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such is their essential nature； and that an English public
schoolboy who wears the wrong clothes and takes no interest in
football； is a contradiction in terms。 Yet it was not so before
Dr。 Arnold； will it always be so after him？ We shall see。
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dean Stanley。 Life and Correspondence of Dr Arnold。
Thomas Hughes。 Tom Brown's Schooldays。
Sir H。 Maxwell…Lyte。 History of Eton College。
Wilfrid Ward。 W。 G。 Ward and the Oxford Movement。
H。 Clough。 Letters。 An Old Rugbaean。 Recollections of Rugby。
Thomas Arnold。 Passages in a Wandering Life。
The End of General Gordon
DURING the year 1883 a solitary English gentleman was to be seen；
wandering； with a thick book under his arm； in the neighbourhood
of Jerusalem。 His unassuming figure； short and slight； with its
half…gliding； half…tripping motion； gave him a boyish aspect；
which contrasted； oddly； but not unpleasantly； with the touch of
grey on his hair and whiskers。 There was the same contrast
enigmatic and attractivebetween the sunburnt brick…red
complexionthe hue of the seasoned travellerand the large blue
eyes； with their look of almost childish sincerity。 To the
friendly inquirer； he would explain； in a row； soft； and very
distinct voice； that he was engaged in elucidating four
questionsthe site of the Crucifixion； the line of division
between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah； the identification of
Gideon； and the position of the Garden of Eden。 He was also； he
would add； most anxious to discover the spot where the Ark first
touched ground； after the subsidence of the Flood： he believed；
indeed； that he had solved that problem； as a reference to some
passages in the book which he was carrying would show。
This singular person was General Gordon； and his book was the
Holy Bible。
In such complete retirement from the world and the ways of men；
it might have seemed that a life of inordinate activity had found
at last a longed…for； final peacefulness。 For month after
month； for an entire year； the General lingered by the banks of
the Jordan。 But then the enchantment was suddenly broken。 Once
more adventure claimed him； he plunged into the whirl of high
affairs； his fate was mingled with the frenzies of Empire and the
doom of peoples。 And it was not in peace and rest； but in ruin
and horror； that he reached his end。
The circumstances of that tragic history； so famous； so bitterly
debated； so often and so controversially described； remain full
of suggestion for the curious examiner of the past。 There emerges
from those obscure； unhappy records an interest； not merely
political and historical； but human and dramatic。 One catches a
vision of strange characters； moved by mysterious impulses；
interacting in queer complication； and hurrying at lastso it
almost seemslike creatures in a puppet show to a predestined
catastrophe。 The characters； too； have a charm of their own： they
are curiously English。 What other nation on the face of the earth
could have produced Mr。 Gladstone and Sir Evelyn Baring and Lord
Hartington and General Gordon？ Alike in their emphasis and their
lack of emphasis； in their eccentricity and their
conventionality；
in their matter…of…factness and their romance； these four figures
seem to embody the mingling contradictions of the English spirit。
As for the mise…en…scene； it is perfectly appropriate。 But first；
let us glance at the earlier adventures of the hero of the piece。
Charles George Gordon was born in 1833。 His father； of Highland
and military descent； was himself a Lieutenant…General； his
mother came of a family of merchants； distinguished for their sea
voyages into remote regions of the Globe。 As a boy； Charlie was
remarkable for his high spirits； pluck； and love of mischief。
Destined for the Artillery； he was sent to the Academy at
Woolwich； where some other characteristics made their appearance。
On one occasion； when the cadets had been forbidden to leave the
dining…room and the senior corporal stood with outstretched arms
in the doorway to prevent their exit； Charlie Gordon put his head
down； and； butting the officer in the pit of the stomach；
projected him down a flight of stairs and through a glass door at
the bottom。 For this act of insubordination he was nearly
dismissed while the captain of his company predicted that he
would never make an officer。 A little later； when he was
eighteen； it came to the knowledge of the authorities that
bullying was rife at the Academy。 The new…comers were questioned；
and one of them said that Charlie Gordon had hit him over the
head with a clothes…brush。 He had worked well； and his record was
on the whole a good one； but the authorities took a serious view
of the case； and held back his commission for six months。 It was
owing to this delay that he went into the Royal Engineers；
instead of the Royal Artillery。
He was sent to Pembroke； to work at the erection of
fortifications； and at Pembroke those religious convictions；
which never afterwards left him； first gained a hold upon his
mind。 Under the influence of his sister Augusta and of a 'very
religious captain of the name of Drew'； he began to reflect upon
his sins； look up texts； and hope for salvation。 Though he had
never been confirmed he never was confirmed he took the
sacrament every Sunday； and he eagerly perused the Priceless
Diamond； Scott's Commentaries； and The Remains of the Rev。 R。
McCheyne。 'No novels or worldly books；' he wrote to his sister；
'come up to the Commentaries of Scott。。。。 I； remember well when
you used to get them in numbers； and I used to laugh at them；
but； thank God； it is different with me now。 I feel much happier
and more contented than I used to do。 I did not like Pembroke；
but now I would not wish for any prettier place。 I have got a
horse and gig； and Drew and myself drive all about the country。 I
hope my dear father and mother think of eternal things。。。
Dearest Augusta； pray for me； I beg of you。'
He was twenty…one； the Crimean War broke out； and before the year
was over； he had managed to get himself transferred to Balaclava。
During the siege of Sebastopol he behaved with conspicuous
gallantry。 Upon the declaration of peace； he was sent to
Bessarabia to assist in determining the frontier between Russia
and Turkey； in accordance with the Treaty of Paris； and upon this
duty he was occupied for nearly two years。 Not long after his
return home； in 1860； war was declared upon China。 Captain Gordon
was dispatched to the scene of operations； but the fighting was
over before he arrived。 Nevertheless； he was to remain for the
next four years in China； where he was to lay the foundations of
extraordinary renown。
Though he was too late to take part in the capture of the Taku
Forts； he was in time to witness