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.”
CHAPTER IV.
THE JUNIOR’S START IN COLLEGE LIFE.
πεμπε—Tin Gloves—Test of Founder’s Kin—Tutor and Pupil—The Fag “in Course.”
In this chapter, I propose to recount some of the solemnities attendant on the first appearance of a new boy. I need not go through a list of the ordinary questions and chaffings to which a greenhorn is subjected at all schools, but will confine myself to some of the ordeals peculiar to Winchester in the dark ages of which I write. On the first appearance of Green in school, Humbug would ask him, with an air of sympathy, if he had a book entitled “πεμπε μωρον προτερον,” (send the fool farther,) without which it would be impossible for him to get up properly his appointed task. On finding that he has not a copy of the work in question, Humbug would offer his own which he had lent to Brown, and to whom he despatches Green to get it. Brown, however, having lent it to Jones, Green goes to him, who refers him to Robinson, who sends him down to sick-house, whence he is again sent back to school, and, after numerous similar peregrinations, he is ultimately referred to one of the Masters, who soon puts an end to his search.
But there were other ordeals that were not quite so harmless. Green was liable to be asked whether he possessed a pair of “Tin gloves.” As this article does not generally form part of a boy’s outfit, Bully would proceed to furnish him with a pair in the following manner:—Taking a half-consumed stick from the fire, he would draw the “red-hot end” down the back of Greens hand between each of the knuckles to the wrist, and, having produced three satisfactory lines of blisters, would then make two or three transverse lines across. A scientifically fitted pair of gloves of this description was generally, if not pleasant wear, at any rate, of great durability.