THE
PETERITE. VoL . VIII .
APRIL, 1898 .
No . 1 33
SCHOOL LETTER. S the remissness of one of our contributors caused a delay in the appearance of the last Pe/erile, the present number has been treated with but scanty deliberation, and had to be hurried to the printers with almost unprecedented celerity . We hope, however, that the result of our efforts will cause a grin of delight to expand itself on the faces of our readers. The broad bosom of the Ouse is now being tortured by parasites in the form of boats . At the time of writing the School boat has not been definitely arranged, as there are fluctuations with respect to one place therein. The First XV . have lost and won respectively the two matches that were played this Term, the Spen Valley Casuals being unable to raise a team. The Saracens, like their namesakes in days of old, displayed a fiery vigour, worthy of the battlefield of Waterloo . One of their forwards attacked one of the School backs, an assault for which he was gently requested to join the spectators for the remainder of the game . They retired victorious from the field of carnage with a score of 23 points to their credit . Bingham ' s absence no doubt accounted to a great extent for this defeat . His presence in the next match with St . John ' s College brought us victory in a game which was conspicuous for a splendid dropped
A
556
CAMBRIDGE LETTER.
goal by B . Nelson and good tries by the same player and Walton. We must offer our hearty thanks to Mr . Lord, for the series of Concerts which he has given us in the School Hall. The School now boasts a number of Hockey enthusiasts . who disport themselves on the Football field, armed with murderous looking clubs, which they wield with a ferocity that to the untutored eye seems dangerous to life and limb. On Tuesday, March 15th, the Confirmation was held in the School Chapel, the Bishop of Beverley officiating. But lo ! Aged Time, scythe in hand seizeth us in his awful grasp, and we must close, though ye grieve never so much . So now farewell .
CAMBRIDGE LETTER. O the Editor has returned—to the old chestnut, a Cambridge Letter! You write, sir, at a singularly inconvenient time ; it is a notable fact that at this time of the year, a University man is always appealed to by his parents, who seem to think that he is personally responsible for the result, for his opinion on the University Boatrace ; he is similarly troubled by his friends, who want to know whether ` bow ' really does bucket, or if { . is the best man that could be got, or some such worthless piece of information. However, I can assure your readers that all Cambridge Old Peterites have done their best to turn the tide of ill fortune, which has so long been set dead against the Cambridge boat . Hudson rowed in the Clare Lent boat, and also in the Clare Clinker Four which defeated the Pembroke boat . Greeves stroked the Peterhouse Lent boat, which succeeded in bumping Third Trinity. Tomlinson worked vigorously for some time in an Emmanuel boat. I myself (Peterites will excuse a pardonable pride) subscribed 2 6 and entered for the College Scratch Fours ; as the rest of the boat did not turn up when they found I was rowing, I secured the return of my 2/6 : thus was I saved a watery grave. From this you will infer that though Oxford may win, still I ncline to think that Cambridge—well we shall see .
S
CAMBRIDGE LETTER .
557
T3 turn to the Athletic Sports, the performances against the L . A . C . were very good, especially noticeable was the mile race won by Lutzens for the L . A . C ., by only three yards from Hunter, a freshman, in 4 min . 25 secs ., consequently we expect to carry off the Inter-Varsity contest by a small margin. The win in the Association match was some consolation for the loss of the Rugby match earlier on . Cambridge O .Ps . have as usual been prominent in football . Sullivan has played once again for the University, Yeld for Rosslyn Park, and Eastwood for Croydon ; all three have played with great success for the Yorkshire Schools' Club, who have had a very strong team this year. I understand that all the Christ ' s hacks are from Yorkshire Schools. Russell too has played for the same club on several occasions; while the latter with Fausset and Crowther—and Eastwood when not playing elsewhere—have played for the Cambridge Town Club. There is but little college football this term, but "Rugger nines " form a pleasing diversion, and at Emmanuel I hear that Russell carried off the crown, or rather many crowns—the reward of valour for the winning nine . Romans burns the midnight oil with reckless profusion, and a passing glimpse through the holes in the blinds at z8 Park Parade reveals another victim to "Trip " fever. May success attend him, and Bailey, the two St . Peter's heroes sacrificed this year to the inexorable Tripos dragon . By the way, the latter should be congratulated on promotion in the ranks of the Cambridge University Volunteer Corps. I must hasten to conclude . The Women ' s degree question is dead, and the Lent Term in which the hockey player is the only person who shows any signs of life, has all but dragged out its weary length. Would that I could provide you with "a college joke to cure the dumps! " but the smells in this town, the drains, the reeking manholes, the torn-up streets, and the influenza, would make a cat weep . P . H.
O .P's . in residence are A . W . Eastwood, St . John ' s ; T . Romans, Sidney ; R . H . Bailey, St . Catharine ' s ; E . C . Gray, Queen's ; F . P . Fausset and H . 13 . Greeves, Peterhouse ; B . Hudson, Clare ;
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FOOTBALL.
J . Myers and A . M . Sullivan, Christ ' s ; G . G . Veld, Pembroke ; R . F . Russell and H . R . Tomlinson, Emmanuel ; G . Crowther, Caius .
FOOTBALL. SCHOOL V . SARACEN ;
F . C.
This return match took place on the Saracens ' ground on Saturday, February 5th, and resulted in a win for the latter by 23 points . The School were minus the services of Bingham, which probably had a great deal to do with the result . There was nothing of any note in the game, which was stopped from time to time for the Saracens to settle their disputes with the referee . . The School played up well at the start and gained ground, but the Saracens brought them back by kicks into touch . King got off once and looked like scoring, but was tackled in the opponents ' " 25," Walton failing to take his pass . The Saracens, however, held the scrums . and getting the ball out scored several times before half-time. The second Falf was a repetition of the first—much talk and little scientific play. Dale made several good runs on the wing, and once, intercepting a pass from Roy, scored a fine try . Towards the end of the game one of the Saracens was sent off the field for rough play . At the close the School forwards were holding their own, showing better training than the Saracens . The game ended with the score : r goal, 6 tries (23 points) to nil.
THE SCHOOL 7' . ST . JOHN 'S TRAINING COLLEGE.
The game commenced in a shower of rain, which lasted about a quarter of an hour and seemed to affect the School play more than St . John ' s . St . John's were the first to score, getting an unconverted try ; the School then played up better, the forwards letting the ball out several times but the passing was too high and erratic. The halves then got the ball away, and after a good piece of
FOOTBALL .
559
passing Bingham almost scored in the corner ; however, the halves got the ball out again almost immediately and Nelson taking a pass from Otley scored near the posts, the kick was a failure . Halftime score :—3 points all. The School now had the advantage of the wind and playing up better continued to press ; Walton passed out and Otley gave B. Nelson a pass, who took the ball at full speed and sprinting round on the wing scored a good try . St . John ' s dropped out from the " 25 " line and B . Nelson, catching the ball, dropped a goal from nearly half-way with a beautiful kick . St . John's now pressed, Walton tackled well and C . Nelson several times saved " a forward rush . " A free kick was awarded to St . John ' s who placed a goal. Some even play followed, Soulby tackling well on several occasions and Roy marked his opposing centre very well . Walton saved very smartly and passed to 13 Nelson who kicked . Bingham following up hard grassed a St . John ' s three-quarter before he could reply, thus gaining a lot of ground . St . John's now carried the ball to the School " 25, " and one of their men following up a high kick beat 13 . Nelson for possession and scored a rather soft try, thus putting them only one point behind . The School, however, played very strongly in the last five minutes ; Roy followed up a kick and upset one of their men, who dropped the ball, Walton snapped it up and almost scored after a long run . St. John's brought the ball back to half-way, but Walton again getting possession, went at a great pace and, breaking through their defence, scored an excellent try between the posts ; Bingham converted, the School thus winning by 15 points to g . C . Nelson at full-back saved very pluckily and kicked well.
FOOTBALL RETROSPECT. We have now reached the end of another football season with four wins to our credit and eight losses to our discredit . This is not such a bad result as it appears at first sight, when the fact that only three old colours were left is taken into consideration, viz . : Bingham, Walton, and Nelson . We were beaten twice by the
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FOOTBALL.
following :—Durham School, Saracens and the Old Boys, once by Headingley and E . J . Joicey ' s XV . Durham were very strong this year, and the Saracens beat us with tactics which we could not employ ourselves . Our victories were against Leeds G .S ., Ripon G .S . and twice against St . John's College . Walton and Nelson have shared most of the scoring, each obtaining eight tries . The following also scored :—Harrison (3), Otley (2), Bingham, Watson, King, and Creer one each . Bingham and Nelson shared the place-kicks, Nelson kicked 9 and Bingham 7 . Nelson also dropped one goal. Further details of this season ' s doings are :—Against us—22 goals, r dropped goal, z penalty goals, 45 tries (z55 points) . For us :— 13 goals, I dropped goal, 3 penalty goals, L 2tries (i 14 points). The second team won three and lost two matches out of the five played this season . Total score for us :—9 goals, L penalty goal, 22 tries, 114. points . Against us :—6 goals, r penalty goal, 7 tries, 54 points. We take this opportunity of thanking Messrs . Lord, Wilkes and Robertson for kindly refereeing in matches, and we tender our heartiest thanks to Mr . Yeld for his enthusiastic support from the touch-line .
FOOTBALL CHARACTERS. Captain (r3St . 7lbs .) .—An excellent forward, who uses all his weight ; very good at the line-out, and a vigorous tackler always ; has place-kicked with some success ; very fair dribble ; has proved a very energetic captain, and knowing the game well, has been of invaluable use in leading his forwards.
R . G . BINGHAnt,
(Lost . zlbs .) .—A tine half, both in attack and defence ; a fearless and strong tackler ; very good at stopping rushes ; runs very fast and strongly ; Clever at getting the ball away, though a weak three-quarter line has made him inclined to be selfish this term ; might kick more with advantage .
E . T . WALTON
FOOTBALL .
561
13 . NELSON Gist . 3115x .) .—I-las not fulfilled the promise of last year ; occasionally makes a brilliant run, but is very slow and weak in defence ; has a dangerous habit of fly-kicking ; improved this term. (lost . Slbs .) .—A much improved half ; Gets possession of the ball well ; rather selfish about getting it away must get out of the habit of rushing into the middle of the opposing forwards . Tackles pluckily and does his best to stop a rush . Should try to find touch more with his kicks. S . WATSON (1 1st . 1 lb .) .—A very hard-working forward, always on the ball . Good tackler. D . \V . Roy (gst . 1 zlbs .) .—A slow three-quarter ; stands right on top of the scrum . and so lets the other three-quarters through . Tackles well. H . E . Soul.BY .—A hard-working forward ; should be very useful when he knows the game better ; is good at the line out; kicks too much in the loose. C' . 1\IotsER .—A steady worker, forward ; should be very useful with more weight. R . TEASDALE (lost . iolbs .)—A useful forward ; always on the ball ; rather clumsy at the line-out ; a very fair place-kick. T . L . HARRISON
(qst . 3.lbs .) .—A very plucky three-quarter ; tackles strongly for his weight ; kicks well ; with more weight should be a useful scorer ; stands too close up to the scrum. and must mark his man more. G . C . OTLEv .—At first gave hopes of being a good three-quarter, but has been very disappointing ; is very slow : must tackle more vigorously. C . S . SMITH .—A steady forward, better in the loose than in the P . J . C . KING
pack. G . N . LONGBOTHAyI .—A
rather sleepy forward ; kicks too hard in
the loose. promising forward ; tackles hard and is always on the ball ; must learn the rules as he has cost the side many kicks for off-side play in the loose .
F . J . NEWTON .—A
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I , OOTBALL.
W . HEY .—Has played full-back ; tackles excellently if his man comes near him, but is dreadfully slow ; kicks very poorly. C . NELSON .—Has played full-back ; very light ; would tackle a steam engine if he could ; a very fair kick.
2ND
XV. CHARACTERS.
R . WooD —Has captained the 2nd Team all this year ; a hard working but light forward. M . Wtr.soN .—Probably the best forward in the team ; very good in the open, but does not quite use his weight in the scrum. ii . L . CREEK .—A fairly good wing three-quarters ; very fast for his size, but should learn to kick. C . NELSON .—Has played half, but does not seem at home ; does not pass soon enough and should tackle harder. E . NELSON .—Has played both wing three-quarters and half ; is I etter at half ; inclined to kick too hard ; rather selfish. P . CLARK .— A very hard working forward ; is always near the ball ; should be good next year. R . HARRISON .—Has played very well at times, but is poor behind losing forwards ; passes very nicely. W. BENNE't°r .—Has played full-back with great success ; though small is a good kick and strong tackler, generally getting his man . A good place-kick. C . P . Scott —A hard working forward, with plenty of dash ; has played three-quarters. T . Per.i.EYN .—A forward with plenty of life ; kicks too hard in the open ; should learn the rules. R . K . YELD .—A good forward, better in the open than the scrum ; dribbles well. J . RUSSELL .—A fair forward ; is rather inclined to slack the scrums .
THE CONFIRMAT10N SERVICE .
5b3
THE CONFIRMATION SERVICE. HE Bishop of Beverley held a Confirmation in the School Chapel on Tuesday, March 1 5 , at I I a .m. The Bishop was attended by the Rev . G . T . Handford, Headmaster, and Rev . C . Robertson . After the Preface had been read by the Headmaster, the hymn Soldiers of Christ, arise," was sung. In his first Address to the candidates the Bishop spoke of the two things in Confirmation, the two promises, and the two gifts. There were the promise of obedience to God, and the gift of his life to God's service on the part of the person confirmed ; and there were the promise of help, and the gift of the Holy Spirit on the part of God . In the words of the Prayer Book they were come to the age of discretion . Coming to the age of discretion meant the power to choose between good and evil . Some people pleaded that they did not wish to sin and disobey God, but circumstances compelled them ; they were very sorry but they could not help themselves . Daniel did not say circumstances compelled him to refrain from sa n ing his prayers for thirty days though he was threatened with being thrown to the lions . They too all had the power to choose, and on their part being Confirmed meant a public choice of good in preference to evil. After silent prayer the Bishop proceeded to Confirm the following boys :—E . H . Creaser, H . W . F . Garland, E . St . G . Kirke, G . N. Longbotham, W . R . Lyth, J . B . iAlossop, T . E . Nelson, C . Nelson, E . J . Otley, J . A . Russell, J O . Thompson, W . H . Wilson, R . W. Winn. In his second Address the Bishop spoke of the promise of God to those Confirmed . He referred to the Gospel of the previous Sunday, the Parable of the unclean spirit, and said that the surest way to keep evil out of the heart was to let the heart be filled with the service of God . He urged them to make every use of the means of grace given by God, of private Prayer ; of Public Worship, remembering that it was an act of homage to God ; of reading the Bible, that they might know Christ ; and especially of Hole Communion . They were to remember that, besides coming
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564.
DEGREES OF THE LIE.
to Christ for help, they were also doing an act of loyalty and homage in carrying out His special command of the night before
His death . Some people said they could lead good lives without ally help, but, even if that were possible, we owe it as an act of homage to God to come to the Holy Communion . In conclusion, he urged them to forget that the Catechism had ever been a lesson, and to study it carefully, for, with the exception of the Bible, it was the most simple and beautiful document in the English language. The other hymns sung were " Our Blest Redeemer, e ' er He breathed," and " Fight the good fight ."
DEGREES OF THE LIE (continued). If anywhere, then in the treatment of an important incident, the picture should be vivid, the narrative direct . In Romola, the old man, after much suffering, returns to Florence . Stumbling in the street, he seizes the arm of one among a group of signori. It was Tito Melema who felt that clutch . He tu rned his head, and saw the face of his adoptive father, Baldassare Calvo, close to his own . The two men looked at each other, siTent as death . Baldassare, with dark fierceness and a tightening grip of the soiled, worn hands on the velvet-clad arm ; "Tito, with cheeks and Tips all bloodless, fascinated by terror . It seemed a long while to them—it was but a moment . The first sound Tito heard was the short laugh of Piero di Cosima, who stood close by him and was the only person that could see his face . " Ha, ha ! I know what a ghost should he now!" "This is another escaped prisoner" said Lorenzo Tomalnoni! " Who is he, I wonder! "Some madman, surely .."' said Tito . He hardly knew how the words had come to his lips : there are moments when our passions speak and decide for us, and we seem to stand by and wonder ." In the Giant's Robe, a stranger enters Ashburn ' s room " Will you kindly give me the name, the real name, of the author of this book : And he glared down at Mark, who had a sudden and disagreeable sensation as if his heart had just turned a somersault . Could this terrible old person have detected him, and if so, what would become of him ? Instinct rather than reason kept him from betraying himself by words. " Th—that's a rather extraordinary question, sir," he gasped faintly. We have been present at the interview, but its significance must be expounded to us twenty pages later. " There's something wrong about him too, continued the old man ; he's got a secret ."
DEGREES OF TIlE LIE .
565
(" So have most of us" thought his nephew .) "But what makes you think so ? " he asked aloud. I saw it in the fellow's face ; no young man with a clear record ever has such a look as he had when I came in . He was green with tear, sir, perfectly green !" " Is
that all : " and Caffyn was slightly disappointed.
The words marked above characterize the books . Some madman, surely :—the natural quick flight of the traitor taking refuge in slander :—how sharply it contrasts with the inconclusive exaggeration of the " perfectly green " face and the gymnastic heart. It is not possible here to do more than mention the setting of the pieces . On the one hand, the specious magnificence of Florence under Lorenzo, crumbling to broils and slaughter through twenty years of the treachery _typified in Tito : with Savonarola falling away through plausible paltering with truth from his spiritual leadership to the slippery methods of the demagogue, and stumbling amid futile struggles with recantations and withdrawals, in terror and dis'tonour to torture and the stake . Bardo, true and honest but selfishly ambitious, carried disappointed to a soon-forgotten grave : del Nero ' s unbending honesty broken at last on the scaffold ; and lialdassare ' s self-sacrificing purposes warped to revenge and murder . But the easy prosperity and the petty squabbles of Mark's world, checquered only by the machinations of the stage villain, Caffyn, who is removed at last—to America ; these are in themselves without significance. Ashburn again ;—what is his real nature ? He detests falsehood, but he never tells the truth where it is inconvenient . He accepts a false position only to produce a book of his own, which he does not produce, though it is written : he writhes over his deception at every opportunity, "suffering not so much from conscience as from a fear that his lie might after all be detected," yet he thinks that forgiveness rights all wrongs . " What sort of tree is that you have put into your picture ? " a painter was asked by an admirer. " No tree in particular, " was the reply, " it' s just a tree . " "Tito, moving smoothly along the line of least resistance, eager for a pleasant life, making directly for what he calls •` substantial good, " meeting reproach, it is true,
566
TO THE BEAUTIFUL. AEA-ttLtA.
You talk of substantial good, Tito ! Are faithfulness and love, and sweet grateful memories no good ? Is it no good that we should keep our silent promises on which others build because they believe in our love and truth ? Or is it good that we should harden our hearts against all the wants and hopes of those who have depended on us ? but avoiding it, wherever possible because it is unpleasant : Tito, starting so, grows and develops, he
becomes
selfish, unscrupulous,
false and treacherous. And to what end ? How does the maker of these puppets deal with them ? What effect has been produced by all the causes carefully traced for us ? That is final test of the worth of a book, as distinct from its cleverness . It will be remembered how Tito, to escape a mob met in the street, flung himself into the Arno, hoping to swim as he had done five years before, to safety, how he was carried by the current to a grassy hank below the city, where an old man waits, thinking of him and of vengeance. Tito knew him, but he did not know whether it was life or death that had brought him into the presence of his injured father . It might be death, and death might mean this chill gloom with the face of the hideous past hanging over him for ever . But Baldassare s onTy dread was lest the young limbs should escape him . He pressed his knuckles against the round throat and knelt upon the chest with all the force of his aged frame. Let death come now And it came—to both. And what of Ashburn, like Tito, liar, traitor, and coward, and unlike him, hypocrite Those who know Mark now are inclined to envy his good fortune. He is a successful barrister and a popular man . The friend whom he had robbed of success and happiness and fame is dead-dead after forgiving him : the wife he won by fraud has been ill and near to death : she sends for him,
They have not told you," she said : "I asked nurse to prepare you, I knew you would be so anxious . No, dear, it is not goodbye . I feel much better, I am quite sure now that I am going to get well . I wanted to tell you so myself." It may, of course, be satire.
II.--TO THE BEAUTIFUL AEMILIA, MY HEART'S VICEREGENT .* " I knew a girl, Aemilia by name; And I did love her clearly, but alas My proffered suit, her wilfulness did seem To much despise, and I was left forlorn While she like some Bacchante in fine frenzy Wandered at large, to my deep misery Undoing both herself and hearts of men ."
From an old MS.
$67
SCHOOL CONCERTS .
What flower so sweet as the violet, pray ? What flower so fair as the rose ? Or yet, as the lily, so slender and pure And graceful ?—there ' s none ever grows. And mine own dear love, as the violet is sweet ; And fairer is she than the rose ; More of slendrous grace than the lily, she; Lovelier maid there's no one knows. You may not all agree with me, But this I know, whoe ' er you be, If you my love could only see, You could not help but love her. If fault it be, no fault of mine, it is That I do now adore her, Nor her's too—but her beauty's be the blame, That I hold none before her . FAUNUS. *No'FE :—"This,
the second piece which it is proposed to bring before your notice, is a lyric and a delightful example of the extravagant style . It contrasts the feeling of the first .
SCHOOL CONCERTS. A very pleasing feature of this term has been a series of School Concerts organized by Mr . Lord . Besides a large number of members of the School and Masters, a number of ladies and gentlemen took part on different occasions, making up very attractive programmes . These Concerts took place on two nights every week, and a delightful variety of items was performed . In the different concerts there have been four instrumental performers, four humorous sketches, and a multitude of vocalists of all kinds. We were much pleased with the performers from without . Of the instrumentalists, G . Hudson, Esq ., gave us a splendid exposition of the 'cello, and the vocalists were extremely well received. The humorous readings by H . V . Scott, Esq . . and D . Carter, Esq ., were received with great applause, and were repeatedly encored . It would be vain to speak of the respective merits of the performers within the School ; suffice it to say that everybody, in their different spheres, acquitted themselves well, and have done a great deal towards brightening up this slackest of terms .
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LIBRARY.
We understand that it is inconvenient to have these concerts twice a week at this period of the term, but that they will be continued once a week, on Saturday nights, for the future . In conclusion, we beg, in the name of the School, to thank, above all . Mr . Lord, for the great trouble he has been at to organize these concerts and to get performers from outside, and also for accompanying the songs throughout, and on several occasions giving us the benefit of his vocal power . We beg to thank Miss Hingston, Miss Carter, the Misses Morris, Mrs . Yeld, Mrs . and Miss Richards, Messrs . D . Carter, W . Carter, H . V . Scott, G . Hudson, and the Masters . for the part they took in rendering the concerts an unalloyed success . May all success attend the concerts and their originator in the future.
LIBRARY. The following New Books have been added this term : Deeds that won the Empire " ( W. H. .I, ilchell). "Red Cockade " (Stanley II 'grnan). "Memoirs of Minister of France" (Do .) "0 House of the Wolf " (Do .) " Style " ( Walter Raleigh). " Public Schools' Year Book, 1897 . " " Greek Vases " (S . Horner). Rev. C . Robertson has kindly presented a copy of " Lorna Doone " to the Library . E . J . WALTON, G . W . FILLITER,
Libra' :ans .
NOTES AND ITEMS.
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NOTES AND ITEMS. The Rev . F . W . Metcalfe has been presented to the living of St. I3arnabas, Clapham Common. H . H . F . Stockier has passed First into the Marines and received a sword engraved with the crest of the Marines and the inscription, " Presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Second Lieutenant H . II . F . Stocklev, R .1\I .I, .I ., for meritorious examination, January, 1898 ." ()Id Peterites of a past generation will hear with regret of the death of Miss Jane Frances Harrison which took place (n March 29th . at the age of 84, at 25, Grosvenor Terrace, York. We hear that the Rev . C . B . Clarke is going back to India in September. H . I3 . Greeves stroked the Peterhouse Lent Boat at Cambridge, and is, we hear, to stroke the May Boat. B . Hudson has been rowing in the Clare Lent Boat, and is chosen to row iu the May Boat. BIRTHS .—'In the Standard of March 4th), the wife of Captain G . W . Mitchell, of a daughter. At Liverpool, on April 1st, the wife of the Rev . R . M . Ainslie, of a daughter. The Editors acknowledge with thanks the receipt of—Hurst Johnian, Dunelmiarr, Portcullis, Cuthberlian, Lilt, TT j'combe Allot' Case/1 , S . Edward's School Chronicle .