1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:05,120
Speaker 1: Barring out at schools. A curious custom used to obtain

2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,039
in some schools just before the Christmas holidays, of barring

3
00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,439
out the master and keeping him out of the schoolroom

4
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,199
until the boy's grievances had been listened to and promise

5
00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,480
of redress given. And the best account of this custom

6
00:00:19,559 --> 00:00:22,239
that I have ever met with is in the Gentleman's

7
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:26,879
Magazine for eighteen twenty eight, Volume two, page four four, etc.

8
00:00:29,079 --> 00:00:31,519
It was a few days before the usual period of

9
00:00:31,519 --> 00:00:35,240
the Christmas holidays arrived when the leading scholars of the

10
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,560
head form determined on reviving the ancient but obsolete custom

11
00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:44,159
of barring out the master of the school. Many years

12
00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,159
had elapsed since he attempt had succeeded, and many times

13
00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,880
since that period it had been made in vain. The

14
00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,359
scholars had heard of glorious feats of their forefathers in

15
00:00:55,439 --> 00:00:58,600
their boyish years, when they had set the lash of

16
00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:04,079
the master at defiance days together. Now alas all was changed.

17
00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,000
The master, in the opinion of the boys, reigned a despot,

18
00:01:09,079 --> 00:01:13,840
absolute and uncontrolled. The merciless, cruelty of his rod and

19
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:19,239
the heaviness of his desks were insupportable. The accustomed holidays

20
00:01:19,239 --> 00:01:23,799
had been rescinded, the usual Christmas feast reduced to a nonentity,

21
00:01:24,519 --> 00:01:28,159
and the chartered rights of the scholars were continually violated.

22
00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,959
These grievances were discussed serriatum, and we were all unanimously

23
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,560
of opinion that our wrongs should, if possible, be redressed.

24
00:01:38,719 --> 00:01:41,920
But how the object should be effected was a momentous

25
00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:46,239
and weighty affair. The master was a clergyman of the

26
00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:50,319
Old School, who for the last forty years had exercised

27
00:01:50,359 --> 00:01:54,760
an authority hitherto uncontrolled, and who had no idea of

28
00:01:54,959 --> 00:02:00,159
enforcing scholastic discipline without the exercise of the whip. The

29
00:02:00,239 --> 00:02:04,159
consequences of a failure were terrible to think upon, but

30
00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,919
then the anticipation of success and the glory attendant upon

31
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,759
the enterprise if successful, were sufficient to dispel every fear.

32
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,400
At the head of the Greek class was one whose

33
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,879
very soul seemed formed for the most daring attempts. He

34
00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:26,000
communicated his intentions to a chosen few, of which the

35
00:02:26,039 --> 00:02:29,360
writer was one, and offered to be the leader of

36
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:34,280
the undertaking if we would promise him our support. We hesitated,

37
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,159
but he represented the certainty of success with such feeling

38
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:44,639
eloquence that he entirely subdued our opposition. He stated that

39
00:02:44,759 --> 00:02:48,960
Addison had acquired immortal fame by a similar enterprise. He

40
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,560
told us that almost every effort in the sacred cause

41
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:57,400
of freedom had succeeded. He appealed to our classical recollections.

42
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,680
Epaminondas and Leonidas were worthy of our example. Tarquin and

43
00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,360
Caesar as tyrants had fallen before the united efforts of freedom.

44
00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,639
We only had to be unanimous, and the rod of

45
00:03:11,719 --> 00:03:16,639
this scholastic despot would be forever broken. We then entered

46
00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:22,759
enthusiastically into his views. He observed that delays were dangerous.

47
00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,719
The barring out, he said, should take place the very

48
00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,080
next morning to prevent the possibility of being betrayed. On

49
00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,759
a previous occasion, he said, some officious little urchin had

50
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,400
told the Master the whole plot several days, having been

51
00:03:39,439 --> 00:03:42,159
allowed to intervene between the planning of the project and

52
00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,680
its execution, And to the astonishment of the boys, it

53
00:03:46,719 --> 00:03:49,719
appeared they found the Master at his desk two hours

54
00:03:49,759 --> 00:03:53,400
before his usual time, and had the mortification of being

55
00:03:53,479 --> 00:03:57,439
congratulated on their early attendants, with an order to be

56
00:03:57,479 --> 00:04:01,960
there every morning at the same hour. To prevent the

57
00:04:02,039 --> 00:04:06,520
occurrence of such a defeat, we determined on organizing our plans.

58
00:04:06,599 --> 00:04:11,000
That very night. The boys were accordingly told to assemble

59
00:04:11,159 --> 00:04:14,680
after school hours at a well known tombstone in the

60
00:04:14,719 --> 00:04:20,600
neighboring churchyard, as something of importance was under consideration. The

61
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,959
place of meeting was an elevated parallelogram tombstone, which had

62
00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,120
always served as a kind of council table to settle

63
00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,720
our little disputes as well as parties of pleasure. Here

64
00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:36,279
we all assembled at the appointed time. Our leader took

65
00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:38,759
his stand at one end of the stone, with the

66
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,399
head boys who were in the secret on each side

67
00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:47,639
of him. My boys, he laconically observed, to morrow morning,

68
00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,160
we are to bar out the flogging parson and make

69
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,279
him promise that he will not flog us hereafter without

70
00:04:54,319 --> 00:04:58,600
a cause, nor set us long tasks or deprive us

71
00:04:58,639 --> 00:05:02,600
of our holidays. The boys of the Greek form will

72
00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,360
be your captains, and I am to be your captain general.

73
00:05:07,759 --> 00:05:10,959
Those that are cowards are better retire and be satisfied

74
00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:15,560
with future floggings. But you who have courage and know

75
00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,439
what it is to have been flogged for nothing, come

76
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:23,319
here and sign your names He immediately pulled out a

77
00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,240
pen and sheet of paper, and, having tied some bits

78
00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:29,959
of thread round the finger ends of two or three

79
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,759
boys with a pin, he drew blood. To answer for ink,

80
00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:38,800
and to give more solemnity to the act. He signed first,

81
00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:44,560
the Captain's next, and the rest in succession. Many of

82
00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:47,680
the lesser boys slunk away during the ceremony, but on

83
00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,399
counting the names, we mustered upwards of forty sufficient it

84
00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:56,800
was imagined even to carry the school by storm. The

85
00:05:56,879 --> 00:06:01,199
Captain General then addressed us, I have the keys of

86
00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,480
the school and shall be there at seven o'clock. The

87
00:06:05,519 --> 00:06:09,040
old parson will arrive at nine, and every one of

88
00:06:09,079 --> 00:06:12,439
you must be there before eight to allow us one

89
00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,480
hour for barricading the doors and windows. Bring with you

90
00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,279
as much provision as you can, and tell your parents

91
00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,000
that you have to take your dinners in school. Let

92
00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,360
every one of you have some weapon of defense. Those

93
00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:30,759
who cannot obtain a sword, pistol or poker must bring

94
00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,720
a stick or cudgel. Now all go home directly and

95
00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,720
be sure to arrive early in the morning. Perhaps a

96
00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,160
more restless and anxious night was never passed by young

97
00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,680
recruits on the eve of a general battle. Many of

98
00:06:46,759 --> 00:06:50,279
us rose some hours before the time, and at seven

99
00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,639
o'clock when the school door was opened, there was a

100
00:06:53,759 --> 00:06:59,120
tolerably numerous muster. Our captain immediately ordered candles to be

101
00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,720
lighted and a rousing fire to be made, for it

102
00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,480
was a dark December morning. He then began to examine

103
00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,800
the store of provisions and the arms which each had brought.

104
00:07:10,519 --> 00:07:13,800
In the meantime, the arrival of every boy with additional

105
00:07:13,879 --> 00:07:19,240
material was announced by tremendous cheers. At length, the church

106
00:07:19,319 --> 00:07:23,759
clock struck eight. Proceed to barricade the doors and windows,

107
00:07:23,959 --> 00:07:27,199
exclaimed the captain or the old Lion, will be upon

108
00:07:27,319 --> 00:07:31,480
us before we are prepared to meet him. In an instant,

109
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,519
the old oaken door rang on its heavy hinges. Some

110
00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:40,199
with hammers, gimlets and nails were eagerly securing the windows,

111
00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:45,040
while others were dragging along the ponderous desks, forms and

112
00:07:45,279 --> 00:07:50,800
everything portable to blockade with certain security every place which

113
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:56,480
might admit of ingress. This operation being completed, the captain

114
00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,480
mounted the master's rostrum and called over the list of names.

115
00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,800
When he found only two or three missing, He then

116
00:08:04,879 --> 00:08:09,120
proceeded to classify them into divisions or companies of six

117
00:08:09,879 --> 00:08:14,079
and assigned to each its respective captain. He prescribed the

118
00:08:14,199 --> 00:08:18,439
duties of each company. Two were to guard the large

119
00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:22,480
casement windows, where it was expected the first attack would

120
00:08:22,519 --> 00:08:26,319
be made. This was considered a post of honor, and

121
00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,120
consequently the strongest boys with the most formidable weapons were selected,

122
00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:36,519
whom we called grenadiers. Another company, whom we considered as

123
00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:41,120
the light infantry or sharpshooters, were ordered to mount a

124
00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,360
large desk at the center of the school, and armed

125
00:08:45,399 --> 00:08:50,000
with squibs, crackers and various missiles. They were to attack

126
00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,039
the enemy over the heads of the competence. The other

127
00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,320
divisions were to guard the back windows and door, and

128
00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,240
to act according to the emergency of the moment. Our

129
00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:06,480
leader then moved some resolutions, which, in imitation of Brutus,

130
00:09:06,519 --> 00:09:10,480
he had cogitated during the previous night, to the effect

131
00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:15,720
that each individual should implicitly obey his own captain, and

132
00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,399
that each captain should follow the orders of the Captain General,

133
00:09:20,279 --> 00:09:22,799
and that a cord a reserve should be stationed in

134
00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:26,279
the rear to enforce this obedience and prevent the competence

135
00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:31,519
from taking to flight. The resolutions were passed amid loud vociferations.

136
00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:37,679
We next commenced an examination of the various weapons, and

137
00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:42,440
found them to consist of one old blunderbus, one pistol,

138
00:09:42,919 --> 00:09:48,120
two old swords, a few rusty pokers and sticks, stones, quips,

139
00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:53,279
and gunpowder in abundance. The firearms were immediately loaded with

140
00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,399
blank powder, the swords were sharpened, and the pokers heated

141
00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,320
in the fire. These weapons were assigned to the most

142
00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,879
daring company, who had to protect the principal window. The

143
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,080
missiles were for the light infantry, and the rest were

144
00:10:09,159 --> 00:10:13,840
all armed with sticks. We now began to maneuver our

145
00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:17,639
companies by marching them into line and column, so that

146
00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,639
everyone might know his own situation. In the midst of

147
00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,279
this preparation, the sentinel, whom we had placed at the window,

148
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:32,679
loudly vociferated the parson. The Parson's coming in an instant.

149
00:10:32,879 --> 00:10:37,320
All was confusion. Everyone ran, he knew not, where as

150
00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,559
if eager to fly or screen himself from observation, Our

151
00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,480
captain immediately mounted to a form and called to the

152
00:10:45,519 --> 00:10:49,480
captains of the two leading companies to take their stations.

153
00:10:49,879 --> 00:10:54,000
They immediately obeyed, and the other companies followed their example,

154
00:10:54,519 --> 00:10:57,559
though they found it much more difficult to maneuver when

155
00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,559
danger approached than they had a few minutes before. The

156
00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:06,759
well known footstep, which had often struck on our ears

157
00:11:06,799 --> 00:11:11,039
with terror, was now heard to advance along the portico.

158
00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,080
The muttering of his stern voice ended in our ears

159
00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:22,840
like a lion's growl. A deathlike silence prevailed. We scarcely

160
00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,240
dared to breathe. The palpitations of our little hearts could

161
00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:32,799
perhaps alone be heard. The object of our dread then

162
00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,720
went round to the front window for the purpose of

163
00:11:35,759 --> 00:11:40,840
ascertaining whether anyone was in the school. Every footstep struck

164
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,720
us with awe. Not a word, not a whisper was heard.

165
00:11:45,799 --> 00:11:50,360
He approached close to the window, and with an astonished countenance,

166
00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:54,120
stood gazing upon us, while we were arranged in battle array,

167
00:11:54,799 --> 00:11:59,919
motionless statues, and as silent as the tomb. What is

168
00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:05,559
the meaning of this? He impatiently exclaimed, But no answer

169
00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,120
could he obtain, For who would then have dared to

170
00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:15,440
render himself conspicuous by a reply? Pallid countenances and livid

171
00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:20,799
lips betrayed our fears. The courage, which one hour before

172
00:12:20,919 --> 00:12:24,759
was ready to brave every danger, appeared to be fled.

173
00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,879
Every one seemed anxious to conceal himself from view, and

174
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,559
there would certainly have been a general flight through the

175
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,120
back windows had it not been for the prudent regulation

176
00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,559
of a corder reserve armed with cudgels to prevent it.

177
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:48,480
You young scoundrels opened the door instantly, he again exclaimed,

178
00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,399
and what added to our indescribable horror. In a fit

179
00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,919
of rage, he dashed his hand through the window, which

180
00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,399
consisted of diamond shaped panes, and appear as if determined

181
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:06,840
to force his way. In fear and trepidation, attended by

182
00:13:06,879 --> 00:13:11,919
an increasing emotion now possessed us all. At this critical moment,

183
00:13:12,159 --> 00:13:16,000
every eye turned to our captain, as if to reproach

184
00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,519
him for having brought us into this terrible dilemma. He

185
00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,879
alone stood unmoved, but he saw that none would have

186
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:32,039
the courage to obey his commands. Some exciting stimulus was necessary. Suddenly,

187
00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:37,000
waving his hand, he exclaimed aloud, three cheers for the

188
00:13:37,039 --> 00:13:42,679
barring out and success to our cause. The chairs were tremendous,

189
00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,440
our courage revived. The blood flushed in our cheeks. The

190
00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:52,600
parson was breaking in the moment was critical. Our captain, undaunted,

191
00:13:52,919 --> 00:13:57,240
sprang to the fireplace, seized a heated poker in one

192
00:13:57,279 --> 00:14:01,080
hand and a blazing torch in the other. The latter

193
00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,360
he gave to the captain of the sharpshooters and told

194
00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:08,759
him to prepare a folly. When with red hot poker

195
00:14:08,879 --> 00:14:13,080
he fearlessly advanced to the window seat, and, daring the

196
00:14:13,159 --> 00:14:17,559
Master to enter, he ordered an attack, And an attack

197
00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:22,480
indeed was made sufficiently tremendous to have repelled a more

198
00:14:22,519 --> 00:14:27,039
powerful assailant. The missiles flew at the ill fated window

199
00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:31,159
from every quarter. The blunderbuss and the pistol were fired.

200
00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:37,240
Squibs and crackers, inkstands and rulers, stones and even burning

201
00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,039
coals came in showers about the casement and broke some

202
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,559
of the panes into a thousand pieces, while blazing torches,

203
00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:50,120
heated pokers and sticks stood bristling under the window. The

204
00:14:50,159 --> 00:14:54,799
whole was scarcely the work of a minute. The astonished

205
00:14:54,840 --> 00:15:00,879
Master reeled back in dumb amazement. He had evidently been

206
00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,399
struck with a missile, all with the broken glass, and

207
00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,399
probably fancied that he had been wounded by the firearms.

208
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:14,000
The schools now rang with shouts of victory and continued cheering.

209
00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:20,000
The enemy again approaches, cried the captain. Fire another folly,

210
00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,720
stay he seeks a parley, hear him. What is the

211
00:15:24,799 --> 00:15:28,919
meaning I say of this horrid tumult? The barring out,

212
00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:35,000
the barring out? A dozen voices instantly exclaimed for shame,

213
00:15:35,519 --> 00:15:41,039
says he, in a tone evidently subdued. What disgrace are

214
00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,799
you bringing upon yourselves and the schools? What will their trustees?

215
00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:52,120
What will your parents say? William continued he, addressing the captain,

216
00:15:52,879 --> 00:15:58,399
open the door without further delay. I will, sir, he replied,

217
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,879
on your promising to pardon us and give us our

218
00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,240
lawful holidays of which we have lately been deprived, and

219
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,600
not set us tasked during the holidays. Yes, yes, said

220
00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:15,559
several squealing voices. That is what we want. Ah, Not

221
00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:22,320
to be flogged for nothing, you insolent scoundrels, you consummate

222
00:16:22,559 --> 00:16:26,960
young villains, he exclaimed, choking with rage, and at the

223
00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,679
same time making a furious effort to break through the

224
00:16:30,799 --> 00:16:36,200
already shattered window. Open the door instantly, or I'll break

225
00:16:36,399 --> 00:16:42,279
every bone in your hides. Not on those conditions, replied

226
00:16:42,279 --> 00:16:47,559
our captain, with provoking coolness. Come up, my boys, another molly,

227
00:16:48,919 --> 00:16:52,399
No sooner said than done, and with even more fury

228
00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:57,639
than before, like men driven to despair who expect no quarter.

229
00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,279
On surrendering, the little urchin daringly mounted the window seat,

230
00:17:02,639 --> 00:17:06,160
which was a broad, old fashioned one, and pointed the

231
00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,079
firearms and heated poker at him, whilst others advanced with

232
00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,559
the squips and missiles. Come on, my lads, said the captain.

233
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,559
Let this be a simopylai. I will be all the nidus.

234
00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,480
And indeed so daring were they that each seem ready

235
00:17:23,519 --> 00:17:28,519
to emulate the spartans of old. A master, perceiving their

236
00:17:28,559 --> 00:17:37,359
determined obstinacy, turn round, without further remonstrance, and indignantly walked away.

237
00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,559
Relieved from our terrors, we now became intoxicated with joy.

238
00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:47,440
The walls rang with repeated hurrahs. In the madness of enthusiasm,

239
00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,240
some of the boys began to tear up the forms,

240
00:17:50,599 --> 00:17:54,200
throw the books about, break the slates, locks and cupboards,

241
00:17:54,400 --> 00:18:00,720
and act so outrageously that the captain called them to order. However,

242
00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:04,920
before the master's desk and draws had been broken open,

243
00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,759
and every placing which had been taken from the scholars

244
00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:15,039
returned to its owner. We now began to think of provisions.

245
00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,240
They were all placed on one table and dealt out

246
00:18:18,279 --> 00:18:22,480
in Russians by the captain of each company. In the meantime,

247
00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:25,640
we held a council of war, as we called it,

248
00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:29,599
to determine on what was to be done in a recess.

249
00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,960
At the east end of the school there stood a

250
00:18:32,039 --> 00:18:36,759
large oak desk, black with age, whose heavy hinges had

251
00:18:36,759 --> 00:18:40,720
become corroded with years of rust. It was known to

252
00:18:40,759 --> 00:18:44,960
contain the records and endowments of the school, and, as

253
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,920
we presumed, the regulations for the treatment of the scholars.

254
00:18:49,759 --> 00:18:55,000
The oldest boy had never seen its inside. Attempts, dictated

255
00:18:55,079 --> 00:18:58,799
by insatiable curiosity, had often been made to open it,

256
00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:03,480
but it was deemed impregnable. It was guarded by three

257
00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,519
immense locks, and each lock was in the possession of

258
00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:12,319
different persons. The wood appeared to be nearly half a

259
00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:16,559
foot thick, and every corner was platted with iron. All

260
00:19:16,599 --> 00:19:22,319
eyes were instinctively directed to this mysterious chest. Could any

261
00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,519
means be devised for effecting an entrance, was the natural question.

262
00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,920
We all proceeded to reconnoiter. We attempted to move it,

263
00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,799
but in vain we made some feeble efforts to force

264
00:19:35,839 --> 00:19:38,640
the lid. It was as firm as a block of

265
00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:44,079
marble at length. One daring urchin brought from the fireplace

266
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,559
a red hot poker and began to bore through its sides.

267
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,079
A universal shout was given. Other pokers were brought and

268
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:57,119
to work they went. The smoke and tremendous smell which

269
00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:01,039
the old wood sent forth rather alarmed us. We were

270
00:20:01,079 --> 00:20:04,839
apprehensive that we might burn the records instead of obtaining

271
00:20:04,839 --> 00:20:08,160
a copy of them. This arrested our progress for a

272
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,880
few minutes. At this critical moment, a shout was set

273
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,880
up that the parson and a constable was coming down.

274
00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:21,000
Went the pokers, and as if conscience stricken, we were

275
00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:26,079
all seized with consternation. The casement window was so shattered

276
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,160
he could easily be entered by any resolute fellow. In

277
00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:34,279
the desperation of the moment, we seized the desks, forms

278
00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:38,279
and stalls to block it up, But in some degree

279
00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,559
our courage had evaporated, and we felt reluctant to act

280
00:20:42,599 --> 00:20:47,720
on the offensive. The old gentleman and his attendant deliberately

281
00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:52,759
inspected the windows and fastenings, but without making any attempt

282
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,200
to enter. They retreated for the purpose, we presumed of

283
00:20:57,279 --> 00:21:02,720
obtaining additional assistance. What was now to be done. The

284
00:21:02,759 --> 00:21:06,880
Master appeared obdurate, and we had gone too far to recede.

285
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,680
Some proposed to drill a hole in the window seat,

286
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,839
fill it with gunpowder, and explode it if any one

287
00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:18,039
attempted to enter. Others thought we had better set fire

288
00:21:18,079 --> 00:21:23,160
to the school sooner than surrender unconditionally. But the majority

289
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:28,200
advised what was perhaps the most prudent resolution, to wait

290
00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,960
for another attack, and if we saw no hopes of

291
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,480
sustaining a longer defense, to make the best retreat we could.

292
00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,079
The affair of the barring out had now become known,

293
00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,359
and persons began to assemble round the windows, calling out

294
00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,200
that the Master was coming with assistance, and saying everything

295
00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:52,279
to intimidate us. Many of us were completely jaded with

296
00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,839
the over excitement we had experienced since the previous evening.

297
00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:01,039
The school was hot, close and full of smoke. Some

298
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,240
were longing for liberty and fresh air, and most of

299
00:22:04,319 --> 00:22:07,519
us were of opinion that we had engaged in an

300
00:22:07,559 --> 00:22:12,319
affair which it was impossible to accomplish in this state.

301
00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:17,880
We received another visit from our dreaded master with his stick.

302
00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,160
He commenced a more furious attack than before, and observing

303
00:22:23,279 --> 00:22:28,079
us less turbulent, he determined to force his way in

304
00:22:28,079 --> 00:22:32,680
in spite of the barricadoes. The younger boys thought nothing

305
00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,599
but flight and self preservation, and the rush to the

306
00:22:35,599 --> 00:22:39,839
back windows became general. In the midst of this consternation,

307
00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,759
our captain exclaims, let us not fly like cowards. If

308
00:22:43,799 --> 00:22:47,119
we must surrender, let the gates of the citadel be

309
00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:51,440
thrown open. The days against us, but let us bravely

310
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,079
face the enemy and march out with the honors of war.

311
00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:01,279
Some few had already escaped, but the rest immediately arranged

312
00:23:01,319 --> 00:23:05,200
themselves on each side of the school in two extended lines,

313
00:23:05,599 --> 00:23:09,839
with their weapons in hand. The door was thrown open.

314
00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:15,000
The master instantly entered and passed between the two lines,

315
00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:19,799
denouncing vengeance on us all. But as he marched in,

316
00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:24,559
we marched out in military order, and giving three cheers,

317
00:23:24,599 --> 00:23:29,559
we dispersed into the neighboring fields. We shortly met again,

318
00:23:29,759 --> 00:23:33,880
and after a little consultation, it was determined that none

319
00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,319
of the leaders should come to school until sent for

320
00:23:36,799 --> 00:23:41,319
and a free pardon given. The defection, however, was so

321
00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:46,119
general that no corporal punishments took place. Many of the

322
00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:50,279
boys did not return until after the holidays, and several

323
00:23:50,279 --> 00:23:57,920
of the elder ones never entered the school again, and

324
00:23:58,079 --> 00:23:59,640
of barring out at schools