From McLeod's school advertisements, and others' comments about him, it is easy to form an impression of Smallwood's boss and mentor: a stern, old-fashioned pedagogue with affection for his students and a very dry wit who took full advantage of his location in the capital. At some school gatherings, the Marine Band, based at the Navy Yard nearby, performed for the parents and students. In June 1838, none other than the vice president of the United States, Richard M. Johnson, stopped by graduation ceremonies to hand out medals to top pupils. McLeod required students to start class at dawn and once denounced vacations in a deadpan newspaper notice that would find an echo in Smallwood's future satirical prose:

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