A REBELLION IN THE SCHOOLROOM.
After breakfast on the following morning the students were provided with
the new uniform, if so simple a suit could be dignified by such a title.
It consisted of a sack, pants, and vest of blue flannel, and a cap on
which was a monogram of the letters B. H. I. S. The buttons on the coat
and cap were plain and nickel-plated, as was the monogram. It was a very
neat dress, and most of the boys were pleased with it.
"Where is your uniform, Life?" asked Dory of the strike oarsman of the
Winooski, as they were about to enter the school and shop building.
"I don't intend to wear any uniform," replied Life Windham. "I am not a
monkey, a soldier, or a policeman."
"As the rest of us are neither soldiers nor policemen, I suppose you
regard us as monkeys," added Dory, laughing.
"I don't say that you are monkeys, only that you are dressed like
monkeys," replied Life.
"I think you are making a mistake, and I hope you will consider well
what you are about," continued Dory seriously. "My uncle pays for the
clothes of all the students, and it seems to me he ought to be allowed
to say what the garments should be."
"If Captain Gildrock wanted you to go about town with a chapeau on your
head, should you be willing to do it?" demanded Life, with considerable
vim in his tones.
"But he don't ask you to wear a chapeau, or even a soldier's cap. You
argue against something that is ridiculous, instead of the actual
thing," returned Dory warmly. "It is a common cap, just such a one as
you wore when you came to Beech Hill, only there are four letters on
it."
"It is a uniform, any way, and we are all to be punished because two
fellows drank beer in a saloon," persisted Life.
"There is no punishment about it."
"Didn't Captain Gildrock say we were to wear a uniform because two of
the fellows drank beer?" demanded Life.
"No, he did not!" protested Dory. "He said he did not believe the
fellows would have drank the beer if they had worn the uniform of the
school."
"Why not? Because they would be afraid of being found out?" sneered
Life.
"Not at all. Didn't he say that he expected the fellows to have a proper
regard for the honor and credit of the school? He thinks that respect
for the institution would prevent the fellows from doing anything out of
the way. The uniform would keep the fact that they are members
constantly in their minds. In Boston all the pupils of the high schools
wear a uniform cap."
"I don't see it in that light, and I look upon wearing a uniform as a
punishment, served out to the innocent as well as the guilty."
"If I were you I should go and put the uniform on, and then carry my
grievance to the principal," added Dory, sorry that the stroke oarsman
of the boat should get himself into trouble for nothing at all.
"We argued the matter yesterday. I am not the only fellow who won't wear
the uniform. There are eight of us, and we had a meeting this morning,"
replied Life, "and not one of them will put on monkey rigging."
"You are making a bad mistake, Life. Not a word was said yesterday about
punishment, and I am sure my uncle will set matters right if you only
obey orders. If you stand out, he won't say a word to comfort you. Put
on the uniform, go to him this morning, and say that you object to
wearing it, for you look upon it as a punishment, served out to the
innocent as well as the guilty," reasoned Dory.
"We said all we had to say yesterday," replied Life; and he joined
several others not in uniform as they went into the building.
In the schoolroom Dory had a chance to see who the rebels were, for all
the others wore the uniform, while the objectors had on the garments in
which they had come to the school. There were four from the first class,
and four from the second. Besides Life Windham, of his own crew, he
found Phil Gawner, Lick Milton, and Tom Ridley. He was sorry he had not
known who the rebels were before, for he thought he could have
influenced them in the right direction. Ben Ludlow, who had had the most
to say against the uniform the day before, wore the prescribed costume.
Eight out of twenty-six were nearly one third of the whole school. He
wished he could have a chance to talk the subject over with the other
rebels in his crew before they were called to order in the schoolroom,
for Captain Gildrock was a thorough disciplinarian. He would yield a
great deal to respectful remonstrance, but not a hair to rebellion. If
the eight rebels took a decided stand, the principal would regard it as
a case of disobedience, and treat it accordingly.
But there was no time to argue the matter, and hardly a word had been
said about it among the crews of the barges. The rebels had preferred to
confine their discussion to their own number, instead of getting the
views and feelings of the other members of the school.
Every pupil had a single desk in the schoolroom, which contained his
books and other property. Each one took his place, and the roll was
called by Miss Fatima Millweed, who was the clerk of the institution.
All answered to their names. Most of those who wore the uniform did not
seem to know that there was a rebellion in progress, and they looked
with some astonishment at their companions in plain clothes.
The principal had not yet come in, and as he had announced other
business for the opening of the session, the instructors waited for him.
But the captain was a methodical and punctual man, and the roll-call was
hardly finished before he made his appearance upon the platform. He had
a roll of papers in his hand, and seemed to be thinking of the business
of the moment. He proceeded to unroll his papers, without bestowing any
attention upon the new uniform, for he had noticed and commented upon it
before school time.
"Now, boys, I have something to say about the plans for the new
boat-house and hall for recreation," the principal began, as he took his
place at the desk on the platform. "The idea does not include merely the
building, but a wharf for the Sylph, docks for the barges, and the
location and general arrangement of the building and grounds. For the
best plan of the building the prize will be fifty dollars. The same
amount will be given for the best location and method of constructing
the wharf and arranging the grounds of the new structure."
"Architecture and civil engineering," suggested Bolingbroke Millweed,
deeply interested in the business of the occasion.
"Precisely so, only we shall not meddle much with ornamental
architecture," replied Captain Gildrock, looking over the pupils to
observe the impression the announcement of the prize made upon them.
Then he suddenly suspended his remarks, and stepped out to the side of
the desk. For a moment he looked the boys over, as though his thoughts
had taken a new turn. He left his papers on the desk, as though he had
abandoned the subject of the building.
"I think I directed that the new uniform should be put on this morning,"
said the principal, after a considerable pause. "I see that most of you
wear it, and I suppose the others could not find suits that would fit
them. Mr. Sheers was to be here to assist in fitting you. Wasn't he
here, Shoreham?"
"Yes, sir; he was here, and he selected a uniform that he said would fit
me," replied Lew.
"But you have not put it on?"
"No, sir."
"I see there are several others who have not put on the uniform,"
continued the principal; and he proceeded to call the names of those in
plain clothes. "If any one of you did not find a uniform that would fit
him, he will signify it."
No one raised a hand or spoke a word, and it was evident that there was
no trouble at all about fitting the garments.
"Shoreham, why have you not put on your uniform?" demanded the
principal, rather sternly.
"I have decided not to wear a uniform," replied Lew, in an entirely
respectful tone.
"You have decided not to wear a uniform," repeated Captain Gildrock.
"Cornwall, I see that you are in plain clothes."
"I have also decided not to wear a uniform," answered Bart.
"There appears to be several of you who made the same decision," added
Captain Gildrock.
"Eight of us, sir," said Bob Swanton.
"I wish to say, Captain Gildrock, that we do so with entire respect to
you, sir," added Lew Shoreham.
"With entire respect to me, you intend to disobey my orders," said the
principal, with a smile.
"We have agreed that not a disrespectful word shall be spoken to you,
sir," continued Lew, who had apparently been appointed the spokesman for
the rebellion.
"In other words, you intend to do wrong in a gentlemanly way, which is
perhaps better than doing it in an ungentlemanly way," added the
principal.
"I desire to give the reasons why we decline to wear a uniform," said
Lew Shoreham, rising from his chair as though he intended to make a
speech of some length; and perhaps he could do it better than any other
student in the school.
"I decline to hear the reasons--I respectfully decline. After I have
given an order I don't argue the matter," replied Captain Gildrock.
"But we wish--"
"While you stand in the attitude of disobedience, you must excuse me
from listening to what you wish, Shoreham. Those who have decided not to
wear the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School may stand."
The eight rebels rose from their seats, and stood by the side of their
desks. They held their heads up as though they meant to be manly and
independent, and no doubt they felt so.
"I don't think you are quite fair, Captain Gildrock, not to hear what--"
"You are entitled to your own opinion. The eight boys who have decided
not to wear the uniform will go to their rooms, and each remain in his
own apartment until further orders," continued Captain Gildrock, in a
very mild but decidedly firm tone.
"I wish to say--" Lew Shoreham began.
"You will say nothing!" interposed the principal, in a very stern voice.
"Go to your rooms, and stay in them till you have permission to leave
them."
Lew Shoreham was extremely anxious to argue the question, and to do so
before the school. Physically he was rather clumsy, and was not likely
to distinguish himself in athletic sports; but he was a good speaker for
a boy, and a bit of a lawyer besides. Doubtless he and his companions
thought they were grossly abused in not being allowed to argue the
question of obedience. The rebels retired from the schoolroom, and the
principal picked up his papers.