Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1912 — Page 3

PROBLEM OF PICKLES

iHow Careful Teaching Brought Student to Front

By G. A. TURKINGTON.

It was the first day of the fall term and Bethel’s village high school was filled even to the front row. The chairman of the school committee entered for a moment after the opening exercises, surveyed the scholars hurriedly, and as he left remarked in an undertone to the new teacher that she must not be bothered by that boy in the corner front seat “He can’t learn, you know. We put him in this room just because he seemed to fit these seats better than those in the lower grades. He comes from a gpod-for-nothing family about five miles out. He isn’t really bright, or be would have learned something by this time,” and he tapped his forehead significantly. “Just give him books and let him alone. Guess that will be the best way.” And the chairman smiled himself out of the room. Pickles’ attention was divided that first morning between gazing dreamily at a United States history lying open before him, and at Miss Stone, who to him was a person from another world. Indeed, Bethel itself had not had so trim and dainty a “high school" teacher for many years as was this girl just out of college. When she became aware that two large brown eyes were studying her intently she turned upon Pickles a smiling look of interest She wondered that such thoughtful eyes should belong to a boy who was mentally deficient. j Pickles was conscious of the smile, but looked around to see for whom it was intended. When he realized that the pretty teacher had smiled at him, as she had at the other boys and girls, he met her eyes in surprise, while a deep red flush crept slowly to his cheeks. And as the late afternoon sun fell across the schoolroom and played upon his desk a warm glow stole into his heart. That afternoon on his -way home from school, after the first mile, he left the road and walked along by the brook, for its babbling and gurgling kept him company. He often followed this brook for miles on hot summer days and again in the spring when it was loud and noisy with the melted snows. He had never had a playfellow and scarcely ever talked to any one. His .blind old grandfather, whose mind and body failed a little week by week, only occasionally talked to him now of the “ba-ars” thatpsed to come in the pasture. It was a familiar sight to the neighmors, as they rode to the village, to see Pickles, ragged and dirty, seated on a mossy stone gazing intently at the water as it gurgled and sparkled past him to the valley below. At the end of the first month of the fall term Bethel had awakened to the fact that pretty Miss Stone was an unusual person. She ruled her little school with a smiling firmness that had surprised pupils and parents alike, and Bhe had seemingly disregarded the committeeman’s injunction to “let Pickles alone.” On the second day she had called on hip to recite his history, and as the room tittered hysterically, she had turned upon them with blazing eyes and so stern a rebuke that they were shamed .into silence. She had observed that Pickles never brought a dinner pail, so she decided to eat her lunch at the school room and send Pickles to her boarding place for it. This gave her the excuse she wished to repay him with a share of her ample warm lunch, and to talk with him about his lessons. She had made up her mind that Pickleß was her mission in Bethel, and that nothing Bhould prevent her from proving that the boy was not really stupid—only neglected and- underfed. Pickleß had days when neither his mother nor Miss Stone could hold him to his school -work; days when he would leave everything and ramble off to follow the brooks.’ Nevertheless, task after task he mastered, so that Miss Stone finally ceased to be surprised when he knew his geography or history lesson. She refrained from calling on him to recite often, Cor at those times he seemed wholly overcome with embarrassment. But his papers became more nearly correct and neat. It was evident that in preceding years, when he had seemed to be gazing emptily at hiß books, he had actually learned much of their contents. It was customary in Bethel at the end of the spring term to hold general school exercises, which included the graduation of the senior class and the promotion of the pupils in the other classes. v When it became certain ( that Pickles had a mind and was trying to apply it as he had never been expected to before, Miss Stone made a resolve. Piqkles- should be promoted. Ax week before the day of gradution, school was dismissed early and the five members of the school committee met in Miss Stone’s room to sign the diplomas of graduation and the certificates of promotion. With the formality of a few questions and answers the diplomas of graduation were all duly signed, and the ink was drying on the first certificates when Mr. Brown, halted at the names of James McCloskey. “James McCloskey„” he questioned, “I don’t remember any such boy In this school.” “Perhaps not by that name,” and Miss Stone colored and hesitated slightly. “The boys—and perhaps some who are not boys—call htfa .Pfdktes, but this is the name by which you should know him, of course.” Mr. Brown paused with his pen in as if in doubt, then blurted,

“Why—why, he can’t be promoted. If he has outgrown C, class seats you can, of course, put him In another! row, but to promote him—and with credit- —is out of the question.” And he blew his nose loudly. “Yes, why, echoed the other astonished members of the committee. “Gentlemen,” and Miss Stone’s voice was hard and determined, although her face was flushed and pretty, “you have been pleased with my work; at least you have said so, and have asked me to return” for another year. 1 shall not return if you are to interfere In this way with my work. You doubt my word. I report that this poor negleoted boy has done creditably and deserves promotion. You and your boys and girls have made it as hard as possible for Pickles. I, alone, have tried to give him a chance. I have given evenings and Saturdays to helping him, and he has worked harder than any other pupil.” There was dead silence for a moment. ‘‘May we see his marks?” asked Mr. Brown, haughtily. In anticipation of this request, Miss Stone had ready her record book, which she placed before him. “Um-ah, his average in arithmetic is only 65, and only 70 in the other studies. Your pass mark is 70?” ... “Yes, but in recommending him for a diploma, I have had to take into consideration his handicap and the neglect of previous teachers, just as I had to take into account your son’s illness, Mr. Brown. , Mr. Brown refrained from asking what his son’s average in arithmetic had been, and suggested that Miss Stone withdraw a few moments while he and the other members of the committee consulted about this somewhat extraordinary proceeding. Miss Stone, excited and indignant almost to the point of tears, withdrew as requested, and listened with a half contemptuous smile to the low-toned discussion behind her. She was recalled after a few minutes and the work of signing the remainder of the certificates of promotion was resumed without further mention of James McCloskey. Mr. Brown lingered behind the other members of the committee and said conciliatingly that they didn’t see how Pickles could be promoted with so mark. If Miss Stone wanted to give him a special examination which he should pass, he would, of course, be glad to sign the paper. The next morning Miss Stone quietly laid a paper on Pickles’ desk saying that she would like to have him work out the examples and hand them to her at recess time. “If you have any trouble, let me know,” and she smiled at him encouragingly. But he had no trouble. He always did his best work when no special pressure was brought to bear on him, and this morning every one else was busy, and he worked along unconcernedly until the recess bell rang. Miss Stone hardly dared look at the paper, so afraid was she that the boy had blundered. She was thinking now as much of the mother as she was of Pickles. Example after example she checked off —seven, eight, nine. The tenth one was unfinished, but nine were correct —and Pickles passed with a ninety mark. She stopped him that night. “Tell your mother you are going to be promoted and I want her to come- 1 with you to the exercises,” was the message she gave to the astounded boy. She watched him from the window as he turned off up the hill, then took the exartiination paper and the unsigned certificate, and in a few minutes was in Mr. Brown’s stqre. “Here is James McCloskey’s examination paper, and here is the certificate. I have inserted the words ‘with credit,’ and all that it needed is your signature." “Urn, ah —yes. Oh, yes, Indeed,” said the surprised and embarrassed Mr. Brown. With many flourishes he signed the certificate, and as he returned it he remarked: “You are a very fihe teacher, Miss Stone. I am —ah —very much pleased that you are going to return next year.” And he gaye her a genuine look of admiration as he held open the door for her to pass out. Ten minutes later she flung herself on the feather bed in her modest front room sanctum and wept tired, nervous tears at ber first hard-won victory. (Copyright, 1912, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)

Past and Present.

We know that we are more fortunate than opr fathers. We believe that our children shall be happier than we. We know that this century is more enlightened than the lasi. We believe that the time to come will be better and more glorious than this. We think, we believe, we hope, but we do not know. Across that threshold we may not piss; behind that veil-,we may not penetrate. Intd that country it may not be for us to go. It may be vouchsafed to us to behold it, wonderingly, from afar, but never to enter in. It matters not. The age in which we live is but a link in the endless and eternal chain. Gur lives are like the sands upon the shore; our. voices like the breath of the summer breeze that stirs the leaf for a moment and is forgotten. Whence we have come and whither we shall go, not one of us can tell. And the last survivor of this mighty multitude shall stay but a little while.—-Henry Armitt Brown.

You’ve Seen ’Em.

The boss was taking the new stenographer to task. “You*sing too much during business hours.” “Surely a girl may be allowed to sing at her work.” “But you don’t do any work. You ought to be jk; stenographer in a musical comedy.”

NATIONAL LEAGUE WINNERS

The New York Giants.

Reading top to bottom, left to Tight. McGraw on top. Doyle Fletcher Devore Mathewson Snodgrass Murray Ames Crandall Meyers Tesreau Wiltae Herzog Marquard Merkle

BIG $700,000 PLANT

Seats to Be. Provided for at Least 60,000 Baseball Fans. Chicago National League Club to Erect Concrete Stands Extending Over Vacant Lot on Polk Street Side of Grounds. Chicago’s cubs will start the season of 1913 in a brand new park surround* ed by $700,000 worth of steel, concrete, brick and terracotta. Charles W. Murphy, president of the West Side club, gave out the news by stating that the preliminary survey had been completed and that the architect, Herman Van Buskirk, would soon step forth with the plans. The work of excavating is billed to start within a few days. For several -months Murphy has been working on his plans with the view of giving the West Side fans a palace similar to those In vogue at Comisljy park, at Forbes field, Pittsburg or the-Polo grounds in New York. He has been gathering data and material since, as well as much coin of the realm, for high-class fan palaces come dear. The plant will be located on the present grounds of the club, it being Murphy’s idea to utilize the vacant space between the fence and Polk street, extending from Lincoln to Taylor street. Thus the enlarged grounds will take in territory a block long and extending back 16Q feet to the sidewalk on Polk street. Forty-eight thousand fans will he assured of seats when this massive plant is thrown open, and there will be standing room for 12,000 more, according to Murphy. Thus some fine, warm Sunday next summer 60,000 bugs may be seen comfortably assembled on the scene when the Cubs and Giants or the Cubs and Pirates get together. To provide standing space for the 12,000 unable to secure seats the builders of this plant have conceived the idea of digging a sort of subway around the field, excavating to a depth of 18 inches directly in front of the bleachers and stands. Thus the fans forced to swarm out upon the field will be packed in this subway without obstructing the range of the folks who are seated behind them. Several new features will be Incorporated in the grounds, says Mr. Murphy. For instance, there will be a complete megaphone system such as Mr. Ebbets is installing in the new Brooklyn grounds. By the means of this megaphone an operator engaged for the purpose can speak distinctly to patrons of the game in all sections of the grounds telling of each change in the fighting personnel. Two decks will be provided In the stand, while the “dugout” arranged for the standing gentry will answer the purpose of a third deck. The playing diamond also will be moved and several important changes made, it being Murphy’s aim to give Chicago one of the best plants of this kind in the country.

LEFT HANDERS ARE DYING OUT

Arthur Irwin, Veteran Scout of New York Americans, Reports Scarcity of Southpaws. After several weeks spent in observing the work of young players in the minor leagues throughout the country, Arthur Irwin, the veteran scout of the New York Americans, has come to the conclusion that the left-handed pitcher is dying out. “I've combed the bushes this year as never before,” said Irwin on his recenf return to New York, “and never did I see such a scarcity of southpaws. They are not to be had. “My experience is the same as the experience of other scouts yith whom I have .talked. I cannot account for except on the theory that, left-hand-ed persons are getting rsrp in all walks of life. “In my travels this season I saw very few left-handed pitchers, fewer than I ever saw in all my years in baseball. I’ll venture the prediction that next season there will be fewer new southpaws in the big leagues than in any season in twenty-five years.”

New Job for Mike Kelly.

Mike Kelly, manager of the St. Paul team in the American association, decided to accept the .offer of the managership of the Indianapolis team which is accompanied by an opportunity to buy a large block of stock in the Hoosier club. Kelly will tak« charge at once.

To Trade Gibson.

It has been stated that George Gib son, the Pirates’ veteran catcher and a hero of the world’s series of 1909, Is to he traded. The tale says he will go to the St. Paul American associa tion team in part payment for somt of the players, Barney Dreyfus has se cured from there the last two years

Record for Bill Dahlen.

It is alleged in New York that BU! Dahlen brok& a season’s record bj watching the Snperbas lose a double header —without finishing the after noon in the blockhouse. Under suet trying circumstances the umpire us ually gets Bin.

Bunch of New Managers.

Thfre ar«L going to be a bonch a ne<r managers irti&e majors next year if you dare judge by present Indies tlona. Some of the club cwnen couldn’t even watt until next j ti change.

PASSING OF "MINER" BROWN

Chicago Cubs Ask for Waivers on Services of Veteran ‘Three? _ Fingered” Twirling Btar. Mordecai Brown, curving wizard, is soon to pass along, leaving behind him a record of wonderful deeds in the national gme. Waivers have been asked on the three-fingered star who has done so much toward bringing pennants and world’s championships to Chicago, and his departure from the West side, slated for the near future, is due to the fact that he injured his right knee while engaged In winning a ten-inning ball game last July. Since that mishap “Brownie” has been of no service to the club and President Murphy applied for waivers. Last winter he signed a three-year contract. News of the action taken by the Cub management leaked out in the east and was confirmed by Manager Chance upon his return to Chicago. He stated he had learned this news from another player while sojourning in the

Mordecai Brown.

east. Although the waivers have been sought it doesn’t necessarily follow that Brown will be lost to the National league, for the veteran is regarded by every manager and magnate in the country as a star and valuable man in more departments than pitching. It was while Brownie was with Omaha that Chance was first attracted by his pitching. He advised Frank Selee to Land the three-fingered twirler, but the deal never was completed until 1903, when the Cub manager shoved through a trade whereby Brown came to the West side along with Catcher ONeill for the veteran Jack Taylor. From the season 1905 to the present thne Brownie has been rated one of the greatest twirlers the game ever has known. Four world’s championships have been featured by the presence of the Hoosier phenom, and In two of these he played a prominent part in helping the Cubs capture the highest honor in organized baseball. For three years he was unbeatable in games between Chicago and Pittsburgh, while the New York Giants seldom were able to solve his delivery. Perhaps his greatest feat was staged in Chicago’s final triumph over the Giants for the National league flag in 1908, when, after Pilester had been drives from the slab Mordecai w.ent in and from the third to the ninth silenced the enemy without allowing another tally.

ABOUND THE BASES

Tesreau leads the New York pitchers in shut-out games. Bed Doom seems to be able to break anything but his streak of bad luck. Marsans, the Cuban, is the find of the Cincy team this season. His hittipg is wonderfully good. Eddie Collins thinks Stahl has one of the greatest pitching staffs ever assembled on one big league club. Harry Tuthill, the trainer of the Detroit Tigers, is back at his old job training the West Point football team. It is said that Joe Wood, the star pitcher of "the American league, butted into baseball just to keep from starving. McGraynor, the Reds’ recruit pitcher from the Ohio State league, had a try-out with-the Yankees two years ago. Veach, the recruit outfielders of the Detroit Tigers, is the first big leaguer qf that name since the days of the famous Peek-a-boo. No truth in the report that the Pittsburg club is going to change Hans. Freddy Clarke will keep him kt the shortstop meadow. It has been rumored that Bill Donovan, ex-Tiger, now managing the Providence International league club, wifi manage the Brooklyns next season. This is Hugh Bedient’s second time with the Red Sox. He was drafted by Boston two yeark agp and later was sent to the International league for a little seasoning. ’j.— There are a lot of teams in tha National whose players express the nans that Eppa Rtxley’s “paw” will keep, him out of baseball next season. He’s likely to get pesky then. * Frank Chance Is quoted aa saying that he believes Mathewson is still oae of the greatest pitchers in the game. That is a compliment that means much coming from the Cub leader.

oSn WIIBVR D.NESBIT UNSUSPECTING

jfll l V* 1 /: iSr 1 wr.ii. E::: |:! i::! o ME ill! 1 t | fII /v m U kt

Somewhere he lives—perhaps across tha street — And knows not how to him approaches fate On patient, unrelenting steady feet . That have 'the pace to find him soon or late. _. • ' ■ Somewhere he is—lt may be you or me! (ut doubtless fate will not be so unkind. And neither you nor I that day shall be The unsuspecting man whom fate wiD find). Somewhere this man goes to his daily ' work. He keeps his little round of hours and. tasks. Undreaming what the future’s fog and roirk With cryptic, mystic silence this day masks. He little knows what Is for him in store;! Today he mayhap smiles or hums a song Or lounges Idly In some friendly door And nods to all the friends who pass, along. And still the finger points unto him now. Though neither you nor I, nor anyone May aee the hand full-leveled* at his brow, f May realize the deed that shall be done, I Ah. what a blinding maze Is this our life. Wherein we neither know by sight nor speech Which of us shal go on In peace or strife. Which one of us fate’s Iron hand shall reach! • It is but as a turning of the road— . Today Into tomorrow leaps so soon; The gaudy chaplet changes to a goad, The storm breaks in the dreaming hush of noon; The song ends In a breathless, broken strain, The vision fades into a melting mist— We are the toys that chance views with disdain. That fate flings wheresoever she may -r"' list. And- so for him, unknown, we heave a sigh— Though praying that if it be one of ue We may persuade stern fate to pass ns by And not, forsooth, to overwhelm us thus. Somewhere, all unsuspecting, lives tha man * Who little dreams that it is fate's decree • That he shall be, within a few years' span-, Made a vice-presidential nominee!

Man of Capacity.

“What do you think of this?” asks the mart with the newspaper. “Here is an item stating that 'Julius Kessler, of Chicago now holds 30,090 barrels of Kentucky whisky.’ ” “Why,” answered the man without the newspaper, “JL; think that Julius will be trying to hold all the headache medicine he can tyiy one of these bright and balmy mornings.”

An Interruption.

“Canst thou then draw out leviathan with a hook?” said the pastor, in sonorous tones. “Well,” exclaimed Old Man Fisher, who had been napping in a rear seat, “you ought to have seen the 15-pound bass I caught last summer in a minner net.” ■ 3 ■

How He Suffered.

“Does your husband suffer much with the felon on his finger?*’ we asked of the wife of the deaf and dumb man. “Indeed,” she answered, “he is often perfectly speechless from pain.”

Warning Note.

Johnny—Paw, what does it mean when it says “sound the tocsin?” Mr. Wise—Oh, I reckon it’s one of these fights about antitoxin.

Down to Date.

“Why do you ring a bell every time you get a coin in your cup?” “I believe in giving the utmost publicity to all contributions,” answered the mendicant with a significant smile.

Inconsistency.

1 “I shouldnt think such a pronounced ’prohibitionifi as yon are would want tb make a trip to Berlin.” >Why notr ‘‘Because it is always on the Sprue/*