The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
SCHOOL LIFE Ar RUGBY.
Attractions of an Ancient and Famous
Seat of Learning.

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Rugby is a railway center Dickens
called is "Mugby Junction in one of his
noVels-I do not understand why he
should speak of it contemptuously-an and
two of the great trunk lines of England
use it as a division headquarters but it Is
better known as the seat OF one OF the
famous schools of the world. Thomas
Hughes made Rugby familiar to the boys
and girls of America and surrounded ii
with the romance OF boyhood. He went 10
America afterward, taking a colony OF his
cOUntrymen to Tennessee, where ne
founded a town of the same name, TO carry
out some utopian IDEAS which was d fall
ure, cost him fortune and shortened his
otherwise useful life. Elton is the laVorite
school of the nobility, Rugby of the gen
tlemen commoners Most OF the Elton
boys so TO oxford, most of the Rugby boys
to Cambridge, although both schools feed
both universities with FRESHMEN;
Rugby is fourteen miles north of the
center OF England, and an equal distance
from Birmingham, the great iron foundry
OF the kingdom, where Joseph Chamber
lain. now minister of the colonies, was born
and raised and gained his nrst political
fame, while mayor by introducing munich
pal reforms which American citfes are fire.
Quently advised TO study.
Rugby school was founded by London
grocer, and it is, therefore, eminently
proper that gentlemen cOmmoners should
be educated here. His name was Lawrence
Sheriff, and, dying a bachelor in 1861, LETT
his money TO build d school in his native
town 1t has since received many rich en-
dOWmentS ard has turned out some or the
Thomas arnold, who was headmaster IoI
forty years, elevated the school to its pres
ent distinction, and his Venerated dust lies
under the middle aisle OF the Splendld
chapel. In "a recess in one of the corners OF
the chanCel, upon sort of shelf, is mar
BILE ettigy of the great educator. ana under
him sleeps Arthur Peurhyn, namely, dean
of Westminster, who was also headmaster
of Rugby, and one of the sweetest charac-
ters the world has even known. have
never seen a more lifelike or beautiful
statue.
There are $50 splendid-looking boys at
Rugby, tho youngest being thirteen ana the
grouped in eight houses, each being dis
tinguished by ribbons of different colors,
which worn as bands around their hats
or in rosetteS on the lapels of their coats.
trousers and blue blOuses which is neat and
comfortable, for everyday dress, but on
Sundays and holidays they appear in suits
similar to those worn by the boys of Elton,
that are more familiar, and small stove
pipe hats.
Each group Of seventy of eighty sleep and
take their meals in their own houses, -
which are detached, but all meet for reci-
tations in the same halls, which are veneer
able with age. The dormitorieS accommo-
date twelve boys each of whom has a
single iron bedstead and box of ward
robe for his clothing. For study each is
assigned d little cell, six feet square, well
lighted and we'll ventilated and decorated
and adorned according to the means and
the taste of the occupant. The photo
graphs or parents sisters ana SWe6In91TtS
ornament the walls and interspersed with
sporting pictures and home scenes. A tiny
ia BILE, a desk chair. bookshelves and an
easy chair are the only furnishings al
lowed, and they fill the little rooms so full
that there is scarcely space for two people
to stand When the study bell rings the
boys retire to their cells until they are
called to their recreations or Rotations
There are common sitting rooms where
they can meet and amuse themselves on
rainy days and during the evenings. These
dining
plain, and look ike those of monastery
The playground is a beautifully shaded
field of seventeen acres, with cricket wick
cts, tennis courts and spaces marked out
for football. The popular game of football
as played throughout the world originated
at Rugby.
The boys are divided into six forms, or
sS, aSd Ing older ID age bows snd
the sixth form, are intruste6 with the gov
eminent of the school, They are held re-
sponSible for the good behavior of the
youngsters, and when offenses against or
der and discipline are committed they adj
minister the reproof or punishment but In
cases of injustice there Is an appeal to the
head master. Corporal punishment is per
mtted The siXth-form boys can cane
or birch" the younger ones when such
heroic punishments are deemed necessary
but they are infrequent. Lying and gross
breaches of discipline are the only otfenses
for which such correctives are applied
When the offense passes liberation the
sixth form meets as a judicial body, con-
siders the circumstances and reports the
culprit to the head master for expulsion
The latter then makes an investigation or
his own account, and usually approves the
verdict. The boy who stands highest In
scholarship is the presiding officer in the
school. Thus the pupils are not only taught
self-government, but the government OF
others. The system has been found to be
wholesome and successful. The ruling idea
is to educate the boys to be gentlemen as
well as scholars.