THE
PETERITE. VOL . XIII .
MARCH,
t8
.
No .
126
SCHOOL LETTER. HE end of last term proved in many ways most successful and eventful, and " Who is Sylvia " is still wringing in our cars and recalling to our minds the annual success of the School play. Mr . Yeld shone out as brilliantly as ever, accomplishing a task by no means easy . " The Two Gentlemen of Verona" is, perhaps, one of the most difficult of Shakespeare's Dramas to put on the stage, and nobody can with truth deny that this year ' s performance ' as up to previous form . Great credit therefore is due to Mr . Yeld . Although this is no place to comment on individual merit, we cannot omit to congratulate Julia, especially with regard to her song, and also the two Clowns . Football, too, has been brilliant . Two victories over Durham, a fine and close struggle with Giggleswick a draw with Merchiston, and last but by no means least, a pleasant revenge on the Old Boys, crown it with glory . Surely Nelson ought to be the proudest of us all, leading as he did such a fine forward fight with the Scottish foe . On the last night of last term, immediately before the house-supper, Mr . Lord entertained us with a house concert . Besides solos by most of the members of the School choir, several ladies and gentlemen volunteered their services. The programme included two charming quartettes, humorous reading by Mr . Yeld, and football song composed by Mr . Yeld and sung by Mr. Lord . Mr . Richards and Mr . Crawshaw, during the evening, favoured us more than once, the latter of whom was perhaps the hero of the hour . Pearce-Brown, by his original
T
380
FOOTBALL.
rendering of " Ours is a happy little home," added considerable mirth to the proceedings . This term, though late, we have been greeted by frost and snow, and for a time Peterites were to be seen disporting themselves in varied attitudes on the ice . However, we were glad to welcome milder weather and once more take to football. Since last term some few of our friends have left us, but 13 new ones have filled their places . Four of them have entered the School-house, thus making its number exactly the same as last term . In this number we publish our Balance Sheet for 1896.
FOOTBALL. ST . PETER' S V . J . W . HAWORTH, Esq . ' s XV.
Played on the School ground on Saturday, Dec . 12th, in a drizzling rain . The visitors kicked off uphill, and the ball was returned into touch at the centre flag . From the line out the home forwards broke away, headed by Tomlinson and Nelson. The School kept up the pressure, but for some time were unable to score owing chiefly to the off-side play of the opposing halves, and the slippery state of the ball ; but at last Wheelwright got it away and smart passing along the three-quarter line enabled Walton to score in the corner ; 'Veld failing to convert . After the restart the School again took the game into the visitors' twenty-five, and several scrummages ensued, from one of which the halves got the ball out to the three-quarters, Walton scoring this time behind the posts ; I'Ir . Lord registered the major point . The visitors then played up harder, and owing to a free kick reached the School quarters, but were soon driven back . I\Ir . Lord soon after broke away, and when close to the visitors' line passed to Sullivan, who failed to hold, but shortly afterwards managed to scramble over. Nelson converted . Soon after, half-time was called, with the score 13 points to nil. Nelson restarted, and a series of scrummages took place in midfield, at last Tomlinson got away with a good dribble, and being well backed-up carried the ball almost to the line, where Roy
FOOTBALL .
381
picked up and transferred to Nelson, who scored in a difficult position ; no goal resulted . It now became very difficult to see, and some desultory play ensued in consequence . From a pass from Sullivan, Mr . Lord, after a splendid run, scored far out, but his kick at goal failed . Soon after the drop-out, Greeves headed a rush to the visitors ' goal, but had hard luck in kicking over the dead line . After some more loose play Kingston got off but was brought down by Joicey, before becoming dangerous . Shortly afterwards no-side was called, and the game ended in almost complete darkness, leaving the School victorious by z goals, 3 tries to nothing. SCHOOL TEAM :—Full-back, H . P . Coning ; 4-backs, E . J. Walton, P . E . Lord, Esq ., A . M . Sullivan, B . Nelson ; i--backs, E . J . Joicey, H . Wheelwright ; Forwards, C . A . Nelson, H . R. Tomlinson, N . F . Roy, R . F . Russell, H . B . Greaves, W . H. Bowman, E . M . Leaf, R Teasdale.
ST . PETER ' S SCHOOL V . l\IERCHISTON SCHOOL.
Played at York on Wednesday, December 16th . Merchiston kicked off at 3 o ' clock in a slight fog . Sullivan returned well with a good kick to the visitors ' 25 . By good forward work, however, the ball was brought back well into the home quarters . Two free kicks were given to the visitors for " feet up," and from the second Couper kicked a fine goal . After the restart, play was fairly even for a time, but eventually the home forwards, by a loose rush, took the ball to the visitors ' line, where Yeld essayed a penalty kick, unsuccessfully . The Merchiston full-back then mulled a catch , and one of his three-quarters picking up off-side was promptly penalised . From this, by an excellent shot, Yeld equalised the scores Again the play was fairly even, a run by Sullivan being prominent just before half-time. No time was wasted, and, as before, the game was mostly confined to the forwards, of which both sides played nine . 1\Ierchiston generally got the ball in the packs . but the home forwards, if anything, shoved the harder . Neither side was able to get well away.
382
FOOTBALL.
York several times got the ball out, but, owing to the smartness of the Merchiston tackling and the slippery state of the ground, were soon pulled up . About the middle of this half a Merchiston forward was damaged and took no further part in the game . In consequence . York pressed towards the end, but no further scoring took place—the result of a very even game being a .draw, the score being 3 points each . The hard, slippery state of the ground handicapped the backs, but some good kicking was shown by both sides . The Rev . F . Marshall acted as referee. SCHOOL TEAM ; Full Back, H . P . Coning ; 4-Backs, B . Nelson, A . M . Sullivan, and E . J . Walton ; I-Backs, H . Wheelwright and E . J . Joicey : Forwards, C . Nelson, II . R . Tomlinson, N . F . Roy, R . G . Bingham, G . G . Yeld, R . F . Russell, H . B . Greeves, E . M. Leaf, and W . H . Bowman.
SCHOOL
v.
OLD BOYS.
This match was played on the school ground on December 22nd in cold weather, the ground was fairly hard owing to recent frost, and in parts covered with frozen snow . Nelson won the toss and the Old Boys kicked off ; play settled in mid-field, but soon Walton broke away and ran nearly to the line before he was collared. C . Coning was several times called upon at full-back and he kicked well ; the Old Boys now gained ground and attacked for a time, Shepherd, Metcalfe, and Lord being prominent, but the school forwards worked the ball back to the Old Boys ' territory, and after good passing by Wheelwright, Joicey, Sullivan, and Walton, the latter named scored in a good position, Joicey landing a goal . Half-time was soon after called with the score one goal to nil in the school's favour . After the restart the Old Boys pressed, and Shepherd obtaining from a ° scrum ' near the line, got over far out, Lord kicking a good goal . The school now played up hard and after a forward rush Nelson scored far out, Yeld failing at goal . The school continued to have the best of it and a bout of passing on the part of the school backs resulted in Joicey dodging over in a fair position . Nelson failed to convert
FOOTBALL .
383
and time was soon after called leaving the school victorious by one goal, 2 tries, to one goal. TEAMS :—School . Full-back, H . P . Coning ; - backs, H . Wheelwright, A . M . Sullivan, G . G . Veld, B . Nelson ; i-backs, F . J. Joicev, and E . J . Walton ; Forwards, C . A . Nelson, H . R. Tomlinson, N . F . Roy, R . F . Russell, H . B . Greaves, W . H . Bowman, E . M . Leaf, and G, Walker. Old Boys . Full-back, C . Coning ; - backs, J . Nelson, F . R. Brant, P . E . Lord, W . A . Rose ; ~- backs, J . E . Metcalfe and J . Shepherd ; Fowavds, G . Winn, J . A . Browne, N . E . T . Wilkinson, B . J . Scargill, K . J . Roy, E . F . Nevile, G . P . Haworth, 'I'. Romans.
ST . PETER ' S
2nd XV . v .
ST . JOHN ' S COLLEGE
2nd XV.
Played in the School ground on Thursday, December 3rd. The School won the toss, and St . John's kicked off uphill . Nearly all the first part of the first half the School pressed, but owing to their weak show of pressing were unable to score, although many favourable chances offered themselves . Just before halftime, St . John's forwards dribbled from their own goal line the length of the field and scored beneath our posts . The kick at goal however failed . The second half, St. John's, elated by their success, pressed hard but could not score . And from time to time scrummage after scrummage took place on the School line . Just at the end, however, the School forwards drew themselves together for a final effort, and after reaching St . John's 25 managed to give their backs another chance . A neat bout of passing on the part of Sherwood, Coning, and Roy enabled Bowman to romp in. Coning failed at goal . Time was shortly afterwards called, and the match finished with an exciting draw of 3 points each, as above. Of the forwards the best were Leaf, Walker, and Watson, while Sherwood at -, and Bowman at 4 were conspicuous . Hey at fullback seemed scarcely at home .
38
FOOTBALL CHARACTERS.
.
FOOTBALL CHARACTERS. t 1st . 31b ., (Captain) ; set his team a good example of hard work, though scarcely playing up to his best form till towards the end of the term a good sound forward with plenty of life in his play, but hardly seemed as fast in the open as in previous years ; rather let down by a weak ankle. H . R . TOMLINSON, '94_, I est . 211) . ; a forward with plenty of pace, of which he makes good use ; perhaps the best dribbler on the side ; follows up very hard and tackles well, and yet does his fair share of scrum work . ; does better with his feet than with his hands, being apt to miss a pass. A . M . SULLIVAN, ' 94, I est . Ilb . ; a most useful three-quarter, especially in a defensive game tackles and kicks, either foot, in the best style, always going hard at his man ; has improved in pace, and as he takes passes well has scored a large proportion of the tries ; does not give his wings or other centre the hest of passes always. H . WHEELW RIGHT, ' 94 ., lost . 211) . ; a very plucky and hard-working half, at his best on the defence, when he saves well and tackles hard, kicking fairly well ; on a winning side often gets away well, but sticks too long to the ball ; improved in this respect ; takes the scrum work fairly well. N . F . Rov ' 94., I Ist . ; a forward with any amount of dash in his play, most useful in encouraging the scrum ; works well in the pack . and occasionally breaks away cleverly : good at touch, but inclined to kick too hard in a rush ; tackles well E . J . JOICEY, ' 95, Lost . ; plays a beautiful game on a winning side, running and dodging really well, and kicking neatly ; plays half and passes well, but is not good at a saving game, though he can do it and tackle well, when he likes. G . G . VELD, ' 95 . i tst . 91h . ; most useful both at three-quarters and forward ; is most at home in the pack, where he does a lot of work, keeping on the ball and getting through any amount of tackling ; takes passes well, and can drop a long way ; runs fairly well but not as strong as he should ; has fallen off in place-kicking .
C . A . NELSON, 'Q4,
FOOTBALL CHARACTERS .
385
i zst . i olb . ; possibly the most promising forward on the side ; in the pack works for every ounce of himself and a bit over, the mainstay of the scrum ; though not fast, generally manages to be near the ball and tackles very strong ; good at the touch-line. R . F . RussELL, ' q6, i 1st . 5lb ; plays a very fair game in the loose, whether passing or dribbling, though inclined to wait offside and kick too hard ; has any amount of dash and tackles well ; useful too in the pack. R . G . I3INGHAM, ' 95,
H . B . GRFEVES, ' 96, i zst .4Ib . ; improved wonderfully as the term went on ; learned to use his weight in the scrum and 'stick to it much better than he slid ; occasionally breaks away yell from touch ; kicks too hard in a rush. E . j . WALTON, ' 96, 9st . n 1lb . ; plays a good game, and for his weight runs strongly ; has played both half and three-quarters, in the former position saves very well and passes neatly ; should learn to kick ; ran and tackled well at three-quarters, but is more built for half. ' 96, 9st . ; though very light did excellently at full back when he got used to the post ; a little shaky at starting this season ; afterwards kicked neatly to touch and generally got his man, if he had a chance ; saves pluckily ; often gets out of difficulties very cleverly.
H . P . CONING,
B . NELSON, ' 96, lost . 61b ; another very much improved player; always a neat kick with his right foot ; learned to take passes better and developed pace ; should mark his opposing wing more and go for him harder. E . M . LEAF, '96, 10 st . zlb ; a hard-working forward with plenty of life in his play, inclined to be over impetuous and kicks too hard ; with more weight ought to be good ; tackles strongly. W . H . BOWMAN, ' 96, gst . 31b . ; a very useful player in the open, always on the look out for a chance ; very good for his weight, has played three-quarters several times with success, though short of pace .
THEATRICALS.
386
THE SCHOOL PLAY. The two performances of the " The Two Gentlemen of Verona," took place on Saturday and Monday evenings, December 1901 and 21st, and the dress rehearsal (children ' s night) on Friday, the 18th. Large audiences assembled on all three nights, and on Monday the room was as full as it could he . Mr . Hingston kindly lent foliage plants for the decoration of the proscenium, and the orchestra were assisted by Mr . C . L . Martin, of the Wurzburg conservatorium . A criticism of the play will be found below. Appended is the caste : Duke of Milan, Father to Silvia Valentine The Two Gentlemen Proteus I of Verona Antonio, Father to Proteus . Thurin, a foolish rival to Valentine Eglamon, Agent for Silvia in her escape Host where Julia lodges First Outlaw Second Outlaw with Valentine Third Outlaw Speed, a clownish servant to Valentine Launce, the like to Proteus .. Panthino, servant to Antonio Julia, beloved of Proteus Silvia, beloved of Valentine . . Lucetta, waiting woman to Julia
H.R. . .
TOMLINSON. (i .
G . VELD.
H . B . GREEVES. D . W . Roy. . . F . M . LF. :1F. E . J . WALTON. S . WATSON. R . G . BINGH .AM.
R. K.
YELD.
W . H . BowaAN.
R . F . RussELr.. N . F . Roy. J . M . DRAPER. H . A . BAVLY. H . W . GARLAND. . . C . P . SCOTT.
The staff was composed as follows : Stage Manager . Prompter Under Prompter Property Man Super Master Call Boys
G . VELD, G.
EsQ.
W . Fit LITER. F . W . LEVER.
H . C . H . BROADAy oOD. G . G . YELD.
R.
HARRISON
and J . S .
DENBY.
THEATRICALS .
President :—REV . G . T . HANDFORD. Committee :—G . G . 'VELD, R . F . RussELL, N . F . Roy and E . M . Hon . Sec .—A . M . SULLIVAN. Assistant Sec .—E . J . WALTON. Hon . Treasurer .—A . WILKS, ESQ. Valentine at the close delivered the following epilogue : Once more, Sweet Friends, we joy to see you here, And give with grateful hearts our thanks sincere. "In medias res," as Horace bids, we go, And like the jocund cock begin to crow. In Church—what Peterite but's her firm supporter ? Congratulate we warmly (t) Canon Porter. Croydon ' s (2) Town Clerk—may all his joys increase Like 1Eson's son, has won the golden fleece ! To (3) Naylor's scholarship Antipodeans Have sung at Melbourne loud and earnest pavans. ( .f) Cotterell of Balliol his first obtained, Rowed hi his Torpid, and three places gained. (5) Williams at Oxford hold an Aubrey Moore, At Cambridge (6) Romans' Scholarship's secure, While (7) Addis—prosperous oft—continues still His race of victory at Cooper's Hill. Our (8) Athletes in the Tripos did not fail. An omen which we all with pleasure hail; Strength without mind to guide it goes astray, And minus health wit wins but little way, It is their combination we desire, And to supply within these walls aspire. (q) Mitchell, at Football England ' s Captain true, Has, " inter alia," gained his triple Blue. (i o) Bingham has played for Derbyshire at Cricket, And with success to th' end kept up his wicket. And (4.) Garwood in the Trial Eights was tried, And gained in " Greats " a second class beside. The O .P . Tour when York was left behind, Was all that O .P . cricketers designed : The Friars showed them quite a sportsman ' s game, And Burton saw them adding to their fame. On Mr . (t t) Robertson may kindly Hymen Confer all blessings that too often fly men, May all his joys be raised to powers so high 'hhat none to estimate their worth dare try ! And (12) Rhodes—our Julia fourteen years ago— Enjoy all blessings marriage can bestow .
3 87
LEAF.
388
THEATRICALS.
Now as to Football—you ' ll excuse a crow— It is not always we such seasons know. The Durham matches-- won or lost our pride !— This year gave us the palm so oft denied, Although our friends so long a lead still hold As to dishearten all except the bold. With Giggleswick the game was hard and fast, And but by one `try ' lost to us at la-t. But we, though beaten, keep onr self-esteem : the team ! Four of our heroes were not Four Second Team Booys took the place of these, Who knew the proverb " Spartam nactus es," It was a game on which the losing side For many a long year vyili look back with pride. And –to conclude—we met the Scotch Invasion With resolution worthy the occasion Both sides gained glory, although neither won, Three cheers for York, anti three for \lerchiston ! f. Rev . A . S . Porter, Hon . Canon of Worcester Cathedral. 2. E . Mawdesley, Town Clerk of Dewsbury, was selected in January as Town Clerk of Croydon at a salary of / i000 a year. 3. H . D . Naylor, I3 .A ., Classical Lecturer in Ormond College, Melbourne. 4 .. C . B . Cotterell, Mathematical Scholar of Palliol College, Oxford, First Class in Mathematical Moderations. 5. H . H . Williams, B .A ., late Hastings Exhibitioner of Queen ' s College, Oxford, elected to an Aubrey Moore Studentship of /6o per annum, open. 6. 'I' . Romans, of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, promoted to a Scholarship of 4.O per annum. 7. R . B . Addis . elected Fellow of the Royal Engineering College, Cooper' s Ilill, and awarded a Fellow's Scholarship. 8. E . W . Clarke, Scholar of St . Catherine's College, and F . Mitchell, Caius College, Third Class, in the Classical 'I'ripos. 9. F . Mitchell, Caius College, Cambridge, captain of the English International Rugby Football Fifteen, represented Cambridge in putting the weight. to . F . M . Bingham 11. Rev . Cornwell Robertson, M .A. 12. H . W . Rhodes. 14 . R . Garwood, Hastings Exhibitioner of Queen ' s College, Oxford .
L
THEATRICALS .
389
CRITICISM OF PLAY. Abuse of the Elizabethan dramatists would seem to have become almost fashionable of late . Mediocrity, proud in the possession of a few stage devices and playwrights' tricks, which are all that the last two centuries and more have added, sneers at the simplicity of genius ; critics, " loving to give their judgments (such as they are) from their immediate perceptions, without much fatigue of thinking," find its wit laboured ; and, with ears attuned to the subtleties of Ibsen and the niceties of Henry Arthur Jones, vote its situations preposterous and its plots absurd . Shakespeare, in the vision of Mr . Bernard Shaw, is an arch-impostor . And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges ! To sneer at nonprofessional acting would appear to be no less the mode . And here, perhaps, some of the critics are on safer ground . It may very well be that outside, in tae world, the perpetual amateur actor is not without his faults . lIe is too apt to make confusion between semblance and reality . Too ften the king who rules the stage may step into the streets a clown . But in one ' s school time one is at least free from the fear of playing with fire . For in those early days the puppets had no awkward knack of springing suddenly to life . The real tragi-comedy will begin soon enough . It can do no harm to strut for a moment taliautly upon a safer stage, and mimic with impunity the waiting human fates But for another sort of critic there is little to be said . Most of us have had some experience of the candid friend who (if fortunate) has been twice to the Lyceum and has once seen Sarah Bernhardt on some laaoviocial stage . We remember the faintness of his praises and the scantiness of his courtesy . None less than a Carrick or a Siddons will serve his turn . With his mouth full of "passion" and "fervour of dignity " and the " grand air" be hurled at our heads (to quote once again Sir Joshua) "the rest of the cant of criticism with that volubility which generally those orators have who annex no idea to their words ." For our own part we detest such vile, base practices . Any school play deserves nothing but eulogy because of its slicer educational value alone . And not
390
THEATRICALS.
even the most prejudiced of critics could ever proclaim the chief merit of any play produced under Mr . Veld's management to be its educational worth. Still we are not maintaining that the " Two Gentlemen of Verona" is a good "acting " play . In that respect it differs widely from the play of 1895 . The Taming of the Shrew," dull to read, is a pure pleasure to watch . The merits of the "Two Gentlemen " are such as may he best appreciated in an arm-chair. Its characters are for the most part not fully developed . Proteus, for instance, is a mere anatomy, interesting enough when endowed with flesh and blood from one ' s knowledge of the later plays, but on the stage a skeleton . Launce is two men—Launce the fool and Launce the sentimentalist, Shallow and Jacques in germ . The hightoned outlaws, taken as foreshadowing the humour of the States, are delightful . Taken seriously, they turn what should have been an exciting scene into a mere burlesque, and can ant thing be said in defence of the rope-ladder episode and the final scene . Further, the scenery is typically English, and the Third Outlaw swears by the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar And not even the language and metre of the play are free from faults . Among many good lines, put almost entirely into Valentine's mouth, there are not a few very bad ones . And the deadly monotony of the regular cadences barely tolerable for a reader, becomes unendurable to the listening ear . Nevertheless the play has a freshness and spontaneity all its own, and we are glad that it was chosen . No one can properly understand any play of Shakespeare until he has seen it acted, and most of us--but for the School—would have gone to our graves without ever witnessing any performance of " The Two Gentlemen of Verona . " Besides, would not the play have been almost worth acting for the sake of the song alone, as Bayly sang it Veld make an excellent Petruchio and a still better Valentine. His acting was always dignified though he obviously exerted himself a great deal . In the bust scene in the play—the scene in Act II . where he is left alone with the newly arrived Proteuswe thought him first-rate . Greeves too, as Proteus, had improved
THEATRICALS .
391
since 1895 . He still had an awkward movement of one of his hands but did his best with an almost impossible part . Leaf, as Thurio, was very unfairly described as `a foolish rival to Valentine, ' We thought we noticed a reminiscence of the Shrew about his acting, and perhaps there was scarcely enough of the boor, but. beyond this, very little with which to find fault . We wish that a part more worthy of his talents could have been found for Tomlinson . He made a splendid Gremio . Doubtless, if the part had afforded him any scope, he would have made a still better Duke . Nor have we anything but praise for Speed and Launce. Russell is an old hand and has been praised before . He was much less boisterous than last year and just as funny . Roy showed decided promi-e . Perhaps he made Launce a little too querulous and a shade too stupid, but he succeeded in being always effective throughout a very trying part . Why did he and Speed go to the ale-house together in opposite directions ? Antonio (D . AV . Roy), Eglamon (Walton), Pauthino (Draper) performed parts of less importance equally well . W e must not forget the Outlaws, and especially the third one (Bowman), a most truculent ruffian and a `linguist ' to boot . Watson made a hearty if decrepit Host and a most determined sleeper . To turn to the ladies . It was obvious that the part of Sylvia was just a little beyond Garland . Still he deserves much praise for knowing it so perfectly, and is young enough to become very good indeed. Julia (Bay ly) looked and acted as well as any . We liked him best as a boy, but best of all as a musician . And Lucetta made a very good waiting-woman. In conclusion we feel bound to say that if " Two Gentlemen of Verona " fell below the exceedingly high level reached by " The Taming of the Shrew, " it was, in a great measure, the fault of the play, and not the fault of the actors. And if it appear that, finding, so we thought, the same uniformity of excellence, we have been too laudatory and not sufficiently critical, then Mr . Yeld and the company have only themselves to blame . H .H .W .
392
BOATING PROSPECTS.
BOATING PROSPECTS. It is never wise to prophesy before the event, but we may look forward with some deg-re ° f confidence to a fairly satisfactory season . Rowing, especially on the Ouse . is perhaps more dependent on the weather than other kinds of sports, and we can scarcely expect a repetition of the extraordinary favourable condi!ions of last year ; nevertheless we may be permitted to hope for a tolerable immunity from the floods, which often prove such a serious him'.rance Before speaking of rowing proper, we may congratu'ate the school on the possession of some really handsome boats . They have been thoroughly done recently and been beautified almost out of all recognition . Th- possib l e fortunes of the regatta boat naturally claim our first consideration ; for the Old Boys ' race is the crown of our labours . Here the prospects are distinctly encouraging . Three of the old crew are still with us, having the double experience of last year's experience and another year on their shoulders . If a suitable four th man can be found, there is no reason why the present boys should not establish the precedent of winning even in the light stripes. When we turn to the other races, the outlook is not quite so encouraging . Several gaps have been made in the ti-st and second crews f both boarders and day-boys ; but the latter have suffered most seriously . Only Yeld is left of the first day-boys ' crew. Hence, as things now are, there is every likelihood that the races will be very one-sided . This would be a great pity for many reasons : the rivalry is not only a healthy one in itself, but it largely contributes to keep the school rowing alive . Rut, unless some of the senior dayboys, who have hitherto held aloof, are prepared to come tip to the scratch this year, the competition cannot help being very tame . When we remember the exciting races of last .v ear, such a result would be most deplorable. We have been talking of prospects ; but it must be remembered that prospects in rowing, as in everything else, are altogether dependent for their realisation on the keenness and interest
THE BINGHAM MEMORIAL .
393
displayed . No doubt rowing has its repellent side, its monotony, its dulness, its freedom from continual excitement ; but it- has merits which are all its own . It would be out of place to enlarge on them here, and it would be invidious to discuss the comparative merits of football and roving, but, if only a little of the interest taken in the former were given to the latter, rowing might he lifted from its present position, a mere parethensis or stop-gap between football and cri_ket . Moreover the value of a rowing tradition side by side with the football tradition, both as an integral part of the school life, and as a scource of reputation outside the school, can hardly be over-estimated . This year, especially, a really successful season would be a fit sequel to the exploits of our record 1V . We hope that these few remarks may stimulate all who have the power to pull all together for the common good.
THE BINGHAM MEMORIAL. On February loth, the brass in memory of T . H . Bingham was unveiled by the Archbishop . A much larger congregation than usual assisted at the service, which was one special to such occasions and taken from the Evening Service. The brtss stands on the south side of the chapel, just in front of the pews, and reads—
3n Pi= Memoriam conbiscipuli Zbomae baring IPrib is p lug . B .T . M T.fl000IC an Bet f ll)j. 3n tacit TEastwoob Submersi IDum puettam. 714anbc servarc conatur. 0 EC\EN EIIOIIICEN
394
O .P. CLUB.
At the end of the service the Archbishop, leaving his place within the altar rails, unveiled the tablet, and returning gave a short address on the text, " Greater love bath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends . " —John xv . 13. Referring to the appropriateness of the text he commended the just pride taken by the school in its heroic schoolfellow, and went on to point out that although such an opportunity of self-sacrifice as was given to Bingham was not likely to fall to the lot of many there, yet that the life of one who would make Christ an example was our living sacrifice, a giving up of the will to God ; and opportunities were never wanting in school or at home, in the class-room or the field. When the service was over the school and a few friends adjourned to the Hall, there to celebrate the second part of the memorial of Tom Bingham . Each year there is a life-saving competition . A dummy of wood and iron has to be found under water and brought across the swimming bath . Last year Moiser (ii .) did this most expeditiously, and the medal was now given to him by the Archbishop . His Grace highly approved of the institution, complimented Moiser on his prowess, hoped it might be of real use to himself and others, and learning that he was a student of medicine, pointed out to him that a doctor had often opportunities of doing good and of rendering spiritual aid that are denied to members of other professions.
O. P . CLUB. A Committee meeting was held at the School on Monday, Dec . 2Ist, at 5-1 p .m . Present—Messrs . J . F . Leaf (in the Chair), A . W . Eastwood and P . E . Lord . The following were elected Members of the Club :—The Rev . Canon Denton, Messrs. J . A . Browne, C . P . Cass, A . P . Chadwick . A . C . Champney, A . D. Crecr, F . P . Fausset, E . C . Gray, E . M . Hingston, T . E . Hornby, J . E . Metcalfe, H . Moiser, J . Myers, R. M . Nevile, R . G . PaverCrow, L . E . Stevenson, T . F . Williams .
CORRESPONDENCE .
395
The Eleventh Annual General Meeting was held at 5-30 p .m. the same day . Present : The Rev . G . T . Handford in the Chair, the Rev . C . Robertson, Messrs . J . A . Browne, C . P . Cass, A . W. Eastwood, j . F . Leaf, P . E . Lord, A . Peters . G . Winn, G . Veld. The minutes of the previous General Meeting were read and confirmed . Messrs . G . H . Eyre and L . W . Crossley retired from the Committee (by rotation) ; Mr . Eyre was re-elected and Mr. J . H . Daniel elected to fill the other vacancy ; the various Secretaries were re-elected . The following were chosen as Sports Committee :—W . H . M . Hancock, A . W . Eastwood, and W . M . Carter. The Dinner Committee was re-elected, The Treasurer's Accounts (showing a balance of L65 13s . od ) were passed, and votes made of Z z to the Dinner Committee, and [z to the O . P. Cricket Tour . The Meeting closed 'with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
CORRESPONDENCE. To
THE EDITORS OF THE. PETERIfE.
DEAR SIRS,
May I take up a little of your valuable space in calling attention to a fact which must be patent to all concerned . I refer to the want of interest shown in the Gymnasium . Before the generosity of the Anonymous Donor supplied us with the handsome building which now adorns the grounds, one used to hear such complaints as ` Why can't we have a gymnasium, every other school has one ?' Now that we have got all that heart could wish for, we find, after a term's trial, that gym . `is too much fag . ' This applies more particularly to the Senior Members of the School . Can it be that there is some unexpressed reason, which has so effectually and so speedily damped their ardour ? Rumour says that the perspiration has been seen to run down the Sergeant ' s face as he heaved and strained to hoist some burly member of the XV . on to the top of the bar . There is an old Latin Proverb ` Labor ummia vincit .' I am not sure whether the Sergeant found the truth of this, as rumour further adds that the would-be gymnast ' s descent was
396
NOTES AND ITEMS.
quicker than his ascent . But then rumour has been known to lie. Still it does seem a pity that because some of the bigger boys found that their first essay was not crowned with the success which they had fondly anticipated, they should therefore at once retire into playing the critic upon others, without affording the latter an opportunity of giving a quid pro quo, and should no longer give the Sergeant practice in ` Putting the weight, ' until, as would soon happen, the weight could put itself into various postures, graceful or grotesque as the case might be . Those who write about football and the slackness shown in `turning up ' to the pick-ups seem themselves to forget that a good team can be made very much better by an increase of physical strength and activity. I am, Yours very sincerely, ryvµvaa7LKO 'e.
PETERITE BALANCE SHEET. EXPENDITURE .
RECEIPTS . s . d. Balance from last year . . 13 7 8 Prom O . P . Club . . . . z8 15 0 . . 5 17 6 Subscriptions (Sept .) (Day Boys, Masters and Mr . Richard's House .)
Postage „ Morley (Printing) Balance, Dec ., 1896 . P . E . LORD, ESQ ., Rev . C . ROBERTSON, To
t
.
s . d. 5 2
6 19
0
. . 39 16
0
Auditors.
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NOTES AND ITEMS. The Rev . T . B . B . Ferris, Vicar of St . Matthew ' s, Nottingham, has been appointed Honorary Canon of Southwell. At the Eighth Annual Dinner of the East London Polytechnic, the Chair was taken by the Right Rev . the Bishop of Stepney, and the Vice-Chair by F . W . Pixley, while the toast of " Church and Queen " was proposed by the Rev . Canon Elwyn . All these three (two O . Ps . and ex-Head Master) are on the governing body of the Pol n technic—an institution for ` the recreation and instruction' of young men in the East End .
NOTES AND ITEMS .
397
W . Martin, who left in 188z, is playing with and coaching the Stacie Bordelais—the Bordeaux Rugby Club . They played the Stade Francois of Paris at the end of January, and lost. F . Mitchell, has returned from India, and accepted a mastership at the Abbey School, Beckenham . He has been chosen to play for Kent ! R . G . Bingham and H . B . Greeves have been elected Captain and Hon . Secretary for next football season. At Cambridge the Yorkshire Schools' Football XV . defeated Jesus College . Peterites were represented by A . W . Eastwood, R . H . Bailey, and T . Romans. The following O .Ps . have been playing football :—F. Mitchell for Kent ; C . Newton for Northampton ; E . W . Clarke for Bath ; J . E . Metcalfe for York ; J . Shepherd for Darlington ; B . H . J. Scargill for Wrexham ; E . J . Joicey for North Durham. The Editors beg to acknowledge the following contemporaries and apologizes for any possible omissions :—Dunelmian, Giggleswick Chronicle, Hymers College Magazine, Portcullis, Leodiensian, Merehisfonian, Collegian, Sedbergian, Hurst Johnian, Sherbourne School Chronicle, Barrovian, Doz'orian, Ousel, Coz'entfry School Magazine, Eastbournian. The Rev . T . Adams, M .A ., D .C .L ., Principal of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Canada, has been appointed Canon of Quebec, thus completing a trio of successive house-masters of Clifton Green House who have been raised to canonries. N . L . Hood has taken his M .A . degree. W. G . Hudson has passed his Preliminary Examination of the Royal College of Music. BIRTH .—Peters .—On the z1st of January, at too, Bootham, York, the wife of Arthur Peters, Solicitor, of a daughter. Birth .—On January 3oth, at Flaxton House, Blackheath, the wife of J . F . Griffith, of a son. MARRIAGES .—B . H . Abrahall (O .P .), on zest January. W. H . Sutcliffe (0 P .), on February 17th. OBITUARY.—On December 13th, IS 96, at Bradford, Rufus Mitchell. Entered school, 1865, left, 1869. On February 13th, at Halifax, W . H . Garland, Mus . Bac . For several years School Organist .