Dec 1890

THE

PETERITE. VOL .

X.

DECEMBER, 1890 .

No . 89.

SCHOOL LETTER. NCE more does the season of " Merry Yule" draw near ; once more do the voices of our future Irvings re-echo through the hall ; once more, alas, has the weary Peterite editor to bend to the task of writing a school letter. First and foremost it is our pleasant duty to offer, on behalf of the School, our most hearty congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Handford on the birth of their daughter.

Next as to football prospects, though as yet we have no very brilliant achievements to chronicle, still we expect the team will at least make a good show in the final round for the challenge cup . Our theatrical prospects, too, are at present looking fairly prosperous : six old actors are taking parts and the new arrivals are, with but few exceptions, very promising . On Nov . 28th Dr . Naylor gave a lecture on Acoustics to the whole school, which he illustrated by means of several interesting experiments . The subject was perhaps too difficult for the majority of the audience to grasp, but the lecture was thoroughly enjoyed in spite of the disadvantageous circumstances under which the lecturer was placed, the acoustical properties of the hall being notoriously bad, and the subject one that would seem extremely difficult to compress within the short space of an hour.

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OXFORD LETTER. HE shroud of gloom, in the absence of the undergraduate element, has once more been lifted, and the ancient city has again launched forth into its accustomed course of virtuous vice and vicious virtue.

The appearance of the goal posts in the Parks heralded the advent of the football season . The Rugby team promises to be more powerful than any of its predecessors for the last five years . The whole back contingent of last year are still in residence . Cochrane at back has improved immensely, while Fleming is a tower of strength in every department of the game . The halves are much improved, and should turn out a very smart pair indeed . W . E . Bromet is a great loss forward, but with only three places to fill, there should be little difficulty in getting a really strong set of forwards together . Accidents have never been more numerous . Four old blues are already hors de combat, but will probably reappear in the course of the next fortnight . College football has been robbed of most of its interest for this term by an order of the committee, forbidding members of the team from playing more than three times a week . The only Peterite seen figuring in these edifying contests is J . E . Gofton of John's.

The Association team has eight old members left, but they will hardly be so strong as last year . They have only played two matches, both of which ended in signal defeat.

Their more fortunate brethren of the Rugby persuasion have up to date played six matches and won them all, scoring 17 goals, 19 tries to r goal . The river is still crowded with coaches and coached . A brother of Guy Nickalls is the most promising freshman . The Trials are going through the weeding out process . E . Danks of Ripon has been rowing for a week, and still retains his seat.

News of Peterites is hard to collect . Chadwick of Wadham, confines his energies to the drill hall, of others, of their failures or successes we wot not . From all Oxford Peterites to bliss Handford greeting .

P.

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CAMBRIDGE LETTER. HE most engrossing topic at present is the University Fours which are being rowed at the time of writing . As, however, by the time this appears in print they will have been decided, speculation would be out of place . Suffice it to say that on present form Emmanuel ought to have no difficulty in winning . St . Peter 's is not represented in the fours, but O .P.'s are to be seen constant in attendance at the river in the persons of Hutchings, Leaf, Easten, and Metcalfe, who, I am glad to see is stroking a Pembroke eight with some success . To turn to other matters, our prospects for the Rugby match against Oxford next December are not particularly rosy, if the success, or rather the want of it, that we have met with at present is any criterion . We have suffered defeat from teams that the sister university seems to have easily disposed of, and the series of accidents that have happened to several of the most prominent members of our team are far from reassuring. Of O .P .'s in residence, T . P . Clarke is playing for Trinity and his brother for Emmanuel, while Hood plays for Cavendish, Wilkinson occasionally for Caius, and Metcalfe and A . Crosthwaite for Pembroke . It will be interesting to Peterites to hear that Chaytor, who frequently played against the school for Durham, will very probably get his Rugby Football blue . Jesus will have no difficulty in maintaining their position of supremacy, as their team will be just about equal with that of last year.

The rehearsals for the Ion of Euripides, which is the Greek play selected for performance, are steadily proceeding, and the play itself will be produced in about a fortnight . It promises to be a distinct success, and I hear the music written for it will be something to be remembered . The fifth of November has come and gone in dismal quietude . With the exception of the (probably imaginary) pursuit of a single Freshman by a mob of boys a more than usual solitude pervaded the University . It was rumoured that at a certain college the timehonoured custom of burning the college portal furniture (including the tutor, in effigy) was to be duly observed, but owing perhaps to the increased vigilance of the dons no such spectacle was afforded . Stanley

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has been duly invested with the honorary degree, the most noteworthy feature of the function being the universal cry of " Dr . Stanley, I presume," which greeted him on the completion of the function.

Cambridge O .P's. offer their congratulations to the head-master on the birth of his daughter.

P . S.

DURHAM LETTER. HIS term as far as officers are concerned Peterites are well to the front. One unites in his own person the captaincy of Hatfield Hall Boat club and the Secretaryship of the Union, another is weighed down by the burdens of secretary of the D .U .R .F .C ., captain of Hatfield Hall R .F .C ., and secretary of the debating society . Bulman was on the trials for Durham County as a forward, but did not play, and T. Ferris (a son of the Rev . T. B . B . Ferris, O .P ., for many years master at St. Peter ' s) who left St . Peter's some years ago has got a Zqo Classical Scholarship . The 'Varsity have a busy season before them both at Rugger and Soccer, and in both games will have strong teams.

The Rugby team plays Edinburgh, and the Association Cambridge .

And now for Durham School . They have perhaps a stronger team than they have had for the last two if not three seasons . They gave a tremendous beating to Ripon, and also defeated the Medicals of Newcastle, and Northumberland Club . Last Thursday they were just defeated by Sunderland, who have the finest back team in the County.

The School have taken a leaf from St . Peter's book of last season, and go in for daily passing and dribbling practice . Their back is strong and kicks well, perhaps rather too much inclined to run . They have a splendid set of three-quarters and a good pair of halves who perhaps are too selfish . Their forwards are a very good lot, powerful, working well on the ball, and following up with great dash .

DUNELM .

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FOOTBALL. 7'.

CLIFTON.

HIS, the first match of the season, was played on Octobei 4th.

Clifton winning the toss St . Peter' s kicked off against a strong wind. The ball however was well returned to the School quarters, and T . Wilson getting hold gained a good try, which the same player converted . On the kick out, the Clifton team soon rushed the ball back again, and T . Wilson ran in again but lost hold of the oval .

C. Morrell dropped on it, and a second try was gained, T . Wilson converting . After this played ruled in the Peterites ' 25, and W. Wade ran in, but the place failed . After half-time the game was very fast and exciting . The School made plucky but unavailing attempts to score, and Clifton again rushing, F . Wilson scored a try which J . Wilson converted . Score :—Clifton, 3 goals, r try, 3 minors ; St Peter 's nil.

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v . DURHAM SCHOOL. The teams met at Durham on November aoth . J . E . C . Graburn kicked off for the home team, and from the return C . Adamson secured and gained a try, J . E. C . Graburn kicking the goal . Play followed in neutral ground until Jackson, passing to Graburn, the latter scored a splendid try, which the same player converted . The Durham scholars still pressed, and Jackson getting over the line Graburn again added the major . Play was still confined to the visitors' territory, and Jackson (3) and Graburn scored . At half-time the score was ; Durham, 3 goals, 3 tries, r minor ; York nil . In the second half play was more even.

Jackson from a long kick added a minor . Shortt, after a dodging run scored behind the posts, but Graburn 's kick was a failure . Another try was added by Durham, but Newby failed to improve. Shortt scored, but no goal was kicked . J . E . C . Graburn got over, and Paule made a splendid attempt at a difficult angle . R . Adamson received a pass in front of goal, and had little difficulty in scoring, J .

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E . C . Graburn converting. From a good pass Sutherland ran in, but Graburn failed at goal . Another try was added . The final try was scored by Jackson, which Graburn converted . Final score :—Durham School, 5 goals, 9 tries, 2 minors ; St . Peter ' s School, nil.

v . LEEDS CLERGY SCHOOL. Played on November 4th on the School ground . Leeds kicked off at 3 o'clock, and St . Peter's forwards carried the ball into the Leeds 25, where, after some hard play, Stephenson, by a good run, gained a try, S . Bingham kicking a goal . Fast play followed, and St, Peter's rushing the ball to the line obtained a minor point . Leeds then played up harder and crossed the line . The kick at goal, however, failed . After half time St . Peter ' s pressed, and after some good passing Whitby cleverly secured a try, and S . O . Bingham kicked a splendid goal . After this play was very even, until by a good run Charlesworth gained a try for Leeds, which was converted into a goal. From the kick out the same player crossed the line again, and this, too, was converted . St . Peter's then rushed the ball to the line, and had hard luck in not scoring . Play was very even until time was called after a fast game, the score being :—Leeds Clergy School, 2 goals, r try ; St. Peter's, 2 goals, r minor.

THEATRICALS. The end of the Christmas term brings with it the Theatricals, now a time honoured institution . Owing to the kind and untiring help of Mr . Yeld our plays are what they are, and there seems no reason to doubt that this one will add a success to the many of years gone by.

We cleave faithfully to Shakespeare, nor—to offer our humble opinion— could we well do better, and "Twelfth Night" (the play intended) is in many respects admirably suited to our purposes.

Some, we fear, will miss the bear fight which formed so important an item in last year's play, but this will certainly be compensated for

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by the music, composed by Dr . Naylor for "Feste ' s " songs . It is certainly due to Dr . Naylor to say, in the name of the School, that we are grateful for his generous aid both of this year and last . The music is a most welcome, an indispensable addition to our scenes, and the personal help of the composer at rehearsals, after a day's work of which few but musicians have any idea, is surely deserving of our truest and sincerest gratitude . There was some talk of reviving the gallery that will still be remembered by many ; doubtless it would have had its advantages, such as making the acting somewhat easier and perhaps lessening the difficulties of speaking audibly, but, in kind consideration, it may be, for the feelings of the nervous, or, it may be, for the money of the State, it was abandoned, and attention directed to other necessary improvements instead .

ON THE INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE. HE great question which now-a-days is exercising the minds of most parents is What shall we do with our boys ?" The problem is becoming more and more serious every year as education gets diffused more generally . Most of us have heard of the discussion that went on in the newspapers on this subject some years ago . I do not purpose to go over the ground which was then fully trodden, but I should like to say a few words to the boys of my old school touching one career at anyrate which I think open to boys of fair average ability who can make up their minds to work and who have staying power in work, I allude to the Indian Civil Service . Now, I find that for some reason or other very little seems to be known about that service . There is an idea that the examination is one of surpassing difficulty, and also that no one can pass unless he goes to a crammer. Both these ideas are erroneous There was, it is true, some reason for the latter during the last few years, but that reason has now disappeared, as I shall shew.

When I went up for the open competition in 1869, the limit of age was, as it had been for many years previous, from r 7 to 21 . I am speaking roughly from memory when I say that the crammed men were by no

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means in the ascendancy which would justify the idea that it was necessary to have recourse to that method of learning known as "Cram ." The first man was an Oxford University man, the second a Trinity College (Dublin) man, and the third a Hindu . Eight of us passed out of T .C .D ., and as far as I am concerned I consider that I passed from St . Peter's, as I only read for a few months at the University, and, as a matter of fact, knew practically, as far as the examination was concerned, as much when I left the school as when I passed . Besides the T .C .D . men there were several others who went up and passed by other doors of entrance than those of the great London institutions . It is a long time ago now, and I have not an old list by me, or else I might be able to specify pretty nearly the exact numbers.

Through what is now universally admitted to have been a mistaken idea, the age standard was some years ago lowered, and candidates had to pass between the ages of 17 and 19 . They were then sent for two years to one of the Universities before going out . It is needless for me to enter into the reasons why this change was bad for the Service in India . It will, I think, be obvious to all that 19 was an age far too young for any boy to be compelled to pass an examination like that for the Indian Civil Service, an examination which practically started him in life . Nineteen is the age at which most boys are leaving school and beginning that wider education which the Universities give ; the education which trains and fits them to take their place as men in the world . The two years at the University did not make up to Indian candidates the loss of an ordinary University career . The I .C .S . men were in the University but not of it . They had special subjects to prepare, all for their future work in India, and breathed the atmosphere of University life with lungs strained and fagged by the pressure of work foreign to that of the University, and with the idea and wish to get away and out to India with as little delay as possible.

When 19 was the outside limit of age, ordinary school training was not in the race for Indian appointments ; of course there were brilliant exceptions, and I am glad to see that S . Peter ' s furnished one, but if the examinations were anything like what they were twenty years ago,

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it was too much to expect of ordinary boys to pass them between the ages of 17 and 19 by the ordinary course of school work. The consequence was that the examinations became practically at the mercy of a few men who made them a special study and " getting into the Service " was put before education in its true sense . I am far from under-rating the marvellous success of those gentlemen who have sent so many men into the Service, but I submit that it was not for the good of either the Service or the men themselves that they should have had to work at high pressure during the very years when their brains and bodies are both developing and are not fully formed.

However, the discussion as to the merits or demerits of the lower standard of age has happily become an academic discussion, and the age is now fixed at that between 21 and 23 . The subjects for the Examination have also been revised and fresh marks reassigned . I append a list showing the new scale of marking . During the time of the lower standard of age a dead set was made against Classics, Higher Mathematics, and English . In fact, against what we used to consider the subjects which ordinarily went to make up the education of an English gentleman . I never knew what reason caused this change, but it has not been found to work well, and the authorities have, I am glad to say, come round to the conviction that the knowledge of subjects which has hitherto been found sufficient to fit men for the highest offices of State in England is not absolutely detrimental to an honourable and useful service in India . The ordinary School and University Education has once more been given the chance which it had before, and is no longer handicapped unfavourably as compared with modern languages, chemistry, and other special subjects . It is now possible for any good all-round man to get sufficient marks to ensure his success, as far as success can be insured in any competitive examination without going in for special subjects got up for the pure purpose of passing an examination . It must of course be remembered that to pass the I .C .S. now means an education which must go on until the age of 21 . It will therefore tend to fill the ranks of the service with University men.

This is exactly what we, who are in the Service, are delighted to see.

We want to see men coming out whose minds are more or less matured

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by steady work, and whose brains and bodies are not overtaxed with a course of extremely hard reading at too early an age . It may be said that this increases the cost of entering for the open competition . I doubt this . A boy naturally remains at school in England until he is 19, unless he is intended for business or for the Army . In the latter cases the I .C .S . does not concern him . Now the expense of keeping a boy at school from 17 to 19, and then giving him two years at a University, will not, I imagine, exceed by much the expense of keeping him from 16 to 19 in London, plus the fees which he will have to pay for his tuition with a specialist . The advantages of the one mode of life in early manhood over the other are self evident . I would therefore strongly urge on those who are now in the old school the advantage of thinking of India as a field for their future lives . I must confess to a selfish feeling in wishing to see more from the school to which I am deeply attached entering a Service of which I am proud . Anyone who has gone through the ranks of the Service as I have, and has experienced its ups and downs, its sorrows and its pleasures, will, I think, agree with me in saying that, take it all in all, an Indian career is a desirable one.

We have of course the bitterness of separation for a time from wife and children, but on the other hand we know that that separation is lightened by the fact of being able to have children well educated and well cared for, and of having no anxiety for their future when we join the majority.

I question whether a life of ill-remunerated toil in England has many advantages over a career in India . Then much is made of the climate.

It is not perfect, and in some places is very bad, but strange to say the death rate in the Service is low. The fact is that people in India guard against the climate by their mode of living, dressing, and housing themselves. In no country in the world has a man more opportunities of doing good work if he only keeps himself free from fads, and observes the happy medium in his view of men and things . There is no necessity to look upon our Aryian brethren as the finest race of people in the world, for they are not . At the same time one need not adopt the " somethinged nigger" standard in weighing their character . At the age of 22 a man coming to India is practically independent . If he be fortunate he is a rich man at 4o . If he have ordinary average luck he is comfortably off . At 47 he can retire on a pension ofi,000 a year .

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Above all things his work is that of responsibility . Nor is there wanting a sense of power, which is dear to most men . I would ask the present Vlth, and those who are coming into it, to put these advantages against the prospects that are now open in Land, Medicine, or the Church, for men of average brains . I don't address geniuses Of you, sir, will pardon such a classical barbarity as the use of the word), they, of course, have the Woolsack, the Episcopate, and Medical Baronetcies awaiting them ; but those, who like myself, have never aspired to such high positions in Church or State, might think over what I have written . It is necessary for success that one's mind should be made up and set to a career in India young . There is a lot to be read out of the ordinary school course in the way of history and English literature, which makes a vast difference when the examination comes on, and apart from the examination India is a big subject to study. Men when they have been there 20 years begin to see their ignorance of the country . The great thing in reading up for an Indian career is carefully to learn facts, and to avoid with a holy horror anything like a study of theories . You will find them all upset when you get out there .

A . C . TUTE.

NE TV RULES FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE EYA1)IINATION. Regulations have just been issued for the open competition for the Indian Civil Service, which will be held in August, 1892 . These rules differ in the following important respects from those previously published.

The examination will commence on August 1, 1892, instead of the beginning of June. The candidates must be over twenty-one and under twenty-three years of age on April 1, 1892 . The old-limits were seventeen and nineteen on the previous January 1 . An Order for admission to the examination will be sent to each candidate on July 18, two months later than hitherto . The open competitive examination will take place only in the following branches of knowledge : French Language and Literature ..

German ditto ditto English ditto ditto (including special period to be named by the Commissioners) .. .. .. .

Sanskrit Language and Literature . . .. . . .. ..

MARKS. 500 500 500

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Arabic ditto, ditto . .

500 English Composition 500 Greek Language and Literature 750 Latin ditto, ditto ..

750 Mathematics (pure and applied) . . ..

900 Advanced Mathematical subjects (pure and applied) 900 Natural Science, i.e., any number not exceeding three of the following subjects :— 600 Elementary Chemistry and Elementary Physics . .

N .B .—This subject may not be taken up by those who offer either Higher Chemistry or Higher Physics.

IIigher Chemistry . .

600 IIigher Physics . .

600 t800 Geology . . . .

600 600 Botany .. . ..

600 Zoology Animal Physiology . .

6c.o English History . .

500 . .

400 Greek History (Ancient, including constitution) 400 Roman History, ditto ditto General Modern History (period to be selected by Candidates from list issued by Commissioners, one period at least to include Indian History .. ..

500 500 Political Economy and Economic history ..

400 Logic and Mental Philosophy (Ancient and Modern) 400 Moral Philosophy (Ancient and Modern) ..

500 Roman Law . . . .

English Law, rrc Law of Contract--Criminal Law—Law of 500 Evidence and Law of Constitution Political Science (including Analytical Jurisprudence, the Early . .

500 History of Institutions, and Theory of Legislation) ..

Candidates are at liberty to name any or all of these branches of knowledge. No subjects are obligatory . A syllabus, defining in general terms the character of the examination in the various subjects, will be issued, and notice of its appearance given in the London Gazette.

The Civil Service Commissioners will, as hitherto, continue to make such deductions from the marks assigned to candidates in each subject (with the exception of English and Mathematics) as may be deemed necessary in order to secure that " a candidate be allowed no credit at all for taking up a subject in which he is a mere smatterer . " It is evidently intended to make the examination far stiffer than before. The subjects are more numerous, and the maximum marks obtainable are 12,700 in place of 7,100 . Candidates will no longer be at liberty to select a particular period in English History in which to be examined, and the following Notes in the old prospectus are not in the view : A considerable portion of the marks for English History and Literature will be allotted to the work selected by the candidate . In

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awarding marks for this, regard will be had partly to the extent and importance of the period or books selected, but chiefly to the thoroughness with which they have been studied . The examination in mathematics will range from arithmetic, algebra, and elementary geometry, up to the elements of the differential and integral calculus, including the lower portions of applied mathematics . The standard of marking in Sanskrit and Arabic will be determined with reference to a high degree of proficiency, such as may be expected to be reached by a native of good education.

Instead of two years' probation in England, and periodical examinations, the new prospectus reads thus : Selected candidates before proceeding to India will be on probation for one year, at the end of which time they will be examined, with a view of testing their progress in the following subjects (f) :— Compulsory MARKS. 500 1. Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, 1882 2. The principal Vernacular Language of the Province to which 400 the Candidate is assigned .. ..

3. IIistory of British India . . .. .. ..

300 ..

Optional . [Not more than two of these subjects ] 1 . The Code of Civil Procedure, 1882, and the Indian Law of Contract, IS72 450 2. Indian and Mahomedan Law 350 400 *3. Sanscrit 400 *4. Arabic *5. Persian 400 *6. Political Economy .. * These subjects may not be offered by any candidate who has offered them at the previous examination. (j) A syllabus, showing the extent of the examination will be issued to the successful candidates as soon as possible after the result of the open competition is declared.

The marks in the final examination will be subject to deductions, as in the open competition . Persons desirous to be admitted as candidates must apply on forms, which may be obtained from " The Secretary, Civil Service Commission, London, S .AV .," at any time after December I, 1891, The forms must be returned so as to be received at the office of the Civil Service Commissioners on or before May 31, 1892.

Evidence of health and character must bear date not earlier than May I, 1892 . . Applications to alter the list of subjects named must be received not later than July 5 .

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NOTES AND ITEMS .-IN MEMORIAM.

Seniority in the Service will be determined by the candidate ' s position in the list resulting from the combined marks of the Open and Final examinations . Hitherto the Final examination alone has fixed the seniority. An allowance of Zloo (instead of 300) will be given to all candidates who pass their probation at one of the universities or colleges approved by the Secretary of State . Candidates selected under these regulations in 1892, will, in view of the alteration in the limits of age, have seniority over the candidates selected under the previous regulations in 1891.

NOTES AND ITEMS. J. H. G. Wilson, Queen ' s College, Oxford, who unfortunately damaged his knee, has quite recovered, and scored against the London Scottish for Oxford.

T. P. Clarke has played several times for Cambridge (Rugby Team).

Imes Parker, our respected porter has now completed his twentyfifth year in that capacity.

The Old Boys Match will be played on Saturday, the loth of December . All who desire to play are requested to send in their names to W. G . Wilson, Westward Ho, Bideford, Devonshire.

With her usual kindness Mrs . Handford has made a present to the Football Club of touch-line flags . Our thanks are also clue to Miss Grantham for the work she has bestowed on them.

The Editors beg to acknowledge receipt of numbers of the following : Ulyda, Hurst- johnian, Leodiensian, Sutton-Valence, Brighton-Magazine, .Dunelmian, Cann- Cross-Hurstian, He'relordian and Set/Nigh/an.

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En Dclo o N all.

On 2nd November, at Southsea, Thos . EDWARD Rivis, late 13th Hussars, aged 44, younger son of the late T. W . Rivis, J .L . and ] .P ., of Newstead, Malton, Yorks .