The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-01
THE JERICHO P0ST.OFFlce.
Pap Perkins, Postmaster, Tells Hsw Hish-
err Education Was Knocked Out.

put the three Instructors on their backs.
The stranger was on hand at the hour
named. and when the proper mint arrived
Squar Joslyn speaks up and says:
Stranger. II you was resident of this
town, would you be fur schooIhouses or
agin 'em?'
I'D BE- fur 'em. of course" replies the
man. I'D vote fur the cause of education
If | had 20 live on one meal a day. II is
education that makes a nation. The less
education the more vice and wickeduess.'
That's jest the way | look AZ it" says
the squar Il say education before every
thing else. but we've got men in this town
who differ with me. You wouldn't think
ttat leadin men Of tOwn would be ag'in
schoolhouses. would youy
They must be- queer sort OF men"
Don't they want their children 10 know
who discovered American"
That's mighty strong pint. mighty
strong"' says Deacon Spooner. as he
tunks his cane Oh the floor and looks at
Abner Jones.
1 reckon you're hittin at me-" replies
Abner. after whittlin away for a moment.
and I've got a few words to say I'd Ike
to ask this stranger here If ne knows who
discovered America"
Why, certainly. sir" said the man
Has it ever done you any good? Has
1t ever made any difference TO you whr;h-
er IT was Smith. Green. or Brown"
'But it is knowledge"
Yes. it's knowledge. and that's a strong
pint" whispers the deacon.
Yes. its SChOOhOuse knowledge" says
Abner, but let me ask YOU sunthin. What
month in the year dyou plant pumpkin
seedsT'
Pumpkin seeds, Why. what have
pumpkin seeds got to do with eIucation?'
Quite II little Bit | reckon This cOun-
~ ships 'nuff pumpkins every year 70
make 100000 10-ceIt pies. | don't believe
ten farmers kin tel you when America
was discovered. but they know when 70
plant pumpkins. Which is the best fur
'em? | reckon you kin tell what year
George Washington died in, which / cau't.
but d'you know whar to fasten a rope
when you want to drive a hog to mar
ket?"
BY jingo, but that's a strong pint. and
AbneTs got him." shouts the deacon as
he jumps up and down.
The stranger appeared to be sort Of
confused AMI taken down, but tried TO gle
out OF it by saying they were trifin with
the subject.
I'm one as isn't opposed to schools and
education" says Moses Plumber. but
don't want too many of EN- I'm sayin
mat everybody orter know how 70 read,
write and cipher. but nowadays they want
10 stun children with a heap that's no
good TO anybody"
But what man kin know too much?'
asks the stranger. But fur higher knowl-
edge how would We know that the earth
reVolved on its aXis?"
But s'pOse we didn't know? Spose We
nsgered 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 to-day?
L was talkin' with young Jim Benson
tother day He could tell the distance
10 the sun within mile, but he couldn't
tell how many rails to a rod of fence. He
could give the names of all the stars,
cut he didn't know that cuttin' a hogs
tail off would make him root the harder,
probably hOpin' to find a 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 be
hind
by lingo. Moses, but that oratory
and a strong pint besides" excIaims the
deacon. In the face of them facts
can't see how We are to git another school
house"
You have been i'll at some time or 9TH
er in your life?" queries the stranger or
Moses.
Il hev. Three years ago l was down
vita fever. and everybody thought I'd
die
"But you were saved. and how? If the
doctor who vas called in had simply
known about fence rails. hogs tails, and
the way cows kick, where would you be
to-day! He had gone beyond readin'.
writIn', and figurin'. 1t was his higher
education that saved your life"
Ih1ts a strong pint ag'in you, Moses"
says the deacon.
Yes, but | didn't call a doctor" grins
Moses My old woman pulled me through
with herb teas and good nurSn'. and yOu
ali know she can't fgGer the value of
two dozen eggs"
I'd like to see him dodge it,"
The stranger was stubbin' his toe
aSln stones in the road and didn't look
happy, but he Traced 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 il. Mr.. Plumber kin read, write. |
and figger, but kin ne draw the plans fur
a buildin'? But fur higher education no
man could do it,"
Yes; il was a smart bit Of work" ac-
knowledged Moses. but | had consider
able to say to that architect He had
never heard that thunder would turn
sweet mi k sour; he didn't know cows
had teeth only on one law. he didn't know
how to stop hen from settin', a hog from
rOotin' or a dog from KILN sheep. He |
even pOked his finger into a WdSp's nest
TO see If the critters was at home I'm
not ag'in schools, but If they is to tell our |
axis why don't they also tell 'em that |
hogs back with cOrncDb |
will help to fatten him.
That's a pint. MOses-it's pint
shouts the deacon as he raDs on a barL |
.'Abner and Moses hey made their pints |
lings"
i've got mighty little to say" replies |
Lish as he sits with his back bumped up |
like a camel.
But il can't be that an intelligent man |
like YOU Is opposed 10 education?' pro- |
tests the stranger.
That's accordin 20 what sort Of educa- !
ton il Is
Il refer to general education. You look |
like a man Of peace. but perhaps you nave /
Yes. ] had trouble with Sam Wheeler |
once"
And you went 10 law2'
Yes"
ITO go 20 Law you had a lawyer n |
that man had only known enough to read. /
write. and figure. he wouldn't have bin "a
lawyer. He had 10 hev higher education |
10 be a lawyer. Don't you see2'
II skassly do" saws Lish-
But you had a lawyer. and 50 did Mr. |
Wheeler There was suit, and you got /
jestice"
That's pint fur the stranger. Iishr'
shouts the deacon.
Yes. Tnebbe 'tis. but lemme tell him
how IL turned out. Sam shet uD one o.
nv hogs with his, and I proved a. but
nv LAWYER lost the case and charged me-
30 20 boot The hog wasn't worth Oyer g !
but Sam had 20 pay his lawyer 81 and |
be went home from the lawsuit 20 find /
he cTitter dead. That ginerai edI-
.ation. Sam and me lost 81 and hog b.
tween Us, and was mad at each Other fur
.en years. and J. m sayin' I've had 'nuT Of
L and am ag'in more schoo!houscs till
ieath'"
The deacon jumped OF the floor AMI said
4 was a pint and strong one. and the
srrauyer got down OF the counter AMI