Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-24
SCHOOLS OF ENGLAND.
Eton, on the Thames, Nursed by Roy
atty for Four Centuries.
A MOST INTERESTING HISTORY
Sketch Of the Operations Of the Present
.. Establishment.
FLoGGlNG AND TAGGING STILL REIGN
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE p1spArcH g,

| CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcH.1
| EroN, ENGLAND, Nov. Elton, in
| many respects the greatest of the endowed
schools of England, has always basked IN
the sunshine of royalty. Literally and fgu.
| ratively the sun has always shone upon II
from the direction of Windsor. Literally
and fguratively, too, the eyes of the sover.
eign are always upon it.
So close is Elton College to Windsor Cas-
tie; so pronounced has always been the favor
of British rulers to the school; so interwo-
ven with British prowess, craftsmanship,
science, art and literature have been the
historic names cut in the schoolboy days
upon Its antique woodwork, until the place
seems a veritable memorial roll-call of the
past and present great of the nation, that
imperceptibly its prestige, renown and
permanency have come to be as much
q matter of national pride to every English
man as the integrity of the British empire
ITSELF
Our own colleges and universities often
far excel these old world seats of learning
in their huge proportions and lonely vast
ness and isolation. But most of the latter
gain immeasurably in the pleasant feeling
of homelikeness and winsomeness, and that
charm which always comes from COM
munity of huddled antique structures,
where age subdues and mellows and gently
adds, as art can never do, its softening grays
and green's
Great Antiquity of the School.
The antiquity of the school is very great.
The pious Henry vi. was its founder
Some material token of his affection for the
Holy Church must be made. Evidently
his idea was to emulate the ex-
ample of William of Wykeham who es-
tablished the first endowed school of
this class at royal Winchester, and New
School at Oxford to receive its graduates.
So Henry made the preparatory school of
Eton and the secular Kings College in the
University of Cambridge, to which schol-
ars, are elected from Eton. The site was
undoubtedly selected so that the institu-
tion might be under the immediate eye of
Henry. 1t offered no unusual natural
advantages, and all the beauty of the
OF care and age. A dreary, low, flat and
lonely spot it must have been in the oiden
days TIE King did not even own it. 1t
was entirely outside the royal demense of
Windsor. He was compelled to purchase
the perpetual advowson of the parish
church OF Eton and many tracts of land in
the shires Of Bucks and Berks, and some of
the estates still held by Eton College were
taken from such ancient abbeys as Fecamp,
Fontenoy, Yvry and St. Stephens at Caen
Though the college was founded in 1440
solemn admission was not given to the
provost, fellows, clerks and scholars until
December, 1443. The canons and enact
ments for Eton were almost literal tran
Mt of on It,
porated name was 'The Kings College of
our Lady of Eton Beside Windsor" and
its original foundation provided for pro-
vost, ten fellows, four clerks, six choris-
ters. schoolmaster, 25 poor and INDECENT
scholars and 25 poor and infrm men who
were to ''pray Tor the King"
The Manner of Discipline.
The present establishment, the outgrowth
of a recognizing act of Parliament in 1868,
has for its actual governing body the pro-
vosts of Eton and Kings College, Oxford,
the Royal Society, the Lord Chief Justice,
the Eton masters and four other members
elected by the former. Aside from the Off |
cial governing body. the actual school off d
GERS Of Eton now comprise crown ap- |
pointed provost, similar official to our |
principal" or president, who must be a |
MASTER of arts and member of the Church |
IF England (not necessarily in orders), over
80 years of age, ten 'fellows," who are
7ost, bursars, secretaries or clerks, an audi
,or, mead master, lower master and
conducts" or chaplalns.
All ordinary discipline NAV be said to
from the "houses" where bows not
IN the foundation reside, whose masters are
lirectly responsible to the head and lower
masters for the good conduct of those in
harge; to the captains" of these shouses"
Who are selected from among the scholars in
he houses to assist in keeping order; and,
econdarily, both from "fagmasters" over
heir respective deputized Gags and
through the general supervision by all
lpper forms of divisions of the school over
ii members of the successive grades below
hem. 1t is an odd system to us Americans:
ut it is good one here because its results
re good.
No Badge of Poverty Now.
The 20 free or foundation scholars are
allied "Collagers" Formerly they wore
he black cloth gown to distinguish them,
ut this badge of poverty was sometime
ince removed. The foundation scholar
hips are open to all boys, British subjects,
etween the ages of IL and IA, and are only
enable to the completion OF the 10Th year.
'hese Collagers are educated and main
aimed during the school term or time out
f the funds of the college.
At the beginning of the century the Col
ayers routine and fare were far from en-
liable. They dined almost meagerly at 10
clock every day, and supped at on
Thole school days, and ct on other days
hey assembled in the hall at every night,
nd there sat reading for an hour, under the
are OF their captain. At 8 they proceeded
D the Lower School, where they recited
he prayers, which ased, in earlier times, to
e said In the Long Chamber They were
hen locked up for the night. On Sunday
forming they went to the Upper School TO
ing the One Hundre6th Psalm and to Join
q prayers read. by the Fifth Form Prepos-