The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-30

row ure the most aristocratic. Next in
favor como Winchester. Westminster Rug
by, Shrewsbury, and Marlborough. the rest
following at q considerable distance. The
name OF Shrewsbury school Is familiar to
Latin scholars oil over the world. owing to
the distinction acquired by its pupils in the
composition of Latin verses. somo OF
which have been collected in the vol
ume entitled "SabrinB Corolla." So.
too. oven the present generation OF
boys has been made conversant through
tho book written by Mr.. THOMAS
HUGHES with the mode Of life ut Rugby
when DR.. ARNOLD was head master. Still.
after all that can be said for rival estab-
lishments, the fact remains that Elton is
the most distinguished Of English public
schools. and the proof that its distinction
is increasing is the fact that the number Of
pupils has lately reached thousand. OF
the article about Eton. which Mr.. A. G..
BENSON has contributed to the June number
of the Forum. may provo Of interest to read
ers on this side Of the Atlantic.
Mr.. BENSON speaks both OF the social and
the educational aspects Of the school. AS
regards the intellectual life Of the place.
the whole school Is parcelled into divisions
of about thirty boys each, which divisions
are massed into six blocks" The whole
school is examined for promotion at the end
OF every half year. The classical curriculum
| consists OF the oral constituting in school OF
passages from the classical authors. of COM
position in Greek and Latin. and. In tho
lower forms. or. rs we should say. classes.
OF lessons in Greek and Latin grammar.
In addition to these studies. every boy
attends tho lessons Of mathematical. a
French. and science master. There Is.
also. certain amount OF paper work. but
ut Elton the exercises are generally done
out of school in a boys own time. Mr..
BENSON reminds us that three important
notifications have been lately made in
the course OF study at most English
public schools For example, the teaching
of science. which thirty years ago was al
most universally neglected. now holds
conspicuous place. At Eton there are two
laboratories. a chemical and a physical. with
theatres for lectures with demonstrations.
There are. likewise. a museum with sci
entiric collections. and an observatory fitted
with all requisites. Another innovation is
an army class for. since the introduction OF
severe competition for the army. most
schools have set apart n staff Of masters
engaged in teaching solely with the view to
enable boys to pass their military exami-
nations. Then. again, what are known as
modern sides" have been instituted ut
most public schools for boys destined to
commercial careers. In such depart
mcnts the classics are almost entirely
dispensed with and time is devoted to
modern languages and mathematics. At
Eton. instead Of establishing modern side.
the authorities permit n boy to give up
Greek at certain stage of his career at
the school. The number of boys. however.
who avail themselves OF this privilege
seems to diminish rather than increase.
The time Of an Elton boy is not so absorbed
in his regular studies as to bar him out from
Independent pursuits. So far as such out
side occupations arc intellectual. they
usually take at Elton the direction OF litera-
ture. Almost every school boarding house
has its debating society. and there is more
or less Of writing for the school periodicals
which are started from time to time
The nucleus OF Eton is to be found in the
seventy kings scholars" These boys
are admitted by competition. and, as they
are boarded and lodged at the expense Of
viz COilVSC, uIlu NuNe uO JlOll ltcS 10 pay,
their expenses arc inconsiderable. These
boys still wear in public the gown of the
old foundation. but the sense of infcriority
which used to hang about them has par
TALLY died out. from the fact that they are
now drawn from nearly tho same social
stratum as the "Oppidans'' or non collie
gate pupils. The contribution Of the
seventy collegers to tho prestige OF the
school is great. for 1t is to them that
nearly all the high university honors
won by Elton fall. They practically
govern themselves on a species OF monito-
rial system. though there Is master
attached to the college and resident in it.
Tho great majority OF Eton boys are, Of
course. "Oppdans." These live In the
school boarding houses. which number
about forty. and each OF which is under the |
charge OF a master. In boarding house |
the boys arc generally supplied with break |
fast and tea In their own rooms. and they |
are Mt liberty to add what dclicaces thew |
like to an otherwise frugal meal They |
dine together at and have supper together
at 0. shortly after which prayers are read
and the boys dispense to their rooms every
boy. except in the case OF brothers. having
room OF his own. Mr.. BENSON tells US that
tho relation Of a boy to his house master is
now q close and pleasant one. Disciplinary
disturbance In q house is at present practi-
cally unknown. the elder boys. or "uppers."
as they ore called. keeping the lower boys
In order In their own Interest. 1t should be
noticed that to almost every house Is at
tached q matron. who looks after the health
OF tho boys. Tho matrons are as rule,
ladies OF education and refinement. Accord
ing to Mr.. BENSON. the old type of tagging.
or bullying. on the part OF tho elder boys
toward tho younger. has disappeared. 1t is
not denied. however. that sharp criticisms.
petty irritations and prosecutions. and
physical encounters still occur.
Athletics have long been fashionable at
Elton. and they are now more In vogue than
ever. Athletic distinction Is in all English
public schools almost synonymous with
social distinction. Many boy whose ca