Thr i?ttrritt. Vol. XXIV.
No. 262.
JULY, 1929.
School Letter. Rarely indeed is it that the Editorial pen, casting round for a subject, meets with success almost immediately ; but this term is the exception, for the hard-worked slave of the pen has merely to glance out of the Editorial window to behold a subject ready-made, and even if his eyes be shut, his ears are still assailed by the cacophony of a thousand squeaky brakes. The Dirt-Track is in vogue—not upon the odorous motor-bike, but upon its little brother, the humble " push-bike." The origins of this sport are buried in antiquity and are first mentioned in the Iliad. Many of our readers will recollect in Book XXIII of that work the description of the race won in record time by " Skid " Diomede, second place being secured by " Hurricane " Antilochus from " Broadside " Menelaus, by superior cornering. The crowd in those days was not so orderly as in modern times. It will be remembered that a heated argument took place when the winner came zooming into the home-stretch. Now, of course, loud speakers do away with any disagreement as to ,....tentity, a truly striking example of the .Onward March of Civilisation. The track, too, was none too good. As Homer remarks : 47 7 TO/ &'
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KOVIOUTEc
71-eNoto.
Meantime, while the devotees of speed make the day hideous, high argument is proceeding as to the cover of the " Peterite." It should be clearly understood that last term's cover was purely temporary. Should the new cover prove unsatisfactory, the old one will be re-adopted. The charges of vandalism and disregard of tradition which have been levelled against us by .Old Peterites are surely without foundation. The cover changed last term was only inaugurated in 1921, whereas the temporary cover was in use from 1882 to 1921. We cannot answer for the taste of those Editors who introduced the 1882 cover, but we have no doubt that they were bombarded by indignant epistles from " Paterfamilias," " Old Timer," and " Pro Bono Publico." This gives one furiously to think, as they say in the Sunday newspapers. At any rate we have learnt the bitter truth of the maxim, " You can't please everybody." May we ask Old Peterites to be tolerant and to remember that :If we offend, it is with our good-will,
Our true intent is all for your delight.