CHAPTER XIX 



1892 



Several letters of this year touch on educational sub- 

 jects. The following advice as to the best training for a boy 

 in science, was addressed to Mr. Briton Riviere, R.A. : — 



HODESLEA, June 19, 1892. 



My dear Riviere — Touching the training of your boy who 

 wants to go in for science, I expect you will have to make a 

 compromise between that which is theoretically desirable and 

 that which is practically most advantageous, things being as 

 they are. 



Though I say it that shouldn't, I don't believe there is so 

 good a training in physical science to be got anywhere as in our 

 College at South Kensington. But Bernard could hardly with 

 advantage take this up until he is seventeen at least. What he 

 would profit by most as a preliminary, is training in the habit 

 of expressing himself well and clearly in English ; training in 

 mathematics and the elements of physical science ; in French and 

 German, so as to read those languages easily — especially Ger- 

 man; in drawing — not for hifalutin art, of which he will prob- 

 ably have enough in the blood — but accurate dry reproduction 

 of form — one of the best disciplines of the powers of observation 

 extant. 



On the other hand, in the way of practical advantage in 

 any career, there is a great deal to be said for sending a clever 

 boy to Oxford or Cambridge. There are not only the exhibitions 

 and scholarships, but there is the rubbing shoulders with the 

 coming generation which puts a man in touch with his contem- 

 poraries as hardly anything else can do. A very good scientific 

 education is to be had at both Cambridge and Oxford, especially 

 Cambridge now. 



In the case of sending to the university, putting through 

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