CHAPTER XVII. A FIRST-CLASS HUMBUG.

 Julius found, to his great satisfaction, that he was placed in a class of boys of his own age and size, and that the lessons assigned were not beyond his ability to learn. Teddy Bates, on the other hand, who had had no opportunity of increasing his knowledge since his departure from New York, was placed in the lowest class. He was astonished to find his old companion so far above him.

“How did you do it, Julius?” he asked at recess¹.

“I have been studying at home ever since I came here. Mr. Taylor helped me.”

“You didn’t know no more’n I do when you came out here.”

“That’s so, Teddy.”

“You must have studied awful hard.”

“That’s because I wanted to make up for all the time I’d lost. I was a reg’lar know-nothing when I began.”

“Like me,” said Teddy.

“You haven’t had the same chance I have,” said Julius, wishing to save the feelings of his friend.

“I’ve had to peg² shoes all day. I didn’t get no time to study.”

“Never mind, Teddy. You’ve got a chance now. Do the best you can, and if you get stuck, I’ll help you.”

“What a lot you must know, Julius! You’re in the highest class. Do you think you can get along?” asked Teddy, with newborn respect for his friend on account of his superior knowledge.

“I ain’t afraid,” said Julius, confidently. “You can work your way up, too, if you try.”

“I ain’t as smart as you are, Julius.”

“Oh, yes, you are,” said our hero, though he secretly doubted it, and with good reason. There was no doubt that Julius surpassed his friend, not only in energy, but in natural talent.

The boys soon discovered that their new teacher was by no means equal in scholarship to the favorite whom he had superseded³. Notwithstanding he had graduated, as he asserted, at one of the most celebrated⁴ academies in Maine, he proved to be slow at figures, and very confused in his explanations of mathematical principles. It may be well to let the reader into a little secret. Mr. Slocum had passed a few months at an academy in Maine, without profiting much by his advantages; and, having had very indifferent success in teaching schools of a low grade at home, had come out West by invitation of his uncle, under the mistaken impression that his acquirements, though not appreciated in the East, would give him a commanding position at the West. He was destined⁵ to find that the West is as exacting⁶ as the East in the matter of scholarship.

Mr. Slocum betrayed his weakness first on the second day. Frank Bent⁷, a member of the first class, went up to him at recess with a sum in complex fractions.

“I don’t quite understand this sum, Mr. Slocum,” he said. “Will you explain it to me?”

“Certainly,” said the teacher, pompously⁹. “I dare say it seems hard to you, but to one who has studied the higher branches of mathematics like I have, it is, I may say, as easy as the multiplication¹⁰ table.”

“You must be very learned, Mr. Slocum,” said Frank, with a grave face, but a humorous twinkle in his eye.

“That isn’t for me to say,” said Mr. Slocum, complacently¹¹. “You know the truth shouldn’t be spoken at all times. Ahem! what sum is it that troubles you?”

“This, sir.”

“Yes, I see.”

Mr. Slocum took up the arithmetic, and looked fixedly¹² at the sum with an air of profound wisdom, then turned back to the rule, looked carefully through the specimen¹³ example done in the book, and after five minutes remarked: “It is quite easy, that is, for me. Give me your slate¹⁴.”

He worked on the sum for the remainder of the recess, referring frequently to the book, but apparently¹⁵ arrived at no satisfactory result.

“Do you find it difficult, sir?” asked Frank, mischievously¹⁶.

“Certainly not,” said the teacher; “but I think I see why it is that you didn’t get it.”

“Why, sir?”

“Because the answer in the book is wrong,” replied Mr. Slocum. “Ahem! I have discovered other errors before. I believe I will write to the publishers about it, Really, it ought to be corrected in the next edition.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Frank, amused; for he didn’t credit the statement about the error.

“What do you think Slocum says?” he said in a whisper to Julius, who sat at the same desk with him.

“What is it?”

“He says the answer to the fifth sum is wrong in the book, and he is going to write to the publishers about it.”

“The fifth sum! Why, I’ve done it, and got the same answer as is in the book.”

“How did you do it?”

“Just like the rest. It’s easy enough. I’ll show you.”

“I see,” said Frank. “The teacher worked on it for ten minutes, and then couldn’t get it. I guess he don’t know much.”

“I don’t see anything hard about it,” said Julius. “All you’ve got to do is to follow the rule.”

“I’ll tell him you did it when we recite. See what he’ll say.”

“First class in arithmetic,” called Mr. Slocum.

The boys took their places.

“Our lesson to-day treats of complex fractions,” said Mr. Slocum, pompously. “Does any boy know what complex means?”

“Difficult,” suggested one boy.

“Not exactly. It means complicated. That is, they are puzzling to ordinary intellects, but very simple to those who have studied the higher branches of mathematics, such as algebra¹⁷, geometry, triggernometry”—this was the way the teacher pronounced it—“and so forth¹⁸. I have studied them all,” he added, impressively, “because I have a taste for mathematics. Many of you wouldn’t be able to understand such recondite¹⁹ studies. I will now ask each of you to give the rule. Julius, you may give it first.”

The rule was correctly recited by each member of the class.

“That is very well,” said Mr. Slocum, blandly²⁰. “I will now explain the way in which the sums are done.”

Mr. Slocum went to the blackboard, and, keeping the book open, did the sum already done in the book, giving the explanation from the page before him.

“You see that there seems to be no difficulty,” he said, with an air of superior knowledge. “I have, however, detected an error in the fifth sum, about which one of the class consulted me during recess. The book is evidently wrong, and I propose to write to the publishers, and acquaint them with the fact.”

Here Frank Bent raised his hand.

“What is wanted?” asked the teacher.

“Julius Taylor has done the sum, and gets the same answer as the book.”

“Julius, do I understand you to say that you got the same answer as the book?” demanded Mr. Slocum, rather discomposed. “I am afraid,” he added, severely²¹, “you copied the answer out of the book.”

“No, I didn’t,” said Julius, bluntly.

“You may go to the board, and perform the problem, and explain it after you get through,” said the teacher.

Julius went to the board, and did what was required; writing down at the close the same answer given in the book.

“Now elucidate²² it,” said Mr. Slocum, who, like many superficial persons, thought that the use of long and uncommon²³ words would impress others with an idea of his learning.

Julius had never heard the word before, but he supposed it must mean “explain,” and accordingly explained it—so well, that even Mr. Slocum understood the operation, and perceived that it was correct. It was rather an awkward situation, to admit that a pupil had succeeded where he had failed; but Mr. Slocum was equal to the emergency.

“Ahem!” he admitted, “you are correct. I did the sum by a recondite process which is in use in the higher branches of mathematics, and I probably made a mistake in one of the figures, which led to a different result. The method in the book is a much more simple one, as I explained to you a short time ago. Frank Bent, you may take the next sum and do it on the board.”

It so happened that Frank, who was not very strong in arithmetic, made a mistake, and got a wrong answer.

“My answer doesn’t agree with the book,” he said.

Mr. Slocum looked at the operation; but, though his face wore an expression of profound wisdom, it was too complex for him. He was, however, thoroughly²⁴ up in the science of sham²⁵.

“You have made a mistake,” he said, sagely²⁶. “Can any boy point it out?”

Julius raised his hand, greatly to the relief of the teacher.

“Julius, you may come up to the board, and point out the right method of performing the sum.”

Our hero did so; thereby²⁷ affording information to the teacher, as well as to his classmates.

“Very well,” said Mr. Slocum, patronizingly. “Julius, you do me credit. Bent, do you understand the sum now?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You must pay more attention next time. You can’t do anything without attention and talent. When I was a student at one of the most celebrated educational institutions in Maine, I was noted²⁸ for my attention. When the principal handed me the first prize at the end of the term, he said to me: ‘Theophilus, you have gained this testimonial by your attention and natural talent.’ I am sorry that I left the prize at my home in Maine. It would give me pleasure to show it to you, as it might encourage you to go and do likewise. We will now go through the remaining sums. John Sandford, you may try the sixth sum.”

So the recitation proceeded. In spite of his pompous⁸ words, the scholars began to suspect that the new teacher was a first-class humbug²⁹. There is reason to believe that they were not very far from the truth.

1 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

2 peg   

n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定

参考例句：

• Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall.把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。

3 superseded   

[医]被代替的，废弃的

参考例句：

• The theory has been superseded by more recent research. 这一理论已为新近的研究所取代。
• The use of machinery has superseded manual labour. 机器的使用已经取代了手工劳动。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

6 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

7 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

8 pompous   

adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大，自视甚高。
• He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢，其实是个好人。

9 pompously   

adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样

参考例句：

• He pompously described his achievements. 他很夸耀地描述了自己所取得的成绩。 来自互联网

10 multiplication   

n.增加，增多，倍增；增殖，繁殖；乘法

参考例句：

• Our teacher used to drum our multiplication tables into us.我们老师过去老是让我们反覆背诵乘法表。
• The multiplication of numbers has made our club building too small.会员的增加使得我们的俱乐部拥挤不堪。

11 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

12 fixedly   

adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地

参考例句：

• He stared fixedly at the woman in white. 他一直凝视着那穿白衣裳的女人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The great majority were silent and still, looking fixedly at the ground. 绝大部分的人都不闹不动，呆呆地望着地面。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

13 specimen   

n.样本，标本

参考例句：

• You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
• This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。

14 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

15 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

16 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

17 algebra   

n.代数学

参考例句：

• He was not good at algebra in middle school.他中学时不擅长代数。
• The boy can't figure out the algebra problems.这个男孩做不出这道代数题。

18 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

19 recondite   

adj.深奥的，难解的

参考例句：

• Her poems are modishly experimental in style and recondite in subject-matter.她的诗在风格上是时髦的实验派，主题艰深难懂。
• To a craftsman,the ancient article with recondite and scholastic words was too abstruse to understand.可是对一个车轮师父而言，这些之乎者也的文言文是太深而难懂的。

20 blandly   

adv.温和地，殷勤地

参考例句：

• There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. 布里斯托尔有那么一帮人为此恨透了布兰德利。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• \"Maybe you could get something in the stage line?\" he blandly suggested. “也许你能在戏剧这一行里找些事做，\"他和蔼地提议道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

21 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

22 elucidate   

v.阐明，说明

参考例句：

• The note help to elucidate the most difficult parts of the text.这些注释有助于弄清文中最难懂的部分。
• This guide will elucidate these differences and how to exploit them.这篇指导将会阐述这些不同点以及如何正确利用它们。

23 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

24 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

25 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

26 sagely   

adv. 贤能地，贤明地

参考例句：

• Even the ones who understand may nod sagely. 即使对方知道这一点，也会一本正经地点头同意。
• Well, that's about all of the sagely advice this old grey head can come up with. 好了，以上就是我这个满头银发的老头儿给你们的充满睿智的忠告。

27 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

28 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

29 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。