THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 77 



servants, to the rude and boisterous familiarity of equals, 

 the tyranny of seniors, and, too often, the rod of a cruel 

 and capricious pedagogue. These hardships, however, 

 are beneficial : if they do not absolutely steel the mind 

 and body against the assaults of fortune, they turn to a 

 good account. They produce an equilibrium in a large 

 body of youths, of various pedigrees, distinctions, and 

 expectations, and prevent the assumption of those 

 imaginary perfections which swell the hearts of men, 

 and still more of boys, to the great annoyance of their 

 associates. Nevertheless, the best nature does not yield 

 to chastening and buffeting without some degree of im- 

 patience ; and it is to be feared that the sufferings of the 

 generality of boys, at very large schools, in the lower 

 classes of it especially, are greater than commonly im- 

 agined. At all events, the first week at Eton is a serious 

 trial to the nerves of a slay or home-sick boy ; a thousand 

 questions are asked, some of them rather difficult to be 

 answered ; answered they must be, or a slap in the face is 

 the consequence. The Rabys, however, made their way 

 among the crowd, and partly for these reasons : Their 

 name was known as aristocratic, and they were called 

 " devilish good-looking fellows ; " Francis, especially, 

 who had a certain " knowing look " about him, accord- 

 ing to the language of those days, which soon made an 

 impression : as did also the knowledge of his father being 

 a master of hounds, and of his having brought letters of 

 introduction to Stevens and Jack Bailey from the well- 

 known Sir John Inkleton, who was considered an orna- 

 ment to Eton school. Still, all this did not serve him as 

 an indemnity from some of the tricks commonly played 

 off on new-comers in these licentious days. 



It was the saying of a Spartan king, that " Boys should 

 be introduced to the arts which will be useful to them 

 when they become men." Independently of the business 

 of the school, this maxim has always been acted upon 

 at Eton, in the various popular pastimes. Amongst the 

 foremost of these is the management of the boat, which 

 soon became a favourite one of our hero, whose sculling 

 was excelled by none at the expiration of his third year. 

 He was likewise good at cricket, quoits, backsword play- 

 ing, and other manly games ; and above all at football, 

 inasmuch as few could beat him at kicking shins. 

 Andrew was always a good cricketer; and by his mild, 



