"Oasis"

before the next round; the jump must be checked after every hit. It is the first duty which requires the most feverish activity.]

Wednesday began for the party after lunch and most of the time was taken up with jumping or removing jumps for the Household Cavalry Musical Ride. There were two jumping competitions, between which the course had to be changed—indeed changed twice, as the competitors complained that the clerk of the course had set too hard a course. In the last competition what we had been waiting for happened—a horse ran straight through the wall ! However, providence had it that this was the last jump of the day and so there was no undue panic.

Thursday was the same only more so, as the party was in the ring nearly all day. One rather enjoyable job was lost in that there were no police horses to scare with umbrellas, guns, rattles, shouting and sundry other "steam valves".

Major Whitehead thanked the party and assured us that we were the best ever, and indeed we were informed that we constituted the best arena party in his circuit. Be it deserved or no, we thank the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for inviting us, and we wish future parties luck—though it is a shame that they will not be able to reach such an impossibly high standard !

OASIS

The Editor of Oasis, the new School magazine of original contributions, describes it as "an outlet for the more imaginative side of the School's writers and artists". It is intended to be complementary to The Peterite, which is primarily a chronicle of the life of the School and of the actual experiences of its members. Thus one aim of the founders of Oasis is to separate the imaginative contributions of the School from the factual, rather than unite the two in a possibly uneasy partnership.

The collection and selection of material was the work of a committee of six senior boys under the editorship of D. B. Irvin. The effort of this committee has been particularly important since they have been responsible for the first venture and have set the standard for future years. However, since such new projects are bound to take shape under the direction of masters, we congratulate Mr. Holbeche (who originated the idea) and Mr. Gaastra on seeing their conception come into being. In short, we welcome Oasis, and thank its creators as well as praise their first edition.

Certain principles have obviously been followed in selecting material. First, it is notable that the contributors range from Upper Shell A to the Upper Sixth : evidently the committee insisted on a commendably wide representation in the magazine Secondly, in

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order to maintain a high general standard, the preponderance of contributions has been taken from the top of the School. Lastly, a balance has clearly been sought between the humorous and the serious; and if, in the prose articles, we take as extremes D. L. Marshall's "The Scone of Stone" and the Editor's own "Crimson Crucifix", we can say that this balance has been achieved. Moreover, in bridging these extremes, F. I. Watson, in his mock-serious "Criticism : 'Hickory Dickory Dock' ", has produced a contribution of considerable promise.

School life itself is bound to provide a starting point for imaginative adventure, and of the three articles of this nature, two are delightful: "The Tribulations of C. de P.", the detached response of a schoolboy to the assumed ferocity of a master, and "Journey into . Nowhere", a morning's heavy day-dreaming in the classroom. The third, "Chapter House Notes", tends to blur the distinction between humorous and personal satire, but at least makes its point about the style to be avoided in House notes in The Peterite.

There is almost certain to be more to choose from in prose than in verse, and more verse contributions would be welcome in this type of magazine. Nevertheless the standard of verse entries in this first edition is sufficiently high to augur well for the future. The highest standard of bathos is reached in this gem by F. D. Lavender under the title "A Level English" : "0 cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice?" State the alternative preferred, With reasons for your choice.

Illustrations are disposed evenly throughout the magazine, and effective use is made of pen-and-ink drawings by P. G. Hamilton to give more weight to some of the slighter literary articles. Among three fine scraper-board illustrations, the most striking is that by K. A. Steel of a spider struggling with a fly. These are the only two named artists and their work has added much to the quality of Oasis.

Noting the apparent paucity of artists, and that two of the written articles are by one boy, let us hope that this important new magazine will not be carried by a few willing and able contributors, but will attract entries from all parts of the School, particularly from the higher forms. It deserves and must have wide support, and support means contributions. Perhaps the committee could help to give encouragement and to raise standards by being prepared to explain why they reject some efforts.

To conclude, Oasis is an excellent addition to the life of the School. We look forward to its annual success, and we wish it a bright future. D.G.C.