The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-01-14
or ruler to the inside Of the hand.

les, Of no practical Importance. and
were pursued only by an occasional
student Of mature years. Outside
Of spelling and reading there were
no regular classes. owing to the great
disparity in attainments and diver
sity Of text books. Nearly every pub
lication extant was represented by
the students OF reading. from the
backless Testament to the last years
almanac. Most every one had a copy
Of Webster's bluebacked speller,
which was also used for . reader in
the more elementary grades. Others
more advanced read from Bible, the
Columbian Speaker, and the lives OF
Washington and Jackson. Fragmen-
tary editions of the Revised Statutes
we're also to be seen. The copies of
arithmetic most In evidence were
those of Deboe, Pike and Ray. States
Of elaborate dimensions were exclu-
sively used, and many ciphered out
the intricate problems in "Tare and
Tret." with bits OF soapstone for pen
ellis, gathered from the banks of
neighboring streams.
AS there is supposed to be a time
to or for all things. so there was a
time in the Old Field School set apart
exclusively for writing. The copy
book was home product. made from
the blue FOOLS cap paper, and the
pens were fashioned from goose
quills, under the skilful hand Of the
teacher. Copies we're set suitable to
the various capacities of the pupils.
and ranged in character all the way
from the initiatory step Of Pot
hooks" to that OF Many men Of
many minds" The writing class sat
before the ponderous table facing the
wall, and the only time Of the days
session in school in which there was
an approximation to quietness IN the
room was the half hour devoted to
writing broken only by the musical
squeak of two dozen goose Quill pens.
The study Of spelling was made
very prominent and the recitations
were always oral. The classes lined
up in a long row, and the words Of
the lesson were pronounced to each
pupil in turn. When a word was
misspelled, the pupil below who
spelled 1t correctly took his place
above the one who missed It. and the
pupil standing at the head of the
class at the close of the recitation
was given head mark. and took his
place next day at the foot Of the
class. The pupil obtaining the great
est number Of head marks during
the term of school was given a pre-
MUM at the close. Then there were
spelling matches in the evening"
season of unbridled fun and frolic.
Two captains were designated. who
"chose up" and the house was divid-
ed. as nearly every one spelt. and
battle royal ragged for supremacy.
The most exciting time came when
both sides stood up and spelled
down'-each contestant sitting down
on missing word. This contest was
often prolonged. for there we're good
spoilers at that time. and It frequent
ly happened that some diminutive
pupil-most generally a little girl
would hold half-dozen stalwart
opponents in check. and ofttimes
come of victorious.
| A prominent incident. ever con-
nected with q winter term Of school,
and one which was looked forward
to as q red-letter day, was the
Christmas Treat" 1t was an un-
written law. sanctioned by universal
custom. that the teacher must give to
the pupils of the school not only a
holiday on Christmas. but also a
bountiful repast Of apples. or cakes
and candy. Very often this demand
was positively refused, and then came
the dangerous sport Of turning the
teacher out and making him treat"
To accomplish this. the schoolroom.
in his temporary absence. was secure
ly barricaded, so as to prevent in
gress. while a force Of the largest
boys remained on the outside to
guard against the possibility of en-
trance or the escape of the teacher
from the premises. The penalty of
noncompliance was a ducking in
some nearby stream or pond of wa
ter, the Icy nature of which usually
enforced tardy and sullen COM
pliance.
The recreative sports and amuse-
ments of the old country schools
were many and varied In character.
The boys mostly engaged In what
were termed Town ball." "Mumble
peg" and "Roly poly" while the
girls played "Puss wants her corner"
Jumping the rope" ANTE over"
Ring round rosy" and other more
quiet games. Jumping, foot racing
and "blackman" were also favorite
pastimes Of the boys; and skating,
coasting and snow balling were high
ly enjoyed in midwinter. Attending
all these were innumerable little JOY
Gus pleasure of youthful associations
that have passed with the age of the
o1dan timps "Tha prana vine eui N q