LIFE OF DR. APPLETON. CHA YHARLES EDWARD APPLETON was born at Reading, on March 16, 1841. His father, the Rev. Robert Appleton, had at that time been recently appointed to the Head Mastership of Reading School, a well-known foundation of Henry VII. which, during its long and useful existence, has trained many eminent persons for the service of Church and State. The Head Master was an excellent classical scholar, and also gradually succeeded in organizing, under considerable difficulties, what would now be called the "modern side" of education; so that Mathematics, History, the German `and French languages and general Literature formed, to a remarkable degree for those times, an important feature in the work of the School. To the very favourable circumstances of his home and school life must be attributed the early formation of those habits of industry and accuracy, as also the first beginnings of that wide and cultured sympathy, for which Dr. Appleton was afterwards so remarked. He himself was always most loyal and grateful to Reading School, where he received the whole of his education up to the time of his entering the University: he took great interest in its recent re-organization, and used any influence he might possess to secure for it, in a time of change, those features which he felt were of so much value in his own case. B |