The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-25 00:00:00

TUFT-HUNTING AT ETON.

The Daily News calls attention to the deteriorating in-
fluence of the presence of the sous of the ucticeaux riches
on Eton school. A successful speculator wants to get a
footing in the world of bullion. When two or three I.lus
have been placed at Eton the tlrst end of the wedge has been
inserted. A youth is started elf with these instructions :
. • •• •

" Recollect, my boy," says the good father, "you I
are no one; but you have money. You are going I
where money is very often scarce, but lords and
honourables are plenty. Do not think too much of
boys' looks, manners, or dispositions ; but be careful to
mark their names and position. Cultivate the society
of those of birth and rank." The ambitious parent, after
a school-time or two, having remarked the names of his
hopeful's aristocratic companions, makes a swoop on
Eton. The fourth of June, or Ascot, is a grand oppor-
tunity. All the young aristocrats are asked to breakfast
luncheon, or dinner, or all. By-and-by the youngsters
collie up to town for the Harrow match, and the father
loses no opportunity. More lords and honourables
throng his house after the cricket is over than the
square ever saw before. The system of parental tuft-
, hunting develops itself day by day, and its effects
appear in the school. It directly affects and supports
the system of "leaving books," which, bearing the
names of aristocratic friends, are coveted for exhibi-
tion in the drawing-room of the paternal mansion.
The anxious father has won, is content, and although
the tufts by degrees drop his son at Oxford, their
younger brothers and needy uncles will continue to
dine with his father in London, laugh at Ids sisters
behind his liack,*or flirt disdainfully with them before
his face. Now the question is whether the good of a
great school like Eton does not require that the mis-
chief arising out of such a state of things should be
curtailed. The News has every reason to believe that
this special nuisance is already doomed, and has little
doubt that in Mr. Horuby's hands many of a like
nature will follow.

SUFFERINGS OF A SHIP'S CREW.
The large full-rigged ship Admiral Lyon, of New-
castle, belonging to Mr. M'Allum, Quayside, arrived
in Shields Harbour on Saturday morning with a cargo
of timber from Quebec, after a passage of sixty-four
days, during which time a succession of furious gales
was experienced and the crew called VI pass through
great hardships. The Admiral Lyon left Quebec about
the latter cud of November, bound for the Tyne.
Shortly aft, r sailing a fierce storm broke away from
the NW., and on entering the Gulf of St. Lawrence
swelled into a perfect hurricane. As the sea broke
over the deck the water was frozen to a depth of nearly
six inches. The whole of the ropes were also frozen.
All the new fell victims to the frost, and were dis-
abled with frost bites. Misfortunes seldom come
singly, the rudder was next carried away, and the
vessel left to the fury of the wind and violence of the
sea. For days she lay in the trough of the sea until
the almost helpless crew managed to knock a new
rudder together. The gale continued to rage as
furiously as ever, the new rudder was carried away
after being in use a few days. Another helm was con-
structed, and this was carried away, being in use
about three days. A third was made, and this met a
similar fate to the jireceding ones. All this time the
sea rolled like great mountains ahead, and swept over
the decks. To save her, the deck cargo was thrown
overboard. Some idea may be formed of the extent of
the hurricane and the fury of the sea when it is stated
that the crew were upwards of ten days in casting the
timber overboard. During these operations toe crew
worked nobly and energetically, although exposed to
the greatest peril with the monster seas breaking over
them. The provisions next fell short, and they were
put on short rations, and by the time the deck cargo
was thrown overboard the men were completely ex-
hausted. During the time the gale was at its worst
one of the men at the wheel was severely injured by
being struck by a sea breaking over it. Another man
broke his leg. He was walking along the deck, which
was all ice, and
.he-slipped his footing and broke his
left leg. The fourth rudder brought the Admiral Lyon
safely into port. She now lies off the Limekiln Shore,
North Shields. Nearly all her sails are gone.