Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-14
CHAPTER II.

TOHN, ERLEIGH sat alone in his study
- at the schoolhouse, a pipe in his
mouth and his chin resting on one hand.
On the large table before him were
spread piles of examination papers. Term
was nearly over, and the most arduous
part of it came at the end. He took
the sixth form himself in classics. and
these papers were, so to speak, the har-
vest of 12 weeks careful sowing in the
best soil that was to be found at Harp
tree. They represented the promise for
the future-the possibility of scholar
ships and exhibitions at the unlversi-
ties. The whole standard of the school,
from an educational point of view. could
be Judged from them.
Outside the old gray-stone house the
sun shone brightly on lawns and flower
beds. Beyond the garden rose the tow
ering walls OF the abbey to which the
school had originally belonged, and which
still watched over it. The abbey, as
great and beautiful ns any cathedral,
was now only the parish church of the
little town, and the rector had nothing
whatever to do with the school, But the
proximity of the fine building still seemed
to suggest that the foundation of all
learning and all knowledge should rest
upon the rock of Faith. And in some
subtle manner the Church, divorced from
the school for over 300 years, had man
aged to make It's influence felt through
the changes of fortune. The religious
and moral tone of the place had always
been good. and IL religion and morality
alone could make a great public school
Harptree would have been In the first
rank long before John Erleigh came to
rule over II. But something more was re-
quired-something more than scholarship
and high endeavOr-and John Erleigh had
supplied it. And 1t was a curious fact
that he was the first headmaster for over
200 years who had not taken holy orders.
But no one who saw him now. seated in
his bare and plainly furnished study. in
tent on the work that was the work OF
his life, could doubt that he was not only
great organizer. a great teacher, but
that he was eminently a good and low
able man. The fine. thin, ascetie face.
with its high forehead and firm mouth
the clear. steady. gray eyes, the spare.
wiry body; the clean, wholesome. thor
oughbred appearance of the man spoke
OF life lived carefully and simply. For
himself he cared little or nothing. All
his energies were devoted to the cause
he had at heart-that Of making Harp
tree the first school in England. To the
accomplishment of this end he spared
neither himself nor those who worked
under him. Erleighs income, apart from
his salary, was a considerable one. But
he spent very little on himself, and gave
freely for the good Of the school. The
new organ In the chapel, the new pa
vilion IN the playing fields, the new fives
courts at the back OF the laboratory had
all been purchased with his money, The
| fees and endowments OF the school we're
very small, and the fees could not be
raised John Erlelgh had no desire to
cater for the sons OF the rich. He only
wanted gentlemen, boys who had been
brought up In good homes, boys with
honorable traditions behind them. The
better classes were comparatively poor
in those days. and the fees had 70 be
kept as low as possible,
There was complete silence in the room
as he sat there turning over the sheets ~
paper-almost the silence OF a eloistered
cell. 1t was a half holiday, and all the
/ boys were far away IN the playing fields.
| There were times when the place was
noisy enough. Though no one was allowed
in the garden In front OF the house. the
| echoes OF shouts and laughter came
/ clearly enough from the big quadrangle,
/ into which the garden opened. The sound
was music 10 John Erleigh's ears. but Il
/ was not conducive 10 steady work on ex-
| animation papers. and the headmaster
/ had chosen this sunny afternoon 20 get
/ through a considerable amount OF his
/ task II was an afternoon when most
men would have taken the opportunity of
/ getting fresh air and exercise after q
/ hard mornings work But Erleigh had
/ no time 10 think Of bis own health
"Oh. Grimmitt, nay dear felloW" he
/ said aloud, as be marked 4 few words oi
/ q singularly free translation Of pas
/ sage In one OF Sophocles' plays. Then
/ hs laughed and laughter seemed 70 change
4 the whole OF his face. IL was 20 LONGER
/ grim and stern and ascetic. but ths
/ genial face uf man Of the world Hs
/ leaned back ia bis chair, holding hi.
blue pencil "a BIS hand, ana shook via
/ laughter.
eGummle should write play him.
/ self" be thought -de IS quite original
/ Upon mF word. I believe ths boy Hn
/ vrte 5 play
Hls pfophecg aas true euQuEh r
aites years a1imultt cafique fellow 4.
{ s sehauItlF Haa destined 81 HtIIe 81.
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