The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-18
NEW ROCKS.
Westminster school.

ster attracts much less attention In our day
than Eton, Harrow, Rugby or Winchester,
| there was time, the latter half OF the eigh-
tenth century, when IL was favorite OF the
English aristocracy, and it has upon it's roll
multitude Of eminent names. II Ii older
than any OF the other institutions mentioned,
| for whereas Winchester College was founded
in 1887, Eton College in 1441, Harrow in 1871
and Rugby also in Queen Elizabeth's time,
1t is certain that Westminster School existed
as early as 1884, though it was reGndowed
| by Queen Elizabeth in 1850. who provided
for forty Queens Scholars on the founda-
| ton. Foundationers who distinguish them
selves at school can look forward to ex-
| hibitions at Trinity College, Cambridge,
and Christ Church. Oxford. Several books
about this old establishment have been pub
lished, for example. one by Mr.. Forshall,
Westminster School, Past and Present."
and the Annals OF Westminster School" by
Mr.. Sargeaunt The latest volume on the
subject is entitled "Recollections OF Town
Boy at Westminster" by Capt. F. Markham
| (Longmans). This book tells Cls but little
| about boys on the foundation, or -up-Col-
lege' to use the local term, but describes,
what has been largely overlooked by other
writer's, namely, tie lives of the boys who
reside in the school boarding houses or
are day scholars, sleeping and taking part
OF their meals at home. In the years which
| Capt. Markham spent ct Westminster, the
management Of the school had not yet been
regulated by the Public Schools act His
"reminiscences, therefore, describe q state
OF things which has. to a certain extent,
passed away, yet they will, undoubtedly.
interest recent as well as earlier generations
Of Westminster boys. The author himself
arrived too late at Westminster to have
chance Of seeing the Queens Scholars ar
! rayed in drab breeches and white stockings.
These habillments were abolished in Is43,
and cloth trousers were introduced In their
place Our authors cousin, Sir Clements
Markham, whose recollections Of West
minister date from 1912 to 1874, says that at
the earlier period great attention was paid
TO the Calves of the boys. In list Of his
school fellows, which he drew up while they
were fresh in his memory, there occurs after
each name remark, poor calves, good
calves or sometimes capital calves as
if calves were not only the chief features In
the appearance OF the boys, but constituted
infallible guides to their characters. In our
authors time there was no opportunity Of
forming such judgment. The seniors then
all wore dark trousers, tail coats open in
front, showing black waistcoats, white,
stck-up collars and tiei and black gown
open in front, with long, hanging V-shaped
sleeves. The cap, square-topped, with
black tassel, was worn with one angle to
the front.
Capt Markham, Of course, devotes
chapter to the Latin play, which, since
medieval times, has been annually per-
formed at Westminster. Capt. Markham
reproduces the casts of four OF Terence's
plays. namely, Eunuchus, Andria. Adelphi
and Phormio. The boys used to play their
parts in court dress up to 1880, when the
more appropriate Greek costumes were in
troduced. The Prologue is still spoken, we
believe, by the captain Of the school in black
silk breaches and stockings. The Prologue,
which il always in Latin, deals with current
public incidents in serious way, while the
Epilogue, also in Latin, attempts jocoseness
more or less successfully. In 1852, when
Capt Markham witnessed the performance,
the Epilogue consisted OF chaff against the
Boomer costume and the Yankee schooner
America, which had just beaten the English
yachts, and it included Latin parody on
Yankee Doodle"
There was much less -birching" at West
minister in the '50s than there had been in
the time Of the famous Dr. Busby, who
welded the rod for fifty-seven years in the
seventeenth century In our authors day
the punishment with the birch was admin
istered only for serious offences. The cul-
prit was accompanied TO the head masters
library by another boy, who held the Of
fender by the hands, while the latter's per-
son was partly barred to receive five or six
strokes. For minor offences the punish
ment was handing" that is to say, the head
master would administer four or five cuts
with the rod on the back Of culprit's hand
The penalties enforced by the sixth form
boys were much more dreaded than any
inflicted by the masters. For violating the
rights Of the elder boys. or for cheating at
cards, breaking ones word or allowing
another to suffer for ones own offence the
delinquent was beaten so severely on the
backs of his legs with the but end Of thick
rod that he seldom risked second tanning
as the chastisement was called.
From one point of view Capt. Markham
is peculiarly qualified to write a book about
Westminster. for he Is n memorable example
of the fidelity with which many old English
families cling 10 particular schools. His
father, William Markham, rowed in the first
Westminster crew of which there Is any
record; his grandfather, another William,
was in 1878 captain Of his election l. e.,
the most successful candidate at a school
examination but, instead of avaiing him
calf Of af, xbibittpn NJ nniunrsitv NnD off
TO India, where he became secretary to War;
rem Hastings. Our authors great-grand-
father again William Markham, was head
master of Westminster School from 1853
to 1884, and afterward Dean Of Christ's
Church and Archbishop Of York. Even the
father OF the last-named was buried In the
cloisters Of Westminster Abbey. 1t seems
that in the school registers, between the
years 1894 and 1883, the names of no fewer
than twenty-seven Markhams are set down.
1t may interest Americans to hear that.
when Capt Markham was at Westminster.
the head master was DR. Liddel, afterward
Dean Of Christ Church, and co-author Of the
Greek dictionary with which so many OF us
are familiar. 1t seems that, often, when at
work with the sixth form. Liddel would
object TO the translation or use of some
word. II the boy replied, as he often did
please, sir, found 1t used that way in
your Lexicon, Liddell would rejoin, Scott