HERTFORD: MY SCHOOL LIFE 61 



next birthday came, or I first had new clothes on, I was to 

 complete the victory over myself by discarding the left-hand 

 spoon altogether. 



One other case of this kind hurt me dreadfully at the time, 

 because it exposed me to what I thought was the ridicule 

 or contempt of the whole school. Like most other boys I was 

 reckless about my clothes, leaning my elbows on the desk till 

 a hole was worn in my jacket, and, worse still, when cleaning 

 my slate using my cuff to rub it dry. Slate sponges attached 

 by a string were unknown to our school in those days. As 

 new clothes were too costly to be had very often, my mother 

 determined to save a jacket just taken for school wear by 

 making covers for the sleeves, which I was to wear in school. 

 These were made of black calico, reaching from the cuff to the 

 elbow, and though I protested that I could not wear them, 

 that I should be looked upon as a guy and other equally valid 

 reasons, they were one day put in my pocket, and I was 

 told to put them on just before I entered the school. Of 

 course I could not do it ; so I brought them back and told my 

 mother. Then, after another day or two of trial, one morn- 

 ing the dreaded thunderbolt fell upon me. On entering school 

 I was called up to the master's desk, he produced the dreaded 

 calico sleeves, and told me that my mother wished me to wear 

 them to save my jacket, and told me to put them on. Of 

 course I had to do so. They fitted very well, and felt quite 

 comfortable, and I dare say did not look so very strange. I 

 have no doubt also that most of the boys had a fellow-feeling 

 for me, and thought it a shame to thus make me an exception 

 to all the school. But to me it seemed a cruel disgrace, and 

 I was miserable so long as I wore them. How long that was 

 I cannot remember, but I do not think it was very long, per- 

 haps a month or two, or till the beginning of the next holidays. 

 But while it lasted it was, perhaps, the severest punishment I 

 ever endured. 



In an article on the civilizations of China and Japan in 

 The Independent Review (April, 1904), it is pointed out that 

 the universal practice of " saving the face " of any kind of 

 opponent rests upon the fundamental idea of the right of 



