THE ETON SPIRIT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14564, 15 January 1913, Page 9

THE ETON SPIRIT.

In an interesting book called "Eton

jn the Seventies," newly published. •jjTh© Hon. Gilbert Coleridgo ehquircS, ' "Fkat is the Eton spirit?" 'He - iSfcwers thus: It has been observed that Eton boys, so soon as they leave school, become' men of tho world almost almost at once. They seem to acquire without further training what Matthew Arnold calls "that superior confidence, spirit, and style which constitute a real privilego, a real ongino of command." .Whether this is'due to the system of , self-governmont which is happily in fore© as a traditional part of school life, or the prid© at having boon at Eton acting as a conscious factor in removing tho shyness of a young man entering the ,world, is not known, but he doe_ carry with him an assurance ■ -which often stands him in good stead." A-capital story told in the book seems to'show that a cool nnd sufficient, yet modest, assurance is developed before leaving the school; it is the stcry of an Etonian to whom were administored th© usual interrogatories. "What's your name?" "rfmith." "Wrat's your father?'' "Bookseller." (Scornfully). "Anything else?" "Yes, First Lord , of the Admiralty." It is not recorded what punishment followed this confes- - ,sion. Srcial life at Eton has much to do with the ease and -early man of. the worldliness to which '.Mr Coleridge refers. Ho mentions' "Cngijcr"—i.e., Provost Goodford. "A breakfast nt the Provost's Lodge was a feast at which a shy boy was soon put at ease - by tho 'kindliness of his host, and could lie have done so I believo ho would h&vo invited the whole school.