MONTEM CUSTOM, the ancient custom of a procession of the scholars of Eton School in Buckinghamshire ad men tem, which has been discontinued since 1844. It used to be made every third year, on Whit-Tuesday, to a tumulus near the Bath Road, which has acquired the name of Salt Hill, by which also the neighbouring inns have been long known. The chief object of the celebration was to collect money for salt, as the phrase is. from all persons present. and it was exacted even from passengers travelling the road. The scholars who collected the money were called salt-bearers, and they, as well as others of the scholars, especially the captain, who was the senior scholar, the ensign, whose duty it was to flourish a flag on the mount, and the scouts, who collected the salt, were dressed in fanciful rich habits, generally mili tary. Tickets inscribed with some motto, such as Ad Moslem, Nos pro Lrge, or Pro More a Monde, by way of pas-word, were given to such persona as had already paid for salt, as a security from any further demands.
This ceremony has been frequently honoured with the presence of the sovereign and the royal family, whose liberal contributions added to those of many of the nobility and others who had been educated at Eton, so far augmented the general collection that it has been known to amount to near 1000/. The sum so collected was given to the
captain of the school, or senior scholar, who was going off to Cambridge, for his support at the university. It would be iu vain, perhaps, to trace the origin of all the c.rcumstances of thin singular custom, par ticularly that of collecting money for salt, which had been in use from time immemorial. The precession itself secnis to have been coeval with the foundation of the college, and it has been conjectured, with much probability, that it was that of the Bairn, or fine-tish,e). It originally took place on the 6th of December, the festival of St. Nicholas, the patron of children, being the day on which it was customary at Salisbury, and in other places where the ceremony was observed, to elect the Boy-bishop from among the children belonging to the cathe dral. It is only since 1759 that the time of the celebration of the Eton Montern was changed. and in 1778 it appears to have been held biennially. It was formerly a part of the ceremony that a boy dressed in a clerical habit, with a wig, should read prayers.