THE JUNIOR IN SCHOOL.
Description of School—Scobs—Officers—Division of Classes—Prizes
and Medals—Long and Short Half—Easter Time—Commoners’
Speaking—Cloisters—Latin Composition—Flogging—Scraping and
Shirking Out—Latin Verses—Pealing.
On descending Hall stairs, and turning sharp to the right through Seventh
Chamber passage, we enter School Court. The School is a spacious edifice,
(built in 1687,) ninety feet long, and thirty-six broad; it may be a
handsome building by itself, but, like the adjacent Commoners, is not
favourably contrasted with the venerable Gothic buildings of the College,
of which they form part. In the south-west corner of School is the
Throne of the Head, and, in the south-east, that of the Second Master;
opposite to each are seats for the Under-Masters.
At each end of School are three tiers of benches rising gradually one
above the other,—that on the ground being called “Senior Row,” and the
others “Middle” and “Junior Row” respectively. On these the classes
sit when “up at books,”—_i.e._, when repeating lessons,—four parallel
double ranges of solid oak benches, intersected, at intervals of about
four feet, by others, and firmly fixed to the floor, run from end to
end of the room, except where broken by Commoners’ tables, (two tables,
at which there is room for about thirty Commoners; the rest get places
where they can,) by the fireplace, and the passage from it to the door;
between these rows of benches are three broad passages down School. On
every angle of these intersecting forms is placed a large oak box, with
a double lid. Every College boy, and some Commoner Præfects, had one of
these; and some of the Senior Præfects have four, others three, and the
rest two. One of the lids of these boxes was generally kept up during
School-time to ensure a certain degree of privacy to the occupant, the
lower lid doing duty as a table; inside were kept the books and other
belongings of the proprietor. They were called “Scobs,”—_i.e._, box
phonetically spelt backwards.
High up on the wall, at the west end of the School, is a large tablet,
with a mitre, crosier, sword, inkstand, and rod painted on it, with the
words—
“Aut disce, aut discede, manet sors tertia cædi;”
which has been freely rendered—
“Work, walk, or be whopped.”
At the opposite end of School is another large tablet, on which is
painted the
“Tabula legum Pædagogicarum,”
which gives the rules to be observed by the boys in Chapel, School, Hall,
Quadrangle, Chambers, On Hills, and in All Places and Times.
[Illustration: TABULA LEGUM PÆDAGOGICARUM.
_IN TEMPLO._—DEUS COLITOR. PRECES CUM _PIO_ [DEVOTO _in the ancient and
original version_] ANIMI AFFECTU PERAGUNTOR. OCULI NE VAGANTOR. SILENTIUM
ESTO. NIHIL PROFANUM LEGITOR.
_IN SCHOLÂ._—DILIGENTIÂ QUISQUE UTITOR. SUBMISSÈ LOQUITOR SECUM. CLARÈ
AD PRÆCEPTOREM. NEMINI MOLESTUS ESTO. ORTHOGRAPHICÈ SCRIBITO. ARMA
SCHOLASTICA IN PROMPTU SEMPER HABETO.
_IN AULÂ._—QUI MENSAS [MENSAM, _orig._] CONSECRAT CLARÈ PRONUNCIATO.
CÆTERI RESPONDENTO. RECTI _INTERIM_ [_in the original draught omitted_]
OMNES STANTO. RECITATIONES INTELLIGENTER ET APTÈ DISTINGUUNTOR. AD MENSAS
[QUIES ESTO, _orig._] SEDENTIBUS OMNIA DECORA SUNTO.
_IN ATRIO._—_NE QUIS FENESTRAS SAXIS PILISVE PETITO. ÆDIFICIUM NEVE
INSCRIBENDO NEVE INSCULPENDO DEFORMATO. NEVE OPERTO CAPITE NEVE SINE
SOCIO CORAM MAGISTRO INCEDITO_ [_omitted in the original_.]
_IN CUBICULIS._—MUNDA OMNIA SUNTO. VESPERE STUDETOR. _NOCTU QUIES ESTO_
[_omitted in the original; instead of these injunctions occurs this law_:
NOCTU DORMITOR, INTERDIÙ STUDETOR. SOLUM CUBICULORUM VERRITOR. STERNUNTOR
LECTULI. PER FENESTRAS NEMO IN ATRIUM PROSPICITO. CONTRÀ QUI FAXIT,
PIACULUM ESTO.]
_IN OPPIDO, AD MONTEM._—SOCIATI OMNES INCEDUNTO. MODESTIAM PRÆ SE
FERUNTO. MAGISTRIS AC OBVIIS HONESTIORIBUS [GENUA FLECTUNTOR, _in
original_] CAPITA APERIUNTOR, VULTUS, GESTUS, INCESSUS COMPONUNTOR.
INTRA TERMINOS APUD MONTEM PRÆSCRIPTOS QUISQUE SE CONTINETO [_omitted in
original_].
_IN OMNI LOCO ET TEMPORE._—QUI PLEBEIUS EST, PRÆFECTIS OBTEMPERATO. QUI
PRÆFECTUS EST LEGITIME IMPERATO. _IS ORDO VITIO CARETO: CÆTERIS SPECIMÈN
ESTO_ [_omitted in original_]. _UTERQUE À PRAVIS OMNIBUS VERBISQUE
FACTISQUE_ [MENDACIIS, OSTENTATIONIBUS, JURGIIS, PUGNIS, ET FURTIS, _in
orig._] ABSTINETO. [TOGAM CÆTERASQUE VESTES, NEC DISSUITO, NEC LACERATO.
PATRIUM SERMONEM FUGITO, LATINUM EXERCETO, _in orig._] HÆC AUT HIS
SIMILIA _QUI CONTRA FAXIT_ [_omitted in original_], SI QUANDÒ DEFERANTUR,
JUDICIA DAMUS. _FERIIS EXACTIS NEMO DOMI IMPUNÈ MORATUR. EXTRA COLLEGIUM
ABSQUE VENIÁ EXEUNTES TERTIA VICE EXPELLIMUS_ [_omitted in orig._]]
School hours, in the times I write of, were from eight to nine A.M.,
(Morning School,) from ten to twelve, (Middle School,) and from two till
six P.M., (Evening School;) at the close of which prayers were read by
the Præfect of School.
On “Remedies,” (a kind of whole holiday,) we also went into School in
the morning and afternoon for an hour or two without masters; this was
called Books Chambers; and on Sundays, from four till a quarter to five.
In “Cloister Time,” (_v.i._,) Præfects, and senior part of the Fifth,
went into School on Sundays from seven to eight, which period was called
“Grotius Time.”
Order was kept during School hours by the Bible Clerk and Ostiarius, two
of the Præfects, who held these offices in rotation,—the former lasting
for a week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with
sticks, and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the
power of flogging) the names of the delinquents which had been “ordered”
for punishment; the names of the more heinous offenders being confided
to the Bible Clerk, the others to the Ostiarius. Just before School-time,
a boy was always stationed to watch the arrival of the Master, of which
he had to give notice by emitting a loud “Hiss,” upon which there was a
general rush up to books; the previous uproar dwindled to a calm, and
work began.
The School was divided into three classes, or “Books,” as they were
called. Of these the Præfects formed one, “Sixth Book:” “Fifth Book”
was subdivided into three parts, called respectively “Senior, Middle,
and Junior part of the Fifth;” in speaking of them, the words “of the
Fifth” were generally omitted. The rest of the boys made up “Fourth
Book;” their instruction, however, was not carried on in School, but in
another building adjoining, where the Præfects had a library, and in
which the mathematics were taught. The Præfects and senior part did not
change places from day to day, but only at the final examination in
Election-week. In the other parts, the relative positions of the boys
continually fluctuated, and their numbers were marked every day, at the
beginning of Middle School, in a book called the “Classicus (or Cuse)
Paper:” the individual who had the greatest number by the end of the
half year “got the books,” (_i.e._, gained a prize.) These books were
supposed to be given by the late Duke of Buckingham; now, I believe,
they are really given by Lord Saye and Sele. The boy who had the lowest
score at the end of any week, held the office of “Classicus” for the
week following,—his duties being always to inform the other boys what
was the particular lesson for the day, and what was the subject for
the next vulgus verse or prose task. There were two gold medals for
Composition,—for Latin verse and English prose, and for English verse and
Latin prose, on alternate years; and two silver for Elocution, annually
competed for; besides prizes given by Maltby, Bishop of Durham, for Greek
verse, Latin verse, and Inferiors’ speaking; Sir William Heathcote, of
Hursley, for Scholarship; and Mr Duncan, for Mathematics.
The School year was divided into two unequal parts. One, called “Short
Half,” commenced about the beginning of September, and lasted till about
the middle of December; the other, “Long Half,” from the beginning
of February till the middle of July. The six weeks after Easter
(“Easter-Time”) were devoted to the study of Greek Grammar, and once in
each of these weeks there was competition in speaking, the best speakers
being selected to display their oratorical powers on the final day, which
was called “Commoners’ Speaking.” During the remaining weeks of Long
Half, (“Cloister Time,”) Sixth Book and Senior part went up to books
together; when thus combined, they were called “Pulpiteers.” Middle and
Junior part were merged together in the same way—those in Junior part
having the opportunity of rising into Middle part, and _vice versâ_.
This combination was called “Cloisters,” and this period of the year
“Cloister Time;” the distinguished post of “Cloister Classicus” was, I
can tell from long experience, by no means a sinecure.
Efficiency in Latin composition, especially verse, and learning lines
by heart, were (unfortunately for me) the surest means of rising in the
School. Four days a week we had to write a short copy of verses of from
four to six lines on a set subject; this was called a “Vulgus,” and was
always written on half a quarter of a sheet of foolscap, (“a Vessel of
Paper.”) Once a week, one of from ten to twenty, a “Verse Task,” (written
on a quarter of foolscap;) and, once a week, also a “Prose Task.” We
were always excused (“had Remission from”) Vulgus when the next day was
a Saint’s-day; and if one fell on a Wednesday or Friday, our verse or
prose task for the day previous was remitted. Præfects and Senior part
also were encouraged to write, once or twice in the half-year, a copy
of verses on any subject selected by themselves, which was called a
“Voluntary.” From time to time, also, they had to write Latin criticisms
on Greek plays, and the other boys to write an analysis of some
historical work; these productions were called “Gatherings,” (or “Gags.”)
In the last week but one of “Long Half,” all the boys, except those in
Sixth Book and Senior part, had to say a number of lines; this was called
”Standing-up Week,” concerning which and “Election Week,” (the last week
of the same half,) I will treat hereafter.
Flogging was not excessively frequent, and by no means severe. The
rod consisted of a wooden handle about two feet and a half long, with
four grooves at one end, into which were inserted four apple twigs;
these branched off from the handle at so considerable an angle, that
not more than one could touch the space of skin exposed,—about a
hand’s-breadth of the small of the back, the waistcoat of the victim
being raised to the necessary height. To obviate this to a certain
extent, the “Rod-maker”—one of the Juniors charged with the care of
these implements—had to twist them together so as to form one combined
stick; generally, however, they separated after the second cut. I am
told that these twigs are now cut so as to lie in a straight line with
the rod, without any angle, which is a very disadvantageous change
for the floggee. The ordinary punishment consisted of four cuts, and
was called “a Scrubbing.” The individual who was to be punished was
told “to order his name,” which he did by going to the Ostiarius, and
requesting him to do so; that officer accordingly, at the end of School
time, would take his name to the Master, who would then call it out,
and the victim had to kneel down at Senior row, while two Juniors laid
bare the regulation space of his back. The first time a boy’s name was
ordered, the punishment was remitted on his pleading “Primum tempus.” For
a more serious breach of duty, a flogging of six cuts (a “Bibler”) was
administered, in which case the culprit had to “order his name to the
Bible Clerk,” and that individual, with the help of Ostiarius, performed
the office of Jack Ketch. If a boy was detected in a lie, or any very
disgraceful proceeding,—a rare occurrence, I am happy to say,—he had
to stand up in the centre of Junior row during the whole of the School
time, immediately preceding the infliction of the flogging; this pillory
process was called a “Bibler under the nail.” I have also heard, that for
a very heinous offence a boy might be punished in Sixth Chamber, in which
case the number of stripes was not limited; but I never knew an instance
of this.
On one first of April, an impertinent boy undertook to make an April fool
of the Doctor, and accordingly marched boldly up to his throne, and told
him that he had torn his gown; and, on the rent not being found visible
to the naked eye, suggested that it was the 1st of April; upon which
he was told to order his name to the Bible Clerk. When Middle School
was over, the Doctor put on his trencher cap, and called out, “Pincher,
Bible Clerk, and Ostiarius!” (which meant that Pincher was to advance
to receive his deserts, and the others to assist as masters of the
ceremonies.) At the moment that the culprit was expecting to feel the
sting of the apple-twigs across his backbone, the Doctor threw down the
rods, saying, “Who is the fool now?” and was walking out of School, when
the undaunted Pincher jumped up, and ejaculated, “It’s past twelve, Sir!”
Ordinary offences of a trifling character, such as being late for
Chapel, or “Shirking Hills,” (_v.i._,) were punished by the infliction
of an imposition,—generally thirty lines of Virgil, English and Latin.
I think I must have written out the Æneids of Virgil and Odes of Horace
half-a-dozen times during my sojourn at Winchester. Indeed, being
naturally of a prudent disposition, whenever I had nothing particular to
do, I used to write out a few lines, and thus gradually became possessed
of a small capital of a thousand lines or so, on which I could draw at
any pressing emergency.
If a boy had occasion to speak to a Master, and while he was up at books,
the correct thing was to keep his gown buttoned at the top; and if he
wished to go out of School, he wrote his name on a slip of paper, (or
“Roll,”) with the following sentence:—“Ostiarii veniâ potitus, tuam
pariter exeundi petit;” he then asked leave of the Ostiarius to “put up
his roll,” which being granted, he deposited it on the Master’s desk,
and made his exit. When a Præfect wanted to go out, he went to a corner
Scob near the door, and “scraped” with his feet until he attracted the
Master’s attention, and obtained a nod of consent. At one particular time
of the year, (I think it was during Saturday evening School in Easter
week,) two Commoners and one College Inferior might collectively scrape
out together. Only about half-a-dozen boys were allowed to be out at one
time; but I have known some steal out on the sly, without any preliminary
formality. On a fine summer afternoon, the Doctor might accidentally
cast his eye over School, and observing that it had rather a deserted
expression, would send out the Bible Clerk and Ostiarius to make a foray
in Meads, who would presently return with a flock of truants; it being
impossible to flog such a number, it was usual to make them “cut in a
book,”[7] to settle which half-a-dozen should be distinguished in this
manner.
[Illustration: SCHOOL.]
The educational system at Winchester is, I believe, most excellent,
and turns out a very superior article in many cases. I am sorry that I
cannot point to myself as a brilliant example. When I was in Junior part,
I was under a Master who used to curb my ascending energies by making
me always stand up junior, and not allowing me “to take up” even when
we went up to the Doctor for our monthly examination. He used also to
employ the following method of repressing any little eccentricities on my
part; he would call me up to the side of his desk, and putting his hand
affectionately on my shoulder, mildly remonstrate with me, gradually his
hand would creep up, and a finger entwine itself in the hair above and
a little in front of my ear, and he would impress on me the more salient
points of his lecture by a steady screw of the finger. This treatment
ultimately became very tiresome; so one day, just as the screw-powder was
being laid on, I emitted a yell, that made the Doctor bound again in his
chair, and brought every boy in the school on his legs. After this my
hair was allowed to curl naturally. In the middle of the half year this
Master left, and his place was filled by another. The reader will be as
much surprised as I was, when he hears that at the end of that half I
got the books! If any one doubts the fact, I can show them the volume in
question, with a statement in it endorsed by his Grace the late Duke of
Buckingham, that my morals were excellent, and my habits of application
most praiseworthy. I was accordingly promoted into Middle part, and when
the next half year I proudly ascended to my new position, I had visions
of a fellowship at New College, and a shadowy notion of the woolsack in
futurity. Neither of these fancies, however, have yet been accomplished.
If it were not that owing to the inclemency of the season this autumn,
the grapes are so very backward, I should be inclined to make some
remarks touching the former disappointment.
My new Master unfortunately thought that I was incorrigibly idle, and
in my Latin verses and lines showed me no mercy. I struggled hard for
a year, (oh, the many hours that I have sat up in bed and paced up and
down School, trying to drive the requisite number of lines into my head
for the next morning’s repetition,) and after that his opinion gradually
became more correct. Unfortunately for me, our places were always
marked every morning immediately after the repetition of lines; and as
I invariably went to the bottom then, it mattered little how much I had
risen previously, and I was “Semper (always) Classicus;” and so if I had
remained at Winchester, I should have been to the present day.
I must also admit that I was not strong in Latin verse. I remember
writing a copy once that I thought was beyond criticism, and was much
disgusted when I found that the Master thought that “pius Æneas” was not
a suitable termination to an Hexameter line. I was not, however, alone
in this want of true poetic feeling. My worthy friend Podder one day
produced the following Pentameter:—
“Lēŏ rĕx bēllŭărūm ūt cæ̆tŭs ēst pĭscĭūm.”
For the benefit both of those who do, and those who do not, understand
Latin, I will mention that the translation of the above was meant to be—
“The lion is the king of beasts, as the whale is of fishes.”
Will Bumpus forgive me if I relate an instance of his ingenuity? He
quietly took the following line from Horace, and served it up as an
_Hexameter_ of his own composition:—
Dūlcē|ēt dē|cōrūm|ēst prō|pātrĭâ|mōrī.|
On the inexpediency of this being suggested to him, he was setting
to work to alter it, when suddenly a bright thought flashed across
his mind; he knew the line was out of Horace, so that if it wasn’t an
Hexameter, it must be a Pentameter; so up it came—
Dūlcĕ ĕt|dēcōr|ūm|ēst prŏpă|triă mŏ|rī.
The rest being tragic, I will break off here, and having given the reader
enough of myself and my shortcomings, will proceed to more general
subjects.
We had some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior
part and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into School,
used to engage in a kind of general tournament; this was called “Cloister
Roush;” each party used to charge from their respective ends of School
till they met in the middle; it was a good-humoured affair; fists were
not used, but only wrestling and hustling. Another remarkable custom was
that of “Cloister Pealing.” At the commencement of Cloister time, for a
few minutes before the hiss was given, the vast gulf that usually existed
between Præfects and Inferiors was temporarily broken down. All the
boys in Cloisters being assembled up at books, proceeded to chant the
praises of the popular or severe criticisms on the unpopular, Præfects,
in short Latin, Greek, or English epigrams. I am happy to say that the
complimentary species generally preponderated. Well do I remember the
enthusiasm with which we chanted on one occasion—
Ζωή μου σᾶς ἀγαπῶ.
Ζωή being the nickname of one of the senior Præfects, _Rich_ in all those
physical and moral qualities that endear an athletic youth to his younger
school-fellows. I might give some examples of Peals, which the reader
might find more amusing than the subjects found them complimentary, but
for obvious reasons I abstain.
In Commoners also there was an entirely different description of
“Pealing,” which will be described in the chapter on Standing up and
Election Week.
[Illustration]