Mother (visiting son at preparatory school): "Well, my darling!"
Son: "I say, Mother, don't look so ghastly pleased before all these fellows."
In 1905, according to the Scotsman (quoted by Punch), the prospective Unionist candidate for Berwick maintained before a meeting of electors that "the only way to deal with the religious question was to allow each denomination to provide religious teaching in school hours for the parents of such children as desired it." The italics are provided by Punch, who threw further light on the need for this "vicarious religion" in an illustrated dialogue published in 1911:—
Schoolmistress: "And am I to give the child religious instruction?"
Mother: "I don't care wot yer do so long as yer don't bash 'er abaht the 'ead."
John Bull, Junior
Throughout this period Punch was perhaps more concerned with the youngest than with the younger generation—with the progress of the child than with that of the ingenuous youth. Yet he was not neglectful of the changes going on in public and preparatory schools. The picture of "John Bull, Junior," in 1905 represents the human boy of the public-school type as still primarily interested in pastime:—
For instance, his industry's tireless
In getting his Wisden by rote;
But of Signor Marconi (the wireless)
He takes the most negligent note.