The Washington herald., 1913-02-10
STATESMEN-REAL AND NEAR
By FRED c. KELLY.

BY the courtesy of the Tennessee Leg
islature, Washington now has a chance
to get acquainted with the champion bow
tanner OF the southland-if not Of the en-
tire country.
In the public prints he is called Prof.
William r. Webb. and now he Is Sena-
tor Webb until after March 4; but none OF
the present or former pnpTls of webb's
school at Bellbuckle, Tenn, or anybody
else that knows him. ever refers TO him
except as 'Old Sawney." Why he ever
came to be called ''Sawney" ne HIM
self does not know; nobody seems to
know.
Not only does this new Senator operate
the most unusual preparatory school in
the country. but he is the owner of the
only COW in the explored world that ap-
pears TO know all about Greek and Latin.
Those are far and away the chief sub
Jects taught at Webb's schooI-Greck and
Latin. When he opened his school Just
after the war, Prof. Webb set out to
make his pupils so familiar with the
Anabasis and the jovial Horace that the
stun would jell and stay in their heads
forever. And all the modern demand for
more practical things has never caused
quaint. whiskered. grizzled old Saw
hey to let up on the classics for the
traction of a second. His pupils learn
something of still other subjects. Of
course, but above all they must master
Greek and Latin and certain rules of
cohouct and morality as laid down by
"sawney' himself
Also. they must behave tbsn.a,vs,
olo sawney sees to that. For many
years. whenever Southern family has
boy too unruly to be handled any
where else, they threaten to pack him
on 10 Bellbuckle- There are many
good boys in the school, and some girls
have gone there. but it has been known
above all else as the best place for the
worst boys.
There is just one don't" saws
"swaney," in his gospel of dos" That
single don't is this: Don't ever do
anything on the sly" His friends de-
clare that he is practically certain to
talk to the Senate on that text before
March 4. After nearly fifty years Of
practice, he can discuss the phase Of
morality covered by his one don't
with great facility and in a simple
style withal that the Senate should
easily comprehend
Whenever a pupil tries to crawl I'M
der or over an important rule Of be-
havior and gets caught at it. odd
Sawney is in the habit of using the
incident for a hook on which to hang
a long talk on human conduct. This
talk may last only an hour. or 1t may
run much longer. Often he can go
over his whole code of morality briefly
in a couple of hours. but occasionally
he will declare all recItations of and
just talk for the whole day.
Webb never asks a pupil to adhere to
any code Of behavior that he doesn't
follow himself. For instance. he chews
tobacco and smokes a pipe and that
places those same simple pleasures
within the reach of the boys. They can
chew and smoke, but the smoking must
be confined 10 cigars and pipes
Cigarettes do not go al all Neither do
or swearing. Following out his
injunction never to do anything on the
sly, ''Sawney' has an honor system in
force at his sChool-but not so much
SO that he doesn't keep a general over
sight to make sure that honor is not be-
ing dishonored. In that way he plays to
all factions.
The school is probably the nearest ap-
proach now remaining in this country to
the old Rugby type. They have forms
instead of classes. When the study hour
comes. weather permitting. a pupil picks
up his cane bottom chair and goes forth
into the fields. or wherever he wishes
10. Informality prevails, but grab the
fact from those who have been there that
the rules are enforced. Whether by
stress OF persuasion or physical violence
one Is forced to obey. Some Of the lead
ing unruIy boys of the last two genera
tions have become "Sawney's' prides
once he got them broken to lead.
The late Senator Carmack was one Of
''Sawney's' favorites, though his stay
at the school was tumultuous in the eN-
trene. Carmack once remarked that he
was the best educated person in the
school. The word educate comes from
the Latin word, educO, meaning to lead
out he said: II have not only repeat
edly been led out. but I have been
dragged out and kicked out
William F. McCOmhs, Democratic Ma
tional Committee chairman, is anOthe.
Webb alumnus. but he was much less
unruly than many of his fellows.
Now We come 10 the part about the
COW that seems to understand Greek and
Latin William Webb, Jr., man about
forty years of age. is his fathers chief
assistant in running the school. Son
his father invariably calls him.
Sticking right TO their system Of in
-ormality. the younger Webb, at his
rathers suggestion. long ago fell into
he habit of hearing the boys recite their
Greek and Latin while he sat milking tho
-amily COW.
I've got some things on my mind and
nay not follow you closely he'll say.
but the COW will tell YOU If you get
lnything wrong. II she shakes her head
'ou know there's something awry'
And he is right. Just as soon as a
,upil misplaces A verb or fumblcs a
ense. bossy shakes her head. Fresh
nen are brought up to believe implicitly
hat the COW has absorbed her present
knowledge of the ancient tongues just
" hearing 1t recited at the milking hour
or these many years.
II is not until the freshman becomes
sophomore that he is taken into the
ecret. which is that son William has
he COW trained TO shake her head when
lie nudges her at certain point on her
eft hind thigh
Copyright, 1913. by Fred c. Kelly An rishts r.-
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