“I see a good many faces I recognize from recent years at Chelsea. And I’m heartily glad to see them,” he began. “Before Mr. Washington says his part, I wanted to say a few words. You know what the Chelsea School has meant in your lives. Obviously, you care enough to come out and discuss it with us on a pleasant October evening. I thought then, and think now, that by deciding to come to Chelsea, you gentlemen made a giant leap toward taking charge of your lives, breaking away from the pack, and living boldly. You chose the unpopular road of an academic life among men. I hope that your presence here tonight means that you found the experience worth it. I look forward to discussing with you how we can make it even better for our sons after us. Without further ado, I give you Mr. Jerome Washington.”

I stepped up to the podium amid a smattering of applause. “Well,” I began, my voice slightly ragged, “it’s good to see so many faces from the past here today. And good to see a few that might join us in the future.” I paused and looked at the boys in attendance before continuing. “For shaping the future is what we hope to do at Chelsea. And I think, by and large, we succeed. I think our success is due in large part to our adherence to principles and standards far older than we, far stricter than today’s. The tradition of men being educated among men dates back to Greco-Roman civilization, which I’m sure you’ll recall is my subject and my passion. There are those who say that the Greco-Roman civilization was the greatest ever to grace the planet. Though it’s not currently a fashionable notion, I tend to agree.” A murmur made its way around the room. “Obviously,” I continued, “that doesn’t take away from the greatness of other civilizations, the African, the Asian, and so forth. But there is a certain clarity of thought that persists in the Greco-Roman mind that can be found nowhere else. It is that tradition that I am proud to take part in passing on at the Chelsea School. I believe it has helped make you all the men you are today. I further believe that a crucial part of passing on this legacy is a single-sex education. Young men go about their lives at Chelsea free to consider only the improvement of their minds and souls. In these difficult times, the timeless truths that have lived for hundreds of years are, I believe, the ones that will save us, if any will.” The room was completely silent.