The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
DR.. Kemp Battles RecoI-
Iections Of His In
struCtOrS.
NOT ONE WAS CRUEL
The Stories of the lnhuman Conduct o.
the Old Time Schoolmaster
Were Grossly Exaggerated.
By KEMP p. BATTLE, Prof. History.
University of n. &.


Mrs Harriet B. Bobbitt, wife of Mr..
John B. Bobbitt. In 1873, when the
town was laid off, twenty-five acres
were reserved, one-half or the eastern
side of Main street, for a school Tor
bovs: other half, or the western part,
for females Mrs. Bobbitt had the fe-
male school and her husband that for
males. She was allowed TO mix IN
with the girls small boys, ana hence
bartholomew F. Fuller, Judge Thomas
Fuller, col. Jeff. Marlborough and my
self, with others, were school-mates In
the year of our Lord 1889.
Mrs, Bobbitt was an aunt OF the
Misses Partridge, who adorned Raj
eish society, and sister of DIR. Eugene
Grissom's mother. She was woman
of ability, as was shown by a strong
face. with prominent nose and chin.
She had no children and, recall, that,
coming from a house full or those
blessings, | looked with a species of
awe on o married woman. VINO had
never been blessed with one. she an
ticipated the modern fashion by nav
ing two flee dogs, who trOtted sedately
i'm front of her and waited patiently
for her return home. While she was
not cross. I never saw her laugh.
There was no instruction given, ex-
cept by listening to lessons previously
assigned. When the trustees came at
the close of the school to examine the
pupils we were in great trepldatlon
until Mrs. Bobbitt gave us the word In
WebsterS Elementary which she
would give out to us to spell. This
..spious fraud" worked well. Good or
der in school hours was kept but, al
though large switch was by the fire.
place, it was not actually used on the
bodies of malefactors. The punish
ments were standing in a corner. with
or without ounces cap, and keeping
in2 after school hours. The girls be-
haved with all decorum. Once when
a large pile of leaves was left on the
lawn the boys found infinite amuse-
ment in turning somersets in the soft
bed. We invited the girls to join us.
but the proposal was declined. 1t was.
suggested that hoops could be used to
confine the lower skirts but even that
was repudiated. Mrs. Bobbitt was
faithful teacher, of the Old-fashioned
school In her old age she removed
to- the home of her nieceS and died in
Raleigh.
Her husband was of Franklin coun-
ty and graduated at our University in
1909. Mr.. w S. Battle, of Edgecombe,
was one of his pupils He says that as
he approached the academy he heard
a loud humming noise. He found the
teacher sitting in chair. leaning
against the wall with his feet on the
rounds. The boys sat with faces to
the wall on backless benches, all
studying aloud as is usual in China.
When a class recited, the members.
stood in front of the teacher, who
heard the lessons with closed eyes.
There was little discipline, no punish
mont for y11iScino lpccnnC pnnilS WprQ
struck with awe at the sight of man
knowing Latin and Greek without
looking at the book Rev. r. H. Whit
aker in his interesting "Reminis-
cences' has a fuller description of this
learned and whimsical man. Is.
After being year with Mrs. Bob
bitt, my father removed to Raleigh
about Christmas, 1889, and l was pro-
NOTED to the dignity of a male acade-
my. My next younger brother was
sent to the. children's school of one. of
the best teachers Raleigh ever had
Mrs. Eliza Taylor, widow of Attorney
General Taylor, and grandmother of
Messrs. Charles and FabiuS BuSbee.i
His report of his observations of the
first days proceedings is interesting,
as showing how things strike imma-
ture minds. To the question, ''How
did you like the schools?" 81 liked
1
woman hollering Silas s(silence) all the
time" The. male school l attended
was held in the eastern rock building,
of st. Mary's School, This was the last
remnant of the defunct Episcopal
school two years before the property
having passed into private hands, was
leased by Rev. DR.. Albert Smedes. The
teachers were two, candidates for or;
ders in the Episcopal church. Mr..
IaI, A of or
Mr.. Edwin Geer. of Washington. n.
c., the former holding the female in,
the mornings, the latter in the after
moons.
Mr. Bachhouse was a first honor
graduate of the University and tutor
afterwards. He was stern, saturn
inc man, good scholar and faith
full instructor after the old-fashioned
manner of hearing lessons, some of
which were expected to be prepared
at home. His face was reddish con-
tinually which fact l recalled when
years afterwards he was depOsed from
the ministry. He was regarded as eX-
tremely severe, but can not recollect
an instance of a punishment not well
deserved A series of castigations will
always live in my memory. There was
q colored barber suspected of telling
tales on the boys. He owned an UNI
occupied shanty near our path to the
town. One afternoon the big boys
endeavored in vain to tear it to pieces.
was too young (only eight years old) i,
to engage in the rough work and
abode by the piles of books while the
devastation was going on. Next morn
ing Mr.. Bachhouse had the names OF
all the house-breakers. He called
each up stairs and gave him sound
logging / sat quaking and crying
through it all. After terrible agony
my time came, but instead of the call
to come up stairs. the executiOner de-
scended and said: Kemp! they say
you did nothing but stay by the bags:
/ will let you off, but remember that
he who guards the bags is guilty like
the rest
Mr.. Geer was of gigantic stature
with heart as big as his body. He
ruled by love and by respect for the
enormous muscular power latent In
his frame. AS evidence of his faith
fulnaSS tn duty I recall that not one