the classical leather
strap played its terrible part with all the honors. The punishment
originally invented by the Society of Jesus, as alarming to the moral
as to the physical man, was still in force in all the integrity of the
original code.

Letters to parents were obligatory on certain days, so was confession.
Thus our sins and our sentiments were all according to pattern.
Everything bore the stamp of monastic rule. I well remember, among
other relics of the ancient order, the inspection we went through every
Sunday. We were all in our best, placed in file like soldiers to await
the arrival of the two inspectors who, attended by the tutors and the
tradesmen, examined us from the three points of view of dress, health,
and morals.

The two or three hundred pupils lodged in the establishment were
divided, according to ancient custom, into the _minimes_ (the smallest),
the little boys, the middle boys, and the big boys. The division of
the _minimes_ included the eighth and seventh classes; the little boys
formed the sixth, fifth, and fourth; the middle boys were classed as
third and second; and the first class comprised the senior students--of
philosophy, rhetoric, the higher mathematics, and chemistry. Each of
these divisions had its own building, classrooms, and play-ground, in
the large common precincts on to which the classrooms opened, and beyond
which was the refectory.

This dining-hall, worthy of an ancient religious Order, accommodated all
the school. Contrary to the usual practice in educational institutions,
we were allowed to talk at our meals, a tolerant Oratorian rule which
enabled us to exchange plates according to our taste. This gastronomical
barter was always one of the chief pleasures of our college life. If one
of the "middle" boys at the head of his table wished for a helping of
lentils instead of dessert--for we had dessert--the offer was passed
down from one to another: "Dessert for lentils!" till some other epicure
had accepted; then the plate of lentils was passed up to the bidder
from hand to hand, and the plate of dessert returned by the same road.
Mistakes were never made. If several identical offers were made, they
were taken in order, and the formula would be, "Lentils number one for
dessert number one." The tables were very long; our incessant barter
kept everything moving; we transacted it with amazing eagerness; and the
chatter of three hundred lads, the bustling to and fro of the s