Windsor Fair was an attraction in those days, especially for the small
boys, as it was "out of bounds," and therefore forbidden. I remember
once being "told off" to go to the fair and bring as many musical and
noisy toys as I could carry; which were to be instrumental in a plot
against our "dame" ... (the Reverend Dr. Frewer) ... On the great
occasion, the boys secreted themselves in their lock-up beds. The rest
hid in the housemaid's cupboard, and we started a series of hideous
discords upon the whistles and mouth organs from the fair. Presently
our "dame" appeared, roused by the concert, and at the door received
the water from the "booby trap" all over his head, and then, drenched
to the skin and looking like a drowned rat, he proceeded to rout us.
We were all innocence with a carefully concocted excuse to the effect
that the reception had been intended for Anderson, one of the boys in
the house. Notwithstanding that expulsion was threatening us, we were
all called to his room next morning, severely reprimanded, but ...
forgiven.
Old Etonians will remember Jobie, who sold buns and jam; and Levy, who
tried to cheat us over our "tuck," and was held under the college pump
in consequence; and old Silly-Billy, who used to curse the Pope, and,
considering himself the head of the Church, was always first in the
Chapel at Eton. Then there was the very fat old lady who sold fruit
under the archway, and had a face like an apple herself. She sold an
apple called a lemon-pippin, that was quite unlike anything I have
tasted since, and looked like a lemon.
At "Sixpenny" the mills took place, and there differences were
settled. A "Shinning-match," which was only resorted to by small boys,
was a most serious and carefully managed affair; we shook hands in
real duel fashion, and then we proceeded to exchange kicks on one
another's shins until one of us gave in.
I remember having a "shinning-match" to settle some dispute with one
of my greatest friends, but we were discovered, taken into Hawtrey's
during dinner, and there talked to in serious manner. Our wise
lecturer ended his speech with the time-honoured, "'Tis dogs delight
to bark and bite," etc.
In 1861 I recollect very well the Queen and Prince Consort reviewing
the Eton College Volunteer Corps in the grounds immediately
surrounding the Castle, while we boys were permitted to look on from
the Terrace.
At the conclusion of the review the volunteers were given luncheon in
the orangery, where they were right royally entertained.
Prince Albert, whom I had noticed coughing, retired after the review
into the castle, while the Queen and Princess Alice walked together on
the slopes.
This was the last time that Prince Albert appeared in public, for he
was shortly after seized with an illness from which he never
recovered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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