" The Curtain "

found most interesting. A lecture was given on March 12th by Mr. Shipley, of Drax Grammar School, on Evolution, illustrated by excellent slides drawn by himself. The subject was very .difficult to cover fully and relevantly, but Mr. Shipley pleased both those interested and with some knowledge, and those merely .curious : a very entertaining evening.

The Society still maintains its large number of members, and hopes are high for possibilities in the future.

The Triennial Scientific Exhibition was not held this term, as it was felt that without Mr. Featherstone to help it could not be .arranged so efficiently in a short while. It is hoped that an exhibition will be held soon, but no definite date has yet been fixed.

Ebe Curtain.

That highly intellectual and aristocratic Society known to its patrons as " The Curtain " may be congratulated on an increased measure of success. The plays chosen were more in accordance with popular taste than those chosen last term : the absence of Shakespeare (with all due regards to this obscure rival of Bernard Shaw) was received with relief by an overwhelming majority of members. At the ninth meeting of the Society, Galsworthy's "Loyalties" was read in the Headmaster's house, and Mrs. Toyne kindly provided refreshments. At the tenth meeting, 'Androcles and the Lion" was read at Mr. Sykes' house, where refreshments were kindly provided by Mrs. Sykes. Most of Shaw's inimitable sallies " got over," and the Society broke up feeling that it had assisted in tearing down many established beliefs, and in laughing at others even if it had not replaced them. At the eleventh meeting, " Service," by C. L. Anthony, was read in Mrs. Toyne's drawing room, with an interlude for refreshments. This was voted a successful evening. For its twelfth meeting,

The late Christopher Bean " was read, at Mrs. White's house, and the Society is deeply indebted for the invitation so kindly extended, and the excellent refreshments provided. Once again the " Rocket " (alias " The Atom ") and " Susan " did invaluable service in conveying the members to their destination. If we may venture a stray shaft at such a conservative Society, we might suggest that the parts be more evenly distributed.

There is tending to grow up an inner circle within the Society of handsome he-men and beautiful maidens, with an outer ring of members relegated to eternal humiliation as flunkeys, henchmen, yes-men, and charwomen.

The Society is indebted to Mr. Toyne for kindly providing three tickets for the Drama League Competition, held in the private theatre of Rowntrees. I. L. Lupton, C. A. Smart, and M. Hollway were successful in obtaining the tickets from a raffle.

Entertainments.

" TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD."

This film was shown in Big Hall on Saturday, February loth_ Eisensteinmade this film to portray the ten vital days of the Russian Revolution of 1917. When it was originally made it no, doubt represented something new in film technique. But to us of a

more sophisticated film age it was disappointing. Eisenstein's excessive use of imagery and his determination to impress the mind by making the camera record from every possible angle were devices which tired the eye and wearied the mind. The running commentary, kindly given by a member of the York Labour Club,. was, unfortunately, largely inaudible, and without some foreknowledge it was extremely difficult to tell who was who in the Russian Revolution. The actor who played Kerensky was the only clean-cut figure who stood out from a welter of proletarian beards.. But this, we are told, is exactly what Eisenstein intended in order to show the failure of individuals like that short-lived dictator.

" THE MYSTERY OF NANDA DEVI."

On Saturday, February 29th, Mr. H. W. Tilman gave us art unusual and interesting lecture on his experiences when he accompanied E. E. Shipton on the ascent of Nanda Devi, one of the lesser known and most impregnable of the Himalayan mountain. strongholds. The lecture was well illustrated with beautiful. photographic slides. We learnt of the limited resources at thedisposal.of the two mountaineers, the vicissitudes of their fortunes, the indomitable spirit of the Sherpa porters and the unfaithfulness, of others ; we heard tales of wild pilgrimages and greedy priests, of eerie ravines and sweet hidden pastures. For those who wish to. study further this part of the Himalayas, we recommend Mr. Shipton's book, " Nanda Devi," which has just been added to the Library.

CHARADES AND SING-SONG.

On the last Saturday of term we spent a noisy evening in BigHall singing ballads and laughing at the foolishness of others ; for the three charades, which were produced at about five minutes' notice, were all well worth watching and laughter. St. Olave's,. the School House, and The Staff all did valiant work in entertaining the audience, and we are not sure whether the marble mal-demer of St. Olave's, the reincarnation of Mr. Twigg by J. B. Dixon, or the Queen Elizabeth of Mr. Ping was the hit of the evening. Mr. Sykes deserves thanks for his noble work at the piano, and for his choice of cheerful ballads.