he entered vigorous protest. Oliver
Optic scratched his head for moment
and then said:
II guess I'll have to allow those
words to go through: you see." smil-
ing blandly at his class. that's the
way they taught spelling when Healy
and 1 were boys together"
On another morning young Healy
and two other boys had given such a
brilliant recitation that Mr.. Adams
granted them the very unusual privi-
lege OF going home at II o'clock for the
day. So delighted were the boys that
they rushed pell nell down the wide
stairway leading from the upper floor.
making, of course, nearly as much
noise as a small earthquake. Just as
they reached the bottom they ran
into the arms of the head master. a
crusty old fellow named Kimball. The
other two boys managed to run the
blockade, but the master grabbed
young Healy by the hair. and without
a word began to drag him back to the
room from which he had departed In
such triumph but a moment before.
Arrived there he was thrust into a
corner by the terrible Kimball. who
forthwith entered complaint Of riot
Gus conduct with Mr.. Adams. Then he
departed. leaving the culprit to be
sternly dealt with. Oliver Optic had
heard the head masters denunciation
in silence, and he now asked young
Healy for his version.
"Why. we were so glad to be let on
early that we Just ran downstairs as
fast as we could"
WELL" said Oliver Optic. trying
hard to look stern. do you know what
1 think you had better do?"
mo. SIR"
go right on" and he pointed to the
door.
In after life when Oliver Optic
had occasion to pass through Chicago
on his way to Minneapolis to visit his
daughter. Mrs. Sol Smith Russell. he
was q frequent visitor at Mr.. Healy's
home. He loved dearly to talk over
the old school days In Boston. and his
former pupil insists that more gen.
ial and kindly man than oliver Optic