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 who have 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
NOTE.
Mr. Wrench has recently published a “Dictionary of Winchester Slang,” which has probably had a wide circulation among Wykehamists. He has given a list of all the words he could collect, used in days before my time, and those of more recent coinage. In the following Glossary I have strictly confined myself to those in use while I was in the school. It interested me much to learn from Mr. Wrench’s book, not only the number of quite new words (for instance, the title of his work—“Notions”—was invented subsequent to my period), but also the change in the meaning of several of the words which are still used.