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Show RICH MEN'S SONS IN COLLEGES. Wellington college was started upon a twofold idea. It was to be a great educational institution, worthy of the great name given to it, and it was to be at the same time a place at which the sons and orphans of officers might be fitted for their future career in life, "whatever that career might be," at a cost far below what would be incurred at any other place where like advantages could be obtained. The mixture of classes at Wellington college has ???Unreadable line??? habits which would have been in strict agreement with the original design of the place. The sons of rich parents have imported into the college their own standard of expense. Their less well to do school-fellows have been tempted to vie with them, or have been placed at a disadvantage by comparison with them. The commissioners appointed to inquire into the practical working of the institution think that a strict simplicity of living should be the invariable rule at Wellington college, for the boys and for the masters too. To inculcate inexpensive habits and steady self control is important, the commissioners say, as to teach classics and mathematics. We are not sure that they do not somewhat overestimate the extent to which expensive habits have been encouraged or suffered at Wellington college. The further question whether the expenses of all the boys should be more nearly the same is a much larger one and more open to controversy. A public school, it may be fairly urged, is a little world, in which the great outside world should be shown in miniature. The French lycees, with their strict control of expense of every kind, even down to dress, are perfect models of what the commissioners propose for Wellington college. We doubt if the results, moral or educational, would be any better than are arrived at on the present plan. One of the lessons a man has to learn is to proportion his expenses to his means, and to look without emulation on those who can afford more than himself. It is surely no disadvantage that the boy should commence to learn what the man will have by and by to practice. - London Times. |