Evening star., 1936-10-18
Viscount Lascelles, Kings Kin,
Waits on Superiors as Eton 'Fag'
Traditions of School I'm.
altered No Matter WhO
Is InuOlUed.
BY III. J,J. SARGENT.

LONDON, October II (NANA).-
George Henry Hubert Viscount Las
| celles. eldest son of the British Prin-
cess Royal and nephew OF King Ed
ward, is now junior boy at Eton Col
| lege, and the traditions which have
been slowly maturing since the school
was founded in 1440 are not being
altered one hairs breadth for him.
AS a junior, he has to flag" which
is a form of servitude practiced in
English public schools that has no
parallel anywhere else in the world
and probably would result in a riot If
ever tried at any private school in the
United States. A fag must serve his
fag master, run his errands and gen.
orally make himself useful, or else be
beaten.
The system at Eton provides for di-
vision of the school into % houses,
which are run on identical lines. The
two heads in each house are the cap
tain of the house, who is the boy high
est in the school list, and the captain
of games, who is the senior in athletic
rank. With three or four other boys,
these compose the library" which
runs the house.
The house master expects the library
to see that the boys in the house don't
smoke, play cards, get rowdy, bully
each other, rag the maids. or otherwise
misbehave. Below the library comes
the debating society, Of which the
captain of the house is president. The
rest of the house is composed OF boys
who have passed out of the lower
school, and the lower boys, or fags.
Must Do Menial Jobs.
Viscount Lascelles is one Of the
lower boys and therefore must carry
out whatever menial duties may be
imposed on him. Whenever a MEM
Der of the library shouts, boy" he,
with the other fags, must run to the
source of the noise. The last arrival
has to do whatever is required-dash
around to a neighboring house with
a message, go to the school store TO
buy chocolates, etc.
Fags are appointed to different fag-
masters and have to wait on them
at tea, which is a great meal for
Etonians. The fag must be able to
make toast, scramble eggs, fry sau-
sages, etc. The fag must also light
the fire in the fag-master's room, tidy
the room, fold the clothes and put
them neatly away. If he fails to do
any of these jobs competently, he
probably will be beaten.
The beatings take place in the
library in the evenings. The captain
of the house deals with most offenders,
the captain of games with those who
have been Stacking at games or have
been reported for playing unfairly.
Special delight is taken in beating
any notable fags. The Duke OF
Gloucester, the Kings brother, when
at Eton, was not spared, but Viscount
Lascelles. who is quiet and timid but
willing little boy, has not yet been
operated upon, although he is sure to
be shellacked sooner or later.
In after years, Etonians love to say,
"Oh, yes. Lord Lascelles Cor Harry
Gloucester). He was my fag. Had to
beat him often, too"
1t must be admitted that the beat
ings rarely are severe. Major offenses,
such as betting, drinking, ETC., are
dealt with by the headmaster, whose
form of beating is called "swiping."
The culprit has to take down his
trousers and kneel on a block in the
headma ster's room A man known as
the "fusee" holds the boys head down,
and the headmaster uses a birch. Two
senior boys have to be present Ito
see fair play"
Curious Clothes Worn.
A word should be said about the
curious clothes worn by Etonians.
These are either Jackets" or tails"
The jackets are short, black coats.
reaching barely below the waistline,
which are worn with wide, white
starched collars, while the tails are
ordinary conventional morning coats.
Any one above feet / inch wears
tails, and, with them, white bow
tie, as Is worn by ordinary mortals
for evening dress. All the boys wear
silk hats, and no one cares how shabby
these become.
Viscount Lascelles, who is a tall
boy, already wears tails. and he car.
ries out his menial jobs dressed as
for q wedding. He, like the others,
must serve as fag for three hall
b