The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-20
evening State 9u,lrnal.
FRIDAY EVE'G. SEPT. 90. 1872.
School Life at Eton.

In the lower forms boy does pretty
nearly all his work under either his diyi-
sion masters or his tutors eve, and as he
rises in the school gets gradually more and
more freedom, till in Sixth Form he has
practically the entire disposal of his own
time out OF actual school-houIS. Still can
give you sort of skeleton outline of
working.day. Take Monday, whole
school.day," as we call it. First, school for
everybody is at half-past seven lin summer
time half AN hour earlier), and lasts, on
the average, thee-quarters of an hour.
Then follow tagging and breakfast for the
Tags, breakfast and the morning paper for
their masters, till the chapel-bell makes
itself heard, and all assemble for short
twepty-minutes' service. Chapel over,
latter ten" is spent by the small boys in
small classes in the pupil-rooms constru-
ing over the days lessons in preparation
for school, and by the bigger either in pre-
pairing their school-work or not. The old
clock in the school-yard strikes eleven, and
soon one will see the assistant masters
in academic cap and gown, converging from
their houses to "chambers, !" the head mas
ter's room, where they hold daily cabinet
council, whereat it is settled that this boy
1DuSt DC ilOSs,tu lSt Olly NlNtO
schools regulations and host of mscela-
neous business are discussed, and where
the bachelor assistants make up little din
ing parties for the evening. Meanwhile
the boys have been gathering in the neigh
borhood of their various school-rooins,
and are busy with plans for cricket or
boating till the black.gowned swarm of
teachers energies from Chambers" and
thirty or more divisions are set a-working
at classics, mathematics, modern languages
physical sciences, history, aud political
economy until stroke of twelve. AT once
the college street is alive again. After
twelve" good two-hours' space, the
best Of times for exercise is come, and
all but the lnckless wights who are be-
midland with their Latir verses, or bur-
dened with a peaa, have their own pet ways
of using it. Cricket, boating, bathing,
football, rackets, iives, running with the
beagles, or prackcipg for the athletic sports,
every season has its variety of rival at
fractions. Punctually at two comes din
ner, good solid joints and beer and pud-
dings-for the collegers in the fine old hall,
for oppdans in the large dnning-rooins
of their boarding-houses; and then after
half an hours interval, these in the pupil
room again, those eating ices lii the stock
shops and others loungng in their rooms
or on the wall ,--school tine number three
demands three-quarters Of an hours
attendance. Then another break from 4
to 5.l5 p. NJ. pupil-rooms are in full vigol
and any one who was kept in doors after
twelve snatches some sort of constitution.
al.o General muster, for the fourth and
last time, at the quarter after five, and
Giyision-work, till, on the sound of well
come six, wcaried teachers dispense to dine,
and the boys, singly or in nesses of two,
three, or four, as at breakfast, gather in
their rooms for tea. BY this time, if it is
the winter half Of the year, the house
doors are locked, and work of one kind or
another, either in pupil-room or in private,
goes on pretty generally and steadily until
nine O'Clock. In summer tea is neglected.
or cnt very short, and river and Playing
Fields are thronged all evening till dusk
sets fve-and-twenty households ringing
''lock-up." Supper all together in the
dning-rooms, limitless beef and beer and
tarts and cheese again, hearty appetites to
tackle them. The tables cleared, the
house-master reads evening prayers, and
then back to his study 10 correct a pile of
exercises, while his older boys upstairs
may get quiet hours reading before the
prescribed time for putting out all lights
arrives.-F'rom Something about Eton
in tile October number Of LippincoHs
Magazine.