The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

boys school Al one end is a lofty cary
Ell oak mantel. with a generous fireplace
beneath. and al the other end a deep
/ bay window. on two panels at the south
ern end Of the room hang portraits OF
James Buchanan. whose early life was
spent near Mercersburg, and OF Thomas
Alexander Scott. former president Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. who was born at
Fort LoudoD and who attended school at
MorcersburE.
The windows OF the dining-room are the
attractive features. The upper half %
each window is made Of the seals and
stained glass OF one OF the great Ameri-
can universities Each seal. one is told
was presented by its institution. and the
effect OF the collection IS impressive and
beautiful. The ceiling OF the room Is in
dark quartered oak limitation OF the
antique work Of the medieval castles.
Along the heavy wainscOating. about
eight feet high, are carved shields of the
famous universities OF Europe. Frescoes
. and silk hangings give fine effects in blue
and gold.
It is a great sight to see the boys at
their meals. 10 hear the friendly hum Of
conversation. and TO watch the quiet
walters passing here and there In their
white aprons
Boys ut Their Meal.
The visitors sat az table near the
door. reserved for guests. and overlooked
hundreds Of boys. seated eleven al a ia
BILE. with one OF the masters at the head.
The dlsciplinarian. a Virgiuian Of the old
school and a graduate OF the V N T..
sat across the room. having an easy and
complete control over those 400 boys.
Later. when ne called them 20 attention,
the great room with its babel Of voices.
was hushed This wiry. handsome man..
gray al the temples. with HIS soldier 8
manner and voice. seemed 20 be the idol
OF the school They call hin colonel 90
His influence, carrying with IL lessons in
Southern chivalry. honor. and courtesy,
appears 10 be the source Of some OF the
schools best spirit for, while Il Is a
strong curb. 81 is also a sure and manly
guide.
AS the bell was tapped and the boys
file past out Of the door one Is given Op-
portunity 70 study different types Of
faces and their expressions. Here is a
rudy. handsome boy from the conserve
tive stock Of New England: here a slen-
der, dark-haired boy, with olive COM
plexion and deep black eyes, the son Of
some distinguished family Of the old
South Here is a jolly, rotund, we'll
dressed boy, who every one seems 20
know, and for whom every one had a jOk-
ing word II was said later that he was
from Milwaukee, the son OF a rich manu-
facturer. Then. towering above his fell
lows, with rugged face and tawny red
hair. a Texan strobe out. He was said TO
be the most good-natursd, the strongest
and the LATEST boy in the school.
Teachers Leave with Boys.
The teachers left the room with the
boys. congenial and friendly. and separat-
ed from them only by quiet dignity that
is essential to men who have the work or
supervising younger minds. In a school
o. the type Of Mercersburg the boys and
masters are drawn closer than in some
institutions OF learning. and this intimate
and constant association forms ties that
outlast a lifetime. In such a school the
teachers are more Ike elder and wiser
brothers to the boys. and many boy Is
brought to work hard by the interest a
master takes IN his life outside Of school
Coming out Of the dining-room the visi-
tor saw a small army marching up the
walk This was commanded by the col
onel, and II was said this armed force
tor each soldier carried a nine-pound rife
is the guard squad. II seems that when
q boy comes under discipline he is given
a certain number OF hours Of guard, ana
this must be walked off at the rate Of one
hour a day.
Watching this regiment pass. a hand
some young fellow came UP. introduced
himself as a Senator and said his time
and the resources OF his information were
a. the visitors disposal He explained
that the Mercersburg senate was a body
made up Of five teachers and ten boys.
elected for the most part by the boys
themselves and holding Office for one
year. The senate forms customs, mods
school sentiment officially perpetuates
Il traditions. acts as a court Of appeals In
cases Of serious discipline. and Is practi-
cally responsible for the private conduct
Of the student body. II could not be as
certained whence Mercersburg got the
senate idea There are bodies somewhat
similar, but not so powerful, IN a few OF
the great preparatory schools Of America.
But II seems 10 De remarkably devel-
oped system at Mereersburg-
Scholarship At MercersburE.
Walking down toward Main Hall, the
visitor is introduced by the senator 10
the registrar, and straightforward fell to
talking Of college entrance and MERGERS
burg's record In scholarship. lie gave