Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-30

''BY JINGO. BUT THAT'S STRONG PINT"
day. 1t is education that makes q
nation. The less education the more
vice and wickcdness.'
That's Jest the way l look at ii, -
says tie sGEar. Il say education be.
fore cvcrythin: else. but we've go,
men in this town who differ with me
You wouldn't thiES that leadin men OF
town would be ag'in schoolhouses,
would you:'
| They must be queer sort OF men.
Don't they want their children to know
who discovered American
That's mighty strong pint. mighty
strong" says Deacon Spooncr. as he
tunks his cane on the floor and looks at
| Abner Jones.
II reckon you're hittin at me-" re-
plies Abacr after whittlin away for a
moment. "and I've got a few words
to say. I'd like to ask this stranger
here II he knows who discovered
America"
"Why. certainly, SIR" said the man.
Has 1t ever done yea any good? Has
1t ever made any difference to you
whether i; was Smith. Green or
Brown
"But it Is knowledge
"Ycs, It's knowledge, and that's q
strong pint" whispers tie deacon.
"Yes. It's schoolhouse knowledge"
says Abner. but let me ask you sun
thin. What month in the year d'you
plant pumpkin secds?'
Pumpkin seeds. Why. what have
pumpkin seeds got to do with educa-
tion?"
"Quite little bit. I reckon. This
county ships nun pumpkins every
year to make 100000 10 cent pies. 1
don't believe ten farmers kin tell you
when America was discovered, but
they know when to plant pumpkins.
Which is the best fur en-? | reckon
you kin tell what year George Wash
ington died il, which can't. but d'you
know whar to fasten rope when You
want to drive q lio;, to Icarket:'
by jinEo. but that's a strong pint.
and Abncr's got him. shouts the dea-
con as he jumps up and down.
The stranger appeared to he SORT Of
confused and taken down. but tried to
git out of it Ey say;n they were
Win lIt subject.
I'm one as isn't opposed to schools
| and cducation.' says Moses Plumber,
but l don't want too many OF 'cm.
I'm sayin that everybody orter know
how to read. write and cipher. but
nowadays they want to stuff children
with heap that's no good to any
body"
But what man kin know too much 2"
asks the stranger. But fur higher
knowledge how would we know that
the earth revolved on its axis:"
"But s'pose we didn't know? S'pose
we fggered that the earth stood still?
Wouldn't we have licked the British
at Yorktown Jest the same, and
wouldn't the price of wheat be the
same as today? was talkin with
young Jim Benson t'other day. He
could tell the distance to the sun with
in q mile. but he couldn't tell how
many rails to 4 rod of fence. He could
give the names of all the stars, but he
didn't know that cuttin a hogs tail or
would make him root the harder, prob
ably hopin to find q new one. He could
tell when every state come into the
Union, but he didn't know that a COW
kicked sideways instead of straight
behind"
by lingo, Moses, but that's oratory
and u strong pint besides" exclaims
the deacon. I'm the face Of them facts
can't see how We are to git another
schoolhouse."
You have been Ill ut some time or
other in your life:" queries the stran-
ger Of Moses.
Il hev. Three years ago 1 was down
with fever and everybody thought I'd
die"
But you We're saved. and howl II
the doctor vino was called In had sim
ply known about fence rails, hogs
tails and the way cows kick. where
would you be today? He had gone
beyond readin, writin and fgurin.
It was his higher education that saved
your life.'
That's 4 strong pint ag'in you,
Moses" says the deacon.
"Yes, but 1 didn't call doctor" grins
Moses. my old woman pulled me
through with herb teas and good nurs-
In, and you all know she can't hgger
the value of two dozen eggs"
Then the pint is on the stranger.
and I'd like to see him dodge 1t"
"The stranger was stubbin his toe
ag'in stones in the road and didn't look
happy, but he braced up and said In
answer:
Let us take a case right here at
home. Here is a store. 1t had to be
designed by an architect before the
carpenter could build 1t. Mr.. Plumber
kin read. write and figger, but kin he
draw the plans fur a buildin7 But
fur higher education no man could do
it."
''Yes; 1t was a smart bit OF work"
acknowledged Moses, but had con-
siderable to say to that architect. He
had never heard that thunder would
turn sweet milk sour; he didn't know
cows had only teeth on one jaw: he