The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12

AaincS OF trlckct ana foot-Daii ~ tAukDys
Brook Jumping.
The following article on Rugby appeared in
n recent number Of the Chicago Intor-Ocean
from the pen Of Edgar L. Wakeman:
All boys at Rugby school must enter be-
tween the ages Of twelve and fifteen years.
and must leave the school at the end Of the
next term after they have reached the age Of
nineteen years. There are ninoty-six boys
who are schooled free. or partially so, on be
half Of the Laurence Sheriff foundation-fund.
These ninety-six boys form three classes
known as 'old-foundationers." major" and
'minorn 'fOundntiOuors." The old fOunda-
toners number fifty, and they must be the
cons Of persons who have lived in or within
five miles OF Rugby since 1868. These receive
instruction free Of all charge. The major,
fOundatiOners are twelve boys, selected on OK
animation from the tOwnsfOlk and people lv-
ing within the tive-milo limit, and qualified by
attendance az the subordinate school who,
like the old fOundationers. receive their IN
etructon free. The twcnty-four minor fOun-
dationers must have the same qualifications rs
O. residence and preparation as the majors
These secure their tnitiou for One-half the
usual fees The nlnoty-eIX fOundatlOners may
compete with all other students Tor the many
Rugby prizes
Probably no other bows school in the world
offers so many and such varied prizes To
name them In the briefest manner would re
ouire more than a columns space in this
paper. Aside from the Queens gold medal
prize for al English essay on some historical
subject, have had counted out % me up
ward OF seventy-fve prizes, the value Of the
lowest Of which ~ two guineas. On the hne
Of excellence in scholarship there are number
les gTadlngs and distinctions. The great
goal 10 be reached in Rugby school life Is the
Sixth Form Of the upper school, and the life
OF prRpOster IN that There are fifteen prg-
posters. These constitute the upper bench"
Of the upper or highest school IN Rugby. The
dignity and privileges obtaining are alone So
cured through splendid scholarship; and all
Rugby traditions warrant the lad who has
reached his eminence through intellect
ual pluck In the free and the ungrudged eX-
Crclse Of his rights 10 'fag' those beneath
him 20 the very limit of his inclination II is
not carried 20 the same extent IL was in TON
Browns" time; but his experience though
s1mewhat exaggerated gives the best de
riptiOn cXtant of the everyday workings Of
tie system IN Rugby school. The next and
tie highest reward bestowed upon superior
el0larship at Rugby is that of "Exhibi-
toner IL les not only great honor IN Eng
leh school life To be known a. "a Rugby TX
bh'tOner,' but IL is 10y no means an empty
honor. There are two classes, major and
minor exhibitions and three majors
and four minors are awarded each
yelr. on election by external exam
liners" appointed by the Rugby gov
,rung board Every major exhibitioner
Teroives t60 and every minor eXhibiuoner
$50 per year. each exhibition holding good
for four years after election. provided the
holder leaves Rugby and pursues his studies
al any university in the United Kingdom. or
at other approved place Of preparation for a
profession OF occupation They are practi-
callv $500 and $50 per year scholarships,
good anywhere that proper use may be made
of them for -four years, their full value. there
fore. being respectively II 200 and 5000. Ok
ford and Cambridge secure these splendldly
trained youths-in about equal numbers
IL Investigating all these moro serious mat
ters about Rugby school. the most delightful
thing which everywhere imIresses one new TO
its government and policies Is the utter alb
eence Of what We Americans term tiunkeyism
and aristocTatic eXclusiyeness. It's trustees
aul governing board comprise great and
Titled men. but the patronage of the school.
aul the actual practical regime and discipline
which have been enforced from the days of
The famous DR.. Arnold to the present time
under the equally wise and answering head
master. DR.. Percival. have been grandly dem
Ocratlc 20 the core Among the thirteen trus-
tees are three earls. one marquis. three lords,
two right hOnOrables, two members Of Parla-
.ment one archdeacOn and one canon while the
governing board of twelve comprises equally as
many from among the great and titled of Eng
land. ButRugby students arcf from English mid
die classes the backbone Ofthe realm. person
ally know many whose parents, while not peo-
pie Of poverty, are very humble folk indeed
Occasionally "a lord OF an earl NAV send
stripping down here 20 Rugby for the very
discipline Afforded, but these finelings cannot
form q set are in nOwlse tOadied 70, have
never yet cOwed their interiors in wealth and
station. and IN every instance where they have
not immediately adjusted themselves TO the
e%foir r.lor - aunol RIGHTS ofrnp1rth.ro off tho
school, they have had the overtime skin kicked
from their lOrdly little shlns and the super
FINE hauteur cufed out Of their dlsdanful
lttle faces in very short order. with a genial
and dreamful attention on the part of the
masters. inexpressiblv dear and delicious 10
every Rugby boy of the right sort
In what we would term the faculty" Of
Rugby school there are twenty-seven resident
masters or "prOfcssors' as We would call
them. exclusive Of the head master, the Rev.
!. Perciyal, LII. j. Besides these, there are
seven resident tutors. Every school has its
ogres: beings dreaded, hated. preyed upon.
endlessly the but Of all the deyilish ingenuity
in boyish malevOlence. These are known at |
Rugby as "marshals," and there are two Of |
them. Mr. Blake (our conpanionl is all |
kugby-boy friend IN an explanatory whisper |
but old Patey,' the tother ones Tar old |
grump, he Is. He hates 10 have boys live. he |
does.n These marshals are a sort of bailiis |
or high constables. who keep very sharp eyes |
on the goings and conings of these hundreds |
of lads. They secretly report misconduct, |
and are the dread bearers OF the awful sum- |
mons ITO the doctors chambers
As was noticed in my preceding article on |
Rugby, Dr. Arnold as long ago as 1928. re |
moved all the irresponsible boarding house |
vampires who fattened upon Rugby scholars |
and put IN their places masters Of the school. |
This not only created direct responsibility, !
but insured good treatment 60 the boys. The |
more popular master made his house the
higher he stood socially in Rugby with the
students. with the governing board; and be-
sides II increased his profits through an in
crease Of bOarders. The system has been
and from time b time commo-
diOus halls have been built There are now
seven of these exclusive ofthe school house
proper and the boys living at each house are
by their "colors." and each
house takes the name Of the master IN
charge while the boys at each boarding
bali receive the house name as a general
speculative To illustrate Whitelaw's pur-
De and white. Donkins. red and black: Col
Inns. light blue and white Morice's. green
and white: Mr.. Bowden Smiths blue and
black. on nat: Mr. SCOTS. yellow and black
ou hat Mr.. Michelrs contingent being "tel-
vs. and the boys are individually pointed
)lt in Rugby streets rs "a "D0nkn's house
man. Il "BOwden smiths hOuse1nan,' %
SCOTS houseTnan y etc.