Feb 1880

THE

PETERITE. VoL. II .

FEBRUARY, 1880 .

No .

On the 26th of' January, at the Deanery, the

Von.

& JFr 1

Erb . auquotuo Bunrornbe,

D.D.,

Dean of York,

AGED

J

66

YEARS.

UST before going to press we find we have a painful duty to perform, that of recording in our

pages the death of the DEAN . It would be needless and out of place to say much here of his public career.

Appointed to the Deanery in 1858, he has, since that date, in virtue of his position as Dean, held the office of Chairman of the governing body of the School.

This office he discharged with the ability and liberality which marked his public career. Always alive to the interests of the School, he was ever ready and willing to subscribe to its improvements—only a year ago we recorded his liberal donation towards the New Fives Courts ; while, like MR . ROBINSON, whose death by a sad coincidence we record in this number, he was the donor of an annual prize to the School . Those who have heard him preach in the Minster and the School Chapel, must have felt his earnestness of delivery and kind practical teaching. We feel that the School lose in him a warm and generous patron .

f o.

142

THE AERONAUTS. [CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 1 34. ]

E were told that we need not expect this bird to visit his usual haunts before the following morning, but in the meantime preparations were made for its capture . In a field some distance from our host's house an animal somewhat resembling a large goat was fastened to serve as a bait, and round this were placed large heaps of combustibles, which on being fired, were to render our'prey insensible . I confess that for my part I doubted the success of the plan adopted ; but we were assured that it was the only plan that had been attended with success, as the thick plumage of the Kryu rendered it proof against all missiles. I have already told you of our subsequent adventures here, and how Gregory nearly fell a prey to another of these rapacious birds ; so I will pass over this part of my adventures, and briefly explain my reasons for leaving this happy land . In spite of the peaceful character of our sojourn there undisturbed by any troubles, the monotony of our existence began to vex my spirit, and I persuaded Gregory to make an attempt with me to visit once more our native earth . He willingly agreed to venture his life again, but it was more difficult to persuade our kind hosts to let us go. Although from the time that we had landed in their country they had treated us with the utmost kindness, and placed no bounds to our freedom, yet when we began to talk of leaving them, they seemed to regard us with changed feelings . Whether they looked upon us as ungrateful, or that they feared lest we should return bringing some more of our race to introduce a new order of things into their land, such as we had described as existing in our own country I know not, but they began to talk of putting us under restraint, or even of putting an end to us . But one day we were allowed to get possession of our sails which this simple people had been afraid to touch, fearing them as being made by art magic ; and under pretence of instructing our friend in their use we put them on and launched ourselves into the air before he perceived our intention . After hovering around for a few moments to utter some words of farewell we again essayed our airy voyage . Now we found a greater difficulty in rising to the

W

THE AERONAUTS .

143

limits of the atmosphere ; bounded as this was by a thick mist we were obliged to close our valves earlier, and thus the supply of air within appeared to be exhausted sooner . The passage through space, short though it was, was attended by the most painful sensations. Consciousness never left me, but my head reeled, and I felt blood oozing from every pore of my body, while every muscle felt as if it was stretched on the rack . This agony lasted long after we reached the terrestrial atmosphere, for it was several seconds before I found strength to open the valves again . When I recovered I saw that we were falling towards a large plain covered with huts and evidently cultivated.

In spite of my fears as to the welcome that we should receive, 1 had not strength to prevent myself from falling slowly to the ground, and I saw that Gregory was accompanying me still.

Once on earth again my senses left me, and I recovered to find myself surrounded by a crowd of blacks . These men gave us food and drink, but tied us so that we could not escape, and in a few days took us to the sea coast to sell us as slaves . Our purchaser was a Portuguese planter who carried us to the Indies to work in the plantations. From this life of bondage we escaped, and got on board an English vessel homeward bound, which carried us to York as common sailors.

Beyond this account there was nothing to enlighten Doctor A. as to the means used by Gordon to propel himself through the air, or as to his subsequent fate. The tract published by Vassali did not give any details of the construction of the machines which he decried ; indeed from the calculations which were given, Doctor A . would have agreed with him that flight through the air was indeed an impossibility ; but it was evident that Gordon had made some important additions of his own to one of the machines described there, and that his handiwork had vanished with him . A few years later, however, a clue was given as to the probable fate of Gordon and his companions . As Doctor A. was visiting some friends in Germany, he happened to mention the story of Gordon as an argument that flying, after all, might perhaps be a lost art ; and was informed that in that very village there was a tradition that during a terrific storm that raged there in June 1746, a man had fallen from the clouds, and been killed.

A curious machine to which he was attached had been destroyed by the village people, together with the body of the unfortunate

144

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

man, and tradition even could not describe its form beyond that it resembled the sails of a windmill with a large iron case attached .

Was this Gordon and did his companions and his secret perish with him ?

MEGALOPSYCHUS.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. E must confess that it was with some misgivings that we awaited the issue of the third venture of our school's ` Shakesperian bark .' But having seen its safe arrival in port, we apologise for our misgivings, and congratulate the Dramatic powers that be upon another decided success . The acting as a whole was even better than it has been before : there seemed in most cases to be more intelligence displayed in grasping the various points and situations. The Shrew herself (or himself) pleased us greatly. We were almost afraid that he (or she) would not be vicious enough ; would be rather too mild, in fact. But we were agreeably disappointed . We think Grahame has never acted better than he did as "Kate, the curst . " In the scene with Petrucio in the second act the petulant amazement with which she listens to her mad wooer, and the offended dignity with which she walks across the stage when he hints "that Kate doth limp, " were excellent pieces of dumb acting . In fact Grahame ' s gestures throughout were remarkably good, and show much improvement upon last year . His elocution, too, was clear and distinct, and was generally free from blank-versiness, a fault which it is very difficult to avoid, especially for amateur actors, in a play of Shakespeare's . With Bianca we were not so well satisfied . The part, of course, is not so interesting as that of Katherine : but it lost a little by the somewhat indifferent delivery of the actor. There was too much of the learnt-by-rote, and too little of the intelligent element . One instance in which this was specially noticeable was in the scene with her two pretended tutors . There was not enough individuality in the construing of her Virgil, or the reading of her gamut . However, there was a decided improvement in the love scene later in the play, and in the banquet scene at the end . To proceed with the

W

THE TAM1NO OF THE SHREW .

14

fair sex : P . Hodgson looked and acted admirably as Curtis . It is a very large part, but it was very well and intelligently acted.

W. N . Stephenson looked very pretty as the Widow, and held her own well in her passage-at-arms with Katherine . Of the male characters we must of course take Petrucio first . The character was most carefully and successfully maintained by S . J . J . S . le Maistre from beginning to end . With the exception of an occasional bit of staginess in his declamation, there is nothing with which one can find fault . He was especially good where he got into a rage ; when Katherine strikes him, for instance : when he carries off his bride the moment the wedding is over : and more particularly after his arrival at his own home, when he finds fault with everything, beats every one, and throws everything about tiie stage ; in all these cases the expression of rage both by voice and gesture was excellent . In the scene where the tailor brings his robe the acting was the best we have ever seen at any school theatricals . One little bit of that scene was simply exquisite : viz ., when the tailor, in reading the order he had received comes to "the sleeves curiously cut ." The tailor comes ambling up to Petrucio, looks him in the face, and comes out with the words with the most triumphant emphasis . Petrucio is simply dumbfo'_indered for the moment . He is speechless with rage, and then rains down a hail of blows on the unlucky tailor's back . We cannot compliment either le Maistre or Grattan too highly on this piece of acting . This is the latter's first appearance, we believe, on the School stage and we hope it may not be his last . We are sorry that it is le Maistre's last appearance : but he, like all the rest of us, has shuffled off the coils of School . Come we now to Baptista . Here again we suppose this is positively the last appearance ; and fear that Wade's place will be hard to fill where reverend dignity is required . Wade's part was both carefully and profitably studied, and his acting and speaking in several rather difficult passages were decidedly good : we may mention in particular the scene before the wedding, when Petrucio and his henchman appear in their strange attire . One little fault we must call attention to . Why should Baptista writhe his head about as if he had on a frayed collar, stiffly starched ? It \vas unfortunate that he did so, as it rather marred his dignity.

F . T . Griffith, as Lucentio, acted quite as well as he did last year when he played the Jester in " Twelfth Night . " He was not

146

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

rather stage-struck in the first part of the play, but that was probably due to nervousness—if we may say so ; and his acting improved very much as the play went on . He was best, we thought, in the love scene with Bianca, when he courts her under pretence of instructing her in Virgil ; in fact he looked as if he were used to it.

B . G . M . Baskett's Hortensio was certainly above the average.

There was, perhaps, a little too much of the `haw-haw ' style occasionally, but with that exception we have no fault to find.

In the scene in which he comes in with his head broken by Katherine, his furious gesticulation and stuttering passion were very successful.

Tranio and Gremio were both rather heavy in most of their acting . They hardly seemed to catch the spirit of their parts, except occasionally . Amongst the exceptions we may quote the telling of the scene in church by Gremio, which was decidedly well done : and the sudden appearance on the scene of Vincentio, and the consequent discomfiture of Tranio.

Both Vincentio and the Pedant played their parts well, and the latter fairly brought down the house by his comical cries for help, when his exposure is threatened by the arrival of the real Vincentio.

Grumio must now claim our attention . A. H . Wood 's specialite is so well-known, that we need not dwell very long on his part . His acting we thought quite up to the mark of former years, and the only fault we can find with him is that he was rather over-rouged . His comic proceedings were highly appreciated by the audience, with whom he was as great a favourite as ever. Perhaps his best hit was his account of the journey of Petrucio and his bride to the former' s home . The comical gravity of his face as he came out with " How he swore " was irresistible . His passage of arms with the tailor was also extremely amusing.

Biondello, in the hands of L . A. Ryott, was quite as amusing as Gremio . The account of the appearance of Petrucio and his man on their way to the wedding was very cleverly given by Ryott, whose face, gestures, and delivery were as funny as any thing in the play. We hope to see more of him, as he has a face which seems born for comedy .

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW .

147

Of the remainder of the actors we can only say that they acted most satisfactorily, and did their share towards making the Theatricals the decided success that they were. For the rest we must give our best thanks to Mr . Yeld for his excellent services as stage manager, and to all others who had any thing to do with the management . The poetical argument by J . H . Piggin fully sustains its author's reputation, and Mr . Yeld ' s prologue will speak for itself. The compliment to Hugh Moss, and the reference to Wade ' s recent success at Balliol, called forth great enthusiasm . The Drop-Scene representing the Blind School, seen from the Museum Gardens, was decidedly effective and was highly appreciated . The scene shifting was very well managed, and the ingenious contrivance by which the carpet was drawn from the floor was very creditable to all concerned.

As for the attendance, the School Hall was simply crammed on both nights, and there was a strong muster of Old Boys . By the way, we are afraid that the arrangements for entering and leaving the School were not so satisfactory as they should be.

People were waiting in that very cold ante-chamber by the chapel for some time before the doors were opened . Would it not be practicable to let people into the cloak-rooms, and allow them to wait there until the doors opened ? In leaving, of course, people are to blame themselves if they will all rush out at once. Could they not be kept in the cloak-rooms until their respective carriages were announced ?

We had almost forgotten to state that the music, which was provided by the Rink Band, was very good . We were sorry that there was no such treat for us as there was last year, when Mrs . Stephenson sang " Come away, death," and " Oh, mistress " ui5ou IS. " mine. " O PROLOGUE. (Written by G. Yeld, Esq ., and spoken by S. J . J . S . le Maistre .)

Sweet friends, permit me these few words to say Before the curtain rises on our play.

Twice has our bark with her Shakesperian freight Essayed the deep ; twice gained the port elate; And now again is trim to try the seas If your applause will grant the wished-for breeze .

115

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

We have but changed our little vessel's name, The crew and Captain still remain the same : Two years ago " the Portia " was her style, Last year " Olivia " won your favouring smile; Let not your kindness now, sweet friends, abate, But speed the white wings of our "bonny Kate . " I said the Captain was the same— ' tis true, Although the programme hides that fact from you.

You look the pages o'er--'tis well—for thus We hope our bard's sweet verse will plead for us ; But thence you miss, alas the more our loss, " Our guide, philosopher, and friend," Hugh Moss : Had we but known when we began our play His presence would have cheered us here to-day, Then had the name of that good man and true Adorned the page as it was wont to do.

But so it was, he thought, ere Christmas snow, That he must leave us sad, and southwards go : And ere he went a last gift—you shall see And join with us to praise it presently, He gave—a gift his cunning hands had made : And thus we thought him going though he stayed.

For all the help we owe his practised skill Grateful we are, and shall be grateful still.

Now, in conclusion, thus far let me speak : Not skating joys such as were ours last week, Not faces of Old Boys, right welcome sight As any we shall look upon to-night, Not Balliol laurels, though we own their spell To make us proud S. Peter's did so well ; The prouder, too, because the brows of Wade Are bound ere Fausset' s wreath have time to fade ; Not these can make our Christmas quite complete, You can make sweeter what all these make sweet, If, when the curtain falls, your plaudits shew That you approve our "Taming of the Shrew ."

LIST OF OFFICIALS, ACTORS,

ETC.

President,—The Rev. H. M . Stephenson.

Committee,—F. T. Griffith, J . H . Mallinson, S. J . J . S . le Maistre, B. G. M . Baskett, E . A. Douglas, R . F . W. Carroll.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

149

Hon. Secretary,—J . H . Piggin.

Hon . Treasurer,—F. E . Watson.

Stage Manager, G . Veld, Esq. Assistant Stage Manager, S . J . J . S . le Maistre.

Acting Manager, F. T . Griffith.

Prompter, G. H. Eyre.

Property-Man, J . C . Bailey.

F. T . Griffith.

Super-Master, Master-Carpenter, N . P . IV. Brady.

The new Drop Scene by Hugh Moss, Esq. The Dresses and Properties by Samuel May, Costumier, Bow St ., London.

Baptista, Vincentio, Lucentio,

- A rich gentleman of Padua, G . H . Wade.

An old gentleman of Pisa, J . C . Bailey.

Son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca, - F. T . Griffith.

A gentleman of Verona, Petruchio, . J . J . S . le Maistre. { A suitor to Katharina, } S W. J . Richardson.

Gremio, Suitors to Bianca, Hortensio, B . G . M. Baskett , A . R . Stephenson.

Tranio, Servants to Lucentio, Biondello, L . A . Ryott.

A. Wood, Grumio, Servant to Petruchio, T. Moss.

Officer, Pedant, J . H . Piggin.

W . H . Grattan.

Tailor, W. W . Hargrove.

Haberdasher, Baptista's Servant, G . G . Richardson.

A . E . Dawson.

Nathaniel, W .

E . Brockbank.

Philip, Joseph (the cook) R . Kitching.

H . W . Barnby.

Nicholas, Petruchio's serving-men Peter, G. AV. Walker.

Adam, G . W. Baldwin.

Ralph, R . Crosthwaite.

Gregory, H . G. Joy. Musicians, W. W. Hargrove and J . Frankland.

Katharina, the shrew, T. E . Grahame. } Daughters to Baptista { Bianca, P . B . Heaven.

Widow, W . N . Stephenson.

Curtis, P . Hodgson.

Street Passengers, Maids in Waiting on Katharina, Servants to Petruchio and Baptista .

150

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

THE POETICAL ARGUMENT. Yes, in Padua lives Baptista, rich old man with daughters two, And the younger, fair Bianca, many a suitor comes to woo,— Shall I tell you ?--Wealthy Gremio, and Hortensio, who will take Humble garb of hireling fiddler (you shall see it) for her sake ; And Vincentio ' s son, Lucentio, newly come from Pisa town, Who, to win her, doffs the student's and puts on the master's gown.

But Baptista thus hath sworn him, by his oath he will abide, None shall marry fair Bianca till her sister be a bride.

Lives there, then, in all the country, suitor who will dare to woo, Dare to woo and dare to marry Katharine, the famous Shrew?

Here in season comes Petruchio, bound to win a wealthy wife; Lead him straight before the lady, let him enter on the strife ; Little doth he fear the terrors of a woman's peevish tongue, Skilled physician, with his medicines that shall work a cure ere long !

So he wooes her : Katharina from her anger soon relents, Half rejects him, half accepts him, half refuses, half consents.

Strange the manner of the wooing, andathe wedding stranger still, And the hundred tricks he uses to conform her to his will.

Then Lucentio wins Bianca, and Hortensio in disdain Turns to wed a widow lady, wealth and kindliness to gain.

So, before the tale have ending, each must test and try his wife, And for one the trial meaneth peace and happiness of life.

Who of wives is most obedient, sweetest, brightest, duteousest?

Nay, I know not, but in Padua Katharine the Shrew is best.

Greatest of the world's great poets, whom the myriad-tongued acclaim Of the ages trumpets loudest on the noisy ways of fame, Not in this thy early labour, all the beauty do we trace Of the wondrous tissue woven with a subtle matchless grace, Of the glories of thy greatness, and the triumphs of thy might, When thou camest to full stature and thine all-divinest height.

Yet, for that we find enchanting store of never-failing mirth.

Not as earthly do we spurn it—are not we, too, sons of earth?

Thinking of the coming summer, do we all despise the spring?

Or when nightingales are silent, scorn to hear the linnet sing?

And far down beneath the surface of the merriment and jest, Runs an undertone of feeling, calmer, finer than the rest.

Listen, for it tells the world-truth, true whatever else befal, LovE is Lord of earth and heaven,—Love, the mightiest Lord of all.

J . H . P.

151

NOTES AND ITEMS. ROM the London Gazette of January 23, we extract the

F following :—8th Foot. Lieut. A . A . W . B . Bright-Smith,

from the 2nd West India Regiment, to be Lieut . viee A. J . H. Brooker, exchanged . 14th Foot. Second Lieut . G . W . Mitchell to be Lieut . viee T . M . Robinson, promoted.

Our readers will be sorry to hear of the death of the Rev. J. Robinson, which took place at the beginning of the year . [-Es name will be specially remembered as the donor of a Prize for an English Essay at the School for many years past, and also as a liberal subscriber to the Athletic Sports.

The Rev. Canon Elwyn has been presented to the valuable living of Marden, in Kent.

W. Dowson, Christ ' s College, Cambridge, has obtained a Third Class in the Natural Science Tripos.

It is proposed, if the amount of subscriptions warrant the expense, to devote an extra number published in August to full accounts of the Cricket Matches, the Athletic Sports, and the doings of the Regatta Boat.

Marshall Robinson was successful in the examination for entrance to Sandhurst, at the end of last year.

We were glad to see that C . Wood made the run of the day in the match Yorkshire v. Lancashire, at Halifax, on Jan 17. We hope he has recovered from the bad effects which it seems to have had upon him.

By-the-way, with such an instance before our eyes, the interesting article in the Yorkshire Post which maintained that Leeds was the only Yorkshire School that turned out good foot-ball players, receives sufficient contradiction.

We have great pleasure in announcing J . H . Piggin 's success at Trinity College, Oxford . He has been elected to the first of three Open Scholarships of the annual value of £80.

The Treasurer of the Peterite will be glad to receive subscriptions for the present year as soon as possible, for which see back of cover. N .B .—P . O . O . preferred to stamps.

152

FOOTBALL. HE School have been very fairly successful on the Football field during the past season . Unfortunately, many matches were stopped by the severe frost, the ground being frequently covered with snow, and utterly unplayable . Happily, we have been entirely exempted from any accidents of any serious nature, and this is, we think, matter for great congratulation, and a refutation of the prevalent belief in domestic circles that an accident always happens in every football match that is played . The team played well together in almost every match, passing the ball exceedingly well and always being ready to follow it up . Besides this, the School has five or six really good players amongst its numbers : Watson, Baskett, Chadwick, Douglas, Moss, and Wood, have especially distinguished themselves ; and that, too, in the case of Watson, Baskett, and Chadwick, not merely for the School, but for York against first-rate clubs, the last of the three above-mentioned players making the run of the day for York against Halifax, one of the first clubs in Yorkshire . Watson's drop-kicking was especially worthy of notice as also was Chadwick's running . Out of twelve matches arranged only nine have been played, owing to the severe weather ; out of these nine the School have won five, lost three, and drawn one . The matches that were lost were against far superior clubs, as for example, Durham University and Hull Town, but in both these matches the School team made a very close game of it, so that their opponents never had the game in their own hands . We bid the team adieu, wishing them all success next season, and we see no reason why the School should not be as successful in years to come as in the years that are gone .

T

v . S . JOHN'S COLLEGE, YORK. Played on the School ground, on Saturday, November 15th, resulting in a victory for S . Peter's by 3 goals, 2 tries and 6 touches down, to 2 touches down.

Watson kicked off for the School, and in a short time Mallinson obtained a try, which Watson, by a splendid kick, converted into a goal . Soon after this Watson ran through all his opponents and obtained a try behind the goal posts,- which, however, was disputed,

153

OBITUARY.

and after a good deal of discussion was given in to S . John's . S. Peter's continued to have the game all their own way, and before half-time Chadwick had obtained a try, which Watson converted into a goal . Soon after half-time, Watson, by a grand run, obtained a second try behind the posts, from which Bulman kicked a goal . The great feature of the game was our Captain 's (Watson) splendid play, in the way of kicking, collaring and running.

PAST v . PRESENT. This match was played on the School ground on Friday, December 19th . Play began about 3 o ' clock . Soon after the kick-off by W . E. Moore for the Old Boys the ball was forced towards the School ground, until G . F . Chadwick, of Edinburgh University F .B .C ., ran in and secured a try which, however, J . E . Stephenson failed to turn into a goal . Soon after G . F . Chadwick obtained a second try which again failed . Half-time was called but with no better success for the School than before. V . Wheeler now obtained a try, and kicked a goal from it, and shortly afterwards G . F . Chadwick obtained a third, and Wheeler a second try . Both the kicks failed . Jolly, however, was more successful in a kick at goal from a try by Taylor . When time was called the Past remained the winners by two goals and four tries to nothing . For the School, Watson, Chadwick, Grahame, and Baskett, played best . The following is a list of the Past :—J . H. Daniel and J . E . Stephenson (backs) ; A . Hodgson and H . A . L. Francis (; backs) ; G . F . Chadwick and C . Dale (a backs) ; W . E. Moore, C . H . Chadwick, F . Newenham, V . Wheeler, C . Taylor . '1'.

Jolly, W . S . Fox, and E . H . Greenhow (forwards).

OBITUARY. JANUARY 24TH . AT HRRH:TII, YORK, GEORGE RANSOME FRENCH, Of [l'etr , CoI/e;r O.r/i> . /, //'t

.Sava of //i h'e-r . ! ; .

An :ED 211 YEARS.

JAN ARY 5TH, 1sso, AT CLIFTON, YORK, THE

REV . J .

ROBINSON.

AGED 1;1 YKARS .

"rznrch,

154

OXFORD LETTER. NE never quite relishes coming up this term : Christmas with its dinners and dances somewhat spoils the taste for Oxford with its Dons and Duns . We trust you have enjoyed the former, and feel confident that we shall soon be sated with the latter . Our materials for a letter are almost as limited as our powers for writing it, considering that term has scarcely commenced . " De nihilo nihilum," and we hope you will like it . A return of the frost has put a stop to the usual routine of boating and football, and unfortunately, the pleasures of the ice have already been marred by two fatal accidents . Indeed, for the last three days drowning and rumours of drowning have formed the only topic of conversation in hall and out . Of the accident at Blenheim yesterday we have heard as yet no details, and trust it may have been exaggerated . There has been no thought of rowing the postponed " Trials ; " indeed, the weather has seriously interfered with the practise of the eight —the Ifiley course has had to be abandoned owing to the accumulated ice . As yet the boat is rough and the swing bad, but they have had little practice together, and another week will probably see great improvement.

Hargreaves at j occupies the place he should have had last year—he is being " indulged, " as the Daily News has it, with plenty of tubbing.

Naturally very few Torpids have been out as yet—Daniel was rowing in Queen ' s when we saw it the other day—also Henderson, of Leeds.

More about them next month.

The Football team will miss the services of Tudor, of Keble, whose brilliant back play compensated greatly for the comparative weakness of the forwards . Fowler also of the XI . and Football team is not up this term . Blackheath will be our most formidable opponents . The Trinity and Exeter Scholarships will be out before you read this ; as one of the Peterites is reserved for that unintelligible and somewhat useless ordeal of " z'izrd," we trust that success may be in store for the School.

The authorities have actually allowed a decent theatrical company to visit that much-abused place of entertainment known as the " Vic . " "Our Boys" has been played to crowded audiences . It is a pity we have no A . D . C . at Oxford, where Peterites might throw off their superfluous dramatic energy.

A series of Concerts is to be given this term for the working classes by several colleges, Keble taking the lead next Saturday.

'We miss E . H . Greenhow this term, his university career having been concluded . In his place S . J . J . S . le Maistre has come up to

O

CAMBRIDGE LETTER .

155

Keble—he, we understand, was quite one of the best up for matriculation.

By the way, seven services on one Sunday is too much, much too much of a good thing, even for—but we will not be personal.

January 25 .

Quis.

CAMBRIDGE LETTER. O think that the fruits of our midnight toil last term should

T have been wasted That the letter which cost us so much

anxious thought arrived " too late for insertion " in the December number of the Peterite. We must explain that it was not our fault, as we had left Cambridge when the Editor wrote to us, and his letter did not reach us for some days.

As the sad fact has not yet appeared in the Peterite, we may mention that F . E . Swaby, of John's, broke his leg badly last term in two places. We hope, however, that he will soon have recovered from the effects of his misfortune.

It is scarcely necessary to allude to the stoppage of the Trials.

Oxford rather scored off us there, as our crews took the trouble to go to town for nothing : but we expect to score in our turn on the eventful loth . The crew which has been practising this term is decidedly strong, and with some more coaching ought to be very effective. The order has not been much varied since the boat began to go out . LI . R . Jones—an old Dunelmian who has rowed against the School—seems a fixture at bow : Sandford, who rowed last year, has taken his place at 2, vice Warlow . The men in the middle of the boat are a tremendously heavy, strong lot of men, and look capable of any amount of work . Last year ' s stroke has taken up his position at 4, and Bailie, of Jesus, has taken his place at stroke.

N.B .—Why " stroke thwart, " as the Dailies have it ? Whispers have reached us that T . C . Edwards-Moss may perhaps row again in his old place at 7 for Oxford ; if so, shall we have to fall back upon the "perennials, " Hockin and Gurdon ? No . We are not afraid . If any one wishes to make a book on the subject, let him communicate with K. K ., care of the Editor . To return to the doings of the boat ; we cannot say that they have been very great yet, and for the last day or two the ice has stopped all rowing ; but Oxford is in about the same condition, so that it is a case of " same for all ." In our next we hope to be able to give some criticism of individuals . E . H. Prest—another old Dunelmian—is not rowing, as all his energies are concentrated on his impending Tripos .

166

POETRY.

For the Mathematical Tripos, which came out to-day, we may refer our readers to the daily papers, with their interesting biographies of the high wranglers.

Skating has been in great force here ; and the championship races at Grantchester were largely patronized by 'Varsity men.

Of the Lent races we have absolutely nothing to say at present, so we will wait until March.

W . Dowson, Christ ' s, got a third in the Natural Science Tripos last term . J . P. Hubbersty is in for the Classical Tripos this term.

Let us hope to be able to chronicle his first shortly . We hear that some members of the School are coming up here for Scholarships K . K. this term . May good luck attend them !

POETRY. A FRAGMENT. The gentle moon on mom, a brook doth throw The splendour of her sweet, soft, silvery light ; One moon alone the brook itself can know, And, knowing, is enchanted with the sight. \'Vhen 'er the brook loth catch that soft pure gaze Upon its turbid, troubled current strong, A sense of peace its restless course allays, Peace elsewhere sought for vainly—sought for long.

The brooks are ever rushing to the sea, Hurrying to join the busy ocean wide, "The Sea !" they cry, " the great, broad, glorious Sea !"

"Would we were mingled with its swelling tide! " Not so one brook ! though, ever onward borne, It may not stay in blissful calm behind, It would net from the lovely moon be torn, And from the spell that cloth its current bind.

How blest the brook if in itself for aye, The moon ' s fair image mirrored might remain ; Or be transplanted hence—far, far away !

And lose itself upon the silvery plain .

Mtis OXONIENSIS .