CHAPTER XV.CONCLUSION.
If I could only flatter myself that any of my readers have felt one quarter of the pleasure in reading my little book that I have derived from writing it, I should be more than satisfied. On looking it over, however, I have some misgivings; I fear that those who know not Winchester may think the subject too trivial for illustration, and that Wykehamists may regret that so good a subject has been so indifferently handled.
It has surprised me to find how many occurrences, names, words, and faces that for years had lain dormant in my mind, started up again in mymemory, as I sauntered through Chambers, School, and Meads; how strange was the sensation to be looked at as a stranger, in a place every stone of which was as familiar to me, nay, I may say more familiar to me, than any other spot in the world. The boys, their names, their dress, their games, their quaint language, (of which I have endeavoured to draw up a glossary,) all seem unchanged; and even I fancied that I myself was once more a Junior, till mechanically snatching at a ball rolling past me, my vertebræ most disagreeably reminded me what o’clock it was.
It has often occurred to me how very remarkably the relative positions of boys change in after-life; and if all those who were my school-fellows could be collected together how differently we should regard each other. Such a gathering would be of course impossible, even if death had not cut short the career of very many; scattered through every portion of the globe, working hard in their different professions, or vegetating in luxuriousease or careless indolence, how contrary to all our expectations has many a one turned out; some, neglected and despised while at school, have risen to eminence, while others, whose early youth seemed to give bright promise, have never raised their heads above the common throng. This change is even more remarkable in the physical appearance of individuals than in their moral character. I am myself, in some respect, an example of this. I left school when I was seventeen, if anything rather smaller than other boys of my age; some years after I was at a ball at Glasgow, when I saw a little officer whose face was perfectly familiar to me, and I perceived that mine was not strange to him, so we soon fraternized; I found that my friend was Long Eves, as we used to call him from his being so tall. I am no giant, and I now found that I had overtopped him by a head. At Oxford I found men who, when at Winchester with me, could have thrashed me with one hand, but who then, if engaged in such a contest,would I think have preferred the use of three.
But I must not quit my subject altogether without noticing some of the more important changes that have taken place in the institutions of the College since the time when I was first admitted. I will mention them in the same order that I observed when treating of them as they were in my time.
The Choristers are now no longer mere fags to the boys, but really do sing, and have had a handsome school built for their accommodation. The old Commoners’ buildings were removed in my time, and replaced by a more commodious and hideous structure, in which for some time the head-master received boarders. These have all migrated to four masters’ houses in Culver’s Close. They still call themselves Commoners, so that, for purposes of athletic competitions, &c., the school is divided into College, Commoners, and Houses (these latter being the occupantsof the other five masters’ houses not in Culver’s Close). The building which was vacated by Commoners has been adorned and renovated by Mr. Butterfield, and now presents quite a respectable appearance. In it the new Library and various lecture rooms are located. The College boys are still 70 in number, but the number in Commoners and Houses has more than doubled since 1836, when there were about 120 (I believe at one time they dwindled down to 65). There are now about 350, and, if more masters’ houses were built, this number might be greatly increased. There are now nine masters’ houses, in each of which from 35 to 40 boys are accommodated, and the number of applications from anxious parents who wish to get their boys into the school is so excessive as to cause great embarrassment to the masters and much disappointment to the candidates.
In College the office of Præfect of Tub has been abolished, and a Præfect of Library installedin his place. There are now only two half remedies (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in each week; but Thursday is a whole remedy in the Summer term, and there is a vacation of three weeks at Easter. Going in procession to “Hills” is discontinued, and the boys may go where they like (except into the town) out of school hours. Watching-out at cricket is considerably limited, and “kicking-in” at football entirely abolished. The College Chambers[13](except Fourth) are removed to the two storeys above, which were supposed to be occupied by the Fellows, but were hardly ever used by them. In the new Chambers there is every necessary appliance for decency and comfort, so that the Junior in winter has no longer to rub his miserable little nose with a bit of ice, and think he is washing himself, but can revel in any amount of fresh water indoors. Theold Chambers are mostly used as studies, book-chambers, and toy-time as before; but one is used as a laundry and another as a dressing-room after football, cricket, &c. The boys have tea found for them in Hall, instead of having to go to sick-house for it. The dinner takes place at one o’clock. The boys get crockery instead of trenchers to eat their meals off, and knives and forks to eat them with.[14]Prime joints are carved by the servants, and a master is present. The pandemonium which took place when I was a Junior at the six o’clock dinner has happily entirely departed. At supper gaslight illumines the Hall, instead of the feeble flickering of a few dips. The ceremony of the oath is abolished. The Morning Service in chapel is at 7.50, on Saturday evenings at 5.30, on Sundays at 9, 11, and 5, and on Saints’ days at 9A.M.Only the members of the Choir wear surplices.The boys only go to Cathedral on the second Sunday in each month.
School is now kept closed, and is only opened for concerts, lectures, &c. Its appearance has much changed. The seats and the fixed forms which supported them are swept away, a handsome organ is erected at the east end, and the “Tabula Legum” has been moved to another position over the entrance-door. The mouldings of the cornices are picked out in colour, the wainscoting varnished; and the magnificent room presents a great contrast to what it was when it was the only living room for the boys in play as well as in school hours.
The area of College Meads has been much extended by throwing down the walls which separated it from “Long” and “sick house” Meads. A racket and fives courts have been erected by the Ridding family for the benefit of the School. There is a large gymnasium, and very extensive buildings erected for additional accommodationfor invalids. A splendid additional cricket-ground has been laid out adjoining the old Meads, which together make, I fancy, the finest playground attached to any school in the world.
The glories of the old Election week have altogether vanished. The election to Winchester is still in the middle of July; and there is a dinner in Hall on Domum Day, but there are very few old Wykehamists in attendance. The parents and tutors of the candidates for election muster strong for the examinations, which last three days; and the ordeal they have now to pass through is very different indeed from that which I have described as taking place when I was a candidate. The distinction and privileges of Founders’ kin are entirely abolished. Commoners are admitted to Election Chamber, and have an equal chance with College boys of getting scholarships at New College.[15]
Besides all these alterations in the buildings and regulations,[16]there are many fresh institutions which are sources of great interest to the boys. There is a Rifle Corps, a Debating Society, Shakespeare Society, Glee Club, Chapel Choir, a Boat and a Golf Club. Golf, however, is not allowed in the Summer term.
On the whole, I do not think it would be a great exaggeration to say that there have been more changes in the school arrangements since 1835 than took place in the whole period from the foundation to that date.
As regards the changes that have been enforced on the College by the Government, I feel myself incompetent to form an opinion. I have heard them both extolled and vituperated by individuals whose opinions are worthy of respect, and whohave the welfare of the school at heart. At any rate, I earnestly hope that the good effects expected by the former will be fully realised, and the forebodings of the latter prove illusory. I have little doubt myself that as long as the moral and physical wellbeing of the boys is so carefully looked after as it now is, that Wykeham’s College will continue to maintain its high reputation; and though but few of her sons may dazzle the world by their wealth, rank, or power, the majority may yet, at any rate, prove always by their manly and honourable bearing, that they know the meaning of the motto of their illustrious founder,
MANNERS MAKYTH MAN
MANNERS MAKYTH MAN
MANNERS MAKYTH MAN