The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-06
A w estmoreland School.

Eden Hall, as the establishment
was called, merits brief descrip-
ton, as a type now unknown il
England. From $50 to e25 pc
head was the yearly sum paid by
100 boys for board, lodging and edu
cation. breakfast at Eden Hall,
writes Sir Joshua, consisted of {
slice of black rye bread, a large pro
portion of bran entering into the
composition. AS a rule it was sour
In addition a large boiler was
placed on the table, half filed with
water, and into this two gallons OF
milk had been poured, and some
handfuls of oatmeal added. Its con-
tents were shared by the $50 hungry
lads. Sometimes oatmeal porridge
replaced the contents of the boiler
and teaspoonful Of treacle was
allowed as a great treat. Three
times a week we had a limited
amount of meat for dinner; on
other days potatoes, black bread and
cheese. This cheese had grown so
hard with age we niCknamed it
'WheelbarrOw trundleS;' the third
meal consisted of another slice
of bread and of the 'trun-
die cheese. For d certain
number of hours daily we
we're turned into agricultural labor
ers, working on a largefarm belong
ing to our master" "We were a
healthy set" continues Sir Joshua,
tour constitutions hardened by out
door life and labor. Some boys
complained, some ran away, but
none were i'll, and only one death
occurred during the six years l
stayed there" The neighboring or
chards naturally suffered from the
inroads Of this healthy and hungry
tribe. One instance of these eX-
PLOTS to show the spirit that ami
mated the school "A magnificent
crop of apples attracted the boys
attention. They were in a neigh
boring farmers orchard. The
temptation was very great, so the
robbery was planned and fully car
ried out. Being the prime mover
in the affair and principal leader, [
assumed the most dangerous post.
Another boy and myself were still
in the tree, throwing the fruit down
to our accomplices, when the infuri-
ated owner, who had been on the
lookout, appeared amongst US. All
fed save we two unfortunate delin-
quents up in the tree. The farmer
leant his burly form against the
trunk; but we refused, like Mrs.
Bonds ducks, to come down to be
killed. Both parties held out for
some time. At last terms were
agreed upon between us. The
farmer was to forgive the
offence if l, from my
retreat in the branches, pledged
myself, in the name of the whole
school, never to modest his property
again. The promise was given and
the pledge accepted. We came
down, returned to our schoolmates
and in presence of all assembled
the transaction was related anC
ratified. a law was passed that fol
the future property belonging tc
this farmer should always be re
spected. This edict would have
been obeyed to the letter, but mex
morning the farmer came to the
school and made his accusation be
fore the master, picked out the tive
chief culprits, and demanded oul
punishment. a mitigation of the
| sentence was offered if we gave vi
| our accomplices; but this we re
| fused to do, and we were tlogged
| The next day the farmers orchard
was bare Of fruit, and one of hi!
finest trees lay full length upon the
ground. The masters themselve;
| looked leniently upon the act, az
| one ofretributive justice consequent
on a breach of contract" The
pupils of the school contested
matches in football, cricketing, anC
other games with the townspeOple
| and i'll the majority of cases came
off VICTORIOUS. At all times West
moreland has been noted for it
wrestling, and to excel in this, as il
other sports, was a point of homo,
with the school. When one of thei
number was declared by his maste
to be their best man in muscle ant
address, he would march into thu
town and throw down his gauntle
| in presence of the inhabitants. Thi
consisted in pulling the bell in TIN
public market-place, and waitin!
there till q rival champion ap
peared. The sound of the bell wa
perfectly understood by the towns
| folk. 1t was a challenge to an,
antagonist who would offer himsel
for the best of three falls. TIL
match was conducted in the mos
friendly manner with perfect goo(
humour, and the beaten lad wen
home to town or school to practis
again, and when ready TO toll tn
market,bell once more.-SiT J0Sllat
WaIn1S1ey. By his son, Hugh Mat'
Ie7lelt; WGEnSLey.