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 ? ! "if 
 
 WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 The contents of this, first book of a series, were all intended for publi- 
 fation in the Amherst Gazette, but in consequence of the length of the 
 communication, on page 4, it was not printed. 
 
 t. 
 
 <S 
 
 ''"'"•"'■"'"" ''''.',.,.'. ':.'L,?'l. Wallace, 7th Nov., 1870. ;■; 
 Mk. Editor,— li'l,,. .L'."!'"! •"-". ''"'Z'" "','^,: -T",!.-' ',',■■';■,,;;'"'-, 
 
 I have at several times read statements, bestowing eulogium on the 
 present class of school teachers throughout the province for their in- 
 dustry, capability and morality, this may perhaps be merited by the 
 greater number, but there must be some exceptions, if I am to judge 
 by an instance that lately came under my animadversion. Being a 
 trustee and secretary of School Section, No. 8, it became part of my 
 duty in that capacity to hire a Tear-her for the present term. I had a 
 few applications, amongst them James Tait, Jr., who offered his 
 services as a second class Teacher. One of his nearest friends called on 
 me and told me he was about agreeing with the trustees of the " North 
 Shore School," but he would like to get a berth in the Wallace School- 
 house and that they had seen Mr. O'Brien, one of the trustees and he 
 was willing to engage him. I told his friend if that were the case I 
 might perhaps hire him when I consulted the othei trustee, Mr. Chara- 
 bers, and that he might tell him I would give him a certain sum for one 
 term, but if he wanted more he need not apply. James Tait, Jr., came 
 to me the evening of the same day, and iriaid ne would accept my oflPijr. 
 I told him to call at Mr. O'Brien's on hist way home, and see if what I 
 had been told of his opinion was correct, and to come up the next e^re- 
 ning to my house, when he would meet Mr. (Chambers, and we would 
 sign the agreement. He saw Mr. O'Brien, who agreed to my arrange- 
 ment, and Mr. Chambers came to my house at the time appointed and 
 waited a length of time, but Mr. Tait did not appear. The next moi-n- 
 ning I was informed on the street that Tait was not coming, as he had 
 made a previous agreement with the trustees of the "North Shore" for 
 $20 less than my offer, and that they would not exonerate him, as he 
 had made a binding bargain. I met hini the :aext day. and asked him 
 why he did not keep his promise, he said he had heard tnat some per- 
 sons objected to him and that the trustees of the *' North Shore" would 
 not part with him. 
 

 Si WALLACE REVELATIONS. ' 
 
 I was conversing with Mr. Nathaniel Stevens, a trustee of six mile 
 road School Section, No. 9, who told me they wore in want of a teacher 
 and that they liad been served the same trick by "HarvieTreen," who 
 had engaged with them, and afterwards made another bargain at a 
 higher rate for a school at River Philip. I am authorized by Mr. Ste- 
 vens to use his name. If this state of things is to continue, tliere 
 will be no reliance placed on any agreement made with Teachers, 
 it will place Trustees in a dilemma, be injurious tm the proverbial 
 character of Teachers, and derogatory to tlio cause of Education. 
 
 In the army and navy, officers who are found dcrele(!t of duty or 
 guilty of a dislionorable act, are brought to a court martial. Perhaps 
 the Board of Education of our county may take the same view of this 
 matter, and exort all delinquents to do better in future. 
 
 THOMAS M. MORRIS, 
 Trustee and Secretary, 
 School Section, No. 8. 
 
 River Philip, Oxford, Nov., 13th 1870. 
 Mr. Editor,— 
 
 "This world is full of changes," is a statement that lias been repeated 
 again and again for eighteen hundred years, and I do not know how 
 much longer without ever being challenged. Were I a historian or a 
 politician I might refer for proof of this saying to some of the events in 
 past history, which have changed the face of the maps of Europe and 
 Asia, buried dynasties in oblivion and washed despots to tlie surface ; 
 or I might refer to the present fearful struggle at which Europe and 
 America are gazing with breathless interest. But-being neither histor- 
 ian nor politician I will contentmyself with smaller matters, — infinitely 
 smaller, — which were brought to my reccollection when I read in your 
 last issue a communication, signed "Thomas M. Morris, Trustse and 
 Secretary, School Section, No. 8." Ithouglit how strange it is, that a 
 man who a few years ago, was supposed to aspire to legislative honors, 
 notv contents to meddle himself in small matters, of other people's 
 business. How strange it is, that a man, who a few years ago for the 
 love of brevity adopted the sobriquet of "Old Tom," now delights to 
 sport the illustrious handle of Trustee and Secretary, of School Section, 
 No. 8. How strange it is, that a man who, a few years ago, in adver- 
 tising a handful of groceries, wrote the sublime doggerel, — 
 
 "CoflF6e, would please a very Turk 
 ' O'suon a fine aroma, 
 
 T' would make a lady laugh and smirk, 
 And call her tirst boy Omar." 
 
 is now content to shear his pinions and descend to the region of such 
 plain prose, as "hire a teacher," and " get a berth in a school house." 
 Mow strange it is that aman who a short time ago, devoted his time 
 to enlightening the public with stereotyped lectures on " Tobacco" 
 and "Great Thumbs and Toes," to the infinite amusement of a lot of 
 boys, seeking for the ridiculous and to the infinite disgust of ladies 
 and gentlemen, seeking for entertainment and information. How 
 str^ingG it is that such a man could be the retailer of secqnd hand stories, 
 not just in the shape they might be. 
 
 Mr. Morris says he is authorized by Nathaniel Stevens, — reliable au- 
 thority — to say that Harvie Treen engaged with the school on the six 
 mile road, and afterwards made another bargain at a higher rate for a 
 school at River Philip. Now I am authorized by Mr. Tveen to say, that 
 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 ^8 
 
 about eipfht days boforo ho spoke to Mr Stovons aboxit tho school on 
 six mile road ho was at Rivor Philip and made arrangement for the 
 school, as circunustancos would permit, 't^he trustees promising to let 
 him know, in four days, if his ollor would ho accepted ; from unavoid- 
 able fMrcuinstances the trustees did not write as promised, and alter 
 Mr. Treen had waited eifrhtdays he went to six mile road, and made 
 arranj^ements for tho scuiool there, which was on Tuesday evening, 
 about dark. Pie also mentioned the circrumatance of having made an 
 offer at Oxford and roceivinj? no word as he expected, the same day 
 during Mr. Treon's al)S(!nco, to six mile road, a message cam© from 
 Oxlord, saying that tlie trustees liad accepted his offer aud made all ar- 
 rangements for him to commence school,. Next morning early Mr. 
 Treen rode ten miles for tho express purpose of notifying Mr. Stevens 
 that he could n(it fulfil his engagement without very much disappoint- 
 ing tho former school, although ii was their own fault. 
 
 Now you will perceive, Mr. Editor, tho bargain was made with Mr. 
 Stevens late on Tuesday night and recalled Wednesday morning, and 
 unless Mr. Stevens can show that he refused some offer in tho mean- 
 time the disappointiMont was very trivial and also perforce of circum- 
 stance. Aijout Mr. Tait T know nothing, but Mr. Thomas M. Morris, 
 Trustee and School Secretary, of Section, No. 8, would do well in future 
 not to meddle in other people's business, and remember the retribution 
 which overtook him who amused himself by cutting oft' the thumbs 
 and great toes of his fellows. 
 
 8ALADIN. 
 
 \. 
 
 Mr. Editor : — 
 
 North Shore, Wallace, Nov, 19th, 1870. 
 
 My attention has been called, by several friends, to an article which 
 appeared in the Amherst Gazette, of 7th inst., over the signature of 
 *' Thomas M. Morris." I am sorry that at a period, a< which age 
 should teach wisdom, Mr. Morris wnose life work is, or ought to be, 
 in great part accomplished, should have thought himself called upon 
 in the interests of education, to put forth an eftbrt to blast the character 
 of young men, just entering the struggle of life, and to whom a char- 
 acter is worth any amount of money. Lack of i)roper employment 
 and an itch for newspaper writing, has led Mr. Morris to the commission 
 of an act which, were his statements correct, could only be regarded 
 as unjust, if not cruel. As his statements are not correct, and as he 
 has seen fit to throw out insinuations against teachers, generally, I 
 respectfully ask to be permitted to reply. 
 
 '; The real facts of the ca.se, are these :— While in Communication with 
 
 the trustees of the North Shore School, who hesitated to come to an 
 
 arrangement, in consequence of an offer made by another teacher. I 
 
 receiWd a message from Mr. Morris, offering me the Wallace School 
 
 for a certain amount. The same evening. I saw Mr. Morris and told 
 
 him if I should take the school I would take the amount named. He 
 
 in reply requested me, on my way home, to call upon one of the trustees. 
 
 » while he in the meantime would see the third ; Mr. Morris added that 
 
 • *' if I failed to secure the School I must not blame him." The trustee 
 
 ^•on whom I called promised to let me know the result of their deliber- 
 
 .^lations on Saturday evening. On Friday morning the Secretary of the 
 
 isi^' North Shore Trustees" called and offered me the amount I had asked. 
 
 ■kAs no definite arrangement had been made by the Wallace Trustees. 
 
 , ivwho themselves seemed divided in sentiment, and as Mr. Morris had 
 
 -warned me, in case of failure, not blame him, aud as ,1 had learned 
 
 ■ that several rate-payers, of the section, strongly objected to the em- 
 
 'ployment of a second-class Teacher, I at once accepted the offer from 
 
 ■ - -■ — rf 
 
WALLACE RKVRLATIONfl. 
 
 ' 
 
 the North Shore, and Heut word to the Wallace trustee, to whom I Itad 
 Last spoken, to that effect. 1 am convinced that had n Mrst-claHM Teat^her 
 presented himself in the moan time, Mr. Morris would not have 
 hesitated five minutes al)(>ut entorin|;( into an ungaKemont. Mr. Mor- 
 ris, who seems determined to plu(!0 mo liefore tiie public, in the v/^orst 
 possible liKht, insiimates that I liad went to the Nortii Shore, not of 
 my own accord, but, because the trustees of tliut section have so bound 
 me that I could not escape To meet this insinuation, I a]>pend a copy 
 of a paper, signed by the trustees of the North Sliore Section:— 
 
 "We, the undersigned, do hereby certify, that James Tait, had not 
 at all agreed with us, at the '• North Shore,' ^ before offering his services 
 at Wallace, as ho only offered himself for a certain sum, which we at 
 first refuse, but afterwards granted. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 ZABUD MAOKAY, 
 WM. SMITH, 
 DUNCAN McKINNON. 
 
 I have, now, Mr. Editor, through your kind permission, stated in 
 self defence, the real facts of the case. As a young man I have not felt 
 free to speak, in as strong terras, of Mr. Morris' conduct, as unaer 
 other circumstances. I intend to take no furtlier notice of the matter. 
 
 JAMES TATT, Jr. 
 
 i 
 
 Mr. Editob :- 
 
 Wallace, 7th Jan'y, 1871. 
 
 I observe in your issue of 18th Nov., an article headed "Want of 
 Courage," stating "Sydney Smith," in his work on moral philosophy, 
 speaks in this wise, of what men lose for the want of a little brass, as 
 it is termed : — A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a 
 little courage. Every day sends to the grave a number of obscure men, 
 who have only remained in obscurity because their timidity has pre- 
 vented them from making a first effort, and who, if they could only 
 have been induced to begm, would in all probability, have gone great 
 lengths in the career of rame ; the £a.ct is, that in order to do anything 
 in this world, worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank, 
 thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through 
 as.well as we can. It will not do to be perpetually calculating risks and 
 adjusting the chances. 
 
 As we have not been very long acquainted, (and I intend hereafter to 
 give a few biographical sketches) I think I may as well give you a 
 short history of my orig^^, that may induce you to place confidence in 
 my statements. " QuafH,vis sera tandem veniet,^' is the motion the 
 Escutcheon of the Morns' Family. They claim to be of noble Welsh 
 descent. Captain Charles Morris, who is mentioned so frequently and 
 honorably in the wars against the French and Indians, at the conquest 
 and settlement of Nova Scotia,( see History,wiitten by my old friend and 
 school-fellow Beamish Salter Murdoch, Esq., and now given as prizes 
 to deserving scholars in our public schools), afterwards Judge Morris 
 and first Surveyor General of the province, was father of the Hon. 
 Charles Morris, so long known as second Surveyor General, and his 
 son John S. Morris was his successor. My father was cousin to the 
 second Surveyor General and contemporaneous with him. My grand 
 fother was Captain of a Transport and wrecked and lost at the first 
 seige of Louisbourg. My father was known for fifty years as an hon- 
 orable and accomplished West India merchant. My parents were 
 
 vi 
 
f 
 
 yt 
 
 .^V 
 
A 
 
 \ 
 
 . WALLACE UKVKL\TION«. f) 
 
 AVesloyann, tliolr houso was iilwayn onon to i\w old iiiid lalthfitl Min- 
 l-^torM, HovH. John M\(\ JiuncH Miiiin, Willliiin and John tiliirk, .rtimos 
 JCnowhm, Hutcllft't% AUior, (Vosconib, Younp:. Honnott,' liitchoy, and 
 many othnrs. Tlmy had lour Hons, onn diod youn^, two lost at ;«m ; 
 Hix r>anKht<frH,all livinjf. My father diod S4. tiiy niothor h:\, thoy wore 
 lioth int(M*r()d at Caniphill CcMictorv, llallfux. My ni )thor pnbllrhcd 
 H book I'ootiiH, it wuH favorably not{c«»d by hor friend, tho Itonorablo 
 JoHooh Howe, at that time, proprietor and printer of the " Nova Mco- 
 , tlan/' We had, when at home, every Sunday atler meotinn, to repeat 
 the Chiircii of KnvchuKi ('ateehiHni, at that time used in familieM and 
 . mthoolH. It tauKlit uh not to bear iUlHe witneNH a^ain.U (Mir neighbor, 
 to b(«ar n<)^mali(^e or hatred in our heartH and do unto all men uh wu 
 would, thoy should do unto us. 
 
 I road a book some years sincre, entitled "Truth v.s. Fietlim;" It 
 uiado a deep impression on :ny mind, perhaps you have read it as 
 \ Editors have to study a ureat (leal and nrove that whi(!h is xood. I 
 hiay give a eonvincinjjf illustration of the aphorism, on my i)reHent 
 eommuni"ation ; 1 also take tho liberty to quote a few passages from 
 tho '* Proverl)s i»f Hoiomon," that may be applieable: "The wicked i' 
 Nuared by the transgression of his lips, but the Just shall eomo out of 
 troublo." " lie that keopeth his mouth keopeth his life, but he that 
 openeth wide hisi mouth, shall luivo de-struction." "There Is th.U 
 luaketh himself rich, yet hath nothing ; there is that maketh liimself 
 poor, yet hath great riclies. "Answer a fool atieording to his folly." 
 
 I noticed in your Gazette, of IHth Nov., a communication, dated "Ox- 
 ford, i:Uh id.,' signed "Ha'.adin," hurling at my defenceless hoad, (on 
 ac(;ount of tho fi(!titious signature), what the writer s'lpposed withering 
 Marcasui, in conseiiuenee of statement^) made In my address to you, on 
 the 7th Nov., respecting what I liad judged the improper proceedings 
 of two Hchool Teaciiors. I do not know why " liarvle Treen," had to 
 hire sucli a nuignanimous Ohampion, to defend ills rights, he nmst be 
 of age, and should speak for himself, and If I wronged him, domaud 
 restitution ; but to euiploy such a cowardly scribbler did not exhibit 
 the requisiio (jualilications of a ^Airrf class Teacher; besides, I liad 
 nothing to say about the great personage who •vritos in such gi'andil- 
 oquent style. He must certainly be a gradu j of the " Great Oxford 
 irniversity." and has got adrltt In Nova Scotia, and now settled down 
 ' , In a manulacturing community, and makes " ali cry and no wool." 
 He despises uiy humble pretensions and scoffs at my literary aeliieve- 
 inentH, derides my poetry and laughs at my prose, but I do not assume 
 Bucli great acquirements as his. lie thinks he can pull the wool over 
 i.' my eyes antl blind me, and that he dwells in ^'Lucus iners nulh 
 
 impenetrabilis astro," but perhaps I may spv him and drive him from 
 his se(iuestered abode, whether it be on the hanks of the majestic Nile, 
 or of the more humble river Philip. I did not expect to rival, the old 
 ^ > English Poets, Shakespear, Milton, Dryden, Young, Harvey, Grey, 
 
 and others, or tbe more modern, Byron," Moore, Sir Walter Scott, and 
 ' Tennj'aon ; or such prose as by the immortal Dickens . I suppose 
 
 " Saladin" has the result of ali their labors, In his capacious brain, 
 and that so much learning makes him mad. He did not give me tialr 
 play. In quoting only one verse of my sublime idyl, describing my 
 handful of grocerles*^; there were two of more sublimity on Tobacco 
 and Medicinal Alcohol. He says 1 aspired to legislative honors. How 
 Mtrange an invention or hallucination ; I would not crave to be a Turn- 
 coat, or man of artiflce ; it must be his own ambitious dream,— "Mem- 
 ber ror Oxford !' ' how sublime it sounds. He says I adopted for brevity, 
 the sobriquet "Old Tom.' ' How strange, I am advancing towards three 
 Ss^ . .score and ten,— I should be as wise as a serpent and narmless as a 
 
 ^*^ dove, — an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile, like himftelf. He 
 
 says, I delight to sport the illustrious handle of Trustee and Secretary, 
 ^)f School Section, No. 3 ; I cannot see anything degr&diiig or disbou- 
 
WALLACE ]iEVELATIONS. 
 
 orable in that ; I have acted in that capacity five 3 ears, was elected hy 
 the rate-payers and Trustees, as a competent pennon, to look after thcfr 
 bufnness {and other people's, viz. Teachers.) 1 can refer to the Inspectors 
 Messrs, George. & Dariagh, whether I have iiot ihithfully and efficiently 
 performed my duties, in Reports, Returns, ac. It is no disgrace to be 
 g&zetted in a good cause, but, otherwise, as a /Slanderer, &c., Ac. He 
 sa^^s, I enlightened the public w^ith stereotyped lectures, on " Tobacco 
 and Great Thumbs and Toes," to the infinite amusement of a lot of 
 boys, seeking for the ridiculous and the disgust of ladies and gentle- 
 men, seeking for entertainment and information. There was present 
 at the last mentioned Lecture, a person called James B. Woodhmd, of 
 Oxford, an attentive and delighted hearer; after deli erv of/the lecture 
 he commended it highly and said it ought to be printoft and delivered 
 in all parts of the County. How strange that " Saladin " and that 
 
 Eerson now differ so widely in opinion. At the delivery of the first 
 lecture, on the use of Tobacco, there were present two Ministers of 
 the Gospel, who gave their approval, in remarks made by them, and 
 one of them afterwards introduced the same subject in the pulpit and 
 adn)onished his hearers of its baneful effects, in many ways. How 
 strange ! " Saladin" must smoke tobacco and opium, and like rhe Turks, 
 mwst think sometimes that he is in Paradise before he is ready. There 
 was no indecorous or unchaste language, made use of in cither lecture, 
 to disgust ladies or gentlemen, as stated by him. " Saladin " says, how 
 strange it is that such a man could be the retailer of second hand stories, 
 not just in, the shape they might be; he also says, that Mr. Nathaniel 
 
 .Stevens, trustee of Six Mile Road School, is not reliable authority. 
 "Saladin" is guilty of what he charges me with,— minding other 
 
 ' people's business. He better first take 'he beam out of his own eye. 
 
 • As regards his story about Mr. Treen, I do not place any dependence 
 in it, it is all subterfuge. To contravert the statements of both, I no', . 
 
 ■h give the copy of a letter addressed to me by all tJie Trustees of Six 
 .Mile Road Section No. 9; the original of which I can produce and 
 
 ,' prove authentic : — 
 
 I Six Mil e Rcad, 22nd Nov., 1870. 
 
 Mb. T. M. Morris, Sir, — We give the following statement, in regard to 
 
 the hiring of Mr. Treen, to teach in this Section, according as oiu* memory 
 
 serves, which is as follows: — Mr. Treen came here on Saturday, the 22ra 
 
 Oct., and said, that provided he would not get a letter from Oxford, when 
 
 he returned to the Harbor, that he would hire here. He then came here on 
 
 the following Tuesday, Mr. John Cook and Nath. Stevens being present, 
 
 , and agreed to hire for the Winter Term, for a cc- tain sum, then mentioned. 
 
 ' ' Nath. Stevens then accompanied him to John Robertson's, the other trustee, 
 
 ' and there stated that he and Mr. Cook had agreed with Mr. Treen to teach, 
 
 1 stating the bargain, with which John Robertson agreed. Mr. Treen then 
 
 ,, premised to be up on Tuesday, the first day of the month, to 'commence 
 
 .teaching. Nath. Stevens being at the Harbor on Wednesday following, 
 
 J where he met Mr. Treen, who told him that he had a Jetter from Oxford, 
 
 J, for him to go there and teach, requesting Mr. Stevens to dve him liberty 
 
 V to withdraw from agreement, on Six Mile Road, to which Mr. Stevr-ns re- 
 
 .>iused, telling him that he must go and see Mr. Cook, which he has iiOt 
 
 •A done, and we have not yet procured a teacher. 
 
 ■r*M 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 NANTHANIEL STEVENS, 
 JOHN COOK, 
 JOHN ROBERTSON. 
 
 Trustees 
 Section No. 9. 
 
 .,« 
 
 *5 Now, Mr. Editor, these are gentlemen of respectability, of good reprte 
 **and owning valuable properties, and are highly indig ant at the statement 
 "* made by " Saladin ;" and I have reliable authority that Mr. Stevens is pre- 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 7-. 
 
 paring a cowliUle. Mrs. Stevens can prove that she asked Treen, what he 
 would do, should he receive a letter from Oxford, he replied hf. would pay 
 no attention to it, as the trustees did not keep their promise, but that he 
 would certainly come and teacli at the Six Mile Road School, — this is a 
 stumper! I am preparing a parody on the celebrated song: "Woodman 
 spare that tree," its title is " Woodland spare tliis stump," some of the 
 words may be familiar lo the earof "Saladin." Ishall whistle the tune when 
 I see him. " Saladin" appears to possess an inventive genius, and is much 
 inclined to be fabulous, and seems like the young Jewisli Ruler, to lack one 
 thing, the essential element, as a polite and illustrious man has often used 
 these words to express his disapprobation of sucli as do not practice veracity. 
 I think he may thank me for the inspiration of some words, on wliich he' 
 lays great stress and marked exception, and thinks they are improperly 
 used, but I may hereafter show, where perhaps tliey may be applied with 
 propriety. 
 
 " Saladin" appears to be proud of his pedigree and looks with contempt 
 on any of low birth or dimi'iutive stature, (as h*^ has a lofty bearing.) I have 
 heard of some persons of the same name and have taken pains to ascertain 
 his antecedents. I find in my Biographical Dictionary, a pretty decent man. 
 " Saladin " a famous Sultan of Egypt, greatly renowned as a Warrior and 
 Legislator, died 1193, age 57; perhaps the present may be a descendant, 
 as he sticks to eastern customs, smokes tobacco, uses opium and drinks 
 sherbet. I cannot say wliether he calls himself a christian ; the Koran 
 forbids the use of alcohol aiul he must be a temperate man. He has an in- 
 timate friend at Wallace, called Pope Pius the meek, of temperance proclivi- 
 ties, but has a great aversion, as well as his eastern friend, against any one 
 who would prohibit th3 use of tobacco, and has grossly insulted some 
 persons of less note than himself, when attempting to point out, at free 
 temperance meetings, tlie inconsistency of its use, and their bad example 
 by those whose mcftto is, Love, Purity and Fidelity. The Pope professes 
 to be a christian, but does not presume to assert that he is infallible or 
 immaculate, as he swaps horses and dea's in cattle and lambs. He Is chief 
 Counsellor in temperance affairs and they are both friends of the (or ought 
 to be) third class teacher, who hired the descendant of the ^reat Sultan, tQ 
 attack Old Tom, who some years since, kept with his handful of groceries, 
 some choice liquors, in small bottles, for the use of the afflicted, amongst 
 them some Old Tom (thence sprimg the sobriquet.) The Doctor sent the 
 Temperance Folks to buy it, because it was unperatively necessary for the 
 benefi*^^ of their health, which was suffering from the use of Tobacco, 
 causing loss of saliva, dyspepsia and inflamation of bronchial tubes, &c., *c. 
 It took a large quantity for this purpose ; but the Pope issued a decree being 
 the Clerk of License (himself) to inflict a fine of ten dollars, half of which 
 was his perquisite ; but I paid no attention to the orders of His Holiness 
 and it ended in tobacco smoke, from the nauseous incense continually biirn- 
 liig on his altars ; he is an 1*^ veterate smoker as well as ;he august "Saladin." 
 They may perhaps be both higa officers of the Grand Lodge, with large 
 salaries, which with fines, may prove an incentive (or moral suasion) 
 towards Temperance. The cause of the hard feeling against me must be 
 J eaiovo^ ; they think if I persist, in uy endeavors, that I will abolish the 
 use of Tobacco, before they get the long talked of and intended Prohibitory 
 Liqi^oT Law passed, (this is enough to make a horse laugh.) The motto 
 of the Pope iV-do to me, as I do to others. As the evil will prevail and 
 the use of tobacco encourages it, as much or more than anything else, 
 (they joui hand in hand) by causing niinatural and inordinate thirst, — and 
 if they were to add to the:** pledge, that Tobacco should not be used by 
 any, that styled themselves temperate, they might have better hopes. But 
 without this addition the rail!8nnium (Rev. 20) must first arrive. Liquor 
 and Tobocco are the Devils emissaries, and it will puzzle Bishop Colenso, 
 
•^ 
 
 8 
 
 WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 i 
 
 
 with his mathematics. Dr. Cummings, with his prolepsis, and, even, Mr. 
 Lithgow, with his polyglot, to s^ate tlie time. Their righteousness and 
 wisdom are as filthy rags and foolishness in the sight of the '^ Great I am." 
 Wesley says : 
 
 Blind unbelief, is sure to err, and scan His works in vain ; 
 Grod is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain. 
 
 The heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things 
 St. Paul says, be temperate in all things, — sin is the transgression of the law 
 and whosoever keeps the whole law and yet offends in one point, he is 
 guilty of all. The Great John Wesley said and the celebrated Doctor 
 Beecher says, do not drink liquor or use tobacco, and why sliould ladies 
 and gentlemen be disgusted when I repeat it ; they will perhaps have more 
 reason to cry about the Great Eastfrn Question, or, "Saladin's" pedigree. 
 Some boys have better perceptions than grown up boobies. I have the 
 mantiscrlpts of both Lectures, which I can exhibit or repea*,, if wished. 
 One of my sons is now empowered, by the sessions, to sell Alcohol, when 
 vsed medicinally ; he is a tempei^ance member accoiding to Law and can 
 sell to Indians, when their Squaws are sick ; the profits are divided. Some 
 years since I was President of the old Wallace Temperance Society, (appoin- 
 ted without taking a pledge) but afterwards left them, in disgust, as they 
 would not add to their pledge, abstinence from the use of Tobacco. If 
 the archives ot the Templars where examined there might be found 
 Annual Returns, made by me for a friend, who thought I could do them, 
 as well as himself, and I v/as offered an appointment and salary if I would 
 join, but objected because they encouraged the use of Tobacco. 
 
 How many merchants, in Halifax, have made and are making large for- 
 tunes, tiuming fish and provisions into Rum and Rum into Cash ; and others 
 importing liquors of all kinds and Tobacco and Cigars, and many engaging 
 in the manufacture of Tobacco, and how many grocers make more money 
 out of Liquor and Tobacco than any thing else. Their money gives them 
 great influence and when will the Temperance folks command a mj^jority 
 of Temperance Legislators, to pass a Prohibitory Law ? There is something 
 wrong, also, about the License System, — there is as much Liquor and To- 
 bacco imported, legally, and smuggled into the province, as ever. A state- 
 ment might be given for the last fiscal year. The persons engaged in this 
 traffic, of Liquor and Tobacco, belong to different denominations, called 
 CArisfians,.— Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, 
 and Universalists, and are generally as charitable and philanthropic, ( as 
 others who profess temperance principles) giving libersdly to erection of 
 Churches, Insane, Blind, and Deaf and Dimab Asylums, Bible Societies, 
 and all good Institutions ; why should they not hope for salvation as well 
 as others, who do as bad or worse ? 
 
 I recollect that during the Amerlcam War 1812-14 and after, my father 
 owned three vessels, a fine clipper Barque 250 tons, called the "Five Sisters," 
 a Brig 200 tons, the " Maria," built of live oak, a Schooner 150 tons, the 
 "Valparaiso," a Baltimore Clipper; they were all prizes taken from the 
 Americans. (Alabama Questions in those days were settled by the Bull 
 Dogs, on the Wooden Walls of old England.) He employed them in the 
 Jamaica trade, taking out fish, &c., and bringing back rum, sugar and 
 molasses, Spanish doubloons and dollars. There were nests of pirates at 
 Cape Antonio, they used to intercept the vessels, homeward bound. I 
 recollect one, I think, the "Alligator," Captain Colson, was boarded, they 
 strung the Captain at the yard arm, to make him reveal where his money 
 was stowed, it was under the balbst, they left him, supposed dead, the crew 
 afterwards relieved him jmd he recovered ; the old man was a Scotchman, 
 very stiff-necked, and always carried his head a?^ry after that, and saUed 
 out of Halifax a great many years subsequently. My father sent the 
 

^ 
 
^ 
 
 ,« Ji # 
 
 r,<? • ■ •■ •'• WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 "Valparaiso" to Jamaica, with a cargo of fisli, &c., she discharged at King- 
 ston, and tool? in a load of flour for Carthagenia, Spanish Main. The place 
 Jiad been blockaded by the Spainiards, but had capitulated before her arrival, 
 and they lured her in. The inhabitants where in a state of starvation,^and 
 flour was worth one hundred dollars per barrel. I think the premium of 
 insurance was 33 per cent. She would have made a little fortune — Sir. 
 transit gloria mundi. In 1834 my father and I ownied the wharf property, 
 now owned by 6. H. Starr, Esq., and I suppose how worth $40,000; at that 
 time and previously I owned three vessels, in- the West India and New- 
 foundland business (sealing, AC.) but during the yearl was floored, there 
 was a monetary crisis, a great number bf failures, — I had endorsed notes 
 for persons (supposed friends), to amount of $20,000, without any interest, 
 to make them negotiable at bank, they failed and paid nothing and I be- 
 came liable for the whole as well as ray own aflFairs. It was Cholera year: 
 900 people died ni Halifax, business was nearly suspended. The rich men 
 left the city. All kinds of property was sacrificed and every body looked 
 Wue. Small dividends were made and great losses. 
 
 During the American War, the merchants of Halifax made money fast, 
 by speculating in prize goods, vessels, *c., but afterwards the times became 
 quite depressed, ii; qonsequence of restrictions ia the navigation laws ; our 
 vessels could only go to certain ports, but after the alteration in the laws, 
 by the eulightend policy of Mr. Huskisson, they were permitted to sail and 
 trade to all parts of the world. Ship Building was carried on to a great 
 extent, and some fine English vessels bought for the West India business, 
 and times revived, and Nova Scotia became famed for her large mercantile 
 marine, aud the enterprize, and success, of her merchants, traders and 
 fishermen. 
 
 I was in my father's oflice, two years ; he taught me book-keeping, by 
 different modes. I was after that book-keeper and cashier for five years, 
 to the late John H. Braine, American commission merchant. He was a 
 shrewd man of business and died rich. He was brought up in Boston. His 
 fiither a merchant of New York, a Loyalist, and one of the first settlers of 
 Shelbume, N. S. After the old Halifax Baiik was established, and Bankers 
 thought they could do as they pleased, — I recollect he sent me with $20,000 
 in their notes to get doubloons, to remit to the United States for Flour; 
 the Cashier hesitated about giving it, till he saw the Directors. Mr. B. went 
 immediately to Lawyer Johnston, ( now Judge) and got a letter from him, 
 making the demand, and they soon shelled out the Gold. Mr. B. was his 
 own Banker, and kept Notes till nearly due, when he would sometimes put 
 them in the Bank for collection. During the time I was Clerk, I used to 
 send adventures to thq West Indies, in the old Brig " Nancy," Capt. Hunter, 
 belonging to old Mr. Strachan, the " Condor," Capt. Vaux, and the "Mich- 
 tueA Wallace," Capt Glawson,belongmgto old Mr. Brown, (who like Stephen 
 Girard's Cooper, died a rich man.) I recollect when I was getting my re- 
 mittances, at his oflitie, he used to say: "Tom always trade on your own 
 Capital," the Bank (only one then) will ruin all who are not acquainted 
 with them. He was from Scotland and was well acquainted with the Scotch 
 method. "» 
 
 What has Imt'ome of the report of the Committee, on the aftairs of 
 the Bank of Nova Scotia. I recollect when Mr. Forman was a re- 
 wpeetable and intelligent merchant at the head of the long wharf, he 
 •was an expert Book-keeper, but speculated too largely witli other peo- 
 
 Ijies means. I did Ijusiness.' seven years in Halifax, saved $2.0<K) while 
 was clerk, and shipped half a cargo with a friend and went to Dem- 
 t?rary as super-cargo, returned in \Ma weeks and made for mv share and 
 cnmmissions $1.(.K)0 and then commenced business. I have been living 
 in the country about thirty years, had six boys and six girls ; two d-ui- 
 ghters and one son dead; nine living. I do not make this statement 
 
 I 
 
 '01 I 
 
to 
 
 •WALLACE RBVELATIOJVS. 
 
 Mr. Editor to agjrrandise myself but niiTely to let the "Great Sala'^in" 
 know that ho was not acjquainted with my early history, my private 
 affairs are of verv little consequenee to any one, the boys niay laugh 
 andSaladin'H lacfies and gentlemen grin, but 1 shall be satistied {Veritas 
 prevelabit.) 
 
 My maternal grandfather was born in Dublin on St. Patrick's <lay. 
 Came out to New York when young did business there was a loyalist, 
 and was one of the first settlers in Shelburne N. S. He laid out 4,000 
 Guineas there, and after business declined moved to Halifax Thomas 
 Braine Sr. also moved to Halifax and was buried at Camp Hill Ceme- 
 tery, Thomas Mahan my Grandfather was buried in the site where the 
 new Grafton Street, Wesleyan Chapel now stands, the two families 
 were connected by marriage, (see prize offered by Kings College for 
 best essay on first settlement of Shelburne with biographical sketches) 
 
 I was awake some nights since in my berth, thmking of other 
 "Saladins,"the name seemed familiar to m'y ear and I recollected that 
 many years since, a ship called "Saladin" was wrecked on the sout^h 
 shore of the province and the crew taken up on suspicion. She had a 
 cargo of copper ore and bars of silver, and was bound from Valpariso 
 to London, it was found on trial of the crew, that a strange captain and 
 his son had shipped as pansengers at the former port, and on the pas- 
 sage had incited part of the crew to murder the captain of the ship and 
 I tliink seven of the crew, they kept the strange captain, as pilot, he 
 steered for Nova Scotia, and was wrecked in a gale, before they readied 
 the shore the mutineers murdered him and his son, (as dead men 
 tell no tales,) Three were hung and one turned Queen's evidence and 
 escaped a berth on the gallows. I thought he might still be in disguise 
 wandering about the province and the name of "Saladin" still applied 
 to him. A slanderer is as bad as a murderer. 
 
 I trust my man is of eastern origin, and that he is well to do in the 
 \yorld. Pernaps he hs^ been in the grocery business and had an armful 
 but may have dwindled down to a handfu), as family necessities some- 
 times cause such things, he may have been a Pedagogue, or a local 
 preacher, or a temperance lecturer, these stereotyped temperance lec- 
 tures are sometimes very tedious and monotonous and I think might 
 be made more lively by an interspersion of tobacco. The village of 
 Oxford is growing fast as a manufacturing settlemeht. It has a woollen 
 Mill, in which no doubt the eastern man owns stock and perhaps has 
 subscribed largely to Mr.'Cameron's stock list of the Woodware (com- 
 pany, and I understand there is a talk of an establishment for Extract 
 of Hemlock Bark on a large scale (in which he may invest heavily. ) It 
 issaid to be so profitable by the originators. It will require an immense 
 quantity of Bark and may induce people to cut down all their Wood- 
 land which will be a great loss to the inhabitants, as it keeps them 
 quite amused in winter, and is profitable in many ways, tlie Wood 
 may be used in the factory, but it will dislodge any straggler in the laiid 
 who may have a berth there, and is found to be a iSquuiter. The great 
 man may turn out only a Bunhwhaakcr after all. 
 
 "Saladin" brays loudly, if I could get hold of his ears, I njight dis- 
 cover to which species he beiongs, and if I could obtain his Jawboiiie 
 after it is quiet, I might as Sampson did, slay all my enemies there- 
 with. Mayhap the learned Egyptiaji intends to study Theology to add 
 to his other temperate and varied accomplisliments, and may prefer 
 Acadia College to "Oxford University." |1 would recommend a lesson 
 for his consideration, to get a kiM)wledge of the roots of the word, En 
 arche en o'logos kai o'logos en pros ton theon kai theos en o' logon and an 
 illustration that may perhaps suit his capacity. 
 
 In a well ordered Sabbath School, there will be the same lesson for 
 the whole school; and but one lesson at a time. Experience proves 
 this the better way. Yet there are schools, where every class is on "its 
 own hook" and the brief hour is spent in a miscellaneous study of 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 11 
 
 'its 
 of 
 
 different subjects, without any show of unity or system. No wonder 
 tliat tiie story is told whetiior true (^r not, of a boy comintr from sucli 
 a class, who on being asked at home wliat he had learned tor fhat day, 
 answered,— And tlie whaie spake unto Moses in the bulrushes saving, 
 almost thoxi porsuadest me i» bo a christian ; and Moses answered and 
 said unto the whale "Thou art the man." Now I have no objo(!tion to 
 leave the decision of our. literary merits, to the venerable President of 
 "Acpdia" perhaps he may recollect when he was a student at King's 
 College, Windsor, Rev. Dr. Porter, President. I was a pupil at the 
 •'College AcAdemy," Rev.Mr.King, Sen., Principal. I shall never forget 
 the kindness and attention paid to me, by that reverend old gentleman, 
 and accomplished '* Oxforil Scholar." He Avaa loved and respected by 
 all his scholars and was another Roger Asehem, in teaching Latin. 
 Should the Presidentof "Acadia" forget me, he may recollect when Pete 
 and Steve Delaneey turned up the College Rell and nlled it with hot lead, 
 to keep its tongue quiet, (pity "Saladin" was not served so) or when 
 the Students had a hot Supper, in one of their rooms, (when they 
 should have been at their studies) and hearing the approach of the 
 President, going his rounds, threw Supper and Sei'vice, out of the back 
 window, into the College yard. He may have many other pleasing 
 reminiscences of ^^Alma Mater.^' William Wright, afterwards Judge 
 Wright of St. John N. B., now dead, and fat Bob Hazen, now a protn- 
 inent lawyer of St. John, N. B., were pupils at the Windsor Academy 
 They then called me Little Tom. 
 
 Theodore, of Abyssinia, claimed to be descended from the Queen of 
 Sheba; as Egypt and that Country are not far apart, some of the de- 
 scendents of the Eastern Plnlosopher nmy have migrated through 
 Nubia, and intermarriages may have occured, and the present doubt' 
 Jul ** iS'aladin'^ may be related to that illustrous Lady of Color, of whom 
 as wise a man as he became enamoured. Perhaps some of his relations 
 where amongst the 3000 Mamalukes said to have been shot in cold 
 blood and some sick prisoners poisoned in hospital, by Napoleon I. 
 (Lockharf 8 History.) Those Eastern Rulers are generally lamed for 
 having a Seraglio or Harem and a number of wives and other ladies. 
 The present Ruler has 800 wives, — o'mirahle dietu ! — what a lot of 
 groceries they would require ; — an armful would not go far. I hope 
 " Saladin's " favorite will not get mad, and bite off her great thumbs, 
 as they have a fashion of dyeing their eyebrows and finger nails, with 
 henna, — it might have a baneful effect — or that he may not share the 
 fete of Adoni Bezek, Judges 1st and 6th ... If this great man should 
 die of hysterics or asterisks. h\^ remains may probably be transpjorted 
 to his ancestral halls, and deposited in the Catacombs or Pyramids of 
 Egypt, near his illustrious progenitor. He may there be a mummy or 
 a dummy, and it may be said of him that he openeth not his mouth. 
 I would advise him to retire to his closet, read the Proverbs of Solo- 
 mon, practise ablution^ especially the mouth after chewing and smok- 
 ing tobacco, and he may become a cleaner, more humble, wiser, and 
 better man. 
 
 The German Soldiers have eacli a bottle of wine, per day, and each 
 bottle contains two ounces of alcohol. The Surgeons say the ration is 
 a valuable one to the men, — the alcohol sustaining and the vegetable 
 matter nourishing exhausted nature. Clearly the Prussian Scientists 
 do not believe in the virtues of total abstinence. The most celebrated 
 German Physicians have asserted that twenty thousand persons, of 
 their nation, die annually, by the excessive use of tobacco. 
 
 The quantity of manufactured Tobacco, imported into the United 
 Kingdom, last year, amounted to 52,588,590 Jbs. The analysis shows 
 that 1,456,623 Ibs.came firom the Hau8eTowns,6,360,967 Ibs.from Holland, 
 312,817 lbs, from Greece, 1,752,587 lbs. from Turkey proper, 1,334,718 lbs. 
 Phlllippine Islands, 594,389 lbs. from Japan, 242,976 lbs. from Cuba, 
 1,875,765 lbs. from New Granada, 87,046,032 lbs. from the United States, 
 
 S\ 
 
n 
 
 WALLA(;K UEVKLATIONfi. 
 
 and l,(i4r»,27r) lt»H. IVoni other Couiitrios; tliis, including the duty, 7/> 
 ctH. por tb, iimounts to tluMMiorinoiiH hviiii $;W,441,442, Hpeiit for a uso- 
 I(WH and v'Kiions hahit, and tho greater part, by pernonH nrotesHing to 
 l»o PurithmH. It is said that Li(|U(>rand Tobacco costH tlio people, of 
 tl»e United StatcH, $)S(U(,()()(),0()0. ^ 
 
 The British Anti Toljacco Society otleivd a pronnum of £50 for tho 
 best Rssay on tijo "Ilistorv and Properties of Tobacco, and its Pliysical 
 a<',tion on tl»e Huiuan liody," also, a Prizo of £[A) for the best EsKay on 
 tln^ *' Moral, Hocial anil Kcronomical results of the use of Tobac(!0." 
 This Hofiety pid>liHheH a Montldy Maj^ascine, which contains a ^ood 
 deal of valuable information, rospectinjj: the propei'tios and use of an 
 exc(!edin^;ly injurious article. Thecoiuhu-t of the temperance folks 
 'so (-ailed) reminds one, of what I always thou)?ht, tlie unjust and un- 
 f)r()voked war, wa^ed by the English against the Chinese, some years 
 a<fo. to compel them to open their Ports, for the admisstou of opium, 
 whicJJ was prohibited by the Emperor, as lie found the use of it so 
 destructive, to tlie livesof his i)eople, and he wished them to increase 
 and multiply. ( having only 4(K),<HM),()00)th«t he rnif?ht supply tho United 
 SiMtes with isbivcs or cht^aper labor than Nef/roen, to whorii they gave 
 liieir freedom, at the cost of the lives of a million and half of white 
 fri'i'inen, and tliousand;* of millions of dollars worth of property, and 
 lieuvy war taxes, tluiv sire now paying. Tlie Negroes are useless and 
 !ire hardly recogid/.ed by the NorthenerSj and they now want to stop 
 the impoit^tio)! of the Celestials, as they are reducing, so much, the 
 labor and employment of their own people. Tlie pretext of the Eng- 
 lish was to open" the Chinese ports for trade, especiall.y opium, by 
 which their East India possessions Ijeeame rich; and the introduction 
 of the Bible an<l Missionaries, to convert the Heathen, The temper- 
 ance folks wage war againwt Alcohol, and encourage other vices just 
 as de.stru«rtive, to health and morality. The Chinese or Heathens are 
 now persecute<l and imposed on, by Certain Missionaries and in their 
 turn (it is naid) intend to expel all Barharianx^ within their Country, 
 and destroy all outside, by poisoning their great export. Tea, which i« 
 tlie principal l)everag(! of all other nations. This proves that "the 
 heart of man is desperately wi<*ked," and that most of men are doing 
 evil continually, that goocl may come. If this should prove no joke, 
 (tho Chinese have lut Coinage, except the copper token or cash, which is 
 not the tenth of a penny; and all, but the most trifling, payiuents are 
 made either in foreign iuoiu\v or by tlie weight of silver. It is likely 
 they will keep a bright look out foir Spanish dollars and British sover- 
 igns) it will benefit all Countries, pronucing coft'ee, cocoa, chickery, or 
 peas, as tliere must be some substitute fortea. What will the old ladies 
 do? Milk will be in great demand ; butter and cheese must rise; and 
 cows will bring high prices. The Yankees had better annex (/Uba, 
 Porto Rico and St. Domingo, and raise coffee and cocoa, and get Brazil, 
 if they can ; they will then have employment for all their free Negroes. 
 
 Mr. Editor, I had hardly tinishiui the few remarks, I made in the 
 foregoing narrativ<% in regard to the Toaclier Harvie Treen, when out 
 comes Mr. James Tint, .Jr.. with another charge, not of minding other 
 people's business, but of meddling too much with his business ; and I 
 thought I might as well try and kill two birds with one stone. I must 
 allow that I greatly admire the manlintiss of Mr. Tait, Jr., in coming 
 out over his own name, of which he seems not to be ashamed, and 
 giving his statement of the affair, in dispute. If Mr. Tait wrote the 
 letter himself and can prove it is accurate, in all its details ; I think he 
 proves to be a good second class Teacher, a good compositor and pos- 
 sessed of self-reliance, which is a great requisite, ancl that he requires 
 no further examination for the Jirst class; but I cannot, 1 am sorry to 
 say, accord with all he says. He seems pretty courteous and tells a 
 plausible story, but I have many objections to it: he is very consider- 
 ate ; would not wound my feelings ;'regret8 my want of proper em- 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 18 
 
 pToyTiTK^nt ; and, laments my lack of wisdom, at my advanced ngpy l)ut, 
 notwithstanding all tiiis, I'havo hoard nonw trite "sayings, during my 
 experience, that "you cannot cratch an old bird witli chafl'" and that 
 •* young folks think old folks fools, but old folks know young ones 
 sometimes to bo fools." I admit this is not on a par with Haladin's 
 introductory address, but I cannot help it. I have a plain unvarnished 
 Uile t<) relate, and will return to Mr. Tait, Jr. flis father is prin- 
 cipal actor, in the ttrst scene. He went to Mr. O'Brien, trustee of 
 School Section, No. 8, (he own» a big Ship) and told him that his 
 son was thinking of taking the North Shore School, but that he 
 would like to g(!t him into the Wallace School, as a Teacher, and wished 
 to know if he would agree, if Mr. Morria would, Mr. O'Brien told him 
 if I thought ho, would answer, he was willing. He then came and asked 
 me if 1 was willing, if Mr. O'Brien was. I said I would be inclined to 
 «lo what " could for his son, on account of his own long acquaintance, 
 with UK , and that if Mr. O'Brien was willing I would be, and said 
 nothing about Mr, Chambers, the other Trustee, (a gentleman of 
 property and good repute and proverbial as a tirsi-rate Blacksmith, at 
 any kind of work, and a Trustee of School Section, No. 8.) We live 
 two miles apart. I told him I would venture to offer his son (having 
 Mr. Cham))ers' permission to do, on all occasions, as I thought best 
 and he would rely on my judgtnent and give his approval ) $105 for 
 one term, which with jirovincial allowance, $45, would be $150, if he 
 was willing to take that, he might api)]v, and come up and see mo, 
 which he did, and accepted my oft'er. Now, he says I sent a message 
 lo North Shore to engage hinri, to teach; but see how shrewdly his 
 father had got the consent of two Trustees, which was binding and 
 surticient, and we could not, in honor, engage another after that. We 
 wanted a first class teacher, if possible, but tliere were no applications, 
 and tinu! was fast passing away, in the new term. You can refer to 
 Tny first communication, an<l find that I sent for Mr. Chambers, to tell 
 him to come down, to sign the agreement, and meet Mr. Tait, (the 
 person who took the message can prove this. ) This does not show 
 that any one of the Trustees dissented from my agre^ent; but, 
 that the bargain was binding, when Mr, O'Brien agreed to it. A lady 
 at Mr. O'Briens' heard the agreement, and Tait promised to come and 
 teach the Wallace School. I now give copy of a letter, from my coad- 
 jutors, to prove what I stated, in my letter, of 7th Nov., in regard to 
 the a,greement with James Tait, Jr.:— 
 
 WALLACE, 28th Dec, 1870. '' 
 
 Mr. T. M, MoBKis, ' - ^ 
 
 Sib,— We notice in the Amherst Gazette, a letter, dated 19th Nov., 
 signed .Tames Tait, Jr., denying the statement made by you, in same 
 paper, and dated 7th Nov., in reference to the agreement, made by 
 him to teach in W^allace School, Section No. 8. We think it our duty, 
 in j^our justification, to aver that the statements given by you were 
 strictly correct. There was not, as he states, any division of sentiment, 
 amongst us ; he came, as you requested, t<» Mr. O'Brien, who agreed to 
 your arrangement, and the sumoflfered, and made a conclusive bargain 
 to teach in our School, — a lady being present, as witness. Mr. Cham- 
 bers also received the message, delivered to him by a lady, that you 
 had engaged James Tait, Jr., to tea,ch for a certain amount, and wished 
 him to come to your house, on the same evening, that the Trustees 
 might sign the agreement. He attended at the hour appointed and 
 Waited a length of time, but James Tait, Jr., did not appear. 
 
 . , . ■■«*- 
 
 (Siguad) 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 JOSEPH R. O'BRIEN 
 JOHN CHAMBERS 
 
 V Trustees Sec. 8.|; 
 
 V 
 
u 
 
 WALLACE EKVBLAT10N8. 
 
 Mr. Tait, Jr., Htatos that I Haid " it would not bo my fault If he did 
 not get th(3 Hohool ;"— Did that not show that I wan his friend and 
 wished him suocoss? Then why nhould ho say, I wanted to injure hlH 
 «hara<^tor and blast ids nroBj^ents. Who was Uie cause? — himself! I 
 felt aunoyed to think, that i was trying to serve him and to be tricked 
 ftH I wa8"^l)y his lather. Mr. Tait, Jr., in conclusion, savs he will 
 take no more notice of tlie atfair;— but, I shall. Am I to be a scape 
 ffoat,oii both occasions, and, for what ; — because I am not wise enougli 
 at my age ! As regards the cortittcato, of the Trustees, of the North 
 Shore School, there is what, I believe, D. C. Fraser, the Lawyer, would 
 caO a Quibble. There was no agreement ; it was not in writing. One 
 of the Conclave told me this, that is the meaning of no agreement being 
 made in either case ; but will not a sincere and honest iiuin do, when 
 in his power, what he promises, verbally, and as quickly, as if he had 
 given his bond ? Tliis Is a poor subterfuge. James Jait, Jr., says, 1 
 would have hired a first class Teacher, had one offered. X deny it. 
 He told an acquaintance of mine, of h\nflrat agreement, at North SHore, 
 and bragged that he wa^ going to teach one of the Trustees, of that 
 School, ''Navigation ;" alter that ho agreed with us, and when they 
 heard it, they offered him what was equivalent, computing the cheaper 
 rate of board in tliat pla(!e. 
 
 The Taits' are a very inventive family, especially the Senior. I have 
 ftequently written (gratis) communications for him, to the " Patent 
 Office," when sending his models of Ships' blocks, tackles, t^c, but, 
 there was generalW some screw loose. I saw him lately at work 
 at some new machinery, to lind out longitude or perpetual mo- 
 tion, in the furniture factory of Mr. Henry Smith. Whoever wants 
 f[Ood and cheap furniture better look In. He uses dlspatcsh, especially 
 n wheelbarrows ; but is averse to advertising, as he is very cautious, 
 and is afraid of the opposition of Mr. Cameron's new factory, or the 
 expected Reciprocity Treaty, and free trade with the United States. 
 Mr. Tait, Sen., is a good Quarryman and is engaged in the Boston 
 Quarrv ; a Geologist, and like his great prototype, Hugh Millar, Is con- 
 tinually searching for /oo<-prm&»o/ the Creator, to ascertain, correctly, 
 the age of the world. I trust he may not share the same fate as Mid- 
 shipman Easy's father, and hope that the junior when he arrives at 
 that age, when experience teaches wisdom, may not exhibit more folly 
 than he does at the present, or as he thinks, I have manifested. 
 
 I had a letter not long since from my old friend and school-fellow, 
 (Halifax Grammar School) the Hon. Martin I. Wilkins. He gave me 
 instructions how to act with some refractory Magistrates and uncon- 
 trollable Constables, with whom I came in contact, while performing 
 my duties, as Trustee and Secretary, of Section No. 8 ; and as he is at 
 the head of the Government and member of the Council of Public 
 Instruction, he may perhaps take this matter in view. The Trustees 
 of Sections 8 and 9 are very desirous that an investigation should take 
 
 {)laoe, by the Board of Commissioners, for the County, the Super- 
 ntendent of Education or the School Inspector. 
 
 I took a trip lately to Oxford, River Philip, in order to get acquainted 
 With the resources and manufacturing capabilities of that part of the 
 Country; and thought I might perhaps fall in with the "Great Saladin," 
 and see something of Eastern magnificence, in his dwelling, furniture, 
 chariots, and horses, liveries, Ac, but he had absconded. I saw a 
 cliosed shop, that had been occupied by some grocer ; and some prepar- 
 ation making for the Woodware Factory. I visited the Woollen Fac- 
 t^y, wbich IS well worth inspection. The manufactures appear to be 
 of excellent quality and at cheap prices. I believe it is a fionrishing 
 establishment. I think a Cotton ]pactory should be got up next. 
 There is a great and growing demand for White and grey Cottons, . 
 Prints, Warps, Ac; and^plontyof water powtar ; and the crude material 
 conld be obtained easily and cheaply. I did not hear a bark about 
 
WALLACE REVKLATIONS. 
 
 16 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 
 the "Hemlock Extract Company," nor hoc the Wood-land, they in- 
 tend to destroy. Mr. Oxley, tho miporlntondont of the woollen mlllH, 
 Ih very courteous to Htrun^orH Hnd takes ploaMtiroin (ixplainlnn the uses 
 of the beautiful machinery and exhil)itinf? I»is wares, llo keeps a 
 neat and comfortable Tomperanco Hotel, opposite to the Manufactory ; 
 und visitors will receive every attention from the kind and obliging 
 host and hosttiss. 
 
 There is a neat little EJplHoopal Church erected at Clifton, on the 
 rallroa(l lino, near the large stone bridge, now being built, by tho (!on- 
 tra(!torH, over River Philip; it is a itretty sltuotion ; and most likely 
 there will soon be an extensive Viliage there. It is nddway between 
 Oxford and what is called the <!orner. I believe nearly all denom- 
 inations have contributed towards building the Church. Tho Ilov. 
 Mr. Ellin holds service in the Church, fortnightly, and his min- 
 istrations are highly appreciated. There is a IJible and Singing Claris. 
 The Church has a number of symbolical adornments; they are not 
 viewed very favorably by such as are not willing, "as the old Dutch- 
 man was to' carry his cross on his back." There is a Hotel at Clifton, 
 kept by by Mr. Thomas Patton, where travellers oan be [very agreeably 
 entertained. I travelled as far an Wyndam ; it Was Huiiday atlernoon 
 and service was held In the Schoolhonse. I enjoyed the hospitality of 
 an oUl acquaintance, .fohn Bragg, Esq.; he told me he had seen my 
 comuiunicatlon, in the Amherst (iazette, respecting the two Teachers, 
 juid l»elieved it Ui be all true, as he new that such tricks were practised 
 by some Teachers. As he is one of the School Commissioners, he may 
 perhaps bring it to the notice of the Board. 
 
 There is also a veiy comfortable Hotel, kept at the comer, by Mr. Black, 
 it is much resorted to by the Railway Officials and offqrds ^ood entertain- 
 ment. Whilst there, I heard one of the Contractors (not Simpson) giving 
 a lesson on Natural Philosophy and monetary affairs ; he was explaining 
 how the top was kept spinning. I thought the Cash came from Ottawa^ 
 by "centrifiigal force," and when it got to Londonderry, it was kept by 
 " centripetal force." If Clifton should become <i railway station or a depot, 
 it will be a suitable place for an extensive Hotel ; it will be about 45 miles 
 ft"om Truro and 105 from Plalifax and 20 from Amherst. River Philip is 
 famed as a good river for salmon and trout fishing; and the timber lands 
 for partridge shooting. The Waltons and Nimrods, of Halifax, and officers 
 of Army and Navy, can be conveyed there in four hours, by rail ; and a 
 few days could be spent there very pleasantly. It would also be a pleasant 
 trip for tourists and Indisposed ladies and children, during the summer 
 season. The Country, in the vicinity, abounds with agricultural pro- 
 ductions, of every description, at cheap rates ; and it will be a good field for 
 purchasers of catth;, horses and stock of all kinds. There are some beauti- 
 ful drives and scenery through the adjacent settlements. I also enjoyed 
 the hospitality of Mr. Harding Carter, of Clifton, who contributed gener- 
 ously towards the Church ; and of old Mr. Winsby, on River Philip Bridge 
 Road ; and the very agreeable and kind female .members of his family. The 
 old gentleman is a firm supporter of his church and is very positive in his 
 politics. I enjoyed the fine old fasliioned open fireplaces, with blazing fires 
 of hardwood. Much more healthly than the abominable "Yankee Cooking 
 yitove," destroying oxygen, producing carbonic acid gas, cousumptiou. 
 Doctors' bills, and death 
 
 There was a lecture delivered, lately, in Halifax, by a reverend gentle- 
 man, on " the one idea." The purport was to show we ought always to have 
 some particular aim or worthy object in view. Louis Napoleon had one 
 idea of " getting to Berlin,' but it was a mistaken one. King William was 
 
M 
 
 WALLACK UKVKLATIoSf. 
 
 mark," but It lead to a great many other Ideas, perhaps some very foolish 
 ones. I was thinking, Mr. E<lit(ir, I would propose ii «iu»!Ntlon for your frei» 
 diseussing club; and I should like to hear it dlseiissed by your literati. It 
 might be put thus, — "Whicli imparts the greater vigor to the power of mem- 
 ory or Association of ideaH, — Reading or observation by Travel ?" I heard 
 an excellent lecture «Ielivred many years ago, on " Association of Ideas," 
 by the Rev. John Martin, at his Cliurch, in JlaMfax, oiinoslte H. E. comer of 
 St. Paul's Church. The basement of Mr. Martin's ('huroh, was occupied 
 •8 a restaurant and cook shop, for sale of M/r/ri^ 0/ wfue. cigais and hot 
 suppeni; It was kept by Othello a Desdemona Pollard, two Negro slaves, 
 brought, I think, by Admiral Warren, tW)m Chescpeake Bay. I recollect, 
 as well as ii was yesterday, when the "Shannon." Captahi Hroke, 
 brought into .' dlfax, as prize, the American Frigate " r'h«sepeake," (!apt. 
 Lawrence, dead. He was buried ni Halifax, with all honors (lue to a l)rave 
 man and afterwards removed to Boston. The action took ploi'v, off Boston 
 harbor, Ist June, 1818, And only la.sted fifteen minutes; also, witen the 
 "Little Belt," a small Sloop of War, was chased by the large American 
 Frigate Constitution. They exchanged broadsides. The " Little Belt " 
 was hauled Into the dockyard and repaired at Halifax. 
 
 "Socrates Docuit Zenephontem et Platonom," this respectable old 
 Schoolmaster, long before " Saladin " was one, used to te<M;h the boys and 
 write for the " Athens GazeUe." He had a Wife named Xan. he used to 
 call her Thippe, and she used to tip the dish (not eaude cologne) over liim. 
 My Wife does not take any interest in my epistolary communication, to the 
 "Amherst Gazette;" she think? it does not pay, as well as the West India 
 trade, in which she is more interested, having some of her friends deeply 
 engaged in it; but, Mr. Editor, all things must come to an end. As Mr. 
 Tait thinks I have not proper employment, perhaps you might give me a 
 berth, as Sub-Editor, if I find my grub, pens, ink, and paper. He says, I 
 have an itch for Newspaper writing " Cacoethea Scribendi;" if he should 
 come In contact with me and catch it, I will endeavor to give him some 
 more ointment that may cure him. I should like him and Harvie Huestis 
 to come and settle the tees, due Section No. 8, for tuition, whilst preparing 
 foi teaching, the rate-payeis think I should pay them, but I must consult 
 tilt Attorney General first. 
 
 Now, Mr. Editor, you may perhaps think I am spinning too long a yam 
 and may not feel inclined to publish this episode. It may not be interesting 
 to the public, generally, and Saladin, Harvey Treen and James Tait, Jr., 
 may not like the style. I hope to have credit for originality and tnxst it 
 will be leniently criticised. I have endeavored in al! my statements to tell 
 "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." I have tried the 
 sublime for the edification of Saladin and the ridiculous for Messrs. Treen 
 •nd Tait, who may think I have arrived at "that age, when experience 
 teacheth wisdom ;" but there are some grave principles involved in these dis- 
 cussions, in which the public should be Interested, — the promotion of 
 edncation, tl. . suppression of vice^ the practice of morality, individual 
 rights, and the commonweal. The boys may laugh and the learned turn up 
 their noses, but that will no*^ alter the case. The folks in the coxmtry 
 want amusement, during winter nights, when sitting round their com- 
 fortable hearths, reading the Amherst Gazette, and enjoying the fruits of 
 their summer's labor, earned by the sweat of their brow; and they may as 
 well laugh at me as Saladin ; I do not care mu>;h about the big bugs. I 
 am not afraid or ashamed to assert ray rights, the translation of my motto, 
 may account for my delay, — ^^Memo mortalium omnibus horis sapit," as we 
 used to say at the old "Halifax Grammar School." I could tell a story 
 About the old Schools of Halifax, and the boys who attended and their 
 fortunes, and the present Schools of Wallace ;* also, something about the 
 Census of 1861, as I had a finger in the pie, not the apple pie and cheese of 
 
 

If' 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 17 
 
 the Commissioners, but the pie of the Printer, Mr. McDonald. I should 
 like, Mr. Editor, to have your aid in solving some of the mystery, attached 
 to these Schjol and Temperance ^airs. Old Richard, the Philadelphia 
 Printer and great Philosopher, who drew lightning from the clouds, said 
 "time is money," and I suppose paper, type, mk, and labor, are money to 
 you, and should not be wasted ; but such valuable and interesting communi- 
 <'atious may increase or diminish the demand foi your Gazette. The 
 Printers' Devils cry out sometimes for Cash and cannot get it, their masters 
 cannot get it from subscribers ; it would be a shame not to pay the Printer, 
 especially of the Amherst Gazette. I recollect when the Honorable Joseph 
 Howe was a Printer's Devil, of which he must still be proud, and a smart 
 Devil he must have been, or he would not be in the position he now occu- 
 pies. He impartej^ electrical shocks, in his youta, to stubborn Magistrates, 
 and in latter days as a Philosopher, to repealers and annexationists. 
 
 In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I think ii. the words of the "Great Saladin," 
 that his Dynasty has passed away and washed to the surface a Usiirper 
 and Despot. 
 
 THOMAS M. MORRIS 
 
 One of the boy 8 qf the ••Halifax Grammar School," 1811 • 
 Trustee ^ Sec. qf^ Wallace School Sec, Ifo. 8," 1871. 
 
 y. B.— Since the foregoing was written, in reference to James Tait, Jr., 
 I have ascertained that he was not entitled to the credit of composing the 
 letter, addressed to the Editor of Amherst Gazette, dated 19th Nov., 1870, 
 and signed by him,— but that he was merely amanuensis and that it was 
 compiled and concocted by a Wesley an Clergyman, who leveled imaginary 
 sarcastic strictures at me on account of my hoary cranium ; and lack of 
 wisdom in making, what he was persuaded, were unfounded and indiscreet 
 charges, against one of the iambs of his spotless flock. Mr. Tait, Jr., was 
 afterwaids examined,by the "Board of Education," and expected to obtain a 
 first c!:vss ticket, but did not -succeed in getting even a second class; and I 
 have the authority of Mr. Duncan McKinnon, a Trustee of the North Shore 
 School,who signed the certificate, embodied in Mr. Tait's letter, to say that 
 he absconded without paying his board-bill, whilst teaching at that place; 
 and that he was found very incompetent and negligent, in the perfoi^ice 
 of his requisite duties. "^^ 
 
 " 
 
M>fi'L'i..iA'';iy. 
 
 it 
 
 htilf'tti* \ .l-is; ••(T'i'j'' .'(,M, .Vv;.,'»n*1i !:r,)l1 •(.« <»^-»iff| ff)i«l >.'.-T'^-«v<vl*'\*t^*-"'"» Vflf 
 
 
 ,'*• 
 
 
 
 !i. 
 
 •4 U^M 
 
 tr.iy 
 
 i. ■..•.■/. 
 
 ,•5' 
 
 ■<7 .n *• 
 
 Wallace, Ist June, 1871. 
 
 Mb. Editor :— x/j^ 
 
 5, ** A little learning is a dangerous thing ,, :''''S*i^* l'f^'»> 
 
 V Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." ,' ' 
 
 . p " Too much learning, hath made thee mad " 
 
 General readers are aware of the origin of these quotations. The 
 popular idea now is that a superior education is easily obtained, and 
 that it is in the power of high and low, rich and poor to acquire so 
 enviable a blessing, but from late experience and observation I have 
 some reason to doubt this. It may perhaps be said, I do not speak the 
 words of truth and soberness, — but I will venture an opinion — it seems 
 to me that there is a screw loose ^some where and that the machinery 
 '^ants examination and oiling, I speak in reference to the common or 
 free schools, as they are called, of our country. Some priggish ped- 
 agogues take upon themselves the task of informing the minds of the 
 rising generation, soon the task becomes a profession, it is something 
 to live by and grow rich upon, the idea is to increase the number of 
 professors by enlarging the sphere of their labor, theee schoolmasters 
 get together'jn conventions aud talk things over, they discover year 
 aft^r year that new branches of study should be introduced into sc hools 
 sumjy^rted by public money, the plea Is that the public should afford 
 th&j59or man's child as good an education as the /ich man's incney 
 will procure, under this pretence our schools have been pc verted froiii 
 their original purpose, into mere preparatory institutions lor a collegi- 
 ate' course of study, they teach a smattering of everything taught in 
 Colleges, except Latin and Greek, but nothing thoroghly, the number 
 of studies crowded into the mind, forbids at an early, age," thoroughness 
 in every thing — it is all superficial— the forcing process may drive a 
 great many rules into a child's mind, but it never can compel the 
 comprehension of a principle. We are dazzled at examination day, 
 by the varietiy of studies in which pupils are trained to show off, and 
 
 gerhaps go away thinking that our schools are wonderful institutions, 
 ut in nine cases out of ten, this is all crami.iing. The ;nind 's made 
 for a time to hold certain rules and formulus, which are the signs of 
 learning b^t there is no time, to make the pupil comprehend the prin- 
 ciples upon which these rules and formulus are based, consequently, 
 when the miemory relaxed or diverted into new labors lets go of its 
 arbitrary process, the entire results of study are gone. I would not 
 place too narrow a limit to the coarse of study to be pursued in public 
 schools. Reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic are essential, — 
 history, geography, physiology, and a comprehensive study of the 
 English language should be added, M'hatever will be useful in all the 
 ordinary walks of life and an assistance in customary pursuits, should 
 as a basis and for a rule, be taught in schools. After that, education 
 should be special. The boy or girl should be taught something that 
 
 k 
 
WALLACE REVELATIONS. 
 
 19 
 
 '• 
 
 h 
 
 will enable them to obtain a livelihood. Nothing is more pitiful than 
 a man of varied, and perhaps brilliant attainments, who has mastered 
 nothing in particular. Yet our common schools, if followed through 
 their course, leave the pupil in this position. They fit a lad for nothing, 
 vet they exhaust a period of his life, which should be devoed to fitting 
 nim Jfor something. The boy who acquires, what in old times, we 
 termed a good common school education and then learns a trade or 
 business has ten chances of success to one who learns all that is taught, 
 in the highest of our publ'c schools, and learns nothing else. For the 
 few who continue in school and prepare for college or a profession, the 
 curriculum for our public schools is probably a good preparation. 
 The fault we find with our public school system is this : It occupies 
 the time that should be devoted to special education for life ; it sends 
 too mjBiny educated incompetents out upon the world. Every day we 
 meet men hunting for something to do. Ask them what they can do, 
 and their reply is everything ; ask them what they can do better than 
 anything else, and there reply is nothing. Consequently they are fit 
 for nothing. Every industry, trade, or profession is crowded with 
 men, fitted for their business. A man generally educated, be he ever 
 so capable naturally, has no show in such a contest. He knows nacre 
 than the book-keeper or blacksmith, but either of them excel him 
 in their respective departments. F"om this class of half educated 
 youths — youths of general acquirements but' without trade, profes- 
 sion, or special business — come that army of restless disappointed 
 men, who find life a failure and vote it a bore. As an illustration, 
 I may mention the case of Mr. Brassey, the railway contractor, who 
 died lately. His estate was proved in probate to beworth £6,000,000 
 sterling, whilst that of a great author and scholar who had been 
 writing all his life was only £800. A public dinner was given by a 
 railway company to Mr. Brassey, as a mark of regard for his valu- 
 able services, and he was highly complimented. He was expected to 
 speak, but all he said was: — Gentlemen, although I am unable to make 
 a speech I can make a railroad. 
 
 I.have always thought that as thej"^ are called " free schools." that 
 rich and poor should enjoy the same advantages, and that first class 
 teachers should be capable of instructing in Latin and Greek, in addi- 
 tion to what is now required by law, in order that the children of poor 
 and needy parents, might have the same chance as the rich to obtain 
 the highest honors^ witi. out being compelled to leave their native place 
 and go to an Academy, when they would incur the expense of high 
 board and other acquirements they could never enioy. The natives 
 of Scotland have always (in whatever part of the world they are found) 
 been proverbially spoken of as intelligent and educated persons. 
 This may account for their general success in any business they engage 
 in, and the achievements of the Prussians in the late war is mainly 
 attributed to their thorough instruction, intelligence, and general 
 knowledge. It is said that only two per cent, of their immense army, 
 1,000,000 men, were unable to reo.d or write. By means of the parish 
 schools of Scotland the children of poor men could always obtain the 
 element of a classical education at five shillings per quarter, and 
 many of the most notable men in the learned professions have risen 
 from the Scottish peasantry. The Prussians have always been famed 
 tor their good system of education, and even the Turks now by their 
 educational laws, enact compulsory attendance at their schools, by fines 
 and imprisonment,— The "Heathen Chinre" enforce the education of 
 their offspring by rigid decrees. 400,000,0 K) must require a legion of 
 houses and teachers. Such a law as this is required in Nova Scotia, 
 a^ parents are too indifferent and negligent in this respect. A great 
 deal of time is lost and county money adio, and regular studies inter- 
 rupted, being a detriment to the chilaren and causing much additional 
 trouble to the teacher. There is another impediment I may mention. 
 
20 
 
 WALLACE REVELATIONS, 
 
 u\ 
 
 Most of the youngsters who now engage in teaching make it only a 
 ateppiug-stone to something they imagine better. They pass an ex- 
 amination before the board, got a 3rd or 2nd class ticket, begin on a 
 small salary, which they save to enable them to go to an academy to 
 advance themselves ancl prepare for a higher class. The flrst term 
 they have no experience m teaching and cannot do mu<^h. When they 
 get 2nd class they gain more salary and may do a little better, anti 
 when No. 1 get a larger and become more ambitious to follow a learned 
 profession and get careless about teaching and go through with as little 
 trouble as possible, and their souls are not engaged in their work but 
 looking forward to something they may think more prolitable and 
 honoraole. Teaching, to be done well and ♦aithfully, should be an 
 occupation for life, be properly rewarded and considered an honorable 
 and reuumerative employment. All the teachers we have had in 
 Wallace, under the new system, have tried to become ministers, law- 
 yers or doctors. In some churches they are taken on trial and begin 
 preaching without half an education or experience. — Some of these in 
 attempting to display their imagined powers of Rhetoric, imitate the 
 rhapsodical enthusiasm of John Bunyau, as manifested in his "sigh 
 from Hell." How different in spirit and effect from the sermon of the 
 "Great Teacher," on the mount of Olives. A doctor's diploma is ob- 
 tained in the United States for a small fee and a very short time of 
 study or practical knowledge; and the lawyers are now trving to cur- 
 tail their time of apprenticeship and study. All the world are in a 
 hurry to ^row rich. How many attain their desire? Some are unbitious 
 of becoming legislators, senators, premiers, and governors. The thirst 
 for money has induced some teachers to be guilty of dishonorable acts 
 in making their agreements with trustees for teaching. I am prepared 
 to prove this {in propria persona) two cases before the Board of Ed- 
 ucation or Council of Public Instruction, and challenge them to 
 confront me. 
 
 I have been thlnk'tng where such schools can now be found as the 
 "Old Halifax Grammar School,'' Principal, the Rev. George Wright ; 
 the "National," taught by Abel Gore, or the "Royal Acad^SPft' 
 (Lancastrian System), by Walter Bromley. They were always crow- 
 ded, also schools taught by the Revs. James Furguson "Croskill, 
 Addison & Knight, and Thomas Davis. The Halifax Grammar School 
 was attended by sons of the old and respectable inhabitants of Halifax, 
 and turned out scholars who became governors, generals, admirals, 
 judges, lawyers, ministers, doctors, merchants, and members of many 
 other honorable occupations. — I could give the names of n.en who ar<> 
 now living. The teachers at that time made it a life business, and by 
 study, practice and experience, gained the esteem and good will o f 
 their employers, and the fear, veneration and good will of their 
 scholars. There is a great lack of discipline in some of the schools of 
 the present day. Many of the pupils entertain democratic principles, 
 and proclaim "vox dieeipuli,^' and disregard '^'vox magistri," and studj' 
 yowayism instead of the acquisition of useful knowledge. 
 , There have been great discussions about having the Bible as a text- 
 Isook, and the use of catechisms in schools. — In mv day we always 
 had repititions on Friday and Bible exercises and church of England 
 Catechism on Saturdays^ and then a half-holiday. I think it would be 
 aa well to let educators teach metaphysics and morality, and ministers 
 and parents teach religion from the pulpit, the Sunday school and by 
 femily worship. There might then he no disturbance about denorri- 
 inadonal or separate schools, and no jealously, and people might live 
 as christians should, doing good one to another. After being sometime 
 at the Halifax Grammar School boys were generally sent, by those 
 who could afford it, to King's College Academy y, Winsor, Rev. AVm. 
 King, Senr., Principal, and when competent entered college as students. 
 T think the charge at Halifax Grammar School was only ten shillings 
 
 i 
 
in 
 
, 
 
 
WALLACE REVBLATI0N8. 21 
 
 |»or qiiartor,'at tho Acadoiny WiiiMor, .i;4 jwr annum, tution. I hoarded 
 with ahont forty other hoys, ut old Tapt. Inglis', opposite the College 
 f^ate; tho charge was .£40 per annum. We all attended the Church of 
 Kngland. The boys wore principally from Halifax, some from St. 
 .John, N. R., P. E, I. and other parts. Manv wont ftrom Halifax 
 <}rainniar School to Pictou A(!adeiny, the Rev. t)r. McCulloch, Princi- 
 pal. 
 
 I was sorry to observe by the papers, not long since, that the eivi<^ 
 authorities had sold the Halifax Grammar School building and b;nd 
 to be occupied hereafter for some less worthy object,— a theatre or a 
 rum and cigar saloon, I thought it should have been held in reverence 
 as a seat of learning that had produced so many eminent men and in 
 memory of the learned and worthy teachers, who had been the means 
 of imparting so much knowledge. An Academy might havo been 
 ♦u-(!cted to last another hundred years. The old German Church in Brun- 
 swick Street is still preserved and used as a school-house. The Gover- 
 nor, George Earl of Dalhousie, Attorney-ireneral Blowers, .Judges Stew- 
 art and Wilkins, were trustees of the old school, and used to present, 
 us with prizes at the examinations ; I had the honor and pleasure of 
 receiving several. 
 
 I was engaged in 1861 for eight months, at Halifax, in assisting to 
 <'()mpile the Census of the Province, taken at that time. Whilst there I 
 frequently stepped in to look at the old School room of the Halifax 
 ( Jrammar School, (which remained instatu quo) as I left it fifty years 
 before ; — the sight caused reminiscen(!e of my old school-fellows and 
 tlie serious reflection that they had been scattered around the world, in 
 search of a living, and how inany had departed from this life, and 
 could not enjoy the privilege then allowed me. 
 
 We had, during years past, some very good schools in Wallace 
 taught by the Rev. Mr. McKinnie, Messrs. Bell A Donald McKay 
 (they were from Scotland) also, by Mr. H;enry Oldright, I think froih 
 tlie Spanish West Indies ; he taught Latin, Greek, French, and Spanish, 
 r think he is now Interpreter for the Supreme Court at the Metropolis. 
 I(ffy%IcKay is now one of our prominent merchants. These Schools 
 produced some very smart Scholars. Mr. McKay had a happy knack 
 of teaching writing, he always set the text in a plain round hand and 
 his scholars were all .'ood writers. There was none of the humbug of 
 the now popular "Staples" method. The plainer writing is the more 
 beautiful for book-keeping or letter writing. 
 
 I think it would be well now, in Academies, to teach less Latin and 
 Greek and attend to the living languages, German and French, as it is 
 likely that Germany will henceforth be in the ascendant and one of 
 the prominent nations, and Bismark, with his manifest astuteness, will 
 4 establish commercial treaties favorable for all other nations, to turn 
 
 Ol the tide of trade to Germany, for her productions, in order to rival 
 
 * {" France and increase the wealth of his own country, to enable her in 
 
 time of peace again to prepare for war. Perhaps there may bo a pro- 
 fitable interchange of some of the productions of the Dominion pf 
 Canada with both (jrormany and France, and the aquisition of their 
 languages might prove of inestimable benefit to merchants and others 
 who might become interested or engaged in such enterprises. 
 
 There is another subject, perhaps, worthy of (!onsideration. Many 
 of the young teachers now employed-, after receiving their Certificates, 
 return to the same school section and school-house as "master," that 
 they recently lett as pupil. One of our old copies in school was, "Too 
 much familiarity breeds contempt." The boys who were in the same 
 class with him think they know as much and are as smart, and perhaps 
 more so, in somethings than he is, and do not like him as "boss." In- 
 subordination ensues, and there is poor discipline. It would be better 
 always to have a stranger, if competent, to do his duty. 
 
 It is customary now to examine the scholars whilst at their desks. 
 
WALLArK KKVKLATIONM. 
 
 Home hold up their liandH an if propaied to ariHwer ; others tiike ii<» 
 notice and remain "an they were," an they say in militia drill, and paHM 
 unnoticed. It would be better to have ea(!h class in the immecliate 
 presence of the teacher, and examine individually. There is too much 
 pro'nptinj?, whi(!h destroys self reliancte. The Master asks questions 
 and answers them^himself. They study too much in school. Tj(!ssonH 
 should bo j^iven daily to study for next day's exercise. There is no 
 study at home now. 
 
 There are, no doubt, many teachers who do their duties faithfully 
 and sincerely, and show great ability in teaching and tliscipline, but it 
 is not{generally observed. There are always some dis(!oased sheep in a 
 flock. Solomon said there were none perfect in his day, and perhaps 
 men are no better now, especially politicians. 
 
 I think it bad policy to sdter, or add new school books so often, as 
 it puts many people with small means to inconvenience, and in some 
 cases they cannot procure them for the children, which breaks up the 
 eetablished classes, and gives additional work to the teacher.— The 
 prices should be reduced, if possible, instead of being increased. I 
 think it was also a mistake to withhold the superior grant formerly 
 oftered to first class teachers, as it causes less emulation and success 
 and has resulted in a diminish of that class as an additional amount to 
 the prescribed salary was a great incitement to competition. 
 
 We have at present, in the Wallace school, a lady engaged in teaching 
 the pupils of the primary department, as far as the 4th book. She i^ 
 now in her fourth year of employment, and has given general satis- 
 faction to the trustees and parents of her scholars by her capabilities, 
 industry and attention to their children's morals and physical com- 
 fort and by marked improvement, in their studies, and has also gained 
 the highest esteem and approbation of the Inspectors by her method 
 of instruction. She was engaged in teaching many years before the 
 now school act was established. 
 
 It is said that through the United States, that three-fourths of the teach- 
 ers are females ; the same is also said of telegraph operators. They are 
 found to be diligent, faithful, punctual, very attentive to their duties, 
 and contented with their situation in life, which is manifested by tneir 
 long continuance in one employment. They are also very frugal and 
 satisfied with smaller recompence. This cannot be said of some of tht* 
 masculine gender. There are now 72 postmistresses in the United 
 States, who receive salaries of $l,flO and upward. These Qfflces are 
 reported at Washington to be well managed. 
 
 Now, Mr. Editor, as I am aware that you are not fond of long spun 
 yarns, and have fixed a limit for insertion, in your instructive Gazette, 
 I had better conclude with ^* quantum sujfficit.^^ 
 
 BLUBNOSE. ' 
 
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APPENDIX, 
 
 — M> :>»3i?<' ' ^ <>-< 
 
 During; a rocont visit to Amhorst, I was inductod U) Uiko n trip in th<' 
 rail cars to Sai^lcvlllo. I strolled, duriiif^ my stay there, till return oC 
 the cars, through the Village, and passed a tine looking house and 
 >?r()unds, whicih, I wius told, boloufjjcMi to ('hristopher Milnor, I<iS(juirc, 
 Lawyer.' The name seemed familiar to mo and I walked into tin* 
 office and introduced myself to Mr. Milnor, jus a school-fellow about 
 tit|fy-tw() years a<?o. I en(iuired if his father wsvs alive : he told mo hv 
 was. As I wjis one of his pupils at the Academy, — Smith's Hill, 
 Windsor, after the death of Rev. Wm. Kinj;, Senr., — I had a great 
 desire to see him. Mr. Milnor kindly invited me to the house. We 
 found the old gentleman taking a nap, on a couch :— I recollected his 
 appearance at the time he was my teacher. He now appeared to be 
 a portly, healthly, man, with florid complexion. He is in his eiglity- 
 sixth year and looks as if he would be a centenarian. His son told 
 me he had an attack of sickness, a few years sincie, tliat had slightly 
 affected his intellect. After a while the old gentleman awoke : I told 
 him I was the chap he thrashed over tifty years: ago, and had now called 
 to thank him. He said, ho could not believe it. Mr. C Milner, Jr., then 
 took me to the printing office of his son, Mr. Wra. C. Milner, who is 
 proprietor and printer of the Ohignecto Post, and introduced me as an 
 old friend. Mr. Wm. C Milner presented me with a tile oi -lis papers 
 and appointed me agent, to receive subscriptions, at Wallace. I can 
 recommend it to the intellectual people of Wallace and vicinity, as an 
 instructive, entertaining and cheap weekly, being only a dollar, (in 
 advance) per year; and I will be pleased to receive subscriptions, at 
 my office, opposite the Wesleyan ('hapel, Wallace Harbor. 
 
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