March 1884 by StPetersYork

TIF

PETkRITE. Vor. . VI .

MARCH, 1884.

No . 42.

"CHEROOT :" A NOVELETTE, BY 0-DA. CIIAPTEI : I . AT 11011E.

OT but what he's pertickler about his Jacks ; they are trials to give them the right complexion, and much use it is to make 'em as white as snow ; might as well never have been polished to see the way them beagles paws him . But I beant complaining ; it aint his fault ; but he ' s a real gent ; see him go on playing cards when his train ran into a goods truck ; he were cucumber cool ; just said, ` ask 'ern to wait five minutes, Cake ;' and then to see him jump them hurdles in the Ceesarwitch or bring down a blue jack at Hurlingham ; he's a fine gent, he is, and I don't care what I do for him ." With this peroration, Cake, dangling the hunting toggery, with a

rap entered his master's bedroom, in a mansion that commanded a view of Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the British Museum, and St . Paul's. Any duchess might well envy a guardsman's apartments ; and Cecil, second son of Viscount Bongereau, lagged not behind his fellows in luxury . On the table was displayed an elegant dejeoner a in Busse ; coffee pots of gold ; cups of the purest Sevres china—fresh from the most famous works—a treasure for an antiquary . Scattered about were whips, scent bottles, jacks, filmy lace handkerchiefs, elephant footstools, brushes—the triumph of many a fast thing with the Melton, bouquets of flowers, smelling sweet of Covent Garden, ready to be sent as the dues of beauty to the fairest in London ; on the wall a few choice Turners and Raphaels in the most delicious confusion, while on an elegant built dressing table, all bright with Bohemian glass, were heaped curb chains,

ensatoor.

point lace ties, French novels, the perfumes of Rinunel laden with the breath of Araby, casual piles of bank notes—the winnings of piquet the night before—all bespeaking the ease and grace of a highly cultivated mind. At the motion of Cake's appearance, the jewelled clock struck two, and the owner of the apartments languidly flung the supple length of his limbs from the softest of sofas, where he was reclined in exquisite t!emi-toilette before a blazing fire, after splashing like a spaniel in his morning tub . A handsome man withal . Standing six feet six as he was in his silk embroidered stockings, as agile and graceful, none the less, as a new born foal or timid fawn ; his face was delicate as the

fairest girl ' s, beautifully shaped and delicious in the

p e rfection of it s

contour, while the whole was framed in a massive case of flowing silky fair like a nocturne of Chopin's, and his eyes shot forth a dire, languid, melancholy love-lore look that completed his mysterious charm and won him the appellative of Beauty of the Brigades. " Its almost time, sir, for parade, " said Cake reproachfully, as he gazed admiringly on his master. "Its only just two ; still you may as well harness me ; got those Jacks right tinge yet ' Ah! I see they are better—not the thing though. Did Dillon give the horses a cold drench this morning ? How did Fora King stand the journey ? Bid him procure some double-mouthed 1 [anoverian Pelham snaffles—those revolving gag-curbs you know— they don't fret the mouth . Call round for that Dadschaud ; Lady Gwendoline wants the sleuthhound for a plaything for her daughter ; don' t forget to send those bouquets away, and its rather late, so don't waste time . " Languidly murmuring these mnitifarions orders as Cake inserted his tall form into the purgatory of gorget and helm, Cecil idly tossed off a few tumblers of Curacoa and dipped his filbert hands into a basin of the sweetest pure Attar of Roses—inwardly anathematising the folly of the lords in dragging out the Household through the hot dust of a sultry June day, with the chance of a drop of rain on duty—a thunderstorm with the Pytehley would have been heaven by comparison to the spoilt favourite of the city. Ah ! young un ; you here, " he sighed wearily as the door opened and showed a slender form with dandy written on every line of his face—• the exact counterpart of Cecil's Litt for its weakness and want of abstract manliness .

cnauou'r .

I'm in an awful box ; are you in haste ? " he whimpered lad I' regretfully, half caressingly. •' What's up ? The boy 's head fell, and schooled as he was to the style of his brother's set he could only with difficulty bring himself to speak ; he toyed li.s :lessly with a priceless Dresden jar, which fell from his unsteady lingers and broke, pouring forth its contents of sovereigns on the Turkish rug. Cecil shook his head and smiled kindly, " Come, never mind, I'll help you though 1 haven't a penny myself ." " I want a couple of thousands ; had to borrow them from Poultry to pay my losses at Nap .," he huskily returned. Cecil drew a long whiff of meditation from his meerschaum. "Heavy for you—tres Cher. It ' s always money, of course it is—but don' t you borrow from others—no thanks—here you are—by Jove there's four o'clock—come to me if you are hard up—not outsiders—there . " So speaking he shook out a number of loose fivers from an enamelled book, and tossed them across to the junior olive branch. " By Jove, " he soliloquised as he vaulted on to his coal black charger, " I wonder if I left enough brass to send Foret King to the races ; and then he goes to Baden to run on Friday . If I can't get a ticket for myself ! And the Jews are getting so sharp nowadays . But I suppose it ' s all right . Ah! here's that filthy crowd . Now for a crush. Always is when the Houses meet . Only why drag us out ?

CIIAPTER II . TILE RACE. " TAKE the field bar one ." " Fifteen to one on Fora King . " "Fourteen to seven against Wild Geranium ." "A hundred and forty to twenty-one on Brother to Fairee . " " Six to six on Pas-de-Charge . " " Back the field bar one ." " Favourites any price ." " Three to one on outsiders ." So rang the clear voices of the ring through the crisp sunlight, that lose on the showers of the morning of the famous steeplechases. The saddling bell was ringing loudly. Cake was busily polishing to brownness his master's mahogany tops as the sound broke upon his ears . He rushed madly to his master's room. Cecil had been up all night . " Please don't burst in like that, it's such bad form ; ~~ hat's the matter ? " he lanquidly enquired . " Oh,

CHEROOT.

sir, the saddling bells be ringing ." " Ah ! yes, I remember . IIow far's the course off ?" " A matter of two miles " hurriedly, " you'll never be in time !" " Bid Dillon send Galloping Jack round to the hotel door ; I'll be dressed in half-an-hour ; tell them to wait till I'm ready ; it's a hot day, so you had better be ready to run round the course with some sodas and brandy for me !" Cecil leisurely spent an idle half-hour over his toilette, and descended lazily, fresh as a bride, down the broad staircase . There his steed was impatiently pawing the ground impatient of his master's tarrying. Ile lightly vaulted airily into the saddle and ;allped to the course in a minute and a half. On his way to the saddling-room he saw his brother betting eagerly amid a " ossy " riffraff of taudily fustian trowsered, sham jewelled blackguards in parti-coloured coats and blazing umbrellas . He serenely lifted two of them in each hand and dropped them like kittens over the high palisading into the lake—that last awful water jump that Cecil's bosom friend, the Cherub, known to the world as Lord Cockingham, had named " a tickler " IIe looked apologetically on his friends for transgressing all the canons of his order, as he calmly re-entered the ring with a flush of exertion on his face, and wearily remarked, " The turf must be cleared of those welchers." An hour and a half more sufficed to see Cecil and the other horse men at the post, so that the race had after all only been delayed two hours . When were gentlemen riders regardful of the fleeting time, or of the virtue of punctuality ? The betting raged more fast and furious than ever . There were fifty-six starters, the chosen pick of England's cavaliers, each of whom won the suffrages of their following of the fair. Firm and steady as a rock stood Fork hing, as if chiselled by the hands of Pheidias from the marble of his native Araby, though his proud heart throbs to think that he bore the fortunes of the Ilousehold, who lounged about with their indifference and wearied ennui in no way altered, though they had a million and a half staked on the issue. There was Bay Regent, sawing like a saw-mill at the wiry arms of Jimmy Tellmimair ; there was the blood-like White Elephant, fidgetting with the prettiest wickedest grace in the world .

CHEROOT .

The race is begun. They are off. The first hurdle has choked off six with broken necks. The ploughed land, ere the thirteenth hurdle is won, has ruined the chances of twenty-five more, and the favourites have it all to themselves. Still Cecil reined in the fretting ardour of his steed. " Good Heavens ! " murmured the Cherub to his cheroot, tugging his blonde moustache the while . " What next? Beauty's turned cautious ." Cautious indeed ; with two-thirds of the race yet unrun ; and hurdles came thick and fast between, and the dark line of the river looming ahead began to glow. The fifteenth fence saw only five left in the race, and there are fiftysix more to come, laced high with the shire thorn. Cecil kept Fork Ping well in band, never once letting his ardour betray him : unwarily White Elephant's rider has given him full rein and he has been running at his hottest from the first . Wild Geranium, true to her sex, brooks no rival . Bay Regent thumps heavily along. The thirty-ninth sees the fate of White Elephant . There is now a straight two miles' run iu. " Guards are beat ! Were they ?

Violet wins ! "

As the shout was raised Cecil's saddle gave way and rolled off. At the last corner Cake is waiting with the welcome brandy and soda ; in the effort to reach he breaks his girth ; the pigskin rolls on the turf. At the light running speed at which they were racing short riders would have been hurled from their horses like a stone from a sling : Cecil scarcely swerved . IIe languidly conveyed the brandy and soda safely to his mouth, and drank a health to Fork King, and went on as if nothing had befallen . But the Household, as they saw through their lorgnettes the marvellous achievement, broke the usual serenity

ut '

their lani unr and burst into a cheer that pealed echoing over grassland; and coppices like a trumpet call, while the grand rich voice of the Cherub led foremost and loudest . The cheer that rolled mellow and triumphant down the crisp sunny air like a bray of clarions, thrilled ((n Cecil's ear as he rushed down the course five miles away, and made leis heart beat quicker with headlong victorious delirium, as he " scouted ' onward to the greatest feat of his riding life. And now giving Fork Ping the rein, he gained every stride on line Regent . Drunk with excitation and lashed by the winter wind, the

el (EKOOT.

wild Petal, that lay latent under the serene serenity of his brow, broke tin' a h . The unconscious cry 1 urst from his lips, " slay me, but fail me not!" Forst King heard the remark : and his stretching strides stretched further ; and gathering his long limb, with the spontaneity of lightning he hur led over the water jump which separated him fifty-font feet from the goal. lie galloped up the straight alone. Bay Regent had refused the leap. Cecil dismounted : lazily lounged up, and said " Not a bad race ; have you any soda ?" He had left his rooms that morning with many thousands owing, and nothing to pay them with : he now could pay them twenty-five times over . So could the Household . But neither he nor they gave one mark of pleasure or relief. It would have been had form.

CIIAPTER III . AT BAPEN-L'AI)EN.

The race was over ! The poisoned bit had done its work ! Beauty was a beggar ; but he was a Bougereau, and the blood that coursed through his veins forbade his cheek to pale at the ruin in his face. As Fork King sank down dead—dead for ever—on the green sward, a fiendish wild-cat laugh rang out over the course from the shelter of a coppice, where Moses Isaacs and Welsh had posted themselves to watch the success of their scheme—a pair that had declared war to the knife on " them swells." An hour after as the Cherub ' s composed features were descending from his four-in-hand at the hotel, a quietly dressed, rather handsome, dapper little gentleman in velvet approached him. " May it shpeak mit you fon moment, milor ? " The Cherub put up his lorgnette to his eyes in surprise at the impudence of the creature. " What have I to do with you," he drawled, my fellow? " May 1 asl: if this is your signature, milor ? " showing a paper bearing the hone " C;ocl ingham " on it, written disgracefully in the guardsman fashii n. "That, no—I think not—never could make C `half an eighth' as good as that," he lau g hed .

111:11VUT.

"Pard, n nu . miler, but did your highness endorse any leetle bill .,l the 18th for -t2t),000 ." "Really, my good man, how can I he expected to know these details' Co and ask someone else, " and he moved wearily away. "But, milor, fon moment— may I demand an interview ." "Don ' t bother," sighed the Cherub. "Well then, milor, worse may befall your friends and regiment ." As if shot the Cherub swung round on his spurred Jack with an air that made the Jew quake iii his moccassin,s, and scrutinised through his race glass the reptile cowering beneath his glance . Scarce did he restrain himself from with one blow of his developed arm ending the obnoxious interview . " To my rooms," he shouted to his numm olu train, pointing to Isaacs " Lead and I follow ." *

,+E

Meanwhile, seemingly careless of his defeat, not allowing the anguish of his heart to gleam through the schooled exterior of his handsome insouciant fare Cecil dallied attendance on the fairest of the fair at the Duchess' As he laughed and talked, totally regardless of the fact that servants are not inanimate blocks, an attendant brought him a scented billet, " very important ." IIe slipped it in his packet none the less, and went on with his flirtation till a message came to him from Lord Cocleingham requesting him to step over at once. " Adieu," he sighed, " we meet at the Empress ' ." On his way he remembered the letter ; a few tears-bespattered lutes from a juvenile hand told the story of a brother's shame, and Cecil groaned, " 0 monstrous shame ; but it's very like him," as he reflected that honour to another tied his lips from freeing himself from the heinous slur upon his character, and slipped the letter coolly into his coat. IL. found the Cherub holding a Jew in his herculean grip of steel, and shaking him like a dog shakes a rat, yet without a trace of emeticu on his placid features. Ile know all, and was rooted like a statue at the appalling horror that settled over his eyes . lIe could not, would not see the hand the Cherub offered, crying, " A thousand pardons, Beauty, but I wanted you to give the lie to this blackguard here ." But Cecil was speechless and a triumphant gleam of malice shone ilt Isaac' s eyes as he smoothed his ruffled plumage. " Did I not say so, tailor ? " he whined. " Peace, villain ; fill that cheque," cried the agonised voice of the

CHEROOT.

Cberub, as he flung a blank cheque to his adversary . " 0 say it is not true, Cecil ." " I cannot prove it ." " Said I not so," snarled hoses, " I take no moneys from you ; shall I say that milor is in collusion with his friend ." " Let it be Cherub—you will—you must—it cannot be but that you think me guilty ; come, Mr . Isaacs, I am ready ; once and for even Cherub, will you refuse my hand " " Never—never before all the world, " and their delicate hands met with a clap of thunder and they parted thus . . . . Beauty walked peaceably to his prison by the Jew, who ever ami anon eyed suspiciously the lissome form of his companion--strong and graceful as a tiger . IIe sighed contentedly as they reached a dark corner . From its dimness there sprang on Beauty five stalwart ruffians, who tried to seize and pinion him, but against this cowardly assault all his blue blood surged in indignation . Trusted, he would have offered no resistance—struggled not—he was determined to sacrifice himself for his brother's crime . But now all his proudest passions reasserted themselves, and with one mighty effort he wrenched his hands fiee from the closing manacles and with one blow felled his assailants stunned or. the hard stones . Turning he fled down the the street and his speed, won in the Eton playing fields, soon left pursuit behind . Far away he heard the Jew shrilling, " murder, " and soon his cries woke the populace, who spying Beauty's flying form, joined in the chase. It happened that there was in that street a caravan drawn by elephants belonging to one of those odious accompaniments of festal days—a menagerie . Its owners like lightning swung it round so as to block the narrow passage of the darkening lane. Cecil was cut oft ; and his pursuers raised a yell of triumph fancying their prey already in their ravening hands. Nearer and louder hissed their cries . Beauty gathered himself fl r a supreme effort ; lie collected his long limbs for one last struggle for life and liberty and bounded deer-like over the elephants ' backs. The chaise was foiled by its own barrier. Beauty gained the country fleetly, profiting by his enemies' disaster ; but a clatter of hoofs soon told him that they had taken to horse and were on his trail . Ilis strength was nearly gone and he felt he could scarce go further, so he lightly sprang to the top of a friendly oak tree ;m,1 nestled in its dark shades .

JOIIN nuLI, 'ET SON ILE .

Flight!—the coward ' s refuge—flight—the villain ' s safety—flight from all he loved and eared for—flight—from friends and country—flightruin—death. The hue and cry were after him and his heart throbbed like the heart of some poor hunted (leer when she has escaped, but heard the bay of the sleuth hounds louder and louder as they near her retreat in the greenwood, and she but half knows all the destruction before her—for Beauty, shame, dishonour and disgrace, social extinction—for him the pride of London—a guardsman and a beggar. They paused beneath the tree, wondering that their prey had flown and then turned disconsolately homeward baulked and baffled, though one turned and aimed a random bullet at the oak's foliage ; the hall passed through Beauty ' s curling locks, and so they left him . He had escaped ; he had liberty, but what liberty—liberty that meant more than death—freedom worse than might but a villain ' s dishonour.

JOHN BULL ET SON ILE.

F we except " Vice Versa," few books, of those recently published at any rate, have earned the popularity which has fallen to the lot of " Max O ' I :ell " and his smart work . It is a book which at one moment raises an Englishman's pride at the homage paid to points of excellence in his native customs or institutions, and the next rouses his indignation and injured vanity at some cruel hit against his beloved country. Sometimes these criticisms are true, sometimes palpably and absurdly false—but of this hereafter. If we are to believe the author, he has borne " our fogs and east winds, paid poor-rates, income taxes and Queen's taxes "—whatever they may be—" for ten years," and on this score our " admirer and friend " claims " indulgence and respect ." Beyond this, to use the formula so celebrated in classical biography, . : about the life of this eminent writer little, if anything, is known, but tradition asserts that he was " French Master at one of the London schools . Whether this report is correct or merely the natural inference drawn from various passages in the book itself, I cannot tell . I may

JOIIN PULL ET SON ILL

here add with shame and contr tion, with the deepest agony of remorse over wastsd time and misused talents, that despite the col ntless gallons of midnight oil—the myriad cubic feet of gas, I mean—lavished freely i :i my youthful days on mastering the intricacies of the proverbial "ave r and i"tre and the four conjugations," and the mystic meanderings of the irregular verbs, I have for the most part used the translated edition. En passant, another work of a similar character by Professor Daryl has just come come out, but it appears to he much deeper and enters more fully into political subjects. The general description of " John Bull " is not flattering ; "a large land owner, with muscular arms, long head, flat and heavy feet, with an iron jaw that holds fast all it seizes ." The psychological aspect is the reverse : "proud, he will never doubt the success of his undertaking— brave, he will carry it through—calm, he will calculate with a cool head the material advantages of the victory—tenacious, he will make it fruitful, and a consummate diplomatist ." IIe gives us credit for having gained our vast empire with little bloodshed, for conquering it only to promote trade, civilisation, and peace, for a generous and practical 'management of our colonies, and for the " moral force more powerful than bayonets that keeps it together . " The athletic disposition and out-door life of Englishmen and women, their activity and health up to a green old age, he compares with the dissipated and sedentary habits of his countrymen in youth and the rapid decay and valetudinarianism they bring in their train . And to the same love of exercise he attributes " the resplendent look of health" in English girls, " who, when beautiful, are angels and unparalleled in beauty, " though he remarks that it is short lived in them . IIe praises too the absence of the espionage and love of mystery, which is fatal to the real development of his countrywomen . And this brings us to the most interesting part of his work, and the most gratifying to English readers—his chapters on our public schools and universities. Ile begins by remarking the public schools aim at securing " miens sana in corpore sano." " Therefore, no barrack system ; fresh air in abundance . . . what temptation is there to play truant? . . . The headmaster in spite of his five or six thousand a year is not an inaccessible potentate " —(the italics are my own—what headmaster he generalises from it is difficult to say)—' no advancement according to seniority—the premium offered in Francs to stupidity ." IIe goes on to describe debating societies, school magazines, etc ., and sports . Football,

JOAN BULL ET SON ILE .

apparently Association, he describes with all the sanguinary horrors of a special correspondent—" a wild game fit for savages,—ribs and jawbones broken, shoulders lacerated, faces covered with blood and mud," and so on . Cricket, he admits, is better than reading the disgusting productions of Zola . IIe praises the trust and confidence imposed in school boys, contrasted with the demoralising strictness of his native country . Over Oxford and its scenery he goes into raptures, but makes a great mistake when he says it costs nearly £300 per annum . Many do it on half, the vast majority on £200. Few more than £350 or £400. Our system of judicature and constitution (the House of Lords excepted), newspapers and literature in general, our railways, public institutions, parks and scenery are warmly applauded . But our frigidity of manner, the simplicity or badness of our cooking come in for it hot. Our religions, which he believes to be hypocrisy, he attacks in a long series of frivolous abuse. But we have the consolation of knowing that at any rate we are as good as his countrymen in that respect, and could point out the vast amount of useful work done by purely charitable contributions in educating and caring for the poor . Among his mistakes we are surprised to hear that the English law makes no distinction between wilful murder aid manslaughter . Nor do we believe that any Englishman thinks that Nelson was assassinated at Trafalgar--even if he did, it would not be worse than placing Waterloo among the victories of France ; and we are sorry to think that one who has lived ten years here believes dishonesty to be a "sine qua non" of successful trade, or that " a shopkeeper would feel himself disgrace 1 if he did not give false measure ." Moreover, many of the stories given as actual facts and characteristics of people described, cribbed as they are front Punch and various humorous works, if intended for foreign readers, are strangely misleading, though to Englishmen they are merely taken for what they are worth . I mean, for instance, the anecdotes given of Scottish stinginess. Again, his sarcasm is at times so deep as to be misguiding as a rule it is very ]sappy. To a foreigner the book will give a general idea of " perfide Albion, " but it is never more than sketchy and suner(icial, perhaps intentionally so . To an E• uglish reader the general impression it leaves is very flattering ; excepting his gratuitous sneers at our religion, there is little else than warns praise and admiration . List it is impossible to take the book seriously. Despite Iris eceasiotial censure —and much of it is not without truth—

OXFORD LETTER.

he seems to have a very high opinion of John Bull and his isle . "het us conclude," he says, L ° by quoting Voltaire ' s remark, ` If I had to choose my birthplace, I would have chosen England . ' " CALLOO.

OXFORD LETTER.

T the time of writing the 'Varsity Boat is all but made up ; the only doubtful point being to decide who should row Nos . 2 and

4 . However, last year ' s reserve man, Austin, is come up, and is almost certain to go 2 : while Walrond, of Exeter, and Carter, of Corpus, will probably go 3 or 4, Taylor, of Lincoln, having to give way to the latter . The rest of the boat are : Curry, of Exeter, stroke ; Blandy, of Exeter, 7 ; Paterson, 6 ; Maclean, of New, 5 ; and Shortt, of Christ Church, bow . Stroke and seven are light, but that is all that can be said against the boat : for now that Austin rows 2, the bows of the boat are not submerged as they used to be with Carter or Taylor . The race is to be rowed on April 5th, and training begins after Ash Wednesday . I do not think there can be much fear as to the result—at least for Oxford men. The Torpids are now on ; the general run of boats being distinctly below the average. Of the whole number, Queen ' s, in which Baskett and Kaye are rowing, is the most successful, having made four bump, at the time of writing : vthat it will do the other two nights remains to be seen . Corpus are and will be head, with Hereby, the Trial's man, rowing 7 . The first five boats have not changed position at all during the races. And now as to the Football team, which though, in my opinion, slightly inferior to the team of last season, is, nevertheless, the best team in England . They have won all their matches save one, viz ., that against Gloucestershire, which was a draw : and that, besides being the first match this year, was played in a perfect storm of wind and rain. Under these circumstances the ' Varsity is not seen to the best advantage : for both wind and rain prevent them employing their tactics . Add to that disadvantage the absence, among other great men in the football 'world, of Asher and Wade, and it will be admitted that the game was hardly a draw on the merits of the O . U . R . F . C . Yorkshire cams

CAMBRIDGE LETTER .

down on Feb. 20, with an immense number of spectators . It was a very even game, but the Varsity had the advantage throughout, though few of the Oxford men were playing up to form : for there had been very few matches since the term began . Of the Yorkshiremen we were glad to see an O .P ., W. F . B . Calvert, distinguishing himself, perhaps, beyond all the rest. But my advice to impartial persons is

not to trust to the reports of the Yorkshire papers in any match in which Yorkshire plays for the future. It may be interesting to know that of the English International team to play on March 1, against Scotland, eight are present members of the 0. U. li..F . C ., while two, possibly three, of the Scottish team will be 'Varsity men also. The Sports are to come off about a week before the 'Varsity race : general opinion seems to be that Cambridge will win again . The University Association match is to be played on the day of writing, but time will not allow of my waiting till the result is known. Oxford have improved wonderfully up till now, and have one or two men as brilliant players as any in England, notably King, the half-back, and Bromley Davenport, forward . The only matches lost have been those against Blackburn ( )lympic—a flukey win—and Aston Villa ; which latter club on our own ground we had beaten . Still Cambridge are, I believe, a trifle too good. Oxford has to deplore the resignation of Professor Stubbs . Dr. Freeman—who lately distinguished himself by-the-bye on the Vivisection question—is likely to succeed him, or, iu his default, Rawson Gardiner BEBI.

is mentioned as the most likely luau .

CAMBRIDGE LETTER. 1

AM under orders posthaste for a Cambridge Letter . " The great thing to be observed, " writes one of our worthy Oxford editors,

" is its length ; let it be very long. "

in that case I am afraid I shall

have to have recourse to "padding ." This word comes back to me to remind me of the gigantic and almost superhuman efforts I had to make in Latin verses in order to fill up the end of a hexameter or the

CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

last part of a pentameter, or to prevent two unfortunate vowels coming together (what a treat it was when one came to Greek to find the Greeks considerate enough to provide a " ye "), and yet when I /tad found a word which I thought would do capitally to fill the vacant place, I was informed by those more skilled in the dead languages than myself that it was " padding ." Imagine the shock to my feelings 1 But that will soon be a thing of the past with me, as with several other 0 . P .'s up here. A fever is on me at- present . Its name is Tripes fever . It is by no means an intermittent fever : some catch it sooner than others : some never catch it all : but those who catch it do catch it : it lasts ge : :erall v some three months or so, and ends with a jerk : the ending is generally accompanied with profuse perspiration in the presence of numerou s. doctors : its results (or non-results as the case may be) last for a lifetime ; so they say. Hurrah! I've come to the raid of my first paragraph : I hope my readers have survived it : it is only padding," so wont hurt, as it is soft . Now for news . I am sure I deserve great credit : ever since I heard I had to write the letter I ' ve been asking every one I've met fur news . One says :—`° Oh, put in that there has been a great Socialist Debate at the Union ." Well, I've put in, and I hope everybody that reads it will receive instructio :r and amnserne :it from the fact that What is a Socialist ? A fellow who's witting To lay down his farthing, and pocket your shilling.

Football is now over ; tho 'Varsity have t« o more net cites on their card, lnit- these have, I hear, been cancelled . We have only had four matches this term, one of which has gene against us . that against the Old Leysians, who came up with a very strung team ; but the absence of Marriott, Fuller, Colbourne, Threlfall, Pansome, Barton, Lees, Guthrie, and last, but not least, our only full back, Sample, may possibly to some extent account for it! They got one try, whilst we got several minor points, and also had rather hard luck in having two tries disallowed . Brutton was in fine form for us against the United Hospitals, and got 3 tries, one from a splendid run right through the IIospitalians from our 25 flag . We were rather disappointed in not seeing the lithe form of E . W . Crossley figuring with his accustomed dash and brilliant forward play. Several representatives from St Bartholemew's were playing, but not the gentleman in question . Surely he has not forsaken his former love 1 L . E. Stevenson played for the

CAMBRIDGE LETTER .

'Varsity against East Sheen ; his power"ul play is very effective among the forwards, and both Sample and Marriott were taken with his style. His place decidedly is forward, not three-quarter. We hope to see him gel his blue another year for football . By t he bye I had almost forgotten to mention that Sample has at last gut his England cap ; he played brilliantly against Ireland, in spite of his being placed in "circumstances over which he had no control " in crossing the Channel. Well, good bye to football . En pas.omnt—this for the benefit of our Oxford correspondent of last month :—1 substantial building needs no ricketty props to hold it up . Oxford's glory in the football field is substantial enough . Granted. But why seek to prop it up by statements based on—nothing 1 I am not very well posted in Rowing news . I was down at the river about a fortnight ago, and saw the ' Varsity . They were rowing very steadily against a heavy head wind and stream . Since then they have wisely taken a long rest, but are at work again now at Ely. Moore, the old Dunelmian, is rowing in his proper place—seven. HIow is it that the rowing at Durham School is so much superior to that of St . Peter' s? The Wear certainly c'an't he compared to the Ouse, and I should not admit that the physique of our northern rivals is superior to our own . The answer is not far to seek, and the remedy an easy one . A . long as crews are allowed to go out unattended by any coach whatever, simply with their own respective ideas (or nonideas, as the case may be) of the theory or practice of rowing, how can one expect any improvement either in individual rowing or in t he style of the school-rowing at large ? An eight or four semi on the Cam without a coach is . considered a disgrace . Why should it not be so on the Ouse ? Is it too late for these suggestions to be acted on this term? Is there not sufficient interest in rowing to effect the change? But to change the subject . L . T . Crawshaw, who seems marvellously at home in a light, boat, achieved a brilliant performance the other day in company with another man in the rowing line . After a splendid race he won his College Phillip' s Pairs, and now rejoices in the possession of two silver oars . I think rowing runs in the Crawshaw family. Our prospects in the sports against Oxford are decidedly rosy. With Tindall for the f mile, De la Tonche for the mile, Colbourne and Graham for the jumps, Don Wauchope and Pollock for the hurdles, and Elliott for the 3 miles, we ought at any rate to repeat our last

SCTIOOL LETTER.

year's performance . I have great hopes of Stevenson getting a second blue for the Weight ; he is a good man at it, but wants coaching ; and I should like to see Eyre get his blue at last, and I think he ought to, for the three miles. The grand way in which he strode along in last year ' s Trial Sports surprised us all ; with training this year, and no Hough to force the pace so outrageously, he ought to pull it off. We were pleased to see J . Griffith and W . Garwood up tire other day paying a pop visit—but I must pay a pop visit to bed, else I shall not " keep a chapel " to-morrow, and be invited to the Dean's in consequence . STYLUS.

SCHOOL LETTER,

~'' OW that Shrove Tuesday is past, boating may be said to be fairly started . Hitherto the Senior crews have hardly appeared on the river, but as the races are fast approaching the Juniors no longer have the river to themselves . As regards the House Fours, in the Seniors some good racing should be forthcoming, as the Dayboys make up for their inferiority of weight and strength in style and neatness, and the Houses are fairly well matched . In the Juniors the School House ought to land the race, owing to their superior strength. It ought to have been mentioned that the thanks of the School are due to C . Johnson for the two outrigged fours, which now add life to the boating, and also to the School Boat-Ilou ;e . The School Fours will most probably fall to the Civil Boat, who are a very strong lot. The School Football Team have played three matches this term, out of which they have won two . The total wins amount to nine out of fifteen matches . The play this term seems to have been an improvement on last term, the passing being at times really brilliant. The School House defeated the School again by one try to nothing after a very close game. We are glad to be able to announce that Bosomworth, who coached the School Eleven so well in 1878, has been secured for the coming season. The prospects of the School cricket at present look well, though it is rather early to forecast .

FovrIALL .

17'

Another sign of energy in the School is the revival of the Debating Society, this time under better auspices . Mr . Clarke is president of the Society, which numbers over thirty members, and holds its meeting in the Fourth Form Room. Another innovation in the rules is that several masters have already been present at the debates. C . B. Clarke has been appointed librarian.

FOOTBALL. l ;l :VLRLEV. This match was played on February 2nd, and resulted in a win for the School by 3 tries to nil . Beverley won the toss and kicked off with a slight wind at their backs, and their forwards following well up caused the School to touch down . Lord kicked off from the 2 :1 flag, and play was carried on for some time iu neutral territory . Soon afterwards some combined play between Crawshaw and Rose ended in the former obtaining a try . The kick failed. The School still held their opponents, and Lord getting possession got within a few yards of the Beverley goal . Here he passed to Noble, who got the second try for the School . The kick at goal again failed . Beverley then played up well, and took the ball into the School 25, where it remained. until half-time . The play during the second half was of a more even character, and only one point was scored before call of time, Rose getting a try for the School . The game thus ended, as stated above, in a win for the School . For Beverley, Hodgson and Gell were must prominent ; while for the School, besides those above mentioned, Cru. .slev and Clarke played well.

. YORK (2ND .) This match was played on the York ground on Saturday, February 16th . Lord kicked off against the wind, and after a few preliminary kicks the School forwards managed to take the ball into the York ground . The play was of a very even character, and soon after the start Burkill made a drop at the School goal . Rose, however, obtained

FOOTBALL.

the ball and by a splendid inn gut helrinA . lie was mauled by two ef the York men, who failed to prevent him touching the ball down. Brandt kicked a goal . Burkill kicked off, and the School began to 1, 0 rather pressed, the York forwards being much heavier than heir opponents . The School were then forced to touch down, and shortly before half-time Nottingham obtained a try for York . The kick at goal failed . At half-time the School had scored a goal to a try score d by York. Burl :ill kicked off and Noble returned the ball into tie middle of the ground, where some scrimmaging took place . Clarke. Crossley, and Crosthwaite were here prominent with some good dribbling, and the School scored some touchdowns . The ball was then brought into the School 25, and one of the School backs took a flying, kick which hit one of the York men, and went into touch . A dispute was raised as to whose ball it was in touch, iu the midst of which it was thrown out to a York man who had no difficulty in falling over the line . The referee gave his verdict against the School. Nottingham kicked an easy goal, buns plating York ahead by a goal and a try to a goal . The School were rather disheartened at this, but soon recovered their spirits and pressed their opponents, who touched down twice in self-defence from two drops at goal by Lord, the second of which very nearly resulted in a goal. After the kick out the School still held their opponents, and might have scored a try had not one of the York men run the ball behind the go,rl line and touched down . The York men then carried the ball into Go School territory, and shortly after time was called, the game thus resniting in a win for York by a goal on l a try to a goal . For the wieners—Crombie . Nottingham, and Binrkill w re most prominent : while for the School—Clarke, Crossley, and Crosthwaite among the forwards, and Lord, Rose, and Brandt behind were the best-- Brandt's

!)nuts and Lord s kicks being especially useful.

v . BE\'LltLEY. This return match was played on Saturday . February 23rd, and ended in an easy victory for the School . Lord kicked off against the wind, and the ball was returned into the School 25 . Lord by a good kick relieved his side, and the school following up well scored some touchdowns . The play was still kept in the Beverley 25, and Spencer „noon afterwards ran in . The kick by Crossley failed . After some

ow IwoL .

play in the middle of the field Spencer ran in again . No goal resulted. Beverley then made an attempt to score, and runs by Ilodgson and Lambert took the ball into the School i . Brandt came to the rescue with a good punt and again the Beverley goal was pressed, and from a pass by Lord, Rose ran in. The try was disallowed on the plea of thrown forward . Ilalf time was then called and the School played with the wind at their backs . The School continued to play well together and took the ball up close to their opponents' goal, when Wilson got in twice, but was called back on the plea that the ball had not been in the scrimmage . At last, however, Clarke gained a try from which Brandt. kicked a goal . Tries followed from Crossley and Wilson, from which no goals resulted . The game continued to be in favour of the Sclro 1, and Beverley were soon compelled to touclnlmvn from a drop at goal by Lord, which only just fell short of its mark . Time was snort called, leaving the School winners by 1 goal, T tries, and numerous minor points to nil . For the winners all the forwards played well, while behind Spencer and Lord played well . The Beverley back was injured early on in the game, so that they played with only 13 melt during most of the game. (Capt .—18,42-8 :1) .— p icked well when playing threequarters at the beginning of the season, but was more useful forward, where he followed up well, and was generally on the ball. II . W . RIroDES (1832- s 3) .-Useful three-rinarters . Put in seine dodgcy runs, which were very serviceable. if . N . CROSSI.EI (1881-82-83) .—Ileavy forward . Worked well in the scrimmages, but was rather slow in getting loose. F . R . Br; .ANDT (1882-S3) .-Safe back, making few mistakes . Very go rd coilarer . Played three-quarters in two or three matches, but was out of his element. 4'T . II. EYGLTSII (, SS :1) .—ilard worker in the scrimmages . Useful in the line out from touch . (Ilas left .) \V . G . WILSON (18 3) .—Very energetic half-back . In some match 's P . E . LORD

did not feed the backs so much as he might have done, but his runs proved of great service to the team. 'Ii. B . CL 1I ;KE (1883) .—IIeavy and active forward . Always followed up well, and at times dribbled vveil Improved as the season a,dr,Ira rd .

20 A. D.

TIIE I)I:le'I'1N(

`()( lI~I S.

(1883) .-Very fair forward, but fell off in the later matches . (Has left .) R . C . D . RosE (1883) .-Fast three-quarters . In some matches made fine runs, but in others showed inferior form . Was slow in picking up the ball. A . Sri°r;cER (18S3) .-Active half-back. Occasionally lost his heal .. and passed erratically. Did not punt well. C . JOHNSON (1883) .-Very fair forward, fast, and collaring well. R . CROSTIIWAITE (1883) .-Good forward. Played especially well in the later matches, being generally on the ball. A . WADE (1883) .-Fair forward, but did not know enough of the game. Was slow in following up, but collared fairly well. J. S. 1\OBLE (1888) .-Was not so useful forward as at the three-quarters, where he played in some matches, and kicked well. W. 11 . CROSTIIwAITE (1883) .-An improving forward . Ilad not seen the Rugby game played before. Kicked well at full-back_ in one or two matches. HA1,T

THE DEBATING SOCIETY. FTER a considerable period of inactivity, the meetings of tinSociety have, at length, been resumed . At a meeting of tln Sixth Form, held on Saturday, February 2nd, it was unanimously resolved that meetings should be hell every Saturday night, that the Sixth Form should retain for itself the right of electing new members from the other forms, and that one of the masters should be asked to preside . The first meeting was held on Saturday, February 9th, at which the Rev . IL M. Stephenson kindly presided . After a few introductory remarks by the President, F . E . Robinson proceeded to move, "that in the opinion of this house, the House of Lords needs to be reformed ." The mover, in a somewhat indefinite speech, while he expressed his hearty approval of the existence of a second chamber, and strongly opposed any suggestions that might be offered in favour of its abolition, at the same time was of the opinion that certain reforms would be very beneficial, provided they were

CORRESPONDENCE.

21.

moderate and gradually effected. IIe then proceeded to state what he considered to be the existing evils of the present second chamber, and concluded with the statement that he did not so much wish to suggest what reforms should be made, as to point out the necessity for them. The motion was then seconded by Pickles, who briefly expressed his support of Robinson ' s views . The opposition were somewhat slow in coming forward, but were at last led by Clarke and Wilson, who expressed his disapproval of experiments being tried in the state unless the necessity was urgent, and the utility evident . Stevenson then spoke for the motion, and was followed by the Rev. II. L. Clarke, who, in an eloquent speech of a strongly conservative type, opposed the motion . The discussion was followed up by Wilson, Noble, and Stevenson, and Robinson then replied . As no further discussion seemed likely to follow, the President called on the House to divide. The motion was then defeated by a majority of 20 to 3.

CORRESPONDENCE.

SIRS,—May I solicit space for a few remarks r propos of the somewhat bumptious Oxford Letter which appeared in your December issue? In giving a detailed recapitation of the Oxford victories, your correspondent says :—" Last, but not least, the rival 'Varsity got 'sossed ' by three goals, four tries, to one goal—gained by a misunderstanding. " Does this last clause refer to the former score ? If so, it admits of a better explanation than may be at first apparent, for, as a matter of fact, sundry of the Oxford tries gave rise to misunderstandings, which appeared to take a good deal of settling. If, on the other hand, this novel view has reference to the Cambridge score, we cannot but pronounce it mean . Not satisfied with a victory far too decisive to he at all consistent with the comparative public form previously displayed by the rival teams, " ODOD " endeavours by a fiction, iniquitous because unfounded, to rob us of our one microscopic consolation. The letter goes on to say :—" Grant Asher should certainly obtain

DOTES AND rrEMS.

a place in the Scotch Fifteen, being, with the somewhat doubtful exceptior of A. R . Don Wauchope, the only man equal to Rotherham .' Possibly these doubts are untinged by partiality ! No disinterested judge of the game will admit that Don Wanchope is one whit inferior Br any half-back in the United Kingdom, and the following extract from the Athletic News of Wednesday, January the ninth—to wit : In: Wauchope we have the greatest quarter at present on the turf "— speaks in no doubtful terms of his superiority, not even suggesting Rotherham and Asher as doubtful exceptions! " ODOD " appropriatel n closes his remarks on football by a comfortable assignment of ten Oxonians to various international teams, and a modest regret that that number is not twelve . Yours truly, ANTI-SWAG.

NOTES AND ITEMS.

E . Y . DANIEL passed 18th out of

110 successful candidates for admission to Sandhurst at the recent examinations.

W . BARBER, Q .C ., has been appointed by the Council of Legal Educa-

tion, Professor of the Law of Beal and Personal Property, fur the year 1884. REV . C . E. STORRS, Vicar of Snaith, has been appointed rural Deal.

by the Archbishop of York. E . E . DEANE has passe 1 the Intermediate Examination for the Degree

of LL .B ., at London University, in the First Division. P. II. FLOWER has passed the First Examination at the Woolwich

R M.A ., receiving his Commission in the Royal Artillery. :3RD HUSSARS : Captain A . A . W . B . Bright-Smith from the King's

(Liverpool Regiment) to be Captain vice II . C . Jackson, who exchanges.

NO'IES AND ITEMS.

21ST HUSSARS : Lieut . F . H . Eadon, from 3rd Batt . the York and Lancaster Regiment, to be Lieutenant vice W . Knox, pro moted.

The following have passed the Final Examination of the Incorporated Law Society :—Chas . Arthur Close, B .C .L ., M .A. ; John Chas . Dalton, .Lis . Frederick Griffith, Wm . Herbert Jackson, Alfred Thorney. Intermediate Examinati in—Noel P . W . Brady.

E . A. DOUGLAS has played for Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club all through the season.

L . E . STEVENSON also played in the later matcheG. H. EYRE is at present pulling 2 in the Cambridge boat. W . F . B . CALVERT played for Yorkshire and Cheshire v . Oxford University.

W . W. GARWOOD, Queen' s College, Oxford, is appointed Curate to Canon Erskine Clarke, of Battersea . He is to be ordained on Trinity Sunday.

The editors beg to acknowledge the receipt of the following magazines :—Lorettonian (3), Ulula, Alleynian, Reading School, Lily,, Lecdiensian .

REV I EW.

ILE SCRIBBLER'S MONTHLY, an amateur magazine to which, in virtue of its Peterite origin, we have more than once directed

attention, has reached its second year . A novelette by a former editor of the Magazine of Art is the leading feature ; it is both interesting and well-written . It is proposed that each number this year shall contain an original illustration, and the engravings which have appeared so far are of very good quality. We may be allowed to quote one of the con-

REV1 EW.

tributions to the January number, not because it is the best, but because it is the shortest . It is an epitaph on a lady: This is the grave so quiet and shady Of a most well-connected lady ; So aristocratic and high born a madam. She had her own private Eve and Adam ; Really I trust in Heaven's variety She may not find too mixed a society.

The subscription to the magazine is 10s . per annum . Communications should be addressed to the secretary, Mr . R. Ward Carroll, Coombe Mavis, Chislehurst, Kent .