TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



249 



place, to sling our hammocks but the school room 

 being a good size would suit our purpose. It was 

 just on the verge of the time when the children 

 would be let out for an hour to eat and play, and it 

 struck me that if I could find in Collens' Year Book 

 that it was the anniversary of some important event 

 we might induce the school master to give a half 

 holiday on the strength of it. It was the 11th of 

 March and by good luck happened to be the anniver- 

 sary of the death of a very exalted personage. "Bul- 

 mer, ' ' I said, ' ' we are in luck, come out and let us in- 

 terview the schoolmaster and enter our names in the 

 visitor's book, mind you don't say anything to con- 

 tradict me." Accordingly we entered the school 

 and having entered into conversation with the mas- 

 ter and praised his scholars, I, as if suddenly remem- 

 bering an important event, said, " Sir, do you know 



I think this is the anniversary of the death of M 



mentioning the name — it was at the time of its occur- 

 rence a great historical event ; " now there is no 

 means by which you can impress any historical event 

 on the memory of children better than by giving 

 them a half holiday, and as it now close on their play 

 hour it will just suit. ' ' He took the bait, and the 

 children after hearing from us what an important 

 part the high personage in question played in the 

 history of England, they were dismissed from the 

 school rejoicing and we, allowing a suitable time to 

 elapse, availed ourselves of the large space at our 

 disposal and slinging our hammocks enjoyed our 

 well-earned rest. Some straight-laced people will 



