He endeavoured to make all feel that they were
fellow-workers with himself, and sharers with him in the moral
responsibility for the good government of the place. One of the
first effects of this highminded system of management was, that it
inspired the boys with strength and self-respect. They felt that
they were trusted. There were, of course, MAUVAIS SUJETS at
Rugby, as there are at all schools; and these it was the master's
duty to watch, to prevent their bad example contaminating others.
On one occasion he said to an assistant-master: "Do you see those
two boys walking together? I never saw them together before. You
should make an especial point of observing the company they keep:
nothing so tells the changes in a boy's character."
Dr. Arnold's own example was an inspiration, as is that of every
great teacher. In his presence, young men learned to respect
themselves; and out of the root of self-respect there grew up the
manly virtues. "His very presence," says his biographer, "seemed
to create a new spring of health and vigour within them, and to
give to life an interest and elevation which remained with them
long after they had left him; and dwelt so habitually in their
thoughts as a living image, that, when death had taken him away,
the bond appeared to be still unbroken, and the sense of
separation almost lost in the still deeper sense of a life and a
Union indestructible.
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