The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-20
Observation-Disclosures
AMONG THE GREAT SCHOOLS OF
ENGLAND-lL

Nursed by Royalty for Four and a
Half Centuries-Its Venerable Build
ings Winsome Environs-Sketch Of
the Present Great Establishment
FlogRing and Tagging" Still IN
Vogue.
tCopvriOht.)
EToN, ENGLAND, Nov. Elton. in many
respects the greatest of the endowed schools
of England, has always baske1 In the sun
shine of royalty. Literally and fguratlvely
the sun has always shone upon 1T from the
direction of Windsor. Literally and fgu-
ratively, too, the eyes Of the soveregus 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 in
tsrwoven with British proves, statesman
ship, 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-cau OF the
past aud present great Of the nation; that
imperceptibly its prestige, renown and per-
manency have come to be as much matter
of national pride to every Englishm an as
the integrity of the British empire itself.
II you come by rail from London to Elton
you must of necessity pass through the
royal borough OF Windsor. for at Windsor
is the terminus OF the little branch line over
which rolls the stately coaches Of the queen.
You Will, Of course, visit Windsor castle.
From its towers and terraces the most re-
markable object in all the landscape is
Elton College. The castle is a short distance
from the south bank Of the Thames, and
the college is about the same distance from
the northern bank. Embedded within its
venerable trees, il is quite as interesting an
object, although it appears differently to
the Imagination, as the somber gray sill
houette of Windsor itself, were you view
ing the latter from the battlements of Lup-
tons tower at Elton.
Around " indsOr castle huddles a COM
pact though slovenly old town. Crowding
close to ELon College is a lesser though
pleasanter collection Of narrow Widowed
shops. snug and often picturesque boarding
or danes" houses where the youngsters OF
Elton dwell, decayed hostelries and tiny
homes of those who in time come TO subsist
upon the meager though permanent gain
ings Of ancient and decorous college
town. The Thames, here beautiful, pei
lucid and almost q dangerous stream,
winds in and out and on between,
separating Buckinghamshire and its
olden college town from Berkshire and
its worlds famous royal demesne.
The chief thoroughtAre OF Windsor winds
from east TO west around the southern walls
of the castle, at its south western angle lust
beyond the Henry VIII. gateway merges
into High street. and this abruptly descend
ing under the famous CBsar's tower, be-
comes Thames street. The latter, shad-
owed by the castle walls on the east and
huddled shops of the west, leads to @ bridge
across the Thames.
When you have idled here for a time
among the crowds of gay boatmen throug-
ing the bridge and river banks above and
below and set yOur face toward the college,
you are upon the one long Struggling street
which Elton possesses This, now and then
entered by pretty courts and lanes, extends
no more than half mile when iG breaks
into two beautiful country roads-the one
winding to the west TO Bray, where dwelt
the vicar OF chameleon fame; and The other
TO Slough where Herschell lived and thence
on to Stoke Poges, where sang and lies
buried the author of the "Elegy."
just where these roads diverge, beneath
noble elms, weere ivy and creepers almost
cover every ancient wall, are clustered the
chief buildings. various offices aud princi-
pal masters houses of Eton College.
Divested entirely of its scholastic associa-
tions it is as pleasant and restful a spot as
one eau find in England.
Along both sides of the highway, which
here runs northeasterly towards Slough
and back northwesterly toward Windsor
close up to the street line are massed the
quaintest OF strange old structures. From
time TO time most of these have been added
20 the original college buildings, or some
building devoted to other purposes, has
been in a way transformed for school uses
until the charming and curious spectacle is
presented Of towns chief thoroughfare,
retaining many OF its old time town aspects,
forming something like a busy yet reposeful
and shaded way through an idly planned
and vagariously disposed though always
picturesque college retreat
The original college buildings are all to
the east of this highway. Opposite are the
score or more which have been built or ac-
quired. If you should stand Immediately
In front OF the former, by the worn arch-
way through which for more than four and
half centuries have passed in and out
stately collagers with flowing gowns and
fippant oppidans without, as far as you
could see toward Windsor and VI
ing highways, every ancient buildine
has its use for Eton school, Etor
master or officer, Elton printing, Eton books
or some other sort of occupancy necessar
TO the conduct Of Elton college affairs Our
Own college and universities often far exec
these old world seats of learning in their
huge proportions and lonely vastnees and
isolation. But most Of the latter gain i'm
measurably In the pleasant feeling Of home
Likeness and winsomeness, and that charm
which always comes from O community OF
huddled antique structures, where age sub
dues and mellows, aud gently adds, as art
can never do, its softening grays and green's.
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 ides
was 90 emulate the example of Of William
OF Wykeham, who established the first en-
dowed school Of this class at royal Win
chester, and New School at Oxford to re-
ceive its graduates. So Henry made the
preparatory school Of Elton and the secular
Kings College IN the university of Cam
bridge, to which scholars are elected from
Eton. The site was undoubtedly selected
80 that the institution might be
under the immediate eye OF
Henry. It offered no unusual natural
advantages. and all the beauty Of the pleas
ant surroundings has been the growth of
care and sge A dreary, low, fat and
lonely spot it must have been in the olden
days. The king did not oven own it. 1t
was entirely outside the royal demesne OF
Windsor. he was compelled TO purchase
the perpetual advo wson of the parish church
OF Elton, and many tracts of Land In the
shires OF Bucks and Berks; and some of the
estates still held by Eton College were taken
1.