[3] ‘Have you seen Miss Cornwallis’ Letters? A very remarkable woman, though a little uncomfortable to herself and others, and a little too audacious now and then. She wrote these Small Books on Great Subjects which were much thought of at the time, and always considered a man’s work.’—Letters of Dr. John Brown, CLXXXIV., ‘To Lady Airlie.’ (Adam Black, 1906.)
[4] See chap. xv., Letter to the Bishop of Manchester.
[5] William Cornwallis Harris, Major H.E.I.C., was also a cousin of Mr. Beale’s. Major Harris saw service in India, shot big game in the heart of Africa, was sent in charge of a mission to Shoa in Abyssinia, returning after arranging a commercial treaty. For this he was knighted. He died in India in 1848, aged 41.
[32] ‘Cheltenham is Attica in architecture and Boeotia in understanding.’—Gentleman’s Magazine, 1828.
[33] ‘Cheltenham: a polka, parson-worshipping place of which Francis Close is Pope, besides pumps and pump-rooms, chalybeates, quadrilles, and one of the prettiest counties of Britain.’—A. Tennyson, Letter, 1845.
[55] In every embassy in Europe, in many Government houses in our colonies, and in several courts of Asia, wives and mothers are living who have drawn their earliest principles from the ideal teachings of Dorothea Beale.—Court Journal, November 24, 1906.
[68] Even such an act as this had nothing personal in it. ‘Once,’ writes an old girl, ‘I asked Miss Beale to sign a photograph on the last afternoon of the term. She said her hand was tired with shaking hands, and asked if next term would do. When I said it was a Christmas present for Mother, and I wanted to give it complete, she at once sat down and signed it.’
[69] Compare with this Miss Beale’s remarks on history as an educational subject, Work and Play, p. 114.
[70] Miss Beale published some of her lectures on literature in 1902 in the volume entitled, Literary Studies of Poems New and Old: G. Bell and Sons.
[71] So much did Miss Beale dislike a formal study of the Bible, that when first the Oxford Local Examinations were taken in the College, she induced the parents of pupils entering for them to sign a conscience clause to the effect that they did not wish their children to take a Scripture examination. The amount set for study was afterwards lessened, and could therefore be more thoroughly taught. Thus her objections were minimised.
[72] Relation of Home to School Life, No. II., Truth.
[81] Its objects are: a systematic study of mission work in all lands; formation of closer links with those old College girls who are now missionaries.
[83] In this section the methods best adapted for the secondary instruction of girls, specially as regards Modern Languages and Science, were discussed.
[84] M. FalliÈres, then Ministre de l’Instruction publique.
[85] It is interesting to compare this opinion with those expressed in the last Head-masters’ Conference (December 1907) by the Head-masters of Eton and Winchester, who were in the minority which would have lessened the amount of scholarship Greek required from boys of thirteen and fourteen.
[86] The marvels of astronomy had always a special fascination for Miss Beale. When the Leonid meteors were expected on one night in 1898 the Chief Constable, Admiral Christian, by her wish instructed the police as soon as they appeared to ring up Miss Beale, and she was to pull the alarm-bell to rouse the girls.
[87] The news reached Miss Beale two days later. See Appendix E.
