TOPICS OF THE D.Y.
THE EDUCATION OF A KING.
THE King has given another example of his good sense and forethought by deciding to send the Prince of Wales to Oxford. He has also shown his judgment of mon by placing his son under the care of the President of Magdalen. Mr. Warren is well fitted, by character, by his knowledge of the world, of men, of books, and of affairs, to discharge a trust fraught with so much importance to the nation and the Empire, and, it would be no exaggera- tion to add, to mankind. We wish to say nothing in derogation of the other Heads of Houses or of the tutors of Oxford, but without question Mr. Warren knows how to exercise in ample measure what, for want of a better term, we must call a University influence upon the young men who come under his charge. At the same time he remem- bers so to be the Don as not to forgot that men live in the world and not in libraries or in the twilight charm of academic cloisters. While he has the Oxford spirit, Mr. Warren, as he showed again and again while be was Vice-Chancellor, is open-minded and liberal in all educa- tional questions. Though a profound believer in Greek culture, he had the courage to take the unpopular side in the controversy over compulsory Greek, and though a devotee of humane letters he has always recognized the rights of science in the University. It is no moth-eaten, academic dryasdust who will have the care of the young Prince's education. Mr. Warren may be trusted to see to it that the mind of our future King shall be touched by that illumination which Oxford can and does bestow on all those who come within her potent spell and are worthy of her enlightenment.
The question what is the best form of education for a future king, or, to narrow it down, for a future constitu- tional King of Britain, is one of no small fascination. For princes the knowledge of European languages is, of course, essential. To speak French and German fluently is as necessary to them as reading, writing, and arithmetic to the ordinary man. Here, however, we do not wish to discuss what we may term the utilitarian side of a future king's educational equipment, but rather the training of his mind. As a rule, no doubt, a specialized training tends to narrowness and to prevent that widening of out- look which it should be the special aim of university education to secure. Lord Acton once said his object in recommending a particular course of study was to open a window through which a man might look out upon the whole world of thought and knowledge. The university fails if it does not open such a window in the mind. In the case, however, of the training of one who is to be a constitutional king, specialization in a certain sense is necessary. Time is the sovereign of kings, and the myriad-footed legions of public duties are always pressing upon the heels of princes. But if there is specialization there can be no doubt that it must be in history, geography, and law. Here we may recall the advice which Cromwell gave to his eldest son, for if ever a ruling man possessed the vision for affairs and for dealing with mankind it was the Protector. He told Richard to "recreate himself" with Sir Walter Raleigh's " History." " It is a body of History, and will add much more to your understanding than fragments of Story." As far as we know, this is the only i book except the Bible mentioned by Cromwell in all the very large bulk of his letters and speeches. In spite of Burke's declaration in the " Reflections on the French Revolution" that the lessons of history are useless, and Napoleon's cynical gibe that " history is a lie which has been agreed upon," kings and statesmen ought to be soaked in the records of the past. Such knowledge and such reading, which should be wide rather than deep, may sometimes paralyse a statesman, but it will be sure to help an English king to keep out of blunders and difficulties. It will give him faith and courage to tread paths that often seem dark and precarious, for, if properly understood history clears the minds of that which clouds it most— suspicion. The late Lord Salisbury was fond, it is said, of declaring that though a chain of mountains in the distance looks like an absolutely impassable barrier, when you come up TO it you are sure to find a pass, and so a way through. That is a lesson of history which gives con- fidence and strength to the mind. Remember, too, that a constitutional English king when he has acquired experi- ence of his work often acts as the best of advisers to his own Ministers. He can often help by reminding them that this or that proposal was tried by this or that Minister under such and such conditions, and at such a, time and with such and such results. He may point out to them from his special knowledge that a road which looks so promising is really a blind alley, or that a par- ticular path, though it seems rough and difficult, is more practicable in reality than one which begins smoothly and pleasantly. A constitutional king is in a certain sense the Permanent Secretary to the nation—a servant of the State who has seen powerful Ministers come and go, and apparently wise statesmen brought to confusion because they would not remember some very simple rule of common sense, or who would insist upon feeding not only the voters but themselves with the crackling ashes and dusty unrealities of party rhetoric. But Permanent Secre- taries, to maintain their influence and to do their work, must know all the precedents, ancient and modern, and be experts in political affairs. And though men can only get this final knowledge through personal experience, the power to understand the teachings of the past can be ac- quired through a study of history. Properly understood. and properly used it is a short cut to experience. No one can suppose, of course, that the Prince of Wales in a year at Oxford can obtain a profound knowledge of the details of history, but ho may well acquire the historic habit of mind and the power to realize and to use the knowledge of the politics of the past.
In addition to his knowledge of history, one who is to be a constitutional king should undoubtedly have some legal training. By this we do not mean that he is to attempt to become a lawyer in the technical sense or to fill his mind with the details of jurisprudence. If, however he can go far enough to understand what is meant by " a point of law " and to realize the common sense of the law, he will have gained an immense advantage. What the layman and specially the political layman gains by a cer tain amount of general acquaintance with the law is that ho is not awed intellectually by legal bogies. Men are very apt, when a question of the law is raised, to suffer a kind of intellectual despair, as if they wore confronted with an unknown thing—something mysterious and therefore ter- rible. A constitutional king should know enough of the law to know that it is only common sense and regulation, and that though he will have to trust to experts for the details, there is no need why his mind should shy off from a legal difficulty like a horse from a white stone in a hedge. This is what too often happens with men to whom law is a sealed book. We remember that Lord Morley in an address to the Midland Institute told his hearers that there was no better mental education than that to be found in a, study of Smith's " Leading Cases." We are sure that Lord Morley spoke with good warrant. To read a great legal problem as it 4presents itself, not in some string of mere ab- stractions, but in a real case, to realize how the legal poiuta at issue were unravelled from the facts, and then to note how the principles involved were applied and developed. after argument by the powerful and subtle intellects of trained lawyers and judges, is to gain a mental stimulus of no mean order. No doubt leading cases, badly taught, may seem to a fresh and eager mind the deadest, dullest, and most ridiculous stuff in the world. If, however, a, young man's mind is provided with a proper lamp for the gloom, he will soon see that he is in reality obtaining power by the process—the power to say " Open, Sesame," to many doors of knowledge.
If one can imagine the Prince of Wales or any other young man of healthy and natural instincts reading our words, one can well understand his heart failing him at the dreary, dusty prospect that we are apparently opening up for him, and declaring : " If this is university education, give me the quarter-deck and the brave realities of t he sea." Certainly our sympathies would. go out to the young Bailor if the prospect were really as bad. as this. As a. matter of fact, however, if the prospect looks dreary, it is only through the fault of the writer who is trying to describe it in words. The human touch can be and ought to be, and we do not doubt will be, as much present at Oxford as on a cruiser.
After all there can be no doubt that the proper study for a constitutional king is mon and affairs. Their proper understanding must be his prime object, for they are the pieces with which he must play the game of life. But, nevertheless, he will find that if books are properly used they are the keys with which he can learn most quicklyto unlock the hearts of men, and to reach those towers which command a widespread prospect of public affairs. Take one example of what we mean. A constitutional king, by the very nature of his trust, is bound to take advice. Indeed, it may almost be said that his success or failure depends upon his power to take advice wisely and well. He must, as it were, be an expert in advice and advisers. When we say this, however, we are not merely thinking of his political and constitutional position, for there it is comparatively plain sailing. The King is bound by law and custom to act on the advice of his Ministers, and he automatically accepts their advice as long as they are his Ministers. But beyond this there are for an English king large fields of conduct where he can pick and choose, and again, at special moments, there arise occasions where a king is, so to speak, besieged with advice and must walk the razor-edge of conduct with a tumult of incitements to do foolish or dangerous things, or to move or keep still, shouted at him from the crowds on either side. In the greatest of Books he may find guidance as to advisers which in the letter, and still more in the spirit, he may follow :— " There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him. There is a companion, which holpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy. Forget not thy friend in thy mind; and be not unmindful of him in thy riches. Every coun- sellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself. Beware of a counsellor and know before what need he hath ; for he will counsel for himself ; lost he cast the lot upon thee, and say unto thee, Thy way is good and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee. Consult not with one that suspecteth thee ; and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee. Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous ; neither with a coward in matters of war ; nor with a merchant concerning exchange ; nor with a buyer of selling ; nor with an envious man of thankfulness ; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness ; nor with the slothful for any work ; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work ; nor with an idle servant of much business 3 hearken not unto those in any matter of counsel. But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry. And let the counsel of thine own heart stand ; for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it. For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower."
Could there be wiser and more practical advice than this tendered by the wise author of Ecclesiasticus ? In the final sentence stands the essential lesson for all men. In the last resort no man will find that he is ever established or betrayed except by himself. When all is said and done the counsel of a man's own heart must stand. There is no other way. Therefore it behoves him to strengthen his mind and his character, and to open as wide a window for his soul to look out on human life. If this is true and of import to every individual, however humble, how much more important to him who will some day hold the welfare of his country in trust I
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