The last week of the Long half, or “Election week,” was indeed a “Jubilee” for the Fags, inasmuch as there were no lessons whatever, and the Præfects were either undergoing their examination or preparing for it, and consequently too busy to play cricket to any great extent.
On Tuesday, the Warden of New College and the other electors were received at Middle Gate by the boys, headed by the Præfect of Hall, who addressed them with a Latin oration (“Ad Portas.”) The Electors were the Warden and two fellows of New College, (called “Posers,”) with the Warden, Sub-warden, and Head Master of Winchester. Each of these had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there were generally about twelve, but always many more “Candidates,” (or “Candlesticks,” as they were often called.) Two fortunate individuals were selected by vote from among such of the candidates as could prove their descent from the Founder, and were placed at the head of the list, and got the first two vacancies. They were called Founders, and had several privileges, the principal of which was, that two of them were always brought up to the head of the roll at every election for the first two vacancies at New College; they were also not obliged to leave (“to be superannuated”) at the age of eighteen, as all the others were. I have known several cases of Founders remaining till they were past twenty, and one in particular, who, year after year, saw other Founders put over his head, till he left in despair at a green old age; and it was reported that, on one occasion when playing against Eton at Lord’s, on his making a fine hit, a small voice from the crowd was heard to call out, “Well hit, Papa, run along.”
THE LATIN SPEECH—AD PORTAS.
After Ad Portas, the Electors adjourned to Election Chamber over Middle gate, accompanied by “Semper Testis,” a gentleman in a white hat, who was never seen except on very solemn occasions, and whose functions it would be sacrilegious to attempt to investigate.
After a time “The Scrutiny” commenced. This was effected by sending for the seven senior and seven junior boys, and examining them as to the internal economy of the College. I don’t think that much information was often extracted by this operation.
On Wednesday morning the Candlesticks were examined, or rather supposed to be, as it was merely a form, their seniority on the Roll being settled by the nomination of the Electors as above mentioned. They had to try to construe a bit of Latin, and were then asked if they could sing, and, whatever their answer, had to repeat the words, “All people who on earth do dwell.”
After this began the Examination of Sixth book and Senior part, which was a very different affair. They were divided into three parts, called respectively “Senior, Middle, and Junior Fardel.” It was brought to an end on Thursday evening with “a Varying”—i.e., a short extemporaneous composition in Latin verse. After the examination was over, there was great excitement till “The Roll”[12] came down, which gave the names of those who were to go to New College and enter Winchester. It was always brought by the Head Porter, Poole, to the window of Sixth, and delivered to Senior Founder, when loud was the cheering if there was no change in the roll, or if some very popular individual was promoted, or held his own contrary to the general expectation.
There were generally about four or five vacancies in New College each year. The date of a boy’s birth might be of serious importance to him, as if it occurred just before Election he would be Superannuate, and could only fill any vacancy that occurred before the Election following; but if his birthday was three days later, he would not be Superannuate till the next Election. This was called “gaining a year by Election.”
But other things besides examinations were going on in this eventful week. On Tuesday there was the Medal speaking in school, when the rows at the west end of school were filled with an interested audience of old Wykehamists. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday there were grand dinners in hall to which all old Wykehamists and many others were invited; the hospitality was indeed unbounded. The big wigs sat at the high table, and down the centre of hall was laid a row of tables at which all the other strangers sat, with the second master at the top. The Candlesticks sat at Tub mess, presided over by the Bible Clerk for the week; and below them were the Grace singers, Superannuates, and “Children.” These latter were appointed by the Electors, who each named one. Their duties were to pocket a sovereign, and eat a particularly good dinner. The other boys sat on the south side. The dinner given to them was mutton-pies and “Stuckling.” This latter is a production which, I am happy to say, is peculiar to Winchester, and fortunately only to be found there during two days in Election week. In external appearance and in section it is similar to a mince pie, and in taste it is something like one that has been soaked in vinegar, and then kept till it is mouldy. It is made of chopped beef, currants, suet, apples, and carraway seeds. I have seldom seen anybody taste it a second time. These rations were, however, scorned by the boys; and as half the good things from the centre table were handed over to them, they made up for any past deficiencies in the way of dinner, in a manner that must have been surprising to the lookers on. Venison pasty, currant-pies, pea-soup, ham, ducks, cucumber, fish, &c., disappeared as if by magic, washed down by libations of “Huff,” (very strong ale.) The gospel was read by the Bible Clerk for the week after the first course, and at the conclusion the beautiful grace was sung by the boys, with the help of the cathedral choristers and singing men. On Friday the boys had no dinner in hall, where the Dons had it all to themselves, and afterwards adjourned for wine and dessert to the Warden’s Gallery, where they complimented each other in the usual after-dinner style.