The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-20
Examining the Teacher.

The resolution with which suffering and
want were borne by families Of the con-
federacy which had lost their all in the
| civil war is a proud memory for the south
and for the nation. Before amnesty Was
extended to all confederate leaders their
position was pitiable. With other dis
tinguiShed soldiers, General Pickett fed
TO Canada, whittier he was followed by
his young wife. There they assumed the
name Of Edwards. They were safe, but
without money. Mrs. Pickett was as de-
termined as her husband and casting
about for work 10 do, she answered an
advertisement for a teacher. The sequel
is told in her late volume. Pickett and
His Men"
! was shown into the primmest of par
Tors. The tall, angular proprietress met
me with a "Well-What-can-I-dO-f your
expression. / felt all my courage going
May 1 see the professor l asked.
The advertisement was for a teacher,
not for pupil she replied.
i am perfectly aware Of that" I an
swered.
A most quizzicaI expression punched up
the corners Of her mouth. She left the
room and soon returned.
viii you be so good as to come up to
! the recitation rOOm2" she said.
/ saw as soon as l entered that q de-
scriptiOn of me had preceded my coming.
and not a very fiattering one, either, /
/ judged from the faces Of the professor
and pupils.
The class consisted of fourteen young
ladies, all Of them apparently older than
1 was. The professor had a pleasant
round. smooth face.
And you have really come to apply
( for the POSITION he asked
Il have. sir.
The expression on Miss McIntosh's face.
the nUdgIng and suppressed litter among
the pupils which this expression called
forth, were not calculated to lessen my
embarrassment.
Have you had any experience in teach
ing?"
mo. sir" 1 said.
NAV I ask where you were educated?"
AT nome. Then ] went TO Lynchburg
college where I was graduated
is that in England2'
"Oh no. sir. said /. astOnished at his
ignorance, and then, recOllecting myself
just as 1 was about to inform him that
Lynchburg Vas the fifth town in pOpu-
latiOn in Virginia. was on the south bank
OF the James river, ll6 miles from the cap
/ ital Of the state and within view of the
Blue Ridge mountains and the Peaks of
Otter. stopped short. embarrassed at
my imprudence.
And so YOU We're graduated there. Do
you remember how Caesar commences2' 81
Yes, sir Gallia est omnis divisa in
parties tres
He gave me several sentences to trans
late and some selections from Catullus
and Tibullus. By this tIne the nupiIs
were silent and Miss Mclntosh's express
sion was changed.
He asked me to write and parse q. SEN
fence which 1 did. saying, soto voce, as
he took the chalk from me, That was a
catch question"
Without noticing my aside. he wrote
in Latin: The president Of the United
states said, Nobody is hurt -
instead of translating. 1 looked up at
him and said:
But. oh, sir, somebody was hurtr'
Quickly he cleared the board, wiped his
hands. turned his face toward me and
Offering his hand. said. not to my sur
prise. for / have faith in prayer. but
rather to that of Miss Mcintosh and the
young ladies':
II viii engage you, Mrs. Edwards, and
will be responsible for YOU
My first months salary was spent in
part payment on an overcOat for the
general, and only our Father and the
angels know what joy filed my heart
that with my work l could give MIN com
fort.