The master who best remembers B.-P. is Mr. Girdlestone, in whose house our hero spent four years of his school-days.  Looking back over the past Mr. Girdlestone finds that what impressed him most in B.-P. during his school-days was the boy’s manner with his elders.  He was reserved, very reserved, and he never had any one close chum at school; but apparently he was quite free of shyness, as he would approach his masters without any trace of that timidity which too often marks the commerce of boy with master.  On an afternoon’s walk, for instance, B.-P. would not be found among the boys, but side by side deep in conversation with his master.  And these conversations, I find, convinced his gubernators that he was very much above the average cut of boy in intelligence; not (Heaven forbid!) that he made parade of his little knowledge, but rather that he was eager to get information in really useful subjects from his superiors, and not above boldly declaring his eagerness.  In those days Dr. Haig-Brown had a great reputation for sternness, and it is said that even the masters would sometimes quail when they entered his presence; but B.-P. was perfectly at his ease and entirely self-possessed even in approaching the presence of the great Doctor.  He was never bashful in addressing a master on new schemes for the benefit of the school, and it was solely owing to his application to Mr. Girdlestone that Charterhouse first started its string orchestra, which is now one of the best boys’ bands in the kingdom.  Music, it seems, was one of his chief delights at school, he played the violin really well; but while he loved that king of instruments, he would stoop to baser, and oft delight his contemporaries, holding them entranced, by spirited performances on the mouth organ and the ocarina.

With no close friend Baden-Powell was a boy without an enemy, and his popularity may be seen in many ways.  Although, for instance, he was not successful in athletics, he was a regular member of the Sports Committee, and worked with intense enthusiasm for the success of Sports-Day.  And, another instance; as a memento of their favourite, the butler of B.-P.’s house and his wife saved a part of the dress he wore in his last theatrical performance.  When the news came of the relief of Ladysmith this garment was drawn forth from the back of a drawer and used as a flag of rejoicing, and as I write it is being jealously guarded to be hung out from the school windows when the little boy who wore it is delivered from his glorious prison of Mafeking.

This butler has a very vivid recollection of Baden-Powell.  He remembers him as a boy “up to mischief,” but too much of a gentleman ever to go beyond proper bounds.  His mischief was of the harmless nature, and he was never “shown up” for a row of any description.  Many a time did the observant butler come upon Baden-Powell in the House Music Room practising his tunes; but not by any means in a dull and unoriginal fashion.  It was the boy’s habit to take off his boots and stockings, set a chair on a table, climb up to his perch, and from thence draw forth melody of sorts with his ten toes.  After this it is surely a wonder that Baden-Powell in joining the army did not insist upon doing Manual Exercise with his extremities.