THE
PETERITE. Vol . AIII .
FEBRUARY, 1896 .
No .
1
zo
ST . PETER'S SCHOOL PLAY. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. A numerous company assembled in the School Hall on both nights (December 16th & 18th), to witness the annual representation of the school play . The play chosen for this year was "The Taming of the Shrew, " which was last played in 1887 . The " Children ' s night, " or full dress rehearsal, took place on December 1+th, on which occasion the hall was crowded, amongst the audience being the Hon . Mrs . Maclagan and a party from Bishopthorpe, the Bishop of Beverley, Mrs . and the Misses C'rosthooaite . The play was capitally performed . All the boys seemed to enjoy the acting and to understand their parts . Freer deserves praise as Biondello . He had infinitely more idea of what to do with himself when not actually speaking than most of the others . His b_ye-play was distinctly good . Special commendation ni :st be given to Bayly as the Widow, and Tomlinson as Grumio. The latter's delivery of the description of the marriage ceremony of Petruchio and Katharina was excellent . Yeld also achieved distinction as Petruchio . He knew his lines perfectly, and delivered them with spirit and vivacity . The difficult part of the Shrew was taken by Leaf, and he did it well . His expression of sulkiness was good, and throughout he played his hard role very creditably . He caused much amusement by his illtreatment of Bianca . Russell again acted a comic part as Grumio . He was
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best in the scene where Petruchio returns home . Sullivan as Lucentio increased his reputation, while Hingston as Tranio deserves commendatory notice . Roy ii ., as Bianca, and Cass as Curtis, both made up very well . Williams as Baptista, Roy i ., as Vincentio, and Greeves as Hortensio, fulfilled their respective rules capitally . The representation taken altogether was up to the high level attained at St . Peter ' s . No new scenery was required, but Captain Lindberg kindly touched up some of the old pieces, and the choice collections of flowers and plants with which the proscenium was decked were sent by Dr . Iingston . The full cast of characters is appended :—Baptista, a rich gentleman of Padua, T . F . Williams ; Vincentio, an old gentleman of Pisa . N . F . Roy Lucentio, son to Vincentio, in love with Bianca, A . M . Sullivan Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, a suitor to Katharina, G . G . A Ve ld ; Gremio, Hortensio, suitors to Bianca, H . R . Tomlinson, H . B . Greeves ; Tranio, Biondello, servants to Lucentio, E . M . Hingston, E . L . Freer ; Grumio, servant to Petruchio, R . F . Russell ; Officer, R . G . Bingham ; Pedant, L . 11 . Moiser Tailor, P . H . Veld ; Haberdasher, M . Scott ; Baptista ' s servant, H . S . Haworth ; Nathaniel, Philip, Joseph, the cook, Nicholas, Peter, Gregory, Petruchio ' s serving-men, J . M . Draper, H . A . Bavly, J . Thompson, N . D . Middlemiss, H . P . Coning, W . Thompson Katharina, the Shrew, I3ianca, daughters to Baptista, F . M . Leaf, D . AV . Roy ; Widow, A . E . Bayly ; Curtis, C . P . Cass. After the fall of the curtain Petruchio spoke the following :— EPILOGUE. Greeting to all who once again have come our Play to hear, And suffer us in words awhile " revel and domineer " Though ere we talk of victories, with reverence he those named, Whom during the past year from us the hand of death has claimed. If there was ever man who knew our Shakespeare's dramas well, Who loved him with a constancy no weight of years could quell, 'Twas he (e) whose generous support so often came to cheer ; We offer to his memory—'tis all we can—a tear. Upon the grave of one we lov'd (z) looks down the tropic sun Noble in nature as in name his soldier's rest is won, Who die in battle gain their meed—and «ell ' tis earned—of praise; But what of them whom one and lost the cruel fever slays ?
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Lone— for their country bids it—lost—for the fearsome clime Cuts off the eager in their youth, the stalwart in their prime, They are the souls before whose pride detraction ' s lips are dumb ; They are—our friend was--of the men make England's fame to come. Another soldier (3) too we mourn, of whom all men spoke well ; Though on the field of sport, not 'mid the roar of fight, he fell : Yet in our inmost hearts we feel how brilliant would have been The future of such loyal love, such fire, and courage keen ! In Church we have our Bishop (4), a man of varied gifts, Such as he should be who to-day the Church's flag uplifts, "Trained intellect, tongue eloquent, are his, and vision clear, And the strong frame and steadfast step that mark the mountaineer. In Parliament we've members twain (5) ; in law we ' re to the fore, With Chapman (6), Deane (7), and Snowden (8), as well as other more. Over the Sheffield School Board Coombe (9) with success presides, A task requiring ready wit, wise words, and tact besides ; While in the Kistna district vet blacker and more black Dacoitv's prospects grow and grow with Lane (1o) upon the track. In Medicine 1 . O . Garland (II) is on the way to fame ; In Engineering Addis (iz) has already gained a name. At Oxford thanks to Williams (13) the old School ' s name stands higher; For he ' s acheived the Greatness that all Oxford men desire. 1'o Bailey (1¢) and '1' . Romans (15) at Cambridge we cry "good, " And Leaf (16) continues to ascend, as we all thought he would. Then Fausset (17) has at Pcterhouse obtained the place of pride, And steadfast as the Fusiliers competitors defied. India has robbed us of a friend (1S) whose work was strong and true: May he succeed at Bangalore as he deserves to do ; And may he (1g) who comes after him—whom heartily we greet— Find out of school all pleasant things, and in school "all things neat ." We grieve to part with Mr . Head, and sore will he our need, When at the races on the bank we miss him and his steed. For the hard work he's done for us, our hearty thanks are due ; May all success his footsteps bless " in fields and pastures new ." This brings me to our sports, and here our tails are not depressed, Altho' with ease the Old Boys won the boat race 'tis confessed, First frosts, then floods to practice caused grievous intermission, While our opponents other where had got into condition. And one (z1) of them—we trust that fame his energy awaits— Appeared three times at least or four in the Oxford Trial Eights. Our Cricket Team (lid much tho ' not perhaps quite all we hoped, "Though with O .Ps . at any rate successfully they coped .
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And here to wish the Peterite Tour success don ' t let's forget ; With Lord (z2)to lead, well did they speed, and will speed better yet. Our Football Team we're proud to say, some sterling games has played, Though Fortune—shrewish as she is—has sometimes proved a jade. Durham, our friendly foes, beat us at home two tries to one, While we at York defeated them i goal 3 tries to none. To enumerate all Old Boys who at football are renowned Would weary you, sweet friends, I fear ; their numbers so abound. But I must mention once again our well known double Blue, F. Mitchell (z3), and remark that he's an International too. In fact at Cambridge games he plays the Admirable Crichton With such success ; I know not where his parallel to light on. The theories of yesterday seem specious to a few, The theories of to-day to-day at any rate are new. But the theory on which this School for years and years has flourished Can prove its worth by famous names of pupils it has nourished. And that it still produces sons who still its fame maintain Is from the list we ' ve read to you indisputably plain. But there ' s a banquet toward, you know ; each actor it attends, It would be rude to look in late, and so—Adieu, Sweet Friends. 1, Dr . Rawdon ; 2, Lieut . J . E . Noble, I .O . Yorkshire Infantry 3, Captain C . W . W . Gahb, Indian Staff Corps ; 4, Right Rev. G. F . Browne, D .D ., Bishop of Stepney, and Canon of St. Paul's 5, E . H . Pickersgill, M .P . for Bethnal Green, and V . C . S . Wortley Durham, Houghton-le-Spring ; 6, A . F . Chapman, LL .D ., Christ's College, Cambridge ; 7, E . E . Deane, LL .D ., London ; 8, J . C. Snowdon, a post in the Legacy Office ; 9, J . Newton Coombe, Chairman of the Sheffield School Board ; lo, G . W . Lane, Assistant Superintendent Police, Kistna District ; i i, J . O . Garland, Hilton Prize for Dissection, Guy's Hospital ; 12, R . B . Addis, Foundation Scholarship, R .I .E .C ., Cooper's Hill ; 1 3 , II . H . Williams, First R . H . Bailey, Exhibitioner St . Catharine ' s Class Greats, Oxford ; College, Cambridge, played back in the Freshmen ' s Match 15, T . Romans, Sizar in Natural Science, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge ; r6, J . F . Leaf, Fellow and Assistant Tutor, Peterhouse, Cambridge ; 17, F . P . Fausset, First Classical Scholarship at Peterhouse, Cambridge ; 18, Rev . A . F . Burton, Headmaster of
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Bishop Cotton ' s College, Bangalore ; 19, Rev . C . Robertson, late Scholar St . John's College, Cambridge ; zo, G . H . Head, late Scholar Pembroke College, Cambridge ; 21, R . Garwood, Hastings F.xhibitioucr, Queen ' s College, Oxford ; 22, P . E . Lord 23, F . Mitchell, Caius College, Cambridge, Captain of the Cambridge Rugby Football and Cricket `beams, English International . CRITICISM. The dramatic critic's is a hard case if he can find nothing over which to wail or beat the breast . We may at once confess that this is our own position with regard to last term's performance of Shakespeare ' s Taming of the Shrew . We might, it is true, deplore the absence of the limelight and luxuries of the Lyceum ; or, on the other hand, it is open to us to inveigh against the presence of scenery at all and regret the good old days when imagination was left to rear its substantial pageant on a solitary notice board . But on the whole we prefer to do neither of these things, and to content ourselves with saying that we saw a good play well acted in fact just such an entertainment as we always expect Mr . Veld to give us, and if we cannot say that we detected any embryo Ir-ings, or budding trees in the company, still " thought is free, " and perhaps a " comonty " which is neither a Christmas gambold, nor a tumbling trick " may be " the best fooling when all is done ." Moreover for a critic who happens to be an old actor to do anything but eulogize would be the sheerest presumption . When he remembers how he enjoyed the endless rehearsals which never grew tiring though they lengthened every night : what mistakes he made himself, and how he laughed at other people ' s buffooneries with what a sense of mystery he first approached his costume and still more his wig : the admiration with which on the nights themselves he watched between the acts Mr . Veld struggling with horrific mountains and impossible inns : the apprehension with which when not acting he viewed the cornet player ' s visage slowly swell : and over and above it all the proud consciousness of knowing by heart a play of Shakespeare and being prepared for any part : when he remembers all these and many other past delights
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how shall he, now alas ! a mere spectator, presume to bite his thumb ? so that if any actor should feel that justice has not been done to him, and should find us lacking in that biting sarcasm and pungency of wit which mark the caste of Clement Scott, let him not blame us too harshly . For his excellence he has only himself to blame ; and for the rest—Et nos in Ariadth. It is usual to dismiss the " Taming of the Shrew " as a poor play, and there is just this much to be said for such a view . It is a play which should be acted and not read . It is true that Christopher Sly is worth much ; but then there is so liule of him : one would give worlds to have more ; to learn what he said when he finally awoke, and all his after discourses to Peter Turf and Henry Pimpernell, and, in particular, to old John Naps, of Greece, To descend from Wincot, with its fat ale-wife, to such a paltry subterfuge as ° C Padua," a public place is more than human flesh can bear ; and if, in a Clarendon Press Edition, and with a view to examination, after the keen delights of the induction you manage to survive the dreary unfoldings of the first act, the impossible absurdities and brain-bewildering complications of the fourth, then your sole desire will inevitably be, with Mr . Sly, for a pot of the smallest ale. Once Biondello raised your hopes with his " knowledge of a wench married in an afternoon, as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit," but it was only to bid " adieu Sir " and the rest was all, like Metellus Celer, litlus alyue cur, soli/redo merit. But once put the play upon the stage, and all is changed ; the puppets live, the persons are what they pretend to be, what though suitors, shrews, and old gentlemen are not unknown to Plautus ; they are none the worse for that . The Shrew is at least a shrew, and if she made an amazing marriage her character at least is not obscure . And perhaps her marriage was not so amazing after all. To one that really understood her, as Petruchio did, she might not prove so intolerably curst . For the keynote to her character was her jealousy of Bianca . When once Petruchio comes, breathing and sounding battle and uttering such language of flattery as she had never heard before her shrewishness yields at once . Starvation and sleeplessness are but little needed for
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Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom " has tamed her long ago . We will not say that Leaf entirely brought this out, indeed to do so might well tax the powers of the most finished actress, and possibly his temper was not sufficiently aggressive ; he sulked in corners a little too much . But nobody could mistake him for anything but a shrew, which after all was the main thing, and in some scenes, notably the home-coming one, his interpretation was excellent . Veld i . as Petruchio acted really well . To begin with, we thought his conception of the part was the right one . It is true he was not old and withered, nor slid he so very much resemble a crab, being in fact more like a codling when 'tis almost an apple. But we think Kate was only half in earnest when she made that statement, nor do we imagine Petruchio had in his time heard many lions roar . We think he was no veteran, but a young soldier with the air of the trumpet round him, and brought to Katharine by such wind as scatter young men through the world ; and this was just the idea that Yeld's acting suggested . He was just masterful enough . To have stuck his fork into Katharine ' s finger and thrown her down when carrying her off the stage, as Woodward did when acting in Garrick ' s version, would have been slicer brutality : and to have been too gentle might have spoiled the fun of the bear-fight . Moreover he was curiously letter perfect in itself, no small feat . A part such as his could not be learnt in an afternoon . The other parts were not so difficult . When Baptista (Williams) said "Was ever gentleman thus grieved as I," we believed him . He exhibited just that courteous imbecility and senile inaffectuality which was wanted . Poor Katharine ! no wonder she was curst . Gremio (Tomlinson) was excellent throughout, and especially on the first night . Few people could have caught more exactly in the marriage scene the proper tone of half shocked admiration and delight, and, in the contest with Hortensio, his " What have I choked you with an Argosy ? " was worthy of a professional . Hortensio (Greeves) had been handicapped by enforced absence from a good many rehearsals. Nevertheless he spoke his lines well and looked a gallant blade. Lucentio (Sullivan) seemed to have no ear for metre and had an "
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unfortunate habit of missing ends of lines out, also he made rather a lukewarm lover, his "Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, " was of the mildest description, as Katharine would have treated it with scant ceremony ; vet he wooed Bianca well, and looked his part to perfection . Grumio (Russell) and Iiondello (Freer) made first rate servants . We thought sometimes, though very rarely, that there ,vas a boisterousness which savoured of the veteran stage hand about Grumio, still he could not expect to please all tastes, and nobody could find him wanting in vigour. We liked him best in his first scene . Biondello deserves the highest praise . The sight of him was enough to make your sides ache, he thoroughly appreciated his part and acted up to it ; and if his by-play now and then took up rather more than its fair portion of the stage, yet we never had too much of him . We had some difficulty in hearing Tranio (Hingston) . The Pedant (Moiser i .) except when he spoke from the window, we never heard at all. Let him comfort himself with the thought that though others do it "with a better glace" yet he did it more natural . Vincentio (Roy i .) was very properly a most truculent old gentleman, and would never have made a Baptista . We must not forget Curtis (Cass) who deserved the applause which he received . Lastly we come to Bianca (Roy ii) and the widow Bayly . We think we never saw the ladies so well made up before . Bianca ' s appearance could not have been improved . We liked her best in the scene when her hands were tied . We hope to see the Widow act again. He had very little to do but what he did do showed the highest promise . In conclusion, the Tailor and all the " supers" were fully up to the level of the rest of a company which, on the whole, we are inclined to say reached a higher level of all round excellence than any on the St . Peter's stage before it.
SCHOOL LETTER. OMEONE has said that " reading makes a full man, conversation makes a ready man, and writing an exact man .' It is this exactness that is the ruin of writing ; if the man who said that, and I think it was Carlyle, had ever tried to write a school letter
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he would have thrown up the sponge : he would have said, "This is all very well, but I shall have to draw upon my imagination and other people ' s credulity a little, or die ." It is only his statement about writing that concerns us here, or we would make bold to say that, these being the Christmas holidays, plum-pudding rather than reading makes a full man. But putting this aside the editors will aim at exactness as much as possible . In the first place we have been able to do our readers a good turn : it is only right that when the Old Boys are doing so much for the School, the School should do something for the Old Boys ; accordingly we have reduced the annual subscription to the Magazine from 4/- to 2/6, thereby considerably filling the coffers of the O . P . Club . After apologizing for this little crow we will proceed . We congratulate the day-boys on showing more patriotism of late in subscribing to the Magazine and turn to football news. The matches away have throughout the season been a failure ; Giggleswick started the ball of defeats rolling, and Olicana Club and Durham School, both of which teams we beat at home, reversed the previous results . Leeds G . S . away we won. It is a great thing, however, to say that in home matches we have not been beaten, except in a scratch game against Coning ' s XV ., when, after Mr . Robertson and Wheelwright had been injured, we went under to the tune of 8 points : especially creditable, perhaps, was our victory over the Old Boys at the end of last term. Characters of the team and results up to date will be found elsewhere. The theatricals were a great success, and thanks are due to all 'N ho assisted in making them so, and especially to C . Grattan, an Old Peterite, who gave the actors the benefit of his experience at rehearsals. The Archbishop and Mrs . Maclagan were warmly welcomed on their appearance at the dress rehearsal, as was the Bishop of Beverley and Mrs . Crosthwaite. Altogether the " Taming of the Shrew " will be remembered as among Mr . Fold's most successful achievements. Another honour has been gained by a free scholar who attended
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CAMBRIDGE LETTER.
the school until last midsummer ; B . Hudson has gained a scholarship of f.t o a year at Clare College, Cambridge, for natural science ; this may fairly be regarded as a triumph for our science master, Mr . Richards. We believe that Ford is the only member of the football team who is gone, and there is every reason to believe that the season will end as successfully as it began . In conclusion, we wish all Peterites Past, and Present, success on the turbulent sea of 1896.
CAMBRIDGE LETTER. 3/ETHINKS the present staff of Editors must be sadly hard up for matter when they pitch upon such a poor ignoramus to supply them with a ( 'at ridge Letter . Again, they have a peculiar way of asking one just when very little is going on to interest that large number who read the Peterite . Following the example of past writers of the Cambridge Letter, Football is to be dealt with first . The ' Varsity Team was one of the best turned out for some years . Their chief of strength lay in the forwards where Mitchell as Captain, shone as gold . We are all glad to see his name again figuring in the International Team . We managed to beat Oxford by a goal to nil, but there is little doubt that had the weather been finer, the score would have been greater . Of the Old Boys up last term most played for their respective Colleges . Clarke captained the St . Catharine ' s Team, in which also we saw Bailey at centre threeduarters, Eastwood several times played full back for St . John's, whilst among the Sidney forwards Romans was conspicuous, and in E . C . Gray, Queen's found a very capable half. On the liver this term crews are or will be very shortly training for the Lent races, which take place on February 18, 19, 20, 21. At present we notice Hancock rowing 7 in the Christ's boat, also H . S . Stephenson, and Bailey is occupying the stroke thwart in the " Kats " boat. Of last year' s ' Varsity Crew five Old Blues remain, the new men being Fernie, stroke, Weber and Pennington, so far . Hope the President will again row bow . As yet he has only accompanied
Mr . Trevor Jones as coach . It is rather early to fairly estimate our chances of victory, but it is generally thought that they are by no means poor . On 1\Ionday, January loth, the New Theatre was opened, Mr . Beerholm Tree appearing in " Hamlet" du r ing the afternoon, and in the evening " The Circus Boy " was played . The building was packed, a fact which testified how very popular the place is, as last term the want of a first class entertainment was sorely felt . In conclusion we must heartily congratulate Fausset on doing so well at Peterhouse, and Hudson likewise at Clare . We sincerely hope more will follow them.
FOOTBALL. S . PETER ' S V . OLICANA.
Played at Ilkley Nov . 16 . The return match with Olicana took place under exceptionally disagreeable conditions of wind and water . The rain had thoroughly soaked the ground, and a high wind never ceased to blow all through the game . With his usual luck Metcalfe lost the toss, and the school had to face the wind and the rain . This state of things rendered it impossible for the school backs to show their usual skill in passing and running; hence the brunt of the whole of the work devolved on the forwards. Unfortunately they took some little time to realise their responsibilities, and consequently Olicana had much the best of the game at the start . They kept the ball in the school 25 during almost the whole of the first half, in which they scored 3 minor points and a try, which was obtained by Newman after a good run . They just missed getting in a second time . The forwards of the home team were heavier than those of the school, and more than once got dangerously near the school goal line . Fortunately their efforts were frustrated by several useful kicks by Nevile and a timely run by Mr . Head . Once or twice the school took the offensive and succeeded in getting beyond the half flag ; but the forwards were rather below their form . Still it must be remembered they had much to contend against in the way of weather .
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In the second half the school team, playing with the wind, naturally fared better than before . But still they had considerable difficulty in getting away from their own 25, and never succeeded in doing so for any length of time . Once, however, they managed to get far enough for Sullivan to run in from half way ; unfortunately the wind proved too strong even for Yeld . Subsequently the Olicana backs became exceedingly active ; but a minor point was the sole result of all the efforts till just upon time when they scored a try . Towards the close of the match the school played a good defensive game ; the forwards seemed more at home and held their opponents with more success . Metcalfe and Wheelwright had to work hard throughout, and what they had to do they did well . S . PETER' S V. S
JOHN ' S COLLEGE.
This match was played on our ground Nov . 2 1St . The game was very much confined to the forwards, who were pretty evenly matched . Off-side play gave the school a penalty kick nearly in front, but the ball went wide . At half time nothing had been scored. In the second half the school had the advantage, but the tackling of S . John' s was safe . Nothing, however, had been scored when time was called, and the result was a pointless draw. SCHOOL TEAM :— J . E . Metcalfe, J . P . Watson, H . R . Tomlinson, A . M . Sullivan, R . M . Nevile, H . Wheelwright, N F . Roy, J . W. Ford, E . J . Joicey, G . G . Yeld, R . G . Bingham, L . H Moiser, H . B . Greeves, B . 1\Ioiser, R . F . Russell. S . PETER ' S V . DURHAM.
Played at York on Nov . 30- Durham kicked off, and Sullivan found touch in the visitors ' territory . Many scrums followed, in which we had the advantage, but for a long time the Durham forwards were the more successful in getting possession of the ball . At length, the ball rolled into touch a few yards from the visitors ' goal-line, where Wheelwright bounced it in play and (lodged over near the corner flag . The ball was greasy, and Yeld failed to convert . After the kick-out we again attacked, until
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some rather wild passing among our backs gave the visitors an opening, and they reached our " 25 ." For a time our line was in danger, but Wheelwright and Joicey saved and tackled well, and the latter eventually dribbled to the centre . The Durham halfbacks were several times penalised for off-side play, and Yeld always found touch . The half-time whistle now sounded . On restarting, our kick-off bounded into touch, and Durham were soon busy defending their line . Soon Sullivan took a pass from Metcalfe and galloped over the line . Yeld again failed at goal. After the kick-out the Durham forwards seemed to rouse themselves, and after several scrums and rushes got near our line : but again our forwards showed their superiority and shoved their opponents away in fine style . Sullivan now, by a well-judged kick, found touch near the centre . Ford then started a run, but was tripped up and lost the ball ; Sullivan, however, was at hand, and picking up, ran strongly up to the goal line, where he passed to Joicey, who dodged one or two opponents and scored . Metcalfe kicked a goal . After the kick-off Durham again attacked, and were very near scoring on two or three occasions, but Joicey and Metcalfe saved pluckily . A free kick to us brought relief, and removed play to the Durham half . Here Wheelwright broke away from a scrum, and was only stopped by the full-back . More scrums followed until just upon time, when Sullivan took a pass at full speed, and ran straight through his opponents . The kick at goal was charged down. Score :—School, i goal, 3 tries (14 points) ; Durham, nil. REMARKS .—Our forwards played a vigorous game, especially during the first half. All worked hard . Of the backs, Metcalfe and Joicey played splendidly ; Wheelwright also played very well. SCHOOL TEAM : Full Back, R . M . Nevile. ;-Backs, J . W . Ford, A . M . Sullivan, E . J . Joicey. z-Backs, J . E . Metcalfe, H . Wheelwright. Forwards, J . P . Watson, H . R . Tomlinson, N . F. Roy, F . P . Fausset, R . G . Bingham, G . Yeld, L . Moiser, H . B . Greeves, and B . Moiser .
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S . PEtER ' S V . DURHAM SCHOOL. The return match was played on December nth, at Durham . A perfect cyclo•Ie was blowing all day, and skilful passing was at a discount. Clarke kicked off against the wind . Metcalfe having won the toss, and Nevile returned into touch at our 25 flag ; scrimmages ensued from the line out, and Wheelwright gained ground by kicking into touch at half-way . The Durham forwards broke away, but Ford kicked into touch well up the field . Metcalfe started a round of passing, which was partaken of by all our backs, and Joicey after a good run kicked into touch only a few yards from their line. The Durham forwards wheeled the next scrimmage and got to midfield, but Ford dribbled the ball back, and Metcalfe following up scored a try . Yeld failed at goal, Clarke dropped out, and York soon pressed again ; the defence, however, was too good, though Joicey was within an ace of scoring . Half-time was then called, with the score S . Peter' s t try to Durham nil . Yeld kicked off, and an exchange of kicks ended in touch at mid-field ; scrimmages followed, and the ball going from Wheelwright on to Ford, the latter ran through to the full back, who collared him . Then Durham pressed, and the sleet which was a worse enemy than Durham : after repeated attempts Appleby scored but could not convert ; Yeld dropped out ; but the wind being so strong, the hail so pitiless, and the ball so slippery, it was impossible to gain relief, and the game remained in our half . Scrimmage after scrimmage followed, and at length Appleby dribbled over and scored, and the game was lost, Soon after, time was called, with the score—Durham, 2 tries (6 points) ; S . Peter's, t try (3 points). NOTES ON THE GAME.
Both sides played nine forwards, and the home lot had certainly the best of the argument all through the game, getting possession better than our lot and packing tighter . Joicey played well though he had not much to do, and would once certainly have scored had he been a trifle faster . Sullivan was safe, and Ford showed considerable improvement, getting in at least one good run. Nevile at full back was not up to form, seldom finding touch, and
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on one occasion, in an attempt to run across the field, was pulled down in front of goal . The halves were well matched, the opposing pair having slightly the best of it behind winning forwards . Of the forwards Tomlinson and Watson were the most conspicuous when the scrum had broken up, and Roy and Bingham did some good work . Durham were certainly lucky in playing with the blizzard at their backs, which sprung up towards the end of the game, and by means of which they were enabled to score the second time, the visiting backs being totally unable to face the storm . Still they were very near scoring on other occasions, and our try also contained a certain amount of luck . Clarke, for Durham, was a host in himself, and Appleby also played well. S . PETER ' S V . OLD BOYS.
This match was played on our ground Dec . 1(0 . The O . P. team had been advertised in the local paper, and, as Mitchell was to have played, a big crowd came to see the game. IIe did not, however, fulfil their expectations, having missed his train ; but, as will be seen, the team was very fairly representative . Scargill then took the place of Mitchell, and Forster of Coning. The Old Boys won the toss : Veld kicked off for the school, and Birks returned, followed up his kick, and prevented a reply by collaring Nevile with the ball : from the scrimmage Lord passed to Birks, and he to Whitby, who scored : no goal resulted . The game continued in the school quarters, and \Ir . Lord crossed the line, but lost possession ; the drop-out was well returned by Leonard into touch ; from the throw-out Wheelwright gained ground by a kick, though the school forwards were being beaten at this point . The school backs negotiated a good run, and Ford ran hard, but was brought down by Eastwood ; he passed, however, to Fausset, who was collared with the ball in his possession, and half-time was then called . Old Boys I try to Present nil . Lord recommenced, and Joicey ran and kicked well in reply ; in the ensuing scrimmages it was seen that the school forwards were warming to their work, getting the ball repeatedly ; smart passing by the school backs at length gave the ball to Ford, who scored a fine try, Metcalfe failing to convert . The game continued very
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even, the Old Boys making strenuous efforts to score, though their forwards were rather selfish with the ball . Play remained at halfway ; the ball was sent out to Sullivan, who was brought down by Eastwood, but scrambled over, Yeld converting . After the kick-off the Old Boys played up, and Whitby made a splendid run ; he passed, however, on reaching Nevile, and passed forward—a good chance lost . The school forwards changed the scene of play to their opponents ' quarters, and Joicey threaded his way over the line, Yeld again converting . Play remained for some time at the centre, and when time was called the score was—School, z goals, I try (13 points) ; Old Boys, I try (3 points). PRESENT . — BaCk, R . M . Nevile ; 1-backs, E . J . Joicey, A . M. Sullivan . \V . J . Ford ; 2-backs, J . E . Metcalfe (capt .), H . Wheelwright ; forwards, J . P . Watson, H . R . Tomlinson, N . F . Roy, G . G . Yeld, F . P . Fausset, R . G . Bingham, L . H . I oiser, B . Moiser, R . S . Russell. PAsr .—Back, A . W . Eastwood ; ;-backs, H . B . Whitby, G . V. Birks, T . H . Leonard ; -backs, P . E . Lord (capt .), C . P .Whincup ; forwards, G . Winn, E . W . Clarke, G . P . Haworth, R . H . Bailey, E . Henson, T . Forster, K . J . Roy, B . J . Scargill, B . Hudson. NOTES ON 1 HE GAME.
The O . P . forwards stuck to the ball a good deal, though their backs, when they got it, did good work ; Eastwood kicked and collared splendidly, though later in the game he sometimes allowed himself to be held through not kicking soon enough . The O . P. forwards commenced well, but tired sooner than our nine ; Clarke, Winn, Bailey, and Forster were most prominent . The school backs were in great form, though Nevile perhaps was not careful enough to kick into touch ; if distinction must be made, Joicey might be awarded the palm : the halves, Metcalfe and Wheelwright, played a grand game . The forwards played splendidly together, both in and out of the scrimmage, though a little slow, perhaps from the effects of the house supper on the previous night. S . PETER ' S V . DURHAM SCHOOL, 2ND XV.
Play ed on our ground Dec . 5th . Half-time score—Durham : try to York nil . In the second half our team scored 3 tries by Russell and Cass (z), thus winning by 9 points to 3 .
FOOTBALL .
2 .}
S . PETER ' S V . H . CREER ' S TEAM. On our ground Dec . 3rd . The scratch team were far the heavier of the two, and though ( ;reeves, illoiser, and Hingston were several times near scoring, they finally won by i goal 3 tries (I .} points) to nil.
CHARACTERS OF THE FIRST XV. J . E . METCALFE, ' 93, captain ; a good defensive half, tackles and
saves very well, a poor kick and does not kick anything like enough ; on a winning side runs fairly well, but often passes poorly ; looks after the opposing half well . (9st . 61b .) C . A . NELSON, ' 9+ ; a thoroughly sound forward, equally good in
and out of the scrum and always at work ; a great loss, as he was unluckily prevented from playing after three matches. (lost . t olb .) J . P . WATSON, ' 9} ; another good forward, works hard in the pack ;
out of it is good at touch and tackles very strongly, but rather weak with his feet . (lost . blb .) H . R . TOMLINSON, '94. ; an excellent forward with plenty of pace ; follows up well and can dribble, but ought to tackle harder and lower ; always shoves hard . (lost . 81b .) A . M . SULLIVAN, ' 9} ; plays centre, and with a little more pace would
be really good ; a beautiful kick and tackler, and takes a pass and picks up very well ; sho .dd throw out harder to his wings. (lost . Ilb .) R . M . NEVILE, ' 9 :} ; has made a very useful full back, kicking long though not always into touch ; tackles and fields the ball generally well ; should get rid of the fatal habit of fly-kicking, which he has tried . (lost .) H . AVHEELW'RIGHT, ' 9+ ; combines very well with Metcalfe, but like
him seldom kicks to touch ; very tricky, but inclined to stick to the ball too long, though running well good on the defence, marking his opponent well . (9st . 21b .) N . F . Roy, ' 9 .t ; played very well at the beginning of the season, but fell off rather later ; a hard worker in the pack, and useful in the loose, though weak in tackling . (9st . 131b .)
FOOTBALL.
242
J . W . FORD, ' 94. ; a three-quarter with a fair amount of price, but
needed a lot of starting ; very clumsy at times with both hands and feet, but much improved at taking a pass : hands off and tackles well . (list . 4lb .) E. J . JoicEV, ' 95 ; a very light but extremely neat three-quarter ; knows the game well, and runs and kicks cleverly besides taking passes well ; ought to be good as he tackles \vel1 for his weight . (9st . 4lb .) G. G . YELD, ' 95 ; a very useful forward, especially in the loose ; has plenty of dash and dribbles and runs well ; an excellent placekick and drop ; can play three-quarters . (lost . 91b .) F. P. FAUSSET, ' 95 ; a useful forward in a loose game, though weak
in tackling, as he uses his feet and passes well ; might do more work in the scrum . (9st . iolb .) R . G . BINGHAM, '95 ; a much improving forward, always a hard
worker, using his weight well in the scrum, and shone more in the open towards the end of the term ; promises very well. ( l i s t . 81b .) L . H . MozsER, ' 95 ; a very useful forward in the tight, where he shoves hard, but short of life in the loose ; can dribble a little. (1 1st .) B . MOISER, ' 95 ; ought to make a good forward, as he has height
and weight and works hard, and is very fair in the open. (lost . i21b .) The following are the results of football matches up to date : DATE .
Sat . Oct . 5 . Tues . „ 8 . Sat . „ 12 . Sat. „ z6 . Tues . „ 29 . Sat . Nov . 2 . Thur . „ r4 .
VERSUS .
GROUND .
RESULT.
Wakefield G . S . Home . Won i o gls . 8 tries—nil. Old Boys . ., Won 4. gls . 3 tries—nil. „ Won goal i try—i goal. New Leeds . Won z gls . 2 tries—I try. Olicana F . C . „ Giggleswick Schl . Away . Lost 5 goals 4. tries—nil. Leeds G . S . „ Won i 1 gls . 6 tries—nil. Leeds Clergy Schl . Home . Not played .
Ra . Nov . t 6 Olicana F . C Away . Lost 2 tries—nil, . Durham G . S . Home . Won i goal 3 tries—nil. Sat . „ ;o Away . Lost z tries—i try. 'I'h . Dec . 5 . Durham G . S . Sat „ ; . Old :\ lmondburian . Home . Not played. To . „ to . Leeds Clergy Schl . Away . Not played. I'h . Feb () . Yorkshire College . „ T . Leonard, Esq . ' s 1V . Home. Yorkshire College . „
JOHN'S DEATH. I have mentioned more than once the name of my dear old friend and companion Joy N . He sailed with me as mate for z or 3 years and was one of the best seamen I ever had to deal with. Nothing daunted him . I remember him shinning out to the end of the main gaff in a still breeze to clear the sheet of the gaff topsail when the little cutter was diving head into it, and I implored him to let the thing rip . But " no " said John " what ' s the good of wasting good canvass and manilla? ” Then, what a cook he was! grub was somewhat scarce and of a feeble quality in the South Seas in those (lays . Pork and poultry were then the staple, and the pork was rather a joke . I remember one little tusker that was brought on board . We bought the little demon for a few beads I think ; the natives had caught him in a net and delivered him on deck minus the net . The way that little porker cleared the decks was a caution . His tusks were no joke . He was only about the size of an Irish "Perrier but he was quite as lean and active, and his tusks —well, I have them now to show you what he could do if he liked in the way of ripping a chap ' s leg open . We were trading off the Island of Alai, (Three Hills) a great yam growing place, and were hanging on to the edge of the reef by our small kedge and a line, when this little beast began to cut his capers round the decks . I promptly sang out to the crew sanve yui pent and vaulted onto the top of the skylight . And he had it all his own way for a few minutes, until he scented some more of his own kidney in the
2 -14
JOHN ' S DEATH.
pigsty forward of the windlass Then came our chance, and a lasso and the cook ' s big knife soon consigned him to the oven. They are ferocious little beats, these island pigs, some of them . But dear old John knew how to deal with the frisky little beggars when they were consigned to the pantry . Of course cooking was not in his department, but he could never rest, and he used to say " Skipper, if you don't mind 1 ' 11 just give jemmy a spell and cook our dinner ." And of course I was only too glad, and John took charge of the galley, with jemmy delighted to have such a goodnatured boss, and we should have a grand old feed—roast pork, boiled fowl, baked yams, boiled taro, baked bananas, and so on, with coffee, and scraped cocoa nut instead of cream . And when it was all over and everything washed up and stowed away, then the good fellow would come below looking as fresh as paint and say " well Skipper, I think we enjoyed ourselves pretty well considering, but there ain't much change in the grub down in these latitudes anyway is there Ft " And there wasn't . We could never get beef or mutton except in the large ports, or out of our tinned stores, and I never fancied those canned things in the tropics . 7 hey went bad almost as soon as they were opened . The only thing that never iced bad was the French Brandy ("Vieux Cognac" it was labelled) and it was so horribly bad when it was put on board that it could never by any possibility become any worse . AMater was the only thing that we could get good, but there was sometimes a difficulty even about water . I carried a couple of iron tanks in the afterhold and we had two casks on deck for present use, and as we were constantly amongst the islands from one landing to another we usually found no difficulty in filling up at any time . Island water is very good as a rule . Most of the larger islands have considerable streams flowing down from the central mountains and discharging themselves either into lagoons or livers opening seaward with small shifting bars of sand at their mouths . It used to be rather a pleasure to water at islands where the people were friendly . If we were sure of our reception we used to leave a couple of hands on board and land with the casks and fill up at our leisure, at the same time going in fora good bath and a real soap wash in the fresh water .
JOHN
'
S DEATH .
2
45
But sometimes we would run short of water off a shore where our reception was uncertain, and then we had to be careful, and always sent an armed boat with a white flag . It was on one of these occasions that my good old friend met his death . It was in this wise . We were short of water near a village where 1\lartvr Gordon was murdered . I knew the people and they had always been my friends and I anticipated no trouble . Unfortunately I was not aware of a vendetta existing between them and another island, a native from which latter place formed one of my boat ' s crew The boat left us for the shore, John steering, with four hands pulling. We were standing off and on about a mile away with the rest of the hands, and saw the boat land . They got their casks filled and ere pulling off when suddenly I noticed two puffs of smoke spurt out from the bush, and at the same time a visible panic in the boat. No more shots were fired, but when the boat came alongside John could not get up the side without help . Skipper" he said "I ' m badly shot, and I don't know why the brutes did it, but I'm pumping blood out all roads ." I got him down below and then found that he had been shot clean through his right lung . The ball had gone in at his back and out at his chest and as he breathed he pumped blood and wind out of the bullet holes . Plug 'em, Skipper, plug ' em " he said . But there was nothing to be done so far as I knew except to get him into his bunk and keep him quiet . Then we up helm and ran for Noumea, but I did not think much of Noumean surgery, so after we had clone the best we could for him there we ran for New Zealand and landed him alive in Auckland . Unless the man had possessed a constitution of iron he could never have lived a week after such a wound, but John was a marvel of health and strength . He (lied of course in a few weeks, but to the last he was never so happy as when I sat by his bedside and talked over our old experiences . I believe the good brave fellow really loved me, and certainly I did love him . He was a man in a thousand, a rough-hewed old Blue-nose from Nova Scotia, possessing little knowledge, but what he did know was good and to the purpose . He was not stuffed full of the nonsense and superficial cramming of grade this and grade that of the modern Board school, but .ti
246 ST . PETERS SCHOOL AND THE ROYAL COMMISSIONER.
he knew how to sail a ship, cook food and make things comfortable, and as for his heart and affections, they were as true as steel . His was the sort that you could rely on it at anytime . He would have died in front of me fighting for me, and would have gloried in it, and one of the most cherished corners in my memory will be the nook wherein is niched JOHN MACDONALD . T .B .W.
ST. PETER'S SCHOOL, AND THE ROYAL COMMISSIONER. The following, which appeared in the Yorkshire Post of November 16th, may interest our readers : ST . PETER'S COLLEGE, YORK. Upon the constitution of St . Peter ' s College, the oldest foundation in England, Mr. Laurie would lay somewhat irreverent hands. He has no specific fault to find with its teaching, except that the science equipment is poor . Indeed During the year 1893 the school obtained one scholarship and one foundation sizarship at Cambridge, while four former pupils took honours in their final degree, so that it will be noted that the school does fairly well at the Universities, though the results are not anything very exceptional. But he would prefer to see another kind of school . It is in management a distinctively Church institution, doing a special work under the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral, and it does not please him so. It receives (he points out) no aid at present from any of the technical instruction funds in York, or in the West Riding or elsewhere, nor are any County Council scholars at the school . It should be possible, however, considering the central position of York, to make the school play a useful part as one of the first grade schools in Yorkshire in the general scheme of secondary education, though doubtless this would require some alteration of the school as it now stands by the introduction of a conscience
SI . PETER ' S SCHOOL AND THE ROYAL COMMISSIONER .
247
clause . At present it seems to be somewhat isolated from the general movement in the direction of secondary and technical instruction, which is doubtless due to its peculiar method of government . Were the school put under a reformed scheme of the Charity Commission with a representative body of governors it would play a larger part in the future secondary education of Yorkshire. This is what i\1r . Laurie, the gentleman appointed by the Royal Commission says of St . Peter's School : in comparison with the reports on other schools, it is most considerate . judging of what has been said of him, we should think that Mr . Laurie has made himself unpopular . At each school he visited he seems to have given the impression that he had to catch a train for the South in five minutes ; it must be interesting and encouraging for a Headmaster to hear, as one did, that '` the boys looked inattentive " and the masters sleepy ; that headmaster wrote and said that 1'Ir . Laurie had been in the place at most for twenty minutes . If he had not been headmaster he would evidently have given Mr . Laurie a bit of his mind . Mr . Laurie is, we understand, a " fac totem " ; he combines in himself the duties of Chemical Lecturer at London, University Extension Lecturer in Yorkshire, and Examiner for the Royal Commission on Education . For this gentleman so to wish to treat the oldest foundation in England is indeed " irreverent, " and we would point out for his correction that in the year 1893, the honours of the school were not only those that he mentions, but also Cotterill's I3alliol Scholarship at Oxford, and also the extension of Colby ' s Scholarship at King ' s College, Cambridge. Furthermore, though far from posing as bloated aristocrats, we hope that the day is far distant when our ancient institution shall be given over to the training of youths redolent of bear ' s grease, and corduroys, and when the Charity Commissioners, a body of mushroom growth to whom it was at length proved that the school was founded in the eighth century, vvi11 take the place of that august body the Dean and Chapter .
2 4
8
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE O . P. CLUB. The Tenth Annual General Meeting was held at the School on Wednesday, Dec . 19 . The Rev . G . 'I' . Handford presided, and there were also present 1\Iessrs R . H . Bailey, G . V . Birks, E . \V. Clarke, A . W . Eastwood, C . H . Eyre, P . E . Lord, G II . Rowe, H . S . Scargill, J . Shepherd, C . P. AVhineup, G . Winn . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, Messrs . J. F . Leaf and E . W . Clayforth having retired from the committee by rotation, Mr . Leaf was re-elected, and the Rev . H. Bloomfield elected to the other position . " I ' he Sports and Dinner Committees were re-elected ; Mr . A . W . Eastwood elected Cambridge secretary in place of Mr. E . W . Clarke ; Mr . H . H . Williams was re-elected Oxford secretary. The Treasurer ' s Accounts, showing a balance of 1' 33 I zs . Old ., were passed, and the arrangement made with the Peterite Editors to pay z/- instead of 3/- towards the magazine (its price having been lowered from .}/- to 2/6) was confirmed . It was resolved that a suggestion be made to the Editors that they should present their accounts shortly before the General Meeting to be audited on behalf of the Club . A vote of . was made toward the expenses of the Old Peterite Cricket Tour. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.
At the Committee meeting the following were elected members : Rev . C . Robertson ; Major Allan Moss ; Messrs . A . L . Bird, E . F. Carter, W . B . V . Draper, J . Estill, C . Forster, E . H . Moore, H . S. Procter, A . \V . Richards, G . J. Scott, J . Winn.
CORRESPONDENCE. Rev . R . M . Ainslie writes to say that Cricket was of old played at the school before and after the summer holidays . He says in
NOTES AND ITEMS .
2 49
an old photo of the XI . of the end of 1873 the team was as follows : W . R . Ra) son. A . M . Griffith (capt .` . I . M . Hargreaves . F . j . H . Robinson. R . M . Ainslie. \V . Marshall . G . A . Davies . N . Dowson. S . H . Greenhowe. A . Hodgson . We should be glad of lists of former XI .'s and XV .'s from Old Peterites .
NOTES AND ITEMS. The following Old Peterites were ordained on St . Thomas's Day : (Prie st) . H . ( ; . Metcalfe, B .A ., Pembroke Coll ., Camb ., by the Archbishop of York in Doncaster Parish Church. (/',*s/) . '1' . L . S Ferris, I3 .A ., L .Th ., Bishop of Hatfield Ilall, Durham, by the Bishop of Durham in his Cathedral. (Pries/.c) . J . A . Easten, B .A ., Corpus Christi Coll . and Ridley Hall, Camb ., and H . Ichet, B A ., Clare Coll ., by the Bishop of Liverpool in his Cathedral. (Deacon) . 'I' . A . Lane, St . John ' s, Camb ., and Ridley Hall, Camb ., Camb ., by the Bishop of Exeter in his Cathedral. G . 'V eld, Esq ., has been appointed Editor of the Alpine Journal. J . F . Leaf has taken his M .A . degree. Rev . E . H . ( ;reenhow, M .A ., appointed to the Perpetual Curacy of Chidlock, Dorset. Rev . F . AV . Greenhow, M .A ., appointed Hon . Sec . of S P .C .K . for the Deanery of \V'etherby. F. E . A . Colby passed the final F .R .C .S ., England. L . Barnby, son of Mr . W . Barnby, so long music master at the school, has been appointed to superintend instruction in composition organ and choral singing at the Leeds College of Music .
250
NOTES AND ITEMS.
R . H . Bailey won the too yards' race at S . Catherine's College in I I secs. E . Mawdesley, Town Clerk of Dewsbury, was selected in January as Town Clerk of Croydon at a salary of [ ' t,000 a year . He was formerly Deputy Town Clerk of Swansea. B. Hudson, late Free scholar at this school, has been elected to an open scholarship of [4o per annum for natural science at Clare College, Cambridge. The Bishop of Stepney, the Rev . Canon Browne, has been staying at Sandringham, and whilst there preached before the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Rev . W . O . F. Campbell's church at Bubwith was reopened after its restoration on All Saints' Day by the Archbishop of York . The Headmaster and Mrs . Ilandford were present. We understand that Mr. Campbell has raised more than half the sum required for the work. The Rev . G . H. Chilman has accepted a Curacy at Saltburn-bythe-Sea. J . F . Leaf has been appointed Junior Tutor at Peterhouse, Cambridge. F . Mitchell, in addition to being Captain of Rugby Football at Cambridge, has been elected Captain of Cricket for next season : he has also accepted the vacant post on the English Rugby Union Committee. C. W . Newton has been playing for Croydon R . F . C. Major A . Moss has been selected as second in command of 2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment, vice Major Allan. A . E . Dormer has been appointed Clerk to the Magistrates at Scarbro ' . MARRIAGES .—The
marriage took place in January, at St . Mary's, Bryanston Square, London, of H . W . Cobb, Lieut . of Duke of Wellington ' s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr . and Mrs. W . H . Cobb, of Clifton, York, and Miss Margaret Eleanor Hay, daughter of Sir James Shaw Hay, K .C .M .G . The ceremony was performed by the bride ' s uncle, the Rev. Edward Davidson, and the Rev . H . Russell, rector of St. Mary's, Wakefield.
NOTES AND ITEMS .
25!
On July 2oth, at Whiteshill, Gloucestershire, John Lyttelton Freeman, of Leamington, and formerly master at this school, to Annette, eldest daughter of the late Christopher Oates, Esq ., of Stourbridge, Worcestershire.
BIRTH .—On Oct . 3rd, at Solicitor, of a son.
110,
Bootham, York, the wife of A . Peters,
Nov . 19, at Haxby, W . Meek Dyson, aged 53. Entered the School in 18 53 . We beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the following : Duneln:iam, Hula, Sutton Valence Hag ., Gi gleswick Chronicle, Hurst johnian, Leodensian, Engineering College Magazine. Barroz'ian, Easibournian, Abingdonian, Sedbcrghian, Lppfngharn Magazine, Sheffield G . S Magazine, Ousel, Portcullis, Jferchtstonian Norimcensian, St. Edward's School Chronicle, Hymer' s College Magazine. OBITUARY .—On
Just a line to appeal to Old Peterites for short stories of adventures : one old Peterite at present holds the field .