Even though the dames’ houses were being gradually phased out at Eton, [John Henry] Newman was enthusiastic about the arrangement since it met one of the promoters’ key demands; besides, he had experienced something similar as a boy at Ealing School, where the boarding houses were also under the jurisdiction of dames. The Ealing dames ensured that boys were properly dressed and cared for them when sick, and they also ran the tuck shops.

For he had neither ship, instruct with oares, Nor men to fetch him from those stranger shores.

Yet these contractual forms of labor exchange (i.e. hired herding and share herding), described in detail below, exist alongside other forms of inter-household cooperation and interaction including forms of patron-clientelism and, as such, have a diverse array of political effects and implications.

The recompense ‘James’ required from the Government was three miles depth of frontage along the whole route; but the representatives of the people in Bananaland thought the offer was a bit one-sided, and declined to negotiate.