Uppingham by the Sea: A Narrative of the Year at BorthSkrine, John Huntley
History
Uppingham by the Sea: A Narrative of the Year at Borth
Skrine, John Huntley
Uppingham School
And the boys--how did they feel? As they stepped out from the railway
carriage into those bare, vasty corridors and curtainless dormitories,
did some little sense of desolateness in the new prospect temper its
excitement? Did some homesickness arise in the exile as he pondered on
the retirement and comfort of the "house" at Uppingham, and his
individual ownership of the separate cubicle, and the study which was
"his castle?" He was a unit now, not of a household, but of a camp.
Small blame to him if life seemed to have lost its landmarks, and things
round him to be "all nohow," as he sat down in some bare hall upon a
schoolfellow's book-box (wondering whether he should ever see his own),
to while away with a story-book the listless interval before bed-time,
under the niggard light of a smoking lamp, or a candle flickering in the
draught. What exactly he felt or thought, however, we do not pretend to
know. We only know that there was not one of them but felt proud to be
out campaigning with his school, and would have counted "ten years of
peaceful life" not more than worth his share in that honourable venture.
There was no work for them next morning (their masters were busy enough
providing for the physical needs of the colony), and they were free to
explore their new country, to ramble up the headlands or along the margin
of the marsh. The arrivals of last night were but the first instalment
of the school, about half the number. The same train brought in a new
freight this evening, and the scene on the platform was similar, but more
tranquil. By a special train after midnight came in a few more from the
most distant homes, and the muster was complete. The number, two hundred
and ninety, fell but slightly below the full complement of the school.
Putting out of account the names of those who would in any case have left
the school that Easter, no more than three, we believe, failed to follow
us down to Borth. So unanimous an adhesion of the school to its leaders
no one had been sanguine enough to reckon on. It increased no doubt at
the moment the difficulties of making provision, but withal it made the
task better worth the effort.
Next morning the school was called together, and the Headmaster addressed
them, feeling, perhaps, somewhat like a general publishing a manifesto to
his troops before a campaign. It was a great experiment, he said, in
which they were sharing; let them do their best to make the result a
happy one for themselves, and for the people among whom they had come.
They were "making history," for this experience was a wholly new one,
which might not impossibly prove helpful some day to others in like
circumstances.
It is pleasant to record that the appeal was not wasted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account