The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-04
They Attempted TO Make Trouble
In an Evening School.
BIG STEARNS WAS The TEACHER
When the Three TOughs Ran Against Hin
They Found They Had Made a Mistake
One fIed--0thsrs Are COnihta

big" stearps, of the Brown football
| team not only processes TO be past
| master in the tricks of the gridiron, but
| he also has speciality of doing up" any
one who, without official authority. at
tempts to interfere with his rights of per-
sonal liberty. Incidentally, he is a good
school teacher. on the strength OF his
reputation I'm this last line OF work. he
secured a position as teacher in one of the
Pawtucket evening schools, and this
week entered upon his duties with his
characteristic determination TO do slis
best for the uplifting of the youthful
mind in the neighboring village.
Everything went along all right,
Stearns never losing his patience, and.
with the air OF a martyr. trying to instil
into the restless and uneasy minds OF his
pupils the facts that four times three
EQUALS twelve, and that Washington, not
Pawtucket, is the capital Of the United
states.
Last night. however, the calm serenity
of the place was rudely broken in upon,
and for about five minutes. there was
enough things doing TO make that little
room look like the breaking up of hard
winter.
1t seems that soon after the roll-call.
when everyone had settled down to an
evenings hard work, three young men
OF the "hully-gee!" type walked into
Principal Halls office, and told him that
they wanted to register there as students.
Mr. Hall rather suspected they had come
In for purposes other than those OF hard
study, and did not exactly like their APP
pearance. Nevertheless. he took their
names, ages, residences, etc, and sent
them down TO Stearns room.
They staggered In with n sort of we
run this place-tonight' air, and dropped
-iff+e-seats- 4fi-abeut- -tAe-Faiddle- of the
room Stearns looked at them decided
that they were three new pupils, and
went on with his spelling-class.
TROUBLE BEGINS.
Soon there were low mutterings, cat
calls, and shutting of feet at intervals of
a few seconds. Stearns, with a surprised
look on his face, glanced up and saw
that IL sSs his three new acquisitions
who were causing the disturbance. ft
In his quiet earnest way he informed
them that this sort OF thing was forbid
den by the rules of the school. and told
them that they must get through the rest
OF the evening without a repetition of
IL.
Evidently, this was no more than they
expected. for they started in with renew
ed energy TO put de place on de BUM"
The teacher looked up from his work a
second time, and asked them TO leave the
room. H
They firmly refused. and, by their looks
seemed TO invite the big guard to put
them out. Seeing that It was his duty
TO preserve order in his room, and realiz-
ing that IL was not right to allow those
who did wish TO study to be disturbed
Stearns closed his book ard started down
the aisle.
BRIEF BUT FIERCE.
The three visitors at the same time
came forward TO meet him. Those who
saw what happened after this are not
quite sure OF their ground because IL all
passed so quickly. From the mass OF
composite testimony. however. It is easy
to infer the following:
One Of the young men, In his haste got
his chin In the way of Stearns' fist,
and lay down under the desk The
teacher got a good neck hold on the Sec
ord one, and threw him over his hip to-
wards the door. The third one, not car
ing 10 fight all alone. jumped over the
seat. made n sprint for the hall. and slid
through the doorway just as Stearns foot
grazed his flying coat-tail
Going back to the scene of the conflict.
the big fellow asked the other two, who.
by this time were on their feet meekly
brushing OFT their clothes, If they wished
to remain and keep quiet or If they pre
ferrod to go home. They quickly chose
the latter alternative, took their hata
and departed.
Stearns went quietly back 10 his speu-
ing class, as unrufiled as ever. and the
rest OF the evening passed away very
quietly. He saws he enjoys the work of
teaching, and hopes to have a successful
year