March 1898

TIi

PETERITE. Vol, XIII .

MARCH, 1898 .

No .

132

SCHOOL LETTER. 7TEJIPORA JIUTAA'TZ7e, said the poet, and we humbly echo the words . The times are passing away, when we slept secure beneath the fostering wing of the Dean and Chapter . The School is on the point of changing hands, but with several of the old Governors left, and the introduction of fresh vigour backed by a longer purse, we need not fear for the result . Fate has evidently decreed that " we go on for ever . " The Christmas term closed with the time-honoured School Play and Old Boys' match . The former was a distinct success ; over the latter we draw the veil.

The Old Boys seemed to have an unnatural desire to pile up as large a score as possible against the School XV ., who were unfortunately incompetent to prevent them from gaining their end—or more corr ectly—our end . Mr . Yeld this year increased, if possible, the admiration which we all feel for him by the skill with which, with only about three old actors as a nucleus, he made the "0 Comedy of Errors " as successful as any play that has preceded it . As yet the frost has not favoured us with a long visit, and we have had what we are beginning to regard as a " typical " winter.

However, if skaters grumble, footballers rejoice . And now that term has begun we must reckon ourselves among the latter . We are patiently waiting for fickle Fortune to smile upon us in the football field . With a little more grit and a little more deter-

FOOTBALL.

mination we may yet find the truth of Plint's forh$ jorluna Jural.

We succumbed twice to Durham this year, but as they were as much above the average as we were below it, we cannot complain.

The boating outlook is, as usual, somewhat uncertain, but, given propitious weather, we should come up to the usual standard of mediocrity . At least we can be sure of energetic coaching if Mr. Burrell appears on the tow-path.

FOOTBALL. ST . PETER' S SCHOOL V . DURHAM SCHOOL.

Played at York on December 4 th . Bingham kicked off, and the ball was well returned . The visitors at once began an attack a hick they kept up nearly the whole game . For it long time, however, good tackling prevented them from scoring .

Nelson especially was prominent at this period by overtaking an opponent and pulling him down when just on our goal line . Soulbv now relieved the pressure by breaking away from a line-out, but soon after the visitors broke through our defence and scored in a good position.

The kick at goal was successful . After the kick-off Walton took a pass from Harrison in his own 25, and was not brought down until he reached the Durham 23 .

The visitors, however, were soon back in our half, and scored a second try, which was not converted.

Stubborn defence prevented further scoring for a time, until Huy kicked weakly into the hands of an opponent, who had an easy run in, and a second goal was kicked . Nelson .as again prominent by taking the ball skilfully from a lofty kick, and making a good return . When half-time arrived the score was 13 points to nil in favour of the visitors.

At the restart Nelson failed to return the ball, and the visitors resumed the attack . Nelson, Roy, King, Harrison, Bingham, and Walton were most prominent at this period in defending . After a long spell Durham again scored, but the try was not converted.

Hey now tackled well, bringing down an opponent who had passed everybody else . The visitors still kept up a vigorous attack, and

POOTPALI . .

525

after a scrummage and rush scored a fifth try, which was converted . Walton now made another splendid run ; he broke away in his own 25 and passed all except the full back . Otley and Nelson still further improved matters with a dribble, but the visitors soon brought the ball back, and after several scrummages near our goal line scored a sixth try ; this also was converted . It was now "time, " and the total score was :—Durham, .} goals, 2 tries (26 points) to School nil.

NOTES ON THE GAME.

The game was well fought, though one-sided . The visitors were undoubtedly the better, as well as the heavier team . Their passing at times was very smart . We were defending nearly all the time, and, but for good defence, the score would have been much larger.

Our team, though beaten, maintained a stubborn defence all through the game . Bingham, Soulbv, Walton . Nelson, King, and Harrison were the most prominent . We must express our thanks to Mr . Lord for kindly refereeing, at considerable personal inconvenience .

Si .

PETER ' S SCHOOL P . OLD BOYS.

This match was played at York on Tuesday, December zest, in fine though cold weather . Bingham commenced hostilities, but the Old Boys soon began to press . The three-quarters showed an excellent bit of combination, which enabled Rose to get over at the corner . Yeld failed . The Old Boys,, after the drop out, kept up a hot attack and Hey was conspicuous for a good tackle which brought Sullivan down . Sullivan, however, scored soon after, under the posts . Browne easily converted . The School played up and mainly through Walton ' s efforts got into the Old Boys half.

The Old Boys were penalised, and Bingham landed a good goal from a long shot . The Old Boys soon got to the other end and IIood, who was playing a strong game, scored for the Old Boys.

Browne again converted from the shot in front . The Old Boys still kept in the School half and though Bingham and Teasdale both relieved, Russell scored . Yeld failed to convert . The School

526

100 1' R :\ LL.

then got to the other end, and, the Old Boys being penalised, Bingham landed his second goal . The Old Boys attacked again after the re-start and Williams scored in a good position . Yeld was unsuccessful with the place kick . Half-time arrived with the score :— Old Boys, z goals and 3 tries (19 points), School 2 goals (6 points).

Yeld re-opened play after the interval, and 13 . Nelson replied.

The School forwards got off well, but Shepherd drove then) back with a good kick into touch, causing the Old Boys to press . Walton tackled Rose when looking dangerous . Harrison found touch nicely, and gave the School a much needed respite . The Old Boys scrummaged the ball back and Wheelwright, receiving the ball from the scrum, had no difficulty in getting over .

Browne placed the goal . Bingham kicked off from the centre, the ball going to Rose ; but Walton received his reply, and gained ground for the School . The Old Boys ' forwards came away with a dribble, but C . Nelson saved vvel1 . Roy got off, and the School got into their opponents' half. Here the School showed a bit of their true form ; for the forwards getting possession let it out to the backs, who would have scored against a less sure defence in which Shepherd shone prominently . Hood got off with a strong run and passed to Eastwood whom Bingham collared . Sullivan also was pulled down by Bingham when near the line . Wheelwright, however, got across soon after, but Yeld failed . Russell, from a pass of Yeld ' s, got his second try a minute or two later . Browne converted . Sullivan got hold and after a smart run passed to Hood, who scored . Eastwood was entrusted with the place, but made only a moderate attempt . The Old Boys kept up a continual pressure ; Sullivan and Eastwood both getting over before the finish, the latter ' s try being converted by Browne . The School halves gained ground, but time arrived with the score :—Old Boys, 3 goals, 6 tries 43 points), School z penalty goals (6 points).

SCHOOL .—Teams :—Back : W . Hey . Thrce-quarters : C . Nelson, B . Nelson, D . W . Roy, P . J . C . King . Half-backs : E . J . Walton, T. L . Harrison .

Forwards : R . G . Bingham, S . Watson, H . E. Soulby, C . Moiser, R . Teasdale, C . S . Smith, F . I . Newton, and G . N . Longbotham .

COMEDY OF ERRORS .

5 27

OLD Boys .—Back : J . Shepherd .

Three--quarters : W . A . Rose, Half backs : N . L. A . M . Sullivan, G . V . Dirks, A W. Eastwood .

Hood, H . Wheelwright . Forwards : J . A . Browne, W . C . B. Williams, E . F . Nevile, G . G . Yeld, R . F . Russell, T . Romans, H . B . Greeves, B . St . G . J . Scargill.

THE "COMEDY OF ERRORS ."

It is perhaps owing to a natural incapacity for numerical calculations, combined with a constitutional tendency to occasional nightmares, that the " Comedy of Errors " has never been one of our favourite Shakespearean plays . We can truthfully say (with Mr . Andrew Lang) that we have no head for mathematics, the " low cunning of algebra " has never been ours ; we recoiled (as he did) from the attempt to disentangle its innumerable complications . It is true that once we made a brief but rash incursion into Plautus ; once too, we tried to unravel the plot of the play before us ; twice at least, greatly daring, we made a desperate raid upon the Elements of Trigonometry . But on each occasion the indignant mind rebelled ; thenceforward we have been known to turn pale at the sight of twins, and a brain, that bade fair to become as good as a Christian ' s or an ordinary man's, flies off at the very mention of a tangent.

Seriously the play, as it stands, is not a great one . It is interesting because it is prophetic . We seem to trace in it, more clearly than in any other of his earlier efforts, the half-revealed lineaments of the future Shakespeare . And if it he true that " there is somet hing infinitely charming in the crepuscular moments of the human mind " then no doubt there are some who might confess to a secret preference for the " Comedy " over Twelfth Night " or As you like it ." But to justify such a preference would be difficult ; for the merits of the drama lie in the design rather than in the construction and with few exceptions (Pinch, strange to say, is one of them) the characters are but scantily endowed with flesh and blood.

Still they live, and their real excellencies can only be perceived if contrasted with the patterns, from which they are derived . The

52 8

COMEDY OF ERRORS.

characters of Plautus are simply semaphores . Imbecile fathers, spendthrift sons, jealous husbands, dull wives, they walk their weary rounds with just sufficient reality to spoil the illusion of a tragedy without words, and to avoid the frank absurdities of a modern harlequinade . The Devil, clad in the everlasting pallium of Roman comedy, is neither tragic nor even unsuccessful ; he is broadly funny : the true " pietas " of a Roman audience is exhibited by its delight in seeing the Gods contemned and the heaping of indignities upon suffering old age . The last act of that Menaechmus who is the counterpart of our unjustly suspected Antipholus is to offer his wife for auction to the highest bidder Thus, though a child can delight in the villanies of Punch, it requires a Roman crowd or the delighted spectators of a modern third-class pantomime to appreciate the true inwardness of Messenio or Widow Twankey . Wit no doubt Plautus possesses : yet even his Attic salt is apt to leave a bitter taste behind . Nor are we concerned to defend the wit of the " Comedy of Errors," which, to speak honestly, is for the most part " vain bibblc babble . " For Shakespeare could afford to leave wit for Wycherley and Congreve ; his humour is his own and in this respect, Pinch is no unworthy precursor of Sir Topas . Above all we find for the first time in the history of comedy some breathing human interest.

Life is no longer treated as a tawdry farce whose dulness is only to he relieved by cynical epigrams and coarse buffooneries . The grave Solinus, too human not to pity, too much a Prince to pardon the ignorant trespasser against his country's law, heralds a long line of statelier kings and captains soon to come . Hapless A geon, forgotten by most of us during the brain bewildering entanglements that make up the main and dullest portion of the play, is once again brought poignantly to mind when he in his turn comes face to face with the wrong Antipholus . Ten years later Shakespeare would not have allowed us to forget him ; and what is now a pathetic interlude with a climax slurred over in half a scene might have been the main motive and the turning point of one of Contrast again Adriana with the Roman the noblest of his plays . shrew . Shrewishness is never pleasant to look on, but her passion

COMEny OF ERRORS .

529

and her poetry make us half regret that the poet left her to us as his sole example of a jealous wife . While, as for Luciana, we might have been spared her homily on husbands ' rights, but even to mention her in the same breath with Plautus is a profanation.

Even the too reproachful Abbess is not only out of place in Ephesus : she speaks lines good enough to betray her as being born before her time.

And in one respect the Comedy has a peculiar virtue of its own.

No doubt it is mere imagination, but it has always seemed to us that in writing this play more than any of the others Shakespeare was epecially touched by the magic spirit of Greece . " Are you a God ? Would you create me new ? ' says the Syracusan Antipholus.

And again, " Sing Siren for thyself and I will dote . " The lines are trivial enough and might have been written by one who possessed no knowledge of Homer . But is it not a Greek, as distinct from a Latin, influence that haunts us in the classic severity of the opening scene ? Like Ulysses A?geon was once not too willing to seek his home . We may fancy (at any rate Gervinus fancies) that the five summers which he spent " in farthest Greece, roaming clean through the bounds of Asia," or perhaps with his " Emerging prow, Lifting the cool-hair ' d creepers stealthily, The fringes of a southward-facing brow Among the Aegean isles," were not altogether unhappy ones . At least, " If I dream not thou art A milia " is a cold greeting with which to welcome a long lost wife . But "oil and balsamun and aqua vitae " make up a strange freightage for a merry Grecian coaster . Shakespeare was not destined to linger long in the dewy freshness of the early world . For him, too, The ship is in her trim, the merry wind Blows fair from land.

It is perhaps well for us that the final resting place is neither violet-crowned Athens nor the yellow Tiber, but where a slow stream winds towards a far distant horizon, through Warwickshire meadows, and all the hedgerows and spinneys are white with English May .

530

COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Finally, we have discovered, after a careful computation, that the " Comedy of Errors " offers no less than twelve distinct opportunities for the use of blows.

To come at length then to the actual performance . As the play was well staged, clearly enunciated, satisfactorily acted, and, in brief from start to finish a sustained success we do not propose to say very much more about it . No doubt it was not up to the level of the popularized productions that are at present, under the nomde - plume of Shakespeare, drawing crowded houses at three of the London theatres . Nevertheless we are not, on the other hand, plastering a metaphoric pat of butter on the back of what in our hearts we consider a praiseworthy—because puerile—performance.

If the editors of the Peterite wish for that style of criticism they must seek another critic . From us, as we have demonstrated in previous years, they will receive nothing but panegyrics and the truth . On the whole we liked "E goon the best . Possibly the result would have been the same if the part had been taken by one less able . But Filliter filled it to perfection . The long and difficult speeches of the first scene would tax the powers of the most finished actor . Yet he spoke every word distinctly, the lines never dragged, and he managed to preserve a grave and pathetic dignity to the end . He could hardly have had a better partner than Bingham who, as Solinus, made a most majestic Duke and in his first speech struck the proper keynote of the play . To turn to the brothers and their servants . We are not going to discriminate between their respective excellencies . It is enough to say that it was not until the last night that we even attempted to guess the difference between the one Antipholus or the one Dromio and the other ; and then the guess was a wrong one . What we chiefly noticed was the way both pairs kept up the traditional rendering of their parts . Watson, Teasdale, Scott, and Thompson were probably not even at the School when the " Comedy of Errors " was performed in 1888 . Yet nobody who had the good fortune to witness both representations could fail to notice the similarity between them . Tricks of gesture, tones of voice seem to be transmitted from one generation of actors to another ; and somehow we

THEATRICALS .

531

fancy that the hereditary features which distinguish the St . Peter ' s plays were never more marked than in the last . We hope to find all four working with equal vigour and success upon next year ' s platform . Pinch (P . H . Yeld), though prevented by lack of height from doing himself full justice, nevertheless managed to give a very promising rendering of a difficult part . The parts of Balthazar (Smith), Angelo (Roy), the Merchants (Harrison and R. K . Yeld), and the Officer (Newton) were all adequately filled If we do not say more about there it is only because lack of space and paucity of adjectives prevent us.

To turn to the ladies .

We were just a little disappointed in ,Emilia .

Garland had scarcely made as much progress as we hoped . He was indistinct and hardly appreciated his lines at their proper value . But his speeches were difficult and he tried hard . Ellis, on the other hand, was very good . He looked Adriana and he acted her . Kirke (Luciana) made the most pleasing character in the piece still more pleasing . Creaser displayed great equanimity as a Hostess, but was nevertheless determined upon having his diamond . Neither in Luce (Denby) nor in the servant (E . E . Yeld) did we find anything to blame.

Finally, it only remains to give a word of praise to Lords, Guards, Gaolers, Citizens, Executioner, and the Staff ; to congratulate Mr . Yeld and everybody else concerned most heartily, and to express the hope that next Christmas we may witness an equally good company performing a better play.

THE SCHOOL PLAY. The Annual School play was performed in the Hall on Saturday and Monday nights, the 17th and 19th of December respectively.

On Saturday the house was full, on Monday it was crowded with a distinguished audience including—The Hon . Mrs . Maciagan, The Dean of York and Lady Emma Purey-Cust, and The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of York (Mr . and Mrs . Edwin Gray) . This play was last performed in 1888, although it had previously been put on the boards in 1881 . Several of last year's actors were

532

TH EATHICALS.

included in the caste, but a marked feature of the play was the way in which the new blood sheaved up . We might mention several who were especially noticeable, but there is a critcism elsewhere.

To speak of matters outside the pale of the critic, Mr . Feld, our best of stage masters and organisers, hardly needs more congratulation than the unalloyed success which the play scored . The music was supplied by the usual string band, and we were pleased to find that they had added considerably to their " repertoire " since we last saw them . Two new scenes representing "The Mart " and " Before an Abbey " added greatly to the effectiveness of the play . Our best thanks are due to Dr . Hingston for the fine show of plants and evergreens which he so kindly lent to garnish the stage . G . Hudson (O .P .) as of late years, undertook the task of " making up " the gentlemen actors and the results were most praiseworthy . With regard to the lady actors, it is not too much to say that we have never seen them better made up, and for this we have to thank the ladies staying with Mrs . Handford . The new shield was painted by Miss Leaf and is, if possible, more beautiful than its predecessors . Before concluding, a word of praise should be accorded to those who worked behind the scenes ; although they as a rule get little honour, they act, behind the scenes, no small part in bringing about the success of the whole play . The Epilogue was again written by Mr . Yeld and was delivered by .Egeon during the tableaux on the Saturday and Monday nights.

Following is the Epilogue and the caste of Characters and list of Officers : THE EPILOGUE. Dronzio of 1 blaster, before the curtain falls ' tis right Ephesus ( To thank our friends who've gathered here to-night.

Anlipholus Dromio anticipates what I would say, of Ephesus 1 Carried nevi . con ., in the accustomed way. i geon Now unto her whose ever glorious reign Has lasted sixty years, nor known a stain, Who by all life the best of Queens approved Has reigned the longest and been most beloved, We offer hearts in her defence the boldest, As fits the School in all her realm the oldest .

TIIEA I RICALS.

The oldest School—though back the path we tread To those far days when Alcuin was our head, In all the roll of masters ' honoured navies, Men of the highest worth and noblest aims, To none a brighter crown did Fame allow, To none more love than (i) him we mourn for now ; His ready kindness caught us like a chain, Learning' s rough places his wise words made plain, \Vhate'er the theme his eloquence might treat, Or gay or grave, he held us thralls complete ; But while rapt eyes our deep respect confessed, It was the man himself we loved the best.

In joy, who spoke such kindly words as he In grief, who whispered deeper sympathy Alas ! that we shall list his voice no more Amongst us here, yet from distant shore, Where the Immortals are, he bids us still Aim at the highest with unfaltering will.

Here ' s to the latest corner (z) to St . Peter ' s Health, happiness, long life, and lovely features.

Next we congratulate the Bristol Chapter ; No (3) choice conceivable could have been apter.

Greetings to Canon Ferris ( .I), we've a notion, A worthier seldom has obtained promotion.

Greetings to (5) him who now directs Bath College ; May his success be equal to his knowledge, And may he yet find time to give us more Of his unequalled Ciceronian lore.

Greetings to (6) Fowler ' s book on English prose, Though few the pages each the scholar shows.

Greetings to 1)r . Anderson (7), whose pictures Have simply stilled all the critics ' strictures, Who lectured to the learned on Volcanoes As one who every wayward crater' s way knows.

Greetings to (8) Tute and to the brothers Roy (9), May they their well deserved success enjoy, May Walton (i o) who's begun at Queen's to score, Add to his Hastings many triumphs more.

May Fausset (If) prizeman in the famous Butler, Vin many miles, and grow in wisdom subtler.

May Leaf (rz) to every hindrance bid defiance And match his brother ' s classic fame—in science.

As for our Cricket Team I think we owe Our thanks to them, they made an excellent show, And if the foe as natural rejoices Because at Football we ' ve but three old choices, Though fortune frown, with confidence we call,

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THEATRICALS.

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Proceed, Solinus, to procure their fall I Elsewhere our last year ' s team their mark have made, Both ( : 3) Yeld and Sullivan (14) in the " Freshers" played.

The latter played for Cambridge, too, and scored.

Nor should the former ' s place-kicks be ignored, While Mitchell's (15) brow, so oft with laurel's wreathen, Once more are crowned—this time as a Blackheathen Bingham (16) for Middlesex, for Northampton Newton 07), Are men whose merits I must not be mute on, "Then Greeves (18) at Peterhouse did the organ " collar, " As a good Forward " should, and now ' s a scholar.

Old Peterites can do more than use their feet aright, For two years, Ebor ' s Sheriff (ry) was a Peterite.

This year a Peterite (2o) fills the Lord Mayor ' s seat, May he find office, fame, and all things sweet, And if he should at leisure be some jolly day, May he come up and ask for us a holiday, I know he' d find it if he'd only do it, The shortest way to seek peace and ensue it.

Good night to all, and ere we quit the scene Let's altogether sing " God save the Queen . " "

KEY TO EPILOGUE.

Rev . Canon R . Elwyn, Master of the Charterhouse ; z, Miss Robertson ; 3, Right Rev . G . F . Browne, Bishop of Bristol, Foundation Scholar of St . Peter ' s in 18+7 ; .}, Rev . T . B . B . Ferris, Canon of Southwell ; ;, Rev . \V . Y . Fausset, M .A . ; 6 . J . H. Fowler, M .A ., Assistant Master at Clifton College ; 7, Dr . Tempest Anderson, M .D ., delivered four lectures on Volcanoes before the Royal Institution ; 8, R . C . 'Pule, India Civil Service ; 9, R . J. Roy, Commission in the Infantry by Competition Examination of Militia Subalterns, N . F. Roy, Naval Clerkship, H .M .S . " Royal Oak " ; to, E . J . Walton, Hastings Exhibitioner of Queen's College, Oxford ; 11, F . P . Fausset, Scholar of Peterhouse, Cambridge ; 12, E . M . Leaf, East Riding County Council Scholar at Victoria University ; 13, G . G . Yeld, Pembroke College, Cambridge ; 1 . ., A . M . Sullivan, Sizar of Christ's College, Cambridge; 15, F. Mitchell, plays forward for Blackheath, English International, 1896-97 16, F, M . Bingham, plays forward for St. Thomas ' s Hospital and for Middlesex ; 17, C . Newton plays forward for Northampton ; 18, H . B . Greeves, Organ Scholar of 1,

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535

Peterhouse, Cambridge ; 19, Dr . Tempest Anderson and E . R. Dodsworth, Esq . ; zo, Edwin Gray, Esq. President : THE REV . G . T . HANDFORD. Committee : G . W . FILLITER, D, W . Roy, R . TEASDALE, W . HEY. Honorary Secretary : E . J . WALTON. Assistant .Secretary : R . G . BINGHAM. SOLINUS, .EGEON*,

duke of Ephesus .. a merchant of Syracuse

ANTIPHOLUS OF EPHESUS ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE DRO :U10

R . G.

twin brothers and sons to .lEgeon and 'Emilia

OF EI'HESUS

DROJHO OF SYRACUSE ,

BINGHAM

G . W . FILLITER

R.

twin brothers and c attendants on the two Antipholuses

S . WATSON TEASDALE

C . P . SCOT I. P THOMPSON

. . C . S . SnMITH a merchant ANGELO, a goldsmith . . .

D . W . RoY First Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse T . L . HARRISON Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is a debtor . . R . K . VELD PINCH, a conjuror . . P . H . VELD F . I . NEWTON An Officer ..

II . W . GARLAND /EMILIA, wife to zEgeon, an abbess at Ephesus . .

J . D . ELLIS ADRIANA, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus E . ST . G . KIRKE LUCIANA, her sister .. . . J. S . DENRY LUCE, servant to Adriana E . H . CREASER HOSTESS of the Porpentine . . E . E . 'VELD SERVANT to Adriana Lords, Guards, Gaolers, Citizens, Executioner.

BALTHAZAR,

THE STAFF .

Stage Manager ..

Prompter . .

Li nder-Prompter Property-Man Super-[Master R. Call-Boys . .

G . YELD, ESQ. . .

o C . 2f

ER

. . T . S . ELLIS II . C . H . BROADWOOD

R . G . BINGHAM M . H . T . Roy, A . R . ST . GEORGE . .

HARRISON,

536

DEGREES OF THE LIE.

THE DEGREES OF THE LIE. A few years ago there appeared in the Cornhill Magazine a story called " The Giant ' s Robe, " the subject of which may he stated in a few sentences . Mark Ashburn is entrusted, for purposes of publication, with the MS . of a friend ' s novel . It seems certain that this friend is drowned at sea . The novel is a great success.

Ashburn allows himself to be considered the author, greatly improves his position in consequence ; and the friend returns.

This tale, well worked out and smartly told, excited some attention because the critics, the irresponsible, indolent reviewers, asserted that it had been " carefully quarried " out of a novel called " Tom Singleton . " No little obtuseness seems necessary to accuse a novelist of stealing the story of the theft of a story, and after the author's emphatic denial there is no more to be said.

A wider interest in the book, however, circles round the fact that it covers the same ground as George Eliot's novel " Romola . " Tito Melema, it will be remembered, has the carved gems of his adoptive father, who is supposed to have been drowned . He uses them to reach a position of influence and wealth, and his benefactor returns . Even in details there is similarity . Ashburn and Tito are alike handsome, courteous, popular men, pleasure-loving, careless and selfish, not radically false or dishonest ; both, by the way, teachers at first ; both are first seduced in difficult circumstances by the hope of future success for themselves without loss or injury to anyone else ; neither feels that any wrong has been done, but both live in dread of discovery ; each is watched by a suspicious acquaintance certain of some dark secret ; each marries a slim fair-haired maiden of portentous propriety, whose love turns to loathing on the revelation of his treachery ; the wives are alike dissuaded from leaving their husband by the arguments of a third person ; in each story a letter foreshows the return of the injured man ; in each he is quite alone in the world ; both rez'enants are removed by friends from the possibility of inconvenient action, to return later with redoubled rage ; and so on . There is no suggestion of plagiarism .

We have it on good authority that only seven

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537

distinct plots exist ; and no reproach can be made against the use of one of them . That apart indeed, to take hints from George Eliot would be like quoting from Shakespeare or Tennyson : no ordinary dulness could mistake the origin or disallow the application . Our purpose is quite different : it is to use this likeness between two books in order to learn—in fragmentary fashion— wherein the greatness of the great writer lies. " Every bourgeois, " says Gautier, " is more or less affected by a sunrise or a sunset . The distinction of the artist is not so much in his capacity to feel nature as in his power of rendering it ." To Gautier, of course, pagan that he was, nature is largely a procession of sunrises and sunsets, a show of movement and form and colour ; of sunsets glowing on some mediaeval square bordered with palaces and thronged with crowds in quaint, bright-coloured dress hurrying happily in chase of money, love, or fame ; of rosy dawns tinting the high-pitched roof and red embattled walls of a chateau where behind the windows of long galleries the candle-light falls paler on the rouged faces and powdered hair of gay forms moving stately through the mazes of the minuet . He would have denied the right of the artist—painter, poet, or novelist—to see more than these simulacra . But it is scarcely necessary now to maintain the existence of a world of thought and feeling, of a world of duty and morality . And Gautier's dictum holds equally there : " the distinction of the artist lies in his power of representation . " Let us look then hurriedly at two or three points in the rendering of " Romola " and " The Giant ' s Robe . " How artistic, yet how full of meaning is the account of Tito ' s personal appearance . After casual mention, chiefly in conversation, of the outer marks noted by the superficial observer, " his smooth olive cheek " and so forth, the general opinion of his personality is thus summed up : Where could a handsome young scholar not he welcome when he could touch the lute and troll a gay song ? That bright face, that easy smile, that liquid voice, seemed to give life a holiday aspect.

the inner meaning being left with consummate skill for the keeneyed portrait-painter to declare : Thou mayst see that thou bast just shown the reason why the face of Messere will suit me Traitor . A perfect Traitor should have a face that vice

THE LOVER OR TIIE LOVER OF TRUTH. 53TRUTHFUL 8 can write no marks on---lips that will lie with a dimpled smile—eyes of such agate-like brightness and depth that no infamy can dulT them—cheeks that will rise from a murder and not look haggard.

We find Mark Ashburn, at the end of the school-day, standing in the empty class-room.

He was a young man, almost the youngest on the school staff, and very decidedly the best looking (best Tooking !) He was tall and welT made, with black hair and eloquent dark eyes which had the gift of expressing rather more than a rigid (rigid!) examination would have found inside him (found inside . He dressed carefully, which was not without effect upon him !) . his class ; to them he was " an awful swell " (an awful swell !) ; though he was not actually (actually !) over-dressed . He was not unpopular with his boys : he did not care twopence (care twopence !) about any of them, but he felt it pleasant to be popular.

This vulgar, clumsy catalogue studded with " nots " would be unhappy enough if it touched the story ; but it does not ; clothes and colleagues, class-room and class-sentiment are alike absolutely irrelevant .

(To he concluded.)

I .-THE TRUTHFUL LOVER OR THE LOVER OF TRUTH. At once illustrative of our literary wealth and characteristic of a literary tradition, there has grown up a custom of prefixing to later pieces of composition, a quotation or extract, which may be apt or pretty to a more or less dregree, from one of those older works, now generally recognized and accepted as classical.

Why this should be so, it is a matter of some difficulty to determine, inviting as it does at the very outset a comparison which may not always, it is to be feared, give additional lustre and brilliancy to the writing . For as, with the rising of the sun, the stars fade from out the sky and even the moon wanes pale, so will an author of the present time, even of the brightest, pale before the glorious sovereignty of past writers.

However it is, so to say, a custom and one it may be advisable to follow ; but here is the evil . Have but a slender acquaintance with the great in letters and the choice of a passage, fitting in the

TIIE TRUTHFUL LOVER OR THE LOVER OF TRUTH .

539

least degree, becomes well nigh impossible ; so cut off as it were from legitimate pasture grounds a tendency to subterfuge manifests itself as in the present case.

"To tell a plain unvarnished tale is indeed at all times a matter of considerable difficulty ; and the more especially is it so, if you, yourself are in any way personally concerned, for then the temptation to resort to a certain—or rather uncertain—ambiguity to give a disproportioned colour or undue predominance to certain characters and incidents is so much the stronger .—E.vlracl from the Preface to the Memoirs of Verus I 'eritas.

From childhood ' s days, in righteous ways My sober life I ' ve led ; To ever speak the simple truth, My parents have me bred.

And now I'm come to youth's estate, With life stand face to face ; The time, when—as I understand Man sees in woman grace .('?

And so it is thus with me now, In love, I'm with a maid, And still my training forceth me To be so very staid.

I would, my love, an ode indite, Setting at large her charms ; But this and truth will not agree, Which greatly me alarms.

Not altogether beautiful, DIy loved one is, nor fair; Her virtues are not infinite; Nor has she glorious hair .(2) (I) Erstwhile, of course, the female sex have been girls, mere girls, rather a nuisance perhaps than otherwise ; hut now, as it were, in the twinkling of an eye, they rise from being so fir beneath man to such a proportionate height above him ; one might almost say they underwent an apotheosis and became angels .— Vale veritas \Iiserere mei miseri (2) This last line the author's intimate knowledge of the Scriptures led him to insert . If we look to the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, chap . x ., v. 15, we see the same idea recorded by the Apostle, for we learn "The glory of woman is in her hair ." This gives a double sadness to my loved one's hair in that ( r ) the hair is not glorious ; and so therefore (2) she has not the glory of woman,

54 0

THE TRUTHFUL LOVER OR THE LOVER OF TRUTH.

Her carriage is not graceful, And yet not wholly rude ; Her learning, though not quite profound, It is not wholly crude.

To critically examine her, Shows nothing very grand ; In truth, as common she appears As others in the land.

Now this is truth, and when I think, In this full solemn train, And when I find, I love her still, Disease seems in my brain.

For why, 0 why do I love her, Who thus (loth common show ?

And yet not common is—but how ?

I really do not know.

But that I love, and love but her, Of this fact, I ' m assured.

I only hope with all the rest To run, I ' m not lured.

To rave and rant like other men Extravagant of praise.

(A deadly sin—extravagance— And not one of my ways .)

PERSONAL NOTE :-It was suggested to the author that the preceding poem, as it then stood, was incomplete, a suggestion which on mature consideration, he adopted . Unfortunately, however, in the interval elapsing between the writing of the poem itself and the sequel, a connection with a Browning society threw him under the influence of the eccentric in rhyme and rhythm, and this it is which is accountable for the peculiar change which the reader cannot fail to note.

Kind reader . when you've listened to this ditty, Sure I am, you will bestow on me some pity.

I ' ve an aunt, a maiden aunt of many summers, Who, I think, must be a terror to all corners.

And further she is pious, very pious, Though for scoffing thus there ' s some one may deny us.

By dire mischance, that ever I ' ve lamented, By misfortune, that I ' ve ever since resented,

LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS .

54 1

Lost I this, the sweet outpouring of my feeling Found she it, 'twas horrible, my mind went reeling.

Well, she read it, read it over and then snorted, Raised her nose and strident voice and so retorted : " O foolish youth, it is her soul you love !

(And turning up her eyes to heaven above She handed me the paper so I lend it To you, ere to my lady-love I send it.

Let maxims fly, " Revenge, " I say, " is sweet . " And what care I for what is good and meet.

So I'm avenged on curiosity, Thus will I show my animosity !)

FAUNUS. The following Play, written by Mr . Richards, was acted by the Clifton Green House last term :

LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS. A PLAY IN Two SCENES. Characters : Mr . Dunne-Browne .. .. . . . . J . L . KIRSY . . J . A . CASTLE Mr. Charles Lovelace (in love with Saccharissa) Miss Saccharissa (daughter of Mr . Dunne-Browne) M . W . RICHARDS ' Patty (a Servant) . .

S . CLARK Time Scene I .—The Morning.

. . The Present.

Scene II .—The Afternoon.

SCENE I. (Enter Sacc ., sobbing.) .S'acc . Oh ! dear, how cruel papa is (sobs), it ' s no use trying to please him (sob) .

I have been tidying his study for an hour this morning (sob) . I arranged all the blue books together, and all the red books together, and the leather books together, and I threw away all the scribbled paper, and put all the clean paper on the writing table, and I can't think wiTy he is so cross (sobbing, wipes ryes, gels

542

LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS.

up and looks through the window' -- riglil. Starts).

Charles coming up the Avenue ! If he meets papa in his present temper they ' ll quarrel, and Charles will be sent away, and I—and I—Patty ! (rushes to bell and rings).

What shall I do? He must not come in now . Oh, Charles ! must I send you away (Enter Patty, who is very untidy). .Sate . Path, why don't you come at once when I ring Patty . Please, Miss Saccharissa, I could ' nt come without cleaning myself.

Sacc . Mr . Lovelace is here Patty !

Pally . Lor, Miss, where ? (Looks about).

Sacc. Not here, Patty !

Pally . No, Miss.

Sacc . I ' ve seen him coming . (Rd/ rings .) Where' s papa ?

Patty . I ' ll fetch him, Miss . (Going out .)

Sacc . No, no ! Patty . (Draws her hack).

Patty. Very well, Miss. .Sacc . Papa must not see him, Patty.

Patty . Very well, Miss . I'll send the gentleman away . (Going out—]fell rings).

Sacc. No, no! Patty . (Draws her back .)

Patty . Then I ' ll bring him up, Miss.

Sacc . No, no! Patty.

Not bring him up !

Paltr . Not send him away!

(Patty sits down in despair .) (Sacc . stands looking al Pally .)

(Enter Charles .)

Charles: (Coming froward) . My dearest girl ! (Sees Patty) Patty!

Patty . No, sir ! I ' ve a young man of my own ! (Exit haughlt'Ii' .)

Charles . (Advancing) . Dear heart'.

Sacc . No, Charles . Sit down nicely, and be good . (Charles sits down) . If papa were to find you here Charles . It would save me the trouble of finding hint . I ' ve come on purpose to ask him for . What do you think I've come to ask him for?

Sacc . Oh, Charles ! If papa finds you here, he'll give you the sack.

Charles . (Rising.) Just what I ' ve come for.

(Sings .) Give me my Sac . Give me my Sac! : Give me my Saccharissa ! !

(Papa heard below rampaging) .

LOCH LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS .

54-3

Sacc . Papa is not quite himself to-day.

Charles . (L)stening.) He seems in his usual health, bless him.

(L'nler Papa .)

Charles . How do you do, Sir ?

Papa . Do, Sir ! Do, Sir ! How should a man do ? What should a man do . with his study tidied, with his hooks arranged by colours, his manuscripts in the waste paper basket, and the room dusted (glares at Sacc .), dusted from top to bottom.

Charles . I ' m very sorry, Sir. Papa . Now I must waste my time in rearranging books, and fishing papers from the fireplace, when I should be getting the museum ready for my mummy, my dear mummy, my beautiful mummy : He ' s coming this afternoon.

Charles . I can ' t think who could have been annoying you so.

If I left her free in the Papa . Who ! Who ! (Points to Sacc.)

Museum, she would . Why she would make a flower stand of Pharoah ' s coffin, brew afternoon tea in the Roman soldier's helmet, sit in Queen Hatasu's chair, and play a gallop on the spinnet I Charles . She must be a great trial to you, Sir, but I think I can suggest a remedy.

Papa . Eh ! What's that Charles . The lady must be married, Sir. Papa . (Stands sc•ith open moulla, b(okiug Just at Sao anal then at Charles?.

Charles . And with your leave I will marry her (crosses to Sacc . and lakes her hand).

Papa . Mummies and Flint arrowheads : What is this ? (Rushes to separate the Iwo) .

(7b Charles) : How dare you, Sir? Out of my house you go, instantly . (Tb Sacc .)

And you, you baggage, off to the nursery !

Charles. 7b Papa) : But, sir, one word.

Papa . Outside (lo Charles).

Sacc . (To Charles) : Go now, Charles.

Charles . Good-bye, dear heart . I shall come back.

Papa . Never ! 1 ' 11 take good care that you never get in again, if locks and police can keep you out.

Charles . I shall come back! (to Sacc .)

Papa . (To Charles) : If you get into my house again you may take her .

S44

LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS.

(To Sacc.) : And you, hussey!

(Charles blows kiss to Sacc).

(To Charles) : What do you mean, Sir? (Sacc . blows kiss to Charles .)

(To Sacc .) : How dare you ?

(Charles blows kiss to Sacc .)

(To Charles) : Puppy ! (Hustles him out .)

(Sacc. blows kiss to Charles .)

(To Sacc .) : Now, you minx.

(Leads Sacc . of.)

End of Scene I.

SCENE II.

Pally . (Dusting) . Why do Master be so fond of all these dusty old things, and as if there was not enough of 'ern, there ' s a dummy acoming this afternoon . I suppose he have to go along of the plaster sorus . (Knock).

There be the dummy I do think (opens door).

(Enter workmen, carzying Charles disguised as mummy in box). isl IV'kman . Hete you arc, Miss, we ' ve brought yer a tinned sweetheart.

2nd IV'kman . Where shall we put him ?

Patty . None of yer imperence . I ' ll go and ask Master . (Erz7 .) (lllenlazrange mummy against wall .)

(Enter .11h-. Dunne-Browne, with Sacc. and Patty). splendid specimen ! beautiful ! magnificent !

Mr.D .B . A Patty, give those men some tea presently.

Patty . Tea, indeed! I ' ll turn them out of the house directly they have finished with the dummy . And a fine mess for me to clear up ! (Exit Workmen and Pally .) .lfr.D .B . Now you are reasonable, Saccharissa. Look at this, z,000 years old . (Goes to mummy .)

How much more worthy of contemplation than that feather-brained Charles Lovelace we dismissed this morning.

Sacc . Well, I dare say even he was young once, though so dry and dusty now . I don ' t think you would object to Charles if he looked like that !

L1IiRARY .

545

Mr.D .B . Well, perhaps not . Now I must leave you here for a time . You may dust the mummy very carefully, like this . (Shows her how with a feather brush, and goes out). .Sacc . (Goes to mummy and dusts) . You tiresome old thing . as if I had not enough dusting without you . (Hits mummt with brush, mummy sneezes, Sacc . screams and runs away, mummy conies down, and slops her going out, Sacc . /cans on /able).

Charles . It's me, Saccharissa . I have come back, you see, in spite of locks and policemen, and now we'll make papa keep his promise.

(Enter Cllr. D B .)

Mr.D .B . Why, what's this ? Eh ? Where is my mummy? and (To you, you scoundrel, where do you come from ?

Charles .) .Sacc . Oh, papa ! I do think he was " the dear mummy, the beautiful mummy . " Mr .D . B . But where is my own real mummy ?

Sacc . (Going to Charles) . This is my own mummy.

Charles . (To Air. D . B .) When you have kept your promise to this mummy, you shall have your own.

Sacc . It shall be a wedding present from us to you, papa.

JIr.D .B . Then have the wedding at once, and give me my mummy.

Sacc. Oh, dear papa ! (Falls on papa ' s neck).

(Air . D . B. joins their hands) . ( Enter Pa/ti').

Pittj' . (Uproarious laughter .) Lor, now if that there dummy, weren' t young Mr . Bootlace after all !

(Pally dances and seizes Charles ' s hand).

(Then Charles dances and seizes Sacc ' s hand).

(Then Sacc. dances and seizes Papa's hand and drags hint out) .

(All dance out hand in hand .)

FINIS.

THE LIBRARY. We are glad to say that at last the long looked-for Reading Room has been opened . Started towards the close of last term, it is now in full swing . More papers have been added to the list of

546

OLD PETERITE CLUB.

those already taken in, and games of various kinds are provided.

The Librarians are now anxious to obtain a complete list of " Petcrites" from the time when the migazine was first started.

If any Old Boys would help them by sending any spare copies which they may have, the Librarians would feel greatly indebted to them . The numbers missing are :—z, 5, 7, 8, 14, 18, 19, zo, 21, 23, 24, 25, 32, 35, 3 6 , 37, 39, 49, 67, 72, 81 . If only a few of these gaps could be filled up we should be very grateful . We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following contribution to the Library :— J . Estill (0 . P .), [1 Is. E . J . WAL'I'ON, G . W . FILLITER,

Librarians.

OLD PETERITE CLUB. The following have been elected members of the Club :—\V . II. Bowman, W . H . Ford, H . B . Greeves, H . G . Hill, E . M . Leaf, G. Place, R . F . Russell, F . Pick, A . M . Sullivan, H . R . Tomlinson, H. Wheelwright, G . G . Veld.

The Twelfth Annual General Meeting was held at the School on Monday, December zoth, at 5-30 p .m . Present :—The Rev . G . T. Handford (in the chair), Messrs . G . V . Birks, C . P . Cass, A . W. Eastwood, F . P . Fausset, H . B . Greeves, H . S . Haworth, P . E. Lord, A . Peters, B . J . Scargill.

The various Secretaries were re-elected except that on Mr. Peters ' suggestion, the office of York secretary was done away with for the present . Messrs . Birks and Howgate retired from the Committee, and Mr . Birks was re-elected with Mr. Peters to fill the other place . Mr . Fausset was elected instead of the Rev . H. Bloomfield, who wished to retire . The Sports Committee was re-elected, and Messrs . Chadwick and Carter elected as the Dinner Committee, Mr . Peters retiring.

The Treasurer ' s Accounts were passed, showing a balance in hand of [ ' 85 m zs . old ., and grants made of [z to the Dinner Committee, mos . to James Parker for various services, and 15s . for a wreath for Miss Arrowsmith ' s funeral .

OLD PETEKITE CLUB BALANCE SHEET .

5+7

Mr. Birks then proposed that a recommendation be made to the School Sports Committee to lower the distance of the Old Boys ' Race, which has been a Quarter Mile for a very long time, with a view to procuring more entries . He did not wish to reduce it to a Hundred Yards' Race, as that would limit the entries in a different way by confining the race to those with the special gift of sprinting ; this proposal was seconded . Mr. Eastwood then moved an amendment to suggest 220 yards as the distance, which was seconded and carried.

Mr . Fausset then introduced the question—originally brought forward by Mr. C . H . Chadwick—of putting up in the Gymnasium Shields bearing the names of Cricket and Football Teams and Crews . After some discussion he proposed that the Committee be asked to take into serious consideration Mr . Chadwick's suggestion, which was seconded and carried.

The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

OLD PETERITE CLUB BALANCE SHEET, 1897.

CR .

Balance from 1896 2281 Subscriptions t for 1893 4 for 1894 to for 1895 21 for 1899 173Ii for 1897 14 for 1898 2 for 1899 2 for 1900, 1 for 1901 Total

s. d .

65 13 o

57 2 6

DR .

Peterite Editors (228# at 2s) O .P . Cricket Tour (1896 and 1897) Dinner Grant Postage Wreath Printing Sports Prize Reading Prize Balance in hand

122 15 6

Total

£ s . d.

22

17

0

2 12 0 2 00 3 10 111 1 2 0 356 0 18 0 o 18 0 85 12 o?; 122 15 6

Examined and found correct, 18th December.

CORNWELL ROBERTSON. GODFREY V. BIRKS .

54 8

EXTRACTS, ETC.

" PETERI'I'E " BALANCE SHEET, 1807.

CR . s. d . , Balance from 1896 29 4 8 School Subscriptions and Masters' Subscriptions . . 9 10 0 O .P . Club 22 17 0

4-61

11

DR . , s . d.

Printing two numbers . . 9 I 0 Wrappers, Postage, &c .

0 11 2 Delicit on SchooT Lists . . , , 0 4 10 To Balance in hand $1 14 8 fi[

8

Audited and found correct . December

201h,

It

8

1897.

P. E . LORD. C . ROBERTSON.

Two Old Peterites were sitting together in a room in Cambridge.

One looking over a number of Examination papers—the other reading a newspaper . The latter excited by frequent hums and hah ' s asked their cause . In reply, he received sundry papers with the remark—Are they not funny' An Old Peterite thinks they will appear so to readers of your Magazine.

EXTRACTS From Answers, given by Candidates for entrance into the National Training Institution for Teachers, to the Question : what do you know about the Priests—the Tabernacle—and the Ark in the (lays of Samuel and Saul ? " When the great flood cane the people, who had scoffed when the Ark was being built, dropped clown on humble knee to the Lord ; but unfortunately, no accommodation in the great Ark could be placed at their disposal . " " Priests were dressed in holy orders as now ."

The tabernacle was a wooden erection where people praised and magnified the Lord, the priests explaining about the creation and resurrection . This laid the foundation of our present churches . The Ark was made of gopher wood, was lined with pitch, and within this candles were kept burning ."

CORRESPONDENCE .

549

" However, after they (the Israelites) had taken it (the Ark) as a final posses .ion, this was dedicated to our Lord and placed within the Holy of Holies, where it was looked upon both by priests and people as a sacred momento . " "(When the Philistines returned the Ark) they put burnt offerings into it, viz ., five emerods, five golden mice, and three milch cows with their trine . " " The chief Priest, in the time of Samuel, was Shiloh ; who was a follower of Christ and lived in the Ark . Samuel, a child of God, lived with the Priest, who taught the child about the Almighty . " "Samuel when a man also assisted in teaching the Philistine the Gospel . As Shiloh was sitting at his tent door waiting for the news of the battle which had taken place between the Philistines and the Egyptians, he beheld Samuel running to him with the news . After he received it he fell back on his chair and broke his neck . " " The Tabernacle in the reign of Samuel was a holy house into which the Philistines congregated, in order to worship . Samuel watched that no idols nor images were set up ." " In the reign of Saul they began to worship idols instead of the Father . " " The Ark in the time of Samuel was occupied by Shiloh, a heavenly Priest . It consisted of two rooms—the one occupied by Shiloh, the other by Samuel . " "There were three Ark Angels . viz , Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael ."

C .W .W.

CORRESPONDENCE. DEAR SIRS.

We thank P .S .L . for his letter ; it gives us an opportunity to say two or three things for which we are sure P .S .L . . with his dislike of "incomplete ideas ." will thank us in return.

Suggestions of books wanted in the Library are always welcome, even through the inconvenient channel of a letter to you.

A better way is a word to one of the Librarians,

CORRESPONDENCE. 55 0

2. The Library is not at all intended to be a representative collection of novels, or even a collection of novels at all . We hope simply that it will become a good working School library, containing information on any subject that may come up in Form.

3. A large proportion, quite a half, of the subscribers to the Library are juniors . They may not be—evidently are not—visible from the lofty regions inhabited by P .S .L ., but they exist and they help to support the Library . We feel sure that whoa P .S .L . learns this he will agree with us in wishing them to be considered . Their schoolbooks seem to satisfy their longings for instruction ; and for them we have added a supply of stories . It may be true that Henty is a writer, but boys read and like him . Hence his intrusion between the wind and P .S .L .'s nobility.

4. Classical novels come in as pieces of literature . Now and again some partiality of the . Librarians shows, for librarians, like P S .L ., have their pet books ; but with very few exceptions selections are made only from the stories which a study of Library lists shows that boys read most.

5. According to the catalogue, the Library does possess a copy of " Lorna Doone . " Only a few weeks since, a book, absent for years, was sent in through the parcel post without a word . " ° Lorna Doone " may return in the same way ; meanwhile another copy shall be got.

6. The other matters mentioned seem to be of importance only to P.S .L . The extent of his reading—among novels— scarcely interests us ; his consideration—the repeated assurance of his consideration—for our poverty does not vex us ; his defence of the respectability of Baring Gould does not surprise us ; his enthusiasm for Besant does not even amuse us . But we beg him not to disfigure the English language with the word " self-gain ."

Yours respectfully, THE LIBRARIANS .

NOTES AND Ii L:MS .

5jl

OLD I'aTr.RITE CLUB — LIFE-MEMBERSHIP.

To the Editors (f the DaAR

SIRS,

In accordance with instructions given by the Old Peterite Club Committee I write to ask for the views of members of the Club on the above question . Two members have suggested it in the past year ; the one had no scheme to propose, the other suggested a payment of 1'3 after ten yearly subscriptions . Surely this would be too high, being equivalent to 22 yearly payments . At the Committee meeting a feeling held that 15 annual subscriptions would be sufficient without any further payment to constitute a Life-member with all the privileges of membership . Will Old Peterites give their ideas on the point Yours very truly, P . E . LORD.

NOTES AND ITEMS. The Master and Fellows of St . Catharine's College, Cambridge, have presented a massive gold ring, set with a sapphire, to the Right Rev . the Bishop of Bristol.

The Rev . F . Watson has been appointed an Honorary Canon of Ely. The Rev . W . L . Tudor has exchanged his living of St . Jude's, Moorlields, Sheffield, for that of Thorpe-Arnold, near Melton Mowbray. " Church Bells," for November 7th, contained a life and a bad portrait of the Rev . R . M . Ainslie.

The Rev . E . A . Douglas, hone from Tinnevelly, gave a short address on Mission Work in the Chapel, at the end of last term.

The Lord Mayor of York, Edwin Gray's portrait has appeared in " Black and White ."

Major E . J . B . Buckle has retired from the Army.

Captain O . C . Williamson has been serving with the Tochi Valley Force.

A year ago no fewer than four Old Peterites were serving in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment :— Captains Taite and Jefferson and Sub-Lieutenants Mortimer and Scott . The two former have now retired, but Mortimer is Musketry Instructor to the Battalion .

$52

NOFFS AND LIMN.

BIRTHS .—On February 8th, the wife of J . H . Daniel, of a daughter.

On March 3rd, the wife of Major E . J . B . Buckle, of a daughter.

MARRIAGE .—On November t t th, the Rev . A . E . Stone to Elinor Mabel, elder (laughter of J . Innes Rogers, Esq ., of Rigglewood, Chislehurst, Kent.

Old Peterites, especially those of the School House, will hear with regret of the death, on December zoth, of Miss Arrowsmith, aged 86 years.

B . Hudson, of Clare College, Cambridge, has passed the First M .B . Examination.

G . G . Yeld, of Pembroke College, Cambridge, has passed the whole of the Little-Go and H . B . Greeves, of Peterhouse, Part I. G . R . Walker has passed the examination for admission to the Surveyors' Institution.

F . W . Wilsden has passed the examination for First Mate in the Merchant Service.

We are told that K . E . T . Wilkinson acted as editor of the Liberal Fly Sheet during the recent York Parliamentary Election.

G. I, . Davis has contributed the Chapter on Steering to the " Rowing " Volume of the Isthmian Library.

We note in the Forks/lire Post the christening of a Fire-engine at Brighouse by H . J . Barber.

W . M . Carter kept goal for the Northern Counties v . The Midland Counties at Hockey.

F. M . Bingham has played regularly for Middlesex County.

A . M . Sullivan played for Cambridge University "A " against Bedford School.

G. G . Yeld was third in the Long Jump at Pembroke College, Cambridge, Sports.

H. R . Tomlinson was third in the zoo yards Race in the Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Sports.

The Yorkshire Schools, Rugby 1V ., is again having a successful career at Cambridge ; several Old Peterites are playing in it.

The Rev. A . E . Stone has been appointed Garrison Chaplain, Fort William, Calcutta ; also officiating Archdeacon of Calcutta.

Major Allen Moss has accepted an appointment at Poonah.

E . F . Price, (2 .C,, has resigned the office of Recorder of York on the ground of age . He was 8o years old on March 31, and entered the School on August 11th, 1829 ; he must therefore be one of the oldest Old Peterites alive .

353

OUR CON I'I \II'ORARIES .

W . A . Meek, of the Inner and Middle Temple and Trinity, Cambridge, has been appointed his successor . He was Fourth Classic of his year, and has been Revising Barrister for York and Scarborough and two Yorkshire Divisions.

N . T . Crombie has passed the Final Examination of the Incorporated Law Society.

G . H . Burton has passed the Mining Examination held at Newcastle in January last in the First Class . He holds, we believe, it post as Mining Engineer to the Barnsley Collieries.

OBITUARY.

On December nth, at Sidney, N .S .W . Aged }}.

C . PEN ROSE. Entered the School, fan , 1869--Left, Mids ., 1872.

On January SIR

1

zth, at York . Aged 70.

JOSEPH

TERRY.

Entered the School, Aug ., 1838—Left, Mids .,

18+o.

On January Toth, at Estcourt, Natal . Aged 22.

Gm :oFFRM' FRANCIS DIXON,

Natal Mounted Police, late 3rd Batt . W . Yorks . Rgt. Entered the School, Sept ., 1887—Left, April, 1891 .

1 The Editors acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following :—Merehzslonian, 8'rdGrr~lirizzz, Me Lilt, I-ijmer's College Magazine, .Soullz L'aslern College Magazine, Dunelnzian, Leodienszaa, Lppinglzam School Magazine, Co/onia, Slale Cor esisondenl .