Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-07-31

Editor II Me Sentinel :-It may be
that among your readers there are
those who would not obieettop perus-
ing something Of the old teachers
and others connected with Charlotte
Hall in the days Of the first half OF
the past century. and If you think
fayorably of it, | win give you few
of the recollections that still cling TO
my mind, even though | am In the
seer and yellow leaf oE my earthly
sOYourn. Ny father, who had been
pupil under the great preceptor,
Philip Briscoe, for whom he had an
admiration almost unbouDded, had
made up his mind from the hour OF
my birth that /, too. should be put
under his tuteIage and instruction
when should arrive at the proper
age. Accordingly, in September,
1897, after the old cumbrous gig
had been FURNISHED up, the gear
overhauled and the axles duly greas-
ed, the day arrived for my depar-
ture to boarding school. Some lit
tie time before the sun went down,
we reached the home OF Col. B. /.
Heard, where / was to board, from
which it was an easy walk to Forest
Hall, where Mr.. -Briscoe then lived
and had very fiourishing private
academy. From all the accounts
had received from my father and an
uncle, OF this mans great discipline
and his heroic method of enforcing
it, it was not with unalloyed pleas
ure that i started next morning
after breakfast, with John Heard
and William Love, for the much
talked about Forest Hall and the rex
loci. was given q Latin grammar
and was instructed in what was to
study, being agreeably surprised at
the pains and gentleness of my
teacher. The first two days passed
of very pleasantly, but on the third
there were omens Of trouble brewing
for me by reason of the activity OF
several of the larger boys to get up
the conventional or initiatory fight
between boy and myself. he being
about two years my senior in age,
but about my weight. Threatening
and insulting messages were carried
from each of us to the other, which
were entirely fictitious, and the
managers of the affair told us in
plain terms that honor demanded a
fight-a fight to the finish without
gloves. 1t was arranged that after
school let out that evening the mill
should comeOff. Accordingly, when
the hour arrived, all the school went
around behind the Latin schoolhouse,
and my adversary faced me and soon
landed a right-hander under my left
eye, following that quickly with n
clinch, which ended in his getting
thrown, falling on his face, his eye
brow striking against n piece OF
brick that was protruding from the
ground, and when in his struggles
and twisting about the condition of
that eye became manifest, r was
nearly paralyzed with fright, and
the instigators of the trouble were
much alarmed also. My appetite
for supper that night was not up TO
normal activity, nor could | WOO
easily the gentle god of sleep to
make me oblivious of the fear of that
dreadful punishment | should re-
ceive on my return to school the fol-
lowing morning. ] said my prayers
with unwonted fervor next day, ate
light breakfast and started with
my two companions for school. All
the boys met us in the yard, my late
adversary included. with his right
eye bandaged and poulticed, when
he and / shook hands and remained
the best Of friends during the re-
mainder of his life. The bell rang
for class, and had / known il sum-
moned me TO heaven or to hell
could not have been more miserable
than / was, for had TO confront a
Judge in whom I thought there was
no mercy. The first boy called up
to recite his Latin was the poor fel-
low with the bad eye, and when Mr..
Briseoe saw his condition he asked
what allied his eye. The answer
came, with look abashed and gentle
tone of voice, ''I've been fighting. =
Whom with, sir?" was the next
question. when my name was pro-
nounced. What said the irate
Judge, ''he has.only been here two
days. Then ] was called up to the
desk, and weak and trembling
with difficulty obeyed the order, to
meet my doom. What have you
been lighting abouf2" was asked.
Ny answer was brief and entirely
truthful. for ! felt my end was near.
HE sent me word l was a liar and
he could whip me.. He turned
from me and looking at the other boy
asked II what | said was true.
There was no answer, which was
construed into an admission. In !