Jan 1895 by StPetersYork

PETERITE. Von . XII .

JANUARY, 1S95 .

No . 1r¢.

EDITORIAL. HE last Peterite had no very special feature in it ; for, except the changing of the title " Notes and Items" to "Editorial Gossip," there was no new literary departure . It will be my endeavour, accordingly, in the following pages to produce the longest, and for aught I know the most rubbishly School Letter which has cycr appeared . And this brings me to another point . There have been many complaints among certain subscribers to this magazine which seem to me to be quite uncalled for . These people must grumble at something ; they can ' t g rumble at the cricket or football captains, for the latter would have no difficulty in rewarding them for their pains, so they grumble at the Peterite . They complain of its want of literary talent ; smallness of the magazine ; and compare it with like literary efforts in the past . I shall endeavour to prose that these charges are false, and that the fault rests not with the Editors but with the subscribers . First, as to want of literary talent :—The original purpose of the magazine was not that it should be a brilliant literary composition, but that (I quote from December number, 1878) it should contain news of the School for Old Peterites, and news of Old Peterites for the School . " Original articles by pas/ and present members of the School will be inserted for amusement and instruction ; " not by the Editors, mind you, they have enough to do with School news : and the fact speaks for itself that during the whole of the past year two articles have been contributed by past members of the School, and not one by present members, Masters excepted . Everything else has been done by

84.

EDI oRIAl ..

the Editors . The lack of contributions is also the cause of the second complaint as to the smallness of the magazine . You say to the Editors, make the bricks, but you give us no straw to make them with, veritable Pharaohs ! This complaint on our part, by the way, is as old as the magazine itself ; sue the magazines for March, 1882 ; j une, 1887 ; and others . "The Peterite must have support from a much wider circle if it is to go on, " and such remarks ; and what applied then applies now . In December, 188 .}, the Editors say (I quote the exact words), " considering the many other duties that fall upon them (tile Editors ) , much ought not to be required of them beyond the task of editing and the collecting of news ; surely it is they (tlie Editors) who have it right to complain that out of one hundred and fifty nominal subscribers (for many of the latter do not seem to understand that to be a subscriber entails a subscription) there cannot be found more than one in six months to offer help ." Thirdly, the good old tip of bidding the Editors to look at the Peterites of the past : do so . ye literary critics, do so, and you will find that the Peterites were never more than twenty pages . Let me point out to you that in the past t ear two consecutive Peterites were of thirty-one pages each . The balance sheet now shows twenty pounds odd on the right side . You will see there, in conclusion, that we have done our best for the magazine, that after all the fault rests a good deal more with those, who though very fond of picking holes and pointing out mistakes our humble productions don ' t lift a finger to- help us out of tile difficulty . If you have any real complaints to make, make them by letter, but for goodness sake don't come dropping in on me and my fellow Editors in shoals to point out some mistake, which can't cause any perversion of the sense. if you want a big Peterite don't confine yourselves to grumbling at the editors, who, after all, do their best in spite of difficulties, but write something yourselves, and clear yourselves of the charge which we make against you, ye growlers, of either ill-will or incapacity. The Theatricals were very successful, there being a full house at both performances .

FOOTBALL .

The Old Boys Match ended in a win for our opponents, and a rather easy one, though the School were handicapped by the absence of five members of the team. As I have not been at School for more than a week or two since the last Peterite came out, it seems rather ridiculous to write a School Letter. The First NV . as photographed is—J . Shepherd (rapt .), J . F . Metcalfe, R . H . Bailey, '1' . Romans, G . P . Haworth, E . W . Henson, C . Nelson, B . Hudson, R . H . Tomlinson, A M . Sullivan, C . Gray, J . P . Watson, R . M . Nevile, H . Wheelwright, N . F . Roy . \V . F . Ford. in conclusion, we wish all our readers a happy New Year iii the foulest collection of puns that were ever put on a New Year Card which appeared in the form of an egg. When you have chipped the Season's Shell, And on the New Year gamely started, Fall foul of none, yet all egg-eel, And don't grow meek and chicken-hearted.

We are very corn to have to hid farewell to .ATr . Scargill, so well-known and beloved of all Peterites past and present . May his old age he " as a lusty winter, frosty but kindly :

FOOTBALL. SCHOOL z' . LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Played on the home ground on Saturday, November 17 . Leeds kicked off, and the ball went into touch near our " 25 " flag . The game was contested here for a short time, and then Bailey and Shepherd caused the visitors to retire into their own half . They soon returned to the attack, however, but good play on the part of our forwards drove them a second time over the half-war line. Here Metcalfe made a fair catch, and kicked nearly to the visitors ' goal line . We were gradually driven back, until Nelson broke away from a line-out, and was only stopped close to the line . From the following " scrum " the ball was passed to Shepherd, who scored behind the posts—the try was converted .

FOO

IIAr.r..

After the kick-out, the visitors attacked for a time, but Shepherd, Bailey, Nevile, and Ford were instrumental in again putting them on the defensive . About this time Sullivan was injured, and changed places with Wheelwright . Shepherd now received the ball from a " scrum" in the visitors ' " i5 " and passed to Wheelwright ; the latter ran and passed to Bailey, who ran strongly and scored a good way out . 1fudson made a good attempt at goal. On resuming, the visitors twice benefited by Sullivan's lameness, and eventually reached our half. Aided by mistakes on our part they were enabled to attack for a time, until Shepherd relieved the pressure by a judicious kick into touch . They again returned to the attack, but Wheelwright frustrated their efforts by good tackling . Shepherd, Barley, and Wheelwright now played well together, and removed play to the Leeds half . Here i\letca!fe passed to Shepherd, who again scored behind the posts—another goal resulted . It was now half time . Score : S . Peter ' s, 2 goal i try ; to Leeds, nil. Henson restarted : the hall was well returned, and the first " scrum" took place in our half . Very soon, however, the visitors were forced into their " 25 ." After a few " scrums " here, Metcalfe passed to Shepherd, who ran in front of the posts and dropped a goal . The kick-off enabled the visitors to attack, hut Shepherd kicked to the centre . Several scrums" followed here, and then Metcalfe and Shepherd passed and repassed to each other until they reached the Leeds " 25 ." The visitors again reached the centre by a combined dribble . Metcalfe and Shepherd again got the ball away very cleverly from a " scrum ; " the latter passed to Bailey, who ran strongly . Directly after, Bailey all but scored . Again aided by Sullivan ' s lameness, the visitors reached our " 25, " and made a determined effort to score, but Gray, "Tomlinson, and Metcalfe dribbled to the centre . By another dribble, Metcalfe got close to the line, and Shepherd soon found his way over--Metcalfe kicked a goal . Similar play followed the kick-off—Leeds attacked, Shepherd kicked to the centre, and then we attacked . The visitors now broke through our forwards two or three times, but Nevile, Wheelwright, and Shepherd saved well,

FOOTBALL .

Metcalfe now took a pass from Shepherd, and scored after a good run– Shepherd failed at goal . Time was now called. Score—School, 4 goals (I dropped), z tries (25 pointsl. Leeds, nil. The forwards were fairly well matched as regards weight, but ours were the better, and, as a result, our halves got the hall from nearly every scrimmage . Shepherd and Metcalfe worked well together, and were very successful . The three-quarters did fairly well—Bailey and Wheelwright being the most successful . Of the forwards, Nelson, Hudson, (Tray, Henson, and Watson worked hard in the " scrums, " and Tomlinson and Fausset were prominent in the open . Roy, no doubt, worked hard, but was not conspicuous. SCHOni . TsAm .—Full back : H . Wheelwright ; three-quarter backs, J . W . Ford, R . H . Bailey, A . M . Sullivan, R . M . Nevile. Half backs ; J . Shepherd, J . E . Metcalfe . Forwards, E . Henson, E . Nelson, B . Hudson, R . H . Tomlinson, j . P . Watson, E . C . Gray, N . F . Roy, and F . P . Fausset. S . PETER ' S V . YORKS . COLLEGE.

Played on the College ground, Dec . 6 . They had a very strong team, men flocking in from Liversedge, Wakefield Trinity, Heckmondwike . and all parts of Yorkshire, to play against humble S . Peter ' s . Even the redoubtable Cheshire countvman, Fenton, was there ; while both Henson and Nevile, Romans, Haworth, Sullivan, were absent from our ranks . At first our forwards held their own, but afterwards tries came to the College in quick succession, z goals, 2 tries (16 points to nil) being the score at half time. In the second half our hacks had a few more chances, and Shepherd nearly dropped a goal ; but still the score of our opponents was rapidly rising, and it was not till near the call of time that, after a bout of passing, in which all our three-quarters took part, Bailey scored behind the posts . Shepherd failed at goal. Soon after time was called, with the score : College, 3 goals 7 tries (36 points) ; S . Peter's, r try .

FOOTBAJJ .. NOTES.

Nelson and Watson played the best of our forwards . Shepherd played a cool game at half ; the three-quarters did moderately well, but tackled badly ; but as the score chews, the team were outclassed. S. Peter's team .—Full back, Wheelwright ; three-quarter backs, Hudson, Mr . Lord, Bailey ; half-backs, J . Shepherd, J . E . Metcalfe ; forwards, Mr . Head, C . Nelson, J . P . Watson, R . H. Tomlinson, E . Gray, F . Ford, N . F . Roy, F . P . Fausset, L . Bird. 1ST XV . v . E .

\V . CI .ARKF, ' s XV.

Played on the School ground, Dec . 13th . Clarke brought a strong team.. including N . L . Hood )S . Thomas's Hospital), E . Pitts (captain of S . Catherine's College, Cambridge) . We lost the toss, and Dlr . Lord kicked off against the wind ; the School rushed to the attack, and scrimmaging took place near their opponents' goal line . The attack, however, was staved oft by a good run and kick on the part of Pitts . The ball was carried to the School 25, and Hood and Eastwood successively made poor attempts to drop a goal . '['he visitors' three-quarters made some attempts at passing, but the School tackling was very safe . An erratic pass by \Vhineup gave a chance to Metcalfe, who dribbled to the visitors' line, and Mr . Head dropping on the ball completed the try . Mr . Lord failed at goal . Desultory play followed, and half-time was called with score, S . Peter ' s, i try ; Clarke ' s team, nil . Alter the restart, S . Peter's, aided by the wind, again attacked, and good passing between Shepherd, Metcalfe, and Mr . Lord ended in the latter scoring a try, which he faihad to convert . The scratch team gained but little advantage from the kick-out, and good passing enabled Mr . Lord to score a second try, which Metcalfe converted into a goal . The visitors then gained a slight advantage through good passing by Pitts, Collins, and Hood . Ford, however, who was playing in tip-top form, responded with a good run and screw-kick, and the School again pressed . This enabled Nevile, after the ball had been passed through the hands of most of the backs, to score a try far out .

FOOTBALL,

Hudson failed to convert, and time was then called, with the score, S . Peter's, ► goal, 3 tries ; F . W . Clarke ' s team, nil. NOTES ON THE GAME.

The play all round was better than in previous matches ; the forwards packed well, and the three-quarters made no mistakes, Ford sheaving greatly improved form . Wheelwright, at full-back, (lodged well but should have kicked sharper, while the halves, Shepherd and Metcalfe, shewed up well against their formidable opponents . SCHOOL 2' . Oi .n BOYS. Played on Thursday, Dec . zo . The Old Boys had a fairly strong team, but the School team lacked the help of Shepherd, Bailey, Sullivan, and Haworth, owing to injuiies . With Shepherd absent at 2, and Bailey and Sullivan at , the back division was greatly weakened, while the forwards lost the assistance of Hudson, who took Bane .) 's place at centre ;,. The Old Boys ' forwards soon showed their superiority, both in weight and skill, consequently, the School were obliged to defend most of the time . Rose was in great form, and got 5 tries, receiving an abundance of passes from N . L . Hood . The latter got z tries, and Birks got 1 . Eastwood, N . L . Hood, and Coning each kicked a goal ; the latter' s kick was a very good one—from near the touch line . Ford scored for the School in the second half, far out, from a pass by Metcalfe, and Yeld kicked a splendid goal . Score :—Old Boys, 3 goals, 5 tries (30 points) ; School, 1 goal (5 points) . REMARKS.

For the Old Boys—besides those already mentioned—Whincup played well at half, and Scargill, Clarke, Wilkinson, and Crosthwaite were the most prominent of the forwards . For the School, Hudson and Wheelwright were best behind the scrum, and Nelson, Henson, and Watson forward ; Yeld was several times prominent in the loose . 'TEAMS : Old Boys .—Back, A . W . Eastwood. 2-Backs, L . Hood, G . V . Birks, W . A . Rose.

FOOTBALL

--Backs, C . P . Whincup, N . L . Hood.

Forwards, K . E . T . Wilkinson, E . S . D . Carter, B . J . SeargIll, C . H . Coning, O . W . Whaley, R . Crosthwaite, K . 1 . Roy. E . F . Nevile . E . W . Clarke. School .—Back, H . Wheelwright. ))-Backs, J . W . Ford, B . Hudson, R . M . Nevile. 1-Pa( k\, J . E . Metcalfe, E . 1 . Joicey. Forwards, E . Henson, C . Nelson, G . "Veld, L . Bird, F . P. Fausset, H . R . Tomlinson, P . Gray, N . F . Roy, J . P . Watson. S . PETER ' S 2ND XV .

J . CLARKE' S XV.

On our ground, Dec . 1st . An exciting match ended in a win for the scratch team by a goal to a try . Yeld scored the try for us but failed at goal. S . PETER ' S 2ND XV . P . J . WOOD ' S XV.

Wood brought a strange team, who seemed totally unacquainted with the game, and we won easily by }6 point, to nil . Veld, Crowther, Joicey, Addis, Clemons . and Carter scored for us, and Fausset, Moiser, Yeld kicked goals. FOOTBALL RETROSPECT.

Our football season 086+-5) is nearly at an end, for we have now only three engagements to fulfil, and only one of these is with a school. On glancing at the September number of the Peterite, I find that the writer of the football prospects foretold that, if Whincup returned, the forwards would he rather good . Whincup did not return ; Bailey was taken from the pack to fill a position at ; Haworth received an injury to his knee at the very beginning of the term, and has not played since ; and finally, Romans has been ill and unable to play since the Ripon match (Oct . 27) . These circumstances have considerably weakened the forwards, for the vacancies were filled by players, not only less experienced, but, in the case of Bailey and Haworth, much lighter . Our backs have,

THE THEATRICALS .

on the whole, performed creditably, and were not inferior to those of other Schools, except Giggleswick . Wheelwright has filled the position of " full back '' very well ; Bailey has shown most scoring power at at which position Sullivan and Nevile have tackled well ; and at z, shepherd and Metcalfe have been of great service. Our ranks have been weakest forward, owing to the circumstances mentioned above, The weakness may fairly be attributed to absence of weight, and inexperience (6 of the 8 forwards being recruits) . We were lighter (forward) than Durham, Giggleswick, and Ripon. Of the new players, Nelson has been very useful, and if he continues to grow and improve, he will soon be of still greater service, Joicev has taken Shepherd's place at (in club games), and has invariably played well . When he has increased in weight, and gained a little more experience, he ought to prove a really good player. Of 9 matches played by the first XV, we have lost 7 and won z. The Old Boys won both their matches . Our victims were Wakefield and Leeds . The second XV . lost at Durham, but won at Leeds .

THE THEATRICALS. The annual play was performed in the School Hall, on Monday and Wednesday, the 17th and 19th of December respectively, and of it one can truly say " Han- (dim rnimi11isse juvabii . " Unfortunately, there was a very great lack of tried material, and when " A Midsummer Night ' s Dream " was decided upon and parts given, there were many fears and misgivings as to the competency of those who had been chosen . However, though time was shorter than usual, after a month's hard work at rehearsals, a very marked improvement was shew-n by everybody, and our able Stage Manager ' s energy and indefatigable perseverance gained their well-merited reward by the success of the performance which was amply proved by hearty applause at the fall of the curtain . A great feature of the play, and one which should give Mr . Yeld great pleasure was

HIE THEATRICALS.

that the cast included his four sons, and not only that, but they also acquitted themselves with marked success . It is our duty and pleasure to again thank our good friends, Mr . Lindberg for painting a new scene, and Dr . Hingston for the pretty show of plants and evergreens, and last, though certainly not least, Dr . Naylor, whom we have to thank for the charming setting to music of the Fairies' Song, Ye Spotted Snakes, and Bottom ' s Song, " The Ousel Cock . " We must not forget Mrs . Burton for the trouble and pains she took to renew the faded shields, and for painting the new one . The arduous task of " making up" was this year put into other hands, namely, that of G . Hudson (, O .P .), and he accomplished his work extremely well . One feature of the properties was Puck's magic wand, at the end of which shone an electric light, procured by the Head Master . The same orchestra as last year were engaged, and beguiled away the tedious moments between the Acts with " popular" but somewhat aged songs. The Epilogue was written, as in former years, by Mr . Yeld, and delivered from the Tableau by Bottom . At the fall of the curtain, "Honour Riches," the setting of which came from Dr Naylor when " The Tempest " was performed, was sung, and praise is due to Mr . Lord for his pains to make it a success . A criticism on the play will be found elsewhere . Ere we conclude, a word of gratitude and praise mu s t be said of those who worked so untiringly behind the scenes. The following is the Epilogue and a cast of the characters and list of officers We greet you once again, sweet friends, we greet you with delight, But sorrow casts a shade on joy—you know it well—to-night. Our play is " Midsummer Night's Dream ." And yet should truth prevail The story we ' ve to tell to you would be " A Winter's Tale ." For we are losing from our midst a true, and honoured friend (1), And parting is as great a grief as envious years can send. For six and thirty years these walls have been the scholar ' s home, For six and thirty years his voice has taught of Greece and Rome. Of orator, of law-giver, of statesman, soldier, poet. Their lore were ours for evermore—as he knows—could we know it ! With something of the soldier ' s pride—a gift he owes his birth— With something of the poet's power—a power not. horn of earth—

THE 'IHEA'1RICALS .

He taught us of the great of old, whose thoughts the world still sway If ever we had need of them, we've need of them to-day. May happiness on him and his her brightest smiles bestow. May all his roses twice a year like those of Pistum blow ! Sweet blooms be his in multitudes—vet fairest will be seen The flower of his own life which knows no taint of small or mean. Long may he live ' midst blossoms bright and fruits well juiced and mellow, For he—you know our schoolboy phrase —for he's a jolly good fellow! But while we mourn the parting old, we greet the coming new, May Mr . Richard ' s victories be great, his failures few ! On banks of Isis and of Cam you ask if we succeed I answer with alacrity we do—we do indeed ! In other years great things have been by men of mark attained, But seldom have two Peterites their Firsts in one year gained. What need S . Peter's care for scoffs of critic gruff or railer When Firsts are won the selfsame day by Padel (z) and by Naylor (3)? Nor is that all ; for Wilkinson (+) has done good work in Law— Retain him—he Nvill rescue you from that dread monster ' s paw. Then Leaf (S) adorns at Peterhouse the higher walks of learning With weighty lore, and finished taste, and scholarship discerning ! Nor are these two the only fields in which our fame has thriven To Naylor an important charge at Melbourne (6) has been given. And though our Oxford honours may without fatigue be reckoned Garwood (7) of Queen ' s obtained in " Mods " a meritorious Second. While Tomlinson (8) has won a post which, though its name affrights us, Was much desired by Science men—so his success delights us. Mr . Stephenson's (9) promotion gives us all the greatest pleasure May fortune henceforth ever mete to him with the same measure To Tempest Anderson (to) success as Sheriff! He the way knows Through all the mighty anarchy of earthquakes and volcanoes. And should unruly spirits try for civic storms to cater He doubtless will suggest a way to batten down the crater. And now, sweet friends, we have to thank the donor of the '° Gym, " And yet we cannot find the words which shall be worthy him. The thought of one so generous must every heart uplift. None but a noble soul could be the giver of such gift. He wills not you should know his name, he seeks no voice of praise But there his monument will stand until the end of days. The one return which would to him, we feel, be really ample Is that t 'Id Boys whom wealth has blessed should follow his example. The building is as beautiful as gold and skill can render it,

1'HE THEATRICALS

And he' ll accept our gratitude . for love and duty tender it. In Cricket we ' ve a goodly store of victories amassed, And only once by rival School was our Eleven grassed. The Old Boys changed positions in their boat and in the race, And after four years' tenure we ' d to yield the premier place. To Horace Crossley (i t) hearty thanks—would some O .P . repeat His rift, we might perhaps put up with e ' en one more defeat. In Football, if we' ve not attained high water mark this season, Fortune has been—but hush !—you know that Cassius spoke with reason. To Mr . Nelson too we now a vote of thanks must pass, To-day we ' ve got a football field—last year ' twas a m',rass Then R . M . Ainslie (12) WC acclaim ! In chapel and outside We looked on his performances with great and honest pride. That he win works should work his best, who plays, his best should play Is and has been S . Pe'er ' s creed for many and many a day. And here our annual plaudits to Mitchell (I 3) WC renew ; Few men attain in their first year the double Cambridge blue. And what is more since that great match between the North and South, As an International candidate his name ' s in every mouth. N .B . Among the Codan Alps a tall and stately town r Bears great S . Peter ' s name, and fame and grandeur is its dower Its western ridge is long and steep and curved with gap and spire, And long has been the object of the mountaineer ' s desire. Two members of S . Peter's staff--last August was the time— Decided to essay this new and breath-exacting climb. And thanks to what S . Peter does for all who bear his name, They sped where other feet had failed—S Peter ' s be the fame. But if our triumphs are to be in future years as bright, We all have need of rest and sleep, and so, sweet friends, good night. F . M . Scargill, M .A., Trinity College, Cambridge. C . F . C . Padel, Scholar of Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge First Class in the Classical Tripos. 3. H . D . Naylor, Trinity College, Cambridge . First Class in the Classical Tripos. .} . K . E . T . Wilkinson, Caius College, Cambridge . Second Class in the Law Tripos. 5. j . Leaf, elected fellow of Peter House, Cambridge. 6. H . D . Naylor, appointed Classical Lecturer, Ormond College, Melbourne University, Australia. R . Garwood, Hastings Exhibitioner of Queen ' s College, Oxford . 2.

THE THEATRICALS .

II . 'l oniIinson, F .R .S ., elected Principal of the S .V . London Polytechnic Institution. Rev . Al . Stephenson, presented by Christ ' s College, Cambridge, to the Rectory of Pegworth. to . Dr . Tempest Anderson, fellow of University College, London, Sheriff of York. t z H . Crossley presented the School with two pair-oar boats. 12 . Rev . R . M . Ainslie, Vicar of S . Saviour ' s, Livrpool. i ; . F . Mitchell, Caius College, Cambridge, Secretary of Cambridge University Eleven and Rugby \V ., and played for the South against the North. 8

Prsrlh n! : Rev . G . T . Handford. : R . H . Bailey, G . Veld, T . P . Watson. Ho,. . Srcnlaw) , : J . F . Metcalfe. I iulrr Srcn/ai r : A . M . Sullivan. G . G . Yeld I'HESHa :s ( Duke of Athens) . . (Father to Hen-ma) . . T . F . Williams EVEL's A . M . Sullivan L~s~tvllr:r. ~1u love with IIermia) .. 1)P:ME1 R1US i G . P . Haworth P}III.osTRATE (Master of the reels to Theseus) H . B . Greeves QUINCL (A C r penter) Prologue J . Shepherd . . Pyramus R . H Bailey BUT-IOM (A Weaver) R . F . Russell FLUTE (A Bellows ' -mender) Thisbe . . . Lion . . B . Draper SNUG (A Joiner) . SNOC'r (A Tinker) . . Wall . . . . . L . Bird Moonshine H . R . Tomlinson HAith], I ING (A Tailor) HIPPot .YLA (Queen of the Amazons. bethrothed to Theseus) R . G . Bingham HI ;R . \Io (Daughter to E)cus, in love with Lysander) A . B . Bailey (In love with Demetrius) F . Clemons HEr,P . . R . H . Yeld O ' Br:RON (Ping of the Fairies) H . W . Garland TITAN IA (Queen of the Fairies) PUCK OR ROBIN GOODFELLOW P . H . Yeld PFASEBLOSSOM . . E . E . Yeld COBWEB . . A . T . Clemons C . H . Sale MUSTARD SEED Commi//

MOTH

. .

H . W . Scott

CRITICISM STAFF.

G . G . Veld, Esq. C . P . Cass E . J . Walton R . G Paver-Crow .. J . Shepherd H . Broadwood, M . Scott

STAGE MANAGER .

PROMPTER UNDER PROMPTER PROPERTY MAN SUPER MASTER CALL-BOYS CRITICISM.

T is a striking proof of Shakspeare ' s sublimity, that not a few of his plays are too great to be acted . Even this stage-mad generation,—despite all its mechanical and decorative arts,— despite its Irvings, " Trees, and Harrises,—despite the patronage of loyalty and the adoration of aristocracy,—fails as a rule in ' the purely dramatic representation of these mighty works . The majority of literary minds would sooner have King I ear in one of Cassell ' s threepenny pocket-editions than in one of Mr . Irving's lavish and colossal productions . For this reason : the free expression of Shakspeare ' s own soul affords infinite scope for every reader ' s imagination, whereas a theatre, however spacious and grand, only confines the poet ' s powers within a very narrow sphere, and hampers his worshippers ' wings with mere material appendages. The difficulties of the Midsummer Night ' s Dream as a performance must be plain to the dullest eye . Firstly, no amount of spectacular or inventive skill can do justice to the ethereal spirit that breathes through the whole . Canvas, wood, and paint, are but gross and incongruous companions for the velvet sward, the ghostly glamour, the woodland fragrance, and the freshening dew, which the great enchanter has taught us, by his mesmeric power, to °see and feel in every line . Secondly, much of the language is so exquisitely sweet and fairylike, that human utterance seems only to overcharge and oppress it . When reading it silently, we are conscious of mysterious echoes from the whispering trees, the nodding flowers, and the moonlit streams,—we hear the midnight buzz of fairydom mingled with the murmurings of the sleeping world,—but all these charms are too apt to flee at the first sound of corporeal tones .

CRITICISM .

We then experience the same disappointment as when an ordinary voice attempts a recital of Paradise Los!, the Ode o the .1 aliviIy, or Pounilhaus Unbound . Thirdly, the actions which the language of the play compels a sympathetic imagination to assign to the elves, are too dainty, delicate, and fragile, to bear any handling but that of fancy, and seem to fall, utterly crushed, at the rude carnal touch of man. For amateurs the play has special obstacles and trials . Its marvellous variety demands uncommon versatility among the actors, while the obtrusive opportunities for scenery and dresses must sorely tempt and tantalize a limited purse . Consider, moreover, that the dramatic company consists entirely of boys, some of them mere children, and you have as formidable an array of hardships as could ever face a stage-manager and "put to proof his high supremacy. " The foregoing remar ks may suggest a proper appreciation of the difficulties that Mr . Yeld and company set themselves to brave and finally overcome on the nights of the 17th and 19th of December last . How enjoyable and successful these performances were, it would here be superfluous to tell, seeing that it was fully testified at the time by the hearty approbation of the audience . It remains only to pass a few remarks of personal criticism. On the whole the parts had been allotted with great propriety. Sullivan and Haworth, as "Lysander " and "Demetrius," were well suited, and ranked among the best . Their appearances as well as their voices were good, and contrasted very pleasingly. They played throughout with considerable force and elegance. G . Yeld was efficient in the somewhat thankless part of Theseus, " and Williams deserves high commendation for his natural and artistic " Egeus . " Greeves, as " Philostrate, " left nothing to he desired . Clemons and Bingham, as " Helena " and "Hippolyta," were perhaps a trifle masculine, but " ° Hermia " and " Titania'' found very able exponents in the persons of Bailey II . and Garland . The former of these preserved quite a feminine dignity and grace through all his scenes, while the vivacious and fairy-like aspect of the latter was wholly worthy of the demonstrative recep-

CRIT'ICISM.

tion he gained from the spectators . Yeld II ., invested for the time with the mighty sceptre of fairydom,—which, however light and ethereal, was a decidedly heavy burden for so young an usurper,—worked earnestly and well . He maintained a good, easy presence on the stage, and gave the greatest satisfaction . And what shall he said of " Robin Goodfellow," " that shrewd and knavish sprite ?" Why, the truth is, " Master Puck " spoke, and acted, pretty well for himself, in the voice and body of Master Veld, who, to ' judge from his impish and unearthly manners, had substituted for himself a veritable goblin changeling by means of his own magic craft . He seemed to enjoy his part thoroughly, and, as a natural consequence, his audience thoroughly enjoyed him . " Peas-Blossom, " " Cobweb," " Moth," and " Mustardseed, " were all in competent hands . So much for the immortals ; now we come to! beings of grosser sort . Of these we have no cause to complain . bailey was an excellent " Bottom," and shewed to great advantage both in the head of the Ass and in the helm of Pyramus . Shepherd made an ideal " Quince, " and was very comic and natural ; "Tomlinson shone conspicuously in the capacity of " Moon ;" Draper extracted considerable amusement and by-play iron " the Lion ' s skin ;" Bird was a " Wall " not easy to be surmounted ; while Russell's " Thisbe" was astonishingly quaint and humorous. The _charm of the play was greatly enhanced by the singing, " You spotted snakes" being admirably rendered by Roy and Haworth II . Further enchantment was supplied by the generous brush of Mr . Lindberg, whose artistic and beautiful scenery called forth unanimous praise . Mr . Yeld ' s epilogue contained a goodly store of pertinent allusion, and had the beneficial effect of awaking the " pert and nimble spirit of youth " to feelings of noble and enthusiastic pride in the old school . G . HUDSON .

A FISHING EXPEDITION .

A FISHING EXPEDITION. MacBurney was i . then, I was 12 . AlacBurnev said, "We'll putall the fish together at the end of the day and divide then equally . I said I was not a very good fisherman, and that it might not he a just arrangement . But MacBurnev said it would be best.], He could fish . He would say, "'There ' s a big tin," and walk straight in—(of course we had taken off our shoes and stockings :and coats, and rolled up our shirt sleeves)—and gently but firmly lay hold of the trout and bring him out . Or he would say, " There ought to be one under that stone . " Then he would lie down on his stomach, and plunge his arm in, and lift out the big fish that had been waiting in the proper place. Now all this time I was getting desperate, for no fish would trait for me, nor could I rightly distinguish the proper stones to grope under. So I drew aside, further up the stream, and coming to a little pool with a little fish in it, I spoke to the fish and said : "You are only a little one, and I will catch you . " So to tire him out, and make him more inclined to wait for me, when I began the cha s e in grim earnest, I threw stones at him for a space . Then i walked in, just like MacBurnev did, and though he fled I marked hi, place of refuge and felt for him, and felt him, but just as my fingers were beginning to close on him he swam away . I followed, and felt him again . Again he began to move off . Down I stooped, with both hands I heaved on to the bank stones and mud and water—and the little fish . But even then he began to jump about and dance on his tail, every rapid movement on the sloping bank bringing him nearer to the water, and me to confusion . I swiftly climbed out, and precipitated myself on all that I had hurled out of the river. and feeling about beneath me 1 got the fish. Now MacBurney always put his forefinger in the fish's mouth, and his thumb on his neck, and broke his poor little neck, to kill him . So I put my finger in the little fish's mouth, and my thumb on his neck, and broke his neck, and killed him dead, and

too

O . P . CLUB

his head came off. Then I took the parts of him down the stream to MacBurney, and in quite an ordinary matter of fact voice I said, Here is one ." " Oh," said MacBurney, " you should have thrown a little one like that back again . " . \V. K

O. P. CLUB. A Committee meeting was held at the School on Wednesday, December 19 . Rev . G . 'F . Handford took the chair, and there were also present Messrs . E . W . Clarke and P . E . Lord . The minutes of the previous Committee meeting were read and confirmed, and the following were elected members : Messrs . G . W . Clarke, C F. Coombe, Rev . E . Evers . J . L . Freeman, Rev . F . M . Hargreaves, J . C . Pickering, E . L . Rowe, G . IT . Rowe, E . S . Tozer, C . P. Whincup, C . J . Wright. The ninth annual General Meeting was subsequently held . Mr. Handford again took the chair, the following members being present :—Messrs . G . V . Kirks, E . S . D . Carter, E . W . Clarke, F . C . Crowther, A . W . Eastwood, P . E . Lord, B . J . Scargill, H . S. Scargill, K . J . Roy . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Messrs . G . V . Kirks and E . V . Howgate were elected to fill the places on the Committee of Messrs . F . R. Dodsworth and J . F . Walker, retiring by rotation . The Sports and Dinner Committee were re-elected, and a grant of J ' I made to the latter for the York Dinner . The Treasurer's Accounts, showing a balance of [zz 7s . 51d . were passed, and it was decided that the Club should bear all expenses connected with the testimonial to Mr . Scargill . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

0 . P . CLUB .

101

O . P . SUBSCRIBERS TO MR . SCARGILL'S TESTIMONIAL FUND, Rev. E . Evers Rev . W . Y . Fausset J . H . P. Fowler Rev . F . H . Greenhow Rev. A . H . Griffith F . T . Griffith W . H . Grindrod A . A . Hingston W . J . Hodgson Rev . W . H . G . Holmes N . L . Hood E . V . Howgate J . P . Hubbersty H . A . Hudson C . C . D . I'Anson P. B . Lamb_rt J . F . Leaf (T . H . Lindberg) F . J . Lord T . B . Lord jun. P . E . Lord Rev. J . H . Mallinson W . Martin F. Mitchell (Dr . Naylor) C . L . Naylor

Rev . R . M . Ainslie Dr . Tempest Anderson M . F . Atkinson G . V . Birks F . R . Brandt Rev. H . Bloomfield E . S . D . Carter C . H . Chadwick Rev . G . II . Chilman A C . Clarke E . W . Clarke G . W . Clarke W . H . Cobb F. E . A . Colby J . Newton Coombe C . B. Cotterell J . W . Craven R . Crosthwaite J . H . Daniel C . J . Daniel E . E . Deane H . E . Donner \V . S . Douglas C . E . Douglas W . Dowson A . \V . Eastwood

BALANCE SHEET, DEC. CR. s . d. Balance from 18 93 1592 Subscriptions -6 for 1892 42 for 18 93 o4I, for 1894 15 for 1893 2 for 1896

Dotal . .

6 II

39 1 7

,L55 4 5

1 1,

H . D . Naylor E . F. Nevile H . R . Partington W . A . Pearson A . Peters J . C . Pickering A . T . Pollard A. Raimes E . L . Rowe K J . Roy 11 . J . Rudgard H . Tomlinson P . Turnbull R . C Tute R . S . 'lute G . H . Wade A . Wade F . \Vellburn O . W . Whaley IT . Wharton R. Whincup C . P. Whincup K . E . T. Wilkinson H . H . Williams L . W . Wilsden A . \Vilsden

1893-DEC .

17,

1 894.

s . d. To Peterite Editors 62 at 3/6 10 17 0 972 at 3/14 12 6 0 3 6 Horse for Coaching Printing 2 4 0 Stamps and Postc :ud . 1 14 0 Newspaper Wrappers . . o 8 7 Sports Prize 0 19 0 Reading Prize . . . . o 19 0 Envelopes . . 0 2 4 Football Secretary . . 0 17 0 Balance in hand . . 22 7 5 DR .

Total

£- 55

Audited and found correct, A . W . RICHARDS. 17th Dec ., 1894 .

G . V . BIRKS .

tot

NOTES AND ITEMS.

"PETERITE" BALANCE SHEET, Aeittr . TO Dec ., 1894 .. s . (1. jr: S. d. Balance from 1893 14 t8 3 To Ben Johnson (Printing) . . to 8 3 Do . 9 16 6 Masters' Subscriptions o r8 8 H . ;Morley Postage . . 2 19 0 old Peterites' Subscriptions 18 6 e Darboys' Subscriptions York Monthly' for loan 4 6 2 7 (, Mr . Burton's House Subof block . . 0 B scription alance 1 t 4 for 1895 22 12 10 Schoolhouse Subscription . . 6 to 8 Back numbers ,. 0 3 0 .446 4

NOTES AND ITEMS. We hope that the hydra headed " Debating Society '' will spring forth again this term . The new Solicitor-General (Sir F . Lockwood) tells a story of the Debating Society at Manchester Grammar School, when he was there . The first and only debate was on the right of British interference in the Crimea . After the debate, one of the masters complimented him on his speech, saying it smelt somewhat of the Camp . Sir F . Lockwood thinks it probable slid, since it consisted of two pages of Kinglake's Crimea, which he had learnt off for the occasion. A report of the O . P . Dinner will appear in our next. H . D . Naylor (O .P .), of Trinity College . Cambridge, has been appointed Classical Lecturer at Ormond College, Menu urne, Australia. The School has presented \Ir . Scargill with a purse of gold as a token of gratitude for his long period of service at the school. G . H . Chilman and J . E . Lofton have been ordained Priests. The Rev . H . M . Stephenson has been offered the living of Kegworth, near Derby . It is said to he the best living in the gift of Christ ' s College, Cambridge. We hear that the Rev . C . B Clarke is in charge of a class of ho g s in Calcutta, and that his brother A . C . Clarke is giving up his mastership at Leeds, having decided to go out as a missionary . A . Crosthwaite is coming home owing to ill-health.

NOTES

AND ITEMS .

103

H . D . Naylor sailed on Jan . t i by the Orient s . s . Austral to enter on his duties at Ormond College, Melbourne. F . Mitchell played for England against Wales and Ireland. Mr . Miller ' s Preparatory School at Foisted was formally opened at the end of November. W . G . Wilson has accepted the charge of a house at Westward Ho. Many Old Peterites will regret to hear of the death of Mr . E . L. Haynes, which occurred in Barbados from a fall from a horse. While in York, he always took the greatest interest in the games of the School. \V . J . P . Kaye was over last term from India on leave ; G . C. Murray from China, where he is tea-planting . W . 'I' . Murray is at present in Toronto. J . F . Blake (O .P .) has been appointed to arrange the Natural Science Specimens of the Gaekwar of Baroda. A . C Clarke and C . L . Naylor have taken their M .A . Degree. E . S . D . Carter has passed the Final Examination of the Incorpor ated Law Society with 3rd Class Honours. G Winn is playing fo r ward for Manchester F .C. The 19th Punjaub Infantry, under Colonel Brander (0 .P.), has been ordered to join the Reserve Brigade, operating against Warziris. MARxIAGES .—At St . Thomas's Cathedral, Bombay, Captain Geo Warder Mitchell, .th Bombay Infantry, to Eliz . Robertson, daughter of the late Wm . Ferguson, Writer to The Signet, Edinhro' . DEATas .—Edwin Procter, The Mount, York, on the 1 ; th inst, aged 25 years. Rev . Robert Hey, Vicar of S . Andrew ' s . Derby, of heart disease. We beg to acknowledge : Ht mers College Magazine, Ripontan, &dberghian, .JIe chislonian, Leodiensian, Hurst johnian, The College Times (Toronto, Canada), Shefeld R . G . S ., Portcullis, Grggleswick Chionr'cle, Sutton Valence, Uppinglram Magazine. P .S .—We extract the following from the York Sentinel covering : Arthur Sample ' s Azalee, a fragment dedicated to Mrs . G T. Handford . It is a weird soporific pibroch-like composition, but " vera bonnie " like the Scotch lassie ."

GAMES FUND BALANCE SHEET, 1894 . Cr.

IDr.

A School Subscriptions Easter Tenn .. Midsummer Term Christmas Term . . .. Sports Subscriptions Mr . Head (Lecture) Mr. Burton (Photographs) Sundries

Deficit . . Football : Rent . . 18 o Fares 8 ,j Footballs . . 3 tb Cards 2 2 Cup Subscription I to James ., 0 17 Referees o 10 Holtby o to

9 6 6

s. 40 3 40 1 40 14 12 10 20

• • • •

o t6

Less profit on [e set's, etc . . .

35 10

s . d. . 16 15 t

0 0 0

81 51

0 15 9

34 14 8f Boating : Prizes 5 8 0 Carriage of Boats 4 17 0 Horse 3 t 2 0 Towards Tub Pairs 1 6 0 Hill 0 14 6 Hobby o 14 0 . . Rent 0 5 0 Various under 5/- o to l o 17 7 4

Cricket: Materials ., D ewse (groundsman) . . Fares . . .. Horse Average Bats, etc . Ironnfronger Cards . . Extra Labour on Gerund Holtby . . Carriage . . .,

15 16

4 0 otI 4 I,

I 1 0

— 45

Sports Prizes Holtby James Pistol Police

17 1 14 o 12 0 5

Secretaries' Expenses Balance .. Total . .

.4'15614101

Total

8 15 0 8 6 10 5 3 6 I 18 9 r 18 2 I 5 b

. .

13 7

6 0

II 118

14 10

f156 14 10

The cost of levelling the Football Ground, 15 . has been met by three Ex-Captains of Cricket . P . E . LORD,

Hon . 7 'reasurer.