Balston resigned the head-mastership, and, to the disappointment of some, the college appointed Dr. J. J. Hornby [q.v.], whom for seventeen years Warre supported and strengthened with all the loyal fidelity of his masterful will. In 1869 he moved to the larger boarding house which now bears his name. From 1882 to 1904 he gave his sons the advantages of country life at Baron's Down, near Dulverton, on the slopes of Exmoor. He became a farmer and bred sheep, a gardener and laid out beds scientifically for a son's study. He rode, shot, and fished, cleared woodlands, helped harvesters, fraternized with the peasantry, and seemed to be on intimate terms with all the wild things of wood and field. The love of gardening so grew with years that he could identify classical plant-names and meet on equal terms experts such as Sir W. Thiselton Dyer or Canon Ellacombe. In 1904 Baron's Down was left for a house at Finchampstead, nearer Eton.
In 1884, on Dr. Hornby becoming provost, Warre as head master came ‘like a breeze from the sea’, vigorous and refreshing. At first some petty jealousy of a few collegers in VI form vexed him, but the energy of his work and plans put fresh spirit into most. He spent incredible labour on time-tables and curricula, which, like the grammars which he set his assistants to prepare, proved inelastic for the growth of the school. He sank money in a school of mechanics too advanced for the times. But it was no longer possible for any boy to avoid working. Terminal examinations and superannuation did much; also, the moral tone of the school seemed to rise; numbers grew, and the fame of Eton spread world-wide. Much building was done in Warre's reign, but some of it was mediocre, partly through faults of the architects. Colenorton house, the drill hall, lower chapel, Queen's schools, the Warre schools, the memorial of the Boer War, are of this period; and a corner of Cloisters was converted into a residence for the head master. Queen's Eyot he secured for ‘wet-bobs’, and for ‘dry-bobs’ he planted Agar's Plough, which he daily visited even during his later illness. Warre also started the Eton mission at Hackney Wick, too far off and overbuilt, but he let G. F. Bodley [q.v.] set there one of the most beautiful of London churches. He invented the school office, the pivot of all the intricate school arrangements, perhaps his most enduring practical work, as the most triumphant, was the celebration of Queen Victoria's first jubilee, when for days there was complete and enthusiastic unity of the whole school, men and boys, under his direction. By consenting to coach the eight and the rifle corps he brought masters nearer the boys. Official dress was changed for play-time, and the boys, losing some of their free initiative and perhaps of their respect, gained by friendlier intercourse.
But Warre had lived too hard for a constitution less sturdy than his magnificent frame. In 1894 there was heart-trouble. The movement for new studies distressed him and divided the staff, injuring the tutorial system, a corner-stone of Eton. He did not find that the modern subjects were better done when classics were omitted, yet he could never long withstand outside opinion and the pressure of authorities. In 1896 the doctors sent him away for a month's rest, and next year forbade him early school. In 1903 came the terrible blow of a fatal fire in one of the boarding houses. Though he had previously been urgent about fire-drills, yet he was never quite the same man afterwards. In 1905 he resigned, and resided at ‘Finch’ till recalled to the provostship in 1909. But the change was too trying. Grave and impressive was his entry and reception in school yard, but after a time his bodily strength failed altogether, and his resignation in July 1918 was followed by his death at Colenorton 22 January 1920. He left five sons and two daughters.
Never was character better expressed by outward appearance than in Edmond Warre. A big frame, great-limbed but just a little clumsy, and handsome features, full of dignity and kindliness, bespoke the man. He combined a very humble simplicity and a tender heart with true religion and remarkable energy. But his commanding nature made him sometimes inconsiderate of weaker vessels, and his megalopsychia might seem self-centred. Had he retired when his health first failed he would have been remembered as the greatest of Eton head masters. In the long period of decline men forgot the pristine Warre. His extraordinary memory was never at a loss for a classical quotation, nor his kindly humour for a classical epigram. He was a sound scholar, not a bookworm nor yet an orator or ready preacher. To prepare sermons weighed on his spirits, but of talk he took all his share. As division-master, therefore, he was weighty rather than inspiring, active rather than vocal. His scientific boat and oar designs are now only remembered: the raft of Ulysses, Caesar's bridge, the trireme and the axe are still famous models. Com--
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