The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-15
Ry ROTARY ANN


 London, June -(Special.) .)-Yes- terday Rotarians were taken on mo- tor excursion to Windsor Castle The state apartments were open to them by special command of H. M The King. The old rooms of Eton college were also specially opened. The re- turn journey was made via Hampton Court Palace, where garden party was rendered them by the British government
 The ride out to Windsor, a distance of about 20 miles, was taken in the familiar double deck motor busses, very similar to those that run along Fifth avenue in New York. We were fortunate enough to have a seat on top and thus had fine view of the country. While as is well known, the city of London itself is only one square mile, the corporation extends more than score of miles. At pres ent England is having a season of what they call real summer. Yes terday was bright and sunshiny, the T6ddliA6 ct NCS SpS-~tlit warmest June day in five years. We have not seen a London fog yet.
 The drive out was through Eng fish lanes and hedge rows, at times reminding one strikingly of Dickens description. The appearance of Eton students dressed in their long tail black coats and silk, or as they call them, top hats was the first evidence that we were approaching the ancient town of Windsor, where the historic castle and school are both located.
 Though Windsor Castle is men toned in Domesday Book as belong ing to King Harold, it does not im- press one as being as old as either Edinburgh or Holyrood, due doubt less. to the fact that it is at present Used as royal residence.
 Entering by Towers
 We entered from High street along the great western wall with it's three roundest towers built in the thir- teenth century. The causeway re- places first the old drawbridge and later a stone bridge across the ditch. Passing along by the historic chapel of St. George at present under re- pair, we were conducted into the great reception hall, decorated with ancient armor and banners of the knights. Then into what the guide told us was the kipg's withdrawing room, now known as the Rubens room from the series of pictures from that painter which are hung in it.
 This proved but the beginning of a series of rooms, virtual art gal leries, known as the Kings bed chamber. his dressing room and his closet. The first is now called the council chamber and contains magnificent throne used only when the King presides at the installation of the Knights of the Garter.
 Each of these rooms is furnished with old English furniture of various periods, taken together they form one of the most interesting collections in the world
 In the grand reception room we were shown a rug woven by prison CTS in India. It is more than 100 feet long and weighs two tons.
 These were only a few of the rooms visited. each filled with interest and possessing an Individuality all it's own.
 The climb up to the tower and bat dement's was taken only by the men of the party, but viewed from below and without they lent an additional air of grandeur which completed the picture of this most wonderful castle
 Visit to Eton
 Eton college, one of England's his toric boys scchools. seems exactly like the description given in Tom Browns School Days. The first school room we entered dates from 1444. No rural school in Alabama is cruder. The desks or rather benches are rough and home made, smeared with ink and cut deep with the initials and ofttimes the names of the boys. This carving of names is not con- fined to the furniture, but the walls themselves which are of wood have become a school directory. To me part of the interest in these names was lost when I learned that instead of being regarded as an offense for a boy to cut his name, the school authorities now not only consent but have the carving done for the boys Of course I presume this arose from necessity. else the entire building would have been whittled away. Among the boys of stho old days who secretly cut their own names ones attention is called to that of Pitt and Fox, while the names of Gladstone and Roberts appear in the regulation letters of the employed engraver.
 There are at present 1,1S0 boys in Eton, all under 19 years of age. Ap- parently it still maintains it's strict, severe type of discipline. We were shown bunch of birch switches bound together like a broom which are used to flog the boys with. Ac- cording to our guide the custodian of l the building, this particular instru- ment of torture had been used the l hnf +I,n kind of table or block over which the | student was required to bend to re-