TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS.

CHAIRING TOM IN THE QUADRANGLE. P. 358.

TOM BROWN'S

SCHOOL DAYS

BY AN OLD BOY

With Illustrations by Arthur Hughes and Sydney Prior Hall

New York
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1880

TO

MRS. ARNOLD,

OF FOX HOWE,

THIS BOOK IS (WITHOUT HER PERMISSION)

Dedicated

B Y T H E A U T H O R,

WHO OWES MORE THAN HE CAN EVER ACKNOWLEDGE OR FORGET

TO HER AND HERS.

[vii]

PREFACE

TO THE SIXTH EDITION.

I received the following letter from an old friend soonafter the last edition of this book was published, andresolved, if ever another edition were called for, to printit. For it is clear from this and other like comments,that something more should have been said expresslyon the subject of bullying, and how it is to be met.

"My dear ——,

"I blame myself for not having earlier suggested whetheryou could not, in another edition of Tom Brown, or anotherstory, denounce more decidedly the evils of bullying at schools.You have indeed done so, and in the best way, by makingFlashman the bully the most contemptible character; but inthat scene of the tossing, and similar passages, you hardlysuggest that such things should be stopped—and do not suggestany means of putting an end to them.[viii]

"This subject has been on my mind for years. It fills mewith grief and misery to think what weak and nervous childrengo through at school—how their health and character for life aredestroyed by rough and brutal treatment.

"It was some comfort to be under the old delusion that fearand nervousness can be cured by violence, and that knockingabout will turn a timid boy into a bold one. But now we knowwell enough that is not true. Gradually training a timid childto do bold acts would be most desirable; but frightening himand ill-treating him will not make him courageous. Everymedical man knows the fatal effects of terror, or agitation, orexcitement, to nerves that are over-sensitive. There are differentkinds of courage, as you have shown in your character ofArthur.

"A boy may have moral courage, and a finely-organizedbrain and nervous system. Such a boy is calculated, if judiciouslyeducated, to be a great, wise, and useful man; but hemay not possess animal courage; and one night's tossing, orbullying, may produce such an injury to his brain and nervesthat his usefulness is spoiled for life. I verily believe thathundreds of noble organizations are thus destroyed everyyear. Horse-jockeys have learnt to be wiser; they know thata highly nervous horse is utterly destroyed by harshness. Agroom who tried to cure a shying horse by roughness andviolence, would be discharged as a brute and a

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