Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-08
Gales aud dSkttfhfs.
HaziDg English Beys.
THE ILL TREATMENT ONCE SUFFERED IN
BRITISH SCHOOL.
(Continuec from Yesterday


As Jockey fiogs a racehorse as the win.
ming post is neared. with the same excited
force and energy did 10 strong hands hold.
ing 10 stout slippers belabor as much OF
my tender flesh as was exposed to tneir
assault. The punishment over. in naii
fainting condition and perfectly hysterlcal.
I was fitted, or rather thrown, into nv
bed. In two days after this treatment
could not sit down with comfort. and tor
nearly a week felt its effect on my con-
stitution and nerves. During my term at
the school I was six times ''court-mar-
tailed" and once because l would not
take part in the similar chastisement OF
another boy.
was not physically strong at that age.
and probably was lacking in many quail
ties of pluck necessary to make rough
and hardy youth. The attempts OF the
bigger boys to harden me physically only
left me more tImid than ever. A favorite
pursuit of theirs on wet half holiday
was to get up boxing matches and fights
in the gymnasium among the smaller
bows. was hardly match for the verlest
baby In the school. and had so many
..knockings out" with the gloves that
when thought boxing tournament was
imminent used to hide in one of the
school cellars.
At the opening of my first summer at
the school | rad bright ideas Of the de-
lights. of bathing. On the first bathing
day the whole school nearly went to the
bathing place in the river. Instead OF be-
ing allowed to amuse myself in the water
by degrees I was seized by one of the big
pest boys-we used to look upon them as
perfect Young giants then, but ! should
| like to have the chastsing of a few OF
them now-and thrown into the middle OF
the stream. 1t was but narrow river,
but the water was deep. | had sunk twice
before was pulled out nearly dead from
fright 1t was my first ''ducking" and
have cause to remember it. This and SUBJ
sequent rough treatment at bathing fairly
frightened me from the water.
The bathing season over. the big boys
had new plan of frightening and tortur-
ing me- On dark and chilly night sew
eral boys came to my dormitory, and,
without stating the object of their visit,
lifted me from bed and carried me to the
playground With no covering but my
nightshirt, was ordered to follow my
prosecutors to the "perfects" ground,
about one hundred yards distant. 1t was
strip of lawn to which only the
perfects had admission. 1t slOped to
the edge of wall, below which flowed
the Kennel, tributary, think, of the
River Thames. | was told that my last
hour had come, and that was to be
| drowned | then was privileged to say
my prayers for the last time. No murder
er standing beneath the gallows ever be-
lieved bis last hour had come more firm
ly than did. Shiverng with cold Iknelt
down on the damp grass. said the
Lords prayer aloud and fervently, and
then asked forgiveness for my persecu-
tors Will not this move them thought
1t did not. was ordered to stand at the
brink of the eddying stream. Above the
rush of the bubbling waters could hear
my heart beat. My murderers, as
thought them then, quietly, and with much
formality, apportioned one of their num-
Der to "drown" me. After moments
silence. the boy who was selected for the
deed rushed behind me and pushed me
half way to the water, and then with a
jerk pulled me back again. l was then
told that my life was to be spared this
time. and to return as quickly and as qui-
city to my dormitory. and not to breathe
word as to what bad occurred. | was
too glad to be released to think of getting
them into trouble by telling any one Of
my rough treatment. Three times more
was subjected to this form of bullying,
but the last time gave lesson to my tor
mentors which they did not forget. The
boy who was apportioned to pretend to
push me into the river, slipped on the
grass Just as he reached me, and acciden-
tally pushed me over the edge of the wall.
The loud splash of my falling into the
stream alarmed my tormentors, and one
of them-an excellent swimmer-plunged
in after me and rescued me quickly.
was wrapped in one of the perfects' coats,
and carried back to my dormltory, where.
after drying myself, | got into bed. and
was too terrified from the events of the
evening and my narrow escape from a
watery grave. to sleep. For two or three
weeks following this incident, I was,
much to my establishment, greatly petted
by these cruel fellows. They fed me on
chocolate drops, and gave me small sums
of money to spend ct the caudy store.
They were afraid that might relate what
nearly became river tragedy" to some
of the school authorities. But did not,
and as soon as they considered that they
were pretty safe from apprehension for
this i'll treatment to me, | was given a
new kind of recreation.
There had been rather sudden mania
in the school for the collection of foreign
postage stamps, and the sale and exchange
of stamps had been in progress several
weeks. | was rather alarmed one dav after
morning school at being told was want
ed in room belonging to some big boys
in the fifth form. OF course | had to re-
port myself there. and did so at once.
Seven postage stamp albums were on the
table. and there was long talk on the
marketable value of certain stamps.
was asked il | collected stamps. re-
piled that did not and had no intention
of doing so. One of the collectors then
said: You had better say that you will
collect foreign stamps pretty soon or it
will be the worse tor you. We will give
you 10 minutes to think the matter over.
II at that time you show no disposition to
start a collection of stamps YOU will suffer
for it." The recent kind treatment had
received on account of my midnight duck
ing in the river had made me somewhat
more confident and bold than usual. sat
quietly and stolidly until the 10 minutes
had elapsed. and said that | had still no
intention of following the stamp collec-
ton mania But | was soon brought to
terms. Two boys took each stout piece
of cord. which they lied firmly round my