* * * *

Our school magazine, edited by the boys, is a well-conducted and
interesting record of school events. I can never look at it, printed as
it is on beautiful paper, without going back to my school-days in
France. We had a magazine of our own, too, but we had to write out two
copies of each issue ourselves, and keep them locked in our desks. If
we were caught reading them they were confiscated, and we were
punished. In English public schools the masters subscribe, and not
uncommonly write, for the magazine. The result is that, in England, the
periodical is made up of wholesome literary essays, poetry, school news
and anecdotes, reports of athletic and other meetings, etc., whereas,
in France, it mainly consists of satires against the college and
caricatures of the masters.

* * * * *

In a small private preparatory school where I attended for a short
time, the little boys (fourteen in number) one day resolved to start a
magazine. I was asked to preside at the meeting. Of course a printed
paper was out of the question, and it was decided at the meeting that
each of the boys would write it out in turn. Presently a true-born
little Briton proposed that an annual dinner, in connection with the
paper, should take place. As it was doubtful whether the magazine would
enjoy life very long, an amendment, moved by another business-like
member, was seized by the forelock, to the effect that the annual
dinner should take place at once, and was passed unanimously. The
discussion of the _menu_ was then entered into, strong preference
being manifested for tarts and cream and doughnuts. I most solemnly
signed the minute of the previous meeting, and retired with the feeling
that I had performed the work of a good British citizen.

XIV.

HOME, SWEET HOME!--BOYS' OPINION OF THE SEASIDE.--FRENCH AND ENGLISH
BEACHES.--WHO IS HE AT HOME? WHAT WAS HIS GRANDFATHER?--REMARKS ON
SWAGGERING.--"I THOUGHT HE WAS A GENTLEMAN."

I should like to echo the sentiments of many schoolboys on the subject
of the place chosen by their parents for their Midsummer holidays.

As a rule, parents think themselves in duty-bound to take their boys to
the seaside for these holidays.

In the case of people occupying "desirable" residences in London, this
is sensible enough.

But boys who live in the country generally regret to hear that they
will not be allowed to spend most of the