private_inheritance.rb

class Something
  private
  def words
    "Hello"
  end
end

class Else < Something
end

begin
  puts "running `Else.new.words`"
  words = Else.new.words
  puts words
rescue Exception => e
  puts e
end

begin
  puts "running `Else.new.send(:words)`"
  words = Else.new.send(:words)
  puts words
rescue Exception => e
  puts e
end


##########################

#=> running `Else.new.words`
#=> private method `words' called for #<Else:0x007f7fc984dff0>
#=> running `Else.new.send(:words)`
#=> Hello