Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 2.djvu/693

Rh a severer punishment than a moderate knuckle rap on the head, inflicted by prefects deemed "bullies."

An "Old Wykehamist" (Winchester was founded by Mr. Wykeham), who recently spent six years at Winchester, admits the main facts of the "deplorable case" reported by Mr. Maude, but protests against his conclusions as to the general condition of things at the school. The power of the prefects is limited by the right of appeal and their own sense of a grave responsibility, and "tundings are rarely and reluctantly inflicted, and only for grave moral offences and grave breaches of discipline." The system is perhaps wrong, because liable to abuse, but the "brutality," which Mr. Maude had so justly stigmatized, was very exceptional, as was proved by its general condemnation by even the friends of the system.

These letters call out the "victim," who speaks for himself, avowedly of his own will and motion, "in defence of my school." He thinks that a "Winchester tunding" is not, as alleged by Mr. Maude, "the most dreadful punishment imaginable." He says:

In the letters to his father, which are published, he states that he was little hurt; that he cared nothing for the "licking;" had contended for a principle, and, when this was decided against him, he went promptly for his tunding. The prefect wanted to "argue the case," but he told him he had come for his "licking," and wanted it at once. It had since been admitted, on all hands, that the vote was wrong, and the punishment excessive in the number of strokes, but he was thoroughly disgusted with the fuss made over so small a matter.

In the course of the discussion, the "father of the victim" states that he had written Dr. Riddle (head-master of the school) immediately on hearing of the case, asking that the prefect be required, at least, to make a public apology to the boy. The doctor replied in a letter of twelve closely-written pages, admitting and deploring the facts, which were the result of "grave error of judgment and zeal for discipline." Not satisfied with this, he (the father) called a bishop into counsel, through whose intercession Dr. Riddle wrote again, saying the prefect had apologized to "the victim" in his presence, and adding, somewhat reprovingly, that the matter were better left where it was. He wrote again, offering to let the matter drop, if the apology