The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-25 00:00:00

" Swishing" at Eton in the Olden Time.

Yonder is the block—not the headsman's—quite the re-
verse. If it were not so old and shabby, and if it had a bit
of carpet, it would look like a pair of bed-steps. In front
of it stand two collegers, to ' hold down'—not always a
sinecure. If the doctor, as he is rather apt to do, gets at
all over-excited, and delivers cuts analogous to wide-balls
at cricket, their fingers sometimes suffer, and then he grins
at them as if it were a good joke. Another colleger un-
locks a press, and takes out a few rods. Each consists of
three long birchen twigs (no branches), bound with
string for about a quarter of their length. You would
never guess, from the look of a wolf, how ho can
bite ; neither would you from the look of an Eton rod.
They ought to bo good for something. A charge of
half-a-guinea for birch was made in every boy's bill,
flogged or not. Say six hundred boys at ton shillings and
sixpence—a pleasant little sum in Practice' for the doctor.
But nothing, after all, in comparison of what John Bull
pays in his year's bill for the punishment of his naughty
boys.

Stop ! Keate gives a vigorous hem ! and proceeds to
business. Holding up the bill, he calls out a name. A
meek and frightened little individual answers to it.
Complained of by your dame ! Now, sir !"
0 please, sir, my first fault!'
(This was a privilege of impunity for the first slight—
not great—offence.)
' Are you sure you haven't had your first fault ?'
0 Yes. Quito, sir !'

' Well, remember I keep a Strict account, I shall know
you again. You'd better not attempt; an tricks with me ;
look.) - "

0 no, sir and away ho slinks. When he's safe and
well out of the doctor's hearing, you and I may hear a
chuckling whisper: ' Third time of asking, by Jove !'
Another name, and another apparition.
" Not saying ?'

"Yes, sir!'
' Kneel down !'
He kneels on the block. How may I, in sufficiently
dainty terms, express what follows ? He—he—lowers his
sails. The two collegers shako hands with him. You
hear four little swishes —just from the wrist on;y ; just
enough to raise a blush, and all is over. No one takes
much interest in the matter; neither public nor performer,
hardly even the patient, who gets under sail again, and
moves off,

But see ; Keate is knitting his shaggy brows, and calls
the next name in an angry voice. A wiry-looking, big
fellow appears, resolute, oade up for something serious.
Out with a gun and dogs, ?'
No answer.

A vicious nod—understood and obeyed at once. The
collegers take a wary hold. The doctor tucks up his gown,
receives a rod, and lays on in real earnest. Five savage
cuts—on a statue—and the executioner flings away the
stump of a rod ; gives a grunt —in compliance with which
a fresh weapon is handed to him. Four more cuts use it
up, and ho leaves off. There, sir! remember that!'

The boy has stood it out gallantly (about as much as
he could do, though), and gets away as quick as he can,
probably to give vent to his feelings in private.—Cham-
bers's Journal.

MARKE TS. --This Day.

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 Os to £5 ss; clover,
£5 Os Od to £6 6s Od ; and straw, 11 16s to £2 5s per load.
Demand inactive.

CUMBERLAICD.—Meadow hay, £4 Os to £5 8s Od; clover,
£5 Os to £6 Gs Od; and straw, £1 18s to £2 5s per load.
Trade quiet.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £4 Os to £5 5s ; clover.
£5 Os Od to £6 lOs Od ; and straw, £1 lOs to £2 5s per load.
Inquiry limited.