ATHANASIOS

CHRISTOPOULOS (1772-1847)  , Greek poet, was born at Castoria in Macedonia . He studied at Buda and Padua, and became teacher of the children of the Vlach prince Mourousi . After the fall of that prince in 181x, Christopoulos was employed by Prince Caradja, who had been appointed hospodar of Moldavia and Walachia, in drawing up a code of laws for that country . On the removal of Caradja, he retired into private life and devoted himself to literature . He wrote drinking songs and love ditties which are very popular among the Greeks . He is also the author of a tragedy, of Politika Parallela (a comparison of various systems of government), of translations of Homer and Herodotus, and of some philological works on the connexion between ancient and modern Greek . His Hellenika Archaiologemata (Athens, 1853) contains an account of his life . CHRIST'S HOSPITAL (the " Blue-coat School "), a famous English educational and charitable foundation . It was originally one of three royal hospitals in the city of London, founded by Edward VI., who is said to have been inspired by a sermon of Bishop Ridley on charity . Christ's hospital was specially devoted to fatherless and motherless children . The buildings of the monastery of Grey Friars, Newgate Street, were appropriated- to it; liberal public subscription added to the king's grant endowed it richly; and the mayor, commonalty and citizens of London were nominated its governors in its charter of 1553 . At first Christ's hospital shared a common fund with the 'two other hospitals of thefoundation(Bridewell and St Thomas's), but the three soon became independent .

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long after its opening Christ's was providing home and education (or, in the case of the very young, nursing) for 400 children . The popular name of the Blue-coat school is derived from the dress of the boys—originally (almost from the time of the foundation) a blue gown, with knee -breeches, yellow petticoat and stockings, neck-bands and a blue cap . The petticoat and cap were given up in the middle of the loth century, and thereafter no head-covering was worn . The buildings on the Newgate Street site underwent reconstruction from time to time, and in 19o2 were vacated by the school, which was moved to extensive new buildings at Horsham . The London buildings were subsequently taken down . The school at Horsham is conducted on the ordinary lines of a public school, and can accommodate over 800 boys . It includes a preparatory school for boys, established in 1683 at Hertford, where the buildings have been greatly enlarged for the use of the girls' school on the same foundation . This was originally in Newgate Street, but was moved to Hertford in 1778 . In the boys' school the two highest classes retain their ancient names of Grecians and Deputy Grecians . Children were formerly admitted to the schools only on presentation . Admission is now (I) by presentation of donation governors (i.e. the royal family, and contributors of 500 or more to the funds), of the council of almoners (which administers the endowments), or of certain of the city companies; (2) by competition, on the nomination of a donation governor (for boys only), or from public elementary schools in London, certain city parishes and certain endowed schools elsewhere . The main school is divided into two parts—the Latin school, corresponding to the classical side in other schools, and the mathematical school or modern side .

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pension charities are administered by the governing body, and part of the income of the hospital (about £6o,000 annually) is devoted to apprenticing boys and girls, to leaving exhibitions from the school, &c .