The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
THE OLD.TIME TAWS.
An Instrument OF Correction That In Some
Homes Hung Near the Bible.
From the Chicago Times Herald.

I'm old times. " remarked n well-known educa-
tor. the taws always huns near the family
Bible. and the boy who was late TO morning
prayers always had his jacket tanned 10 give
him n trustworthy memory. ! myself have
been ,hrashed by my father and my teacher
both for the same offence. No bones were
broken, for in those days they tempered zeal
with Judgment. Nowadays II you whip a
boy you are supposed 10 whip viciousness into
him. but then it was whipped out Of him. so
that he might grow up a decent citizen. |
was not punished every day nor every week,
for | had a wholesome fear of my fathers good
right arm. and ! have no hard feelings toward
him or the schoolmaster who conscientiously
whacked me during my studies in the district
school. | feel sure now that ] deserved more
than | got. And I was a grown man. too. the
last time my father thrashed me.
Yes" continued the narrator, who Ia now
a college professor, Il owe my present posi-
ton to that later punishment, | had begun
10 go out evenings oiled nv hair and. wore
blue cravats, and got home early next morn
Ing because TO go in a crowd Of young people
a dance meant a trip Of ten or twelve miles
and getting home at sunrise. was generally
pretty sleepy next day, and not much good
on the farm, and my father reasoned with me
and asked me If | expected TO burn llfe's can
die AZ both ends. and limited that | was a fail
ure in the agricultural line anyway which
| knew TO be the truth. | can remember now
how the tears would cone into my eyes with
an effort not Ia yawn while he was occurring
me, or 10 prevent me from going to sleep NJ
the breakfast table after one OF those all-night
outings. More innocent recreation never was
known, but my good father saw harm in any
diversion that kept his progeny out Of bed
after y y. VI And when be laid down a law
he was ready 10 help keen it
That brings me 10 the crisis which sepa-
rated me from m" old farm. had been out
10 a merry-maklng, where the young peo-
pie danced and Toasted under the eyes Of their
elders. but the girl | was sparkling lived so
far away in an opposite direction thar by the
time / had taken her TO her home and returned
TO mine II was morning of the next day.
got into my working clothes and had the plough
horses at the door by breakfast time. and
iattered myself that my father had not oh
served my absence. Nothing was said az
breakfast. but | nearly fell of my chair with
sleepiness and severalt times gave irrelevant an
swer. 10 the old gentleman's questions, The
field was ploughtng was some distance from
the house. II Wa autumn and the air wa,
like wine IL was one OF those absolutely
still days. and the fields OF ripened corn. not
quite ready for the harvest, looked like painted
vegetation. saw II all through my halfshut
eyes. aud when ! got Ia the blowing | felt
sleeper than ever and the landscape was a
blur on my sight
Il took of my Goa, and hung II on the fence.
After n little 7 heard my fathers voice at a
great distance calling me,
Herr, John John! Wake up! Dye hear.
john
Yes. SIR | called Is il morning.
Then | opened my eyes and the whole dread
truth broke on my shrinking Intelligence.
The sun was al midday the horses and plough
were not IN : yght, and my father stood over
me with the lines in his hand and a look on
his face that | knew meant business.
Where are the horses and the plough?' I
IN
"Oh, they re safe enough retorted my
father get up They got hungry for their
home with the plough. You won't have to har-
vest that acre Of corn. they dragged the plough
thr9ueh every s9uarr foot OF It Get up
I had laid down for a minutes nap and slept
for four or five huurs and followed my father
home no. he followed me. and at every step
| took got the benefit Of those doubled lines
across some part % my anatomy. BY the
time we reached the house ! was doing a quick
step and felt a. if should never want 10 sleep
again. The next day | left home, but ! am
satisfied that II il had not been for that fog
ging ! should still be- torturing the earth with
my futile efforts To be a farmer
centlest and most kind hearted Of men. tells
This story of himself After he had become
a popular physician he met the sChoollnaSter
who had taught him IN the little red schoolhouse
Of his early life III" ,hre" Rs, and int"rspersed
his instruction with doses Of ti0gging, When
the doctor met his old pedasogue he said
You cannot imagine how AnNlONSIy ] have
looked for this hour 10 Come. Why. II has been
the desire of my life for wears, and ! shall die
happy IN know that this wish has been granted
me
NV dear fellow, you fatter me. you really
do But yon know you always were my favor
ite pupil AWAY"
II never suspected H." said the doctor. and
we may be sure there was n twinkle his IN eye;
but YOU SEQ registered n vow long ago that the
first time mot my honOred sChoOlmaster
abroad would even mp scores with him and
give him n tremendous thrashing. You re-
member that YOU thrnshed me more than any
other boy in the school"
The eyes Of the old master were moist. his
lip Guivered.
My dear boy" he said plaintively. ~ was
for your good for your good"
Strip. cried the doctor. f'ourishing his cane
in air. and using the familiar tone md command
Of his former teacher,
But there the Joke ended and the doctor
threw down his cane 10 embrace his old friend
and thank him for the discipline Of the tawS.
II is one Of the good doctors fads that nogging
j. n hvginnic method Of punishment. ro,ising the
circulation and giving n clear brain 10 sluggish
bodies. The memory Of one Of those old-time
f~oggings has power 10 stnrt the circulation
after many yenrs