JET. 13.] SCHOOL-DAYS AT NORWOOD. 17 



per day, per hour, and per minute. At the other striking 

 scene I climbed on the pedestal of the great statue at the 

 entrance to the Tuileries, where I could command a view from 

 the Arc de 1'fitoile down the Champs Elysees, the whole length 

 of which was filled by squadrons of foot and cavalry marching 

 in from ISTeuilly. I think it took them about two hours to 

 defile by. They were a fine body of men, much stained and 

 weatherbeaten. The exhibition of fireworks at night was on 

 a large scale, and very effective. 



At the end of two years, during which I had once visited 

 England, I returned home. My French costume created some 

 amusement. I wore a long blue swallow-tailed coat with brass 

 buttons and a tall hat. I found that in the meantime the 

 family had removed from "The Eetreat" to "The Lawn" 

 the house No. 8, afterwards occupied by Mr Fawcett. I was 

 now sent to a school at Norwood. ... I here received my 

 first introduction to science one master giving us occasional 

 lectures on chemistry, which fascinated me ; but my home-work 

 was confined for a time to chemical experiments. 



I was also instructed in history, geography, arithmetic, and 

 book-keeping. On holidays we played hockey with the masters, 

 as I had done in Paris. In the autumn we were allowed a day's 

 run in the wood, which then extended from Norwood to Penge, 

 to gather blackberries, which afterwards appeared on the table 

 for three days in the shape of blackberry puddings. I then 

 made my first and last appearance on the stage in the " Bourgeois 

 Gentilhomme " of Moliere ; but though I was a good French 

 scholar, my performance was not such as to encourage for me a 

 repetition of it at this annual festival. 



At that time Guy Fawkes' Day was religiously kept by all 

 boys. We were allowed to gather sticks in the woods, and 

 these, with the aid of a tar -barrel, made a large bonfire, on 

 which a guy was burnt to the accompaniment of many squibs 

 and crackers. 



I was now sent to Dr Valpy's school at Eeading, who con- 

 sidered that my education had been greatly neglected, as I 

 knew nothing of Greek. Here I went through the usual course 

 of classics, with a little geography in the shape of a paid 

 extra. I managed to escape flogging for the two years I was 



B 



