Bartholomew Fair

of the exhibits which made the whole so successful, but the willingness of the exhibitors to explain their own items, not just once, but throughout the two days to anyone who appeared lost. As the principles behind the majority of exhibits were unknown to me, such willingness was doubly welcome.

The exhibition opened with a short dramatic account of the history of science in York from the Romans to George Hudson, after which we were given a chance to observe some of their contributions at greater length in the rooms next to the Hall. Also in this section one had a chance to learn about the complicated workings of the computer and its many uses. The rest of the exhibition was made up of 107 different exhibits, ranging from "Chemicals from the sea" to "Insect camouflage," from "Ultra violet radiation, its properties and uses" to "Dichromate oxidation of alcohol," from chickens to soap, from cigarettes to river pollution, from trout to electrolysis, from gas chromatography to passion rating. Harmonics, polymers, combustion and soil were all represented, plus many others. It was a composite exhibition, most competently produced. The trials and tribulations of preparation were not apparent on the day, and the efforts of all were well rewarded by the total success of the exhibition.

But its value went further than the simple (or complex) explanation of scientific principles. It was also the application of an educational principle—that involvement in the process of learning produces the best results—and one hopes very much that such opportunities as these science exhibitions provide will not be lost. D.R.D.C.

On the evening of June 16th, two performances of scenes from 41 Ben ! Jonson's 'Bartholomew Fair' were presented by the Third and Fourth Forms; production was by the Headmaster and Mr. Oxley. Two particoloured stalls selling gingerbread and roast pig promised all the fun, and though the cast found it hard to rise to the playwright's full vigour and verbal subtlety, yet the colour and knockabout comedy were all his, Ursula, the appalling and greasy roast pig seller (Christopher Smith) set the pace. He treated us to an intriguing fight over a lost frying pan, and showed us a very unladylike leg when it was scalded in the contest, all sores and dirty bandages. (When these scenes were played before The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh a fortnight later, the Duke amused aside, told one of the boys that underneath the morning in an dress, A his leg looked like that.) Ursula was well supported by Mooncalf (John Brace), her bottle boy, who displayed an unforgettable pair of "grasshopper thighs" clad in bright yellow tights, as he staggered under weight of that round-bottomed chair, which features in all School the productions. Nightingale's easily heard voice (Jeremy Beadle) promised song, and a fine song we were duly given—the music composed and played by Robin Walker. Dramatically the song was overlong, but it provided a good opportunity to observe the dapper Edgworth (Michael Walker) at work picking pockets, and there was some nice by-play with the feather from Dame Purecraft's hat. Jonson hated the hypocritical Puritans, and the stocks which were on stage throughout the play were