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Show Tho Ideal Boy. Thero are Indications that studies of school life aro the coming faehlon In fiction. It will bo nn Interesting phase. If It does not last too long- and It will bo Epcclally Interesting to try to deduco from tho collntlon of tho studies nomo dollnlle conception ot the qualities qual-ities of tho Ideal boy, who can worthily bo presented ni a hero. I'p lo tho present tho novelists who he.vo treated tho subject hnvo contradicted themselves on thin point moro than on almost any other. Tho author of "Tom Brown'' began by glorifying the prig with a thick hend. Tho author of "Erlo" replied with a panegyric of tho precocious sentimentalist. In tho school stories ot Mr Eden Phlllpotts tho Ideal boy Is moro like a monkey than anything any-thing clso, whllo Mr. Kipling depicts hlni as a lawless rebel, shirking gnmos becnuso they arc compulsory and defying tho constituted con-stituted authority of masters nnd prefects alike. In this mazo of contradictions tho philosopher enn Hnd only ono firm and con-etunl con-etunl principle. All tho novelists nllke, ouloglzo youth for somo characteristic which Is admittedly unsatisfactory In men. Is this tho Inst word? Can no one create a boy capnblo of allrnctlng tho adult reader by his qualities Instend of his dofects? That Is the problem now beforo tho novelists bufy with tholr studies of school life, and wo hope lluit somo ono or other of thorn will solvo It. London Lon-don Graphic, |