RUGBY AND THE SPORTSMAN 23 



from my study. But Kingcraft had indeed won, so that 

 we got not merely the 19, 2s. as mentioned in the letter 

 but the 5 stake back again, and that, added to the 10 

 already in hand, made up 34, 2s., a goodly sum indeed 

 when you are at school. 



I must, in further justice to Mr Elsee, add here that he 

 never said another word about the events recorded, but 

 he did send for me shortly afterwards and say : " I am 

 told that you take a sporting paper for purposes of 

 betting. I must request you to desist from doing so." 



That was all he said, and it was quite true that I did 

 take The Sportsman in those days, but not for purposes 

 of betting in which I never had any real interest but 

 to read the articles of " The Special Commissioner," good 

 old Fred Taylor. How little did \ dream then that I 

 should one day occupy his place ! 



Now, shortly before this time, had come in a report 

 from Doctor Hayman, the then headmaster of Rugby, 

 and I never saw it until the other day : 



RUGBY SCHOOL 



SIXTH FORM 

 Report for Easter Term 1870 



ALLISON 



I think he might put forth more power, even after every 

 allowance on the score of health has been made. His Tutor finds 

 it difficult to get him to work as if interested. This will hardly 

 do for Balliol. Unpunctual. 



HENRY HAYMAN. 



I have nothing to say about the above report just now, 

 for I am furnishing the anti-racing people with a brief, 

 and have my own explanations to make later on. 

 Another letter from Balliol Callege, dated 5th December 

 1870, to my sister, says : 



When I went to the Dog Show [Birmingham] I, of course, 

 forgot to put my name down for " Smalls," and consequently 

 cannot go in for them until the end of next term. This is really 

 all for the best as I should have been ploughed this term to a 

 certainty. 



