History of Buffalo Gap District Number 9

The history of the Buffalo Gap School reads with a charm not to be found in the history of any other district of the whole county. Just as the history of Texas surpasses, in interest and glory, the histories of other states, so the story of the Buffalo Gap School outstrips, in interest and significance, the stories of the other schools of the county. Beginning as a public school and merging into a college- that once bade fair to become a ranking seat of learning in Texas-it again became a free public school, making advancement each succeeding year. It was in the early eighties that the Buffalo Gap School began its work. In 1882 or 1833, through the efforts of Rev. Alpha Young and Rev. A. J. Hayes, a charter was obtained for the establishment of the Buffalo Gap Presbyterian College. Rev. W. H. White was chosen as the first president. The new college was, from the first, beset with many difficulties, chief among which was the fact that it was forced to draw its student body from a sparcely settled country. In 1886 Judge J. M. Wagstaff, now a leading civil attorney of Abilene and a well-known legislator, succeeded Rev. Mr. White, at the crisis in the history of the college. By 1889 or 1890 the school had become so large that it was necessary to erect a two-story dormitory to care for the one hundred girls who were then boarding in private homes. The destruction by fire of this building was the turning point in the career of the college, which began to wane and was, in 1895, discontinued. The presidents of the College in succession after Judge Wagstaff were: Prof. John W. Melton, Prof. E. W. Doran, Mr. John Haynes, Prof. Newton, Mr. John Collier, and Prof. J D. Ellis During the term of the last named instructor, the college was discontinued, but Prof. Ellis continued with the public school for several years, being the first principal. A history of the Buffalo Gap college and school would not be complete without some mention of the work of Miss Sallie Young, who, for more than a score of years, joyfully, faithfully, and efficiently, served at Buffalo Gap, working both in the college and in the public school. Under her instruction have sat some of the most prominent men of our state. The present two-story school building was erected from the sandstone blocks that comprised the once-famous Presbyterian College; it occupies the center of a large square where formerly sat the college building. The campus is well shaded with beautiful mulberry and oak trees; in the distance loom the enchanting mountains. The present regular attendance upon the school is one hundred twenty-five pupils, whose needs-thanks to the increased tax of seventy-five cents-have been this year, 1921 and 1922, much better cared for by the four good teacherss- T. P. Parmer, Mrs. Verna Edmison, and Misses Lola Chambless and Elsie Sharp. The outlook for the school for the next year, under the direction of the newly-elected head, Mr. J. D. Warren, is most promising and bids fair to herald the return of the school interest, in the old days, shown in the district.

W. HAMILTON WRIGHT.

IT COULDN'T BE DONE, BUT HE DID IT

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he, with a chuckle, replied
That, maybe it couldn't, but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he's tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it;
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that,
Or, at least, no one ever has done it."
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done - and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot he done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin;
Then take off your hat and go to it.
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done - and you'll do it.
-Edgar Guest