"Whatsoever thy hands find to do, do it with all thy might," was a text so often repeated that it had virtually become one of the articles of the constitution.
The boys felt the necessity of following this precept.

They realized enough of the law of cause and effect to be aware that, if their home and school duties were neglected, or slovenly done, boating would soon obtain a bad reputation; so both parents and teacher found that the clubs were a great help rather than a hindrance in the performance of their several functions.
So strongly were the Zephyrs impressed with the necessity of not permitting the club to interfere with home and school duties, that, at the latter part of their first season, they had established a rule by which any member who wilfully neglected his duties should be, for a certain time, excluded from the club.

And this rule was not a dead letter.

One Wednesday forenoon Charles Hardy had wasted his time in school, and failed in his lessons.

On his slate was found a drawing of a club boat, manned by certain ill-looking caricatures, which explained the cause of the defection.