The Washington times., 1903-03-01


Tagging" I'm his regiment. some should
be extended to the three young sub
sIterns whose subsection TO messroom
discipline has led to this drastic punish
ment OF one OF the most popular officers
OF the army. For in spite of their rank
--one is the future Duke OF Wellington,
another the son and heir Of Lord Bel
haven. and the third nephew of Lord
de Saumarez-they viii be blacklisted
both from a military and social point
OF view during the remainder Of their
lives. Their careers in the army are
ruined. and 81 is extremely doubtful
whether any reputable club would care
20 have them on it's roster In fact. they
are doomed to a merciless boycott on
the part OF the very caste TO which they
belong. and VIII find themselves treated
BY every Englishmnn who has been at
public school. M the university. in the
navy or in the army, rs pariahs. That
IS what the ill-considered and iniudici-
Gus appeal OF thcir respective mothers
to Lady Roberts. the wife OF the com
mander-in-chief OF the army, has ac-
c0mpIshed IN their behalf
Raging is one OF the time houored
ard most cherished institutions Of Eng
lish army. navy, college and public
school life Il is an institution whica
IS restricted as far as schools are con-
cerned 10 those educational establish
ments frequcnted by the classes. that is
10 say by lads Of gentle birth. and there
is little II any CT 70 in the colleges Of the
lower middle classes, the grammar
schools. etc. where, like Jogging it has
been abolished The aristocracy and the
upper classes have always refused 70
take advantage Of the laws. which nave
been enacted emancipating the pupils 9f
the schools Of a national. municipal and
charitable character from the rod. Their
attitude on the subject is attributable
In part 10 the conservative instincts
which are engrained in every Anglo-Sax-
on OF good birth whether whig or Tory.
and which render him averse to new
forms or changes OF nou-political
character II is due also to a desire
on the part Of the lads themselves. who
are, Of course. the principal parties con
cerned. 10 avoid being associated in any
way with the common herd OF boys. even
when this association would involve the
exemption from Jogging and they would
be the first 20 rebel against the abolition
OF the latter. As Lord Salisbury remark
ed on one occasion in the house of lords
speaking from personal experience. ju-
Nenile hoggings leave no traces OF con-
taminatiOn," and il may be questioned
whether the youths who have been edu-
Gated az Eton. Harrow. Rugby. Win
chester. and other OF the great public
schools of England do not regard tho
scars left by the birch as 2 sort OF re-
prospective evidence Of their ''gentiIhom-
merle"
Here in America raging" logging
and tagging are for the present unnec-
essary at the schools and colleges of the
well-to-do. For born and bred in a
democratic atmosphere. among demo-
cratic surroundings. the average Anneri-
schoolboy enters upon his educational
career with no exaggerated ideas con-
corning the superiority OF his rank and
his birth TO those Of his fellow-pupiIs.
but in Great Britain IL is different The
Roy from the very nursery is reared 10
an exaggerated sense OF the Importance
Of his position. especially II he happens
TO be the son Of titled parents. and.
worse still. 10 be bUrdened with a title
himself 1t is not until he reaches
school that he gets his bearings. and all
the nonsense taken out Of him. and
where he acquires for the FIRST time
some notions OF democracy. that is 70
say ~ the principle that all the lads Of
The school are on a footing OF social
equality
This Is accomplished by raging
that is 20 say by the infection OF scbooI-
boy justice Tor the failure TO corrIv
Win schoolboy ethics. By the fogglngs
end birchings inflicted By the masters
and by tagging. Every boy. no matter
whether a peer OF a commoner. has TO
Tag for one OF the older lads during the
Arst year OF his school life. The duties
or a Tag are manifold. When I was act
ing I'm that capacity ] was Obliged 10
get up half an hour before the first bell
rang 10 heat my masters shaving water
over the gas jet. 90 I'll his bath and 10
brush and lay our his clothes. During
the course OF the day 7 would be called
upon 20 black his boots. 20 run errapds
tor him. and TO prepare and serve his
tea i'm his study. Any deficiency I'm my
service. or refusal 10 comply with nv
masters orders involved. first OF all
thrashins from him. and then a birch
Ing from the head master Ny snare
hours between lessons and on haIf hoI.-
DAYS would be devoted 20 fielding Tor
him at cricket. OF course. he. being the
master. kept the bat and the idea OF al
lowing a tag any innings being regarded
as preposterous. Notwithstanding the
disagreeable features OF the mental SER
vice exacted from the fag. the system is
excellent. il has a lcvcling tendency
which is the essence OF republication.
For when one finds duke acting az a
fag to rich brewers son. and q young
marquis backing the shoes OF the or
spring OF a country parson. no one can
complain that there is not equality
among boys-at least among the boys OF
the classes.
il g. matter Of schooIboy honor to'
submit without complaint 10 the rag