Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06

ct or football fields the river in athletics,
whose is well spoken of, and not he that
elects to stand upon title or wealth. These
English aristocratic colleges are after all very
democratic in sentiment, the young noble
finds when hailed by nickname that is more
characteristic than complimentary.
The Eventfu1 Second Term
PUT it is when he returns for his second term
that he makes his real entry into college
life. He is now presumed to know the way of
things, and presently he will find himself
assigned as flag" to some project upper
class boy. This system of tagging differs
slightly in the various colleges; but in the
main the fags duties are to Keep his masters
study or private room in order, possibly cook
his breakfast supper, run errands, and be
on hand when needed on the field. In the old
days at some colleges he was called upon to
execute such mental tasks as polishing shoes,
brushing clothes, and carrying water: but for
the most part such have been abolished.
In return for his service the flag enjoys his
masters protection from possible bully, IS
assisted over the Pons dsfnoram and similar
problems, has the use of his masters study,
and shares in his good fortune. Thus the
obligation is far from being one sided, and it
happens more often than otherwise that the
relations between the flag and his master are
of the happiest, developing into lasting friend
ship when college days are over. In fact, so
far from the flag resenting his position, he gen
orally takes great pride in his masters schol-
astic achievements, being ready to hight any
other flag who questions his masters reputation.
The fag whose master is the captain of cricket
or football walks with no little reflected glory
among his companions, and this it must be
remembered while the flag may be peer in his
own right and the master the son of a COM
paratively poor clergyman.
Apart from this form of tagging, some
colleges enforce it at gameS,-i. e., a certain
number of lower school boys are told off out
of class hours to field for the cricket eleven,
roll pitches, etc. AS any Sinking of this duty
means Gaming from the captain of games,
whether the delinquent has done of his own
volition or been kept in for an overtask, game
tagging is not regarded with any degree of
fervor. Herein we may find the germ OF Kip
hng's TRADE against Flanneled Fools as the
future author, with no enthusiasm for sports,
was particularly averse to dragging a roller
over cricket pitch on warm afternoon.
With the cane the average English school
boy is so familiar that he thinks very little of
it's use. Being caned by either master or a
project carries with it no disgrace; and it is re-
garded much in the light of humorous pro-
ceeding, particularly if he is forewarned that
he may take measures to mitigate its painful
effect. At an English college boy that COM
planned of Gaming would be ridiculed by his
school fellows, and told by his parents that he
probably deserved it. For all that the master
that carries cane in the sleeve of his gown for
emergencies and chalks it for better aim at the
second cut, is not overpopular, even though
he is entitled to the prefix OF reverend.
But a birching is quite another matter.
The birch is welded only by the head master,
generally before the whole college, and for
some grave offense short of expulsion. So that
the culprit's parents may be fully informed
of what has taken place, it is customary to
charge two dollars in the bill for birch. Thus
the subsequent explanation in his fathers
dressing room is likely to be quite distressing
his previous experience at college.
At Winchester College there is still to be seen
the old birching stool, a kind of desk at which
the offender knelt: but there as elsewhere a
birching is now so rarely witnessed that it may
be said to have passed out of existence as a
form of punishment.
When Tagging Ends
THE disciplinary period lasts as long as boy
remains in the lower school, perhaps two
years When he passes into the upper school
he is exempt from Tagging though cricket and
football on half holidays are still compulsory.
But as it is likely he will be an aspirant to one
of the teams, he regards this as no hardship
Should he in turn be elected either to the foot
ball fifteen or the cricket eleven, he then be-
comes a person of consequence in the eyes of
his school fellows. On several occasions he
will go away to play other colleges, and when the
return matches are played heis much envied as
he passes in to the feast provided for visitors
In time too he may rise to the dignity of
project; then many privileges are his. He is
permitted to carry cane; for him there are
no bounds; at some colleges he may smoke