Nov 1880

Page 1

THE

PETERITE. VOL .

II .

NOVEMBER, 1880 .

No. 17.

EDITORIAL.

T the beginning of the volume we announced our intention of bringing out nine numbers instead of eight in the year, if our funds would allow . We regret that we have been unable to carry out our intention in its entirety, but we may remind our readers that two numbers—the August number and the present one—contain four extra pages . We trust that this earnest we have given of our resolve to improve the magazine, as our means permit, will induce our constituency to lend us all the help they can. With regard to the essay on " Evolution " in this number, we wish to say a word . On no account can we in future insert anything which contravenes the rule for the exclusion of religious and political articles we laid down at starting . The fact that the present essay is, in the main, a scientific, and not a theological one, is our only excuse for admitting it . We shall be glad to receive a reply to the paper, but the reply must be confined strictly to the scientific aspect of the question. We may take this opportunity of stating that Mr . S . J . J . S. le Maistre has been appointed Treasurer, and that subscriptions should be sent to him at Keble College, Oxford, or, after Dec. loth, to Everingham Rectory, near York . It will save much trouble if any who wish to discontinue their subscriptions will kindly send him word at once. With the present number is issued, in addition to the four extra pages, title-page and index to the volume.

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EVOLUTION. HY is it that an evolutionist should be looked on with such horror by all the orthodox ? Why should he be considered as next door to an atheist ? This is a thing I have never been able to explain : but, as I know that many have a very vague idea as to what grounds there are for the evolutionist ' s theory, I will endeavour to throw what little light I can upon the subject, happy if my words will guide any one to the knowledge of the truth . I myself have, like the majority of mankind, scoffed at the idea of men being descended from monkeys, and at the `missing link,' but it was before I had the slightest knowledge of the evidence, and before I had ever studied natural history in the least . And this I will venture to say is the case with many of those who laugh at evolutionists now. To begin with the proofs geology furnishes to us . A very strong proof indeed is afforded us here . As is well known, the chief formations of strata all over the world are, beginning from the earliest and going in order, the lower and upper Silurian, the Devonian, the Carboniferous, the Peruvian ; that of the era of the Trias and Dolite, the Cretaceous, (from the end of the Peruvian to the end of the Cretaceous is the secondary formation), and the Tertiary formations . In the earliest, viz . the lower Silurian, we find traces of the polypiaria (the insects which make the coral), the graptolites (like the sea pens now existing), and the criuoidea, closely allied to our King-crab, &c . These are, as we should expect, the creatures lowest down on the scale of the pedigree of man, the crinoidca being nothing but stomach and arms . In the upper Silurian the traces of life are almost the same, but more abundant . As yet we see, then, there were no vertebrated animals, or any which lived on dry land . In the next era a distinct rise is found,—fishes abound, and these belong to the vertebrata : we find creatures with brain, however small. Again, in the Carboniferous era we find amphibious reptiles ; more brain ; another rise ; (this does not occur till the Peruvian era, a branch of the Carboniferous era) . In the secondary formation reptiles abound ; now is found the Ichthyosaurus, too well known to require description . In the tertiary formation mammalia abound .

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Now can anything be proved more clearly than this—at least with regard to the brute kingdom ? We have a regular gradation from creatures with nothing but instinct to creatures that can reason . I do not think that the most bigoted anti-evolutionists can refuse to admit that gradation (or, if you prefer it, development) is proved there . Perhaps the change from aquatic to amphibious animals may be a difficulty ; but long habit will enable man to stay under water three minutes, and, vice versa, a fish to live on land for a good deal longer : and when this habit continues for thousands or tens of thousands of years, perhaps the change may be explained . Again, by long disuse, certain organs may become rudimentary, as, for instance, the external ear in man, &c. Now if this applies to the lower creation, why should it not to the higher ? A man must be a fool or a bigoted ignoramus if he deny that in bodily structure there is a very close analogy all through the animal kingdom. The brain of man is exactly the same in form as that of the ape, only it is larger : the foetus of the human being is so like that of the dog as to be almost indistinguishable, except by the most experienced : what is almost the most peculiar member of man ' s body, viz . the great toe, is found in the human embryo at right angles to the rest of the foot, and resembles very closely what may be called the great toe of the chimpanzee . At one stage the embryo of every living creature is female. Again, if men be not developed, how can the rudiments be explained ? How can the car be explained, the supra-condyloid foramen which often is found in man, the os coccyx, &c . ? I might mention a hundred rudiments, none of which can be explained otherwise than by this theory . Did God give us these things for mere ornament ? I think not . If you were accustomed to see men without certain features now useless, which you have, as the case now is, been accustomed to see him with, you would not think him disfigured, but would be more inclined to wonder at him if he possessed that feature . It is all custom and use : the Hottentot has a very different standard of beauty from what we possess ; and the converse is also true. I do not think that it can be supposed that these rudiments are for mere ornament : besides, there are many that could not serve this purpose, being concealed entirely, e. g. certain muscles and bones . No, we have these rudiments from our ancestors ;


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through long disuse they have become useless, though there are recurrences which conclusively prove that the properties have been originally for use . There are men who can move their ears, though they cannot prick them, as does the dog ; examples are common of people who can move the whole of the skin from the forehead to the back of the head with a movement closely resembling that of the skin of the horse ; here are other instances I could mention, which would be out of place except in a magazine purely scientific or medical. Again, how can you explain the very close affinity of the bee to the fish, the bird to the turtle, the horse to the man, &c . ? In all of these we can trace the various steps :—the fish's gills become the wings of the bee, by means of which it breathes and flies ; the bird, of which the first development is the swimming bird, cannot walk with ease, its feet being webbed and far back, and has flappers at what we might call the shoulders ; the web gets dried by disuse, and shrivels, the flappers become rudimentary, and the legs become longer by continued use . The early style of development is illustrated by the Penguin. One striking fact in relation between horse and man is that the horse has toes which are hidden under the hoof, a fact easily to be understood. Many people seem to believe that, to establish our theory, a race of man witic tails is needed, thus showing their intense ignorance on the subject, since the tail becomes a rudiment long before it reaches man . But still that is the argument they meet us with, " Where is the tail ?" " Where is the missing link ?"—the fact being that no link is missing actually, except it be a race intermediate between the ape and man, the absence of which is easily accounted for, since the convulsions of the earth were not so violent at the period this change was going on . If this argument is not received, how do you account for the fact that apes in fossil state are never found (since, according to the antievolutionists, the ape was created at the same time as other creatures), while numbers of other animals are discovered in fossil ? The strongest argument against us is yet to come, namely the difference between the brain powers . But the difference is one of degree, not of kind : as I have already said, the brain of man is exactly the same in shape as that of other animals . Moreover, the man who refuses to allow that the lower creation have reason, is getting behind the times . Again, it has been proved that


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civilization increases the brain power, as also do a healthy place of abode and regular living : thus the dog, since he has been tamed, has distinctly advanced, and he has learnt five new different noises to express his emotions . I will add, too, that there is no emotion or feeling of the human being that is not reproduced in the lower animals ; love, joy, anger, jealousy, shame, and even a sense of beauty ; nay, there is something very closely allied indeed to religion in the veneration which a dog entertains for his master. There is also a retrograde movement which tends to prove the same thing : there cannot be a doubt that on an average the strength of memory has been very much impaired in the human being since the time of, say, Homer ; while the ape, horse, and dog are noted for their extraordinary memory. If we reason upon analogy we must come to the same conclusion. There is a regular order in everything else in nature ; why not, then, in the descent of man ? As for the argument that it is against the Scriptures, I do not think that that really can be held . I have examined very carefully indeed every passage that might lead to any clue, and I only find that beasts were created before man, which is what we say . Of time, of course, we cannot be certain from the Bible narrative ; but why what is translated "seven days " should not be equivalent to seven thousand or seven million years, I do not know : the seven only serves to show that there was a regular order in the creation . Further on I find a regular proof, viz . in the case of Esau, whose skin was so hairy that Jacob represented it by a goat-skin : this is a most positive proof,—a recurrence to the state of primeval man . Again, Dr. Darwin lays the place where man first began, about Mesopotamia, or at any rate in Asia Minor, and as we think the Garden of Eden to have been there, there is no reason why the two beliefs, thus far at least, should not be compatible . Certainly it seems to be a grander belief that the great Creator should have preconceived this order from the beginning of time, that from the beginning of the world ' s existence He should make all creation work up to one end, i. c. the developing of a creature like His divine self. Else why should He make all the rest of nature one, and except from the unity one race of beings—namely, man ? Why should He make the lower creation all connected by the closest analogy (for, as I have said before, no man who knows


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anything of anatomy or natural history can deny they are connected), .then give man a separate creation to himself, preserving, however, in him every single feature and the whole structure of the lower animals most like him ? Looked at in this light, to believe in evolution is very far from atheism ; and I declare that since I believed in this theory my reverence and sense of the almighty glory and majesty of the Creator of the universe has been almost infinitely increased . Is it derogatory to suppose that God made every thing in order ? We do not think the more lightly of Him because the distances of the planets of our system are in a fixed order. Let us now sum up the evidence for the theory . To begin with, if we had no proof at all except the observation of the rest of nature, we should presume that the animal kingdom followed some sort of order, which is important to remember . We should then imagine, presuming the order, that the higher would follow the lower. Then, following up the subject, we find that this was actually the case ; the lower must have preceded the higher ; and the different stages in which each creature is found prove conclusively that the higher were developed from the lower : we have the links, and can trace and explain the processes : in fact, few will dispute that the regular law, here found, of gradation, means development . Then, coming to man, we find him constructed on the same lines as others of the animal creation. Even the brain is the same in shape . If we examine the intelligence of the dog as it was two thousand years ago, and what it is now, we shall sec how much a comparatively few years in a civilised state will do towards the development of the brain of the lower creation, for then the dog was an outcast and never showed any signs of extraordinary intelligence, (in fact, we can see for ourselves, by comparing the pariah with our dog), or we may be sure it would not have escaped the knowledge of writers of that period and some time before . Now we know that the world is at least a million years old, and why we cannot believe that man ' s brain could not have developed to its present state in that time, it is impossible to say. Why, in the Scriptural account, the words " after His own image " should not be understood in a metaphorical sense, and taken to mean the bestowing of the soul on man, is another difficulty with me : in any case, however it be taken, it does not affect our argument . Lastly, taking into


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account the different stages the human being passes through before birth, and also the peculiar likeness of certain classes of idiots to the lower creation in temperament, disposition, and structure of brain, I hardly think it possible for any anti-evolutionist to laugh at the theory as being groundless and absurd. I should like to conclude with a striking remark of Charles Darwin . " He who rejects with scorn the belief that he is descended from brutes will probably reveal his descent by sneering . For though he no longer intends, nor has the power, to use his teeth (the canines) as weapons, he will unconsciously retract his ` snarling muscles ' so as to expose them ready for action, like a dog prepared to fight . "

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING OF 18 44. T has sometimes been asserted by the ill-disposed that York is a humdrum, sleepy sort of a place . These accusations, we may observe, chiefly come from smoky quarters, but whether they be true or not we will not stop to argue ; yet, assuming for the moment that they arc, we think it will on all sides be admitted that in the month of August, 1881, for the space of about ten days, York will rouse herself from her accustomed lethargy, and do her best to entertain and pay homage to the Members of the British Association for the advancement of Science, which is to hold its annual meeting in this City next year. The Association, as is generally known, originated here, and the meeting will be of unusual interest from the fact that this will be the celebration of its fiftieth birthday . The assemblage has been held here twice before, in 1832 and 1844 . The following extract from an account by a gentleman present at the meeting of 1844, may be of interest to some of our readers . . "Around a long table occupying the centre of a Gothic room, lighted through stained glass, are ranged the venerable chiefs of the British philosophical world, while others sit on forms extending along the walls ; about one hundred in all being

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present . There is a discussion on the claims of the rising science of Ethnology, to be placed in a section by itself, instead of being grafted on the Medical . One or two cultivators of this science from the side walls make a spirited remonstrance against the mezentian arrangement, and several of the great men at the head of the table endeavour by soft words to conciliate them. At length, some concessions being made, the ethnologists are satisfied and silenced . Meanwhile, many others of the leading savans, taking little interest in these preliminaries, are whispering to each other, or scribbling letters for home . We may take this opportunity to ascertain--from an extensively knowing friend— the names of such of the principal figures as we were not previously acquainted with . And first, who is that robust man in clerical dress with a plain and homely, but intelligent face ? It is Dr. Peacock, so long the pet mathematician of Cambridge, now Dean of Ely, the president-elect for the present year . And who is the young man with the florid, good-natured, yet most gentleman-like face, near the Dean, and at the head of the table ? That is the Earl of Rosse, the president about to demit his authority, and who has of late years acquired such celebrity in consequence of his efforts to extend the powers of the telescope. Near him is an elderly man in greyish hair, and a plain coloured dress—that is Colonel Sabine, so noted for a particular class of investigations in physics . Next to him, with locks still more silvered, and a pallid but reflective countenance, sits Sir David Brewster, now among our savans of oldest standing, and here particularly interesting as the acknowledged father of the British Association . A middle-aged, gentleman-like man, with a finelycarried head and dark intellectual eyes, rises to speak on some point of arrangement—that is Mr. Murchison, the eminent geologist . These are the principal members at the head of the table ; but casting our eyes into the recesses of the room, we quickly discern others of not less note. At the lower end, for instance, sit two men who have just come in . The more robust of the pair—he with the rough, florid face, grey eyes and grizzled hair, worn deep over his strongly perceptive forehead—is Dr. Whewell, of Cambridge : the other—pale and slender, with nervous activity speaking so powerfully through his face and frame—is Professor Forbes, of Edinburgh, a man of varied acquirements, though most generally known for his recent


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investigations of the glaciers . The talk of the meeting is to be a `good ' one . There is, however, one blank which all deeply regret, namely, that occasioned by the absence of Dr . Buckland, in consequence of sudden domestic calamity . Many were the aspects, styles of dress and demeanour, of these sons of divine philosophy ; some very grave men, some very lively, some in ultra-sober, some in gay and fashionable attire ; some thin, sharp, and pale, as befits the lingerer by the midnight lamp ; others florid, robust, and even burly . One feature was, however, nearly universal—a certain expansion of the head which habit teaches us to associate with superior intellect." Besides those above-mentioned, there appear to have been present the Marquis of Northampton, the Earl of Enniskillen, Professor Sedgwick, Professor Ansted, Dr. Herbert (known for his work on natural history), Professor Balfour, Dr. Carpenter (the well-known physiologist), and Professor Owen (the first comparative physiologist of his day) . "Various are the aspects of these men : Owen, plain, with dark lustrous eyes ; Forbes, a handsome olivecomplexioned youth, with long hair smoothed away to one side ; Carpenter, pale, blue-eyed, hawk-nosed, keen, grave, reflective. The evening of Thursday was devoted to a general meeting in the Assembly Rooms, when the Earl of Rossc demitted, and the Dean of Ely assumed, the office of President, the latter delivering a long address with reference to the objects of the Association. One night was enlivened by a recital from Mr . Lyde of the recent discoveries in America . Another was rendered still more agreeable by an account of certain recent discoveries in India. The demonstrator on this occasion was Dr . Falconer, a young medical man recently returned from India on leave . Another evening was devoted to a ball, which, however, could scarcely be distinguished from the ordinary country soirees, the only peculiar features being a rather poor orchestra clanging from the end of the room, and two couples attempting to dance polkas in as many small openings of the crowd . On Friday afternoon Earl Fitzwilliam, as president of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, entertained about one hundred members at dinner in a most sumptuous style . It may be here remarked that Professor Liebig, and other foreigners who attended the meeting of the Association, were lodged and entertained throughout the week at the expense of the local funds ; a degree of hospitality for


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which they were quite unprepared, and which certainly casts honour on the City of York . " Such are a few particulars of the last meeting in this City. Next year Sir John Lubbock, the celebrated ethnologist, is to be president ; the Archbishop of York, Sir William Thomson, Professor Williamson, Owen Ramsay, Sir Joseph Hooker, and Sir William Armstrong, presidents of sections. Expositions of the latest scientific discoveries may be heard in the clear and nervous language of Professor Huxley, and in the pure and magnificent diction of Professor Tyndall, since these gentlemen, along with Mr. Spottiswoode will, if possible, be the lecturers. The incalculable value of Natural Science, not only as a mental discipline—both in practising the intellect in the cornpletest forms of induction, and in affording scope for the highest speculation—but also as an invaluable factor in practical life, need not be insisted upon here . How it has multiplied human enjoyments and mitigated human sufferings we need not go about to show, for we can see it with our eyes . Great things as science has accomplished in the past, in the future she is destined to accomplish greater still . Everywhere are investigators busy, and each day yields some new discovery, but still there are hidden in the universe wonders yet unknown . "Ages and ages, calm, imperturbable Nature has waited to be inquired of, Nature, so patient, so awful, so loveable, so terrific, so eternal ." Millions of years had she waited, millions upon millions of her children had lived and died, before they began to learn that if they were to have any certain knowledge it must be by directly investigating and experimenting, and not by blindly following tradition, or trusting to Aristotle ; which led, as it did, to no certain issue, but left the intellect in everlasting haze. Of these eminent scientific leaders who met here 36 years ago, alas, how many survive ? Death, stern and inexorable, has stepped out of the infinite and cut them down . But though Brewster, Peacock, Murchison, Forbes, Whewell, Owen, and Lyell are dead, their spirit of self-devotion in the pursuit of truth lives and animates . Though her former generals are fallen, others have stepped into their places. Headed by her Tyndalls, Huxleys, Darwins, and Thomsons, science marches ever forward, overcoming every obstacle, vanquishing every foe, and goes on conquering and to conquer . H.


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OXFORD LETTER.

F Oxford could ever be called dreary it would be in the month of

I November . There is a cold, damp, misty look about it which reminds one of pocket-handkerchiefs and York ; but, in spite of the climate, there is as usual plenty to do and plenty to see . The river in itself is a sight. Imagine a stream not nearly as broad as the Ouse covered with boats, tub-pairs by the dozens full of freshmen being coached—every variety and eccentricity of style ; now and then a light coxswainless Four practices for the Challenge Fours as best it can, skimming down the stream in momentary danger of collision with boat or bank :—this monotony of confusion relieved suddenly by a Trial Eight on which all eyes, coaches and coached, turn for a second to see who is rowing in it . Such is the river in the October term. The college Fours are over ; as you will have seen, there were but some half-dozen boats in . The final heat we witnessed yesterday, when Magdalen, with one of the prettiest oars in the 'Varsity pulling stroke, won as they liked from B . N . C : the second rowing triumph the Magdalen Lilies have achieved this year . Now that the `Fours' are over we may expect something more definite in the Trial Eights. J . H . Daniel (of Queen's) has been tried once or twice, but it is impossible as yet to say who will row. The 'Varsity football teams are, as usual, very good, though the Rugby Union team is scarcely as strong as last year, having lost among others A . H . Evans, who, by the way, was the other day elected Captain of the Cricket Club . This afternoon there was a splendidly fought match with Richmond . The teams were fairly balanced, and one hour and a half's hard play seemed likely to leave the game drawn, but, just at the finish, Knight made a splendid run and obtained a try in the dark . Among the Colleges, Keble is again the strongest in both Rugby Union and Association . A match has been arranged between that college and St . John's, Cambridge, for the 3oth instant . As both are very strong teams a good game may be expected. We were glad to see W . W . Garwood won the half-mile Handicap at the Queen's sports last week. A motion was posted the other day at the Union to the effect that `All Honour Examinations should be abolished .' Rather radical, was it not ? You will be pleased (?) to hear that on a division it was


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easily lost . The interminable election Commission has adjourned to London for change of air . It is to be hoped they will disfranchise the borough after the recent disclosures . We have had our usual autumnal concert—the Misses Robertsons' : they are as popular here as ever . Have any of our readers seen and heard " Corney Grain " in Mrs . German Reed's Entertainment ? It is simply " perfect of its kind . " We saw the other day that the Rev . Canon Elwyn had been offered and had accepted a living from the Archbishop of Canterbury—where it was, and what it was we cannot remember . Can any of our readers inform us ? G . H . Wade and J . H . Piggin are the only new Peterites who have come up this term. 13th New., 1880 . Quss ."

CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

HE river is, of course, very busy this term . All the Freshmen are being ` tubbed, ' and those of them who seem at all promising are now rowing in the Freshmen ' s Fours . There are also numbers of college Trial Eights out every afternoon . Some of the most promising Freshmen get into these : I see that our only O . P . Freshman is in one of his college trials, so we must expect great things of him. We expect that the 'Varsity Trials will be rowed on December 4th. The crews are not finally settled upon yet . On the 13th they were as follows :

T

Bow . 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Stroke .

Stevens, Trinity Hall. Keess, Clare. Whittingdale, Caius. Gubbins, First Trinity. Moore, Christ's. Atkin, Jesus. Prior, Queen's. Warlow, Queen's .

Bow. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Stroke.

Kingston, L .M .B .C. Clarkson, Caius. Brandon, Trinity Ilall. L'ankes, Clare. AVelldon, Caius. Beauchamp, First Trinity. Simpson, Trinity Hall. Lambert, Pembroke.

Warlow and Prior were in the 'Varsity boat this Spring. The racing for the Colquhoun Sculls began on Friday the 12th. The final heat came off on the following Monday, when, after a very good race, Kieser (First Trinity) beat Barton (L .M .B .C .) by about thirty yards .


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The final heat of the 'Varsity Fours was rowed on October 3oth. The remaining boats were Jesus, Trinity Hall, and Pembroke . Jesus won, beating Trinity Hall by fifteen yards. The Freshmen's Sports took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 2nd and 3rd. The 'Varsity Rugby Union Team played the Marlboro' Nomads on the 13th . The game resulted in a victory to the 'Varsity by two goals, three tries, to nothing. The A. D . C . are this week performing with great success, " The Day of Reckoning," and " To Parents and Guardians ." The "Upper Crust" Company are to perform to-night (Nov . 18) and the two following nights in the Guildhall . We suppose that there will be more or less row, as usual . We heard of one O .P . being gated at seven o'clock on the 5th . We believe that the Proctors always pitch upon the most innocent men. Penny Concerts have been started for the benefit of the townspeople by the various College Musical Societies . The first one was given by Pembroke on Saturday last. The number of Freshmen who went through the form of Matriculation this term, or, in other words, who signed their names in the University book, thereby pledging themselves not to play marbles on the Senate House steps, and to keep other University regulations, was 709 . Last year the number was 781, which shews a general decrease, though in St . Peter's, Pembroke, Trinity Hall, Corpus, and Christ ' s, there is a slight increase. We hear that Ridley Hall will be ready for work next term . Its object is to provide a place of common study for graduate members of the University wishing to continue Theological reading. I feared that the School Theatricals were going to fall through this year, but I rejoice to see that they will take place as usual . I believe that such gatherings are the chief means of keeping up the tie between past and present members. CUNCTATOR. NOTE BY EDITORS . —We may take advantage of a magnanimous request of " Cunctator " that we would do with his letter what we would, to correct a slight slip of his . We have two freshmen at Cambridge, J . H. Mallinson, Christ ' s ; and K . Marshall, Gonville and Caius . The other Peterites in residence at Cambridge are J . E. Stephenson, `V . Dowson, P . L . Newman, at Christ ' s ; R . W . Taylor, at Trinity ; F . E . Swaby, R . Storrs, at St . John's ; E . Bellerby, at Corpus ; C . Kitchin, at Trinity Hall ; R . S . Fox, at Pembroke .


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SCHOOL LETTER. INCE our last, great changes have taken place in the cast of the play : Griffith and Eyre are prevented, by circumstances over which they can exercise no control, from taking any prominent parts ; so that Brady becomes Leonato, and Richardson Don Pedro ; Bailey becomes Antonio ; Bitching, Dogberry ; Margaret and Ursula are taken by N . Stephenson and Crawshaw ; and L . E . Stevenson is Borachio vice Baldwin . Mr . Yeld continues to coach them : his kindness and patience are admirable : the School can never pay him the debt that they owe him. The subscriptions from the Day-boys, I hear, are greater than was expected : 115, I believe, has been got from them . By the way, the restriction that subscriptions are not to be collected from outsiders, will hardly apply to O . P ' s ., at least those who have left since the Theatricals were revived : in any case it cannot prevent them from being offered, and the club will want every penny it can get, so that if any O . P., in the kindness of his heart, offers a few shillings, I do not think they will be refused. There seems to have been a lively match at Richmond on the 13th instant : frequent appeals appear to have been made to " common justice," "equity," &c . ; and, sad to relate, each side left the field with the impression (right or wrong, according to the side you happened to be on) that it had won . I saw the Richmond match at York, and certainly they have not had a better team for the last seven years. There are two O . P ' s . playing for Yorkshire County this season, C. Wood, who got three out of the five tries against Durham County on the 13th, and J . Griffith. The Debating Club would seem to be near its end, poor thing! Never has it met : probably from mere idleness, not the absence of native ability. The last I heard about the Boat House was, that it was in a shocking state, and, but for the superhuman energy of N . Brady (who actually, I believe, " stemmed the foaming torrent " of the flood which caused the mischief), all the boats would probably be somewhere about Naburn Salmon Ladder by now, in a most critical state. I hope, Messrs . Editors, we may renew our correspondence before the Christmas holidays ; if not, farewell .

S

JAMES CRAWLEY .


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FOOTBALL. The weather up to the last day or two, unlike that of last year at this time, has been sufficiently open to enable football to proceed without interruption . Several good ' pick-up' matches have taken place, amongst which one especially excited great interest, and was well contested throughout, Yorkshire v. Counties . The `Counties,' however, aided considerably by the good services of Mr . Vyvyan, proved too many for the Yorkshire representatives, and despite the captain ' s gallant efforts to turn the fortunes of the day, won by four goals and a try, to one goal and one try.

v . ST . JOHN'S TRAINING COLLEGE. October 3oth . The Trainers brought a very heavy team against us, and were accordingly too heavy for our forwards in the scrimmages. After the ball was kicked off, St . Peter's followed quickly up and, aided by a strong wind, pressed hard up their opponents . A good run, however, by G . Munroe, relieved them from immediate danger, and brought the ball into the middle of the ground . Baskett and Bulman here showed prominently for St . Peter ' s, and several times saved St. Peter ' s goal by their determined and well-directed efforts . Hayley, who formerly played back for Wakefield Trinity, then gained a try for the Training College, and a goal was kicked. After half-time St . Peter ' s had to play against the wind, and were unable to carry the ball away from their goal line, as the wind greatly favoured the drop kicking of their opponents . The School, however, made a gallant fight, and the forwards, amongst whom F . W. Greenhow, G . H . Eyre and L . E . Stevenson, were conspicuous, are greatly to be praised for the determined manner in which they met the heavy rush of their opponents . At the end of the game the Training College had scored one goal and two tries, to two touch downs.

v . CLIFTON

(YORK).

This match was played on the School ground, on Nov . 6 . Rev. H . Hopkins kicked off for Clifton ; the ball was well returned, and it was clear at the very beginning that the School team


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was the better, though Clifton played very spiritedly, and appeared to be somewhat the stronger in scrimmages . Douglas soon obtained a touch, but Bulman did not succeed in kicking the goal, the touch being got close by the touch-line . The chief feature of this game was Baskett ' s splendid play : three times he passed through all their men and got a touch . Among the rest Douglas and Grahame played extremely well as half-backs, and Bailey, Brady and Stevenson did very good work in the scrimmages. St . Peter's were left winners by three goals and four tries, to one questionable try.

v . ST . JOHN'S TRAINING COLLEGE

(RETURN).

Played Nov . i rth, on St . Peter ' s football ground . This match was to a great extent a repetition of the former match, St . Peter ' s playing well up and with some success at the first, but during the second half-time borne down by the superior weight of their opponents ' forwards . After the ball was kicked off, play commenced in the middle of the ground . A series of heavy scrimmages took place, until Baskett and Grahame showed prominently . Several times the Trainers ' goal was in immediate danger, and it then almost seemed as if St . Peter ' s would win, until the weight of the Trainers ' forwards told the inevitable tale, and slowly St . Peter ' s began to give way, contesting however every inch of ground . Half-time was then called, during which no advantage had been gained except two touch downs for St . Peter's . The Trainers then kept St . Peter's backs fully engaged, and at the end of the game the result stood exactly the same as in the former match, one goal and two tries, to two touch downs. In this match St . Peter ' s showed a marked improvement, and their ` passing' was worthy of notice, serving them in good stead also in their next match against Richmond School.

v . RICHMOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL. This match was played on the ground of the latter on Saturday, Nov. 13, and was splendidly contested from first to last . P . Smurthwaite kicked off for Richmond, and the forwards following quickly up, Richmond slightly penned their opponents until a succession of short runs by Baskett, Wood, and Douglas brought the ball into the middle of the ground, when quarter time was called and sides changed . St .Peter ' s forwards, playing well together, then carried the ball dangerously near


FOOTBALL.

283

the Richmond goal and Eyre gained a try for St . Peter's, but the kick at goal failed . Again sides were changed, and the ball was in the middle of the ground, when Moore, for Richmond, got hold of the ball, but in running, stepped into touch ; at least, so all the York forwards thought, and consequently cried out " in touch ." Moore, however, continued running, but as he had evidently been in touch not one of the forwards endeavoured in any way to collar him, and the same way with the backs, who allowed him to pass them unmolested, and walking in with the ball he placed it behind the posts . The Richmond umpire was appealed to, and he gave it as his opinion that Moore had not gone into touch, although the spectators standing near thought he had ; consequently Richmond kicked a goal, under protest, as it was clearly evident to all that it was simply owing to the wretchedly defined state of the touch line that Richmond gained their try . We may here remark there was no half-way flag to mark the touch line, but instead there was a huge stump of a tree, which as York afterwards was informed was partly in touch and partly out . No other advantage was gained on either side, although for Richmond Haggie, Moore, and Bromet made some capital runs, and for St . Peter ' s Baskett and Gay collared admirably, and Bulman and Wood ran well, whilst Grahame, Bailey, and Eyre played with great spirit . St . Peter ' s thus gained one try to a very disputed goal . Teams : St . Peter's .—G . Gay and G . Bulman (backs) ; B . Baskett (captain), R . Wood and G . H . Eyre (' backs) ; E . A . Douglas and T . E. Grahame (z backs) ; F. W . Greenhow, J . C . Bailey, E . W . Crossley, H . Clayforth and F . T . Griffith (forwards). Richmond School .—F. Ferens (back) ; J . Bromet and D . Haggie (4 backs) ; H . Moore and O . Belk (, backs) ; P. Smurthwaite (capt .), B . Watkins, P . Metcalfe, L . Orde, W . Ware, P . Horne, and F. Thorman (forwards). CORRESPONDENCE.

To

THE EDITORS OF " THE PETERITE . "

was very glad to read " Nemo's " letter in the and sincerely trust that his suggestions may be carried out. Whilst on the subject of Athletics, may I venture to ask why the members of St. Peter's do not follow the example of other schools and Football Clubs, and play at the above-mentioned game after the Christmas vacation ? It cannot, I think, be said, that it would interfere with the training for the Boat Races, as they do not take place DEAR SIRS,—I

Peterite,


284

CORRESPONDENCE.

till the end of March ; and all February and the end of January, might, I should think, be given up to Football . If this was done, there would not be that dearth of amusement during the Spring Term, alluded to by one of your correspondents. I am, yours obediently, INQUIRER.

He who fights and runs away, May live to fight another day ." " Coromandel II ." has made a very common mistake in supposing these lines to be Butler ' s . Even the well-known Dodsley supposed them to be Butler' s, and it was not till George Selwyn challenged him to find them in Hudibras that he found out his mistake . The impression is founded probably on the fact that the lines " For those that fly may fight again, Which he can never do that's slain," occur in Hudibras . These are verses 243, 244, part III ., canto IIr. The idea itself is as old as Demosthenes, who, being taunted for having run away at Chaeronea, replied " dvvi p i 4euywv Kai adALv p,ax7jo-erar," which is translated and quoted by Jeremy Taylor . It was until lately believed, that they occurred first in the " Musarum Delicix " by Sir John Menuis and Dr . James Smith (1656), and indeed, according to some accounts, they do occur in one or two editions of this very rare book, but really they do not . Goldsmith is also supposed to be the author, because the lines occur in his "Art of Poetry on a New Plan ." But the authorities suppose him to have misquoted, instead of trying to improve on Butler, and so I suppose they cannot be called his . In fact the authorship cannot be traced farther back than James Ray, in a book called " A compleat History of the Rebellion " (the '45) . This is the earliest record really authenticated, and so the matter must be B. left here . "

" Coromandel II ." asks where he can find the quotation " He that fights and runs away, Will live and fight another day ." I have found the following : i .—Ray' s " History of the Rebellion," page 48 : " He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day ; But he that is in battle slain, Will never live to fight again . "


CORstSPON13'tltCE.

285

2 .-Butler's " Hudibras," part rti ., canto i11 : " For those that fly may fight again, Which he can never do that's slain ." 3 .—" The Art of Poetry on a New Plan," vol . IL, page 1 47 " For he who fights and runs away, May live and fight another day ; But he who is in battle slain, Can never rise and fight again ." 4.—And in Erasmus' " Apothegms," translated by N . Hall :— " That same man that runnith awaie, Maie again fight an other daie ." J . C . S. " JuNlus ."—There are about ten (perhaps more) claimants for the honour of the authorship of " Junius ' s Letters " ; but the weight of the evidence, external, and perhaps internal, go to prove that Sir Philip Francis was the man . The external evidence is chiefly as follows :—First, that he was acquainted with the technical forms of the Secretary of State's Office : secondly, he was intimately acquainted with the business of the War Office : thirdly, the handwriting is extremely like that of Junius : fourthly, he resented bitterly the appointment of Mr. Chamier to the place of Deputy Secretary of War : fifthly, he was bound by strong ties to Lord Holland . The internal evidence is that the style of Junius is extremely like that of Sir Philip in his speeches ; especially the reply to Lord Thurlow's attack of Clasering, Mouson, and Francis . The politics are the same, as is the spirit shewn in the letters. For no other is the evidence so strong . Lord Temple, Lord George Sackville, Burke even, and others, are put forward : but none of these is likely to have been the author . Another theory, and a later one, is that Lord Chetham was the author ; chiefly based on a letter written at the time, which appeared lately in the Antiquary, which speaks very depreciatingly of Francis ' s talents, and implies that the writer had strong reasons to believe that Lord Chetham did write them . Certainly there is not much ground for opposition : most of the qualifications mentioned above would apply to him ; and if his later speeches be examined, especially that against the employment of Indians in the American War, the likeness of the styles is striking; while on the ground of ability, none can dispute this theory. We have not yet received any answers to the queries of " Intense " and " Pilcox ."


286

CORRESPONDENCE.

Authors of quotations wanted : " When Greek meets Greek, Then comes the tug of war ."

J . C . S.

PILcox. " Whom the gods love die young ." Can any one tell me the origin of the phrase, "Scarbro ' Warning?" B.

What are the " Borrowed Days ? "

M.

NOTES AND ITEMS. REV . A . J . WARWICK, late Scholar of Clare College ., Cambridge, has been licensed to the curacy of St . John, Bedwardine, Worcester. REv . E . PETERS has been licensed to the curacy of St . Paul's, York. EDWIN GRAY, Esq ., has been appointed Under Sheriff of Yorkshire. BRYAN WALKER, M .A ., L .L.D ., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Lecturer in Law at St. John's College, has been appointed an adjudicator for Yorke Prize in the ensuing year. With reference to the departure of CANON ELWYN from Ramsgate, the Church Times has the following :—" The Church of St . Paul was built by the present vicar, the Rev . Richard Elwyn, in the slums of the parish, and is well filled by the poor and by others who prefer the mission-style of service . Universal regret is expressed at the departure of Canon Elwyn, whose brilliant University career (senior classic, jun . opt ., Craven and Bell Scholar, Fellow of Trinity) and successful Head Mastership of Charterhouse, and of St . Peter ' s, York, have only been excelled by his unflagging work, and splendid powers of organisation as a Parish Priest . Like those of the Archbishop, his written sermons are tamer than his speeches, which are always full of matter, well turned, and delivered with great rapidity and animation . He has spent himself in the service of the Church at Ramsgate without stint, and it is said that nothing would have induced him to resign it for a richer living, had it only been endowed with a couple of hundred pounds ." On Friday, November 19th, at the York Theatre was produced "Ripples, " a comedy by Hugh Moss in conjunction with another. It was very favourably received. Subscriptions for next year should be paid, as soon as possible, to the Treasurer, or the School Editors . See the " Editorial " at the beginning of this number. OXFORD : PRINTED BY W . R . BOWDEN,

59,

HIGH STREET .


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