Evening star., 1932-09-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
The surfaces of Teacher were quit

The su1rageS OF Teacher were quite
enough to save Gertrude.
Memory plays one false. however. un-
less 1t states that "A side" was "A side"
and "B side" was "B side" and never
the two met exactly.
One found ones natural playmates,
somehow or other, entirely on ones own
side"
whether this was natural, or artifi-
cial selection is left to science, or
pseudo-science.
Not that there was not q normal mix
ture Of comradeship, but when one Sc
lected "chums" they always came from
ones own side, somehow
The teachers, year by year, were just
different faces and names, but always
teachers. Only occasionally did one
stand out in the youthful mind as
something exceptional.
Such a teacher was Miss Chatterbox.
a substitute. Capable, pretty and pleas
ant. she had at once the sympathy and
disregard of the class.
Her advent was seized upon by q room
OF hitherto well behaved young people
as q gift.
Uproar began the very first day, and
never stopped until the regular teacher
returned. which she did all too quickly
FOR the young rioters.
Viewed from the vista of the years.
that brief uprising" was nothing at
all, nor was there any harm in it; but
at the time the incessant talk. the
smart-alecisms and the like struck the
participants as the very heights of bad
behavior. N>'
Even prim Gertrude was drawn in.
for a few days-or was she? Memory
Goes not serve. Probably she remained
aloof from the general merrymakne. II
would have been just like her.
Going to school and coming from
school we're a part of school itself. as
one recalls. The same groups Of chill
aren went to the same building through
lne eignt years OF its course. They
zane II, 10 know each other intimately.
wherever one moved. one came back
70 the Old School each year. under the
by the then uncrowned conditions NJ
the buildings. 'A
One recalls the two-mile walk necessi-
tated by removal of residence to on
outlying part Of the city. In stormy
weather the street cars were used bit
ior the most part one simply walked
ana one nit upon a route of ones own
oeVlslng, partly along streets. nartlv
throusn alleys, partly across vacant
lots- There were a great many more
pIots OF ground without buildings in
.hose days than now; these lots, for the
most part. were overgrown In earlv
spring with tall weeds. ''
Small boys become Indians as thew
walked beneath the towering purnls
mowers IN season. The Indians somel
times engaged in rock battles, as they
We. Seie caiIeo the chief weapons being
stones. usually of small size, but occa.
tOHy h,.auy reaching the status of half a
.aa. Al tne time these articles
seemed TO be hurled with the greatest
speed. but possibly to an elderly
watcher from some window the rocks
"nlzzed rather uncertainty.
A nigh spot In the mostly forgotten
record OF those years was the famous
nght between Jim and Bill. The en-
counter took place on one of these lots
IN the Autumn. in foot ball season.
jim, ones personal favorite, played
loot ball. and Bill whom every one dis
liked did not play foot ball The latter
was husky youngster, however, who
won the dislike OF many Of his COM
rades by his pretty gold ring.
Words led to more words on the wav
home from school. Each champion
had his adherents. who spent their
time ''egging" the wrathful ones on to
combat
At last 1t came.
Excitement reigned
No kind lady intervened. angrily.
declaring. Aren't you two boys ashamed
OF yourself?" Jim, everytodys friend.
was getting the worst of 1t. Bill cut
him on the cheek with q ring. A
shamei shame
Just then the winners mother came
along and collared her son, to the lat
ter's intense shame. As for Jim. he was
ashamed, too, and went away without
word. still surrounded by his faithful
followers OF the Old School.