The Preparatory Schools Review, July (Alden and Co., Orford, 1s.),
contains, among other interesting papers, a noteworthy article on "The Prefectorial System," by Mr. H. Frampton Stallard. The practice at the schools seems to vary considerably (Eton is without it, and so is Stonyhurst). Commonly it is much more powerful than the public or even the parents of boys imagine. One prefect writes :—" A Housemaster practically never leaves the private part of the house The discipline is entirely in the hands of the Sixth." Mr. Stallard's ideal would seem to be a vigorous ruler, leaving action as much as possible to the boys, but knowing what is going on, and in a way controlling it. Elsewhere in the Review there is a curious story of what seems to us a miscarriage of justice. A parent asks a Head-Master to give his son a four days' exeat to attend a ball, alleging "im- portant family reasons" (the "coming out" of a cousin). The Head-Master refuses, as he had said he would do if the ball were not fixed in holiday time. If the boy is sent for he must not return. He is sent for, and the father brings an action for the term's fee (440), adding 425 for damages, so as to bring the case into a superior Court. The action is tried, and the verdict given for the defendant. The Judge allows him costs. Now for the actual result. The defendant's costs were 4177 3s. 11d. But of this only 4138 4s. 6d. could be charged to the plaintiff, and of this 421 17s. 6d. was taxed off. Consequently the victorious defendant had to pay 460 16s. 11d. He would have saved 420 if he had paid back the 440 when the boy was sent for.
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