"I don't think I should," laughed the master-carpenter, as he saw the point of the argument. "In fact I remember a case, before uniforms came into fashion, where a smart chap went through a car, and collected several dollars and a handful of tickets, and then left the train, before the conductor put in an appearance. I will give it up on conductors."
"Not many years ago a villain got into a house in one of our large cities, on the plea that he was a gas man; before he left it he had committed a murder. Then the newspapers said the employés of the gas company ought to wear uniforms, so that people could tell whom to admit to their houses. I believe it is now the fashion in that city to wear them. A shrewd boy in Burlington collected a dollar and a half from a lady in the absence of her husband, by delivering her a bogus telegraph despatch."
"I never thought of the matter in this light before, captain," added Mr. Brookbine. "If uniforms are of any use, I don't object to them, certainly."
"But we are not telegraph boys, gas men, or conductors," Ben Ludlow objected.
"No, you are not; but the other day two of our students went into a saloon in Genverres, and each of them drank a glass of lager beer. I don't believe they would have done it if they had worn the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School."
This statement produced a decided sensation among the students, and they thought they understood the object which the uniform was expected to accomplish.
"I don't allow any boy to use intoxicating drinks while under my control. If I can't prevent it, I will expel the pupil; for I will not have his ruin on my conscience. I expect every student to have a proper regard for the credit and honor of this school, and conduct himself, wherever he may be, in such a manner as to cast no discredit or dishonor upon it."
Captain Gildrock spoke with more feeling than usual, and his remarks made a deep impression upon the students. They promptly applauded what he had said, thus indicating that they would respect the good name of the institution. The principal did not check their demonstration on the present occasion, and he seemed to be pleased with it.
"The students of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute, on the other side of the lake, don't wear any uniform," suggested Ben Ludlow, who realized that he had been thoroughly beaten in the argument. "Colonel Buckmill, the principal of the Institute, says that gentlemen, such as his pupils are, don't need uniforms."
"Of course Colonel Buckmill has a perfect right to his own opinion on this subject, as I have to mine," replied Captain Gildrock. "The Chesterfields will wear no uniform, but the Beech Hill students will wear a uniform. I think we need not argue the question any more. The uniform is ready, and you will put it on in the morning. It is merely a plain suit of blue, with our initials on the cap."