CHAPTER VIII.THE JUNIOR IN SCHOOL.

CHAPTER VIII.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.

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 cornerof 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 therest 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.

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 nineA.M., (Morning School,) from ten to twelve, (Middle School,) and from two till sixP.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 thefinal 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, Latinverse, 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, andvice versâ. This combination was called “Cloisters,” and this periodof 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 Latincriticisms 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 disgracefulproceeding,—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 feelthe 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 ona 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.

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 entwineitself 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 thesefancies, 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 Ithought 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 anHexameterof his own composition:—

On the inexpediency of this being suggested to him, he was setting to work to alter it, when suddenlya 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—

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 betweenPræfects 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,Richin 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.

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