24 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 15

[To THE EDITOR or THE "Seec'rrros."l

SIR,—Your correspondents are eager to condemn The Lew of Youth, yet schoolmasters may learn something from it. Will they deny (a) that the language used at Fernhurst is common (not universal) at Public Scheele, increasing in virulence later at the 'Varsities and Sandhurst ? (It may be '• the language of the gutter," it ie also the language in many smoking-rooms.) (b) That boys do worship athletics, athletic heroes. and food for more than they would think of worshipping their God P (c) That boys usually divide masters into (1) "swine." (2) " old fouls." and that though we hope the former are rare the latter are motor- tunately fairly common P (I cannot see which masters at Fern. Iturst were "unmitigated cads.") (d) That cribbing is comm at in proportion to the number of " old fools " P (e) And lastly, that the position of "schoolmaster-parson" is impossible, or, id best. extremely difficult P If these things are impressed upon ns the book will not have been written in vain.-1 am, Sir, der.,

Yet ANOTHER SCHOOINIKTEN.