SIR,—I hold no brief for Tom Brown's School- days; when
as a boy I read it, I was dreadfully bored, but I think Mr. Usborne's article is an example of how an unfair slant can be put upon a book by selective quotation.
In referring to the chapter on 'The Fight,' Mr. Usborne quotes the first and last sentences of that latt page, the last paragraph of which, however, reads : As to fighting, keep out of it if you can, by all means. When the time comes, if it ever should, that you have to say 'Yes' or 'No' to a challenge to fight, say `No' if you can, only take care you make it clear to your- selves why you say 'No.' It's a proof of the highest courage, if done from true Christian motives. It's quite right and justifiable, if done from a simple aversion to physical pain and danger. But don't say 'No' because you fear a licking, and say or think it's because you fear God, for that's neither Christian nor honest.
What is wrong with this, anyway? It should be borne in mind, too, that this book is describ- ing conditions in boys' public schools over a hundred years ago.—Yours faithfully,
• E. F. TURNER
Previous page
