STANDING FOR PARLIAMENT 71 



ambitions, but it is the letter of a thoroughly 

 healthy-minded schoolboy ; nor is it to be said 

 that the ambitions have fallen far out of their 

 right perspective : 



Eton College, Sunday. 

 My dear John — I write to you now to inform you 

 how earnestly I desire to stay at Eton until next summer. 

 I will explain my views to you candidly and the reasons 

 which induce me to make this request. To be Captain 

 of the Eleven and President of Pop are almost the 

 highest aim of anyone's life at Eton, and as by staying 

 at Eton I should attain to these distinctions, I naturally 

 hope for another year at this place. I believe before 

 going into business I should want French, and so in 

 the holidays I could pick it up very well, and I would 

 give anything up for another year at Eton. If I was to 

 leave now, this idea would always weigh heavily on my 

 mind : " If I had stayed another summer I should have 

 been Captain of the Eleven." My mother spoke to me 

 about staying at Eton, if I wished, and here everyone 

 of my friends, and also hopers of the welfare of cricket, 

 have asked me to stay at Eton. I would give up every- 

 thing in the holidays for the fulfilment of my wishes. 

 Of course you know of our defeat, sustained on account 

 of the superiority of the Harrow Eleven, and I really 

 wish to stay at Eton, and by the greatest energy at 

 everything to put a stop to the repetition of these 

 defeats. I cannot see that another year at Eton would 

 make much difference in my progression in any business, 

 and as I so earnestly wish to stay, I hope you will see my 

 views and acquiesce with my desires. By staying at 

 Eton I would most strictly make myself subservient to 

 any wishes of yours. — Ever your affect, brother. 



One cannot but be glad to learn that after a 

 little more correspondence the request was agreed 

 to, the boy fulfilled his ambitions, and it does 

 not seem to have been at the cost of any efficiency 

 in the sterner business of life. But does not the 

 letter breathe a curious spirit, as written from 

 brother to brother ? Is it not much more the 



