iv ETON 17 



neglect of Science and modern languages is the great 

 importance of a Classical Education. This I do cordially 

 admit, though it does not seem to me a reason for the 

 course adopted. But unfortunately the result of the 

 system is to defeat the very object which it is intended 

 to secure. So far from giving a Classical Education, 

 the result is to give nine boys out of ten a profound 

 dislike of classical literature. 



It seems extraordinary that any one should consider 

 that this was a satisfactory education. Nevertheless 

 while condemning the system I gratefully recognise 

 that most of the Eton masters did their best to carry 

 it out effectively. Moreover it was at that time the 

 general type of English Public Schools. The moral tone 

 was good, and our health fairly looked after. Talleyrand 

 is reported to have said in the first half of the last century 

 that our English schools are the best in the world, 

 adding, however, " mais ils sont abominables I " I was 

 between 3 and 4 years at Eton, and went through all 

 the school examinations, reaching what was then known 

 as the Upper Upper Fifth. For a small boy I was fairly 

 good at cricket and fives, but hockey was my favourite 

 game, and I even reached the school " seven," of which 

 I was very proud. 



At that time Eton boys, especially if they were quick 

 at writing verses and learning by heart, had much more 

 leisure than they have now. I devoted a good deal of 

 mine to Natural History and Geology, in spite of the 

 remonstrances of my Tutor (Mr. Birch), who thought 

 that my leisure might have been better occupied on the 

 Classics. On one occasion we were given " the Bee " 

 as a subject for a theme. I took some pains with it, 

 and my tutor sent for me and asked me confidentially 

 whether it was all true. From what he said I inferred 

 that they rather suspected I was quizzing them, and 

 doubted whether to commend or to flog me. Happily 

 for me they accepted my assurances, indeed both my 

 tutor and Mr. Carter, to whom I was " up " in school 

 for over a year, very wisely went on the principle of 

 believing what we said, the result of which was that we 

 considered it would be mean and unfair not to treat them 

 in the same spirit. 



Possibly the above criticism will enable us 

 vol. i c 



