Algie B. knew all the fun there is in throwing paper wads, particularly when he could run the greatest risks of detection and yet escape discovery. Said he to himself one busy morning: “I believe I’ll take a shot at Redtop. The teacher’s got him scared into looking at his book; he’s got to be waked up.” A good-sized wad soon sped across space, struck Redtop plump on the side of the head, fell and rolled back toward Algie. “Better yet, I’ll just get that wad and have it for another shot. It’s a lucky boy I am, if I can do that.” Stooping, he made four stealthy steps forward, regained his wad and slid back into his seat. When Miss Stone looked about, the next moment Algie’s eyes fell to his book and all was quiet and peaceful as a day in spring. This fine example of bravery and success was not lost on other restless spirits. By the next day an observing onlooker counted up ten instances in which sly wad-throwers had reproduced Algie’s feat. On the third day over-boldness brought the climax. Miss Stone had been too much absorbed to note the minor noises that were provoked. But when Amy Lane, nervous, uncontrolled, uttered a yell of terror as a cold wad struck her in the back of her neck and slipped down, ten pupils broke loose in a chorus of laughter. Miss Stone roused up and, strange to say, succeeded in getting a story of the recent happenings. She threatened the last culprit, who in self-defense said, “Why must I suffer when all the other boys do the same thing?” and he named nearly every boy in school, ending up with Algie. Her threats of punishment of course were vain in the presence of so many offenders. With a sharp talk she dropped the discussion. CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT Miss Stone has one simple task: to rouse from absorption in one duty and wisely distribute her attention to several matters. Promises must not be taken as fulfillment; assurances of any sort must not be taken for more than they are worth. Find a safe medium between espionage and disastrous indifference. COMMENTS School-room behavior will never take care of itself under any system of management. A teacher who thinks he has solved all of his disciplinary problems is resting in a deceitful security. A sweet trustfulness that keeps every pupil in his most delightful mood and never sees the wild emotions and boisterous conduct that arises from them is the rock of destruction for a teacher’s influence. ILLUSTRATION (SIXTH GRADE) [Sidenote: Painting Face] Roland was an unkempt, dirty, red-headed little fellow in the sixth grade of a small town school. He came from an unlettered, hard-working, shiftless family in the country and, like Topsy, had just growed up. He was bright enough, but his reasoning power and sense of right and wrong were undeveloped because he had never been taught rightly. He had been whipped when naughty without fully understanding that what he had done was wrong.