The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-13
ENGLISH FASHIONABLE SCHOOLS.

y,
for children--which has been recently discussed
in your columns desire to state, for the infor
nation OF one OF your correspondents, that cor
poral punishments have not been altogether
banished from modern school life. 1 should be
glad TO ask the question, however, by means of
your columns, whether the following is usually
the punishment for offenses, either small or
great, at boarding-schools for girls. Some time
ago, in consequence or an advertisement 1n the
London Times, opened up negotiations with
a lady who keeps a large school in the vicinity
of London, and which resulted in my placing
my daughter, now Just turned fifteen years of
age, under her care.
My wife informs me, that since her return
from school this Christmas, the first holiday
since joining the school, that my daughter has
had to submit on one or two occasions to the appl
cation OF the old.iashioned birch. MY wish is to
know whether this custom still obtains at other
boarding-schools besides this one, and up to what
age the pupils have to submit to this style of
corTectiong / am told that several pupils older
than my daughter have been whipped during the
past half year, and that their friends, many of
them moving in the higher ranks OF life, are
cognizant Of the fact and show no disapproval.
should be glad to know the opinion OF some OF
your readers. Yours, obediently, A. f. w.
From the Queen, January 20.
Madam:-As / am writing anonymously, /
have no objection 70 informing "a. f. W." that
at great many ladies' boarding-schools the
birch Is very extensively used. | was myself for
four years at a strict boarding school at Bath,
until was seventeen, and for certain onenses
we were most severely whipped by the mistress,
but privately in her own loom. / know several
of my friends who have been at other schools,
and have always heard that whipping is in
flicted Tor some ofenses. / remember a case of
girl over sixteen who refused to submit until
her parent (mother) was written to- but the end
of 1t was that she received twelve most severe
strokes. No one can conceive the strictness OF
large boarding-school and the tyranny of the
govemess. FLORENCE X.
From the Queen, January 81.
m, chO ui,,rr hCru
young ladies' who are guilty of grave oifenses
are punished in certain school, name to us un-
known. "When an ofiense of sufficient magni
tude takes place, the culplit enters tin the book
herself, and carries the report to the lady super
intendent, who writes under it the amount of
punishment. For the first ofTense the deln-
quent is prepared for punishment, but generally
pardoned; for the second, she is whipped pri-
vatey; for all subsequent delinqaencies the
punishment takes place in the school-room,
On the horse and in addition to the
Is. fees. This is the system:-First,
she proceeds to the housekeeper TO pro.
cure the rod-she pays I'd, for the use of it,
secondly, she has to be partly undressed by the
maid, and this costs ID; thirdly, she has then to
walk baretooted to another part OF the house, to
be robed for punishment-a peculiar dressing
used to add to the disgrace. 1t is a long linen
blouse, short cotton socks, and slippers The
young lady, thus dressed, now proceeds to the
drawingroom, to be exhibited to the lady super
intendent. Having been approved, she is then
conducted TO the school-roOm, when she has to
pay Cd. to the governess who inliCts the punish
ment. a wooden horse. covered with soft leather
is the medium OF cast;gaiion. The delinquent
then thanks the governess, kisses the rod, and
retires TO her own room, to appear no more
until the next morning"
Madsm:--Permit me to offer brief narrative,
which may serve to illustrate the subject to
which your correspondents have referred under
the above head. A lady OF my acquaintance has
lust shown me your issue of the 2Oth, knowing
my reason for being interested. Myself educated
at Eaton, under Keate, l have never seen the
slightest objection to flogging as practised in
that best OF schools; 1t has none OF the obscenty
predicated Of it by poor Cowper; it takes place
IN room called the library, but where books
are absent. The boy, held down by two col
legers, exposes only about six inches Of the per-
son below the waistband, and gets his "swsh-
ing" in about two minutes A majority OF
Etonians would certainly vote for its retention
1T were put to the suffrage of the school.
But | think whipping to child OF seven
or eight is one thing; such castgaton as
your correspondents describe is quite another.
A few months ago l should have read their
letters with incredulty, but my own resent ex-
perience furnishes confirmation.
l am bachelor. Many years ago my own
sister died, leaving her daughter to my care.
Ny niece as no10 eighteen, and is as modest and
well conducted a young lady as / know any
where. Up to last September she attended
London ladies' college of the first rank, and
gave extreme satisfaction, and was at the head
OF her classes. In that month took residence
at pleasant town on the Thames. Ny niece,
who is fond of study, wished to attend certain
classes at large school in the neighborhood,
and the arrangement was made by me with the
A lady principal.
One Saturday afternoon, in the commence
ment OF December returned from London Just
before dinner, and was met with a very dis
tressed face by my old housekeeper. Her young
mistress had come from the school in half dis
tracted state and locked herself in her room.
The old servant had, however, obtained admit
tance and ascertah-ed what was the matter.
There was a class for English composition at
the school that morning, the teacher being a
visitor tutor Lecturlng rather gliby on Eng
lish poetry, this person attributed the line:-
1--WE mortal millions live alone
to Mr.. Tennyson. As am occupied in literary
pursuits, my niece has read more than many
girls OF her age; she at once corrected him, say
ing that the line was Mr.. Matthew Arnods. A
governess, who sat in the classroom, sharply
told her not to contradict, or not to interrupt
and when the lecture concluded, a bad marx
was entered against her in the register. 1t is
the custom OF the schoolmistress to lnfict COR
. poral punishment for all bad marks of a certain
magnitude, and my niece had seen one or two'of
the younger children whipped; but her attend
ance beng only on certain days, she did not
know that the discipline was anything but Sim
fanhle.n
To her surprise when about to leave after her
lesson, she was ordered into the school-room. To
her aInaZement and INDIGNATION, she was told
that she was to be biTched ''ior impudence to a
teacher" She protested and lmplored, but in
vain. Her resistance was useless against force.
No Etonian was ever so cruelty treated.l
/ am an Irishman and you may imagine my
"a indignation. Ny resolution was soon taken. That
evening / consulted the wives OF three of my
friends, who entirely approved OF it. With much
n difficulty l induced my niece to return TO the
sphOOl on MOaQaV. Luckily IL Wa9 lOnO In