New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20


the reason why the Flats" children have never
had school before Even by those who wished
10 secure an opportunity to educate their chill
cren ii was admitted that "gong to school, in
Lake St Clair would be attended with many
dangers for the pupils, and that the establish
ment OF a school there might be followed by
terrible child tragedies Lake St Clair storms
are fierce and sudden. During the winter the
dangers OF travelling of Ice where
uhoercurrents are constantly at work, are many,
and Tor many years these things seemed to make
me institution OF a school at the Flats" i'm
possible But there one man there who was
bouno 10 have a school this year even If he had
10 give building and cut ice to pay the teach
e: 5 salary. This was old Joe" Parry
me hrst boy born on the Flats" just eighty
one years ago. Joe" has been married four
times, and is the father of twenty-three chill
diem Paul Wuerthof, Flats" fisherman
ana now president and treasurer of the new
schooi district. Joined Parry in his campaign.
ana TO these two must be given the chief credit
OF establishing the school
No bell calls the children to their str5ias in
the morning; but before the first bit of sun he
GINS TO glimmer the lake thirty girls and
N'9S are getting ready for the days work In
i'"e MONIES scattered all over the Iand-dotted
i-~lSNes lights begin to show earlier than ever
ana even before there is dawn enough
IL see dozen rods ahead the children of the
oi' French settlers who live furthest away are
on their way to school
As the boats. canoes and rr+s sLo,,o -. :,
me early hours of the morning there are ham,
h3efs and nails, stakes. shingles, knives and
traps in the bottoms of most of them and the
boy WHO paddles or rows, if he is alone USUALLY
mas d gun between his knees ready TO take
shot at passing wiidfowl or a muskrat streaking
the wafer ahead
FROM dozen different directions the craft
slowly make their way in the direction of the
Sciiooi Every boy who traps and hunts has
ms regular route" and along this route are
scattered his traps 1t may be that in one of
me canoes there is of the wild little half
French Flats girls, with Indian black hair and
rowing eyes. who paddles for her brother. who
hieels III the bow of the canoe, his gun ready
III MS hands for ii is in these early hours of
me Gay That the morning flight of wildfowI
brings the best shooting here and there tbaz,
pause TO lock at q trap. The bow of the canoe
SHOOTS up IN a bunch of reeds, and, with a ham
ioer or piece Of iron in his hand the boy
bends over and inspects his LAY" If there is
a rat or mink in the trap, a couple of blows
from the hammer or iron bar kill the animal
and the trap is reset and baited again with 4
piece Of potato carrot or apple
FROM the schoolhouse the teacher can easily
mark the progress Of some of her pupils if she
comes early. For miles nothing obstructs the
view over the marshes. and the reports of guns
come with remarkable distinctness. 1t may be
that a boy coming from the Middle Channel
SHOOTS at a flock of ducks while over a mile
away. A few minutes later he fires at a musk
rat, and with each shot, if one is listening the
rate at which he is coming to school" can be
noted. Many Of the boats and canoes mil In
at the schoohouse before O'Clock. which is "on
time" The craft tied to stakes or prlle1
out on the Playground and game guns traps
ana paddles are cared for in various ways some
OF the more suspicious of the youngsters taking
their treasures with them In the boats are
muskrats, strings OF perch and pckerel and
DUCKS Some of the little marsh 'savages'' who
suaggle in may be an hour or two hours late
but a smile greets them all. Then come the
alphabet and the simplest sort of reading and
spelling for those who have been taught a little
at home For two hours the teacher impresses
upon these wild little minds the things that they
must know. She tells them what city boys and
girls do, and varies her lessons with little stories
10 amuse them and get them in sympathy with
school life
After that comes recess, and then one may
see most interesting things at the Flats" school
Boys squat in Indian fashion and talk of their
morning exploits they skin muskrats and
stretch their hides over shingles. From every
one Of the muskrat carcasses the musk is care
fully cut out, for rats" are cooked in all sorts