Figure 1.--This prep school had a magnificent classic billiards table. These two boys are enjouing a game of billiards on a classic table left in the old manor house which is the school's main building. |
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The children especially during the summer term at most prep schools were incouraged to persue outdoor games as much as possible. Given the English weather, however, this was not always possible. One of the nice things about a boarding school is that playmates are always readily at hand. Thus schools had a range of indoor games that the children could persue. Two fasvorites were billiards and ping pong, but there were quite a range of otherr games. Some schools set in manor houses had spectacular billiard tables. The children allways play billards rather than pool. Most schools had ping pong tables. One school even had a pinball machine. There were also a wide assortment of board games. Chess was a perenisl favorite. There are many other popular games which seem to go in and out of favor from time to time. And of course new games are always being added. Of course time is a factor. Games that take more than a half hour to play are a bit difficult to fit into free time periods, although games that last longer times can be played over the weekends.
The children especially during the summer term at most prep schools were incouraged to persue outdoor games as much as possible. Given the English weather, however, this was not always possible. Not only is this a problem in the Winter, but England can experience long rainy periods as well. Thus schools need a range of indoor ganes for the children.
One of the nice things about a boarding school is that playmates are always readily at hand. From the boys' point bof view, this was one of the best advatages to attending a boarding school. The children at boarding schools never have problems finding a friend to play games with. This was more complicated fir children at home. Getting together with friends is more complicated at home, especially groups. And all about the same age with the same interests. And the children all had their free time at about the same time. Thus just about whatever game a boy wanted to play, he was sure to have an easy time to find a friend or small group to play the game. And the schools tended to have a good supply of the games for the boys to play. The boys thus at different points in the schoolday when allowed free time pulled out games that they could enjoy with their friends, Some games this meant just one friend for a came like chess. Other times a small group of three to five or so were needed. This of course at a prep school was easy to put together.
Thus schools had a range of indoor games that the children could persue. Two fasvorites were billiards and ping pong, but there were quite a range of otherr games. Some schools set in manor houses had spectacular billiard tables. The children allways play billards rather than pool. At many schools the billiard table is often busy during the time the children are allowed to use it. The same is often true of the ping pong table. Most schools had ping pong tables. One school even had a pinball machine. There were also a wide assortment of board games. Chess was a perenisl favorite. There are many other popular games which seem to go in and out of favor from time to time. And of course new games are always being added.
Of course time is a factor. Games that take more than a half hour to play are a bit difficult to fit into free time periods, although games that last longer times can be played over the weekends. Thus games like builliards, ping pong, and chess are populasr because they can easily be fit into a short session. Games like monopoly that take longhervusually have to be reserved for the weekend.
