text:  He might ask the young fellow who presented John's commission perhaps what was the first letter of the Greek alphabet? what was Latin for beef and greens? or where Moses was when the candle was blown out?--but if the candidate answered these questions correctly and if there were no scandal or _fama clamosa_ against him as Jack in his peculiar jargon expressed it he generally shook hands with him at once put the key of the schoolhouse in his hand and told him civilly to walk up-stairs