The Irish standard., 1901-02-16
A FAMOUS PEDAGOGUE.
Prof. McElroy, who Formerly Taught
a Classical School.

many persons who remember the
quick-witted Irish professor McElroy,
who for years taught the old public
School No. 6, in Baxter street. 1t is all
of thirty-tive or forty years ago that
Professor McElroy tlourished, but his
personality was so strong and unique
withal that those who once came to
know him will never forget him, and
even to this day his ,droll sayings are
quoted and the verses and songs he
wrote repeated. He was Il very learn
ed man, too, particularly in the elias
sizes, and he had Il gift for weaving the
classic myths and NEUROLOGICAL charac-
ters into rollicking songs, just enough
tinged with an Irish hrogue to make
them very funny when well rendered,
us he knew how to render them. He
wrote limitations of Virgil and Horace
all in the same vein, ana his gifts are
still likencd to those of Father Prout
by the people who remember him.
well. indeed" said Il clergyman recent
ly. who is an old New Yorker and who
has parish near the city. His keen
sense of humor and his sparkling wit
made him delightful companion.
His widow, Il very old lady, is still liv-
ing in the city, believe. l knew his
oft 7 at
tended it. He carried his irresistible
spirit of fun even into the school room
and this naturally made all his pupils
adore him, although he was a strict
pcdogogue at that and an excellent i'll
structOr
Il remember very we'll one of the
FRANKS Ire INDUCED in on the day be-
fore WaShingtons birthday. The ira
dition of it still fingers, although few
people know it's origin. 1t broke out
quite generally all over the city only
few years ago-at the time of the
Washington centennial in 1899. in fact.
At that time groups Of young men, and
some who were not so young went
around town-iillcl with nothing more
ardent than patriotic enthusiasm.
hope-asking in chorus: WHO was
George Washington" And then an
swerng in chorus: First in peace.
first in war; etc, and often ending
With Il few steps of Il breakdown all
done together.
We'll, that originated with one of
Professor McIllroy's school room
pranlls. Just before school WAS dis
missed on the day before W;shington'S
birthday he would draw the boys up in
line
Now. boys liz would say, very
Sravely. what day is tomorrow
'Washin%ton's birthday they
would answer in chorus.
WHO was Washington the teach
cr would ask. still with much sole.uu-
ty and impressivcnesS.
"'l'irst in peace. first in war, first in
the hearts of his countrymel.' the
chorus would respond. and then they
would all give the breakdown step in
unison as gravely as though it We're
regular school exercise.
"'Right We arev McElroy would re-
ply. Take holiday tomorrow, every
spalpecn av yes
ffNVs >f
school boys-that is. school genera
ti0ns | meall-knew this little lark and
looked forward to it with much antici-
patton. and privately practiced the
breakdown until they could do it to
perfection. They did not forget it in
after life. either. as was shown by the
way it broke out spontaneously all
over the city during the Washington
centennial.
''McElroy wrote great many hulnor-
GUS songs and verses. although I be-
lievc none of them ever was printed.
His friends had copies Of them. how
ever, and dare say you could uncarth
many of them here and there in New
York He created an imaginary char
nrter to bring Il choir of these OH. He
called him Professor McEttigan.' and
described him as hedge teacher and
the principal of a Classical Academy
for the Instruction of Young Men in
the Classics Through Vocal Melody
Now and then Professor McEttigan de-
seconded from the classic and taught
geography and other plain branches. l
remember one of Professor McEtti-
gan's lessons in geography.
Michael Mulligan. sthand up. Now
bound and deschribe Ireland
"Ireland is an island.' said Michael.
1T is bound on the west by the Atlantic
Ocean. on the north it is opposite the
coast of Scotland
"'Have done, Michael. Yell niver
get around Come at it once and say
that Ireland sits in the chops of the
English Channel like huge oyster in
the mouth Of an epicure-too big to
swally and too good to lave dhrop.
Now tell me about the Great Lakes of
America
"I.ake Superior is $50 miles long.
14O miles wide. AM
"'Ah gwan wild We, Michael. wild yer