Mac came across a vulgar word in a composition he was correcting
to-night, and it seemed to alarm him. He could not understand why I
laughed, and I explained to him that I liked vulgarity.
I remember when a high-minded mother came into my class-room in
Hampstead. The highest class was writing essays. On her asking what
the subject was, I replied that each pupil had a different subject.
She walked round and looked over their shoulders. I saw the lady's
eyebrows go up as she read titles such as these:--"I Grow Forty Feet
high in One Night"; "I Edit the Greenland _Morning Frost_" (the news
this boy gave was delightful); "I Interview Noah for the _Daily Mail_"
(photos on back page). She nodded approvingly when she read the titles
of the more serious essays. Then I saw her adjust her spectacles in
great haste; she was looking over Muriel's shoulder.
"Mr. Neill," she gasped, "do you think this a suitable subject for a
girl?"