Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-11-19
EroN. England, Nov.

Vogue.
EToN, England, Nov. z.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Eton, in many respects the greatest of
the endowed schools of England, has al
ways basked in the sunshine of royalty.
Literally and fguratively the sun has al
ways shone upon it from the direction of
Windsor. Literally and fguratively, too,
the eyes of the sovereign are always upon
it.
So close is Eton college to Windsor cas-
tie; so pronounced has always bee; he IA
vor of British rulers to the school; 80 In
terwoven with British prowess, statesman
ship, science, art and literature have been
the historic names cut in the school boy
days upon its antique woodwork, until the
place seems veritable memorial roll call
of the past and present great of the ma
ton; that imperceptibly its prestige, re-
nown and permanency have come to be as
much a matter of national pride to every
Englishman as the integrity of the British
empire iteelf.
If you come by rail from London to
Eton 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 aud
terraces the most remarkable object in all
the landscape is Eton 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 1t is
I quite as interesting an object, although it
appears differently to the imagination, as
| the somber gray silhouette of Windsor
| itself, were you viewing the latter from
| the battlements of Lupton's tower at Eton.
Around Windsor castle huddles COM
| pact though slovenly old town. CrowdinR
close to Eton college is lesser though
plessapter collection of narrow-windowed
shops, snug and often picturesque board,
| ing or DANES" houses where the young
sters of Eton dwell, decayed hostelries and
| tiny homes of those who in time come to
subsist upon the meager though permanent
| gainings of an ancient and decorus college
/ town. The Thames, here a beautiful, pei
lucid and almost languorous stream, winds
In and out and on between, separating
Buckinghamshire and its olden college
town from Berkshire aud its world ia
nous royal demesne.
The chief thoroughfare of Windsor
| winds from east to west around the south
ern walls of the castle, at its southwest
IL
gateway merges into High street, and this
abruptly descending under the famous Ce
sar's tower becomes Thames street. Th'
latter, Swallowed by the castle walls on th'
east and huddled shops on the west, lead
to bridge across the Thames.
When you have idled here for tim
among the crowds of gay bostmen throng
ing the bridge and river banks above AM
below, and set your face towards the col
lege, you are upon the one long strsgglin
street which Eton possessfs. This, no'
and then entered by pretty courts an
! lanes, extends no more than half mil
when 1t breaks into two beautiful countr
roads-the one winding to the west
Bray, where dwelt the vicar of cbamelo
fame; and the other to Slough where He
| schell lived, and thence on to Stoke Poge
9 where sang aud lies buried the author {
i the "Elegy."
Just where these roads diverge, benest
" noble elms, where ivy and creepers slmo
s cover every ancient wall, are clustered Il
chief buildings. various offices and primo
;, pal masters houses of Eton college. d
= | vested entirely of its scholastic associ
tions it is as pleasant and restful spot
:, one can find in England.
Along both sides of the highway, whit
10 here runs northessterly towards Sloue
and back northwesterly towards Windso
close up to the street line are massed q
'e quaintest of strange old structures. Fro
9. time to time most of these have been add
Il to the original college buildings, or sor
building devoted to other purposes, b
" been In a way transformed for school ust
- until the charming and curious spectac
II is presented of q towns chief thoroug
1. fare, retaining many of its old time toy
aspects, forming something like busy }
. reposeful aud shaded way through an Id
= : planned and vagariously disposed thou
sr always picturesque college retreat.
A. The original college buildings are all
the east of this highway. Opposite 9
l., the score or more which have been bu
~ ~ or acquired. If you should stand INN
diately in front of the former, by (
~ worn archway through which for me
than four and half centuries have pass
in and out stately collsgers with fowl
gowns and flippant Oppidans without,
II far as you could see towards Windsor a
ss up the gentle turnings of the divergi
- highways, every ancient building has
use for Eton school. Eton master or
no fesr, Eton printing, Eton books, or so'