Bowes Hall in County Durham (not to be confused with the nearby Bowes Museum) became a school in the early 1800s. Its most famous pupil was Richard Cobden MP, who suffered such serious frostbite that he needed special shoes all his life. Dickens visited Bowes and stayed in the village pub, the Ancient Unicorn (still open today), and based on his inquiries dreamt up the not entirely sensationalised Dotheboys Hall of Wackford Squeers.
‘EACH boy is required to bring, sir, two suits of clothes, six shirts, six pair of stockings, two nightcaps, two pocket-handkerchiefs, two pair of shoes, two hats, and a razor.’
‘A razor!’ exclaimed Mr. Snawley, as they walked into the next box. ‘What for?’
‘To shave with,’ replied Squeers, in a slow and measured tone.
There was not much in these three words, but there must have been something in the manner in which they were said, to attract attention; for the schoolmaster and his companion looked steadily at each other for a few seconds, and then exchanged a very meaning smile.
‘Up to what age do you keep boys at your school then?’ Snawley asked at length.
‘Just as long as their friends make the quarterly payments to my agent in town, or until such time as they run away,’ replied Squeers.
Précis
Unscrupulous schoolmaster Wackford Squeers has found a potential client in Mr Snawley, who wants to send two small, unwanted stepsons away to boarding school. Snawley is surprised to find himself asked to provide them with a razor, but pleased: it implies that (at small expense) he need not expect to see them again for many long years. (57 / 60 words)
