Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-07
Cabs aud Sketthes.
Hazing English Boys.
The I'LL. TREATMENT ONCE SUFFERED IN
A BRITISH SCHOOL.

L A DhlllSh DNlOOLs
Twas sending my eldest boy to school
for the first time and concluded long list
of paternal advice and admonitions by ex-
tracing a promise from him that he would
always speak the truth and never be
bully. He was inquisitive as to why l
laid 80 much stress on his not becoming a
bully. so by way of an awful warning l
recounted to him the trials and sufferings
I encountered at the hands OF big bullies
at nv first school. 1t takes me back 20
wears but every detail is as fresh in my
memory as if they had taken place recent
ly.
| Fresh from the hands of tender parents
and a careful governess, | was sent at the
age 10 l-2 years as boarder in one of
England's roval grammar schools. Five
hundred dollars a year was paid for me
for Indifferent accommodation, inferior ed
ucatiop, and next door to bread and water
diet. The school was attended ~ about
100 bows, the elders being nearly adults.
In fact. two or three of the '.perfects' y
cultivated mustaches and whiskers. and
were objects OF much awe and reverence
from their juniors. was early enough
convinced that MY happy dreams OF a
schoolbOy's life were to be quickly dis
PEELED. How strange on the first night TO
find myself in long dormitory with 20
beds and 20 unruly and heartless young
ruffians instead Of lying in my snug crib
in my mothers room in comfortable
home! NV mothers last words as she
parted from me at the school-.Never be
ashamed to say your prayers"-were not
| . tunrR IN
heed them | waited to see what the other
boys in the room would do. One by one
they got into their beds without praying,
and sense of fear thrilled me as knelt
down by my bed. was instantly startled
by general cutlery, ''l1allo! the new boy
is saving his prayers !" remained kneel-
ing in silence; | telt something was going
to happen. In moment dozen OF more
slippers were hurled at me. One boy
ventured to condemn the assault as a
"beastly shame. "but was quickly silenced
by the threat of a thrashing from one
of the bigger DULLES of the room. On
the following morning had the delight
full privilege of an introduction to the
.'perfects" as body. The "perfects"
were about dozen elderly boys or young
men, who, by superior knowledge, good
| luck or favoritism of the masters, consti
tuted the sixth form. i. e., the highest
class in the school. They were supposed
| to exert their influence to preserve law
and order in the school, and by their ex-
ample to establish the ''tone' of the
school They certainly maintained the
bad "tone" tor which the school was To-
cally becoming famous. During my first
play hour. in which was walking discon-
solately among the limited Fairgrounds,
and trying to conquer my inconsistencies,
| received summons to the perfects'
room. The boy who brought the message
showed me the way and accelerated my
progress thther by taking my coat. waist
coat. and shirt collar together in firm
grasp and pushing me before him across
the playground, through the school rooms,
and up a long flight of stairs. My gentle
escort knocked on door at the head of
the stairs, and a sturdy voice said. EN-
ter" There was good deal of mock
Formally about the perfect" gathering.
The room was about twelve feet square.
A rude deal table on which were rudely
carved several names. and half dozen
chairs. mutilated by rough usage. consti-
tuted the furniture. Around were trunks
and hampers, and sickening odor of stale
cake and apples pervaded the room. The
perfects were seated, some on trunks and
some on chairs. After rebuke for not
taking my hat off on entering the room,
was told to stand in the middle of the
floor. did so, meekly. was put through
an Introductory catechism.
was next asked my name in full, and
gave it. My surname, Smith, was al
lowed to pass without remark, excepting
that there was big Smith in the school
ahead of me, who would now be Smith
"primus." was then given the instruc-
tons as to my calling, as follows: GAS
there are now two Smiths in the school
you will be known as Smith 'secundus'
my young friend" said the head of the
school, with sarcastic politeness. For a
nickname we hereby give you the title OF
The Bug You are very small. and
quite an unpleasant young person to look
at. You may now 60, but il
you must never forget respect to the
raise your hat to them, and single word
of impudence will earn you thrashine
from which you may never recover. Be.
| lore SCHOOL tliue you VIII please 20 anO
claim relationship with Mr.. Smith, 'pri
mus You will find him very gentle
manly person. only very large. Do moi
be frightened at his size for he is gentle
as lamb. He will rejoice at finding a
young relative in the school He likes
little boys to be friendly with him. so you
must slap him on the back and say
'Hullo, Smith, primus,' I'm one of the
new boys and my names Smith we mus
be first cousins"
was led back through the school-room
into the play ground. My heart sank a.
the other Smith was pointed out to me
He was strolling along and appeared in
tent on book. afterward learned he
was in the throes of committing some
lines of Virgil to memory to be recited in
the next school hour. He was thick-sei
young man with face like bulldog and
stood nearly six feet in height. He die
not notice our approach. Under threats
of direful punishment patted him on the
back. He turned round and scowled fe.
rociously. tried to be at my ease and
claimed relationship according TO the pro.
gramme with which had been prompted
He evidently took the joke in at once, bu,
did not take the trouble to inquire into the
possibilities of our relationship. He
seized me by the coat-collar and said,
You little beast. if you ever give me any
of your cheek again I'll flaw YOU alive. y