Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-20
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal

tldb his nOSII1lS are nGNbE uSsilieSl W
the vigorous aroma of boiling cabbage
and corned beef that he is not instantly
possessed of an almost uncomfortable
impulse to bodily assault and drive out
his many servant masters sell his house
and belongings, free himself from the
abiect slavery of his present aristocratic
surroundings, fling social distinction and
honors to the winds, and at plunge
return to the care free, zestful and
humble habits, appetite, qualifications
and ways of the old farm home in which
he was born.
Similarly with mon, when the shad.
ows begin TO lengthen, an almost
overwhelming heart hunger comes
whenever the eyes, turning from the
sterner affairs of life, fallupon the faded
walls of some old school. II does not
matter whether ii be historic spot like
Winchester, a treasure house Of mem
cries and associations verify interviewer
with the best of civilizations making;
some modest village seminary, where
lads and misses have built their day
dreams together, or the little old red
country school house you and used to
know, with its tiny blackboard and sheet
iron stove, and roundabout ground worn
brown and smooth by the coming and
going OF barefoot children. One is
fossiiZed quite if the heart is not
strangely stirred where all these budding
hopes have been and are, it the eyes do
not mistas the boy you were takes your
hand in his and leads you back with
him into the sweet young paths again.
All this gentle influence will reach and
touch you at Winchester college. There
is a grave and stirring charm besides.
Its great antiquity alone almost iillSyou
with reverence, for in reality old Win
chester is the mother school of all pre-
paratory schools in all English speaking
lands Harrow, Rugby and even old
Elton under the shadows Of Windsor
Castle, are all modern in comparison
with Winchester. Even Merton College,
Oxford, is structurally only about 100
years older, while New College, Oxford,
whose founding was the real birth Of
the English university in its broad sense,
was still an afterthought in the incep-
ton Of the mind which gave England
her great university and college system,
for Wykeham, the founder of both,
simply built the university at Oxford
that he might send it those who should
be prepared for it Mt Royal Winchester.
This William of Wyekham was an
extraordinary man. His career was one
of.many examples of sturdy plebeian
blood having the iron IN it to carry its
possessor past all bounds of caste or
class to the lasting fame of personal
achievement. He was born in 1924 in
the village of Wyckham, near Fareham
His father name was John, and because
of this stature he was nicknamed "Long
john" He was as tall and huge man
as the late "Long John" Wentworth, Of
Chicago, The gigantic figure of his son
William looms through the mystery OF
the time grandly. The lad was educated
at the then royal city of Winchester al
the expense of Sir J ohm Scures; in l34e
entered the household of Bishop Edyng.
ton, prelate of Winchester; the latter
turned him over to King Edward LII,
and by that King he was at once en-,
ployed in architectural art. 1t was
Wykeham who built the great tower Of
Ground Table of Windsor, which was
to be the meeting place Of the newly
founded order of the Garter.
In 1864 he was made keeper of the
privy seal, then in 1867 Bishop of Win
chester, and the same year he was ap
pointed chancellor of England. He wa:
for second time appointed chancellor
Wyckham had become virtual ruler o
England. Whatever his political o
strictly ecclesiastical ability and power
his fame will chiefly rest upon hi
architectural skill and his educationa
foundations. He transformed Winches
ter Cathedral and was national il
genius, feeling and purpose. He is re
sarded as the father of the perpendicular
style Of architecture, and his owl
rhantry in the cathedral here, built b,
himself, is one Of the most matchlessl'
beautiful creations III stone to be foun,
in all Britain. 1t stands between tw
pillars in the nave Of the cathedral, ii
the south tier, and curiously enough til
great prelate placed his own monumen
on that part of the cruciform plan O
the the cathedral which originally CORE
sponded with the pierced side of til
Saviour on the Cross.
There is no doubt of Wykeham'
piety. He was determined to improy
ihe intellectual and social condition d
he clergy. His college was dcdicatc
o the Virgin Mary. Solemn proces
donal entrance was made into the stru(
ture at 8 o'clock on the morning of Marc
26th, 1893, few months less than so
years ago. The name of every officer
fellow and scholar who took part in thG
historic ceremony, carefully registere
in vellum book, is still preserved. An
the school that "Wykeham's sevent
poor scholars" then entered is stanoin
here to-day just as Bishop Wykehar
built it, apparently brave and stou
enough to shelter "Wykehamites,' d
its alumni are proudly called for anothc
half thousand years.
Winchester is not only an old schol
town, but it is an ancient cathedral cit
and perhaps the oldest city in England
1T was "royal Winchester" thousan
years, tradition says, before London wi
more than marshy fishing village hue
died about the gate of Bclin. Ludc
Rous Hudibras founded it S92 Is. G.
there is antiquity here outside of I'll
tinty walls OF the quaint old schoo
King Rufus is buried here and here S
bwithin lies. Cerdic was crowned
the heather temple which preceded ii
cathedral, and the bones of Canute, Win
Alvin, Stigan and Emma, who trod til
heated ploughshares unscathed, al
gathered in mortuary chests over Il
side screens of the cathedral choir Bl
the real Winchester, dear TO the hear
of Englishmen, is not the Briton
Roman Winchester, but the city whc
is represented by the square Norma
tower and the ridge OF the mighty NAY
rising above broad masses Of foliage an
scaled by the graceful tower and turre
of Wykeham College to the south.
4 The shiny reaches Of the Itchen streal
show here and there entrancngly. Spl
up with numerous crystalline threa