Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-27
A Boarding Schoolln 1859.

| invite you, boys and girls, to cross the
wide Atlantic. and find amusement in visit
ing boarding school or academy of the
olden time.
In the days of Good Queen Bess schools
were few and far between, as angels visits
are said to be, but in the town of Norwich,
England, there existed celebrated train
ing school, for the youth OF both sexes.
An old abbey furnished the requisite
room, and highborn maidens slept IN the
cells where nuns had once repeated their
are MdriaS. and were gathered by day in q
school room which had formerly been used
as a refectory or dining hall. Separated
from this building by crumbling stone
wall Of great height was the ancient mon
astery, which was now transformed into an
academy for the boys of Albion. Both
buildings were well-nigh covered with beau
tiful clambering ivy.
The children of that day, in dress and
appearance, were exact miniature copies OF
grown-up people.
Queen Elizabeth numbered three thou
sand robes in her wardrobe and the dGugh-
tiers of noblemen carried with them TO
school from thirty to three hundred dresses,
according to the wealth and station of their
parents.
Young misses OF six to ten years Of age
Wore trains on important occasions. and, at
all times, appeared in long, pointed waists.
with deep ruiiles around the neck. SILK
robes were embroidered with serpents, and
birds. and ostrches, in bright colors.
Handkerchiefs were trimmed with gold lace
and sometimes ornamented with Il dozen
solid gold or silver buttons, which must
have been particularly nice for young
noses. Sleeves were worn separate from
the dresses, and often of different material.
Ladies and children's boots were made
with heels two inches high, which were
called pantoiiss, and both boos7 and slip
pers were frequently trimmed with aTtltl-
cia flowers.
Young lads, also. wore sleeves of large
size and gay colors Wigs had not in 1870,
become fashionable for children. bat their
hair was often dyed. Carriers were worn
eonspicuOusly by men and boys, and were a
test of rank and fashion. Il Is on record
that these articles, for state occasions,
sometimes cost " four score pound pair,
equal to some three hundred and fifty dol
lars of cur money.
The tops of boots were Of embroidered
linen, and shirts were often embroidered
in gold thread. In such apparel a this,
the school-boys of that day played leap
frog and hunt the slipper, and other ancient
games.
Tne beds were the only comfortable a.ti-
cles of furniture then known, and were
frequently Of such size as to accommodate
from twelve to twenty persons. Thus,
teacher could sleep with all his pupils
around MIN. How would you ike that,
boys? One specimen Of these bedstead>,
the crca: bed Of Ware--ot which Shakes
peare makes mentions stall preserved IN
England as curiosity, and Ne, ar one
time. the property Of the late Charles
Dickens.
flashes and stews formed the principal
food set before the sch0Oi-ch.llren whose
mode of life We are depicting, ard n forks
were not brought from Italy tlil 1850 and
did not come into general use for iilty years.
they ate their stews anu hashes with the
aid of pewter spoons and-their fingers.
Table linen was unknown. bu; 0u feast
days a barrow strip Of Turkey clrpotins
extended the length Of the dining table,
this being the only purpose for which car
peting was used when first bsOugh. 10 Eng
land Rushes were scattered Cpun the floor,
and the remnants of each meal were thrown
dowp to the dogs upon these rushcs. which
were renewed. as history TELLS Us, three or
four times gear
And now. perhaps, You will inquire what
were the studies pursued by the pupils ul
Norwich Academy in the year 1910?
Education was esteemed OF much less u
portance than dress and amuscmcnts. ami
therefore, we mention this topic last oi all,
in our account Of the ' good old times.
The boys were taught " Latin. Greek and
figures, but We are told that the young
lsdies could scarcely read. Embroidery and
working tapestry was the principal occupa-
tion of the fair sex, and the schoolgirls
were taught " to prepare phy>Ic and make
pastry to dry herbs and bind up wounds
to make banners and scaris, and 10 be ohe
dent to their fathers, brothers and lords. ~
Early marriages were frequent. and many
Of these Norwich schoolgirls were welded
wives, whose education must be completed
before they were taken home To keep the
KEYS and cut the bread. and rule a retlnuc
of servants-duties which would be required
of them in the castles Of their husbands
Knitting became customary about this
time. and on the occasion OF the visit OF
Queen E.izabethsro Norwich in 1870. eight.
Young girls walked in the procession that
welcomed her. knitting yarn hose, which
were then great curiosity.
Having thus ransacket the annals OF the
past to bring before YOU this picture of the
Of the olden times, We hum
bly, submit to your consideration, young
readers. the question whether our Rcpubii-
can boys and girls are not more highly IA
vored, more sensibly dressed, and better
educated in every respect IN our schools t.
day, than were the children Of Engli'a no.
bles, with all their wealth, power and pres
tige three hundred years ago -. Niat0-
las.