Barbizon School

“ For my part, I’m sorry I’ve had to—to worry you, but unfortunately, Cameron, you’ve placed yourself in a wrong position.”
“Now, look here,” said the other mildly. “You say I’m here just to play football. That isn’t so, Dana. I may not be very smart at lessons, and my folks haven’t any money, but I’m not a mucker. I got fired out of the other school because I couldn’t keep up, but why couldn’t I? Because the fellows I knew didn’t study, and because the faculty was down on me from the start. Then some fellows here wrote and asked me to come here; said I wouldn’t have to worry about expenses. ”

“ Its growth is its own. The gardener may aid it or stunt it; he may, with infinite pains, extending over a long period, direct the growth of the branches, but that is as much as he can do; for when all is said, he is only the gardener, and the tree is Nature.
“The spirit of the school is as vital here as elsewhere. And when I said a few moments ago that your decision this evening would decide a matter of more consequence than the fate of [247] Mr. Cameron in regard to the football game, I meant that you would determine how the spirit of your school stands with regard to athletics. ”

“ Making the Cross-Country Team and winning the meet with Broadwood was going some for a youngster.”
“But they don’t give you your Y for that,” said Gerald.
“Oh, so that’s it?” said Alf. “Well, you mustn’t think about such things, kid. You must always play for the School with no thought of reward.” He looked gravely at Tom. Tom grinned.
“Didn’t you think about getting your Y when you began to play football?” asked Gerald suspiciously. Alf cleared his throat, and Tom and Dan laughed. ”

“ Twilight was settling over the world. The sun had just dropped behind the distant spires and tree-tops of the village and on Mt. Grafton, the sugar-loaf hill behind the school, its last rays rested on the spindley observatory crowning the rocky summit. The campus was fast filling with shadows, and along the streets and walks the lamps made lemon-yellow points in the purple dusk. In Manning and Trow and Lothrop lights glowed wanly at the entrances, but School Hall and the gymnasium were dark. ”

“ The following memoranda illustrate the business side of the tuition schools of that period:
Nov. 29, 1817. An agreement was made between Alva Carpenter of Seekonk, a member of the senior class of Brown University, and the subscribers of the North District, Barrington, by which said Carpenter was to open and teach a school for the term of three months, at $18 a month; to commence December 1; to teach the branches usually taught in Common English schools, viz.: reading, writing, arithmetic, English, grammar, geography, etc. ”

“ He meant to study hard and learn all he could this year, for it might be his last. He had resolved to win a scholarship if hard work would do it. There was the Gordon Scholarship [31] which rebated the entire tuition fee, or, failing that, there remained four Sidney Scholarships of eighty dollars. One of the five Kendall meant to win.
From where he stood, Long Island Sound, blue and still, stretched east and west, visible over the tops of the trees which ran for nearly a half-mile between the school grounds and the shore. ”

“ Town!” in order to fool the enemy.
Confusion reigned supreme then when the doors of Academy Building suddenly crashed open behind the little group of Towners holding [65] the top steps, and the disconcerting yell of “School! School! School!” broke forth behind them. It was the Towners’ turn to be surprised. Out from the doorway dashed a handful of defenders and, shoving and shouting mightily, they took the invaders in the rear and scattered them like chaff. With cheers of triumph the Schoolers below took the place of the invaders, and in a moment the tide of battle had turned effectually. ”

“ Eustace, now, why——”
“But you see, Dan,” said Tom sweetly, “he wants an education.”
Dan chased Tom down the road and administered proper punishment. When order was restored the four [35] discussed the matter seriously, and it was decided that Jerry was to go to Hillton.
“Of course,” said Nelson, “he couldn’t pass the entrance exams as he is now, but if he has a year’s schooling this year he ought to make it all right. And if he doesn’t have to work he can go to school. I suppose there’s a decent school around here somewhere?” ”

“ They understand that—or they will when you tell them. There’s another thing, though, Joe, that we’ve got to have besides money, and that’s material. We’ve got to get more fellows out.”
“I know. I’ll tell them that, too. I’m going to put a notice up in School Hall in the morning. Mr. Cummins says there are eight new fellows entering the middle classes this year. Maybe some of them are football-players.” ”

“ One of the best evidences of its usefulness is the record of the graduating classes of the school. Several of these graduates have entered the State Normal School; others have entered college, and one. Miss Jessie G. Tiffany, is a graduate of Pembroke College, the women's department of Brown University. Under "College Students" and "Normal School Pupils" will be found the names of several graduates of the school.
Graduates of the Barrington High School. ”

“ The upper middle fellows asserted positively that it was the work of a certain secret society which, despite the rules, had to their knowledge been flourishing at Hillton for many years. The seniors—well, the seniors acted like all seniors. They viewed the flag with secret gusto and outward disgust and talked about “disgrace to the school” and “finding the fellows that did it, by Jove!” And Wayne and Don and [161] Paddy and Dave, loud in expressions of surprise and condemnation, mingled with the throng and laughed in their sleeves. ”

“ Dan paid no heed.
“What did you do such a stupid thing for, Gerald?” he asked gently. “You might have got into all sorts of trouble.”
“Trouble!” sneered Gerald. “I guess I’ve had trouble, haven’t I? I guess a little more won’t matter. Besides, they can’t do anything to me here. I’ve left school.”
“Oh, no, you haven’t. You can’t leave school just by running away. Faculty can bring you back, Gerald, if it wants to. Until your father withdraws you from Yardley, you are a Yardley student and under the control of the Faculty. Of course I don’t know that they will want to bring you back. ”

“ All three of them were dressed in old trousers and sweaters that had seen much use, and all three wore on the backs of their heads the little dark-blue caps with the white Y’s that in school heraldry proclaimed them members of the Yardley Hall Football Team.
A short distance beyond the bridge, on the outskirts of Greenburg, they joined a throng of some eighty or ninety boys. Of this number some thirty or so were attired for running and were engaged in keeping warm by walking or trotting around in circles or slapping their legs. The trio responded to greetings as they pushed through the crowd. ”

“ Dan’s private and unexpressed opinion of Russellville Academy wasn’t flattering. He believed that his father must have had a pretty forlorn, unpleasant experience there. But Mr. Vinton had come to look back upon his few years of school life through rose-tinted glasses.
“There were only about thirty of us fellows,” he would say when in reminiscent mood, “but maybe we had better times for that reason; every fellow knew every other fellow. Why, the first month I was there I fought more than half the school!” ”

“ Whether at the end of the year he would be able to pass the examinations for Hillton, I can’t say. It will depend a great deal on himself. But I should think that, with some help during the summer, as you had planned, he ought [259] to be able to pass. You will see him, you say, at Barrington?”
“Yes, sir; at least, we hope to,” answered Bob. “He said when we left him that he expected to be there about the twentieth. I hope we will find him! When does your school begin, sir?” ”

“ In the days before high schools every village with any pretence to enterprise and enlightenment had a select school or college. The building at the rear of the Ringling residence, 221 and 223 Fifth Avenue, was the home of the Baraboo Collegiate Institute, established in 1858. ”

“ And it’s none of yours either, Hansel.”
“Yes, it is. Cameron has no business here; at least, he has no business playing on the school football team, and you know it.”
“Oh, don’t be a silly ass!” said Bert angrily. “You’re too blamed particular. Why, great Scott! lots of the schools have fellows on their football and baseball teams that aren’t any better than Cameron. Look at Bursley!”
“Maybe lots of them do, but that isn’t any reason that we should. Besides, I don’t believe many of them are like that. Bursley may be, but how about Fairview?” ”

“ The pictures of these houses and grounds, with the teachers and pupils in attendance, taken May 11, 1898, are the best description that can be given of the physical status of education in Barrington at the close of the nineteenth century, Barrington has a school committee of five members, elected by the town for a term of three years; a salaried superintendent; a male principal and a female assistant teacher of the High School, and six female teachers of the primary and grammar grades; the town owns school property to the value of about $11,000 ”

“ In fact, it is safe to say that every student physically able to reach Academy Hall was on hand when Mr. Ames called the meeting to order.
Just as quiet prevailed, a newcomer arrived, and made his way up the center aisle to the platform. There was a long moment of breathless surprise; then the clapping began and grew to a veritable tempest of applause. Never before since his connection with Beechcroft had Dr. Lambert attended a meeting of the students, save at commencement time, and the fellows were at once surprised and flattered. ”

“ He sat down amid enthusiastic applause from the football men and some others. Spring struggled for Field’s eye, but the latter refused to see him. Finally he subsided and immediately became the center of an excited group. Field nodded toward Phin.
“I think that’s all I have to say,” said the latter, his voice almost drowned by the hubbub. “It only remains for me to remind you fellows [129] that the team can’t hope for victory unless it is well supported. It needs both money and the hearty coöperation of every fellow in the school. But to-night it is money we are looking for. ”

“ Beechcroft has stood for me for everything that’s fine and high and—and noble in school life, and now you tell me that it’s no better than any of the little mean sneaky schools out West that give free tuition and board to any chap who can kick a football or run around the bases! ”

“ Told me about Alton and how much more of a chance there was for me here. I liked the high school well enough, but I’d always had an idea that I’d prefer a prep school. Besides, when it comes to going to college it’s a help if you go up from a well-known school like Alton. We haven’t much money; the family I mean. Father used to be very well off some six or eight years ago, and we grew up rather free-handed, us kids. Then he lost it. Quite a spectacular bust-up, Grant, but it wouldn’t interest you. ”

“ And the sentiment met with instant applause that grew in volume until the instructors commanded silence.
"I believe," went on Doctor Emery, with a slight smile, "that since the game with Hammond Academy the student in question has become re-established in the respect and—ah—affection of the school." (The applause threatened again to drown the speaker.) "And so it seems scarcely necessary for me now to bespeak for him a reversal of opinion." ("No, sir!" This from the irrepressible Chub.) ”

“ Ames as the boys arose. “Come around whenever you can and report progress. And whatever I can do for you I will. Oh, by the way, I wouldn’t expect too much of that editorial in The Record; it’s just possible the faculty will think it, too—er—strong. You understand? Good night!”
The meeting was duly called and met in Spring’s study, in Weeks. The attendance was not encouragingly large; out of twenty-eight fellows invited by Phin, thirteen appeared. Phin, Hansel, and Spring all spoke. ”

“ Barbellion's father was a newspaper reporter in a west country town, his income rarely exceeded a couple of hundred pounds a year; the educational facilities of the place were poor, and young Barbellion had to get such learning as he could as a day boy at a small private school, his father supplementing this meagre training and presently taking him on as an apprentice reporter. How the passion for natural science arose does not appear in this diary; we already find the naturalist formed in the first schoolboy entries. ”

“ They had crossed Walnut Street now and were stamping the melted snow from their shoes on the drier concrete sidewalk before the school property. Above the top of a privet hedge the upper stories of the school buildings were in sight, West Hall, School Hall, and East Hall facing Summit [23] Street in order. In the windows of West Hall, a dormitory, gaily hued cushions added color to the monotony of the brick edifice, and here and there an upthrown casement allowed a white sash-curtain to wave lazily in the breeze of a mild March afternoon. ”

“ Ames smiled. “With Dana as captain and you as manager, next year I fancy we’ll have a wonderful administration.”
“I don’t know about that,” answered Phin. “In fact, I may not be here. A good deal depends on whether I get a scholarship this year.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” answered the instructor dryly. “If a student deserves the money and does his work conscientiously, as you have, the faculty generally looks after him. And there’s Cameron. He’s in about the same boat with you. But I fancy we’ll see you both here next year.”
“Cameron? I hope so. I hope he’ll be able to play for us, sir. ”