He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 170

170. School Visit

Mid-November, 1788. Theo Trading Company, Deputy Director’s Office.

In the trading company on the 4th floor of Theo Marriage Agency, Deputy Director Simon Hughes and Principal Scipio Marshall of Theo School were drinking tea and talking with Theo.

Principal Scipio put down his teacup and said,

“Ah, by the way, Mr. Theo. Why haven’t you put up the list of special donors on the wall at the school entrance?”

On the wall of Theo School’s gate, there was a stone plaque with names engraved on it.

It was a list of high-value donors who had donated more than 10,000 pounds to the school.

As it was an educational project for the poor and working class, it was an idea devised to encourage the participation of the wealthy.

However, due to lower-than-expected participation, not many names were listed.

It was mostly George III, Earl Burns, Duke Manners, and Earl Maxwell, who had personal connections with Theo.

“Yes, is there a problem with that list?”

“Well, since a few weeks ago, we’ve been flooded with inquiries from nobles and gentry who want to donate.”

“Really? Suddenly?”

“Yes! A certain Earl near London has sent a letter saying he would donate as much as 50,000 pounds.”

“50,000 pounds?”

“Yes, but in return, he hopes you will visit his estate.”

“He wants me to visit? Why?”

Theo, who didn’t know what was going on, suddenly thought of the French Revolution.

“Could it be… because of the riots in France?”

Principal Scipio nodded.

“It seems so. In fact, these days, your name is circulating greatly among the commoners and the poor, even more so than among the nobles, isn’t it?”

“Why my name?”

“Yes, it’s known that you’re improving the treatment of tenant farmers and donating a huge amount to the poorhouse every year. Above all, you’re using all the vast amount of money you earn to feed and educate poor children, and even give them weekly wages while running the school… The atmosphere among the commoners is so heated that they’re praising you.

Perhaps, by slightly riding on your reputation, they expect that even if a riot like the one in France breaks out, they won’t at least have their heads cut off.”

The terrible situation of the French Revolution was quickly spreading to British society through various newspapers and magazines.

The revolution was a strange and interesting event for the commoners, but it caused great fear for the nobles and landowners.

Moreover, the miserable appearance of clergymen and French nobles who had escaped from France was seen as something that could happen to them.

Then, an absurd thing happened.

Quite a few nobles and wealthy people openly expressed their intention to donate to Theo School, a school for the poor and working class, and began to donate large sums of money.

Viscount Simon Hughes gave a bitter smile.

“Indeed. They must be afraid that a civil uprising will break out in England and they will be attacked.

It seems they have calculated that if their name is prominently displayed on the school gate and they flaunt their friendship with you, who has such a good reputation among the commoners, they will be able to avoid death.”

Principal Scipio nodded with a smile.

“That’s right. But I don’t necessarily think these reactions are bad. Either way, it’s an opportunity to change the behavior of the nobles.

No matter what their true feelings are, if they act that way, this society might improve a little.”

A few days later, Kensington Marriage Agency.

Theo, who was going down to the first floor, stopped walking.

Princess Maria and her maids were sitting right next to the entrance on the first floor.

Across the table from the princess, Earl Dominici was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.

It seemed that drinking tea and reading books at the T&S Cafe had become a daily routine for the bored princess.

But today, because the weather was nice and the outdoor tables were full, Princess Maria was sitting near the entrance on the first floor.

‘Can I sneak out without running into her?’

Theo was avoiding meeting Princess Maria as much as possible in order to not foster any feelings for her.

After hesitating, Theo walked towards the entrance as quickly as possible.

But then, he made eye contact with the princess, who happened to look up.

In an awkward posture, Theo greeted her, and the princess stood up from her seat with a bright face.

Due to the princess’s sudden movement, even the maids stood up from their seats and looked back at Theo.

“Mr. Sanderson?”

“Ah… yes.”

“Where are you going again today?”

“I have some business to take care of.”

“Mr. Sanderson is really busy every day. Running the marriage agency, developing the streets, the coffee business, the textile trade, the hotel, the cafe… What other businesses do you have?”

Given the princess’s personality, she wouldn’t let him go easily unless he explained it properly.

“I have some work at the school. So, I’m a bit busy.”

“School? Do you mean a place where you teach students?”

“Yes, well, something like that.”

“But why are you going to school? Do you perhaps run a school too?”

“Yes, well….”

Princess Maria’s eyes widened.

“You’re really amazing the more I get to know you. I never even thought you were running a school. But is school a profitable business?”

“It’s not a business for profit. It’s a kind of scholarship program where I give back the income I earn to society.”

The princess looked surprised at the word scholarship program.

“Scholarship program? Does that mean you teach students for free?”

“Well, something like that.”

“Even a small-scale school and teaching students for free would cost a lot of money, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. Well… it costs quite a bit of money.”

Princess Maria tilted her head.

“I don’t quite understand. I happened to hear about you, Mr. Sanderson, and there’s even a saying that everything that makes money in England is in your hands?

So, you’re saying you use all that money to provide free education?”

Princess Maria had misunderstood Theo as just a money-grubbing businessman.

‘…….’

But now is the time to distance himself emotionally from the princess as much as possible.

He wanted to avoid having a conversation by explaining everything in detail.

“I’m sorry, Princess. I’m a bit busy right now. See you next time.”

However, the princess did not back down easily.

“Don’t go. Can you tell me a little bit about that scholarship program?

Actually, our kingdom has been planning educational facilities for children for a long time. But funding is needed more than we expected, so it’s on hold.”

“…Ah, is that so.”

Theo didn’t know that Princess Maria would be so interested in the education business.

“But if you provide free education, will parents send their children to school? Parents will want to send them to work because they need money to buy bread right away, rather than study.”

Theo gave a bitter smile at her accurate point.

“Yes, that’s the biggest obstacle. So, we’ve promised that if they follow the curriculum well, we’ll guarantee the average income that ordinary children actually earn by working, in the form of weekly wages.

Of course, many parents are still hesitant to entrust their children to us, but parents who know the importance of learning are trying to send their children to our school for the sake of their future, rather than having them work as chimney sweeps. More and more children will be enrolling in the future.”

“Then, why not give them much more money than they would earn by working outside? Then parents would send them to school a lot more.”

Theo shook his head.

“That won’t do. If we give them more money than they can earn through labor, it will become a means to earn money, not learning. Children with a desire for learning or intellectual curiosity must come in order for the school to succeed.”

“Ah… I see.”

“It will take time, but if there are more and more children around who are reading, writing, and becoming smarter, rather than spending all day working without a future, other children and parents will gradually change their minds.”
The princess was impressed by Theo’s belief that children should be educated and protected, not forced into labor.

“I had firmly misunderstood you as a businessman who only knows money, Mr. Sanderson.

But how much funding does it take to run it that way? You even guarantee weekly wages… I can’t even imagine.”

“Well, it costs quite a bit.”

“Don’t just say that, please tell me exactly. I really want to refer to it.”

Seeing her so interested in the education of the people, she was definitely a princess of a country.

“For now, according to the current calculations, it costs about 50,000 pounds a year, but in the future, as the number of students increases and we plan to operate a 3-year basic school and a 2-year vocational school together, it will cost more than 700,000 pounds a year. It may cost even more depending on the number of students.”

The princess’s mouth dropped open.

“700,000 pounds? Is it possible to raise that much funding every year?”

“If I thought I couldn’t raise that much money, I wouldn’t have started this business in the first place.”

At Theo’s words, the princess clapped her hands and said,

“Wow- I didn’t know! Mr. Sanderson, you’re really incredibly rich?”

Theo, who was dumbfounded by the princess’s reaction, looked at the place where the carriage was parked and said,

“Princess, then I’ll be on my way. I have to go to school quickly now.”

“Wait a minute!”

“……?”

The princess blinked her eyes and pleaded.

“Can’t I go too?”

“Where?”

“To the school you’re running.”

“You, Princess?”

“Yes! As I said before, I’ve been considering a small boarding school for children in the Kingdom of Naples, and I need a model. Please, I beg you.”

Theo couldn’t help but give in to the princess’s serious attitude.

“You have to get permission from Earl Dominici, right?”

“No problem!”

Princess Maria ran to the Earl and explained something enthusiastically.

The Earl looked as annoyed as ever.

But due to the princess’s persuasion that it was a matter of the kingdom, he had no choice but to follow along.

* * *

Theo School was located near the slums of Covent Garden, so the carriage had to cross the slums.

Princess Maria, who was seeing the slums of London for the first time, was eagerly looking out the window.

However, she saw several gentlemen and ladies dressed in luxurious clothes that did not match the shabby surroundings outside the carriage window.

They clearly didn’t seem to have anything special to do in this place, but they were looking around as if they were shopping, covering their noses with handkerchiefs.

The men were wearing good quality vests and coats, and even had white powder on their faces, and the women were busy looking around, wearing voluminous, fancy dresses and hats with all sorts of decorations.

And wherever they passed, naked children and beggars flocked to beg.

Princess Maria asked Theo with a puzzled face.

“Who are those people?”

Theo, who was staring at them, sighed and replied,

“They’re paying to see the miserable lives of the poor. It’s a kind of ‘poverty tour.’

As the gap between the rich and poor in London has become too large, the lives of the people living in this slum have become a strange spectacle like a zoo for the nobles. They also feel relatively satisfied and superior about their own lives.”

“Oh… no way….”

The princess frowned.

* * *

As they entered the entrance of Theo School, Princess Maria’s face, which had been dark until just now, brightened up.

The well-maintained greenery and clean environment made her feel as if the bitter feelings she had seen in the slums were being brightened up.

“Wow- how can it be so different from the street just now?”

Around them, young students wearing clothes similar to suits were smiling brightly and walking around with books.

“Oh my- the students’ clothes are so pretty! Does this school provide those clothes too?”

Theo nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Since it’s not easy for the working class to get clothes every time, our school has created and dressed them in uniforms.

By the way, you know Gilbert White, the tailor you saw last time, right? He designed and made the clothes himself.”

Princess Maria clapped her hands and exclaimed.

“Oh, I knew it… I thought the clothes were too pretty, but it was White’s skill after all.”

Princess Maria was very surprised when she saw the dresses hanging in the ready-made clothing store.

The quality and shape were better than the high-end custom clothing stores in Paris, but the price was much cheaper.

Moreover, it was very attractive to try on and choose from the already made clothes according to her taste.

Above all, she had admired the skills of Gilbert White, who made the clothes, several times.

Perhaps because it was the school uniforms of the students that came out through the hands of such a tailor, the shape and style were unique.

The faces of the students wearing the clothes were overflowing with pride, as much as the nobles wearing good clothes.

“When the children go home wearing those clothes, everyone stares at them with envy. Thanks to that, the number of children in the neighborhood asking their parents about education has increased a lot these days. They say they want to wear school uniforms too.”

“Oh, I think that’s really possible. If I were to build a school in our kingdom, I think I should have them wear pretty school uniforms too.”

Woah- Woah-

The carriage soon stopped in front of the school administration building inside the school.

The princess and the Earl, who got out of the carriage, were busy looking around in admiration.

It was a building that made good use of beauty and grandeur based on the architectural elements of ancient Greece and Rome.

The princess, who had thought of a small school, was quite surprised by the large and sophisticated buildings around her.

“Wow- it’s like a small city. The buildings are all so wonderful. Is this really for a free education project?”

“I didn’t want the buildings to be shabby and cheap just because it was a space to teach children for free. I wanted them to have bigger dreams and study in a good environment. So, I invested a little more in the school environment.”

“I don’t think you invested a little? Most nobles are reluctant to share even a small piece of bread with others… You’re really amazing!”

“Haha, no. I just earned too much money to use, so I’m just giving it back.”

“…….”

Princess Maria was very surprised by Theo’s appearance that she had not known until now.

He looked like a completely different person in her eyes.

“Princess, Earl? Then, shall we go inside?”

“Ah, yes.”