CHAPTER V.THE JUNIOR IN CHAMBERS.Choosing Chambers—Furniture of Chambers—Junior’s Duties—Toy-time—Mess—Sound Sleepers—Sitting up—The Scheme—Toefitying—Spree Mess—Theatricals.
Choosing Chambers—Furniture of Chambers—Junior’s Duties—Toy-time—Mess—Sound Sleepers—Sitting up—The Scheme—Toefitying—Spree Mess—Theatricals.
In the centre quadrangle (videPlan) are situated the seven Chambers in which the College boys sleep. They are on the ground-floor, and are called, after their respective numbers, “First,” “Second,” “Third,” &c. The number of beds varied in each, the largest (Seventh, which used to be the school before the present was built, about two centuries ago) containing thirteen, the smallest (Fifth) eight.
I will suppose our Fag to have been located inFourth, and, for the benefit of the uninitiated reader, I will endeavour to sketch this somewhat remarkable apartment. There are nine beds made of massive timber, coeval with the College, with a solid wooden canopy and sides, extending a quarter of the way down the bed. This canopy was generally papered inside with coloured prints, and wherein was fixed a “Reading-shelf” for books, and candlestick. The beds were comfortable, and I have never enjoyed sleep more than I have in those quaint old receptacles. By the side of each was a chest of about three feet long, in which clothes were kept, and it also served as a seat whereon to sit at “Toys.” This was a kind of bureau, the upper part of which was fitted with shelves for books, where might be found also tea and other groceries, crockery, and odds and ends innumerable; the lower part opened and formed a desk. If a search was to be made under our Junior’s bed, one would have found two candle-boxes, one for rushlights, and the other for “Tollys,” as the moulded article was generallynamed, three or four tin coffee-pots, two large tin boilers for water, (called “Toe-pan boilers,”) a large earthenware bath, (the “Toe-pan,”) a huge jug of beer, (the “Nipperkin,”) and lots of candlesticks. Behind the door was a pile of faggots; in the centre of the room was fixed a strong wooden “post” or pillar, and alongside of it a form, on which were placed three or four “Washing-drawers,” (i.e., oaken dressing-cases.) Opposite the window yawned the great fireplace, with its dogs, on which rested the faggots and bars for the reception of the array of boilers. Above it was a rushlight, (fixed in a circular iron pan fastened to a staple in the wall; it was called “The Functior;”) and on each side of it a strong four-legged table, (or “Washing-stool,”) at which sat the two Præfects. Around the walls above the beds were inserted, on slabs of slate or stone, the names of former heroes who had passed safely through the trials of a College Junior, and there many a boy could see the names of his ancestors looking down on him, and silently bidding him be of good heart.
When viewed in the daytime, and devoid of its occupants, thetout ensembleis somewhat dreary; but when the boys are there, and the fire blazing, a great change comes over the scene, and whether prejudice or what, I will not pretend to say; but I can call to mind no scene so cosy and cheerful, especially when, having turned into bed after a hard day’s work, I used drowsily to watch the darting flames till I gradually sunk into dreams of quiet home, or of a paradise of everlasting cricket and football, where there was no “Watching out” or “Kicking in.”
Chambers were chosen at the beginning of each half year by the Præfects, in order—the Præfect of hall always being, in Sixth,ex officio. Every chamber had two Præfects, and to four three were allotted. There was also a Candlekeeper to each chamber, who made their selection in rotation; the other boys were chosen by the Præfects. Each of the Præfects and the Candlekeepers had a Fag for his “Valet,” whose duty it was to prepare his tea or coffee in the evening, get him water of a morning,carry his washing things and books through to school after morning Chapel, and back again in the evening. The second Junior in Chamber had the charge of the crockery, and was bound to produce a pint-cup at any period of the day if one was demanded by a Præfect.
The Junior in Chamber had a hard time of it; for, in addition to being the Candlekeeper’s Valet, he had to get up in the morning when “Rat Williams” came and rattled at the door, call the other boys, light the fire, clean candlesticks, get in his Master’s water, clean his basin when it so required, (a tedious and disagreeable process, done by rubbing it with earth picked up from between the flints of Quad,) and wash himself,—this last was not a luxurious occupation at six o’clock on a cold winter’s morning, inasmuch as he had to go out in the dark, rain, snow, or frost, and perform his ablutions in the open air at “Conduit,” which was the name given to half a dozen brass cocks fixed in the west wall of Chamber Quad, and the water in which not seldom required thawing with fire beforeit could be persuaded to flow. While endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the Chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, “First peal!” “Second peal!” and “Bells down!” Then the advent of the Head or Second Master had to be duly announced by shouting, “Willerly or Ridsworth going in,” as the case might be; and lastly, when they had gone in, to give the final call, “Willerly or Ridsworth in.” Then there was a rush into Chapel, where names were called, and all too late to answer “Sum” got an imposition of thirty lines. Before going into Chapel, the Doctor used generally to walk up and down “Sands,” (i.e., the flags on the south side of Quad, under the Chapel windows;) this was to give an opportunity to those who wished to “go Continent,” (i.e., go to hospital,) to send for permission, and, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to the Prefect of hall to ask for a “Remedy.”
THE OLD CONDUIT—WASHING IN COURT.
THE OLD CONDUIT—WASHING IN COURT.
THE OLD CONDUIT—WASHING IN COURT.
After Chapel, all the boys (the Valets laden with their Masters’ goods and chattels) left Chambersfor school quad. After this, till about half-past sixP.M., Chambers remained deserted. From seven till eightP.M., the boys had to sit at their toys, to learn their lessons, and do their “Vulguses;” quiet was kept, and sometimes one of the Masters looked round. During this period of “Toy-time,” as it was called, the Præfects sat at their washing-stools on each side of the fire; and when from time to time a fresh faggot was put on, and the warmth became oppressive, a Junior was sometimes summoned to stand between their majesties and the blaze. The living screen was obliged to keep continually revolving, and to pull out his trousers from the more fully developed parts of his person, or he ran a risk of being scorched. Fortunately the fierceness of the blaze soon subsided, when the screen was permitted to withdraw.
Toy-time over, the Valets set to work to make their Masters’ coffee or tea, (“Mess.”) We used to make the former very good, our plan being to let it simmer for a long time, but on no account toboil over. In Belgium and France, however, where it is still better, I find they never boil the coffee, but simply pour scalding water over it.
In summer, the Præfects’ washing-stools were often set out in Quad, under the shadow of the Chapel buttresses, and the repast would consist of “Made beer,” (College swipes bottled with rice, a few raisins, sugar, and nutmeg to make it “up,”) bread, cheese, salad, lobsters, &c.
The Juniors got their tea (“Sus”) anyhow,—generally in bed,—and swigged it out of a pint-cup; and how delicious it was! Not unfrequently it was accompanied by a “Thoker,”—i.e., the evening ration of bread soaked slightly in water, and then put down to bake near the hot ashes.
Evening Chapel took place at nine, immediately after which the Inferiors had to go to bed; the Præfects were allowed to sit up till ten. How sweet was sleep in those days, and so sound, that on one occasion, when called in the morning, I found myself unable to move; on struggling to rise, I got the point of a stick in my eye, and graduallybecame aware that all the faggots in chamber had been piled on the bed during my slumber, without disturbing me in the least. On another occasion, (in which I was an active instead of a passive agent,) we corded up a boy, mattress, bedclothes, and all, so tight that he could not stir, (during which operation he slept soundly,) and was finally cut out by the bedmaker after Chapel. Again; one night I was sitting up in bed reading, and was very much disturbed by the obdurate snoring of another boy at the end of the room. Being unable to make him desist, and wishing to go to sleep, I put out my candle by throwing it at him; it struck the wall above his head, upon which he gave a grunt and a start, ceased snoring, and we all went to sleep. The next morning when he woke, he found the wick of the candle lying like a worm on his pillow, the whole of the grease having soaked into his hair.
Almost all the Fag’s lessons were learnt in Chambers at Toy-time, or sitting up at night, as, during two-thirds of the time in school, they wererepeating their lessons, and the Fagging during the rest of the day was continuous. There was a curious kind of understanding between the Masters and boys about sitting up at night. Two or three days a-week, one of the Masters used to make the round of the Chambers about eleven o’clock. As he passed each window, he could quite easily, and generally did, look in. In all probability he would see the Præfects at their washing-stools hard at work, and two-thirds of the other boys sitting up in bed reading, writing, or learning lines by heart,—the former with two, and the latter with one candle each. On opening the door with his Master-key, (which was not generally done with extreme rapidity,) what a different scene would present itself to his eyes,—a room dimly lighted by a rushlight, with eight or nine boys in bed, apparently fast asleep, and snoring particularly loud. At the first rattle of the key, the Præfects, having their beds previously turned down, extinguished the candles, shut up their books, and dashed into bed, boots, clothes, and all,—a proceeding that long practicehad rendered quite easy. Those in bed, with a sweep of the arm, drew under the clothes candlestick, ink, paper, hooks, and all. Sometimes a Præfect was not quick enough, or a Junior had gone to sleep with his candle alight, in both of which cases the former got the punishment, the Inferior settling his part of the reckoning with the Præfect afterwards.
There was more sitting up at night in the summer half year than in the winter, as at that time Præfects were busy preparing for Election Chamber, and Inferiors for “Standing up,” (v.i.) At that time, we used not only to borrow from the night, but the morning also; and we had a method of calling ourselves which was rather ingenious. It was called “The Scheme,” and was arranged as follows:—The Functior was known to burn at a certain rate—say an inch an hour—if it was lighted at nine o’clock, and we wanted to rise at four, seven inches only were allowed to protrude above the socket, (the rest being cut off,) around which a quantity of paper was arranged, and a string tied,which was carried through a hole in the top of a Junior’s bed; to the end of this string a parcel of books, or a pint-cup of water, was fastened, (if the latter, it was called “a Water Scheme,” and another string connected the bottom of the cup with the canopy of the bed.) When the candle burnt down, it ignited the paper and burnt the string, causing the books (or water) to fall, which roused the subincumbent sleeper, who proceeded to wake the rest. One Scheme was sufficient to wake the whole school if required; for in every other Chamber that contained any boys who wished to rise early, a victim was selected whose toe was secured in a noose of string, the other end of which was tied to the window-bar; so that the original schemer, by walking round Quad and tugging at the different strings, could soon rouse them all. This led to a very amusing incident on a certain occasion. One of the Masters who had lately arrived (and who, not having been educated at Winchester, was not up to the ways of the place) was going round Chambers with a friend, an oldWykehamist, who had been dining with him. While Mr ⸺ went into Third, his friend remained outside. Suddenly catching sight of a string tied to a bar of the window, and knowing well what was at the other end, he took a steady pull at it just as the Master had got to the middle of Chamber; the consequence was, that the unfortunate fish at the other end, who, by the by, was a severe stammerer, dashed out of bed, and, with a shattered howl, plunged past the astonished Master with one foot in the air, till he brought his toe up to the window-sill.
This little scene brings to my mind the demoniacal diversion of “Toefitying.” Occasionally some wicked boy would arise in the night, and, gently removing the bedclothes from the feet of an unsuspecting sleeper, endeavour to noose one of his toes with string, when, if successful, the consequence would be similar to that above described.
TOEFITYING, AND THE SCHEME.
TOEFITYING, AND THE SCHEME.
TOEFITYING, AND THE SCHEME.
Before the end of my first half year, I became a difficult subject, though, as above mentioned, a hard sleeper; yet if anybody laid the gentlestfinger on the bedclothes near my feet, to spring up, seize the nearest missile, and launch it at the intruder, was the work of an instant. An ingenuity, worthy of being devoted to better purposes, was displayed by Bolter in elaborating this foolish practical joke. He fixed a fishing-reel, with its line, to the leg of his washing-stool; and having passed the end of the line through a staple fastened to the post in the centre of the room, he then tied to it other lines equal in number to the boys in Chamber. Having secured each line to the toe of a boy, he then proceeded to wind up the reel briskly, the effect being that, in a twinkling, he had all the boys standing in a bouquet round the post with one leg extended. This little incident has been depicted by our artist in the plate entitled “Toefitying.”
On rare occasions, the boys used to get up at night and have supper. Once (this was before my time) a feast was going on, when, on an alarm being given that a Master was coming round, one of the boys seized a hot roasted duck and crammedit into the sleeve of his gown, just before the Master entered. There being a strong flavour of cooking, he inquired the cause; on which the boy suggested that the same perfume would probably be found in the adjoining Chamber, as the windows of both were near the Warden’s kitchen. “Come with me, and we will try,” said the Master. So they adjourned to the next Chamber, the boy taking good care to keep his sleeve, in which was the duck, in close proximity to his conductor, who, after sniffing about, found, to his surprise, that there really was a similar flavour there also, which clearly, in that case, could not have proceeded from any cooking in the room, as there was no fire; and so the original destiny of the duck was ultimately accomplished.
At the end of the half year, we used to have large entertainments, called “Spree Messes,” between Toy-time and Chapel, consisting of tea, coffee, muffins, cakes, &c., the funds for which were generally provided by fines inflicted during Toy-time for talking loud, slamming the door,coming in without whistling, (to show that it was not a Master entering,) improper language, &c. &c. Sometimes a Spree Mess was given by the boys about to leave at the end of that half. My muffin-consuming power, though still vigorous, has never been properly developed since the last of these entertainments at which I assisted, when Rasper, Sower, and myself, were the joint entertainers.
We brought one half year to a grand conclusion with theatricals in Seventh. Our preparations we had to make on the sly, as we thought it probable that, if the authorities were to hear of our proceedings, they would put a stop to them altogether; however, whether they knew of it or not, they never interfered, and it came off with greatéclat. After considerable debate, the pieces selected were “The Children in the Wood,” and “Alfred.” We formed our stage by removing all the bedding from the beds on one side of Chamber, and laying the bed-boards[4]on them for a floor. A cord was fastenedacross the room a few feet from the wall, from which lengths of paper-hangings were suspended to give it some appearance of a room, and (the toys being removed) to give room for the actors to pass from one side to the other without being seen by the audience; in front of all a green drop, or rather draw-curtain, was suspended.
THE PLAY IN SEVENTH.
THE PLAY IN SEVENTH.
THE PLAY IN SEVENTH.
I have but a vague recollection of the plot of the first piece; but I remember that theprima donnawas nearly six feet high. Her figure was not quite so well suited to the part as her head, and she was obliged to wear an ample shawl to conceal some little irregularities in her costume behind. I was a ruffian myself, and, after a sanguinary combat, was slain by somebody who objected to my cutting the throats of the children. It were as well the ruffian was killed, as I had to appear as a drunken servant in the second act; and I fancy that I cut rather a distinguished appearance in a pair of Mr Oades’s (the butcher)top-boots, which he kindly lent me for this particular occasion. The scene was supposed to be a wood; and to convey this idea to the audience, two faggots were put upon the stage. In this scene I was, in my turn, attacked by two ruffians, and, snatching a stick from a faggot, proceeded to defend myself. Somehow or other we all got entangled in my extempore weapon; and a bed-board giving way in the heat of the struggle, we all disappeared from the sight of the astonished audience. Just at this moment, in rushed the gentleman who had killed me in the first act, but whose duty it was now to defend me with the heroic cry, “What! two to one!” and there is no knowing what he might not have done if there had been any one for him to operate on; as it was, he had the stage to himself, and the curtain was drawn amid roars of laughter. How it all ended, I forget exactly; but it was no tragedy, and the children ultimately came in for ten thousand a-year, or were found to be heirs to a dukedom, or something pleasant of that kind.
The after piece, “Alfred,” was performed in the front of the great fireplace, where the king could toast his cakes conveniently. He was wrapped up in a surplice; but underneath he was very gorgeously got up, in a gold helmet, striped Jersey, tight drawers, and Wellington boots, with a large silk banner pinned on to his royal shoulders.
If our acting was indifferent, and the scenery and decorations absurd, they, at any rate, had the desired effect of amusing the audience, to judge by the tremendous applause that greeted the conclusion. Three times was the fair and blushing Podina led across the stage, trembling with modesty and excitement, to receive the enthusiastic applause of the enraptured spectators. However, I believe the actors had the best fun after all. Since then, I have assisted at getting up similar entertainments, but have never enjoyed anything of the kind nearly so much as this our first and, I believe, the last attempt at theatricals at Winchester.[5]