Transcriber’s Notes: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Sidenotes are identified as: [SN: text of sidenote]. Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. * * * * * FLOREAT ETONA [Illustration] MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON BOMBAY CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK BOSTON CHICAGO ATLANTA SAN FRANCISCO THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO [Illustration: The Great Court of Eton College. _Engraved by J. Black after W. Westall, 1816._] FLOREAT ETONA ANECDOTES AND MEMORIES OF ETON COLLEGE BY RALPH NEVILL MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1911 * * * * * IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR OLD ETON FRIEND S. S. S. Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales awake; For Death, he taketh all away, but them he cannot take. * * * * * The Author wishes to acknowledge the great debt of gratitude which he owes to those who have assisted him by the loan of books, photographs, and prints. First and foremost stands the Right Honourable Lewis Harcourt, M.P., who has most kindly afforded him access to his unique collection of Eton books--eventually destined, it is understood, for the school library. The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., has also shown great good-nature in lending a number of interesting prints, reproductions of which will be found amongst the illustrations. Especial thanks are due to Mr. Robert John Graham Simmonds, resident agent of the Hawkesyard estate, who took considerable trouble to furnish valuable information concerning the old Eton organ case, a photograph of which, by the courteous permission of the Dominican fathers, was taken in their chapel at Rugeley. The photographs of the old oak panelling formerly in the Eton Chapel were obligingly contributed by Mrs. Sheridan, in whose entrance hall at Frampton Court, Dorset, this panelling now is. The author also wishes to thank a number of old Etonians who have furnished him with anecdotes and notes which have proved of much assistance. Chief among these must be mentioned his cousin, the Right Hon. Sir Algernon West, one of the few survivors of “Montem,” Mr. Douglas Ainslie, and Mr. Vivian Bulkeley Johnson--some other obligations are acknowledged in the text. His debt to previous books dealing with Eton will be evident; and a number of the coloured plates are reproduced from the scarce work on Public Schools published by Ackermann a little short of a hundred years ago. CONTENTS PAGE 1. EARLY DAYS 1 2. OLD CUSTOMS AND WAYS 30 3. DR. KEATE--FLOGGING AND FIGHTING 68 4. “CADS,” AND THE “CHRISTOPHER” 99 5. MONTEM 129 6. THE COLLEGE BUILDINGS 157 7. COLLEGE 196 8. SCHOOL WORK 227