26o POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



An idle, naughty boy sometimes reaches the top out of 

 sheer talent ; but that is quite a different matter. These 

 things always depend a good deal on temperament. If you 

 are stupid, it is easier to become good than to become 

 clever ; and you must never forget that, for the tortoises 

 to win the race, the hares must go to sleep — and that is 

 just what does not happen in these days. The world of 

 school is an immense experience in itself, but a world 

 represented by one sex alone is apt to give only a narrow 

 and one-sided training. The necessary discipline, too, 

 by which a school is regulated gives but little scope for 

 boys to learn how to take care of themselves in the every- 

 day world outside of it. It is only in the hoUdays that 

 they can gain any experience as to the management of 

 their lives, or — and above all — the employment of their 

 time independently of rule. I once asked a boy how he 

 made up his mind at school about what was right and 

 what was wrong. He looked up, and said without 

 hesitation, ' I always try and think what father would 

 say about it.' At school, morahty and pubUc opinion 

 can be as little decided by hard-and-fast rules as in the 

 world. There, as in after-life, always speaking the truth 

 without reserve, especially when it concerns others, may 

 resolve itself into being only a form of self-indulgence. 

 A great many mothers recognise this when it is brought 

 home to them that their boy has refused to speak the 

 truth in a way that would implicate others. At the same 

 time parents seldom put it plainly before a boy that there 

 may be occasions when it is a far higher standard of 

 morality to bear personal blame than to implicate others 

 by speaking the truth. He ought not to have the 

 additional pain of fearing he is doing that which would 

 displease his parents, and is contrary to the principle of 

 simple and direct truthfulness which has been inculcated 

 at home. I hope nobody, on reading this, will imagine 



