The Vigornian December 1885 by King's Worcester

'ign~nian+ THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL CHRONICLE. ~O.

DECEMBER, 1885.

9. VOL. I.

<tontente.

masters and boys alike'when we say that we shall be PAGE.

Editorial ... July Examinations " The Eights" Under the Shadow of S. Mary's The Battle of the Midland Mountains Cricket A Visit to the Great S. Bernard A Volume of Sonnets A Severn Expedition Athletic Sports Concert School News Correspondence Rhopalocera in 1885 Acrostics Chess

PRICE IS•.

I:U 122 123 124 12 7 128

. very glad to meet once more in our own old school

room.

Changes among masters as well as boys will have taken place before the school goes back toits old home. Mr. Handford has already left us and has been suc 13 1 ceeded by Mr. Jordan, of Wadham College, Oxford, . 133 who, not many years ago was head of our school. 135 137- 14 1 At Christmas too, we are going to lose Mr. Bond. 137 His loss, we need hardly say, will be felt by an. 13 8 Especially shaJl we miss him in the playground; for 139 he has always been most active in promoting the 14° 14 1 school games, whether rowing, cricket, or football. 142 For his kind-hearted interest and zeal in these and other matters ,we take this opportunity of offering him our warmest thanks, and in his future life we heartily wish him all success and happiness. We are glad to see that the popularity of the HE most important event that has taken boating club has in no way diminished. We think; place in our school life since the appear ance of our last number is, perhaps, the however, that many of its members too readily forget ~ commencement of the long-look~,d-for the real object of the club, which is, the proinotion . restoration of our school-room, and the consequent of good rowing, in the hope that an annual regatta removal of the school to other quarters. It fortunately may soon become one of the school institutions. happened thatthe house in the College green, formerly They too readily surrender themselves to the occupied by General Atlay, was vacant, and there pleasures of bathing and paddling about at their the homeless school took up its abode. This house own sweet will, forgetting that a bathe. is much more , has proved very well fitted to meet our wants, yet enjoyable and beneficial when preceed,ed andfol}ow. ~e:(~VsJlre -we are only expressing the feelings of - ed by a good hard row.. . ,.. .'. .- . "., . ...

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The Cricket Club this year felt at first the loss of some of its old members, and several changes had to be made before the team could be finally settled. However this year's cricket was a decided success; the three matches which were lost being played against teams far stronger than any ofour opponents of last year. Not a few of the elder boys, we are sorry to see, seem to forget their duty with regard' to Football and fail to put in an appearance at the games. A better example has been set them by their juniors, who have done some excellent work it'. this respect, the benefit of which the school will undoubtedly feel when they becoIT.e seniors in their turn. We would have every boy remember (and this applies not to Football alone, but equally to all our school undertakings) that unity in everything is essential to success. There is an old saying familiar to us all, which is especially applicable to a school, and if we follow its advice by taking "a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together" we shall do a very great deal towards ensuring the lasting welfare of our· school.

F. H. Coombs-a. b. c. ( i. k. H. A. Counsell--a. c. f. g. i. k. R. P. Quilter-c. f. i. k. A. P. L. Sharp---'::a. b. f. i. k. C. G. Wheeler-a. b. f. i. k. E. A. White-a. b. f. i. k.

(a Latin; b Greek; c French; f Elementary Mathematics; g Additional Mathematics ; £ Scrip ture Knowledge; k History-and for 'Lower' j English; I Geography.) For the lower Certificates we were not so successful as several fellows who passed in enough (5) subjects failed in one' group' or other. Those who did succeed did well. W. H. Counsell-a. b. f. i. J. K. 1. W. H.Webb--a. b. c. f. g. i: J. K. L. P. B. Wright-A. b. c. F. i. J. k. (Capital Letters denote 'first-classes' in the Subject). Branthwaite and Warren passed in six subjects; Shattock and Baylis in five each. Shattock and Clarkegot first-classes 111 Arithmetic; Baylis in Scripture. A detailed report was sent by the Board to the Governors, and we understand that the VI. did best in Mathematics and Divinity j the V. in Divinity, History, and English.

The 'Stratford' Exhibition was won by Sharp, . the Head of the School, Coombs and Counsell being bracketed second. The following won the school prizes :-Greek Testament: Coombs. Eng HE Examinations this year were held as usual lish Essay: F. Branthwaite. Knowledge of Prayer atthe end of July, but we much missed the comfort of our large hall and hope therepairs Book: Coombs. Latin Prose: (not yet awarded). will be completed before next year's summer Form Prizes: VI-Sharp; V- Wright j' IV- Little examination. About half the school were examined bury j IlI·-Wilkes ii. j I l -Higgins.. Mathematics: in the Chapter House j the rest in the class Open-Counsell i j A2-Counsell ii j B-Dimont j History and rooms. All the VI. Form went in for C-Newman ii j D-Threlfell ii. ,the 'Higher Certificates·' of the Joint Board, Divinity: V-Webb i j IV-Littlebury j IlI and the V. for the 'Lower.' The Rev. O. Ogle Davies ii j Il-Higgins. French: Open-Coun was ; supervisor' and examined the rest of the' sell i j V-Wheeler ii j IV-Littlebury; IlI Drawing - Freehand: school. We had to wait some weeks before hearing Wilkes ii j Il-Waller. Branthwaite. Ditto (under 14).; Hadley. Ditto of the result of the VI. ex.amination, but that did not matter so muc~ this year as we could hold no Shaded Figure: ~unsell ii. Art Master's Prize : 'Prize-Day.' The success of the Sixth was very Dyson~ Natural History: Gough. It has been decided to gi~e away the Prizes on gratifying, as no one failed. Certificates were the evening of December ;'~nd,' at .the GU1~daljl obtained in' the following subjects. (Alphabetical which has been kindly lent to 1.lS by the Mayor. order). '

\tb~ JuI\? ·18~aminatione.

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I am perfectly convinced that Virgil rowed races, his description is so apt and appropriate. Forgive T may perhaps be interesting to some of your me if I quote" readers to hear some account of the rowing Consiclunt transtris, intentaque bracchia remis, Intenti expectant sign;lm, exuitantiaque hausit and racing at Oxford. Conla pavor puisans, laudnmque arrecta cupidb. ~ The chief inter-collegiate races are the "Eig/lts" and " Torpids " ; and the relation between these two Then a man on the bank tells you how time is flying. crews is pretty much the same as between a first "Quarter of a minute more," "ten seconds," nine and second eleven at cricket. The races last for six (you quiver), eight, seven (internal quaking), six, nights each. There is no prize or tangible laurel five, four (you set your teeth and reach out well), wreath to be rowed for unless a boat 'goes up a place' three, look-out-look-out. Then you see a flash each night, or gets 'Ilead of the riller.' It is a test of and hear a bang, and you are off amid shouts of merit like a football or cricket match. They are not , well started', however badly you got off. At first you feel very happy, strong as a lion, and breast races--the river here is not so wide as the Severn, and twenty-four eights or so abreast would mentally think you could row for ever. .That is the be rather a squash-but the boats are arranged at first feeling. Next your breath begins to go and equal distances behind one another, and the race is you feel your back and legs tired, and think that to catch up the boat in front and run your boat's stroke is rowing very fast, and wish the man in front nose into its stern. This constitutes a 'bump'; if of you seemed more puffed. Now you hear your one boat bumps another, it changes places with it on friends on the bank running along with the boat through water,' if the floods are out, yelling 'Well the following night, and,is said to 'go up a place.' At about twenty minutes before the time for rowed,' 'Keep her going,' 'You're gaining,' etc. starting, the crews embark and paddle quietly down (sometimes the last is a kind fiction.) Perhaps some to their respective stations, arriving there about kind friend encourages you by name, and though-you eight minutes before the time. All the way down have been rowing atrociously, you fancy you have you are conscious as' you paddle that you are under rowed most beautifully and flatter yourself for a You have another comfortable going severe criticisms, and therefore sit up well and considerable time. feeling (if you have time to think of it) namely, do your best to paddle nicely. The boat is brought close up to the bank, and you that at any moment you may be being photographed, clear for action by taking your coat off and making since they always take some half dozen; and it is ' natural that you should not wish a picture to be other preparations. handed down to posterity when you are committing At five minutes before the time a cannon goes off one or other of your nine hundred and ninety-nine by way of warning, sending a thrill through you ; and now begins the worst part of the race. 'If any faults. Soon you get your second wind, and lose one can vividly recall his sensations whilst sitting in .count of everything except a broad expanse of white a dentist's chair, watching the dentist coolly selecting jersey rising up in front of you; you go on rowing one of his vicious-looking little pincers, he will have mechanically, the voices of your friends' being a faint conception of what \vaiting to start is like. drowned in one general roar from human lungs, There is an indescribable slow horror as you feel the trumpets, horns, rattles, pistols, and the tramp of time. slipping away and know that in a few minutes feet along the bank. Here perhaps you spurt, and you will be off,. using every muscle, observed of all ~urprise yourself 'by your own exertions, even though you feel as though you were going to die each stroke. observers, and thoroughly uncomfortable. . It is a scene never to be forgotten, the bank a per One entertains internal misgivings, too, as to whether one' may not 'catch a 'Crab' or upset the fect sea of heads, the barges thronged to such an boat, or dO'something horrible to think of. Another extent as to lean over on one side, flags flying, men cannon goes off. You are pushed out by a long pole dashing along in coats of every imaginable colour. A band generally tries to make itself heard, and into mid-stream.

"Ube JEigbta."

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. plays" See the Conquering Hero comes," which is very aggravating imd almost insulting if you have been bumped, but if on the other hand you have made a bump, you think there never was such a noble strain. CLOANTHUS.

if he could now re-visit his ancient habitat and witness the renovated glories of the Cathedral and of the adjoining structure where his flock - daily assembled to partake of their humble fare, he would rejoice to find that after all the times are not so bad,

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\llnber tbe Sbabow of S. mal'\?'a. " Built in far other times, these sculptured walls Attest the faith which our forefathers felt Strong faith, whose visible presence yet remains. We pray with deeper reverence at a shrine Hallowed by many prayers."

since, in despair, he had given up all for lost, there must nevertheless be considerable vitality in the Establishment which had succeeded the more gorgeous one with which he had been co.nnected. We can fancy the shade of the poor old Prior gliding about among the remains of former grandeur, and earnestly enquiring after the lodgings which he himself once inhabited, and the beautiful hall attached thereto for the entertaimuent of guests and visitors to the Monastery. One solitary wall alone remaining of all that interesting group! That wall standing by itself as the picturesque ruin of a building in which he had entertained the great and noble-'-even Royalty itself, in the person of the Princess Mary (afterwards Queen).

*,OW that the College School-the ancient _~_ Refectory of the monks~is undergoing ~ apparently a thorough restoration, and the ~ ~ scholastic institution itself is about to enter on a new era of its existence, of which a considerable enlargement of its machinery and a re modelling of its management will constitute the principal features, it may not be amiss to take a " Breathe not a thought, nor l~t a sound be heard Within the hallow'd precincts of that scene. glance' retrospectively at the great establishment to Feeling is mute, and language hath no word which it was once attached, and of which (except Meet for the melTIory of what hath been Beneath that ancient roof! " .S. Mary's itself) the' above building is now the principal relic. In all the migrations which, like the And nearly all the other fragments of an institution Library, the School has experienced, from the South which had been so familiar to him n::lW completely , Triforium to the Refectory, next to the Chaniel swept away! Truly change is written on the face of House, and ultimately back to its present locality, it all things! And who can tell what the defunct Prior will be admitted that no better or more appropriate might witness if once again he should revisit this spot, . use could have been made of a hall, which for in the not far distant future, when the wolves who are centuries served the purpose of feeding the body, now, howling around the Church shall have succeeded than to convert it into a mental refectory for in striking down and disendowing their noble prey! _administering pabulum to the juvenilemind. Nor can Which God in His mercy forbid! Let us now briefly review some of the changes and it fail to afford pleasure to the thoughtful observer, when surveying on its eastern wall the sculptured catastrophes which have befallen S.Mary's Church figure of the Saviour in the act of benediction, or and Monastery from or rather before the 'period when giving expression to the charge "Feed my sheep! " this Refectory was first constructed. Those abomin by a change in that expression which Christ himself able heathens the Danes more than once brought fire adoptes, the injunction "Feed my lambs!" may and sword to Worcester and destroyed the Cathed~al, now be applied to suit the altered circumstances of so that Bishop Werferth was fain to ship himself to the times and the substituti.on of a youthful congre France j' the citizens, however, had the courage to gation in lieu of a fraternity of monks, No doubt slay two of Hardicnut's taX collectors, after they had if Prior Moore, who escaped to the manor house at taken refuge in an upper chamber of the Monastery; Crowle to avoid the coming storm, and from the and then, dreading the consequences, they sought an loop-holes of his snug retrea~ looked out upon what asylum in the island of Bevere, in the Severn, while he believed, w~uld be the wrecking of the Church~ the fury of the Danish army was' wreaked upon the

'THE VIGORNIAN. city. But it is comforting to note with what signal but royal visitors, princely gifts, and the offerings and even miraculous punishments the spoliators of brought to the "blessed Mary of Worcester"· and Church property were visited. One of the sacrilegious the shrines of the Saints, never failed to restore crew of Danes, who had been caught in the act (it IS things to the status quo. King ohn was mu'ch said) of stealing the sanctus bell from the Cathedral, attached to the city j was no doubt the cause of was flayed alive, and his skin nailed to the principal restoring the College-green, which Vrso had seized, door. The writer has in his possession a sample of the and finally bequeathed his body to the Cathedral, skin, which is hereby commended to the inspection where in the choir it rests in a tomb; the slab on of Mr. Chamberlain! Then, again, during the Nor which is the oldest specimen of a royal tomb in man oppression, when plate and money were forcibly England. There is now no trace of any epitaph taken f~om the Cathedral,' and Urso, the "great on the unfortunate Kin~, yet Roger of Wendover bear," who governed this county under the King,. says that the following verse was composed for the had taken a large slice of the monastic enclosure to purpose : •• Hoe in sareophago sepelitur regis imago, enlarge his Castle yard, he was profoundly cursed by Qui moriens multum sedavit iri orbe tumultum. Ar<;hbishopAldred, and although the ,curse took but Hune mala post mortem timor est ne fata sequantur, little. effect during the life of the depredating Sheriff" Qui legis hoe, metuens dum eernis te morilurum, Diseite quid rerum parht tibi meta dierum." his posterity came to grief and the land was restored. Then the monks quarrelled with the citizens with Another great man, guilty of sacrilege, lost all his children and had none to succeed him; while a respect to the privilege of sanctuary and other rights third was slain by the King's orders and thrown over of' the Priory, and a serious emeute took place in London wall, undignified by burial-" extra murum 1349,' in which, we are sorry to say, the Bailiffs Londonire igno~iniose .projectus." Sir H. Spel (Mayors) of .the city headed the mob, and so beat man's tragedies are insignificant compared with some the Prior's servants that'eight of' them were unable of the judgments said by monkish writers to to work for six months j they also attempted to burn have befallen the sacrilegious Dane and Norman. the monastic buildings, and carried off the fish and Fortunately for the Church of Worcester in early game from the Prior's manors of Bedwardine and Norman days it was presided over by a Bishop who Hallow. Simon Gros and Roger le Taverner, the could at once be firm and yet respectful to the aforesaid Bailiffs, however, soon found it desirable reigning tyranny, and whose renown for piety was so to leave home for the benefit of their health, and great as to gain for him the ear of the Conqueror. being afterwards "attached," were committed to himself, by whose means many of the estates which prison, in company ,,,ith others of the rioters, several had been taken from the Church and Monastery of whom died in gaol. The exactions of Popes and Bishops, and theadvent were restored. The favour, however, was con ditional, and the condition humiliating j for it was of Black and Grey Friars, were undoubtedly great stipulated that the Saint (Wulstan) should pray for trials and mortifications to the inhabitants of Wor the soul of William and all who had assisted him in cester Monasfery. The existence and introduction of the expedition to this country, To purchase with itinerant fraternities was a standing protest against a few acres the prayers .of such a Saint for the the abuses of the monastic system, and, along with absolution of such wholesale robbers must, indeed, the wide circulation of the principles of Wickliffe, have been a triumph for King William! Wulstan should have taught the "heads of houses" to set rebuilt the Cathedral, increased the monks to 50, them in order without delay. But those whom the and may be called the regenerator of the insti Gods would destroy they first deprive of their senses. The mutterings of the storm were long tution. In the wars between Stephen and Maud, the heard before the- crash came. For several years Welsh struggles, and the sanguinary conflicts be before that event, Luther's so-called "pestiferous tween York and Lancaster, 'Vorcester, its Cathedral and damnable doctrines" were adopted by several and Monastery, were often plundered and burnt; of the Worcester monks, while complaints and

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petitions went up to the Lord Visitor as to the in lead, and iron therefrom, and left merely the stone ternal mismanagemet,lt and decay of the house. The shell of the building; but there is no account of Monastery was visited, Luther was denounced, and how fat the Refectory was included in this abomin then followed Cranmer's injunctions for the Scrip able outrage. That the Cathedral itself escaped tures to be read; next, after the smaller monasteries entire demolition can only be accounted for on the were suppressed, Prior Holbeche and the Wor supposition that Richard Baxter,. Hugh Peters, cester Convent swore· to "yield' obedience only to Simon Moore, and other "Godly preachers" deemed· our most illustrious King, under Christ, head of the it a good arena for holding forth by the hour to Church of England, and not to any foreign ruler or larger assemblies of the citizens than could be pontiff; " then Latimer, Bishop. of Worcester, issued gathered in any other church. The books and his most uncompromising injunctions for reforms in records fell into the hands of the Parliamentary both root and branch; and lastly, the following surveyors, Messrs. Palmer, Bonne, Hill, and Mott, and were with great difficulty recovered at the entry occurs in the records of the house ; "The surrend'r of ye priory of Worc'r. Mem. Restoration in r660; while many of the evidences, That the monastrie and priory of Worcester was which had been dispersed in London, were for a surrendred and gyff up by the prior and convent of long time hunted up and partly restored by Mr. the same howse into ye kynges handes, Henry the Dugdale, Prebendary' Hopkins, and others, at a eyght, the xvi daye of Jan'y, upon Seynt Marcell's considerable expense. A large outlay was incurred in the restoration of dayeye mart'r in the yere of our Lord r540, and in, the Cathedral, as also for the Cloisters, Refectory, the 30 yere of the seyd Kyng Henry eyght." The Reformation, however, did not effect the and other buildings. Probably about or soon after destruction of the monastic buildings, and Worcester this time the Refectory ~as newly roofed, but the Monastery merely changed its name and character. gallery at the west end of the building was not Henry Holbeche, the last Prior, doffed his gay vest c:onstructed till after the commencement of the ments and attired himself in the simple surplice as Musical Festivals, early in the last century, and was first Dean; and at least five of the monks were intended for the accommodation of the Festival placed in prebendalstalls, namely, Roger Neckham, Concerts. Since that period a century and a half JamesLawerne, RogerSandford, HumphreyWebbely, of cold indifference and neglect occasioned. greater and Richard Lisle. The neighbouring Monasteries damage to the Cathedral and its adjacent buildings of Malvern, Tewkesbury, and Pershore, not being than had been accomplished either by the Reforma attached to Cathedrals, were absolutely extinguished, tion or the Civil ViTars. It was reserved for the their records destroyed, and their churches would present generation to witness the revival of a sense have shared the same fate had not the inhabitants of of duty and the exertion of a splendid effort of the respective. towns purchased them for parochial munificence in the restoration of fabrics which are use. At Evesham, one of the most glorious churches venerable not only for their antiquity and the id the kingdom was pulled down and sold piece historical associations in which they are enveloped, meal; there being two other churches at that place, but for the religious and educational purposes to this" thing of beauty" was not requireq; while the which they are dedicated. N. monastic records are said to have furnished fuel for . the neighbouring ovens for many months. A similar danger befel Worcester Cathedral in the time of the Civil Wars, when it was given up to the ferocity of the troopers, and the offices of Bishops, Deans, and Chapters were abolished. The Chapter-house was then turned into a magazine for powder; the Parliamentary "trustees" sold the C:loisters to some men. who carried away the timber,

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! yards of their rifles, for fear of being blinded by spent powder! However, they are obliged to· retreat, and have soon put a good distance between themselves and the enemy. Meanwhile, th'e bar -rT is Easter Monday, in the year of our Lord barians who have been creeping round, must have ~ eighteen hundred and eightY-five.. Over the been knocked over to a man; yet, unfortunately, . Midland Mountains, over the woods and they persist in advancing. Nearer and nearer they ~. quarries, rolls the dread sound of war! For creep, and it seems impossible for any of the army to-day a little band of hillmen contests with an to escape.' But, suddenly, new and unexpected immense horde of barbarian invaders every inch of help arrives. Over the ridge of the hill next ground from the Pass ofWyche to the Castle of behind, a little red mass is seen advancing at the Eastnor. The horde of uncivilized veterans has double, and the hillmen welcome their friends with hitherto swept away every army sent to bar its path; a joyful shout. The arrival of these reinforcements and now on the rocks which overhang the Pass of saves the army from an ignominious capture. The Wyche, the men on whom rests the'last hope ofthe whole force retreats slowly along the road lately I{lountaineers await the attack of the rude and traversed by' the relieving band of mountaineers. tiitcouth Brummagians. A truce is now sounded, and the two armies enjoy Ten o'clock. Far down the road appears a . together, at a roadside hostelry, a good dinner. helmet, then another, and another; and suddenly This pleasal\t little diversion finished, the hillmen the crack, crack ·of rifles rends the air, while march off to take up a strong position on the very women scream, boys. yell, dogs bark, and a dreadful spot where, eighteen hundred years before, a vast scene of confusion prevails. On come the force of savages had thrown up strong earthworks barbarians! Their advance is un~hecked; though for their defence, and had awaited the attack of a many a good man bites the dust, or at. any rate Roman army far larger and more imposing than the imagin.es himself to be doing so. In five minutes horde of modern warriors who were just imbibing the hillmen are obliged to retire to another peak, their last glass of ale at the public~house below. and lo! the confusion is greater than ever. Women Here, on the crest of the mountains, for a full .and children who get in the way are upset, and hour the hillmen have lain in silence. Who knows sometimes left to' the mercy of the brutal what thoughts occupied their minds during that and uncivilized enemy. The retreat is continued hour ? Were they making up their minds "aut for half-an-hour, covered with great steadiness by vincere aut emorV' with that noble self-sacrifice the reserve. Indeed, the hillmen attempt to make which so characterizes their race? We think not. a stand at one point; but suddenly a cry of panic They conversed, it is true, but not in this spirit; arises from the scouts. The cause is soon dis rather were their words" 'What rattling fun it is" or covered. Dark objp.cts, which bear a strong "What a stunning dinner, wasn't it?" In this 'resemblance to armed Brummagians, are seen spirit did these'men, then, go to their (imaginary) creeping round on both sides of the hills, with the death. And they have not long to wait. perfectly evident intention. of surrounding and Down in a wood on the left, and also straight in capturing in a body the brave defenders of front, the terrible Brummagian host appears. On, Eastnor. Could this be endured? \ No! And the on they come, like an avalanche of dark green commanding ~fticer rides at full speed to the front uniforms, their arms flashing brilliantly in the bright of the battle and yells, "Sergeant Buggins! what rays of the sun. The brave band of hillmen meets on earth are you doing here, sir? Can't you see them with volley after volley; but there is no c;:heck you're being surrounded ? Make your men retire at in the advance. Thousands, indeed, must have once!" . A private is heard to remark that it won't . fallen; but they are unwilling to acknowledge it, much matter if they are surrounded, as none of the since they want to see the end of the fun. This is courageous enemy will venture to come within ten annoying, to say the least of it. Retreat is'abso: . .

U:be :f13attIe of tbeIDiblanb Mountain£;.

THE VIGORNIAN. lutely necessary; and meanwhile, to increase the earth, and each man takes his place in the army. discomfiture, a few cavalry scouts of the enemy ride Then to the sound of martial music-mostly 'big close up, discharge their carbines with the coolest drum '-the whole host, uniting with the mountain impudence, and then trot off again! This is un eers, marches off to the neighbouring town of bearable, so the hillmen take to the woods. And Ledbury,: and thus ends the awful battle of the now indeed the fight rages fiercely. For, having Midland Mountains. It will be long remembered passed hastily through a couple of woods, the hill as the most fearful fight which those volcanic rocks men make a grand stand (lying down) on the have ever beheld; and the story will still be told, summit of the "Monument Hill." Towering high with all the embellishments which time imparts, above them is a black and hideous column raised to when our grandchildren have reached the age of the memory of someone-we forget whom; someone wisdom. And whenever the Midland Mountains who distinguished himself, in some terrific war, and behold such another fight, may I be there to' see! W.H.W. whose monument now overshadows a multitude of ------------- 1-------riflemen, inspiring them, no doubt, with a new spirit for the fray. Here, then, i<: the greatest fight of the day. Thundering through the woods, 'HE prospect of a strong Eleven this seaSon' rolling along the hills, re-echoed in the valley was not by any means a bright one. Our beneath, the report of a tremendous volley is heard three best bowlers of last year, H. Hill, S. B. for miles around j another, and anot~er, and the ~ Martin, and W. G. Bennett, left us before the ground is shaken under foot. The few cavalry beginning of the season; whilst at the same time rush furiously about. "Quadrupedante putrem sOl1itu quatit lmgula ca'llpum." we sustained other losses which weakened our The barbarians are within a hundred yards j batting powers very much. 'We may, however, n,ow at last comes the order to retire j and long before congratulate ourselves upon having made a very the Brummagians can reach the top of the hill creditable show. Out of eight matches we lost the mountaineers have gained a spot 600 yards three and won five. At Spetchley we were com away-not a mile from the castle which they still pletely overmatched, and though we made an mean to save. Here they do not wait long-long excellent start our opponents eventu.llly ran up a enough however for one of their plucky lieutenants score which we entirely failed to reach. At Norton, to take prisoners half-acdozen enterprising idiots who also, we were twice defeated, the bowling 6f Quarter have taken up a useless position in a farmhouse on, master Downey being apparently too good for our the left, where they are completely commanded by Eleven. the fire of the hillmen. This is but a trifling gain; Most of our successes have certainly been due the immense horde is coming on faster than ever; to the excellent bowling of W. Counsell. Though and as a last hope, the hillmen retreat for half a an untried bowler last year, he has this year proved mile, cross a wide ditch, and await in onc long line himself a most valuable help. Bowling round the the attack of the enemy. No position could have wicket and with a considerable 'work' on the ball, been better chosen. The men are well protected he was difficult to play and dangerous ~o hit. E. by some high railings, whilst the barbarian host is' Webb, too,.who· also bowled this year for the greatly exposed. Now comes' a deafening roar, one time, did excellent, service, his bowling in the long line of fire, and the immense crowd is per Coventry match, in which he took ten wickets at a ceptibly checked. Another volley sweeps the nominal cost, being particularly good. The batting, on the other hand, has certainly ground clear j not a barbarian is left standing! This time the enemy feel the effect, and acknowledge been, rather below the average. As an Eleven we it, and the castle is saved. Cheers rend the air were much weaker in that respect than we were last from the dead host as well as from the line of living year. But in spite of this the very fair fielding and hillmen. The cheer raises the corpses from the good bowling of our Eleven enabled us t~ attain a

<tricket.

THE VIGORNIAN. CATHEDRAL SCHOOL.

proportion of victories upon which we may very fairly congratulate -ourselves.

n. A. Counsell, lbw b Hall ...

W. H. Counsell, b Hall

40 o 3d

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. NORTON BARRACKS C.C.-The first match of the season was played on Tuesday, June 2nd, on the Barracks ground, and resulted in a victory for the Barracks by 41 nms, H. Counsell being the only one on the School side who made any stand whatever.

G. Bennett, b Simpson P. B. Wright, b Hall ... A. Lewis, not out G. Bird, c and b Hall M. Webb, c Simpson b Brown H. Laurie, run out \V. Newman, Hill out... R. Webb, st Simpson b Hall T. Shattock, c Jenkins b Hall Extras...

.~.

o o 4

o o 9 14

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL.

120

H. A. CounseIl, c Downey b Brown W. H. CounselJ, b Downey... Mr. Bond, b Downey P. Wright, c Walker b Downey A. Lewis, b Hammerton ... G. Bird, b Hammerton M. Webh, b Downey... H. Laurie, b Downey W. Newman, not out. .. E. Webb, b Downey .. , R. "Ve1;lb, run out , Extras ...

27 7 -0

o 4 3

1 10

NORTON BARRACKS C.c. Capt. R. V. Rerkeley, b Bond Capt. C. S. Coles, b Bond .:. Quartermaster Downey, b E. \'{ebb Major Egerton, b Bond' ... .,. Sergt. Hammer~on, c R. Webb b Bond Quartermaster Uuy, c Lewis b Bond Pt. Brown, b Bond ... Lieut. Lugard, b H. Connsell Lieut. C. S. Walker, c and b Bond ... Pt. Murphy, b- H. CounseIl Pt. O'Callaghan, not out Extras

3 o 8

o 3 3 9 106

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v: COMMANDRY C.C.-This match was played on 'the School grouud on Saturday, June 6th, and was won by the School in an innings with 65 runs to spare. For the School, the bowling of W. Counsell in the first innings and H. Counsell in the second wa~ very good. COMMANDRY C.c. 4 c Wright b H. Counsell Simpson, c Lewisb H. CounseIl ... 0 c Wright b H. CounseIl 11 b H. CounselI ... A. Hall, b Bennett Brown, b Bennett .,. 5 b H: Courisell ... 2 C R. Webb b H. _Swete, b Bennett ... - CounseIl I c W. :€ ounsell b Henniss, b Bennett H. CounseIl.. 0 run out ... J enkins, not out c- Laurie b W. I Amyss, b W. CounseIl CounseIl 0 not out ... C. Forster, b W. CounseIl 0 b H. Counsell S. Forster, b W. Counsell Rowland, c Bennett b W. Counsell 0 _b H. Counsell Extras ... Extras 5 A. Merry, b Bennett

--=.....-

~__

- --

-~-

6 0

9 2 2 0 0 I

0 0

162 CAT~IEDRAL SCHOOL.

H. A. Counsel], c Buck b GreenPrice 2 W. H.Counsell, b Green-Price '" 0 Mr.- Handford, b Green-Price ... I Mr. Bond, b Vlhitmore ... 10 P. Wright, cR. Berkeley b GreenPrice 18 0 A. Lewis, b Green-Price ... G. Bird, c WilIiams b Green-Price 2 M. Webb, c Egerton b Whitmore I H. Laurie, not out 2 T. Shattock, b Green-Price 0 R. Webb, b Green-Price... 0 Extras 2

b Buck

b Green-Price ...

Extras...

38 32 CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. NORTON BARRACKS C.C.-The return match against this club was played at Norton on -Tuesday, June 16th, arid the School again suffered a defeat, being beaten by- 38 runs. CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. Mr. Handford, b Dewney _ ... 0 H. A. CounseIl, c Clarke b Downey 2 I P. B. Wright, b Martin Mr. Bond, c Clarke b Manning 15 W. H. Counsell, b Downey... 14 G. Bird, b Downey ... 0 M. Webb, b Downey... I _H. Laurie, c and b Downey ... 0 W. Newman, b Downey 0 R. Webb, c Clarke b Downey 2 E. Webb, not out 1 -Extras... 21

~------'----------~-

-,--

c M. Berkeley b Green-Price ... 2 not out ... - 10 lbw b Green-Price 0 12 not out

~_~

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. SPETCHLEY .c. C.-This match was played on the Spetchley ground on Thursday, June I !th, and the School sllffered a severe llefeat at the hands of the very strong Elenn opposed to them. In the first innings the School could do nothIng against the bowling of Mr. W. Green-Price, who took eight wickets for 22 runs. SPETCHLEY PARK C. C. Major Egerton, b Bond 8 Williams, b Bond I Capt. M. Berkeley, b H. Counsell ... I Capt. Whitmore, b Bond o "V. Green-Price, b H. CounseIl 45 A. Daldy, b W. Counsell 19 H. Buck, b R. Webb... 45 Capt. R. V. Berkeley, b H. Counsell o A. Lord, b W. Counsell 32 F. Philipps, b Bond 5 Guise, not out .. I Extras . 5

-- ---- -

'~:;re,.>~'~

,--

-----

THE VIGORNIAN.

13°

COVENTRY GRAMMAR SCHOOL. G. R. Phillips, b W. C~unsel! ... 0 bE. Webb L. R. Hancock, c Shattock b W. 2 cBirdbW.Counsell Counsel! 0 c H. Counsell b S. Escott, b E. Webb W. Counsell ... T. H. Wilson, b E. Webb 3 bE. Webb R. Escott, b W. Counsel! 5 c E. Webbb W. Counsell 6 bE. Webb E. C. Brown, b W. CounselI 0 b W. Counsell A. W. Brown, b E. Webb A. W. Collins, bE. Webb 3 bE. Webb 0 h E.Webb E. Parris, b E. Webb cBirdbW.Counsell I A. l White, not out ... 0 not out ... H'. Mander, c and b E. Webb I Extras ... Extras

NORTON BARRACKS C.C. Capt. Clarke, bE. Webb . '" ... C. Decie, c Handford b H. Counsell A. Featherstonhaugh, b Bond ... ... ... Quartermaster Downey, c W. Counsel! b E. Webb J. Martin, b W. CounseU ... W. Holland, b W. Counsel!... R. Philipps, b W. Counsel! .. Sergt. Coles, bE. Webb ... . .. Quartermaster Urry, c Laurie, b E. Webb ... Sergt. Hammerton, b Bond ... Sergr. Manning, not out .' Extras

...

17 3 I

8 4 31 4 0 0

9 5.

21 CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. MR. CHERRY'S ELEVEN.-This match was played on the School ground on June ust, twelve m'en playing on either side. The result was a victory for the School by 53 runs. This was chiefly owing to the batting of Mr. Bond and Mr.. Handford, atid the bowling of W. Counsell, who took IQ wickets at the very smal! cost of 24 runs, seven of the wickets being clean bowled. CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. Mr. Handford, c Cherry b Daldy H. A. Counsel!, b Lord P.B. Wright, b Lord Mr. Bond;.c Daldy b Leigh ... W. H. Counsel!, b Daldy A. Lewis, b Daldy ,'" G. Bird, b Lord M. Webb, b Daldy H. Laurie, run out W. Newman, bLock. .. E. Webb, not out Rev. W. E. Bolland, b Daldy Extras

16 o I

3 2 0

3. 0 I

0 0 0 0 3 18

3 4 I

13 4 o

16 lIO

MR. CHERRY'S ELEVEN. ../

Rev. C. Leigh, c E. Webb b W. Co';ps~1! ... A. E. Daldy, c E. Webb b W. CounseU Rev. A. Bird, c Laurie b W. Counsel! A. Lord, b W. Counsel! A. Cherry, lbw b E. Webb L. Curtler, b W. Counsell T. Wheeler, b W. Counsel! C. Wheeler, b W. Counsell H. Cbapman, b W. CounselI ... G. Gardner, b W. Counsel! H. Lock, b W. CounselI M. Day, not out Extr.'lS ...

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. 7 noloul . A. Lewis, b Hancock ... . .. 4 not out ... P.Wright, c Phillips b S. Escott ... I 0 W. Counsel!, b Hancock ... W. Newman, b Hancock ... 7 G. Bird, cR. Escolt b S. Escolt. .. I M. Webb, c and b S. Escott 4 E. Webb, c and b S. Escott 0 I T. Shattock, b Hancock ... R. Webb, cR. Escott b Hancock 0 C. Counsel!, not out 4 10 Extras ... Extras

H. A. Counsel!, b S. Escott

4 9

o 8

o 15

8·

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. HALLOW C.C.-This match was played on our ground on July 2nd, and, after a very exciting game, resulted in a victory for. the .School by 12 run~. W. CounseU contributed most towards this result by making 21 runs, when runs were badly needed, and by taking six wiekets for 28 runs in the first)nnings. HALLOW C.C. A. Featherstonhaugh, c Bond b W. Counsell 3 b Bond ... 7 ... o A. Lord, b E. Webb' 3 b Bol!and Rev. C. Leigh, b W. Counsel! 13 st Bond b Bol!and I II W. Hol!and, b Bond 8 not out . .... E. Douglas, b W. Counsel! ... r3 L. Curtler, c Wright b W. Counsel! 6 st Bond b BoJland 0 C. Wheeler, b W. Counsel! 4 G. Hil!, b Bond 3 Rev. A. Bird, b Bond ." 2 A. Lock, c and b W. Counsel! 2 .12 W. Curlier, not out 0 . b Bol!and Extras ... Extras 4 3 61

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. 3 H. A. Counsell, b Lord Mr. Handford, bLock 57 A. Lewis, b Lord Mr. Bond, c Wheeler b Lord... Rev. W. E. Bol!and, c Wheeler bLock P. 'Wright, run' out CATHEDRAL SCHOOL v. COVENTRY GRAM~{AR' SCHOOL. .W. H. Counsel!, run out This match was played at Coventry on Saturday, June 27th. W. Newman, c Wbeeler b Lord The fact that the wicket had been well watered the night G. Bird, b Lord before the match, and was therefore very slow, may to some M. Webb, not out E. Webb, run out extent account for the extremely small scores which were made. Extras Smal! though the' School score was that of our opponents was still smal!er, and they were· easily. beaten by 10 wickets.

4 2

3 13 21 6 o 10 I

5 73

·THE VIGORNIAN. ing as quickly as possible I got down to find my three friends ~waiting me at breakfast. We were not long satisfying the" inner man," and, putting a few things together for the night, sallied forth to find CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. our carriage ready for us at the door. A curious H. A. COllnsel!, b Harvey 15 sort of conveyance it certainly was, for its shape was A. Lewis, lbw b Spiller 13 ' 31 indescribable and its colour the brightest of bright P. B. Wright; c and b Hawley W. H. Coun~lI, run out ~ greens. Still we put up with appearances, for both W. Newmari, b Harvey G. Bird. b Harvey o coachman and horses were' capital, and in a few E. Webb, b Rone ~ minutes were well en route. ' T. Shattock, b Rone ... R. Webb. b Tiernay .. , 9 The road as' far as Ossieres lay through com C. CounselI, not out ... 15 H. Wilkes, c Barchard b Ti~rnay 2 paratively uninteresting country, in most places like Extras '" our Welsh scenery, the mountains of course being II .115 higher. At this village we made a short stay and had a second breakfast. About midday unmistak CHERBOURG HOUSE e.C. able signs rem,inded us that we were now at a con Barchard, b E. Webb 5 run out ... BalIaniyne, b W. Counsel! o c Newman b R. siderable altitude. Here and there snow had Webb ... ~ drifted into clefts and recesses of the rocks, and the Rone, run out o b W. CounselI Mr. Harvey, b W. CounselI 10 b W. Counsel! 10 only flower to be found was that ,exquisite pink Tierriay, b W. Coullsell .. , 12 not out I Spiller, b W. Counsell 2 not out ... 5 flower of the Alps, the wild Rhododendron. On Wise, c Shattock b E. Webb 4 arriving at the next village we took an hour's rest Rogers,. run out o Torrins, b W. CounseLl o for dinner. The little inn was a terribly dirty one, Healing, not out ';, I , and for the greasy sonp and stringy. slices -of beef Anderson, b W. Counsell ... o Extras I (joints being unknown at Swiss inns) we paid an 23 extortionate price. After this slight refreshment we 35 called the coach and proceeded on the road which now began to change consid~rably in character. The air was much clearer and all signs of summer B Wisit to· tbe' <Breat $. :mernar~. heat were gradually replaced by the white covering AT-A-TAT-TAT" at the bedroom door. of snow which continued to grow deeper. The And with sleepy ears one heard the skill of the Swiss in road making was especially voice of the Swiss servant shout out noticeable during this part of our journey, where in the unwelcome news that it was the places obstacles which would have seemed well nigh I was very insuperable had been overcome in order to clear a uncomfortable hour of 4 a.m. sleepy, having gone to bed the night before road. The last village we passed was S. Pierre, where wep tired out bya long day's mountaineer ing ; and not able to recollect for the moment the Napoleon halted in 1800 when crossing with his why and wherefore of such an untimely rousing, army. Here we exchanged our horses for mules. could have thrown all available articles of furniture But before long we found that the road was much the room possessed at the man's head with great more steep and the snow very deep, and so on gusto. Things began to clear however and I soon arriving at the canteen, the last inn before the Pass is remembered that I had less than an hour before we reached, we decided to give what small baggage we started on a whole day's expedition. We were that had to a porter and finish the rest of our journey on day, July 10 187-, going to set out from Martigny in foot. The path now becam~ much more difficult to the Rhone valley, (which had been our centre of follow. In some places we had to make a fresh track across'-the snow, which was so deep that once operations during our summer holiday in Switzer or twice we sank up to our knees in it, The light land) for the Pass of the Great S. Bernard. Dress CATHEDRAL SCHOOl. v. CHERBOURG HOUSE e.C.-The

last match was pla}'ed on July IIth at Malvern, on the Cherbourg House ground, and resulted in an easy victory for the School by 80 runs o~ the first innings.

."--'

.~'.

....", ":'

13 2

THE VIGORNIAN.

too gradually grew fainter until, about 4.15, we caught a first glimpse of the Hospice, and almost im mediately after a thick mist came on and left us to climb the last mile or two in darkness. It was about an hour afterwards when we suddenly became aware of a huge dark shadow stretching out in front of us, and, almost before we knew it, we stood be neath the convent walls. There was no mistaking where we were, for as soonas we came within a few paces of the building we were startled by the dogs, which at once gave notice of our approach by their loud and sonorous barking. On. hearing the entrance-bell ring, the Principal Monk came to welcome us, which he did most cordially, and then showing us into a bedroom left us to follow him to the Dining halL The bedroom we entered was a long and lofty room' panelled all over, walls and ceiling, with wood, and far better in the comfort of its arrangements than almost any of the Swiss hotels in the valleys. There were four large beds piled up with quilts, etc., though not, as we afterwards found, in too great abundance. Those beds stood 8,200 ft. above the sea! And when one sleeps at that height. one must not be surprised to Soon after find "a nipping and an eager air." joining the group of visitors who were already assembled in the Hall, it was announced that supper was ready. The fare was as good as one would wish for, and there 'was a plentif~ supply of everything without stint, including som~ good red wine, ~h~ch the' Sltperleur told us was made from grapes grown in the convent vineyards at Aosta. The wine used at one time to be supplied to the convent entirely by the King of Sardinia as an offering. Mtersupper we made a circle round the fire, which was a very large one and composed of huge pine logs brought up to Monastery on mules' backs from the forest belonging to the monks, down in the valley. . And now a good flow of conversation ,followed,. in which the Principal took a leading part with a pleasing grace which. marked him at all times. He was a tall, well. set man, of about 45 years; an age, he told us, almost unknown among the monks, owing to the intense cold, which sen~s them back to the valleys again with 'broken con stitutions at thirty. He was a most agreeable host,

and entered In a most genial way into the conver sation, being able to talk fluently in several languages. This was an indispensable attainment, for almost as many nationalities were represented by the circle of guests who besides ourselves sat around the hearth.. In one corner of the room we noticed a piano, the gift of the Prince of Wales, and there were many pieces of music which visitors at different times had presented. Before retiring for the night we visited the museum. Here we saw, besides other interesting curiosities, of which there was a considerable number, some fine old Roman bronze statuettes which had been dug up at different times close to the convent walls, thus bearing witness to the ubiquity of that remarkable nation. Interesting however as all these things were we were forced to pass over them hurriedly, for we were extremely sleepy and were far from 30rry when the time came to "turn in." The cold was so intense that for a long time we could not get warm, though some slept in their great. coats; and we could not help feeling sorry for the poor monks, who endured that tempera ture every night, and that too, solely in order to minister to the wants of tired and hungry peasants travelling across the Pass. * * * * At four o'clock next morning we were aroused by the loud clanging of the chapel bell, which gives you warning of service there only two hours before the time! Chapel was at six; and, tired as we were, we' managed to get up, and arrived in. the chapel. gallery, by a small door in our passage, just in time to hear the organ pealing out the opening voluntary. How remarkably weird the organ notes sounded in that big cold church, right up there among the clouds, with no human dwelling near for miles ~ut that of the solitary monks'! Down below in the nave knelt a small group of Swiss and Italian peasants who had b~en sheltering for the night at the Hospice. And then: " At break of day, heavenward " The pious Monks of Saint Bernard " Uttered their oft repeated prayer."

Returning from the chapel we .found our way through several corridors to the Dining Hall. As

THE VIGORNIAN;

133

we passed through these we caught sight of several almost tropical, with ice more than a foot thic~. monks attired in the black cassocks and white Near to the southern end of this pool a cross marks badges of their order, busy at preparations for the barrier dividing Switzerland from Italy. We had now· fairly exhausted the chief objects of breakfast" and other household matters; for the monks, I believe, do everything for themselves interest, and going back to the Hospice we packed '. entirely without help. Breakfast over, the Superieur up what few things we had; and then, having bid took us to see the dogs. They are eight in num our hospitable host good-bye, retraced our steps of . ber; fine noble creatures. The breed appeared to the previous evening down the pass in the direction' be a cross between the Newfoundland and Mastiff, of Martigny. though it is doubtful, we were told, whether any of One detail I have omitted to mention. The' the original breed still exists. We asked the Monk monks make no charge whatever for their hospitality. whether there was any fouI\dation for the story A small box lies in the chapel to receive any con: which:' we have so often seen pictured in the prints of tributions visitors may be disposed to give.. We children's books, ,where the noble hound is seen , were told that not a few (it is to be hoped not our with a brandy-flask tied to his collar, discovering own countrymen) have stayed there and departed some dying traveller half-buried in th.e snow, the without findi~g their way to the small box in the Monks following after far behind. "Very little," chapel. D. he said. "Occasionally the dogs are useful when we have previously cleared away most of the snow from the path, but as a rule it is only after very heavy snow-storms that we send out searching E cordially welcome this contribution to parties, and when the dogs go out with the men (which does not always occur) tl;1eir assistance is of the poetry of our time from a Vigornian little real value." quill. It is not a book' to be read through at once, but to be taken down The last part of the Hospice we went to see was the Morgue. In passing round the main building when the tired reader seeks just a -few moments' to get to this, we got a good view ofthe Monastery. quiet breathing in a fresh poetical field. To read It is as plain as a barn, with about as many features many sonnets continuously. is as wearisome an of artistic interest as are to be found in the front of amusement as to read many proverbs or jokes. Dent's Glove Manufactory. All projecting ornaments Indeed, to publish a volume of them is so bold a are avoided as of CO)1rse' dangerous in time .of venture as of itself to deserve attention if not suc storms. The" Morgue," or Dead-house, is separate cess. The Sonnet has never made itself very from the other block of buildings. In one side popular in England. Its quatrains and tercets, there is a small iron grating; and as we looked with the subtle development of motive that through this a truly horrible sight met our eyes. All characterizes its ordered progress, are caviare to the round the interior of the building rested in every general, on whom. its beauties are as much lost as conceivable posture a crowd of corpses. One or two the most perfect gem in Horace on the tiro who does with the flesh and clothing in remarkable preserva not appreciate the artistic excellence of its cutting. tion, owing to the intense colp., stood close- in A high authority has declared in his Art of front leaning,. as,in life, on the sticks which propped' Poetry that the sonnet is the touchstone of great them up. All dead travellers are deposited there, geniuses, a test which many a poet m~st decline.. for graves there are, and can be none; nothing is to Accordingly we were predisposed to welcome Mr. Brodie's book independently of any intrinsic merit be found but rock and snow. Turning away with a feeling of relief from this it might possess, as a praiseworthy effort in a cause sight, which lives vividly in one's memory, we passed fo. which few are bold enough to break a spear. He on along the Pass until we came to a pool frozen, at has given us conscientious work. Unseduced by

B \1)o(ume of Sonnets.*

a -season when the heat down at Martigny was *Sonnets by E. H. Brodie. London: George Bell& Sons, 1885.

".'.;.

134

THE. VIGORNIAN.

the. example of numerous. sonneteers, Italian as well he says, speaking of Derwentwater, "There is no I as English, he has not been tempted to evade the situation where we seem to care less about the difficulties of the Sonnet by substituting an elegiac details of the surrounding scenery than when we are stanza followed by a couplet for the tercets-an upon a lake; a dreamy content pervades us; we arrangement which 'quite alters the character of the don't care which is Catbells, or which Red Pike; composition-but has fashioned his sonnets for the any partic~lar mention of Causey Pike we feel to be most part on the pattern adopted by "Milton. His an intrusion like being presented with" Coke upon well-balanced clauses lead up, generally speaking, , Lyttelton" when we wanted" Percy J3ysshe Shelley." to a thoughtful and satisfying conclusion. They Mr. Brodie feels similarly nonchalant on the soft are not concerned with the passionate emotions turf of the headland :-' To breathe such tairhless aids luxury ; that inspired Petrach and his followers; . The reader And oh! how sweet a dreamer thus to lie, will look in vain for love's jubilations or the sighs of And hear his headlong hum but never see a broken heart. Nearly half the number are The sudden onset of swift-passing bee, And then relapse in listless reverie ; Of the rest, poetical reminiscences of places. But wake anon to tread the cushioned grass, some are on the Poets, whil~ others are described Watch stately ships, and wonder what their aims, Next note the living flowerets as I pass; as political, historicai, and occasional, being sug How beautiful (let others tell their names) gested by some casual thought or stirring incident. These blushing sisters clustered on one stem, The sonnets on scenes familiar from childhood or The whole a coronal, and each a gem. visited from time to time by the author, are never We have thus far spoken favourably of a book which flat and colourless, and we come' now and then we think deserves well of the tasteful reader by its upon happy touches that deserve to linger in our ·suggestions of pleasing trains. of thought expressed memory, as where he speaks of the in suitable words, and by its picturesque descrip ,. Wind-tossed elm and murmurous lime ·tions of scenery, su'ch as (to take an e~ample near With noisy hubbub of colonial rooks." home) may be found in the sonnets on a first view Or where, apostrophising the sea, he says of the Malvern Hills.. We may not share the "Teach me thy secret how to·toil and be For ever toiling and yet fresh and free." ·writer's seeming impati~nce of theological formula; .But perhaps the best specimen of what we mean but with the high tone of his musings in general will be found in the sonnet on Wordsworth, whom everyone will sympathise. Perhaps exception he speaks of as might fairly be taken to the word-play in the line " High Priest of Nature and her daffodils,"

" Ireland, ill'omened name of grief and ire,"

The sonnets to his brother's IJlemory express and again in the closing lines of the sonnet on natural feeling in unstudied but not unmusical verse. Wolfe and Montcalm, where Mr. Brodie expresses Those written by the sea are appropriately fresh and ·the philanthropic wish that breezy. Their author seems to delight in registering "Two nations might be blended into one , Strifes hushed for ever on this hill of calm." the shifting moods of the changeful element It is due however to Mr. Brodie to observe that he •. The crash and din Of crested billows leaping to the beach has shown commendable self-control in avoiding the Or the mild musi~ of the ehhing wave." , temptation that GeneraL Wolfe's name must have 'the following bit of sea-scape might help a held out. Perhaps it was a case of "Hac urget painter to a_pleasing subject for his canvas. lupus, hac canis," and he chose the less pointed " What tinted clouds, what particoloured skies, horn of the dilemma. But where the reader will Whose hues even wet and gleaming sands repeat ! " As we. have seen, Mr. Brodie, approves of hard find so much to admire it would be an ungrateful work, hut he has no objection to idleness in loco. task to look too curiously for blemishes. Mr. The lazy lover of a summer reverie will find ample Brodie's sonnets are well worth studying, and we justice done to his sensations in the sonnet on hope that one who has given such evidence of true Brean Down. It reminds us of a passage .In one of poetical feeling and power of expression will' not the most charming of Guide Books (not always content himself with b.eing a " scant and unfrequent' MoD lively publications) by a popular novelist, ~n which . votary" of the muse.

THEVIGORNIAN;

135

. had that night, though it was a very long time before it was reached. We continued our portage and AST September \ve were the subject of the were just packing the boat before starting off again, ~"% .intense c~riosity of a crowd ~f excited New when' we received a kind invitation to breakfast town natIves, who turned out in force to see from a gentleman, who had seen and had taken pity . . us launch our dingey in the then shallow on our deplorable condition. He gave us much waters of the Severn. There were three of us, all suit valuable information as to the state of the river, ably attired fOf our work, in J' ersey shorts and sand which he said was utterly impassable lower down. . " shoes. There IS no need fo! us each to take a We took' his advice -and deserted the river, going special cognOlllen, as with the exception of the along. by canal instead. This canal was too narrow . cook's province,which \Vas never invaded, we all for sculling, and' so we had to trust to the wind or shared thewoik alike.' After a few contradictory tow the boat along. The river ~ould be seen from directions as to which was up stream and which the towing path, and made a very pretty picture; in was down, the boat's head swung round the right some places the trees almost met across the stream, And now- with ijag and under them the river rushed merrily along; in . wa~ and, solved' all doubts. flying,' dogs barking, crowd cheering, the expedition others, treeS and water were alike· almost entirely For five minutes without stopping we wanting, a large expanse of dry rock with large started. rowed steadily on, but then our further progress was boulders lying about was all that could be seen. impeded by a mill dam, which stretched across the The banks of the canal' itself Were overhung with stream. The depth of water on the upper side was trees and creepers of all sorts. We were continually about two feet, on the lower for some yards nzl, the bothered by the ca~al locks, of which we had to go bare rock showing in a most uncomfortable way. through eight or nine. At first we began to shout Out we had to get, and then, taking great care to " Lock," but experience taught us. not to wait for avoid breaking the boat's back, lift her up on to the the lock-keeper but to open them o~rselves. We dam and lower her down on to the rocks beneath. went over twenty miles by the canal, reaching Then we pushed and lifted her on over the rocks Welshpool at four. Here we bought some provi and through the pools to the water beyond. Another sions and then went on for another three miles to row of almost equal' duration, and then the same Pool Quay. The canal was now deserted inlts turn work of jump 'out and lift away to be repeated. We and with the help of an aborigine we ran our boat were now mo~t decidedly moist, for in addition to down over the fields to the Severn (this sounds easy, our falls into the water whilst lifting the boat, it had but it was not so by any means.) On reaching the now come on to rain with a vengeance. Accord Severn we travelled on a few hundred yards, but the ingly, when a third dam appeared with a still navigation was rather dangerous in the dusk, and so longer stretch of rock on the other side, we we put in on the right bank for the night. A heron determined to camp out for the night. Before we and a greater grebe flew overhead as we were setting turned in, everything was ready for going on next up the tent. Our tent was many degrees removed day; we had lifted the boat right up out of the from being any relation to a "Bell," and each night water into the field where our tent was, for we had its arrangement was improved upon. It consisted a long portage in view to get clear of this third mill of two uprights and a cross-bar, over which was dam. This our first night was by no means a drawn a good piece of canvas; this was pegged pleasant one, and \vas the single exception in this down at the corners, and the triangle thus formed at respect. The tent was very wet to start with and either end was at the top closed up by sewing so creased that the water came through w;thout another canvas across it, while the other end where waiting for us firs: to touch the canvas; and finally the fire was we fiu'ed up with a door by arranging we were unable to light a fire, having to be content our mainsail so that the sprit could be raised or with a spirit lamp. Need it be said that Our sleep dropped at pleasure: We covered the ground with was not unbroken? All things have an end, and so macintl?shes and lit th,e lantern, which was

H . . Se\?ern JE~peNtton.

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THE VIGORNIAN.

I \

suspended from the cross-bar. By this time supper was ready, which we always had hot as well as ·our breakfast, generally eating our dinner in the Qoat. Having satisfied the inner man we then dressed for the night; this consisted of pulling our flannels over our other costume, putting on a p::tir of stock ings and another of socks, then we rolled ourselves up in our rugs and blinked away at the lantern till sleep overcame us. It is perhaps worth mentioning that that lantern was never seen to.go out. We were up at five, before the sun appeared over "Rodney's Pillar"; this looked to be a perfectly plain column, but there was doubtless a statue of the gallant admiral on the top. It is planted on the top of one of the highest hills we saw and must com mand a magnificent view. In two hours we were afloat once more and now our voyage on the Severn really begins. This part of the river keeps on making the letter "3," as if it were trying to spell its own name and could not get bp-yond the first letter. Sailing was of course out of the question and the sculls had to be kept going continually. The monotony of this was relieved by having to be constantly on the look-out for rapids and sudden stakes and also to prevent getting stuck in any part of the river, as it was extremely low in spite oL the he:lvy rains which had fallen on the two previous days. As the universal topic has cropped up, we may say that we were very fortunate; for though it rained every night but one during our trip, it· always waited till we were safely under canvas and so served merely to fill the river. eVe saw two lUore herons and three wild duck during the day, while moorhens, wood pigeons, and kingfishers escorted us during the w~ole ttip. Not far from Rodney's Pillar we came across a triumph of modern enter prize-a J"ailway that began in a field, crossed the river and ende.d half way up a neighbouring mount ain j no'stations or villages were marked on the map as being near it. The bridge had evidently seen better days, but all its glory had now departed. At about eleven. we came to a bridge, under which there was a fall of about a foot and a half: we tried t6 shoot it out grounded three times; accordingly we got out and helped the boat along. On the lower side of the bridge however the river suddenly deepened and with a sudden jerk off went the boat,

leaving us standing almost waist deep in mid stream. The boat was luckily stranded by the lime we got out and so no harm came of it. Salmon weirs now intersected the river, but fortunately we struck on the riglltplan-of takinglhe most difficult-looking channel. Above the weir which cannot be seeri the stream becomes very broad and proportionally shallow, but down a sharp turn to the right the current rushes along like a mill stream. The rudder in these places is of no use at all, all steering having to be done with the paddle. The first danger in shooting these rapids' is to prevent b.eing. carried against the fore. shore of the little island that divides the stream. If yo~ escape this, the current bears you rapidly along at its own sweet will. But don't trust it too r11Uch 1 for presently it makes an equally sharp turn to the left in order to counteract the first bend and then it is a cas~ of "hard with your left" or your boat will be smashed against the rocky bank and your "goods and chattels" will strew the wave. After .this there ·is nothing more to be done, except to take care of your sculls and prevent them getting caught in the overhanging bushes. We had two near goes in shoot ing these rapids, but we got out of the Ilifficulty all right. By evening we had done some twenty-two miles and were ready to camp out when we reached Bfckton, a small village about ten l~iles above Shrews ·bury. At about eleven o'clock we were knocked ~p whilst enjoying ourfitst sleep by a gamekeeper aI,!d a policeman, who almost fell over our te·nt in the dark. They thought we were a b~nd of poachers or gipsies, but onfinding out their mistake were very civil ancI fastened up the end of the tent a little more securely, thus preventing any of the rain coming in. Next morning we went on to Shrewsbury, which was reached at about half-p~st ten. We were in ttJ.e town for about three hours, which we spent in dining and buying provisions for the next day.. By two o'clock we were off\ again and put on another twelve l~iles before evening, camping out at Wroxeter. Here there is an old -Roman tQwn, which we un fortunately were unable to get at owing to the con tradictory directions we received. On the fifth and last day of our trip we eclipsed all previous record doing sixty miles in the day. We started at seven and rowed on all day taking spells of half an hour each. Before eleven we had passed Buildwas

Abbey, Jronbrid,ge, and Bridgnorth, the strong I20 Yards Handicap-First Heat: N. M~rtin (owes S yards) I, E. Webb (3 yards) 2, W. Newman (9 ymds) 3. Won by 2 stream which was running helping us considerably. y~rds. Time· I3Yz secs. Second Heat: H. Counsell (3 rar!1s) I, A, Lewis (S yards) 2, e. Forbes (6 yar<ls) 3. Won easily. We had dinner in the boat, cooking it by the help Time I4}.( secs. Third lIeat: W. CounseJl (6 yards) I, F. 'of the spirit lamp. At three o'clock we reached Branthwaite (4 yards) 2, A. \-Vilks (9 yards) 3. Won by I yd. Time 14 secs. Arley and then approached the Folly of which we One ftfile (Ojm )-H. CounseJl I, N. Martin 2, C. Forbes 3. had a great deal. It failed however to uphold its Martin made the running till the last lap, when Counsell spurt ed finely and won a most exciting race on the tape, Time S reputation, its rapids being very small compared min. I2Yz secs. On the following afternoon the Sports were con· with our former experiences. Just below Stourport the "Perseverance" met us and we came in for some tinued : IOO Yards (undtr I5)-H. Webb I, W. Newman 2. Joud cheering. We finished off all our provisions a IOO Yards (Opw)-N. Martin (owes 4 yds.) I, n. Counsel! little way above Holt Lock which we reached about 2. Time I I ~ secs. Higli.!tlJup (Opm)-N. Mmlin and E. Webb I. Height seven. Two hours' more rowing brought us to the 4 ft. 7 in. Jump (mdt', I5)-H. \-Vebb I, G. Bird 2. Distance, Grand Stand, where by the light of a wax vesta 13Lotl,'J ft. 2 in. . I20 Yards Handicap (PilZal)-N. Martin I, E. Webb 2, dimly burning we moored ou'r boat 'up, dressed, and H. CounseJl 3. departed homewards after a voyage of nearly one . 200 Yards IIalldicap (under IJ)-F. Hadley (8 yards) I, B. Roan (S yards) 2, I. ThrelfeJl (S yards) 3 hundred and thirty miles.

H.A.C.

tltbletic Sporta.

Quarter .~[ile (Opm.J-N. Martin I, F. Branthwaite 2, H. Counsell 3. Time S8 secs. . HigliJump(tmdtr I5)-G. Bird I, H. Webb 2. Height, 4 feet. IOO Yards Handicap (under I f )-F. Raymond (S yards) I, Y. Quilter (scratch) 2. Siamese Race-Ten couples started, and. the race (120 yds.) was won by N. Martin & C. navies, but they were disqualified owing to their strap coming unllone. Lewis and Wilks there fore took the prize. IOO Yards (muftI' I2)-F. Hadley I, B. Roan 2, 1. ThreI fell 3. ., Ha{f Mile Handicap (Opm)-F. Branthwaite (IS yards) I, e. Forbes(30 yards) 2, H. CounseJl (IS yards) 3. DId Bo)'s' Race (I20 Yards Handicap/-R. \\'oodward (4 yards) I, F. George (4 yards) 2, A. Bill (scratch) 3. Time I3}.( secs. . • Quader Aide Handicap (under I5).-G. ThielfeJl (IO yds.) I; H. Wilkes (S yards) 2, H. Webb (scratch) 3. I20 Vards Hurdl~ Race, Eight .Fligltts--N. Martin I, A. Lewis 2. Choristers' Race (I20 Yards Handicap)-Hardgraves I. Como!ation Race (220 Vards Ham/icap) -A Davies I, T. Branthwaite 2, C. CounseJl 3.

UR Annual Athletic Sports were held as usual on the County Cricket Ground, at Boughton, on.April 14th and 15th. The weat!:Jer was fine but the keen wind made it less pleasant spectators than it might have been. The meeting was however very successful, and there \vas a large attendance of visitors. On the first day the winner's performance in the Long Jump and Throwing the Cricket Ball was by no means up to the average. The Running on the 1---------------------- other hand was distinctly good, and the brilliant finish in the mile will not readily be forgotton. On the second day N. Martin had everythinrs at N Thursday evening, 16th of April last, our his mercy, winning the 100 yards, 120 yards Handi Concert, which had been postponed from cap, 3i mile, and hurdle race. He easily secured the Christinas owing to the illness of the Champion Prize, and gave great promise of turning Head Master, was held in the Great Hall. There was a good attendance, although the night out a formidable runner. At the conclusion the Prizes were flresented by was very rainy. The following was the programme: PART 1. Lady Alwyne Compton. Glee-" Integer Vitae" ... Singing Class, Judges---'-'YIr. H. Clarke and Mr. W. B. Handford. Violin Solo-" Andante & Rondo " (Danda) W. H. Dyson. Starter-Mr. F. Bond. Timekeeper-Mr. Cooper. Song-" He that loves a rosy cheek" '" A. Webb (0. V.) Chorus-" Pretty Village Maiden'" '" Singing Class The following events were decided on Tuesday. :'

<!oncert.

Throwing tlte Cricket Ball (under I5)-W, Newman I, H. We],b 2, C. Coumell, 3. Distance 60 yards. T/wO""dJil1g the Crirket Ba!l (Opm)-E. Wcbb I, A. Lewis 2, H. Counsell 3. Distance, 72 yards I foot. LOftof' !ump (Opm)-N. Martin I, A. Lewis, 2, F. Branth· waite, J. Distance, 16 ft. IO in.

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Song-" The tar's farewell" J. Martin (0. V.) Phnoforte Duet--\V. C. Harber (0. V.) and W. E. B. Porter (O.V.) Vocal Duet-" The Army & Navy" W. G. Blandforrl (O.V.) amI J. J. W. Stoyle (O.V.) School Song-I< Floreat Schola Vigorniensis" Singing Class.

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THE VIGORNIAN. PARTII.

Dean (Lord Alwyne Compton) has accepted the

Chorus-" Carnovale" Singing Class: . Bishopric of Ely. While heartily congratulating him Song-" Stars of the summer night" ... W. G. Blandford. Clarionet Solo ..: F. J. Griffiths (O.V.) on his new honour, we cannot help expressing our Chorus-" The Woods" ... Singing Class. regret at losing him from Worcester. It is not our Song-" The River of Years"... H. E. E. Arthure (O.V.) part to-speak of the good which he has done in this Violin Solo ... W. H. Dyson. Song-I( When the thorn is white with blossom" ... W. city, but we cannot help recording our gratitud~ to . HoIloway. him for the many acts of kindness which he has done Chorus-Medley of Nursery Rhymes ... Singing Class. to this school, for his constant presence at all our Song-" Now your days of philandering are over" 1· J. w. Storle. speech days and concerts, his kind words, his material Chorus-" Duke Domum" help in prizes and subscriptions, and perhaps chiefly National Anthem.

for the excellent addresses which he has often given us in the Cathedral, simple enough for us all to un derstand, and yet full of much thought and good advice. We shall also much miss Lady Alwyne Compton, and while we trust that they -both have a -------------------1 happy life waiting for them at Ely, we hope that they will nOt quite forget the school with which they have ScbooI 1ReWB. been so long connected. HE result of the Ambulance Examination CANON BUTLER has left our governing body on his mentioned in our last was very satisfactory, promotion to the Deanery of Lincoln. His place has 42 boys passing out of 44. The following been taken by the Rev. M. CREIGHTON, whose high ~ obtained Certificates :-A. P. L. Sharp, F. J. - reputation had preceded him, and with whom we feel Branthwaite, F. H. Coorllbs, H. Counsell, C. G. a personal acquaintance already-at least on the title Wheeler, E. A. White, P. B. Wright, S. B. Martin, W. pages of our history books! Counsell, C. Wheeler, T. Branthwaite, S. M~ Baylis, The Rev. G: CARROLL who for. some time acted as T. Shattock, A. Warren, F. W. Keen, C. Davies, G. Bir-d, Master in the :School, has been appointed to the R. N. Martin, H. Hill, W. Bennett, A. Lewis, A. E. Rectory of S. Martin's. -He has the best wishes of :Wheeler, H. Laurie, A. Pearson, C. C. Counsell, all of us who have come personally into contact with E. Gough, C. Dimont, W. H. Dyson, S. T. Dutton, him, and learnt to appreciate his kindne~s. School Services have been held as usual during F. M. Webb, W. T. Newman, H. W. Bolland"C. Forbes, S. H.Wilkes, A. E. Davies, W. W. Finch, Advent, in the Cathedral. The preachers have been L. Morris, P. Wilks, C. H. C.Faram, J. Powell, E. the Revs. E. V. Hall, G. Carroll, and H. H. Wood Webb, G. Threlfell. ward. A. P." HIGGINS obtained a first-class certificate in A Chess Tournament was held in Worcester on December 8th and 9th. Mr. Blackburne1 the English the London Matriculation Examination last July. A. P. L. SHARP won the Stratford Exhibition last Champion, on the first night played eight matches term. This term he entered into residence at S. simultaneously, being himself blindfolded. One of John's College, Cambridge. his opponents was our Head Master who secured a A. M. CAMPBELL, Hertford College, Oxford, has draw. Mr. ,Blackburne .won four games and drew obtained a second class in the Honour School of the rest. On the second night he played thirteen Classical Moderations. simultaneous ga'ines, beatirigall his adversaries (in . At the Meeting of the Counties Chess Association, cluding Mr. Bollandand Mr. Bond), but on a second held at Hereford in August last, F. G. JONES won round being played Mr. F. E. Jones (O.V.) managed to secure a creditable victory over him. Many of First Prize in Class n., Section" A." H. E. E. ARTHURE, Hertford College, Oxford, the School were present, and some (at the end of the second evening) had the honour of playing rowed in his College "eight" in last term's races. Just before going to press we have'heard that our against Mr. Blackburne, and-losing. The choruses were conducted by the Rev. E. V. Hall, Precentor of the Cathedral. - Several of the songs were encored, and the concert was a most successful one.

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"I'

THE ViGORNIAN.. . The Repairs of the Great Hall are going on steadily to say there has been only one meeting, and then if; not rapidly.. The South Side has been refaced, only one or two sets of games. This ought not to and much progress has been made with the tracery be the case, and it is very discouraging to any of the New West Window, which will certainly be attempts to form a "Debating Society" so strongly urged in your last number by Senior Wrangler and very beautiful. We hearthat the plans for the New School House Demosthenes. Hoping next year to see the Chess have been approved, and that the building will com Club in a more lively state of existence, I remain, Yours Faithfully, . mence as s?on as pqssible. The present class rooms TAURUS. .being so convenient, the 'erection of new ones will probably be postponed for a time. To THE EDITORS OF T~E "VIGORNiAN." The Christmas Holidays will commence on Wed DEAR SlRs,-During the past term the Fives' nesday, December 23rd. Next Term will commence Court has been il) almost daily use, and has, I fear, on Friday; January 22nd. We beg to acknowledge the following Magazines : been very roughly treated. I think it would be wise "Lily," "Ousel," "Cantuarian," ~'Batho'nian," to place it under the control of the Sports' Com mittee and to impose a small. subscription on all J" Ulula.'" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 who wish to play. I also wi~h to call attention to the fact that the "awkward squad "are drilled in the 1king'9 Scbolar9. ,court. This mu'st necessarily injure the ground Two King's Scholars were elected last November: work to a great extent. Should it not be stopped? H. M. CONACHER ....... St. Peter's School, Worcester, I am, yours, etc., . and private·tuition. W.H.C. F, M. NEWMAN ...... Cathedral Gramrhar School. To THE EDITORS OF THE "VIGORNIAN." DEAR SlRs,-When looking through the School Scbool ~mcer9. Magazines that have been sent us, I noticed that : .. F. H. COOMBS. Captain of the School. some of them have staited 'School Mission' funds. . F. H. COOMBS. Captain' of Football Would it not be well for us, as a highly favoured . H. A. COUNSELL. Secretary of Football Cathedral school, to imitate their example? Of .. P. B. WRIGHT. Captain of Cricket course, as our numbers are considerably less' than " H. A. COUNSELL. Secretary of Cricket those' schools to which I have referred, we should C. G. WHEELER. Secretary of Chess Club F. H. COOMBS. Editors of " Vigornian " ...... } H. A. COUNSELL. unaided be able to do very little. But were we to ask the other Worcestershire schools of our own - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 standing to join us, I am sure they would not be backward in doing so. If some ten schools co . ope~ated weshollld be able to raise about £100 a year without requiring any boy to stint himself to The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the the extent of more than one shilling a term. This opinions of their Correspondents. All letters intended for insertion in these coTumns must be sum would, I think, go some way in furthering authenticated by the name and address of the sender, not mission work in our large towns. necessarily for publication, but as evidence of good faith. I remain, Yours truly, 'Every facility will be afforded for the discussion of matters of CLERICUS. public interest, but a rigid compJia~ce with.this rule will be

<torre9pon~ence.

enforced.

To THE EDITORS OF THE "VIGORNIAN." To THE EDITORS OF THE "VJGORNIAN." DEAR SJRs,-Several of my friends who were SIRS,-Two years ago a Chess Club was formed present at our Athletic Sports in April last have and was very well attended. This year I am sorry suggested to me that. it would be an interestin~

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THEVIGORNIAR

feature and a great addition, if a Bicycle or Tricycle On the seventh of January I saw, a few miles race were introduced into the programme, and I from 'Veymouth a hibernated specimen of the Small. entirely agree with them, particularly as so many of Tortoiseshell. The' season really began the day before our' the scholars take a great interest in Cycling. Hoping this letter may be the means of ventilating the subject, .. School Sports, which was unusually warm. Return . you r, s &c., ing from School in the morning I saw several hib.er- . I remam, nated Brimstones, and in the afternoon, going down B.B.B.B. [This question was fully discussed by' the Sports Committee in the river as far as the" Ketch" Inri, I took Rhamni April last. -ED.] (Brimstone), and Peacocks in very fine condition; and both, though hibernated, compare very favour To THE EDITORS OF THE "VIGORNIAN." ably with the fresh specimens which I took later. SIRS,-I should like. to make a few remarks with On April 29th I came across a blue, at Portland, regard to the School Chess Club which was pro which from its early appearance I took for an 'Azure' moted two or three years ago. When the club was Blue. The three whites Napi, Rapae and Brassicae first started its meetings were well attended and appeared about this time. The Small Heaths, Walls much interest was shown. Last year it drooped Meadow-browns and Ringlets were all rather early. somewhat during the absence of the Secretary. These, with the graceful Orange-tip (Ca1'damines) .The particulars of the attendance this terril sJleaks w~re very plentiful round Bransford.· for themselves. The first meeting held on Nov. 5th, Early in June I had the good fortune to find a was honoured by the presence of five members; on brood of Tortoiseshell Caterpillars, and derived the succeeding Thursday two appeared; next week, great pleasure from watching their transformations, none. and noting the varieties in colour and size which Now of course it is unreasonable to expect boys always occur in large broods. A few days before to spend their time after school indoors during the they emerge from the Chrysalis, the marking and months when there is light enough for outdoor games. colours of the wings can be distinctly seen on the But it seems to me that during the winter some at wing cases though the future butterfly is only a soft any rate of all those who play chess-and I am s.ure halfliquid mass. they are not few-might manage to spare an hour a Towards the end of the July the weather was week, to prevent a valuable institution from a dull, and gan~e scarce; but at the beginning of Mid premature death for want of support. summer Holidays everything brightened up. The In connection with this subject, I should like to common Vanessas,10 A/alan/a, CarduZ"·and Urticae know how it is that so Jew solutions of the Chess came out in all their glory. I caught my first Problems and Acrostics appearing in the "Vig?rnian" Marbled White near Weymouth, August 13th and e are received .by the Editors. I hope the next soon after this the first Clouded Yellow ofthe season. number will see a reformation in this respect. Afterwards both were so plerttifuJ as to be scarcely, Yours truly, worth catching; however, I laid in a good stock of "KING'S PAWN." both while I had the chance, for fear of accidents. --------------------.,--1 The Graylings (Semele) were exceedingly plentiful round Dorchester (Dorset) on waste ground, with 1Rbopalocera in 1885. the beautiful AQonis and Chalk hill blues. I caught HOUGH the past year has been considered a common blue no larger than half-an-inch across a most unfavourable one for butterflies, it the ~ings; At Lulworth I failed to obtain any of was one of those in which we are visited the exceedingly local Lulworth skippers, nor could I ¥' by that lovely insect the Clouded Yellow get any Pale Clouded Yellows (Hjale). Nothing ( Edusa); this butterfly occurs abundantly in the can be more beautiful than to see a flight of Clouded Southern Counties every seventh year, at other times Yellows (Edusa) frolicking over. the clover and lucerne blossoms. It. is impossible to resist the 1ll0re rarely.

THE VIGORNIAN. CRICKET, FOOTBALL, AND BOATING. temptation of catching them, they look so attractive in-their orange coats with pink borders. I' took 1884-188S· RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. about 20. They are the most active of British from Boating £4 17 0 butterflies and delight to lead you along a steep Balance Cricket ground, Games FlInd...£41 2 4 man, and pur flowery railway cutting or bank. As soon as you get Cricket Subscrip tions, etc......... 5 7 6 chase of Cricket to the top after one, down it darts to the bottom, Boating do....... I 5 0 material 12 15 6 Travelling expen and when you slide down aft~r it, it is at the top again . ses: hire of before you can turn round-all the while in the blaz drags; etc. ..... 4 3 6 Football ....... ,.... I 5 0 ing sun, for they never appear unless the day is very Balance in hand... 24 13 10 . warm. £47 14 IQ £47 14 10 The Speckled Wood (Egeria), together with the Brimstone Butterfly, was very common in coppices. On August 23rd I caught a very large specimen of the Small Copper (Phla:a~), about an inch and a Acrostic in our last Number : half across the wings, and largely spotted with blue. Sisters would all choose one half, on the whole 'JOI;l the 20th of August (very late for this Brothers prefer in both to seek their goal. species) my brother took a Silver Washed 'Fritillary I. The Briton here of old his watch did keep. in a wood near the sea. Down south the Painted 2. Loved, mad, and drowned. The tale makes Ladies were far commoner than whites, and the strong men weep. grayling swarmed over heaths etc. About the end 3. "New master now weown," the wild waves say. . of August an Entomologist showed me a pale variety 4. True end of man,b.ut lost for many a day. of the·female Clouded Yellow (He/ice) which he had SOLUTION. FOOTBALL. just caught. I omitted to mention several. Commas FoB (C Album) taken in July; and many common sorts, . OPHELIA Blues, Skippers etc. Altogether Ihave been very OIL T AI L well satisfied; and can only hope that other collectors The correct Solution was sent in by C. G. WHEELER have had the same success. and P. B. WRIGHT. . "BOETICDS." We here present our readers with another Acrostic - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 for them to solve.

.Bcrostic£;.

Im~ortal Pair! when Alpine Clubs are gone The memory of your exploit shall live on ! Fame shall recount the glorious end iri view, Fame also mention what that end o'erthrew.

ATHLETIC SPORTS,188S. RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

Subscriptions and Donations £64 3 9 2 14 6 Entrance Fees Gate Money 9 6

Cooper & Son £II 5 6 Collins 3 10 0 I 14 Westby 6 Lewis & Son 3 10 0 Plum 9 6 16 6 Hutchinson Smith (bats) I 15 0 Smith (ground etc.) 3 0 0 Birbeck (printing) 5 5 0 8 9 Eaton & Son IQ 0 Police Band 3 3 0 Tape, etc. 9 16 0 Stamps, etc. Man at gate 5 0 Winwood 15 .0 Balance in hand . 30 3 3

£67

7 9

£67

7 9

Audited antlfomtd correct by W. B. HANDFORD. Treasurer-F. BOND.

".. -r

One letter, written, gives us but a third; Spoken, is. qui.te enough for a whole bird.

Some lose their gains by talking; one of old Found in a word the key to heaps of gold.

3. Fair fields once gave a name to Beauty here, Now bricks and mortar make the prospect drear. 4.. Highflyer he, but not too proud to stoop To humblest prey that comes within his swoop.

THE VIGORNIAN.

PROBLEM XIV.

PROBLEM XV.

COMPOSED FOR "THE VIGORNIAN" BY W.E.E.

BLACK.

WHITE.

'WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN Two MOVES.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE .IN Two MOVES.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN LAST NUMBER. XII. BLACK.

WHITE. L

Q to K 6

Kt to Kt 6 Mate

Q to K B 5 Mate

Q to K 4 Mate

I. P

takes Q (or A)

(A') I. Pto B 4 (or B)

(B.) I. Pto Q 6

XIII. !

R to K 4

Q takes P

L 2.

P takes R (or A) K moves

3. Q mates 2. R takes P 3. Q mates

L'P to B 5 2.

K moyes

I I

''1

. i.