New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
WINCHESTER.
p,-,r,vISCE.NCES OF AN ANCIENT COLLEGE.

MIN, ANCIENT WAYS winchester Fifty Years
ne Rr the Rev. W. Tuckwell NJ A. PIP. Kill III
| Macmillan & Co
Half q century has seen many changes III inc
college that graces the ancient saxon cap'a VI
ENGLAND. The number Of students Is now douped'
a ,h. methods Of study are more practical and
efficient Wykehamists only short time ago took
an unreasonable pride in the motienless conserva-
t,sn, Of their school, They even went so far as TO
defend the atrocious system OF Tagging when con-
yerted English lads in their teens INTO miserable
slaves expected to endure every sort OF cruelty
without "A whimper But the stir OF reform was
felt even at the time which Mr.. Tuckwell writes.
, how from a good home who wished to say his
prayers at night no longer the object of wan
ton practical Jokes. The death OF junior Killed
by a sunstroke while watching OUT at cricket on
a hot day put end to the barbarous rule WHICH
obliged the little chaps to serve their superiors
bareheaded. II have felt my hair so hot, re-
marks Mr.. Tuckwell "as to be painful to the
touch. and have seen the heads OF other juniors
steamng in the SUM-"
Another reform brought in high canvas walls on
the football field, which relieved the juniors from
the misery of kicking in" But in Mr.. Tuckwelrs
time the younger boys still had to endure this
They not allowed to wear gowns, but STOOD
in ''the jacketess sleeved cloth waistcoat which
was the college uniform, shiverng in a December
day. looking anxiousy to the cathedral clock visible
the 'meads' or playground" But these duties out
of doors were but a small fraction Of the flag
business. He waiter and scullion and valet
and he had to learn how to COOK certain uishes
His own meals were obtained often at haphazard
when he had performed the services required OF
him. Any delinquency was likely to be visited with
summary punishment in which anything from a
cricket bat to fire shovel might be used to en-
phasze the seniors disapprobaton. 1t was the
custom even-ast and bitterest disgrace OF all to
freeman-to subject new boys TO a process not I'M
like branding 1T was conventionally supposed
that a juniors hand doomed ferre inimicum ignem
to grasp hot handles of coffee-pots boilers Try
ing-pans. would be hardened by process OF
soaring with hot end burning brand of wood;
and to this ordeal every junior was submitted. l
kicked and struggled. But l captured and my
hand held fast, and / still recall the griding
thrill of pain as the glowing wood was pressed
upon it by the ministering fend-ft prologue to
the continuous barbarty which was TO walk up
and down with me- with poor Constance through
out a year at least of college life.
But boyhood is lighthearted 1t would be mis-
take to suppose that these medieval crueties cast
a gloom over college life. But when Mr.. Tuckwell
became 'Prefect of Hail." and had the power TO
reform abuses he had to deal with case OF cruel
ty and the memory of his own sufferings made him
press the matter until the bully degraded.
Project of Hall a UNIQUE officer He was the
commandant or the wnole school. IL was saiu ny
them of old time" explains author, that there
were three absolute rulers in the world; the Great
Mogul, the captain of a man-of-war. and the Pre-
feet Of Hall at Winchester" His authority was
sustained by centuries of precedent. and rebellion
impossible
The boys learned vast quantities Of Latin and
Greek by heart. They became expert in Latin and
Greek composition. They were made premature
High Churchmen" They kept up in some fashion
with the general literature of the day. But If they
studied science. as for example did the famous
Frank auckland. who one OF Mr.. TuckweTs
contemporaries. they had to do II in their own way.
The two became expert poachers auckland anato-
mixed every creature he dared to touch with a
knife and one OF the boys who had a curiously
shaped head declared in fright that he heard
auckland mutter, What wouldn't give for that
fellows skull!" The little book is full OF remin-
iscence in which figure some names Of distinction.
Numerous illustrations from photographs give reali-
ty to ones notions of the college and its surround
ings.