Miss High-Hat

Introduction

“Miss High Hat” is a story about the transformative power of discipline and the consequences of arrogance. Told through a letter format, the narrative recounts an incident from a few years ago at a college where a haughty girl, referred to as “Miss High-Hat,” learns a valuable lesson about humility and cooperation through an unexpected and public act of discipline.

Summary

The story is framed as a letter addressed to an editor. The narrator, Helen, reflects on her college days, focusing on a particular girl who epitomized arrogance and disdain for her peers. This girl, nicknamed “Miss High-Hat,” consistently patronized others, took pleasure in activities but refused to participate in the accompanying responsibilities, and made sneering remarks.

This behavior continued unchecked until one day, a dormitory matron organized an outing into the countryside for a group of girls. Everyone was expected to contribute by helping to build a fire and prepare lunch. As usual, Miss High-Hat refused to help, opting instead to enjoy the fruits of others’ labor.

The matron, a firm believer in discipline, observed the girl’s behavior with growing disapproval but initially held her tongue. After lunch, while the group sat around talking, the matron politely asked Miss High-Hat to perform a small task. When the girl responded with a contemptuous curl of her lip and ignored the request, the matron repeated her command more sternly. Miss High-Hat’s impudence only increased, leading the matron to take decisive action.

In front of the entire group, the matron grabbed Miss High-Hat, turned her across her lap, and lifted her dress. Ignoring the girl’s protests and struggles, she removed the girl’s drawers and administered a thorough spanking. The matron’s hand smacked repeatedly against the girl’s bare bottom, turning it bright red. The girl screamed, kicked, and eventually begged for mercy. By the end of the ordeal, she was crying and apologizing profusely.

One of the girls had secretly taken a photograph of the scene with a Kodak camera. After the spanking, whenever Miss High-Hat began to exhibit her previous arrogance, someone would show her the picture as a reminder of her humiliating experience. The memory of being exposed and disciplined in such a public manner served to humble her. Over time, she transformed into a kind, cooperative, and well-liked member of the group.

The matron’s approach to discipline extended beyond this single incident, as she believed in enforcing old-fashioned values. She spanked several other girls throughout the year, but none of these instances had as profound an effect as the spanking given to Miss High-Hat. This particular event brought about a significant and positive change in the girl’s behavior, making it a memorable and impactful lesson.

Characters

  • Helen: The narrator of the story, who recounts the events from her college days.
  • Miss High-Hat: The main subject of the story, a haughty and arrogant girl who learns humility through a public spanking.
  • The Matron: A firm but fair disciplinarian who believes in old-fashioned methods of enforcing obedience and cooperation. She administers the spanking to Miss High-Hat.
  • Unnamed Girl with Kodak: A student who secretly takes a photograph of Miss High-Hat’s spanking, which later serves as a tool to remind her of her place and behavior.

These characters and their interactions highlight the themes of discipline, humility, and personal transformation in the narrative.

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