Early Years 



iu life — the one to wander in foreign lands, the other to 

 occupy a responsible position at home. 



After spending about a year at private schools, Alfred 

 Wallace was sent with his brother John to Hertford Gram- 

 mar School. His recollections of these school days are full 

 of interest, especially as contrasted with the school life 

 of to-day. He says : '' We went to school even in the 

 winter at seven in the morning, and three days a week 

 remained till five in the afternoon; some artificial light 

 was necessary, and this was effected by the primitive 

 method of every boy bringing his own candle or candle- 

 ends with any kind of candlestick he liked. An empty 

 ink-bottle was often used, or the candle was even stuck 

 on to the desk with a little of its own grease. So that it 

 enabled us to learn our lessons or do our sums, no one 

 seemed to trouble about how we provided the light." 



Though never robust in health, he enjoyed all the 

 usual boyish sports, especially such as appealed to his 

 imagination and love of adventure. Not far from the 

 school a natural cave, formed in a chalky slope and 

 partially concealed by undergrowth, made an excellent 

 resort for '' brigands '' ; and to this hiding-place were 

 brought potatoes and other provisions which could be 

 cooked and eaten in primitive fashion, with an air of 

 secrecy which added to the mystery and attraction of the 

 boyish adventure. 



It is curious to note that one destined to become a 

 great traveller and explorer should have found the study 

 of geography ** a painful subject." But this was, as he 

 afterwards understood, entirely due to the method of 

 teaching then, and sometimes now, in vogue, which made 

 no appeal whatever to the imagination by creating a 

 mental picture of the peoples and nations, or the varied 

 wonders and beauties of nature which distinguish one 



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