June 1951

Page 29

From the floor it was suggested that the many artifices employed in film-making led to a deterioration in acting ability, and the general standard was therefore lowered. The cinema had been abused and was falling behind as a fine art. The motion was subsequently rejected by 54 votes to 36. At the close of our final meeting, the House passed unanimously a resolution to continue our activities next term, should there be an opportunity. We hope that there will be such an opportunity. That debates should be held in the summer is something new, but it is surely a healthy omen. D. G. HILTON.

"YORK" BY JOHN RODGERS, M.P. (BATSFORD, LTD., 8s. 6d.) Here is a book for which the present reviewer has long been searching. Several years ago, on first coming to York, he searched the bookshops for a readable book about York—one which did not emphasise unduly the mediaeval history, or the architecture of the city, and one which avoided the annoying guide-book habit of bluntly ordering the reader to "notice the 17th cent. altar rails, or the projecting piscina in the S. chantry". To the writer's surprise, no bookseller offered any very helpful suggestion. Now at last we have a book which gives us a glimpse with all features of the life and tradition of "this amazing city which is a treasure-house of all periods of English history", a book which Mr. Rodgers hopes will be of value to visitors from overseas. Certainly it is a book which will appeal to all Peterites and Old Peterites, to the exiled sons of Yorkshire, and "maybe to the citizens of York themselves, who are the trustees of a truly noble heritage which they must zealously and lovingly guard". Its excellent photographs alone are reminders to anyone who has left York of the beautiful familiar scenes, and those of us who still live here will find it a useful source of information for visitors who take it for granted that we shall know all the answers to questions about the city's history. We are grateful to Mr. Rodgers for presenting an autographed copy of his latest book to the School Library. Many of us have enjoyed his previous Batsford books, especially "The Old Public Schools of England", which of course, included an interesting account of St. Peter's. It is most appropriate that an Old Peterite should write the best book about York, and the School is naturally proud of Mr. Rodgers' reputation as an author, as well as of his achievements as an administrator and Member of Parliament.

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