BYRON IN A “RAG”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 13

BYRON IN A “RAG”

RACY LETTER SOLD FOR £350 A letter written by Byron to Charles Gordon describing an Eton and Harrow match in which he played, and the ensuing “rag,” realised £. 350 at Sotheby’s. It was bought .at the instance of a number of old Harrovians, who will present it to the school. Byron’s letter, written on August 4, ISOS, from Burgage Manor, Southwell. Nottinghamshire, gave a description of the match, and added: “Later ... to be sure we were most of us rather drunk, and went together to the Haymarket Theatre, where we kicked up a row, as you may suppose, when so many Harrovians and Etonians met at one place. “I was; one of senev in a single Hackney coach, four Eton and three Harrow fellows, we all got into the same box, the consequence was that such a devil of a noise arose that none of our neighbours could hear word of the drama, at which not being highly delighted, they began to quarrel with us and we nearly came to a battle royal.”