About seventy-five years ago, two young men, John Polhill and Dick Carruthers, who had just finished high school, were elected co-principals of the Hawkinsville Academy. The school opened auspiciously with quite a number of students. The school building consisted of only one large room. John occupied a seat at one end of the room and Dick’s place was on the opposite side.
After the students were classified, assigned lessons, etc., a class in spelling was called by Professor Carruthers. The class was instructed to first spell the words in rotation from the book and then give the proper pronunciation, after which the teacher would give out (? ) the lesson. A long lanky boy came to the word proceeding, which he proceeded to spell and pronounce as follows: Pro-pro, ceed-quod, ing-ing, proquoding. Professor Polhill, who was listening, exclaimed: “Kill him, Dick, and let’s quit!” “Good,” said Dick. “Boys, school is dismissed for the rest of the term; get your books and go home.” This was the shortest school term in the history of the old academy.