An Appreciation of J. II. Fowler

finest side which the School has had for many years. Fortunately Mr. Toyne has been able to lead an active life again, and his coaching of the team, which was missed last year for the greater part of the season, has been invaluable.

The achievements of Old Peterites are chronicled elsewhere, but we cannot pass over two happenings without especial mention. We heartily congratulate C. L. Troop on his successes at Rugby, hoping, too, that before long he will be an international. The second notable event in the Old Peterite world is painful to record —the passing of J. H. Fowler, who was one of the most distinguished of the Old Boys of the School. It is needless to describe his career, since all educated people know the great services which he performed for the study of English literature. Right up to the time of his death he maintained his connection with St. Peter's. Last term he visited us, preached in Chapel, lectured to the Sixth; and contributed an article on Letter Writing to the " Peterite." His loss to St. Peter's and the outside world is irreplaceable.

In conclusion, we must bid good-bye to Mr. Harrison, who has been with us for four years. We wish him good luck and hope that in the near future he will be able to return to the School to view the new art room, not merely proposed, but actually in being.

,}1. H. Fowler. A Personal Appreciation.

I think that Peterites, past and present, will unite in their expressions of sorrow at the death of their old friend J. H. Fowler. Some five years ago he renewed his friendship for his old school, and the embers of his affection for St. Peter's were rekindled by the great gathering in 1927. Since then he has shown his genuine and generous interest in the growth of the New Library, and in his Will bequeathed a beautiful print of the Five Sisters' Window for the lobby or staircase. Everyone has been charmed by his literary readings, and his religious prose poem, the " Spirit of the Mountains," will long be remembered. His literary work will be noticed elsewhere, but here I should like to record the loss of a real friend, whose true sense of values, and gentle sense of quiet humour impelled our admiration and endeared him to our hearts. There are few with his literary discernment. He will be missed by a larger circle than that of his personal friends.

Oxford Letter.

Hilary Term, 1932.

To the Editors of " The Peterite," Dear Sirs,

In the opinion of persons who ought to know, the term which is now reaching its close has been singularly uneventful. Exactly what it has lacked in this respect it is hard to discover, but the general movement for economy, retrenchment and reform, which has gripped Oxford no less than, it is hoped, it has gripped Whitehall, may perhaps be assigned as the general cause of this absence of exceptional incident in University life. One College alone, Magdalen, of all those that were eligible for such functions, celebrated its achievements in the Torpids in the approved fashion. And if certain sections of the authorities have their way, the coming term will be robbed of one of its characteristic features on this same ground of economy. For it has been suggested in official circles that it would be a gesture in keeping with the times if all Commem. Balls were to be dispensed with for this year. There are many, including, no doubt, the Oxford tradesmen, who would argue that such a step would be false economy, but the matter is still sub judice and no final decision has been reached. In this connection the club has decided that, in view of the financial crisis and the present small membership of the club, no official dinner shall be held next term.

Important changes are being made in the architecture of the 0. City. In St. Giles a row of houses has been pulled down to make way for the erection of new lecture rooms for the Taylorian Institute. As yet there are no visible signs of the new building rising above the hoardings and it will be some considerable time before the scheme is completed. At the southern corners of Carfax, too, new municipal buildings are rising rapidly, and only Messrs.

Boggins, cut off on both sides by the new structure and in splendid isolation, remains to mar the general effect and stir up memories of the past.

Considerable feeling has been aroused recently by the refusal of the Blues Committee to grant even a half-blue for ice-hockey. This decision is surprising in view of the fact that the University team is easily the best in England, if not in Europe. They were only narrowly beaten by a Canadian team, which toured Europe without defeat, and are shortly to play the Rest of England combined.

We should like to take the opportunity of congratulating R. G. Bullen on again representing Cambridge at squash, though we