There is a promising chance an increase in the number of the leading Public Schools of England.
In July last Stowe House, a splendid 17th century mansion in Buckinghamshire, once the property of the Dukes of Buckingham, was bought by Mr. Hany Shaw, whose intention was that it should be devoted to national uses. It was suggested to Mr. Shaw that a new Public School would be an excellent national use for the buildimg, considering the desperate length of the waiting lists at most of the schoo] at present. Mr. Shay thereupon offered the mansion to the Association of Preparatory Schools. The offer was accepted with gratitude, subject to the success of the Association in raising a fund sufficient to endow the school with an adequate foundation.
The matter was to be submitted to the annual conference of the Association of Preparatory Schools, held at the Great Central Hotel, London, on the 22nd and_ 23rd ultimo. Dr, Norwood, the Master of Marlborough College, was to address the Association on the subject.
£100,000 Waxrep.
Mr. H. C. King, of Beaconsfield, Secretary of the Association of Preparatory Schools, in ving some particulars of the scheme to a representative of the "Morning Post? said: "We want' to start a new Public School, on the ines of Eton or Winchester er Rugby. Mr. Shaw has offered us Stowe House. It is a magnificent mansion, with about 280 acres of land, and "@ first-class cricket pitch. "We have written thanking him warmly for his splendid—offer—which, as I gather, is a free gift.
"Our Association comprehends about 500 preparatory schools different parts of the country. As on know, the Public Schools are stam full. There is ample room for another. We should endeavour to get the best people we could find to join the governing body. Everything depends on whether we can raise the necessary money to put the project on its feet. I should say that £100,000 would be necessary.
"We have not yet reached th" stage of considering details. You ask whether the headmaster is to be the head of one of the preparatory schools. My own view is that he should not. for however admirable may be the head of such a school, it does not follow that he would be the ideal master for boys of 18. An_ idea which has been suggested is that every preparatory school which contributes £200 to the scheme should receive an entrance nomination in return."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.