The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-10

mum"
tcopyright, 1891. BY Edgar L. Wakeman'l
wNcHEsTER, England, Oct S.-There Is
n very rich aud eminent man OF my 40
ouaintance who in moments Of honest con-
idence often confesses TO me that bis nos
trils are never assailed by the vigorous
aroma Of boiling cabbage and corped oeei
that he is not instantly possessed OF an
almost uncomfortable impulse TO bolI'y
asSail and drive out his many servant
masters. sell his house and beionS.ngs'
free himsclf from the AFFECT slavery OF DIS
present aristocratic surroundings' D'nS
social distinction and bonors 10 the WINDS
and at plunge return to the care tree
yestful and humble habits, appetites, graf
iflcatlons and ways Of the old farm home
In which he was born.
Similarly with men, when the SHADOWS
begin 10 lengthen, an almost oveTwhelm-
inc heart hunger comes whenever the
ives tnrpipo from the sterner affairs OF
life. fall upon the faded walls OF some ola
school. 1t does not matter whether IL DC
Historic SPOT like Winchester, treasure
house OF memories and ASSOCIATIONS Verily
SnterwOyen with the best OF ciyilizaCion
making; some modest village seminary
where lads and misses have built their
day dreams together, or the little OH req
country school house You and ! used TO
know. with It's tiny blackboard and sheet
iron stove, and roundabout ground worn
brown and smooth by the coming and go
ING Of barefoot children. One is fossilized
guite il the heart Ia not strangely stirred
where all these budding hopes have been
and are. IL the eyes do not mist as the boy
Won were takes your hand In his ana leads
Won back with him into the sweet young
paths again.
: All this gentle influence will reach and
touch YOU at Winchester College. There
Is grave and stirring charm besides. It's
great antiquity alone almost fills you with
reverence. for in reality old Winchester is
the mother school Of all preparatory
schools 10 all English speaking lands
Harrow, Rugby, and even old Elton,
under the shadows of Windsor Castle, are
ali modern in comparison with Winches-
Ter. Even Merton College, Oxford, is
structurally only about 100 years older,
while New College, Oxford, whose found
ing was the real birth Of the English uni
versity in it's broad sense. was still an
afterthought IN the inception Of the mind
which gave England her great university
and college system, for Wykeham, the
founder Of both. simply built the univer-
sity at Oxford that ne might send it those
who should be prepared for it at royal
Winchester.
} This William Of Wykeham was an ex-
kraordinary man His career is one OF
many examples Of sturdy plebeian blood
having the iron in 1t TO carry its possessor
past all bounds Of caste or class TO the last
Sng fame of personal achievement. He was
born in 1924 in the village Of Wickham,
near Fareham. His fathers name was
John. and because Of his stature he was
nicknamed Long John" He was as tall
and huge a 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 At the expense Of Sir John
Scuns; Ia 1916 entered the household OF
Bishop Edyngton, prelate Of Winchester;
the latter turned him over to King Ed
ward III, and by that King he was at
once employed In architectural art. 10
was Wykeham who built the great tower
or Round Table" Of Windsor, which was
to be the meeting place of the newly
founded order of the Garter.
In 1854 he was made keeper Of the Privy
Seal, then in 1857 Bishop Of Winchester,
and the same year he was appointed Chan
cellor Of England. lie was for second
time appointed Chancellor, from 1889 to
1881, and the plowboy Of Wickham had
become virtual ruler OF England. What
ever his political or strictly ecclesiastical
ability and power, his fame will chiefly
rest upon LIS architectural skill and his
educational foundations. lie transformed
Winchester Cathedral aud was national in
genius. feeling and purpose. He is re-
garded as the father Of the Perpendicular
Style Of architecture. and his own chantry
in the cathedral here, built by himself, is
one Of the most matchlessly beautiful
creations in stone to be found in all Brit
ain. 1t stands between two pillars in the
nave Of the cathedral, in the south tier,
and curiously enough the great prelate
placed his own monument on that part OF
the crucifOrm plan of the cathedral which
originally exactly correspondent with the
pierced side Of the Saviour on the Cross.
There Is no doubt OF Wykeham's piety.
He was determined TO improve the intel
lectual and social condition Of the clergy
His college was dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. Solemn professional entrance was
made into the structure at o'clock on the
morning Of March 90, 1893 few months
less than 800 years ago. The name Of every
officer, fellow and scholar who took part in
that historic ceremony. carefully regis
tered in vellum book, is still preserved
And the school that "Wykeham's seventy
poor scholars" then entered is standing
here today just as Bishop Wykeham built
It, apparently brave and stout enough 10
shelter "Wykehamites," as It's alumni are
proudly called, for another half thou
sand years.
Winchester is not only an old school
town, but IL Is an ancient cathedral city
and perhaps the oldest city in England.
1t was royal Winchester" a thousand
years, tradition says, before London was
more than marshy fishing village hud-
died about the gate Of Belin. Ludor Rous
Hudihras founded it SOC b. c. So THERE'S
antiquity here outside Of the fiinty walls
of the quaint old school. King Rufus is
buried here and here st. Swithin lies.
Cerdic was crowned in the heather tenn
pie which preceded the cathedral and the
bones of Canute, Wilma, Alvin, Stigan and
Emma, who tired the heated plowshares
unscathed, are gathered in mortuary
chests over the side screens of the cathe-
afal choir But the real Winchester, dear
20 the hearts OF Englishmen, is not the
Briton or Roman Winchester, but the city
which is represented by the square Nor