The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13

county resident, VINO relateu
E2N few days ago some of her expert
49, ences of early school life shortly
after Indiana joined the galaxy of States
She was born near Pigeon Roost shortly
after the terrible massacre there in 1a2-
Some of her kindred were slain In the
butchery ny the Indians, and all OF the
twenty-five victims were buried on the
farm now owned by Mrs Dillman, or
'Aunt Sallie," as she is Familiarity known
and over these remains the State has placed
beautiful monument to be dedicated TINS
spring. Up to this time only a large sassa-
fras tree marked the spot where the victims
were inferred. this tree being plainly visible
from trains of the Pennsylvania lines which
hurry past Probably few persons ever no
ticed the historic tree which stands on the
east side of the track on sloping hillside.
Pioneer alarms and hardships have dealt
gently with the good old lady, and her Iowa
bic. motherIy face. framed in silvery hair.
does not record the ninety winters which
have passed over il, while her still hand
some figure is full of much of the vigor OF
middle life. Her story of the pioneer Hoo
sier school was exceedingly interesting and
instructive. illustrating most forcibly the
wonderful progress made since our grand
parents were children and contrasting
strongly the hardships and difficulties of the
children of long ago with the comforts and
cOnveniences of the little scholars OF to-day.
Mrs Dillman started to school one
tumn day in 1890 at old Bethany School, in
Monroe township. four miles east of Henry
VILE. and in Pigeon Roost neighborhood
where settlers had built rude log church.
1t had no windows doors-simply OPEN
ings sawed out OF the logs Mother earth
furnished the floor. and instead of the
neat desk OF to-day split puncheons .(slabs
hewn from the logs furnished the seats
There was no fireplace or stove. the warmth
being furnished by a wood fire in the center
of the room, where pit had been dug TO
serve a fireplace The pungent smoke
rose from there. together with the heat.
and wandered unhindered anywhere IL listed
about the building, coloring the logs a
deep. rich brown and making the eyes of
teacher and pupils shed penitential tears
But il was better than TO suffer from the
cold. So the wee scholars grouped their
puncheon benches around the fire pit and
dangIed their feet over the welcome
warmth, experiencing no great inconveni-
ence from what would throw a child of to-
day into a spell OF pneumonia.
The teacher was a little. energetic Irish
sadly divided between his dram and the
children. Mcconnell loved his little charges
well and did not whip them much. vet
seems to have succeeded well with the few
appliances OF education which could be
commanded.
Thick OF using such a primitive desk as
Mrs. DiIlman describes. n log was taken
out Of the wall. making a long. low open
space. through which daylight and cold
struggled in together. Below the space a
couple of augur holes were bored at con-
venient distances apart pegs stuck in
slantingly. a puncheon laid upon these.
and there was the pioneer writing desk at
which the little pioneers tried 10 fashion
their letters with fingers blue with cold
After a while the school put on more style,
and paper. oiled or creased. was pasted
the opening. to serve the purpose OF a
window.
Nothing but the Three RS" reading
'riting and 'rithmetic, was taught. Such
8 thing as a reader was long unknown, and
Webster's blue-backed speIler and a copy
OF the New Testament furnished the edu-
cational equipment OF that day. The latter
book was read and memorized. Such
thing as a geography was then unheard of
as were other numerous volumes now read
and studied by school children. Yet some
how the children OF that far off day man.
aged 10 get hold OF a fair share OF knowl-
edge. and their intelligence is testified by
the upbuilding OF a great and prosperous
State.
Mrs. Dilman thinks that the present
flood OF books pouring continually upon
the public is rather an evil than a bless
ing. The lady thinks. and with good rea-
&on. that one GOOD book well read and d.