Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-12
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES Y FROM AUNT. JUDY.

Dear Editor and Sisters of the So- cial Corner: In thinking over the dear old school days of over fifty years ago, am wondering if any ot the older sisters can recall some of the songs used at that time. some thing like this:
 "There was an old lady
 Lived over the sea,
 And she was an Island Queen; Her daughter lived off
 In a new coutree,
 With an ocean of water between" The old Iady.s cOffers were full Ot
 gold,
 But never .contented was she So she called on her daughter to pay or three pence a pound on her tea Now Mother, dear mother, the
 daughter replied,
 Fl won't do the thing you ax, I'm willing to pay fair price for
 But never three penny taxi"
 The last three verses have slipped away. I would be much pleased if some sister could recall them.
 The song was great fayorite in New York state schools, and was sung
 
 panied by the singing master with his violin.
 Pianos in schools were unknown in those days, and violin in the hands of a woman would have been consid- cred a menace to good morals.
 The singing master, carrying his violin in flannel bag, was hailed with joy, for the musical exercises were truly invigorating.
 After more than fifty years I can see the old Schoolhouse, a big dreary building, devoid of all ornamentation indoors and out, a great contrast to the pleasant rooms of the present time. The boys were quartered on one side of the building, girls on the other, having DO communication with each other. A high brick wall divided the play grounds. The girls were dis missed earlier, allowing ample time Tor getting them we'll on their home- ward way, before those dreadful boys started. It always seemed to me child as was, that some of the older girls were very slow walkers.
 The most uncomfortable of seats and desks occupied the center of the schoolroom. Long benches were on three sides of the room, used for reel , tations. To the right of the teachers desk was a shorter bench, used as a place of punishment. It was blot upon the fair face of the room-a
 
 by those who aspired to an early de- parture from this wicked world, for in those days it was duly i-lnressed upon the youthful mind-"The good die young
 ''Fortunately for tfle succeeding gen. eratiOn, this place was not always avoided by the future mothers of the race. This particular corner was called "The Bad Land;" and woe to the lucl1less girl, stranded there on Friday afternoon-Visitor's afternoon for it was then the little culprit must drain the dregs of the cup of hunniI- iation.
 After the proper pupils had spoken their pieces, the occupant of "The Bad Land" was called upon @tc abound' the school room. This was done by describing the use of the diff. "The Bad Land," and the crimes ot its inhabitants. Whispering, making faces behind teacher, eating tujube paste during school hours, were crimes confessed with tears before company, after which The little sin ranks of the just.
 It must be confessed even such flu. initiation had its compensation. fol the small offender. The post of oh. servation was the best, many were the | notes dropped as the classes n eo PoSS. AoSO LOtSS were PARTICULARLY comforting when they referred tc teacher as mean old thing,' oc. ! casionally a well won bit of jujubs was smuggled to the prisoner; anC when did sign language fail when ! teachers back was turned? Woe be. 1 tide the "tattletale'' after schoo hours, when there was more than one prisoner. Some old scores were oft. l en settled by one girls tongue. 1T ] describing the inhabitants of that un. desirable country.
 Hoping to bear from some of tn. | sisters I will close.
 ATTNT Jrrny