The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-01
The Coed System
TOrIglnal.1

lOrlBlnal.J
Miss Rose Harding was trying to
beat the three RS into the heads OF the
ignorant In Il small schoolh0use located
In the midst Of sheep raising country
In the far west. Miss Harding was
the daughter of those who had been
wealthy IN the east. Her father had
died insolvent, but, fortunately for
Rose, he had given her college cduca-
tlon. The laws Of supply and demand
work the same in education as any
where else. Where there is the most
ignorance there Is the greatest need
for teachers. At any rate, Miss Hard.
ing received an offer in Montana and
accepted It, She was surprised to find
her scholars Of mixed ages, ranging
from ten to twentysiX years old. But
she had no difficulty In arranging her
classes, for the oldest scholar knew no
more than the youngest. But it was
hard work. Rose had taken prizes iu
college and was fitted to instruct
young people Of advanced scholastic at
talnments In the sciences.
One morning while she was trying to
teach her scholars how to spell "yacht"
and such other words In the English
language as are spelled farthest
from their sound a sheep herder rode
up to the schoolhouse door and asked
II any one had seen n flock Of sheep
In the neighborhood. Miss Harding
put the question to her scholars, and
all answered in the negative. While
this was being done the sheep herder
was RECALLING his eyes with the sight
Of the refined and comely Miss Hard
Ing. Such n sight. especially ut that
time, was not usually to be had In that
region, and the hcrder evidently did
not propose to let the opportunity slip
"Say, MISS" he said, "do you think
you could drive any larnin' into my
noddlc?"
The teacher looked III him scrutiniZ-
ingly. He did not look at all stupid.
though he might not even know his
letters.
"That would depend Upon what help
you would give me in the matter"
The young man threw himself from
his horse and, hanging the rclns to a
hook screwed to the cabin for the pur-
pose went In and took position in the
spelling class"
"Fire away. schoolmarm," he said.
"Spcll the word salt"
"S-o-l-t."
'"Try again"
"S-o-u-l-t."
"Try nga:n.a
S-a-u-l-t''
"Oncc more"
"S-a-w-lt."
There was smile on the teachers
face. Although her new scholar was
evidently more unteachable than any
Of her other scholars the lines Of his
face were entirely unlike theirs. There
was something lncongruous in his ig-
porancc and his physiognomy.
'"Teacher," said a gawk OF twenty
three, 81 kin tell you how to larn him
how to spell it. Tell him If he gets it
right next time he kin kiss the purtyest
gal in the room."
There was shout Of approval Of
this proposition, but Miss Harding de-
INJURED. However, since her scholars
would have 1t so, assuming that "thc
purtyest gal" meant those among the
scholars she reluctantly consented.
every WELL" she said, "try again."
"S-a-l-t," snapped the herder and adj
vanced to take his reward Of the teach
er. Blushing rosy red, she ordered
him back, telling him that she was not
included. There was an uproar among
the scholars and much pouting among
the girls. for the herder, since he could
not kiss the teacher, would kiss none
Of Them
"You have struck vital principle In
pedagogy" said Miss Harding to the
hcrder. There was Il twinkle in her
eye. Perhaps 1t came from sus-
piclon that he knew how to spell tho
word salt from the beginning. "Some
day you may be n teacher yourself and
can Introduce your stimulant among
the co-eds." ,.,..'. .r.
Diplomatic. ....... ,....
"Peckham's wife doesn't chatter a.
much rs she used to-"
"No. Peckham cured her. He tolt
her that when her lips were close t.
gether they formed perfect Cupid'a
a.. = ~. .