3 Nov. 1913-5 June 1914 - Part 2

During this time, Jack's father was trying to decide what to do with him, for he was definitely not suited for the typical Public School, like Malvern. Jack has to stay one more year. Jack thinks such places are "doomed" because people are apparently writing against them; he mentions a book by Sir Arnold Lunn, The Harrovians, as an example. His descriptions sound like the kind of thing Tom Brown could have written. "There is some consolation in knowing that every one else is in the same box: all my friends too, are utterly miserable and tired of life. ... Please take me out of this as soon as possible...." (18 Mar, p. 50-51).

Warnie is doing well at Sandhurst and Jack has found Yeats' poetry, which he loves. We also have here the first letter in the volume to Arthur Greeves, where he tells Arthur about Yeats: "He writes plays and poems of rare spirit and beauty about our old Irish mythology.... His works have all got that strange, eerie feeling about them, of which we are both proffessed admirers." (5 June, p. 59). He's also enjoying Wuthering Heights.

Here's a good quote regarding education: "How can people advocate a 'modern' education? What could be better or more enjoyable than reading the greatest masterpieces of all time, under a man who has made them part of himself?" 16 Feb., p. 49.

His Greek is getting better, for which he is thankful; he'd hate to leave the school with a bad reputation in that respect.