The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-28
VAKRMAN'S TRAVELS.
Copyright. lSOl.l
BY RDdAR L. wAKENAN.
Rugby schoOi.Llfo and Games.


Rugby school.Llfe and Games.
Special Correspondence ofne Intlltoener.
RuoRY, ENGLAND, March 9.-My hosts
guides and companions at Rugby have
been one Of the narshRls and a younf
English friend, a lad in the "Lower Mid
die" form, Modern Side; and some o
the tbiugs learned about the iamouI
school are worth telling.
All boys at Rugby School must entel
between the ages OF twelve and ftteet
wears, and must leave the school at the
end Of the next term after they have
reached the sge of nineteen years
There are nfnety.six boys who are
acnnoled free, or partially so, on behalf
OF the Laurence Sheriff foundation fund
These ninety.six boys form three classes
known as observation-disclosures, "mSlor,
and "minor" "foundationers." The old
foundationers number fifty, and they
must be the sons OF persons who have
lived in, or within Eve milesof Rugby
.ince 1868. These receive instruction
free OF all charge. The msior.tounda'
TONERS are twelve boys selected, on ex'
animation, from the tovnstolk and peo:.
pie living within the fiye-mile limit, and
qualified BY attendance at the subordi'
nate school, who, like the old.lounda'
TONERS, receive their instruction free.
The twenty.four observation-disclosures
must have tho same qualifications as to
residence and preparation as the majors
These secure their tuition for one.half
the usual fees. The ninety.six tounda'
TONERS may compete with all other stu
dents for the many Rugby prizes
Probably no other boys school in the
world offers so many aud such varied
prizes. To name them in the bHieiest
manner would require more than a col
umn's epace IN this paper. Aside from
the Queens gold medal prize for an Eng.
Iish essay on some historical subject, l
have had counted out to me by my com
panions upwards Of rs prizes, the value
Of the lowest Of which is two Ruiness
On the line Of excellence ip scholarship
there are numberless gradings and dis.
tinctions. The great goal TO be reached
10 Rugby school lie isthe "sixth Form"
OF the upper school, apd the life OF a
plppostor in that. There are fifteen
p,npostors. These constitute the up
Ger bench" Of the upper, or highest,
school in Rugby. The dignity and priv;
ileges obtaining are alone occurred
through splendid scholarship; and all
Rugby traditions warrant the lad who
has reached this eninence through in.
ts!lectual pluck in the free and ungrudged
exercise OF his rights to 'fagn those be-
Meath him to the very limit Of his in
clination. tits not carried TO the same
extent It was in "Tom Browns" time
out his experiences, though somew hat
exaggerated, giys the beat description
extant Of the everyday workings OF the
system in Rugby school. The next and
the highest reward bestowed upon gu.
perior scholarship at Rugby is that Of
'sExhibitioner.r It is not only a great
honor in English school life to be known
as "Rpgby Exhibitioner," but it is by
40 means an empty hpnor. There are
two classes, major and minor "Exhibi'
tions;" and three "majors" and four
Iminors" are awarded each year, on
election by external examiners" aP'
pointed by the Rugby governing board
Every msior exhibitioner receives EGO
and every minor exhibitioner G3O, pei
wear; each "exhibitfon" holding good
Tor four years after election--proVided
the holder leaves Rugby and pursuef
his studies at any university OF the
United Kingdom, or at other approved
places Of preparation tor q profession o.
occupation. They are practically sSOl
and $3.50 per year scholarships, goGe
anywhere that proper use may pc made
OF them for four yearaI their tgll value
Ii erefore being respectively $l,2oO ane
5000 oxford and Cambridge secure
these splendidly.trained youths in abou
equal numbers.
I'm Investigating oil these more seriou
matters about Rugby School, the mos
delightful thing which everywhere i'm
presses one new to fla government ant
politics, is the utter absence OF what VI
Americans term Aunkeyism and aristo
cratic exclusiveness. Its trustees ant
covering board comprise great and titlet
men, but the patronage OF the school, ant
the actual practical regime and discipline
which have been enforced from the day
Of the famous DR.. Arnold to the preseu
time under its equally wise and unswerv
ing head master, DR.. PerciVal, have beef
grandly democratic to the core. ANON
the thirteen trustees are three earlV, on
marquis, three lords, two right honora
bles, two members Of Parliament, on
archdeacon and one canon; while tn
governing board OF twelve, comprise
EQUALLY as many from among the REea
and titled OF England. But Rugby stu
dents are from English middle clHsset
the back. bone Of the realm. Ipersonall
know many whose parents, while no
people Of poverty, are very humble tol
indeed. Occasionally lord or an cal
may send 4 STRIPPING down here to Rugb
for the yerT discipline Afforded bu
these tinelinEs cannot form "seti" ar
| in no wise toaoied TOT have never ye
cowed their interiors in wealth an
station; and in every instance wher
they have not Immediately adjuste
themselyes to the "iajr.play," equi
rights atmosphere Of the school, the
have had the overtime skin kicke
from their loEdly little shins' and III
supertine hauteur Cuhed out OF thei
disdainiul little faces in very ghol
order; with q genial and dreadful II
attention on the part Of the MASTER