The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Pride of Life. By Lady Scott, author of the
"Henpecked Husband." 2 vols. . Routledge.
Although it is very unlikely that such events
should often occur in real life as those we see
chronicled here, there is an air of reality imparted
to their description. The characters of the many
persons required to be introduced are also easily
and naturally drawn. The plot is exceedingly
complicated and intricate, but that is necessary
for the carrying out of the author's design. That
design is evidently to show forth in its most unin-
viting and glaring colours the false feeling of self-
esteem, pride of station, &c. The vice asit was engen-
gered in the mind of the Eveleen family was,
indeed, reprehensible and inexcusable. They had
no excuse to offer of being forced to associate or
mingle with a low-born or ill-bred individual.
Saverell, the ill-used and persecuted heroine, was
more than equal to mix with them, or any of their
titled circle. In nature, grace, and inward re-
finement they were far her inferiors, and while
they felt this they would not yield to their convic-
tions. The conduct of Mordaunt Eveleen, the ill-
chosen husband of the lovely Saverell, is well
sketched. His love was not of very deep founda-
tion self-will and flattered
vanity itthwaans more from
anyothercause that he was urged
his fancy to seek out one whom he had
far rather never have seen for her peace and
his credit. Once united in that unequal struggle
against a scoffing world without and the still more
to be dreaded world within, whose con :ones were
bordered by his home, only one straight course
lay before them. They should have held together
and been superior to the malice and mischief of
beenbeen atirfreadidoferthaeebflagmhet,datnodbteheeitrhefarmwiislye
others. By this means their friends would have
on the contrary, Mordauut was at heart more than any member of
ld
his circle. He was timid,vacillating,wthoau civiland
e;
proud and selfish
amean
the spirited.
next He
he
lamented stood
f
his order. By this means, of
course,
tie) her s
ruinedidt he
ea
ugn
dignity
if.
to dyr at yuo
nate Saverell, as she was styled, forne particular
reason, was soon subjected to most crueland un-
fortunate torments. Mordaunt forbade her seeing
her parents, as she supposed them to be, till her
mother, as she then believed her to be, died with-
out having seen her again. Saverell Muggridge,
as she was called prior to her wedding, was not
one to return evil for evil. The dark hour
came to the ancestral hall, which had
struck terror to the gloomy lodging, and
Mr. Eveleen was summoned away. Then, while
his large and prosperous fa nily were scattered far
and wide, on matters of business, fashion, or plea-
sure, .the unhappy and deserted old man would
have died alone. " There were none of all his halls
had nursed"—had it not been for his despised and
discarded daughter-in law. She stood by him in
the night of suffering and sorrow, and rendered
his last moments happy. She was alone with him
in the awful hour of death. Afterwards it was
found out that the Eveleens must descend in
the world, for all the property was mort-
gaged and encumbered to a heavy extent.
At this gloomy prospect the hearts of all
were downcast. Saverell's spirit supported
her, and induced them to exertion ; she reminded
them that poverty was no new lessen for her to
learn, and that she could support herself, and.
some of them by her paintings, which she had been
celebrated for in youth. 2.lorclaunt was forced to
acknowledge her superiority to his sisters, who, each
went her way, complaining, but impervious to
remedy or belief. A brighter prospect dawned
on the young adventurere, all the overbearing
members had left them alone, and now Saverell
was resolute to work. Next of all she sought out
her supposed father, whom she had lost sight of
for some time. ere the narrative becomes
very complicated ; but it will suffice to say that
after much search and inquiry the unfortunate
Mr. Muggridge was discovered, and the secret
enemy discovered to be the usurper of Saverell's
rights. She was only the atiopted daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Muggridge, and not their real child, as
she had believed herself to be. After all the
sneers and sarcasms of the Eveleens as to " mes-
alliance" and " parvenues," their unwelcome re-
lation took a far higher grade in society than they
did. Saverell's first act, on the recovery of her
fortune, was one of generosity. She purchased.
the family seat of the Eveleens, which had been
sold in consequence of their debts at the father's
death. After the ill-natured and incon-

siderate conduct of Mordaunt Eveleen, it
is only the fate he merited to be cut off

from -the enjoyment of . the " new-found

trea-

(sures. His death was no calamity-, although the
gentlesu fferer, by his ill usage, mourned deeply for
him. After the lapse of some years we are in-
formed that she married .Uord Arlington, who had
always been a firm friend of leers, The conclusion is
more satisfactory than such denouements generally
are, for it was certainly a change for the better
for the long-tried and much-enduring heroine to
turn from selfishness and conceit to generosity and
high-mindedness.

School Experiences of a Fag at a Private and a
Public School. By George Melly. Smith,
Elder, and Co.

,
The author of this work, being of opinion that
the public had received unjust impressions of the
monitorial system of public schools, determined to
chronicle the result of his own experience. His
opinion is that the system adopted at public schools,
where the younger boys are under the protection
of the monitor and heads of " the house," is far
better than that of a large private school, where
there is no check upon the tyrants. Much may no
doubt, as in other questions, be advocated on both
sides ; but it is to be questioned if all private
schools are as ill-conducted as the one here de-
scribed ; for it is evident that the head master must
have been greatly to blame for not having a better
knowledge of what went on under his guardian-
„ship, and for not vigorously checking the system
of persecution when instances were reported to him.
In the public school, also, the writer may have
been particularly fortunate in the dispositions of
those in power. But allowing the principle which
lie advocates so strongly to be the best, some other
compensation might certainlx be allowed to the
sixth form, instead of the practice of " fagging"
the younger boys. The writer asks, " What con-
stitutes the difference between a public and a pri-
vate school ? It is not the numbers, for many of
our private schools contain two or three hundred
boys. It is self-government. We admit and che-
rish the principle in every other relation of life—
why refuse to admit it here ? The British consti-
tution is founded on the principle of local self-
government, and the great value of a public school
is its close resemblance to the outer world around
it." The following extract is from the concluding
remarks of the author :
" The chief deduction which I draw from my expe-
rience under each system is this : where a large number
of buys are gathered together there must inevitably be
much oppression and tyranny
.; it is, therefore, better
freely to sanction and strictly to legalise that power
whim you cannot withhold from the bigger boys, by en-
trusting it to those who combine influence with know-
ledge, and age with high character. By
making them
responsible for its impartial exorcise, and rendering it
their interest, as well as their duty, to protect all who
are in need of their protection, Son at once enlist them
on the right side.
"It has been urged that it is bad for the morals of
monitors to
.be, as boys, eatrusted with such absolute
power. I reply that they actually possess it already, and
nothing can prevent their ex ercising it ; and that the
monitorial system only places it under due regulation.
In every community—be it a family or a township, a
school, or a nation—the strong will, the powerful intel-
lect; the matured judgment,
ex't.u-t a predominating in-
fluence over the weak, the thoughtless, and the inexpe-
rienced, This superior force is not only innate, but
acknowledt7ed, and, under due regulation, it is beneficial
to all. That system, therefore, which
its judicious exercise in a community b is
most salutary ; and, whateverimprovementsof boys,
yetth
best provides for
yet to beay the
be made, the monitorial system seems
best, if rightly carried out.
d that, instead of monitors,
"It has been suggegter; numerous :it would
the masters should ee
require an enormous
in sew monitors ; for no one
would they be inbec,l- of their numbers. Nor
couLl expect that boys
ontinually under the eye of a mas-
tersfa°.-0-f every age, from twelve to
twenty, could
d a system of espionage as could be
would be as
ba
the master would be at once 'accuser,
adopted, for ,
as they
The masters could not enter into, un-
do unliciv_eerethat of their own sixth form. That
judge, and sPY-
recinte the feelings, or discover the
vices of the school so well as the moni-
knows and. vi
if owe in every game, and only
wea
ho aro schoo e .
tors, w
fellow-students while on duty. The fags
cease to be
of the mcnitors in all respects but
are the equals
and experence—points of
strength, sense,
which boys readily acknowledge ; but mas-
ters.4iperiority
derstand, or app
andcannot either be
feareda monitor would be, whose
loved, respected, oras
le alone, moreover, exerts a most salutary infiu-
belong to a different order,
example
on the boys under his control. I caunut for a mo-
emneenet contemplate the spread of vice and the increase cf
deceit, which would ensue if Eton, Harrow, and Rugby.
were to substitute for monitors a numerous staff e
masters."

The writer certainly succeeds in placing the system
in a favourable point of view, and urt.ny may feel
interested in perusing his details and examining his
arguments, while the lively sketches of schoolboy
doings will entertain many who do not trouble
themselves to examine the rAativemerits of oppos-
ing systems.

BIRKENHEAD AtiD CHESHIRH rtaiLwAY.—LITSRPO
Thursday.—The adjourned. half-yearly meeting of th
company has been postponed to the 24th of Ooto