TREATS OF SOME MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
A Fag’s Duties—His Respect for Præfects—Præfects’
Responsibilities—Code of Honour—Lying Scouted—Exceptional
Anecdote—Certain Things considered Common
Property—Slang—Nicknames of Officials and Under-Porter—Whole
Holidays—Remedies—Half Holidays—Sundays—Hills.
The duties of a Fag, in the days of which I write, may be more easily
described by informing the reader what he had not to do, than by
endeavouring to make out a list of his positive duties. I believe when
I say that he had not to make the beds, nor to clean shoes, I have
exhausted the negative catalogue.
The degree of awe with which we Juniors used to regard the Præfects
seems to me, looking back, most mysterious; and it would be impossible to
make a stranger realise the peculiar sensation. It was entirely a moral
feeling, not being in any way connected with muscular power—many of the
Præfects being, in physical strength, inferior to their fags; and it was
by no means uncommon to see a small Præfect rising on his toes to reach
the proper height for administering an effective “Clow” (box on the ear)
to an offending Junior some inches taller, and a stone heavier, than
himself. Nor was there the slightest imputation of cowardice on the part
of the bigger boy,—I cannot explain it, but it seemed simply impossible
to resist.
I never was a Præfect myself; and when I was a big Inferior, I have
more than once received, with perfect meekness, a “Tunding” (thrashing
with a stick) from a boy who, had he been an Inferior, would have
treated me with the greatest respect. I remember, on one such occasion,
the operator, indignant at not being able to make me feel, searched
underneath my waistcoat to see if I was not padded for the occasion,
(not an uncommon proceeding by any means;) and on finding such was not
the case, took the small end of the stick in his hand, and finished the
performance with the butt end, and principally on my head. Nor, when
ordered to “hold down” (_i.e._, put your head in a convenient position)
for a “Clow,” would the victim dare to ward off the blow, or cease
offering his cheek to the smiter till it pleased the latter to desist.
Indeed, the moment a boy was made a Præfect, he seemed immediately to
become invested with a supernatural power that changed the familiar
intercourse with his former companions into awe or respect on the one
side, and tyranny or condescension on the other, according to the nature
of the individual promoted. I remember, soon after my first arrival,
and before I had quite realised the great gulf between a Præfect and an
Inferior, during breakfast-time in hall, I saw one of the Fags put aside
his master’s frying-pan, it being required no longer. As I was in want of
one at the moment, in the innocence of my heart, I politely asked the
Præfect, who was its owner, if he would be so good as to lend it to me. I
thought he looked rather queer, but, being a good-natured youth, he said,
“Yes;” when the loud burst of laughter from the other boys proclaimed
that something unusual had happened. On inquiry, I found that it was my
astounding impertinence in making such a request of a Præfect that had
caused the excitement, and for some little time I was looked on as quite
a hero.
Though, at first sight, this kind of superstitious awe of the Inferiors
towards the Præfects may seem unprofitable, yet I am inclined to think
that, on the whole, it was not without its advantages. Certainly, in some
exceptional cases, a Præfect used to take advantage of his position,
and treat those beneath him cruelly; but such, at any rate, was not the
general character of the Præfects in my time; and most of them used
their power far more in preventing the big Inferiors from bullying their
companions, than in inflicting torture themselves.
The Præfects had the entire charge of the boys out of school, and were
responsible to the masters for all breaches of discipline committed
by the others, for which they (the Præfects) were punished; it was,
therefore, their interest as well as duty to see the laws carried
out. When a delinquent was discovered, he received his punishment at
once from the Præfect under whose jurisdiction the offence fell. This
generally consisted of any given number of stripes on the back, varying
from a dozen to about fifty, according to the character of the offence,
or the disposition of the performer. The sticks used for this purpose
were supple young ash plants, familiarly called “Ground Ashes,” and the
supplying them to the Præfects formed quite a profitable branch of trade
to some individuals in the town, as the consumption was considerable.
As I mentioned above, this kind of thrashing was called “Tunding,” and,
for any grave offence, it was administered by the Præfect of Hall on the
raised dais at the end of hall, in presence of all the boys, and was then
called “a Tunding on top of Hall.” I believe the system worked well.
It would have been impossible for the Masters to have been continually
spying after the boys; and the confidence placed in the Præfects
strengthened their character, inasmuch as, for the most part, they felt
proud of the trust confided to them, and conscientiously endeavoured
to fulfil their duties. The public Tundings were almost always fairly
conducted, being generally adequate, but not excessive, and could not be
classed with the severe bullying that some few Præfects carried on behind
the scenes, where there was no public to control either the manner or the
quantity of punishment administered.
A high tone of honour was kept up in the school, truth being scrupulously
adhered to between the boys themselves, and by them towards the Masters,
except in one particular, (which exception, indeed, was caused by an
honourable feeling crookedly developed,) and this was when telling the
truth would bring _another_ individual into trouble.
On these occasions, the most tremendous lies were sometimes considered
justifiable:—_e.g._, The Doctor comes suddenly round a corner, and finds
Tibbs mopping the rosy fluid from his nose with a rueful countenance,
having just received a sharp back-hander from one of his lords and
masters, whose basin he has broken:—
“Pray, what may be the matter with you?” inquires the Doctor.
“Fell down and hurt my nose, sir,” whimpers Tibbs.
_Dr._ “But the ground is muddy, and your clothes clean.”
_T._ “Only touched the ground with my nose, sir.”
But I can give a more comprehensive example in an occurrence that I
well remember. One night, in one of the chambers, the boys were up and
amusing themselves with the operation of a “Toefitying,” which consists
in noosing the toe of a sleeper in a piece of string, and then pulling,
concerning which pastime more anon. Badger was trying to operate
on Reynard, who, (though pretending to be asleep, was really wide
awake,) gently stealing his hand from under the bedclothes, clutched a
Donnegan, and launched it at Badger’s head, who, being thereby floored,
mechanically replied with his extinguished candlestick, extinguisher,
snuffers, and all, which unfortunately took effect, and inflicted a deep
cut on Reynard’s lip. The next morning, as Reynard was not producible,
one of the Masters made affectionate inquiries respecting him. On hearing
that he had cut his lip, he inquired, “How?” No one had an idea.
_Master._ “Send for Reynard.”
[_Appears Reynard with his head in a sling._]
_M._ “How did you cut your lip?”
_R._ “Woke in the night, sir, and found my lip bleeding; think something
must have struck it.”
_M._ “Tell the Senior Præfect in the chamber to come to me.”
[_Præfect appears._] _M._ “Toller, what was going on in your chamber last
night?”
_T._ “Don’t know, sir, as I was fast asleep.” (_N.B._—He was eating
toasted cheese at the time immediately opposite the scene of action.)
The other boys of the chamber being sent for in proper order, some
thought they heard a noise, but were certain it was caused by boys from
another chamber, (the latter part being true for a wonder;) another
thought he detected Pudding’s voice; by a curious coincidence, Pudding
happened to have been sleeping at sick-house on that particular night;
and so on.
But if by any chance an individual was likely to receive punishment in
consequence of any self-sacrificing fiction, I need not say that the real
delinquent always stepped forth at once and claimed his right to the
infliction. I never knew an instance of a boy spontaneously informing
a Master of any misdemeanour committed by another. This, although
commendable as a general rule, might, on some rare occasions, (in cases
of bullying by Præfects for example,) be infringed with advantage. In the
matter of certain articles, which were strictly defined, and which, if I
remember rightly, consisted of stationery, knives, faggots, crockery, and
eatables supplied by the College, we used to put a liberal interpretation
on the eighth commandment, these being looked upon to a certain extent as
common property; and it was considered fair “to make” (_i.e._, take) them
if you could. Of course, if discovered, certain results would follow,
but no moral offence was imputed. All other articles were governed by
the usual laws which define the difference between _meum_ and _tuum_;
and I need not say that, as regards money, the most rigid probity was
enforced; and if a boy was ever suspected of improperly meddling with
another’s capital, the affair was diligently inquired into, and, if found
guilty, the punishment of the delinquent was condign, and the disgrace
ineffaceable.
Popjoy and Hopper on one occasion made a bet, the subject of which was
that, during the ensuing fortnight, each should endeavour to “make” as
many knives as possible, the possessor of the greater number at the end
of the appointed time to be the winner. They set to work diligently,
and, by the end of the time, had nearly collected all the knives in
the school. On comparing their booty, Hopper was found to have a small
majority. Popjoy, discontented at the result, proposed another trial,
which being assented to, just before the final day Hopper found that the
whole of his stock had disappeared, having been successfully swept off by
his now triumphant antagonist.
The Winchester slang is very peculiar and expressive, and I confess
that I regard it with much affection. Some of the words can hardly
be expressed in English without considerable periphrasis; (_vide_
Glossary-words, “to junket over,” to “thoke upon,” &c.) Besides the
slang, there are other peculiarities in the language. The definite
article is never used in connexion with any of the institutions,
buildings, or localities connected with College; _e.g._, one never spoke
of “_the_ Hall, _the_ Election, _the_ Warden’s Stream;” it was always
“Election,” “Hall,” “Warden’s Stream,” &c. When speaking of persons, it
was permitted, as “the Doctor, the Warden.”
The names of many of the College _employées_ were hereditary nicknames,
which often passed on to the new-comer with his office. I dare say there
still exists a Dungy, Whitesman, Purver, Long John, &c. &c., though the
original owners of the names, or the derivations of the nicknames, (if
they were so,) have long since been forgotten. There was an exception to
this in the case of the Under-Porter, the nomenclature of the occupant of
which office was settled on a different principle. When I first came to
Winchester, he rejoiced in the name of Obadiah. I suppose the original
Under-Porter’s name was Malachi, and that, after him, the catalogue of
books of the Old Testament was followed up in due order; for when Obadiah
relinquished his post, his successor was named Amos; and, on Amos’s
retirement, Joel stepped into his vacant shoes; and as I was there five
years, and during that time three different Under-Porters wielded the
keys,—if they have since succeeded at the same rate, the name of the
present officer would be Esther.
In the times I write of, we had a good deal of relaxation from our
studies,—rather too much, indeed, I used to think, during my first year;
for at that time I considered school-time a decided change for the
better from my very arduous duties, when we were supposed to be amusing
ourselves. As time wore on, I found these labours rather alleviated, and
I ultimately began to think a whole holiday not such a bad institution
after all. We had plenty of them. In the short half, we had at least one
“Remedy” and a half every week, and in summer two always; they were on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. These “Remedies” were a kind of mitigated whole
holidays. We were supposed to go into school for an hour or two in the
morning and afternoon; but as no Master was present, it didn’t come
to much. This was called “Books Chambers.” Remedies were not a matter
of right, but were always specially applied for by Præfect of hall on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The custom was for him to waylay the Doctor on
his way to morning Chapel, and make the request, when, if granted, a gold
ring was handed to the applicant, on which was engraved, “_Commendat
rarior usus_.” This ring was worn by the Præfect of hall for the rest of
the day, and returned by him to the Doctor at the beginning of middle
school on the day following.
We had whole holidays on all Saints’ days and Founder’s anniversaries,
on which occasions we were allowed to go out,—if invited by friends in
the country, for the whole day; or if by friends in the town, for the
afternoon. Of course when there was a Saint’s day in the week we only had
one “Remedy.”
Half holidays were not unfrequent; whenever a distinguished Wykehamist
visited Winchester, a deputation of boys waited on him, with a request
that he would ask the Doctor for one; also, if any boy gained a
scholarship at Oxford or Cambridge, or having been at Winchester,
distinguished himself at the universities or in public life, or if there
was an addition to the family of any of the masters, (an event which
I have known to happen while I was at Winchester,) a half holiday was
petitioned for, and generally with success.
Sunday was the Fag’s best holiday, for even he participated in some
degree of the rest which is enjoined for the man-servant and maid-servant
on that day. We had a “Thoke,” (_i.e._, we did not get up) till eight
o’clock Chapel, and attended Cathedral service, which commenced with the
Litany at half-past ten; we went into school from four to five to do
Greek Testament, and to Chapel again at five. In Cloister-time, Sixth
book, and Senior part went into school from seven to eight P.M., which
period was called “Grotius time,” after the author whose work, “De
Veritate,” was then substituted for Greek Testament.
On Holidays and “Remedies” we were turned out for a couple of hours on to
“St Catherine’s Hill,” (a green eminence about a mile from College, with
a clump of trees at the top, which was surrounded by a deep trench—the
remains of a Roman camp,)—once before breakfast,(“Morning Hills,”) and
again in the afternoon, (“Middle Hills.”) In summer we also went out
after dinner, (“Evening Hills,”) when we did not ascend the aforesaid
mountain, but disported ourselves in the water-meadows beneath. These
outgoings were called “Going on to Hills” and “Under Hills” respectively.
Having now, I hope, put the reader pretty well _au courant_ as to the
scene of action, the authorities, and some of the institutions and
customs of Winchester, I will endeavour to give as accurate an account
as I can (considering the time that has elapsed since I was at school)
of the inner life of the boys,—as it was in those days,—and will proceed
to introduce the Fag on his first arrival, and then conduct you (kind
reader) with him through our Chambers, Hall, Chapel, School, and Meads,
and give a cursory sketch of his proceedings on a “Lockback Holiday,
Hills, and Leave-out, and during Standing-up and Election weeks.”
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