Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-06-06

[
always a first class bOy. who saw that
they received Justice and lair play.
MY squad WAS composed OF Theodore
Gsrnelt, now brilliant lawyer in Nor
folk aud formerly gallsn', dashing soi-
dier on Jeb Sluarl's staff Wilmer Brown,
son Of Bishop Bro6n. and Ned Alexander,
of Louisa, nicknsmed Cousin" be
cause he was always Dragging about the
great ieats of strength ths; rel tive
could perform. According 10 Alexander
that cousin was the "Bad Man" of the
South and that all other "rerr0rs" got
up and slid when he walked around.
The first form kids were the only ones
subject to corporal punishment, and AS
it was ''0ld Macs" only recreation and
exercise before breakfast, he had pleuty
OF athletics IS an appetizer.
The fact If the basiness WAS, the
school owed its success TO its strict dis
cipline Most of the pupils were sons
of wealthy planters, who were sccustom-
ed to having their own way at home,
until they become nuisance, and then
we're packed oh' TO the High School
where they soon had the nonsense taken
out of them. 1t was soon found out
that "AIarse john" his mothers darl-
ing, heir to be of the great plantation,
was plain Jack at the High School, aud
he had to fight his way up, and stand
on his own merit.
The boys we're taught, like the Spar
tan youths. "lo ride, to shoot, to tell the
truth" though many of them forgot
their early training, in one particular at
least.
The boys all, that is the younger
ones, looked forward eagerly to the ad-
vent of Sunday. II was not, | am sorry
to say, the prospect OF forming in long
line, dressed 10 their uniforms, and
vending their way like monnners' pro-
ces.ion to the Theological Seminary to
hear sermon of two hours long. II
was not, regret TO say, the lest, the
peace, the calm cOntent that the Sab
bath invites. No. it was, il the truth
must be told. that at Sunday supper
there WAS liberal supply of genuine
cakes, and the younger set filled not
only their stomachs, but their pockets
also. Theo. Garnett WAS the hero Of
Sunday night; he had pair of ranls
with pockets extending clean to his
knees, and Theodore had to amble
slowly TO the "Boy's Parlor," accom-
panied by his ahecIiOnate squad, who
never left him so long az be had 4 dol
lar-I mean a cake -lefl.
What old +. II. student of "snte BEL
lum" era does not remember the "Boy's
Parlor?" 1t was simply small frame
dwelling containing the one room. A
large iron wood stove occupied the cen-
Ire of the room, and three or four beuches
cut, nicked and carved, it seemed, by
every penknife in the school
This room WAS the boys club, and
here it WAS that all their schemes we're
concocled, all their grievances aired, aud
all the weekly fights arranged; and the
ring vas just outside.
The customs of Rugby, so far as
Homeric cOmbats we're concerned, were
carried out literally at the High School.
The head boy was named Lynn. He
had been at the school five years, and
was The acknowledged leader.
Lynn was great athlete AMI an ac-
complished scholar. and what he said
''went." He WAS the umpire, and there
we're none to dispute his sovereignty.
In fact Lynn Was cock of the walk, and
"the only pebble on the beach" "
The boys quarrels we're settled in the
good old English fashion, by q stand up
6ght gouging, scratching and biting WAS
barred. Every Saturday evening the
boys would assemble behind the parlor,
the ring was formed. aud the juvenile
Fitz, Sullivan and Jefifies would sail In
and do as much damage as they could,
Illustrative of the moral maxim "it is
better to give than to receive"
There was fellow named Norson who
had whipped everything in SIGHT. !
remember q fight he had with Willie
Fowle once, that Lynn said was the best
and most delightful he had ever seen at
the High School. | remember MOrsOn
very we'll, tor owe to him broken
limb; but of that | will tell later on.
The teachers never interfered in these
exercises, and If Mrs. Mcclure, who
bound up the bangs and bruises, ever
mentioned them TO her husband We never
heard of it.
The policy of the High School, before
the war, MAS to train the boys physically
as well as mentally Everything tend
ing to luxury, ease and self indulgence
was banished, and many boy just en-
tered felt like Nicholas Nickleby at
Dotheboys Hall, but after they had be-
come hardened and tOughened they be.
came proud of and devotedy attached
to the old Alma Mater. Certainly the
training they had fitted them admirably
for the bivousc and camp, where all OF
them in few years found themselves.
The uniform of the boys was a black
Jacket with bright buttsns, and small
cap to the front of which we're fastened
the three letters, z. h. s., in German
silver, fully an inch long. Whether ii
was the uniform or the airs assumed thai
embittered the boys of AIexsndris
know not, but the minute a High School
| lad appeared on the streets of the ole
burg, the town boys would yell "eggs,
hams and saussges," and then there
would be fight as sure as preaching.
Ny My how many a combat have
those Old streels witnessed, aud how
much blood has sprinkled the pavement