Library of Congress, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Chap Shelf. A SKETCH OF THE Life and Professional Services — OF — ISAAC SAMS, FOB FIFTY YEARS A DISTINGUISHED TEACHER. BY HENRY S. DOGGETT WITH SOME REMINISCENCES BY AN "OLD BOY CINCINNATI: Peter G. Thomson, Publisher. 1880. Copyright, 1880, PETER G. THOMSON. jlnstription. TO THE TEACHERS OF OHIO IS INSCRIBED THIS SLIGHT TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF ONE OF THE NOBLEST OF THEIR NUMBER. Hillshoro, 0., June, 1880. H. S. D. PREFACE. This sketch of Professor Isaac Sams was commenced with the intention of comprising a few pages to be read at a Teachers Institute. It grew under the pen of the writer until this volume was made. A prominent Ohio Educator to whom the manuscript was read, says : " A character so worthy and original in many of its features, belonging in its professional side to a time so rapidly passing away, ought, it seems to me, to be preserved for those who are to come after us as a striking example of what can be accom- plished by downright manliness under unfavorable circumstances. Such stories are always encouraging to earnest youth." There are others who might have done the work more thoroughly than it is done in these pages, but none with better intentions. As an old pupil of Prof. Saras, he indulges the hope that this work of a leisure hour may help to keep fresh the memory of our beloved teacher in the breasts of those who loved and appreciated him. Acknowledgement is made of obligations incurred by the writer to Mrs. Anne M. Sams and to Hon. John W. Steel. H. S. D. Hillsboro, Ohio, June, 1880. CONTENTS. Inscription, 3 Preface, 5 Chapter I. — His birth, childhood and youth, ... 9 Chapter II. — Life in the Mediterranean, . . . .13 Chapter III. — Work in London and Emigration to America, 17 Chapter IV. — Arrives in Baltimore and secures a School, . 20 Chapter V. — First experiences as a Teacher in America, 26 Chapter VI. — Kemoval to the "White House," and the arri- val of his Family, 31 Chapter VII. — IJis Work at Eock Hill Academy and at Brooklyn, . . . ... ... 35 Chapter VIII. — Emigrates to Ohio, .... 40 Chapter IX. — Takes Charge of the Hillsboro Academy, . 44 Chapter X. — Keminiscences by an '' Old Boy," . . 47 Chapter XL — "Reminiscences" continued, . . .51 Chapter XII. — " Reminiscences " continued, ... 55 Chapter XIII. — " Reminiscences " concluded, . . .60 Chapter XIV. — Mr. Sams' work in the Common Schools, and some Extracts from his Letters, .... 69 Chapter XV. — His Last Days and his Death, . . .80 A Sketch of the Life and Professional Services —OK— Professor ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER I. Isaac Sams was born in Bath, England, on the 12th of November, 1788. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Maria Sams, of Taunton, Somersetshire, England. His father was a Baptist minister; and two years after the birth of Isaac, removed from Bath to Dublin, and preached on a circuit in the mountains of Wicklow, a maritime county of the province of Leinster, Ireland. At an early age, Isaac was sent to one of the best schools in Dublin, and early evinced that desire for knowledge which was his distinguishing characteristic through life. When he was ten years of age, sickness, suffering, and death entered his father's household. He and a younger sister were both taken down with scarlet fever. The father attended on one and the mother on the other. The children recovered, but the father sickened and died. The shock of the father's death prostrated the wearied mother, and a few days after- 10 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. ward she followed her husband to the grave. Soon the household was broken up. The sister was resigned to the care of Mary, Viscountess Carleton, who was her godmother. Isaac was consigned to the care of a cousin residing at Rathdrum, a town on the mail road from Wexford to Dublin. This cousin was a manufacturer of woolen goods, and the young Isaac became an inmate of his family. Here he was employed to run errands and do such other work as suited his strength. When he had leisure, he employed it in reading the few books he had brought with him from his old home in Dublin. A neighbor, a solitary old man, but a great reader, loaned him other books. Here was begun his education under circumstan- ces that would have disheartened a youth less anxious to learn. He continued to read and study, and sometimes would write down his thoughts and observations on what he had read. Some of his writings attracted the attention of Captain Craw- ford, a lodger in the house, who was greatly pleased with the talent evinced by the lad, and signified a desire to procure for him a better position. The only place the captain could obtain was one which he did not think good enough for him, and the boy was left to drudge in his menial position. Soon this became unbearable, owing to the tyranny of a member of the household, and he left the house, hatless, one morning, and took the road to Dublin. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 11 He walked all the day and slept in a tree at night, but the next da}^ returned to his old place. He resumed his old work and for the next few months was absorbed in religious reflections and duties. He attended church regularly, and profited by the teachings of his minister. He was soon to receive his first communion, and sought to prepare himself fitly for it. During his preparations he submitted himself to a fast from Thursday evening until Sunday noon. At this time his life was pure and good, and the religious principles which guided him through after life became part of his nature. The monotony of the boy's life was little varied until his sixteenth year. Then, one day, his master having doubted his word in regard to his conduct, he asked for his indentures and for permission to leave. This was granted and, with the few shillings obtained by selling his few precious books, he again took the road to Dublin. He entered this city on the oth of May, 1805, and at once procured lodging in a family where there were several small children. For six weeks he wan- dered along the streets and quays looking for employ- ment. Just about the time he was thinking of enlisting, he obtained a situation in a lumber yard at £20 a year. His duties here consisted in measur- ing the lumber and keeping the books. Leaving this situation he became next engaged in a large carpet warehouse. It was a part of his duty to take 12 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. orders, and this made it necessary for him to visit the houses of the nobility. Among the houses he so visited was that of the Duke of Bedford, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. There he saw the Duchess, and the late John Russell and his brother, who were then boys younger than himself. His life now begun to have some ray of sunshine. When not occupied with his business duties, he visited all points of interest in the city. The sites of the principal buildings, Phoenix Park, the Castle, and the Pigeon House were his favorite resorts. His old home on George street was often visited, possessing as it did, for him, a mournful attraction. Often lingering on the quay he gazed upon the opposite shore of England, where his sister lived, the only one of his family left, and for whom his heart yearned with a brother's love. He formed a plan for visiting her and soon after- ward, on the 18th of April, 1809, he left Dublin for London. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 13 CHAPTER II. The subject of our sketch reached London on the 24th of April, and immediately called upon his sister at the residence of Viscount Carleton, in Hanover Square. He found her in good health and enjoying the friendship and patronage of Lady Carleton. Through this lady, the history of young Isaac became known to Lord Carleton, who offered to obtain for him a place in the navy. His lordship then introduced him to Sir John Colfoys, Treasurer of Greenwich Hosj)ital, and also to Admiral Pick- more, who gave him a position on his staff as Secre- tary. His first service was in the Baltic, on board the man of war Caledonia, and other vessels, among which was the ill-fated St. George, which went down the following year, with all on board. This vessel had been so injured in passing through the Kattegat that it was ordered on the docks for repairs on arriving at England. Mr. Sams was about returning to it when it was refitted, but was sud- denly ordered to join the fleet destined for service in the Mediterranean Sea. By this fortunate trans- fer he escaped the sad fate that overtook his com- rades the following year. 14 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. The fleet sailed for the Mediterranean in Febru- ary, 1810, to engage in active operations against the French. The city of Cadiz, in Spain, was at this time besieged by the French, but their eflforts to take the place had been unsuccessful. The English had taken Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and had driven the French from Madrid. Lord Wellington was now operating against the French in the northern provinces of Spain and on the frontiers of Portugal, and it was to assist his movements that the fleet was ordered to the Mediterranean. During the next three years the squadron was in almost constant activity, and the vessel on which Mr. Sams served was in many severe actions. Still his duties were very light, and he had much time for study. The one desire for an education was ever uppermost in his mind, and he let no means for improvement pass by. One of his friends had on board a good stock of useful books and placed their use at his disposal. Among other studies, he commenced to learn the French language, and soon acquired sufficient knowledge of it to become well acquainted with French history and literature. He next took up the study of Latin and Greek, and of Roman and English history. In the midst of the stirring scenes around him he was a close and ear- nest student, but this did not prevent him taking great interest in all the movements of the fleet. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 15 His associates were a light-hearted, merry set, and he was often with them in the midst of the fight. In after days Mr. Sams sometimes spoke of his life in the Mediterranean, and told of comrades shot down by his side and of other tragic events that transpired around him. In a letter written when in his eighty-third year, he alludes to his life on the man of war. The lady to whom it was written had sailed to India by way of England, France, and the Suez Canal. In the answer to her letter, he says : " It is well that you should have a taste of a storm at sea. The marvellous power of the wind on vast masses of water is a thing to be witnessed and felt, and in its awful majesty never to be forgotten. It is, however, pleasant for us to remember how you have been favored on the branky North Sea and the spiteful channel, as on the gentle Gulf of Venice. Then that sweet, calm night beneath the unclouded moon! You cannot think how many memories were stirred by that passage in your dear letter. For three years I was floating on that most lovely of seas and how often it has been my delight to pace the spacious deck the long night through, my soul ravished with the glory of the firmament and with thanksgiving to God for that 'his mercy endureth forever.' "That is the season in which we think most ten- derly of those we love, longing for some communion with the dear absent ones, in that still and solemn 16 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. hour beneath the clear, dark blue sky, studded with stars that shine with a splendor, elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere unknown. In 1811, the grandest of comets, Halley's, during many weeks made its march among the bright particular stars dimming their perennial brilliancy with its transi- tory refulgence. You will not wonder at the pas- sionate affection with which I recollect those sweet and blessed nights, even though it is more than sixty 3^ears ago. Often then it happened that the officer on the deck was either one of my own friends or a man with a heart open to benign influences of the wonders of nature, with whom it was an advan- tage to enjoy an hour's converse. Indeed, on ship or on shore, there is always sympathy and help for them that need, or even for them who do not reject it. And you saw one sunset ! I hope it was superb ! We often see from our hills here most beautiful sun- sets, and less often sunrises of great splendor, but I must say that the gorgeous resplendence of the ris- ing and the setting sun in the region of the Medi- terranean far surpasses all I have seen elsewhere." PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 17 CHAPTER III. At the close of the war, Mr. Sams returned to England, and his friend Lord Carleton obtained for him a position as corresponding clerk in the Treas- ury Department of Greenwich Hospital, of which Sir John Colfoys was treasurer. While engaged here, he boarded in the family of Thomas Knowlder whose son was an associate in the office. He became well acquainted with the other members of the family, among whom was a young daughter, Mary. The latter had a suitor who had been paying atten- tion to her for some four or five years. Mr. Sams became attached to her, and one day when a merry party were joking Miss Mary about her dilatory suitor, Mr. Sams jokingly said to her : " you had better turn that fellow off and have me." The young lady, after a short pause replied: " Well, if you will write and dismiss him, I will." Here w^as a predicament. He certainly admired and loved the young lady who was discreet and ladylike, but he had not thought of marrying so soon. But he afterw^ard said: ''I was in honor bound to go through with it." So he answered, "I will and you must copy it." 18 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. The letter was accordingly written and sent to the gentleman, and shortly afterward, Isaac Sams and Mary Knowlder were married. He never had cause to regret his marriage, for she made him a devoted and excellent wife. In his diary, February, 1865, recording her death he writes : " Madame Sams, 11 A. M. left me desolate, the dearest, truest, most precious." After his marriage, Mr. Sams remained in his position, in Greenwich Hospital, for nearly six years. During these years, his income was small and his family increasing. He did some work as a teacher, outside of his official duties, and occupied all of his leisure hours in study, for his ambition to become educated, had not lessened. In the winter of 1817 and 1818, he became very much interested in America, and was facinated by Morris Birbeck's description of this country. He became impressed with the opinion, that his dut}^ to his family demanded that he should emigrate thither. Accordingly, he embarked on the 25th of April, 1818, on a sailing packet from Gravesend for the United States. After a long and tedious voyage the ship entered Chesapeake Bay, on the 17th of June. In his dairy, Mr. Sams says : " language is unequal to describe, or imagination to depict the matchless beauties of our course up this noble bay. Our stately vessel had every breadth of canvas fondly stretched to catch the most gentle and auspicious PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 19 breeze. The distant light-house appeared emulat- ing the setting evening star, while the dark green fringe of shady groves bordered the lucid water, which seemed to tremble beneath the pale chaste rays of the moon shining in her full orbed splendor. The azure spangled firmament seemed to shed on all below, its soft serenity. Under the influence of such a progress and the grateful recollections of our touching on the land of peace, the land of abun- dance, the land of freedom ; what heart would not exult, what bosom not expand ! Such delights are amongst the most refined of which our souls are capable." On the 19th of June, the ship arrived abreast of Annapolis, and on the 20th, reached Baltimore. 20 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER IV. Having secured comfortable quarters, Mr. Sams at once searched the newspapers for an advertise- ment for a teacher, as he proposed to follow that profession, for a time at least. He also wrote a letter to Morris Birbeck, asking for information in regard to the settlement, then being made under his auspices. After dispatching his letter, he called upon Dr. Knox, president of Baltimore College, who had advertised for a tutor. He found out from him that a prominent physician. Dr. Hammond and two or three other families, were desirous of employing a teacher for their children. The location was distant thirteen miles on the Frederick Road. At five o'clock on the morning of the 23d of June, he started afoot for this place. He breakfasted at Leigh's tavern, and afterward ascended a hill near by. This spot is situated about ten miles from Baltimore, and of it he says in his diary : " my attention was rivited upon the scene around me. The broad Patapsco rushing over its bed of rock, is here crossed by the great turnpike road to Frederick and Pittsburgh. This point some years before attracted the attention of three brothers named PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 21 EUicott. They saw in the power here, infinite wealth for themselves, and great benefit to the community. The land was then neglected and despised. The light sands and barren rocks were purchased b}^ these enterprising men at $1.50 and $2.00 an acre. One tract of sixty acres was bought for an old horse. At this time, their united capitals were less than $1,000, but their genius and industry, their greatness of mind, frugality of habit soon began to work wonders. They opened out excellent quarries, soon a mill was built, the broad river having been dammed at this point. A capitalist, convinced of the worth and integrity of the Ellicotts, advanced them such sums of money as they wished on moder- ate interest. Another mill w^as raised, and even a third now strikes the view of admiring beholders in this narrow valley." This point which afterward became his place of residence for many years seems to have made a strong impression upon the mind of the young teacher, and its scenery to have relieved the tedium of his long walk. On arriving at his destination, he found Dr. Hammond at home, and to him stated his business. He told him a little of his past life, his late employ- ment and disappointments, and of his family and intentions. He showed his letters from the authori- ties of Greenwich Hospital, corroborating his state- ments. Dr. Hammond finally agreed that he should 22 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. be employed in the position he desired, if he could obtain from Dr. Knox, a letter stating the doctor's belief as to his capability of performing the duties which would devolve upon him. Returning to Baltimore, he addressed a letter to Dr. Knox which resulted in an interview the next day. He was punctual to the time and thus describes his examination: "Dr. Knox walked out to the hall of the college and as a preliminary, intro- duced me to Dr. Sinclair, the vice-president. He then mentioned m}^ letter with which he expressed himself very much pleased. Mj handwriting, he thought extremely good. ' Regarding Latin ? ' — I interrupted him by requesting he would allow me to parse a passage. He struck upon the following most simple one from Corderius: ^ Quid modo agebas cum proceptore,' — which of course was done instantly. He was then examined in French from Raynall's India. By this time he sa\^s the scholastic examin- ation had given place to an agreeable and lively lit- erary conversation. Dr. Knox gave freedom to the benevolence and good humor of which he has so great a fund. Dr. Sinclair did not omit the atten- tions of hospitality, and I was perfectly delighted. The President took m}^ papers and again exj^ressed his gratification on perusing them, and said he would give me a letter any time I chose to call." He went the following day and received his let- ter of introduction and recommendation. African PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 23 slavery had already attracted his attention and he inquired of Dr. Knox how they treated the subject in education. The reply he received, after some explanation, was: "Silence is the wisest plan toward their affairs." The next day Mr. Sams proceeded to Dr. Ham- mond with his letter and was kindly received. He had some conversation with the doctor on the sub- ject of education, and says he " strongly insisted on the lecturing mode of teaching in preference to the task method." The details in regard to his school were soon arranged. He was to receive five hundred dollars a year for his services, and the number of pupils was to be limited to twenty-five. He pro- ceeded the following day to his school house, which he found to be a log one, low and ill arranged. Some repairs were necessary, and while these were being made he returned to Baltimore. He gives an amus- ing account of his return journey : " His compan- ions in the stage," he says, "were a lady of elegant and lively manners ; a volatile Bacchanalian ; a dwarfish sentimentalist, and a sensible man of bus- iness." On arriving in the city he went to church in the evening, and of the service, says : " the junior minister preached on the text, 'Keep holy the Sab- bath day.' I was sorry to hear his lamentable canting. No smile of cheerfulness, no moment of relaxation, on that day — all gloom, all solemnity and devotion ! " 24 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. After church that evening he remained at the house of a new acquaintance in conversation until midnight. He then went to a hotel and asked for a room. All were engaged and he started to find one at another place. He says, " I stood a moment to think which way I should go, when I was accos- ted by a watchman : 'What 's your name? Where do you live ? What business are you in ? Where are you going ? ' I did not answer these questions to the satisfaction of my gentleman, and being joined by another of his tribe, they said I must go to the watch-house. Mr. Murphy, a Methodist, with whom I was slightly acquainted, happened to be the captain of the watch. The man told him pretty correctly what had passed. Said I had asked him how to get a decent bed, but that was not his duty. Said I wondered why I should be arrested when 1 had not broken, nor shown any disposition to break the peace, but I was out after midnight. " My Methodist friend began to say, he ' was sorry that Mr. Sams should be brought thus before him.' But I, out of all patience, made him a speech touching the gross misconduct of his people in arresting a sober, quiet stranger, w^ho, because he happened to be shut out of an inn, must be dragged like a robber to a dungeon. ' This is your boasted civil liberty,' I said to the pious Mr. Murphy. He stood up and begged that I would walk with him. He assured me that his people w^ere justified, as his PROP^ESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 25 instructions to the watch were to bring to the watch- house all stragglers, night-walkers, and suspicious persons. It was a system of preventive police that saved much crime. He was very sorry that it had happened, for if it got wind it would wound my rep- utation, though I were ever so innocent of all impro- prieties. Still I was in high dudgeon, and it was only after his declaring that I was no prisoner, but quite at liberty, and offering me a seat several times, a chair outside the watch-house, that I con- descended to sit down and doze until three o'clock the next morning." On that day Mr. Sams proceeded to take out his papers declaring his intention of becoming an American citizen, notwithstanding his experiences of the previous night. He then went to Baltimore college and paid his respects to Drs. Knox and Sin- clair. Here a discussion arose upon the pronuncia- tion of the Latin vowels and dipthongs. Mr. Sams gave his opinion in favor of the Italian or Conti- nental method. First because he was satisfied it approached the nearest the Ancient Roman pronun- ciation and because it was the pronunciation of those countries in modern times. But he thought the English method preferable in England and America because it had the sanction of Dr. Johnson and many learned men and was in general use in all the English universities and agreed with the ver- nacular language. 26 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER V. Leaving his kind friends at Baltimore College he proceeded on the 8th of July to his scene of future labor, and commenced on that day his work as a teacher in America. He organized his little school, and seems from the start to have had but little trouble, for in his diary, a short time afterward, he saj^s " I have not yet had to resort to corporal pun- ishment with my chiklren. By my system I keep shame alive, and they shed tears when I speak severely. " He now felt grievously the separation from his family. He longed for his absent wife and his little boys left behind him in England. About this time he witnessed the first thunderstorm since he had been in this country. Everyone but himself paid little attention to it, while he says he could do noth- ing but gaze at the unparalleled magnificence of Nature. A visit from a Scotch traveling school- master is mentioned in his diary as follows: "his pleasure in meeting a Briton, I participated in, but not fervently, for, after all, it is kindred minds not adventitious identity of country which will unite the man of experience or the philosopher." At an PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 27 early age we have seen that Mr. Sams was very much interested upon the subject of religion. Now he was boarding in a family, the members of which were full of religious zeal. An entrv in his diary says: "my host's prayers are so fervent that God would change the hearts of those who are strangers to his saving grace. He makes many allusions that 1 am satisfied are aimed at myself, and yet I appear so tranquil and indifferent, that we shall never be high m each others esteem. What bigoted zeal exclusive selfishness that all which it cannot em- brace within its pale, it would destroy! My ho^t has seen enough of my conduct and gathered enouo-h Irom my conversation to feel satisfied that I have arrived at a certain point both of information and character, but in his heart he holds me a fit bone or the devil to jDick and if called upon to speak his mmd, would say : ^ Oh he is a well conducted character ap^mrently to us, but he has no sicvns of saving grace in his heart.' The saving light of faith has never struck upon his darkened mind, nor the glories of the gospel shed their influence on his deluded understanding. Nor is such a being fit in his eyes to fulfill any duty as it ought to be fulfilled nor discharge any function on earth as it ought to be done. Ample scope was this night afforded me to form this conclusion when he spoke of those who frequent the meeting, yet did not belong to the society, because they had never gone with a whin- 28 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. ing, doleful face and a cant about the call of Grace, the light of Faith, the holy kiss of Jesus, the inspi- ration of the Spirit, the conviction of regeneration and such like unmeaning rhodamontades. " I took an opportunity of giving my host to under- stand that for my own part, I had for sixteen years sought the truth on subjects of religion, with great labor and assiduity, and, that at about the age of twenty-five had arrived at my conclusions and I trusted my convictions were now fixed forever." The lady of the house equally imbued with zeal, he says "took an opportunit}^ of expressing her relig- ious horror of dancing and of music. But remem- bering her squalling, of hymns she recanted as to music and admitted " that music is a part of religion." It now occurred to Mr. Sams that in the absence of all other religious services in the neighboorhood, he would offer to read the service of the Church of England in the school house on the Sabbath. Ac- cordingly arrangements were made, and on the fol- lowing Sunda}^ he read the service to an audience of twenty-three persons. He also read a short address upon the occasion. Reflecting upon this step he says : " here then behold a man like me who looks upon the various religions of the earth with charity not contempt, behold me engaged in the knotty, mazy and inex- tricable labyrinth of theology. But amid the lonely PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 29 contemplations of my evening, while revolving the arguments for divinity through the works of crea- tion, I happened to observe by mere chance a transaction which chilled my holy fervor to expira- tion. Hearing a buzzing noise near my desk I turned around and observed a fly just entangled in the fatal snare of a spider. It struggled in vain to free its useless limbs, and the scaly ruffian spider flew, or seemed to fly, along the web to seize its luckless prey. Again the unwary innocent com- menced its violent efforts to escape, but the iron arms of the monster fastened round its body. Soon he lays it fluttering and struggling on its back and whilst it is pinioned there, fastens its murderous fangs on the wretch's throat and with unrelentless thirst of blood, sucks, and sucks and sucks the vital juices from the helpless animal, which after vain and excruciating suffering seems at last to yield its unwilling life. At this moment I awoke from my deep reverie and touched, merely touched, the dastard, coward murderer who loosed his victim and made a rapid flight. But too late ! The fly was where ? his life was where ? Where, oh, ye sages ? The impression made on me the very moment the pen was in my hand writing rhapsodies in praise of the Divinity, I can never, never forget." Religious matters seem now to have absorbed Mr. Sams' thoughts when not teaching or studying. 30 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. There were many Methodists in the neighboorhood, and he visited during the fall one of their camp- meetings. The meeting did not differ from those of later days excepting that there was more demon- stration of excitement. He was also much inter- ested in similar meetings held by the blacks and he says he found their tears, swoonings, convulsions, and shoutings, all in a greater degree of eclat than at the white meetings. The religious interest became very great, and it is not to be wondered at that our young teacher paid a good deal of atten- tion to it. At one of the camp meetings he says he "entered more than one tent and oftener than once apjDroached the altar to make an experiment of the effect that what I had heard might make upon me; but I apprehend that he who has run my race and trod my track has reached beyond the grasp of religious enthusiasm." PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 31 CHAPTER VI. About this time the project was mooted among Mr. Sams' friends, of purchasing an acre of ground and building a church. Of this project, Mr. Sams says : " Now, if ever a church were built here, I must have it or leave the place ; but would I enter orders? There is the rub— I hate orders; but with a church, a school, and a farm I might prosper." During the fall and winter Mr. Sams, while occas- ionally repining for his absent family, gave himself up to*^ study. He applied himself to Greek and Mathematics. The latter, not for their own sake, for he says : " The regions of polite literature can never lose for me their predominant charm." The absence of his family was the means of his acquir- ing knowledge which he would not otherwise have gained, for he kept himself busily engaged in order that his thoughts might not too much dwell on the absent ones. His birthday occurred on the 12th of November, and is thus noticed in his diary : " I am this day thirty. To review the history of my life would be instructive, but would require more time than I can spare. I am reading Greek, Horace, Algebra, and 32 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. Geometr}^ I am thinking of nothing more than of the clear ones afar off." A few days afterward he paid a visit to BaUimore, and went to church several times and heard Bishop Kemp preach. He also called at Baltimore College to see Dr. Knox. He visited the theatre and says of the visit : " Went to see Cooper in Richard. Like Holman in person and voice and manner. Inferior Gloster. Some able touches in his King Richard. But Kean having been seen, spoils him. The Beehive is well supported by Jefferson." A few days afterward, he received a letter from England informing him that his wife had given birth to a daughter on the 29th of the preceding August. On reading his letter he says, "he dis- missed his school for the day, and fell into a hyster- ical fit of tears." On the 24th of December he had a public exam- ination of his school, and the patrons present expressed the warmest approbation at the progress of the children. He then had a vacation until the 4th of January, 1819, when he resumed his school work, not remitting his daily assignment of study. He also made arrangements for bringing his family over in the spring, and formed plans for the future, when re-united with those he loved so well, and whose absence he felt so sorely. No man ever possessed a more deeply religious nature than Mr. Sams, yet we find this entry in his PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 33 diary in January, 1819: " The good people here bore me to death with scripture argument and dis- sertation. So much for my pretension to Religion." He had many conversations with his host who had original views on all subjects. Mr. Sams says they were talking one morning about wives and Mr. Poole said, "he would choose wives as he would cattle, never with long legs and necks, as such are always tender and delicate, but with short legs and thick necks, as such as hardy." About this time, Mr. Sams was informed that $3,000 had been subscribed for building a church and a school house for him. The school house he says " is convertible into a better habitation than anything within reach. It might serve. The spring opened and a garden patch fenced in, the matter would be done. My first motive for stopping is to improve my own education. My family are God knows where. Perhaps at sea. Should this be so they may yet become inhabitants of the woods. Between the alternative of going away from here, perhaps West, and striking up a school in some city, I see no medium." Early in the spring of 1819, Mr. Sams' family arrived from England. The pro- ject of the new church and school building fell through for the time, and he continued in the old log school house, giving the most complete satis- faction to pupils and parents. Having by zealous and unremitting study made great progress in obtaining the education he so 34 - PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. much desired, he longed for a field of labor that would bring into full exercise the ability for teach- ing he knew that he possessed. On the arrival of his family he procured for them a comfortable residence in the neighboor- hood. For the next two years he continued his school in the old log school house, his reputa- tion as a teacher constantly increasing. He was frequently urged by his friends to remove to a more favorable location and in 1822 he rented the " White House," a school building two or three miles nearer Ellicott's Mills. Removing thither, his school and his family enjoyed some advantages not attainable in his first location. The reputation of his school extended beyond the neighborhood and he obtained several pupils from Baltimore, and other places. He had not been at the "White House" long before he was invited to come to Ellicott's Mills, then a growing and flourishing village. Tenders of aid and influence were made him by prominent citizens of that place. He determined upon a removal and purchased a piece of ground in that village and had erected upon it a school building while carry- ing on his school at the White House. He removed to this new location in 1S24 and opened Rock Hill Academy. He received at the beginning about forty boarders as pupils, many who had been in his school at tl)^ White House following him to Elli- cott's Mills. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 35 CHAPTER VII. The Rock Hill Academ}^ was a day and boarding school. It rapidly attained an excellent reputation and was considered the best school of the kind in the State. From the commencement it had all the pupils that could be accommodated. Many of these were from Baltimore and Philadelphia, and belonged to prominent families. Quite a number of them became afterward well known in the business and politics of their several States. At this school the pupils from a distance were received into the family of the principal, and he became their companion and friend as well as their teacher. He says " in discipline he endeavored to arrive at beneficial results rather by the benignity of his admonitions and by demonstrating the reason- ableness of his representations, than by rigor and severity." He was their chief instructor in the Classics and the Mathematics, while the department of the French and Spanish languages was in charge of a resident professor, a gentleman from Paris. " The evenings," he says, " are passed by the whole family in the library, where are arranged 36 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. about six hundred volumes of books selected for this particular purpose, and to which the attention of the youth is won by constant reference to their contents in the ordinary course of teaching. Read- ing is occasionally relieved by Music, Conversation, and experiments in Natural Philosophy." This mode of passing the evening was, he says, " attended with very satisfactory results. Mothers, ladies of taste and judgment, have, without solici- tation, honored the principal with their congratu- lations on the modest confidence of manners and the manly, elevated tone of conversation which, under this system, their sons had attained." The good work done and thorough instruction given at Rock Hill were subjects of public notoriety and approbation. Among his pupils were the sons and wards of eminent men in the Eastern cities. Among those who sent their sons to Rock Hill, may be mentioned: Judge Hopkinson, Hon. Alexander McKim, David Hoffman, Commodore Stewart, the Ellicotts, Dr. Hammond, Hon. John P. Kennedy. Many other names of families prominent in Mary- land society appear in his journal. For ten years Rock Hill Academy enjoyed a patronage and a reputation second to no other similar school in the country. Its success made for Mr. Sams an excel- lent reputation as a teacher throughout all that section of the country. The school and its princi- pal became well known in New York, and friends PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 37 there often suggested his coming to that city and opening a similar school. While not in any way dissatisfied with his pros- pects in Maryland, he looked with a longing to this wider field for the exercise of his abilities. He made up his mind to remove to Brooklyn, and in the winter of 1834-35 advertised Rock Hill for sale. When his intention of leaving EUicott's Mills be- came known, many letters of regret poured in upon him from old pupils and friends. One of these, from Governor Howard, we give below. Waverly, Md., 28tli January, 1835. Isaac Sams, Esq., My Dear Sir: — Having heard with great regret that you have it in contemplation to remove to New York and having under- stood that it w^ould be agreeable to you to bear with you the testi- mony of some of those persons whose children have been under your care as to your qualifications as a preceptor and your char- acter as a man, I beg leave to offer my tribute as regards both. You, sir, came amongst us as an unknown stranger and the stand- ing you now hold amongst us would in itself, where the fact is known, be sufficient evidence of your worth. Throughout the long period of your sojourn here I have not heard the slightest imputation against your character as a virtuous citizen and an intelligent instructor and a good christian. Should you finally determine to leave the neighborhood, I hope most sincerely that you may succeed in all your undertakings and that your place here may be supplied by one as capable and meritorious as yourself. With sentiments of esteem and respect, I have the honor to be Your most obedient servant, Geoege Howard. 38 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. The pupils of Rock Hill, finding he was going to leave their school, addressed him a paper filled with sentiments of love and respect and asked his accept- ance of a fine silver cup as a slight evidence of their good feelings towards him. His friends in Maryland parted with him with reluctance. Proceeding to New York he carried letters of introduction from the most prominent citizens of Mar3dand to equally eminent men in New York. These letters spoke of him in the high- est terms as a gentleman, a christian and a teacher. They were addressed to Chancellor Mathews, Wm. B. Astor, Washington Irving, Charles Augustus Davis, John B. Ogden, Bishop Onderdonk, Chancel- lor Kent, Gardiner Howland, Robert B. Mintern, Gen. Talmage, Dr. Milnor and others. The}^ were given him by Hon. John P. Kennedy, Judge Hopkinson, Governor Howard, John McTav- ish and other friends in Maryland. He went to Brooklyn in the early spring of 1835, and at once presented his letters and made arrange- ments for opening his school. He obtained suitable buildings and issued his prospectus in which he states the object of his school was to provide a sound and thorough instruction for young gentlemen. The school was filled the first day with youths belonging to the best families of New York and Brooklyn. A very successful beginning was made and for a short time the school was very prosperous. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 39 In the midst of the most pleasing prospects Mr. Sams was taken sick and his health utterly failed. He was forced to abandon his enterprise, which promised the grandest results. That he was com- pelled to withdraw from his school was no less a matter of regret to his patrons than to himself. In the short time he had been in Brooklyn he had become known as an able teacher, and his energies would have been taxed to the fullest extent in this more extended field of labor. It was doubtless the extra work and strain he took upon himself that caused the failure of his health. He had exchanged his property at Ellicott's Mills for a tract of land of 1,000 acress near Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio. Thomas and Nathaniel Ellicott, with whom he made this exchange, had been among his w^armest friends in Maryland. They had been very kind to him when he first went to Rock Hill, and to the day of his death he retain- ed the warmest feelings of friendship for them. He often said they were two of the truest and noblest, men he had ever knowm. 40 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER VIII. Professor Sams now determined to remove to Ohio and try to regain his lost health. To accomplish this he proposed to clear out and bring into market a portion of his tract of wild land. Accordingly he started for Hillsboro, Ohio, where he arrived on the 5th of Septemxber, 1835. He had resolved, much as he loved the work, not to enter the school room again until his health should be fully restored. For the next few years he occupied himself on his land performing as well as his strength and health per- mitted the labors of a pioneer farmer. His reputa- tion as a teacher had preceded him and he was often consulted on educational matters by those having them in charge. He soon became very much inter- ested in the Common Schools of Ohio, which for ten years before had been slowly but gradually improv- ing. In the year 1838 they were still very imper- fect. The teachers were carelessly and superficiall}^ examined, and the youth were loosely taught. In the year above mentioned the legislature passed a law for the appointment of County Boards of School Examiners by the Court of Common Pleas. By virtue of this law Mr. Sams was appointed PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 41 School Examiner and at once adopted a fixed method of strict examination of applicants for certificates. By adhering strictly to his rules he soon brought it about that Highland county had a better qualified corps of teachers than any other county in Southern Ohio. His examinations were a terror to inefiicient and poorly qualified teachers, but he gave true merit and good scholarship the fullest recognition. Many of the teachers in that day were possessed of but limited acquirements. Certificates had often to be given to this class or else the schools would not have been supplied with teachers. These were always admonished by Mr. Sams to make a better showing the next time they came before the Board. He insisted on some things even in this day not alwaj^s required in the teacher. One of these was personal cleanliness of hands, face, and apparel. Applicants who came with dirty hands were dis- missed with a short lecture on the virtues of soap and water. An instance is recorded in the School Examiners' Journal of his dismissing a young man from the examination room on account of his filthy linen and the effluvia arising from his body. Great pressure was sometimes made to have cer- tificates issued to persons whom he deemed really incompetent. Yielding to importunities of this kind, he issued a certificate to a certain party and recorded that he "had been examined and found 42 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. barely qualified to teach for three months in the swamp Common Schools of Highland county." The good results that accrued to the cause of edu- cation through Mr. Sams' method of examination cannot be over-estimated. Although there were generally two other members of the Board, Mr. Sams was the examiner. He did most of the work, and it was always to him " a labor of love." Complaints were often made of the strictness of his examin- ations, but the results generally vindicated the wis- dom and justice of his course. He served almost uninterruptedly as examiner for thirty years, and his services are gratefully remembered by all friends of education in Highland county. As early as 1840, Mr. Sams began to agitate the question of a County Society of Teachers, and through his influence was formed an Association of Teachers of Highland county, which has contin- ued in activity and usefulness to the present day. He was also instrumental in having the first Teachers' Institute held in this county in the year 1853. Mr. Sams took a deep interest in educational matters, not only in Highland county, but in the entire State. While in his early years of service as Examiner, he addressed a memorial to Governor Corwin on the subject of school libraries. This was an ably written paper and was received and favor- ably considered by the authorities at the capital. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 43 A few years afterward the school Library law was passed, the first suggestion of which came from Mr. Sams. He was also an active member of the State Asso- ciation of teachers, and was elected its president for 1851. The meeting of the association for that year was held at Columbus, December 31st, 1851, and January 1st, 1852. The most important business transacted was the reception of the report of the committee previously appointed, recommending the establishment of an educational paper as the organ of the association. The report was adopted and Mr. Sams took an active part in putting the enterprise on a firm foundation. Accordingly in January, 1852, was issued the first number of the Ohio Journal of Education, now the Ohio Educational Monthly and National Teacher. He also took a prominent part in the discussion of other important questions brought before the association at that early day. 44 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER IX. For several years previous to Mr. Sams' coming to Hillsboro, an academy had been in existence in the village. It had been under the charge of different Principals, but owing to the lack of proper accom- modations had not accomplished fully the ends desired by its founders. A donation of land having been received by the trustees they resolved to pur- chase ground and erect a commodious building. Accordingly thirteen acres of land were pur- chased north of town, and a handsome brick build- ing erected upon it. On its completion, the trustees invited Mr. Sams to take charge of the Academy. Nothing had been provided except the necessary school rooms, and Mr. Sams urged the erection of a suitable building for the principal and teachers, and for a boarding house for pupils. Owing to a lack of funds, this was not done. Under Mr. Sams the academy prospered for the following six years. It afforded excellent opportuni- ties to the young men of the town and vicinity to obtain a good business education, or to prepare for college. It attracted a number of students from adjoining counties and elsewhere, who boarded in PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 45 town and attended the school. The school was par- ticularly noted for the thoroughness with which the classics were taught. Mr. Sams was thorough in his teaching and inde- fatigable in his efforts to advance the interests of the school. His work was done, however, under some discouragements, and he was never able to make the school just what he wished it to be. It was his desire that it should be a boarding school for boys on the plan of his famous Rock Hill Aca- demy. Seeing no prospect of the erection of the additional buildings he deemed necessary to its com- plete success, he, in March, 1851, tendered to the board of trustees his resignation as principal. The board, in accepting his resignation, say: ''The trus- tees have seen with sympathy your unwearied efforts to sustain a school of high character under difficulties which they could not remove, and they still find it impossible to say when they can afford those facilities which they agree with you in thinking so necessary to the success of the institu- tion. . >i^ * * * * * Under these circumstances your resignation is accepted, and in parting with you we desire to express our high appreciation of your profound scholarship and unwearied devotion to your duties as a teacher. ''Your indefatigable efforts in the cause of educa- tion are too well understood in this community to need remarks, and for the influence you have 46 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. exerted by the thorough education of so many of our young men, and by your labor to elevate the stand- ard of education in Highland county generally, the public owe you the highest gratitude." This letter was signed by all of the trustees, then leading men in educational matters in the town. The severance of the connection of Professor Sams (by which title he was now known, and which no one better deserved), with the academy, was a mat- ter of great regret in the community. In the following four chapters we give some remi- niscences of the old academy, written by an ''old boy," the Hon. John W. Steel, now of Minnesota. They will be found interesting to the general reader, and doubly so, to every pupil of the old academy. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 47 CHAPTER X. On a bright autumn morning in the year 1846, the writer of this, then a lad of thirteen, with a shining school-boy face, began his pupilage with the now lamented Professor Isaac Sams. The Hillsboro Academy, although it had nominally existed prior to that time, had never before possessed a suitable building. By the efforts of a few friends of education, a large, and for that time and locality, a handsome brick structure had been erected on a slight eminence on the northerly verge of the village. A knot of fifteen or twenty boys assembled on that opening-day in the basement of the new build- ing, as that was the only portion tenantable. We gathered around the stove, discussing as boys are wont to do, the probable characteristics of our new teacher. Most of us had seen him as he strode through our streets, erect and with an imposing carriage, and it was whispered from one to another that he was awful savage. As the custom of flog- ging was still in vogue, we about made up our minds that we would '' catch it " if we were not uncom- monly careful.. While exchanging our views on the subject the cry was raised "here he comes," and 48 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. looking out of the windows we beheld, him whom, in our lack of veneration, we had dared to call " Old Isaac," riding up on a small dun horse. He was clad in a long white great coat, buckled around his Avaist with a surcingle and " covered as to his head " with a huge fur cap. Soon the door opened and Mr. Sams entered, holding in his right hand a short cowhide whip which projected straight before him and, with a military salute he marched across the room into another apartment where he disposed of his Avrappings. Soon returning he held some con- sultations with a few of the parents who were pres- ent and then commenced business. " Young gentlemen," he began — we looked round to see whom he was addressing, for we had never been so flattered before, and as we saw none to whom he could be talking but ourselves, we each straight- ened up about a foot, more or less, and began to think he was a pretty nice old gentleman after all. "All hands attention!" he proceeded, ''Come forward, and matriculate." We gazed at each other dumbly. What he wished us to do we could not imagine for " matriculate " was a word that was not yet introduced into our limited vocabulary. How- ever, he called up one of our number. Will McDowell (afterwards a talented judge in Kansas) entered his name, and then proceeded to enroll each in his turn, with a turkey-quill pen which he manu- factured in our presence by about three clips of an PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 49 immense pruning knife which he waved in the air like a saber. To us, the whole scene was indescriba- bly funn}^ although my fun was mingled with not a little fear and trembling. Soon my turn came. He pulled down his skull-cap with his left hand and raising his turkey-quill in his right, as though about to stab me with it, looked at me as I thought fiercely, and said in an interrogative tone " Name?" I informed him. "Age " also answered. " Tell me how many are 16 times 16, quick, quick T'' fairly shrieking the last word. I giggled. " Ah," said he, " I see, mercurial, frivolous, but, my dear boy, we will do better bye-and-bye, yes, we will improve." Soon his roll was finished and I can never forget when he called over McDowell, Steel, We ver, Kibler, etc., and assigned to us our various tasks. Let me here say that no one who was not acquainted with the whole manner, appearance, pronunciation, and peculiarities of Professor Sams, can appreciate him from anything Avhich can be written concerning him. My purpose is sim23ly to relate a few incidents which occurred during his administration, which, w^iile they show some of the eccentricities of this noble-hearted gentleman, yet may serve feebly to illustrate his mode of teaching and governing, a mode so utterly in contrast with that then in vogue, and so contrary to all of our preconceived notions, yet if we judge by its results, so beneficial to those 50 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. intrusted to his care. I call it a "mode," for it was not a system, or if a system, was one that varied with each pupil and each recurring circumstance. Professor Sams could not run in the groove with other instructors. He was a man sui generis, and if some of his sayings appeared to many to border on the ridiculous, yet no teacher, we believe, could ever point to a greater number of his pupils who have lived lives of usefulness, or who have achieved higher distinction in their various fields of effort. Most of those who have "amounted to much," as the phrase goes, will say to-day, if living, that to his earnest labor, thorough training and splendid example of what constitutes true manhood, they are principally indebted for all they are, that is worth being. Indeed, the great trouble one finds in endeavoring to sketch him as he was, is that even the most modest presentation of the truth con- cerning his merits must appear to strangers, fulsome eulogy. Of course, at this distant period I can not pretend to relate events in their chronological order, but purpose only to narrate some incidents that occurred at various times illustrative not only of the eccentricities of the gifted man, but of this thorough method of instruction. They will show his hatred of hypocrisy and shame, his love of truth and honor, his detestation of tyranny and oppression, and his delight in hearing of the success of his pupils in after-life. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 51 CHAPTER XI. For a day or two after our first session commenced we kept rather quiet, studying the disposition of our new instructor, and occasionally experimenting a little to see whether he was as terrible as rumor had represented him. He made no "rules," but seemed to leave each of us to be a law unto himself, and soon we began to think we had fine times. Instead of having to ask permission to leave the room, or to speak to each other in study hours, we were allowed to go out into the beautiful grove that surrounded the academy, at will. In summer, it was no uncommon sight to the wondering farmer, who passed that way, to behold half of the entire school out at once. Some were in the branches of the trees, with their text books in hand, others down b}^ the Jackson Spring, and others still, engaged in the soul- inspiring, if not intellectual, occupation of fishing, with grab-hooks for the yellow-breasted frogs which rendered vocal the pond formed by quarrying rock for the new building. This pond was a popular resort for those of us who preferred frog-fishing, or skating in its season, or rafting across its raging waters, to storing our youthful minds with the problems of Euclid or 'the Odes of Horace. 52 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. We thought we were " in clover," when contrast- ing our happy lot with our former experience in the public schools where daily floggings on the Spen- cerian system (the heavy strokes down and the light ones up) had been our portion, or in comparison with the halcyon days of childhood, when Aunt Polly Herron (honor be to her memory), mingled her doses of Alphabet Primer and the Shorter Catechism with " Phillips," kisses, and chidings in about equal quantities. Matters run thus smoothly for a fort- night, when on one memorable afternoon a few of the older pupils were cosily seated around the stove in chairs, chatting merrily, while the Professor was busy at the blackboard. Suddenly, as a clap of thunder from a summer sky, came a shout — "To your seats, ye Arabs ! " and at the same instant we beheld the' towering form of our hitherto mild tutor advancing toward us with outstretched hands, his eyes flashing, and his whole demeanor terrible. "Ye vandals, disperse!" he again roared, and jou may be assured we did disperse to our several seats, nor stood upon the order of our going. Then seizing the chairs one by one, he threw them in the corner, while cowering at our desks we listened to a harangue more forcible than agreeable. This episode checked us for awhile, but we soon discovered that it was only an episode, and that while in his simulated wrath he would call us terri- ble names, that he loved each of us in his heart and PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 53 would no more have injured us than would artender mother hurt her infant child. When I reflect upon our manifold transgressions and provocations, I wonder how he could have kept his temper as calm as he usually did, for a more mischievous, tantalizing and dare-devil knot of boys I think never got together at any other school. And yet there were few of us who would have intention- ally grieved the dear gentlemen, for we truly loved him while annoying him by our follies. Another amusing incident resulted from the out- break just recorded. A youth called Lew made his appearance a few mornings after we had been dis- persed as aforesaid, intending to enter the institu- tion. He had heard some exaggerated reports of Professor Sams' fierceness, and was evidently rather reluctant to venture his precious carcass within reach of the imagined danger. As we stood around the stove, awaiting the Professor's arrival, some of us began to relate frightful stories of the fierce and fiery temper of our teacher, stating among other things, that it was reported that he had to leave Maryland for breaking one pupil's leg, and putting out the eye of another, while in a passion. One after another added his testimony to the awful dangers attendant on being under his charge, and before long we saw that Lew was becoming exceedingly nervous. We then gravely told him that every new scholar was soundly cowhided the 54 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. first day, so that Professor Sams could ascertain exactly how much flogging he could safely endure. As if to corroborate this *' roorback " the Professor at that moment entered, accoutred as usual, after his ride, with his rawhide in hand. As he passed us he noticed poor Lew, who was trying to hide behind our group, and perceiving that he was a new acquisi- tion, naturally wished to get his name and inform him as to his duties. Tapping Lew gentl}^ on the shoulder with his whip, he beckoned toward the back room where he disposed of his wrappings, and in his curt fashion, said: "Ah, new boy — new boy — hither." " Now you are going to catch it," we whis- pered, when the thoroughly frightened Lew, to the amazement of Mr. Sams, but to our intense delight, took to his heels, bounded like a deer out of the door and fled to his home, "tarrying not in all the plain, nor looking once behind him." His father brought him back the next morning and he managed to remain with us for awhile with- out losing any of his members, but I do not think Professor Sams ever considered him entirely compos mentis afterwards. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 55 CHAPTER XII. We soon found that thoroughness was a sine qua non with our principal. No smattering, no parrot- like repeating of the text, no skimming, was per- mitted. He cared little for the amount '' gone over " or how many books we had " gone through," the question with him was, whether we thoroughly understood what we attempted to recite. Nor was he satisfied unless we could give the reason for everything ; how we knew a thing was so, and why we were certain that we did know it. He never wished us to go a step further in any study than we were well-prepared for going. Like a wise builder he laid his foundations upon rock, for he well knew that an education founded on anything less than a perfect comprehension of the rudiments, like an edifice reared upon sand must come toppling down when the winds and waves of life blow and beat upon it. "Give us the law!" was his constant demand of us when construing a sentence in the classics, and if we failed to give the law, " to the grammar, go ! " was his stentorian cry that made us quake like aspens. When he recalled us we generally knew 56 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. not only the law, but why it was the law, nor did we soon forget it. I remember his keeping me for two weeks upon a single verse of the New Testa- ment in Greek, and I can this day repeat and parse every word of it, although it is very little that I do remember of what I was taught after leaving his tuition. As an illustration of the good results of this sort of training, it is a fact, so far as I have been able to learn, that every one of his pupils upon entering college at once took a high stand in their classes, especially in the languages. Even those of us who made little pretense to close application to study, stood far above the average, because we could not help it, owing to the elementary training he had given us. I well remember when the writer, in company with the beloved and lamented Samuel Hibben was examined with fifty others, as an applicant for admission to the Junior class at Miami University. We did not sit together nor were we personally known to the Examiner, yet out of all that number we two were requested to remain, and the Examiner (the now distinguished Professor Moflfatt, of Prince- ton, N. J.,) said that he desired to know who had been our instructor. When we had informed him, he remarked that he wished they had the time to give such thorough training in college and that he should like to make the acquaintance PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 57 of Professor Sams. I mention this, not to boast of myself, for I regret to say that I rather retro- graded than improved afterwards, unlike my dear friend Hibben, who nobly built upon the sure intel- lectual foundation Professor Sams had laid for him, and what is better, builded the temple of a pure and holy life upon a still firmer foundation — the Rock of Ages. But to return to the Academy. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Sams' peculiar method of impress- ing his instructions upon us may seem ridiculous to those who knew him not, it was so forcible that we have never forgotten and never shall forget his lessons. I recollect when one morning a young gentleman (now a well-known physician, and whom we will call Johnson, because that is not his name), was called upon to translate a portion of one of Cicero's orations. Being a modest youth and not a little in awe of the Professor, he read the first sentence in a low, timid manner, and in a monotonous tone. Mr. Sams threw himself into a dramatic attitude and shouted: "Stop, Johnson, stop! Imagine Cicero standing bold and erect in the Roman Senate ! Do you suppose he would squeak" (mimicking Johnson's voice and manner), " Quosque tandem abutere nostra patientia Catalina? No, Johnson, no; he would exclaim" (raising his voice to a thunder tone): "Quosque tandem abutere nostra patientia 58 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. Catalina!" rolling the "r's" and giving the "a's" the longest sound possible. He must have been seen and heard to be appreciated. While the classics were Professor Sams' forte, yet his mathematical attainments were also of the highest order. Indeed, his mind seemed to embrace all kinds of learning, and he appeared at home in every department of science. At that day little or no attention was paid to Mental Arithmetic, but the Professor was determined that we should learn to think and not merely to do our sums, as we called it, by the rules laid down in the book. The multiplication table up to 100 seemed to be at his tongue's end, and he often startled us by asking some such question as 29 times 37, or, 18 times 14; "quick, quick ! " he would cry when, of course, we were unable to answer cor- rectly without a little time to reflect. But we acquired the habit of thinking quickly and of depending upon our reasoning powers instead of being confined to our text books. Professor Sams often seemed troubled at our want of appreciation of our educational advantages, and at the time we wasted in frivolity. On one occasion a party of the boys came late to school, having been enticed away from the grounds to witness the slaughter of certain beeves by a butcher in the vicinity. One of the boys, now a judge upon the Bench, was called up to account for his tardiness. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 59 He informed Professor Sams that they had been at the slaughter-house. "My God!" exclaimed he in tones that might have waked the dead, "can I believe my ears? What, leave the halls and porticos of learning to revel in the shambles of the butcher ! Fie on you, for shame." It is safe to conclude that young man was never known to so revel again. 60 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER XIII. Professor Sams earnestly endeavored to inculcate manliness. I do not know whether schoolboys now-a-days indulge in fisticuffs as much as we did, but there was scarcely a noon or recess passed with- out a personal combat between us. Many blamed Mr. Sams for not putting a stop to this, but whether he knew it or not he seldom interfered with or rebuked this pugnacious propensity. I think he wished us to be self-reliant and to learn to take our own parts, for we noticed that whenever a large pupil bullied a smaller one, the old gentleman was pretty sure to know of it, and to administer a fitting rebuke. But a fair and square, stand up and knock down between physical equals, never seemed to attract his attention in the least. An incident occurred one day, while school was in session, that will show his peculiar manner of treating such things. There was one of our number who was a noted bully over his weaker fellows, and as is usually the case, was a coward. I will call him Jones. He had been in the habit of cuffing and otherwise persecut- ing a little fellow whom we will designate as Brown. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 61 The latter had patiently endured Jones' persecu- tion for a long time. One day while the Professor was busy at the blackboard, Jones began as usual to torment little Brown, who sat just in front of him. Our desks were furnished with very large and heavy glass inkstands, and finally. Brown, provoked beyond endurance, seized one of these, full of ink, and threw it with all his force, striking Jones square in the forehead, cutting quite a gash. The heavy missile rolled and reverberated over the floor, when Profes- sor Sams wheeled suddenly around, just in time to see Brown's arm yet extended, and the commingled blood and ink trickling down Jones' face in black and red stripes. We all looked aghast, expecting a furious scene, and poor little Brown sank back into his seat, pale with terror and supposing his last day had come. The Professor gazed at them a moment, and then said in a low, gentle voice : "Jones, your face is dirty — go wash your face. Brown, pick up the inkstand, don't waste the ink," and then turned to his work as calmly as if nothing had occurred to interrupt it. In his heart, he was doubtless glad that Jones had met his deserts. Only on one or two occasions was corporeal pun- ishment ever resorted to at the academy, and then it was rather threatened than administered, the culprit being let off" just as he supposed he was to be skinned alive. The Professor was as peculiar at these times as ever. He sung out in the tone of a 62 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. boatswain on board ship: "All hands put away books, and prepare to witness punishment," and then he stalked majestically to and fro between the rows of desks, never deigning once to glance at the intended victim, and causing each one of us to inquire, " Is it I ? " then suddenly he would stop and "about face" in front of the criminal and pointing with his long index finger; would say: " Hither, boy, hither." He would then take the unhappy youth by two or three hairs of the forelock seized between finger and thumb, and would lead him around the room once or twice, and then halt- ing him, would proceed with a lecture not easily to be forgotten, either by its recipient or the look- ers-on. But he must have been a poor disciplinarian, you are ready to exclaim. Well, it is true that his prac- tice was contrary to all commonly received theories of school discipline, but after all, one word from him was more effectual with us than all the whipping we had ever received at the public schools, and judging by results, it was not a failure. His pupils progressed better in their studies and became just as good, useful, and honorable men as those of any other educational establishment with which I have been acquainted. With all his seeming vagaries in government, he managed, both by example and precept, to instill into the minds of most of us a regard for truth. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 63 honor, and justice, and taught us to despise hypoc- risy and meanness of every kind. Whenever we have failed in after life to be all that could be desired, it was through no fault of his. Even the worst of us would have been worse if we had never been under his training. While some of us, whom he styled " mercurial," could not help laughing at his oddities, we all loved and respected him, and at this far distant time still revere his memory. While he loved to encourage his pupils and to imbue them with proper self-respect, he quickly per- ceived the fact whenever any of them became self- conceited, and no one could better take down any superabundance of egotism than he. Of course we were at the age when we had a tolerably comfortable opinion of ourselves, and, perhaps, displayed the fact in our actions. As illustrating his method of checking this propensity, the writer will never for- get the last interview between Mr. Sams and him- self, as teacher and jDupil. After having enjoyed the advantages of the Acad- em}^ for several years it was thought best by my friends to send me to college. I had an idea that going to college was rather a great thing, and felt somewhat self-important at the prospect. On the Friday of the week before I expected to leave, I thought I ought to bid the Professor good- bye, and at the same time felt not a little proud of 64 PEOFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. the announcement I was about to make to him. I thought that it would perhaps raise me in his estimation, and that he would prophesy scholastic and literary honors for me, flattering to my soul. Doubtless I showed something of this in my manner as I approached him just before the close of school, and holding out my hand informed him that as that was probabl}^ the last day I would be under his charge, I wished to say " farewell." He raised his closed eyelids in a fashion peculiarly his own, then suddenly ejaculated in his sharp, incisive way : "Ah, last day; where are you going? where are you going ? " " To college," I rather pompously replied. " Colle-g-e. What are you going to do at college ? " This puzzled me a little, but I answered hesita- tingly : " To learn, I suppose." He burst out : " Ha ! ha ! Going to learn, glad to hear it, time to commence, boy. Ha ! ha ! ha ! he 's going to learn. My dear child, you rejoice my heart. Here you have been for years, surrounded by all the appliances to a liberal education, but you have been light-minded, mercurial, frivolous, like a cock on a dunghill, you have scratched away the pearls ; but now I am happy to know (here whispering as if to himself) he 's going to learn." I left him after a few very kind words, which allayed my mortification somewhat, an humbler if not a wiser boy. Yet never was there a preceptor who took more interest in the career of his pupils PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 65 after they left him, or felt greater pride at the suc- cess or distinction to which any of them attained in after life. After spending some time at college, I was at home spending the vacation. An old schoolmate at the academy, Will McR , who had also been away at college, proposed to me that we should call and pay our respects to our old friend and teacher. So one fine morning we walked out to his residence, and having been invited to enter, we sat down and awaited the appearance of Professor Sams. Our interview was characteristic of his original manner of dealing with us. In a few minutes he came bounding into the room with the agility and vivacity of a lad of six- teen. He extended to us two fingers of each hand (he usually shook hands with one finger), exclaimed "my dear boys, I am glad to see you!" and then leaped upon a lounge, crossed his legs a la Turk, his long " toga " girded by a surcingle, and a skull cap perched upon his head. Of course we expected he would ask us the usual questions concerning our health or our college career, but the first words he uttered, addressing himself to Will, were : " McR , tell us about the currency, the effect of the influx of California gold upon the currency." Poor Mac, struggling to sup- press his laughter, stammered out confusedly that he did not know much about the subject. " What, 66 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. been to college and can't tell us about the cur- rency ! " Of course this tickled me immensely, as I thought what a good joke I had on my companion. But my mirth was of short duration, for, wheeling around toward me, he said : " S , tell us about the currency." I could only murmur that I had seen so little of it that I could tell nothing about it. *' Ah," said he, "light-minded and frivolous as ever, been to college and can 't tell us about the currency. Well, I '11 tell you. Thereupon, he proceeded for about fifteen minutes to deliver a most philosophical and instructive dis- course, expressed in chaste and beautiful language, showing the probable results of the discovery of gold in California upon the material, scientific, religious, and literary interests of the world. It was really a grand lecture upon one phase of political economy. We forgot any feeling of amusement in absorbing interest in his treatment of the theme, and felt as the pupils of the ancient Greek philosophers must have done while drinking draughts of wisdom in the academic groves of Athens or Sparta. Abruptly, however, he broke off, with : "Comprehend, McR , comprehend ? " " Perfectly," replied Mac, boldly. "Then tell me what I said," commanded the Pro- fessor. Again I rejoiced in my heart to see my jovial young friend completely nonplussed. But the tables were quickly turned on me by the same question : "Comprehend, S , comprehend?" PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 67 Fearing to be caught in the same way, I an- swered that I thought I hardly understood the sub- ject well enough to attempt to repeat what I had heard. "Phoebus!" he roared, "been to colle-g-e and can 't understand a simple theme like this. "Well, well, my dear boys, perhaps it isn't your fault." As the shortest way of getting out of our di- lemma we rose to take our departure. The Professor hopped nimbly down from his couch, again extended his two fingers, and asked us if " we would stay and help eat a goose ? " which we understood as an invi- tation to dinner, but being conscientiously opposed to committing cannibalism, we declined to partake of his kindly offered repast, and bade him " good morning." Neither of us ever said college to him again. In conclusion, I can only say, that notwith- standing his harmless eccentricities, he was a ripe scholar and a pure-minded, noble-hearted man who taught from love of teaching, and in whose crown of rejoicing will sj^arkle many bright jewels — the names of scores of his pupils who have risen to places of honor in the land, and have lived lives of usefulness. He has passed to his reward, but his memor}^ will ever be green in our hearts and his grave a Mecca which his living pupils will delight to visit, not more to mourn his loss than to rejoice that his 68 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. labors having ended on earth, he has gone up higher to a haven of eternal rest. As a good citi- zen, a true patriot, a kind Instructor, and a bene- factor of his race, take him all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his like again. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 69 CHAPTER XIV. We resume the thread of our narrative. After leaving the Academy, Mr. Sams was solicited, by a number of citizens, to receive their sons as private pupils at his house. He received a limited number of young men, and spent the next two years in pre- paring them for college. His interest in the Common Schools had never wavered, and in 1851 he called the attention of the people of Hillsboro to the benefit likely to accrue to the youth by the adoption of the plan of the law of 1849, authorizing Graded Schools. After some dis- cussion it was resolved by popular vote to organize the schools under this law. This result was due, in a great degree, to the exertion of Professor Sams. 'fhe Union Schools were opened soon afterward, and in 1853 the use of the Academy building was obtained for the accommodation of the higher grades of the schools. On the opening of the schools in 1853, Professor Sams was employed to teach the Ancient Languages and Higher Mathematics. He continued in this position until 1856, when he was elected Superintendent of the Schools. He remained in charge of the schools for two years. He was now 70 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. in his seventieth year, and feeling need of rest, he retired from the Union Schools and again received a few pupils at his residence. During his years of service in the Academy and the Union Schools he had been a member of the Board of Examiners and had not in the least re- mitted his labors in that connection. At the same time he took great interest in everything looking to the educational interests of the people. He frequently lectured before a public Lyceum in existence during the same years. Several of "these lectures attracted a great deal of notice, not only on account of their original views, but as they evinced great study and research. Amongst these were lec- tures on "War," ''Novel Reading," and "Ancestry." Although generally absorbed in educational mat- ters. Professor Sams took a deep interest in all politi- cal matters affecting the welfare of the country. He was deeply interested in the result of the civil war of the rebellion, and rejoiced when it ended in the salvation of the American Union. He intruded his views on none, but never hesitated to avow them U]3on all proper occasions. He had great admiration for the American sol- diery, and since the war always made it a point to be present at the ceremonies on Decoration Day. When in his 85th year he fell in on foot with the soldiers and marched through the heat and dust to each of the cemeteries and participated in the PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 71 exercises. He also attended the exercises in 1878 when in his 90th year. Assigning as a reason his great age, he, in November, 1867, resigned his posi- tion as School Examiner. The Probate Judge, in accepting his resignation, said in a letter to him : — " I take this opportunity to tender you my own and the thanks of the public for your valuable services and the establishment of a fitting standard of quali- fication for the teachers of our county." During the remaining years of his life Professor Sams withdrew from public employment and spent his time in the retirement of his home. A few years after the death of his first wife in 1865, he married again. His second wife, Anne M. Mercer, had been a friend of himself and family for many years before. She made him a loving and faithful companion during the closing years of his life, and surviving him, keeps green his memory. Professor Sams had always enjoyed letter writing, and in this, displayed the same ability he did in other literar}^ matters. In 1872, a young lady of Hillsboro, whom he had known from childhood, went to India as a missionary. He carried on with her for some time a very interesting correspondence. These letters not only show how thorough a knowledge he had of India, but reflect his religious views very plainly. We give some extracts from two of these letters : " In regard to India, England has done much. 72 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. and is doing much, but every step she has taken has been bitterly opposed by the native prejudices, and obstructed by the incessant wars waged against her growing supremacy by the jealousy of the native princes. India was besides, after the victory of Blassey, governed by a company of merchants who thought more of their own profit than of the moral or intellectual improvement of the natives. But since the Queen has assumed the Sovereignty, only fourteen years ago, there is promise of greater amelioration than ever before. " With regard to missionary work, I have seen in LitteWs Living Age a very remarkable paper taken from Fraser^s Magazine, which, after exhibiting a great number of decided failures, shows how, in the opinion of the writer, success may be attained, not only in mission work but in the ultimate universal acceptance of the religion of Christ. "Having now an opportunity of commingling with many classes of people, you will thus be able to observe how largely God has endued the human heart with good, and how, mainly, the views of men spring from prejudice and ignorance. Your Cal- cutta gentleman leans to Theism. That is so nat- ural, being the grand unique principle of the four, perhaps, but certainly of the three great religions of the earth, Judaism, Islamism, and Christianity. I must even believe that God is in the Heathen mind behind Buddah, Confucius, and Zoroaster. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 73 *' But there need be no fear that Theism, pure and simple, will not in good time be sanctified by the acceptance of Christ and the blessed comforts of his promises, and the observance of his divine precepts. Have you spent any thoughts over the ' Kismet ' you mentioned to me, the characteristic of of the ordinary Hindu's mind? As you see it, there it is, the common fatalism of all Asia, of the Turks who are Asiatic, as well, the idea of a power inferior to the Gods, arbitrarily determining all events with- out any interdependence among them. " The Greeks and Romans held this power as con- trolling the Gods. The Bible (Matth. xviii, 29.) teaches us that God is the disposer of events. Hence predestination, as it is in your church and the Church of England. You know, perhaps, better than I, what numerous volumes have been written on the subject of Freewill and Necessity. "In this doctrine, as taught in our churches, I am bound, as a good churchman, to believe. But as all God's providences are produced in a benevolent and salutary order, we may, without presumption, endeavor to trace the manner of that order. No way is safer in doing so than a careful and honest contemplation of the individual experience. In the course of my long life, I have, as you may suppose, passed through many crises, and have had to make critical decisions, some more or less wise, some very foolish, indeed. 74 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. " Now, what I know, is this. I could not have acted otherwise than as I did act at the moment of each decision, being actuated or influenced by a variety of circumstances, facts, some of which, may be mentioned. " Hereditary organism, personal idiosyncrasies, my age and experience, and state of knowledge. The attractions on one side and repulsions on the other, each one of which was an invincible force. In fine, I think you will agree with me that there are serious limitations to what is called freedom of action. ''No, the religion of Jesus must be sown in the heart and the conscience, and not compelled by sword or sceptre. Constantine did not proclaim the God of Israel was his God until a majority of his people had abandoned the Old Paganism and accepted the worship of Christ and the rule of His Gospel." In one of the letters of his correspondent some bad English she had heard, was alluded to. Mr. Sams, in his answer, says : "I will now tell you something that I think Mr. Taine did not. The Folk speech is not the educated language. It is the speech of provincialism, of patois as in France and Italy, but more so. Corn- w^all, in the Southwest, is of the Old British, as is Wales. Kent, Sussex and Devon are Anglo-Saxon, as are all the counties bordering on the Thames. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 75 Lincoln, Suffolk and Norfolk, and other midland counties are Danish. In Cumberland are some remains of Romish speech, as of roads and fortifica- tions. " The Folk speech, besides, has not been touched until just now, perhaps, by the voice of education, and finally the feet of the folk cling to the sod most wonderfully. " The millions never leave the native haunts, and it thus happens that the Folk speech is variant, coarse and thick, and a source of wonder to many. But after all they are the sons of the men who won at Poictiers and Agincourt two of the most extraor- dinary victories in history." In another of his letters Professor Sams thus alludes to the arbitration of the Alabama Claims : "I think the decree of the Arbiters was just and reasonable, and the humiliation England has endured in the face of Christendom was but her due." On the subject of the education of women in India, and referring to a Mr. Chatterjea, a Hindoo Reformer, he says " that man may yet be an instru- ment of great good in bringing a new line of pro- gress to the consideration of her people. But it would be well he should know that he is at least a century before the age. He reaches after too much, not too much to hope for, but too much to make a public demand for. " The equality he wants for women in social and 76 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. civil life can only come from their being educated and thus enabled to demand it for themselves. What has helped our women so much is that higher education they have received from the schools, the free press and the best elements of the society they move in. That good knowledge of their right gives courage and strength to their convictions, and they are triumphing gradually to the achievement of their ends. " Mr. Chatterjea should therefore work for educa- tion, giving thereto all his forces and setting forth nothing that is likely to prove rather an obstacle than a means to his success. On this account he is wise to work without any allusions whatever to religious opinions." We close these extracts with one from a long letter written September, 1877, when Mr. Sams was in his 89th year. There is nothing in the handwriting or the language of the letter to indicate the great age of the writer. It shows the remarkable vigor of his intellect only a little more than a year before his death. He begins: " Two things are wonderful, with how scanty a provision of ideas the human creature can pass through life on the one hand, and on the other how vast in amount and how various in character is the knowledge which science places in the hands of the educator to disseminate among the generation that are now and are to come. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 77 "With all, the question arises, whether the unlet- tered and untaught are less happy than are the others who have spent their days or years in trying to understand the relation of the phenomena of nature, of morals, and of mind. " About seventy years ago I read that beautiful poem, Gay's, " The Shepherd and the Philosopher," and to my boyish mind it clearly seemed that the worthy Shepherd showed a knowledge more exact and from it a wisdom and content, more productive of happiness, than wherewithal the grave Philoso- pher could assure him. " And to-day I envy the enjoyments of ' Leather stocking ' more than I do those of the Shah of Persia. Among the parks, and streams, and hills of Colorado may be found, I think, a life happier than that of Bismark with his foot on the neck of France, happier than the Archbishop of Canterbury with hundreds of his clergy praying that the con- fessions of the people may be made to them rather than to God ; happier than those Bourbons and Orleanses who are running about Europe in chase of a throne from which there is ho exit but through exile or the guillotine. " I hope, and trust and believe that you wdll triumph in your successful educating of the women of India. They will read and write the great universal language and will look with contempt and scorn upon their lowly neighbors. They will come into some sociality with a more intelligent 78 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. class and will be assailed by all the envies and longings and rivalries and aspirations of that class only at last to find that while they have lost caste with their old friends they never can equalize themselves with the new. " But do not be alarmed, I am not coming over to the Punjaub to preach any such heterodox doctrines as these. Neither do I entertain the slightest doubt that gradually the efforts of education will be triumphant, and that the children of a not very distant Hindu generation will be in mind, if not in number, the ruling power of the Indian Penin- sula. " For it would be impossible that labors so persis- tent, so earnest, so judiciously applied and so noble in motive, should not in due time bear the happy fruits that are expected of them. " There is no work in the world so sure of return as that of the teacher if he be competent and honest. Nor is there a laborer in any field more likely to leave worthy successors to continue and enlarge his achievements. " Amid the drawbacks, the discouragements that fret us in the advancing march of our civilization there is consolation in the growing conviction of the world that there is no safety for society but in right education ; and in increasing numbers of wise and good men among the gatherers of this world's wealth who are constantly dispensing the means of extending the benefits of knowledge and culture PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 79 not only to their nearer neighbors but to the most distant regions of the earth." In another letter speaking of Mathew Arnold's Literature and Dogmatism, he says : " Righteous- ness above all is what is insisted on. Righteousness is the life ; Dogma is in the thought. The life is the test. The mistake is in making dogma the test." Again he refers to what he calls that terrible article in Scribner, " Modern Skepticism." He says ; " Whatever man may doubt about, there will never be a doubt about Righteousness. What does the Lord demand of us but to ' do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with one God.' — Micah, vi, 8. " The religion of Christ, is, on that account, impregnable, eternal. The Sects may differ about 'dogmata,' but the Church of Christ is founded on the doctrine of Righteousness." On the 22d of September, 1877, considering the evils to be contended with by those striving for the world's regeneration, he writes thus forcibly : "What can we do against all these evils? Almost nothing. Law and its penalties, Gospel and its min- istry, Education and its professors have been toiling for many centuries; and yet how imperfect are the results of it all. But still I feel God ruleth and ordereth all ; and I bow beneath His holy name and lay my wearied heart and humble faith as Christ has taught me, before the throne, and receive the ineffable blessing of that ' Peace of God which passeth all understanding ' as my final rest." 80 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. CHAPTER XV. Throughout his long life, Professor Sams was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. We have seen the peculiar circumstances under which he partook of his first communion, when a poor and friendless boy at Rathdrum, Ireland. We remem- ber his reading the services of the church in the old log school house in Maryland. His zeal for his church grew as his years increased, and soon after his removal to Hillsboro he began to hope for the establishment of a branch of his church in that town. It was largely due to his efforts that some twenty- five years ago a congregation of the Episcopal Church was gathered together and a church erected in Hillsboro. He was always in his place in the church and was for twenty-five consecutive years the Senior Warden. He was always an advocate of the establishment of public libraries, and was greatly interested in the opening of a Free Reading Room and Library in Hillsboro. His last appearance in public was on the occasion of the inauguration of the Reading Room and Library in July, 1877. On that occasion PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 81 he made a few remarks expressing his gratitude to God that he had lived long enough to see in Hills- boro what he had so wished for, a Free Public Library. He became a constant visitor to this library, and it was the last place he visited before he was attacked with his last illness. For thirty years previous to this time Professor Sams had enjoyed excellent health and a remarka- ble possession of his faculties of body and mind. His personal appearance was striking. He carried himself erect as an Indian, and was always brisk and active in his movements. He had something of a military bearing, and his personal appearance always attracted attention. None who saw him on the streets during the autumn of 1878 supposed he he was near the end of his long and useful life. His ninetieth birthday came on the 12th of November, 1878, and although his health and strength gave some signs of failing he bid fair to see his hundredth birthday. He continued his accustomed exercise, and on the 23d of November made a call on a friend and spent an hour at the Reading Room. Returning to his home he seemed feverish and to have taken a slight cold. During the afternoon he spent two hours in conversation with an old pupil who had called on him. The next day he grew worse, and on the 27th was attacked with spells of vomiting. He took to his bed and his physician was called in. From that 82 PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. time he grew worse and seemed to realize that his end was near. He lay calm and resigned, with his countenance expressing perfect repose and trust. At times he spoke words of consolation to his wife who attended him, and at other times repeated pas- sages in Latin and Greek from his favorite classical authors. The disease did not seem to yield to reme- dies, and he continued to grow worse. On Sunday morning, December 1st, 1878, at 7 o'clock he quietly passed away. His work on earth well and faith- fully done, he went to his reward. His funeral services were held in St. Mary's Epis- copal Church, on December 4th, and were, as he desired, free from display and ostentation. The Rev. W. T. Bowen officiated, and spoke eloquently and feelingly of the life and services of Professor Sams. His remains were followed to the grave by sorrowing friends and relatives, and laid away amid the hills he loved so well. As he was beloved in life, he was universally lamented at his death. Those who have followed us through the preceding pages have traced the career of Isaac Sams from infancy. Thrown an orphan on the world at an early age he preserved his purity and goodness. While but a youth a burning desire for an education took possession of him. Under many discourage- ments he pursued this object to its full fruition. With no advantages of teachers, schools or colleges, he acquired a store of knowledge that placed him in the front rank of the educated men of his day. PROFESSOR ISAAC SAMS. 8S The story of his life exemplifies how learning may be attained by perseverance and industry, and how good a use may be made of it when once acquired. His career as a teacher shows what may be accomplished by the true teacher who feels the glorious inspiration of his calling. He believed the work of the teacher second in importance to none other, and he always acted and taught in accordance with that belief. His pupils are scattered all over the land. AVher- ever they are, they feel and appreciate the obliga- tions they are under to him for arousing within them nobler purposes and a higher ambition for mental culture. They respect his blameless life and spotless char- acter, no less than they honor his literary acquire- ments and professional services. Life's fitful fever over, he now enjoys his rest in the bright and better land beyond the stars. FINIS. NOV 9 1300 'w^m^M-^mm^'' LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 022 139 991 2