Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
FACT VS.. FICTION

| '.wal," finally said the school supervisor
| Of Sqummidge's Corners, Il reckon yewll
| do young man.
1t was at the termination OF long period
| Of Interrogation that he gave utterance to
| this satisfactory remark The applicant for
| the sehoolmastership Of Sqummide's Cor
the schoolmastership of Sqummdses Cor
grasp. True, II only paid $50 a term. or
| something like that. but he had no expen-
| sive habits. and he could pursue his studies
| Of the Assyrian literature and language on
| that sum and still save something toward
| taking at some future time, postgraduate
course In Esyptology. Perhaps. II his spirit
| told him, later. that a more practical course
| in life might be open to him, he might study
law, then, perchance. enter the legislature,
| even arrive In Congress eventually. and
| THE slender but wiry youth reused MINI
| self from his reverie.
| But yew'u have your troubles. young
man." the school supervisor was saying
| 'Oh, fawncy I can manage, lightly re-
| The school supervisor had told him much
of the unruliness of the pupils Of the SCUM
| midge's Corners school. 1t had been almost
teacher No teacher could manage that
lot of boys. They were rough. hardy lads,
| the sons Of farmers, and they had hazed all
Of the preceding teachers numerically and
/
| One boy especially. said the supervisor.
| Butch McGlue by name. had been the
| terror Of all the school teachers who had
| been put on the Job. Butch" was power
| full lad Of seventeen. the leader of the ruff
| fanly element in the school, and he had
| never been codquered. 1t had been impos-
| sible to shut him out of the school for the
reason that his father was one Of the most
| influential farmers In the county, and road
| supervisor besides. And so. when Butch"
had chased all Of the preceding teachers
1 al trney
| had been said. Nobody could take the
chance of earning the ill-will Of the elder
| McGlue II. however. some teacher could
"oh. i shall hi h Conquer him. lightly replied
the new candidate for the teachers hip.
| Never fear that. I should never permit q
| pupil to take the slightest liberty with me.
Certainly not. Have no fears upon that
| score. I shall establish discipline and main
| tain It,"
II reckon mebbe yew are figgerin' some
| supervisor. Wait till yew become &C
| quainted with Butch"
"Er-is that the young mans manner IN
quired the candidate
| supervisor why be yew askin' that?"
"For the reason" nobly declared the can
| didate. that shall permit no such ignoble
nicknames among the pupils of the school.
| Certainly not What is his christian name?"
John" said the supervisor.
"Wel'' went on the candidate. II shall
deal with this John McGlue. never fear,"
| and he stood up straight and confident.
Powerful husky youngster, though. be
| that McGlue boy" said the supervisor.
| warningly.
"Tm not afraid" replied the candidate.
Great at rasslin', he be-" continued the
HE shall be curbed" said the candidate.
can he kin hit hard blow" said the
II shall take care of him." said the candi-
| date. significantly.
Not on'y that" went on the supervisor.
| ''but tn other youngsters allus back
| 'Butch'-I mean John-up wen tn trouble
Never fear. SIR quietly replied the can
| didate for the teachers place. Il shall
| know how to handle these unruly lads
The supervision, however, did not look so
confident.
"All right young man." he said. "yew kin
try 'em. But I must tell yew tibet you don :, t
month Yew got t demonstrate tibet yew
kin handle EN-"
! Perfectly satisfactory arrangement to
me- SIR" replied the candidate. earnestly.
| Il could ask nothing fairer." ~
| He was, as stated. wiry. supple youth.
| Of twenty-one or so. who had been USED TO
taking his part in the world since nee h, HIS. early h
lacked in stature he made up for In COM
| pactness and agility. Moreover. his mus
| ces were well trained-he had done plenty
| Of gymnasium work. The vicissitudes OF his
young life had taught him perfect self
| control, and there was a menace In his eye
| when he was thoroughly aroused that bade
| those opposing him beware.
With such perfect confidence In himself.
| therefore, there was no sign of nervousness
| upon him when he confronted his pupils
| on the opening day. They were shaggy
| lot of youths, with tousled hair. rreckled
| faces and a certain expression Of defiance
| upon their countenances. They regarded
the compactly formed neatly clad new
teacher with certain leer of contempt
which he did not fall to observe: But he
had been prepared for that. He took a
| keen and sweeping survey of the boy known
as Butch McGlue. He saw that lad to
| be hulking, broad-shouldered ruffianly
| appearing fellow. with small. rat-like eyes,
| a sulky expression slumbering in the depths
of them. But the teacher surveyed the
| hulkng youth with perfect calmness: "A
pretty day. indeed he thought grimly to
| himself when I should undertake my task
with any fear in my heart Of such a lump
! as that same 'Butch!"
Now, young men," said the new teacher.
rapping on his desk with his ruler, Il wish
been appointed to teach you. 1 am going
| to teach you. At the same time am going
| to train you. I am going to have order
| here. You are to obey me implicitly. Any
| deviation from this rule will bring instant
| punishment, and severe punishment upon
| the offender. / don't care who the offender
| is"-and the teacher stared hard at Butch
| McGlue as he said this--'I am going to be
| ODeyeQ, ana L am BOlHS " punish TIE ulS-
| obedient. Remember that. Now you may
resume your seats. and I want perfect
| silence-not even a ghost of whisper
| for the remainder of the morning session.
| am going to do all of the talking here
| myself"
Then the pupils sat down. But there was
| a look of defiance in the rat-like eyes of
| Butch McGlue. He had no sooner taken
| his seat than he gave utterance to loud,
| rasping laugh.
| "Haw. haw haw!' laughed Butch"
| The new teachers face flushed. He was
plainly angry all through. 1t could be seen
| that his muscles were tense with wrath.
| "McGlue," he said. quietly but sternly, ris-
ing at his desk you may come to me-"
| McGlue however, didn't stir.
Did you hear me- McGlue?" inquired the
| new teacher, his jaws closely set.
| No reply from McGlue. But McGlue was
grinning contemptuously.
Very WELL" said the teacher. picking up
| his ruler 81 shall be compelled to give you
! Lesson In obedience, McGlue," and he ad-
vanced upon the refractory pupil, and
| However, just minute. If this were one
| of those magazine yarns. or an apocryphal
account of an early experience Of some
| hanky-pank congressman. the narrative
would drool right ahead and tell how the
| spunky and wiry new teacher advanced
| to the seat of the bully of the school, pulled
| him therefrom by the lobe of one ear