Every-day Life in Our Public Schools. Sketched by Head Scholars.
Edited by C. E. Pascoe. (Griffith and Farran.)—Wo have no reason to be dissatisfied with this book, if we remember what may fairly be expected from it. These scholars, past and present, tell us what comes or has come within the range of their observation, and so far are quite honest and competent witnesses. To suppose them capable of judging in any comprehensive way of the real condition of the schools which they severally describe, would be absurd. To each, his own Alma Mater is dear. How should it be otherwise ? He has climbed to the position of privilege; and by all accounts, this position is one of the pleasantest which human life has to offer. As a lively, agreeable account of the outside of things, of play, and in a less degree of work, these descriptions are excellent. We may go further than this. It is not impossible now and then to read between the lines, and draw inferences which the writer did not probably intend. Mr. Pascoe has prefixed to each account a well arranged historical introduction. These chapters are necessarily brief, and sometimes, we think, suggest erroneous notions, but on the whole they may be accepted as satisfactory. We must except, however, the accounts of Merchant Taylors' and of Christ's Hospital. There is much that might be said about the management of these two schools which would not have the same optimist tone which the editor employs. The privileges of the life-governors of Christ's Hospital, for instance, admit, to say the least, of being regarded from a very different point of view.
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