Chapter I: Front Matter

Note: Images of the original pages are available through
Internet Archive/American Libraries. See
https://archive.org/details/publicschoollife00waug

PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE

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COUNTRIES OF THE MIND MIDDLETON MURRY Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net

IBSEN AND HIS CREATION Professor JANKO LAVRIN Cr. 8vo. 7s. 6d. net

THE RETURN WALTER DE LA MARE Cr. 8vo. 7s. 6d. net

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PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE

Boys Parents Masters

by

ALEC WAUGH

Author of 'The Loom of Youth,' 'Pleasure,' etc.

London: 48 Pall Mall W. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. Glasgow Melbourne Auckland

Copyright, 1922

Manufactured in Great Britain

A DEDICATORY LETTER TO ARNOLD LUNN

_December 6, 1921_:

MY DEAR ARNOLD,--It was with genuine surprise that I read the other day, while turning over the pages of _The Harrovians_, the date 1913 upon the title-page. Only eight years ago, and since then so much has happened. What a long while it seems since _The Harrovians_ was the most borrowed book in the house, and we passed the hours of evening hall, that should have been spent in the study of irregular verbs, in eager discussions on your book. It was a revelation to us--we schoolboys of 1913. It explained us to ourselves. We thought then that the last word on the subject had been said.

But one can never say the last word on such a subject as the Public Schools, especially in a novel. In a novel one is constrained to tell a story or to reveal a character. In _The Harrovians_ you dealt with the Public School System only in as far as it effected the development of Peter, and in _Loose Ends_ you found yourself equally fettered with regard to Maurice. It is for this reason that I feel there is still room for a book such as this, which, though a narrative, has for its object simply the analysis and presentation of public school life. At any rate I hope that you may think, when you come to read it, that it was worth doing. If you do not, well then at least here is your name after the title-page in grateful tribute to many pleasant hours spent in the company of yourself and of your books, and in the hope of many more such hours.

For their sake, if not for its own sake, please accept this book, and believe me,

As ever, your sincere friend, ALEC WAUGH.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. INTRODUCTORY 1

II. THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 20

III. THE NEW BOY 38

IV. THE SECOND YEAR 60

V. ATHLETICISM 76

VI. THE TRUE ETHICS OF CRIBBING 91

VII. MORALITY AND THE ROMANTIC FRIENDSHIP 124

VIII. THE MIDDLE YEARS 161

IX. PREFECTSHIP 171

X. THE LAST TERM 198

XI. THE OLD BOY AS SCHOOLMASTER AND PARENT 215

XII. SOME SUGGESTIONS: THE LEAVING AGE WITH
REGARD TO MORALS 231

XIII. THE LEAVING AGE WITH REGARD TO ATHLETICS 256

XIV. CONCLUSION 263