AUTHOR'S PREFACE

Thisstorywasbegun,withinafewmonthsafterthepublicationofthecompleted“PickwickPapers.”Therewere,then,agoodmanycheapYorkshireschoolsinexistence.Thereareveryfewnow. OfthemonstrousneglectofeducationinEngland,andthedisregardofitbytheStateasameansofforminggoodorbadcitizens,andmiserableorhappymen,privateschoolslongaffordedanotableexample.Althoughanymanwhohadprovedhisunfitnessforanyotheroccupationinlife,wasfree,withoutexaminationorqualification,toopenaschoolanywherealthoughpreparationforthefunctionsheundertook,wasrequiredinthesurgeonwhoassistedtobringaboyintotheworld,ormightonedayassist,perhaps,tosendhimoutofitinthechemist,theattorney,thebutcher,thebaker,thecandlestickmakerthewholeroundofcraftsandtrades,theschoolmasterexceptedandalthoughschoolmasters,asarace,weretheblockheadsandimpostorswhomightnaturallybeexpectedtospringfromsuchastateofthings,andtoflourishinittheseYorkshireschoolmasterswerethelowestandmostrottenroundinthewholeladder.Tradersintheavarice,indifference,orimbecilityofparents,andthehelplessnessofchildrenignorant,sordid,brutalmen,towhomfewconsideratepersonswouldhaveentrustedtheboardandlodgingofahorseoradogtheyformedtheworthycornerstoneofastructure,which,forabsurdityandamagnificenthigh-mindedLaissez-Allerneglect,hasrarelybeenexceededintheworld. Wehearsometimesofanactionfordamagesagainsttheunqualifiedmedicalpractitioner,whohasdeformedabrokenlimbinpretendingtohealit.But,whatofthehundredsofthousandsofmindsthathavebeendeformedforeverbytheincapablepettifoggerswhohavepretendedtoformthem! Imakementionoftherace,asoftheYorkshireschoolmasters,inthepasttense.Thoughithasnotyetfinallydisappeared,itisdwindlingdaily.Alongday’sworkremainstobedoneaboutusinthewayofeducation,Heavenknowsbutgreatimprovementsandfacilitiestowardstheattainmentofagoodone,havebeenfurnished,oflateyears. Icannotcalltomind,now,h