Bully might then, perhaps, inquire of the wretched Green if he was of “Founder’s kin,” and, whatever his answer, proceed to test the assertion by trying to break a plate on his head—the theory being that, if the plate broke first, his descent was proved.
Each boy, on his arrival, was allotted to a Præfect as his pupil, who was called his tutor, and was supposed to exercise a general superintendence over his morals and manners, to purge his exercises from the grosser faults, protect him from the unjust treatment of other boys, and generally to “Teejay”[3] him. It was ordinarily an advantageous arrangement to both parties. My old friend Dummy, however, was not fortunate in the selection made for him; he was handed over to a tutor, who, by way of taking a great interest in his welfare, prevented other boys from thrashing his pupil by operating on him so constantly himself, that they scarcely had any chance of so doing. The tutor was tall, thin, bullet-headed, and apparently about forty-five years of age, and he used, from time to time, to conduct his pupil into a quiet corner, and, with a cheerful smile beaming on his countenance, would give himself a few minutes’ healthy, but not too violent, exercise. He was economical, and found that a stout cane, tied with wax thread at the end, was a less expensive chest-opener than a ground-ash, which was not only very liable to break, but extracted less entertainment than the thicker weapon. He was not very muscular, or the consequences might have been serious. As it was, wherever Dummy went to bathe, a number of spectators always assembled to see his back, which, from the nape of his neck to his ankles, was a network of intersecting bruises. Dummy’s skin gradually got as tough as a hippopotamus’s, and I don’t think it did him much harm. At any rate, I saw him last year in rude health. He was delighted to see me; and he told me that, not long before, he had met his venerated tutor at a railway station in Northumberland, looking still about forty-five, and apparently a bishop or dean, or something of that sort, with a Gothic waistcoat, and a broad-brimmed hat, and altogether so little altered, that Dummy’s body gave an instinctive shrink as it passed him, in expectation of the never-failing blow or kick that used to follow immediately on his propinquity.
A fortnight’s breathing-time was allowed to every new boy before he commenced Fagging, to give him the necessary leisure to learn what would be expected of him; at the expiration of which period his duties began, and he was said to be “in Course.” Such is the natural craving in the human mind for change, that I remember, in my case, I was quite impatient for the time of probation to expire, that I might indulge in the manly exercise of Fagging.
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.
In the centre quadrangle (vide [Plan]) 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 in Fourth, 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 generally named, 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.