Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 6, Number 3, September 1996 Page: 156
[56] p. : ill., maps ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal
studies without the constant assistance of the
teacher. But he was too dignified, or too lazy,
to stoop to details hence failure was the inevi-
table result. The ninth teacher was old Sam
Cooper, a gentleman of, probably, 55 sum-
mers. He weighed near 200 lbs, had an intellec-
tual head, and when he made his debut in our
neighborhood, he wore a threadbare cloth suit,
a three story silk hat, and a cheap pair of
spectacles. He posessed great force of charac-
ter. Parents and pupils alike submitted to his
will, obeyed his every nod. When he cast his
eyes over his spectacles at a child, he seemed to
say "never mind my lark. I'1 give you some-
thing to do presently." All of the children were
afraid of him, yes, all dreaded him as much as
they would a rattle-snake, or the yellow-fever
or some other fatal disease. The moment he
entered the school room he declared war against
every child. This war he protracted until the end
of his term. No pupil for his right hand would
have volunterily asked him his age, or where he
was from or where he expected to go when he
died. During vacations he drank hard, and
during school hours he ate opium, by this means
he spent his money and kept his nervious system
shattered. With all these faults he was the best
instructor I had met with up to this time. For he
was a good scholar, a practical and experienced
teacher, punctual, industrious, and attentive to
every child. I went to him 20 months and
learned more of him than of all the other
teachers combined. I never knew what became
of him.
John Kindred taught the tenth school. I
attended his school but a short time. I went then
15 months to a military school at Bastrop, which
was under the control of Col. R. T. P. Allen. I
commenced studying Algebra, Geometry Latin,
Spanish & Natural History. All of these branches
were too far advanced for me. I was in a class
of some 20 or 30 young men, we never saw the
professor, except at recitation. No one assisted
me when I was trying to prepare my lessons andconsequently when I went to recitation I knew
nothing of them. Four fifths of the class were no
better off than myself. About the only thing I
learned at this school was how to dress, how to
write notes to young ladies and to escort them to
church. I forget, I did learn the infantry tactics
and drill, and was promoted color bearer, quite
an honor for one in the Freshman class. I quite
the school in June 1859 on account of not having
the means to pay board and tuition. In the Fall
of 1859
2. Reiteration and Continuation of Holt narra-
tive as quoted by Dewey Homer Brown.
The third school I attended was in Colum-
bus in a little school house behind Mrs. Staf-
ford's boarding house. The school house was
inadequate and later a new one was built just
south of town by the Masonic fraternity which
used the upstairs of the building for a lodge hall.
The teacher's name was Richard Holt, and as I
remember a very capable man. The fourth
school I attended was west of Columbus, where
Oakland now stands, in a small log house. Split
logs with pins driven in them for legs made the
seats. The teacher was near sighted or nearly
blind. The large boys and girls had no respect
for him; therefore I judge he was unfit for the
position. His name was Flemings. Daniel Rhodes
taught the fifth school. He was a great Method-
ist and appeared to be smiling or praying at all
times but did not distinguish himself as a teacher.
John Ivey taught my sixth school. I think he
taught only four weeks. He was no account.
Elbert Lewis was the seventh teacher. He was
quite a good looking fellow, neat in his dress
and fully competent as a teacher. His stay with
us was brief. He moved to Gonzales and at this
time (1880) is filling the office of District Judge
in this state. I went two or three days to a little
red-headed yankee and will therefore call it the
eighth. James Tooke taught the ninth school. He
was well educated and when he desired could156
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 6, Number 3, September 1996, periodical, September 1996; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151398/m1/44/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.