AGS Magazine February 1906

ffebruarr,

ABERDEEN JAS G 8/SSET

i ,

CONTENTS.

Frontispiece.

THE LATE DR. GRAY, OF AUCHTERLESS SCHOOL NOTES

-

THE SCHOOL MUSEUM

I I

-

-

-

THE LATE DR. GRAY

i 1, 1

-

40

-

-

-

54

-

-

55

-

-

-

59

-

60

-

-

-

-

THE NEW PARLIAMENT -

-

-

-

-

62

" JUDICIAL NIGHT "

-

-

-

-

67

-

-

-

-

69

THE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY FINALE

-

74

-

SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTES

-

-

-

-

-

76

" DEBATER " NOTES -

-

-

-

-

-

-

83

OUR CONTEMPORARIES

-

-

-

-

-

-

86

_

_

-

88

SCHOOL OFFICIALS -

It

-

-

ON REVERIE AND CONTENT

I

-

-

NOTES ABOUT OLD BOYS

RANDOM NOTES

*

-

1185-

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE. "NC

Young Gentlemen can have their

OR FLANNEL

TWEED

SUIT

Made to Measure from Material of their own choosing at

lOS. from

CHRISTIE & GREGOR, Mercbant

42 and 43 UNION TERRACE. *

TEXT BOOKS Of all lunOt3 (NEW AND SECOND-HAND),

D. WYLLIE & SO

N 247 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN,

JOHN C. M`LEOD, 48

- - HATTER, - UNION STREET,

respectfully intimate to pupils of Grammar School tUOULD a Large Stock of Cap and Glengarry Zabges, as

authorised; also, football jerseys, Vett% ties, moose, and bat Eanb9.

Great variety of Football, Cricket, Tennis, and Boating jerseys, Sweaters, Knickers, Trousers, Shirts, Belts, Caps, Hats, Bathing Pants and Costumes.

TROPHY AND CLUB CAPS MADE TO ORDER.

Straw Hats, with Club and other Fancy Bands, tiuards, Puggarees, &c.

FOR SUMMER

NEW STYLES FELT HATS, TWEED

CAPS, &c.

TIES, SCARFS, COLLARS, BRACES, and UMBRELLAS.

ir I

TIIE LATE DR. GRAY, OF AUCHTERLESS

THE

Orannnar Scf?oot tlTaga3ine.

I

Vol. IX.

FEBRUARY, 1906.

No. 2.

" To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day."

TIME rolls on in his ceaseless course, and already 1905 is deep buried in the dark abyss of the past. Now 1906 is all before us with its .various possibilities for " weal or woe," and, although almost two months of the year have fled, we feel that we cannot begin our " Notes " in better fashion than by wishing all our readers, both " Young Boys" and " Old Boys alike, a bright and prosperous New Year.

1

I 4

Good wishes are necessary at a time like this, for the " Derby of Aberdeen" is now spreading its depressing pall over us all. We have no outstanding geniuses in the School this year, but several fellows are very equal, and, to use the words of a sporting contemporary, " a good race ought to be witnessed." Of one thing we may be sure, that all who enter for the " Comp." will do their utmost for the honour of the dear old School.

The subject of our frontispiece can have been a stranger to few Grammar boys, and by his death the School has lost one of her noblest sons. We feel that no words of ours here could express the deep loss we have

50

The Grammar School Magazine.

sustained, and the little we can do is to convey the sincerest sympathy of the School to the home made dark by the presence of Death.

0

Once again we have to thank our " Oldest Boy " for the generous donation of £1 which he has sent us. Admiral Sir Arthur Farquhar is one of the School's loyalest sons, and, though he has so often sent us pleasant surprises of the same generous nature, we can assure him that repetition has by no means dulled our sense of gratitude.

We are proud of our XV. ! Ay, and with reason, too !

A record of played 11, won 7, drawn 2 is one not achieved every year, and the team which has gained it is deserving of our heartiest congratulations. After two terrible beatings in practice games, the team settled down, with the result that it has not lost a Junior Championship game since 2nd December.

Quiet and unassuming, yet ever ready to encourage by word or net, our captain has played a leading part in the team's success, and we tremble to think of our record had we been deprived of his leadership.

Truly, "'Tis not alone in scholars' lore our Grammar boys excel."

Why do not more of the School turn out to witness the matches ? To think of a paltry 50 or 100 boys out of a roll of over 400 coming down to cheer us on is nothing short of scandalous. Time was when we had to crane on tip-toe to see a game, so dense was the crowd behind the ropes. Now " Tempora mutantur," in sorrowful truth.

Show your loyalty, School, by turning out to the few remaining matches, and helping to swell that deep, booming roar of " Sch-o-o-o-o-o-111! " which puts so much encouragement into the straining forward's breast.

The success of the 2nd and 3rd XV.'s bodes well for next year's 1st, and little difficulty should be found in filling the many gaps that will be created in the team at the end of this session, —— The departure of football welcomes the advent of cricket, and soon the merry rattle of bats and wickets will displace the deep boom of the ball. The School will muster a strong XI. this year, no fewer than eight of last

0 4

0

.

I

School Notes.

51

year's team being available. F. Wishart is captain of the School, while J. S. Giles will act as secretary. As both officials have already played two seasons in the XI., they hardly lack experience. Let us hope for as successful a cricket season as we have had a football one.

An attempt will be made to form a regular 2nd XI. this year, and, as there is much latent talent in the School, little difficulty should be encountered, except in the matter of fixtures.

The " Debater " season is almost over, and, on looking back, we must confess that to us, at least, it has been a most enjoyable one. The debates have been, for the most part, on topical subjects, and have invariably been well threshed out, while we could not have wished for pleasanter or more interesting lectures. A " Parliamentary Night " was held during the heat of the elections, and its success was so marked that we hope to see it get a permanent place in the syllabus of the Society.

We are sorry to see that the " Debater " is so very far beneath the dignity of the VI., for, with one or two honourable exceptions, that class does not deign to acknowledge the existence of the Society.

•

•

The Debating Society's Concert and Dramatic Performance was held on Thursday and Friday, 15th and 16th February in the School Hall, before crowded houses.

The play, which was " Ici On Parle Francais," went extremely well, all the actors throwing themselves heart and soul into their respective roles. No one can claim such a mead of praise for the success of the piece as our stagemanager, Mr. Charles Davidson.

The actors had little more than a month in which to reach concert pitch, and, we are sure, had the stage-manager been anyone else than Mr. Davidson, they could never have done it.

Mr. Davidson worked harder than any Trojan, and we feel that we are expressing the sentiments of the actors when we say that the success of the piece is due in far greater measure to our stage-manager than to any individual efforts of the actors themselves.

We are glad to note the popularity of " the meanest coin of the realm," no fewer than 592 threepenny pieces

52

The Grammar School Magazine.

being found in the collection. Surely, if the concert is worth coming to, it is worth more than threepence !

We cannot let this number go to press without heartily thanking Mr. Macbeth for his kindness in lending us the piano for our concert. Year after year Mr. Macbeth has allowed us the use of the best piano in his establishment; year after year he has helped us, and in no mean manner, with our concert. In the name of the School, we heartily thank Mr. Macbeth for his great kindness, and hope that he may be long spared to extend it to us, for we are by no means unmindful.

*

On Friday night a singular tribute was paid to the ability of our stage-manager for " making-up " characters.

Before the performance commenced, " Mrs. Spriggins happened to be taking a stroll along the corridor, when " she " met a gentleman whom, as a boy, " she " knew perfectly. Forgetting for the moment that " she " was made up, " Mrs. Spriggins" politely smiled to the gentleman, when, Ye gods! after a quizzical glance, the gentleman whipped oft his hat and returned the salutation. We now come to chapter II. After the performance, the "Major" was careering down the corridor with his arm round " Angelina.," when the same gentleman was again met.

Need we say more!" In all seriousness the " Major's" salutation was returned, and, as before, accompanied by the removal of the gentleman's hat. " We here protest it, and are covetous Posterity should know it . . . .

The Annual School Assizes, or, more prosaically, " Judicial Night," came off, as usual, early in December.

The " case " was a murder, of an exceedingly cold-blooded description, committed in Beechgrove Place at some time or other on a certain night in November. C. D. Peterkin (F.P.) made a capital ;Judge, and all the actors entered into the spirit of the trial with praiseworthy energy.

Macrae, as P.C. MacTavish, and Macleod, as the cook, fairly brought down the house in relating some of their love passages, while Seivwright, as a student, had to be led out as being insane. Reiman was good as the prisoner, his dash for liberty being quite up to anything he has done on the Rugby field. Butchart made a fine

•

School Notes.

0

53

doctor, and Mlienzie, as a barmaid, was—well—just what one would expect a barmaid to be. Munro was all right as a chemist, and Milne, as chemist's assitant, paralysed the Court with his " broad Scotch." Murray looked a very " comfortable" housekeeper, and Semple, Robson, and Walker all played their respective roles to perfection.

Altogether, the trial was capitally got up and excellently conducted.

The criticism of the 1st XV., which we bring out with this issue, ought to be of great interest to the School, and, particularly, to the XV. themselves. It shows them to what department of the game they ought to pay special attention, and what branch to keep up to the standard they already •possess. We hope that those whose criticism falls below their expectations will not be disheartened, but will be spurred on to greater efforts in the future. The criticism also benefits the School in general, for it shows them what virtues to copy and what defects to avoid.

The absence of the Debating Society Committee, as stewards, was very generally remarked on Thursday night.

Look to your laurels, gentlemen !

To judge from the lusty manner in which the XV. trolled out the School song on their way to Fraserburgh, " Bon-Record " is by no means waning in popularity. The song owes its revival to the efforts of the actors in " Ici On Park Francais." All honour to their loyalty!

The Rector is at present busily engaged in the Physical Examination, which has now been in operation for almost four years. We hope soon to have some statistics from the register for publication in the Magazine.

•

When last we wrote "School Notes," we said we hoped to see the new buildings ready for occupation after the Christmas holidays, but, alas ! " The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley." However, we can state with certainty that they will be waiting for us after Easter.

Our article " On Reverie and Content " is by a wellknown F.P., Mr. James Rae, M.A. We had received this

54

The Grammar School Magazine.

article for publication in our last issue, but owing to lack of space we were compelled to keep it over until this number.

Our other article is by Mr. Thomas Bloch, a native of Elgin, who has had a most distinguished career as a He represented for some time several imjournalist. portant newspapers in the Reporters' Gallery of the House of Commons, and was for many years chief editor of the " Leeds Mercury." He retired recently from the latter position, and is now residing in Aberdeen. We are sure that all our readers will heartily welcome this article, coming, as it does, from the pen of one who ought to know, and, in view of the recentness of the election, it is rendered all the more interesting.

4o

•

THE SCHOOL MUSEUM. AN invaluable contribution has been made in the form of a loan collection from the Congo Free State, by the Rev. A. Billington, of the American Baptist Mission. These articles are the property of J. G. Brown, in Modern IV., and will remain in the School until he is able to house them. They consist of shields, spears, axes, and other weapons, many specimens of woven stuffs, plait work, mats and baskets, anklets, bracelets, and necklets—one of them in brass weighs 25 lbs. ! and a host of objects, very quaint and curious, but too numerous to describe.

In addition, Mr. Billington has presented the School with a cabinet containing an excellent collection of geological specimens, properly classified and named, chiefly from the south of England. The fossils will be of special interest, as such objects are rare in this locality. The whole forms the most valuable and generous gift our Museum has yet received.

Meantime, it is unlikely that the new Library, Reading Room, and Museum will be open till after the summer holidays.

•

4

Notes about Old Boys.

4

55

•

POPOCATEPETL! What is that? Well, that is the volcanic mountain (18,000 feet high) in Mexico, from the top of which we have our latest greeting. James Clark is liking life in Mexico City well, and was pleased to see his fellow-countrymen at golf, beaten though they were.

Then Andrew Smith, late of Modern IV., salutes us from Switzerland, where he is at present learning French and German.

And Alfred Joaquin Gray is studying at the Technical College of Agriculture in Madrid, where he expects to take his degree of Bachelor in Agronomy after the normal course of seven years.

His father, the Consul at Cartagena, an " Old Boy," writes us in terms of high praise of this College, which he inspected thoroughly last autumn. He accompanied the Spanish Home Secretary in his inspection of the buildings and arrangements, and remarks that for splendid equipment, with everything up-to-date, the College would be hard to beat, even in this country. It seems that the course is theoretical for the first three years, and practical for the last four. Surely Spain is waking up.

George E. Scroggie has given up his medical studies, and is engaged in banking at Blenheim, near Toronto, in Canada. We wish him every success.

•

Robert Anderson is in a branch of the same bank some 300 miles north of Blenheim.

Robert Holmes, who was invalided home from the deadly West African Coast, and afterwards took up railway engineering in Mexico, is back to Lagos again. We

56

The Grammar School Magazine.

hope that when he meets the Alake of Abeokuta there may be nothing but kindly remembrances of Aberdeen.

Bertie is doing extremely well, we are glad to hear, in railway work, which is highly paid in those haunts of malaria.

•

•

We met Hector Brown not long ago on furlough from St. Paul de Loanda, in Portuguese West Africa.

It seems that not only man, but everything else, is vile down there.

We were very glad to meet Dr. Glanville Milne, of Roodepoort, Transvaal, who has just got married. He is prospering exceedingly in South Africa, and has taken out with him as assistant Dr. W. It. Catto, an " Old Boy," and also discoverer of some bacillus or other, to which he has given his name. " Glanny's" brother, Arnold, is assistant-manager of the Durban Mining Company, while Norman is a mining inspector in Johannesburg. The youngest brother, Douglas, who was also a surveyor of mines, died lately.

It seems but yesterday that George B. Pirie, then in the Middle School, timidly asked the writer to contribute a mite to the Shipwrecked Sailors' Mission at Palermo, Sicily. And, now, lo ! here he is accountant of the Standdard Bank of South Africa at Randfontein, Transvaal.

We are expecting an article from his pen on " Prospects in the Transvaal for Old Grammarians."

James S. Meston, of the Indian Civil Service, who was "lent" to the Cape Government to make inquiry into the Civil Service of Cape Colony, has now completed his work. We have read his report, not so fulminant, it must be allowed, as the one that fell from the blue skv a lustrum or so ago on a certain spot we know, but still a severe one. So satisfied have been the authorities with his work that Lord Selborne has asked him to report on the Transvaal Civil Service, where "dead-heads" and holders of sinecures abound.

The Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers have awarded a Watt Medal to Charles Chree, LL.D., F.R.S.

•

v

Notes about Old Boys.

I

57

Sir George Gibb has been appointed, in succession to Mr. Yerkes, chairman and managing director of the Metropolitan and District Railways, and deputy-chairman and managing director of the " Twopenny Tube." Bravo, Sir George! and there was no Modern side in your day.

Nor was there when Sir Thomas Sutherland, chairman of the P. and O. Company, was at school.

W. L. Mollison has been appointed one of the representatives of the General Board of Studies on the Financial Board at Cambridge University.

Vane Walker, of last years' VII., was first in the examination for the Miller Bursary offered by the Edinburgh Caithness Association for students entering Edinburgh University.

Alexander Reid, engineer-in-chief of the Pekin Syndicate, who presided at the dinner of the St. Andrew's Society of Honan, on St. Andrew's Day last, presented each member with a beautiful silver medal, bearing the effigy of St. Andrew, encircled with the collar of the Order of the Thistle.

George Topham Forrest has been successful, out of 166 candidates, in obtaining the appointment of architect for schools under control of the Northumberland County Council.

•

One of our old masters, Rev. George Macarthur, M.A., attains his ministerial jubilee. After being minister of the U.P. Church at Lynturk, where he was succeeded by another distinguished " Old Boy," Mr. Duncan, he was appointed mathematical master in the School in 1863.

Here he remained for nine years. From 1872 to 1889 he was employed on the Encyclopedia Britannica. The oversight of the proofs from the press was entrusted to him, and it fell to him, as revising editor, to read the whole colossal work, attending to all corrections from beginning to end. Afterwards he did similar work for the Century Dictionary in America. He is at present minister of St. George's Church, Brondesbury.

Arthur C. Hay is assistant master in the Thurso West Public School.

58

The Grammar School Magazine.

William Macintosh, so well known in cricketing circles in Aberdeen, has got an important appointment in the Royal Insurance Company, Dublin.

Dr. Charles Thiselton Dyer Urquhart is chief of the Caledonian Society at Bloemfontein, Orange River Colony.

♦ a

An unexpected meeting of two " Old Boys " took place Harald Merrylees, who is a in Alexandria lately. marine engineer, met James Clarke, of the Bank of Egypt, Alexandria, and a pleasant hour or two they spent together.

Albert Gray, M.B., has been appointed bacteriologist to the London Hospital.

We are pleased to note that the captain of the University Boat Club is A. D. Fraser, while W. Angus is vice-captain.

Captain Lessel P. Stephen, of the Indian Medical Service, has obtained the Diploma of Public Health at London University. He is at present in London studying ophthalmology.

Classical IV.—What is the meaning and derivation of that word?

We understand that Sir George Gibb was asked by Lord Londonderry to help him to carry out reforms in the Post Office, but that he declined.

We read in the local newspapers that Professor Murison, of the Chair of Roman Law, London University, who contested, unsuccessfully, the seat for Aberdeen and Glasgow Universities, is to become a candidate for East Aberdeenshire.

Mr. Murison was for many years a master in the School.

It is with much regret that we record the death, at the early age of twenty, of F. Manson Greig, who left us but a few years ago.

•

Our obituary list is always a lengthy one, and in it we have to place the following names : —John Donaldson, superintendent of the Shipping Federation at the Barry Docks in Wales; Dr. William Cromar, of Woodgreen,

r

41

•

Note. about Old Boys.

59

Smith, London, who died at the age of 36; the Rev. Dr. of the Broughton Place U.F. Church, Edinburgh, at the age of 61; the Rev. Alex. Esson, late parish schoolmaster of Birse, aged 81; Wm. Duncan, of the "Newcastle Daily Chronicle," aged 69 ; and, last, the venerable minister-emeritus of Auchterless, Dr. Alexander Gray, who came from the plough to the School, to leave it for the University as first bursar. He had attained the age of 82.

We hear wondrous reports about the Byron Statue.

Plans are being matured for bringing the matter before the public again. Soon the public will hear of a definite move being made. Qui vivra verra. We make bold to say that for the foreign visitors, especially those of the Franco-Scottish Society assembled in Aberdeen in September, the centre of interest will be not the Quatercentenary of the University, nor the magnificent facade in Broad Street, but Byron, who was for three years a member of our School. Let us, therefore, as a School, endeavour to do something worthy of the occasion.

THE LATE DR. GRAY.

a

•

ON the 13th of December last there died one of our oldest former pupils—the Rev. Dr. Gray, of Auchterless.

Alexander Gray was born in the parish of Tarves in 1823. The son of a crofter, he left school at the age of 14, and was sent to farm work. He had other ideals, and the lad set himself resolutely to realize them. Year after year he toiled, until at length, when 21 years of age, he Under the parish left the plough to re-enter school. schoolmaster he made rapid progress, and one year later was enrolled as a pupil of Aberdeen Grammar School, of which Dr. Melvin was then Rector. Of Gray's ability and undaunted perseverance we may judge, when, in 1847, after fifteen months in the Grammar School, he was first bursar at Marischal College. His name as such occupies its place of honour on our School wall.

Throughout his University course he maintained his position, taking many prizes, and gaining at the end the Town Council Gold Medal, awarded to the most distinguished student of the year.

60

The Grammar School Magazine.

His student days over, Gray became the parochial schoolmaster at Methlick, and remained there until licensed to preach in 1856. Holburn Church, Aberdeen, then a Chapel of Ease, was his first charge, and here he was ordained by the Rev. Marshall Lang, now Principal of Aberdeen University. In January of the following year he became parish minister of Strichen, and four years later he was invited to become minister of Auchterless.

For over 35 years he laboured in this parish, bringing to bear upon his ministry the same energy and ability which had characterised his earlier days. An eloquent preacher, interesting and sincere, he won the respect and esteem of all classes of the community. The time he had spent at farm service proved most valuable to him, as it gave him an insight into the lives of the farm servants, which few ministers possess.

His " Talks with Farm Servants," which appeared first in " Life and Work," and afterwards in book form, has been widely read and appreciated.

In 1889 the University of Aberdeen conferred on him the degree of D.D., an honour which he well deserved.

When failing health obliged Dr. Gray to retire in 1898, he took up his residence in Aberdeen, where to many of us the aged minister—tall and white-haired, with long, white beard and shaggy eye-brows—was a familiar figure.

• 4

RANDOM NOTES. A NEW YEAR has come since last we wrote "Random Notes," and after the festivities of Christmas, and the forming and breaking of numerous New Year resolutions, the members of the School have settled down to the ordinary routine of work.

On the Friday before the Christmas holidays an opportunity was given of criticising the last number of the Magazine. Our fears of weighty censure were, however, dispelled, as scarcely any criticism was forthcoming, and we have come to the conclusion that writing notes for the Magazine is not such a terrible ordeal after all.

The Debating Society's Concert in December was a success in every way.

Those who by any chance had the good fortune to hear occasional snatches of song prevailing over the other diverting sounds in the room were much impressed with the musical ability of the performers. We should like

•

a

Random Notes.

• ♦

61

to offer our special congratulations to the gentleman who requested that his song should be put late in the programme, in order that he might have time to invent a suitable tune of his own ! When his song actually came, it was agreed by all that it had been worth waiting for.

The General Election is over, and party feeling is a little less violent in the School. It is now even possible to enter the Reading Room without hearing violent altercations between political foes. We were somewhat puzzled one morning when we observed several youths wearing strange rosettes of blue and yellow. On inquiry, however, we discovered that these were connected with neither " Band of Hope" nor " Juvenile Anti-Cigarette League," but were " Tariff Reform " badges. A supporter of the latter policy likewise advocated the wearing of ties of blue and yellow ; but our eyes have as yet been spared the sight of these.

The number of eloquent politicians in the School is really beyond belief, and we confess that we are somewhat surprised that no constituency on the look-out for a promising candidate has approached certain eloquent gentlemen of our acquaintance.

We should like to thank certain former pupils who graced the " Judicial Night " with their presence for the excellent example of behaviour they showed to the junior members of the School present, for their thoughtfulness in continually correcting the Judge and the Counsel whenever the latter went astray, and for their general kindness in endeavouring to keep the Court amused—in which they succeeded. It is highly gratifying to know that there are some former pupils, even in such exalted positions as the first year at College, who are not above extending their patronage to their old School occasionally.

Certain of us believe firmly in fresh air at all times and in all places, but other more prosaic individuals do not appear likely converts. The opening and the shutting of the windows is a daily cause of war in Room I., and leads to the uttering of remarks more pointed than pleasant.

We regret to observe such indifference among the members of the Sixth Class in regard to the Debating Society. The class, with two or three honourable exceptions, are so wrapped in study that the meetings on Friday evenings are far beneath their diginity; but surely the minds even of these most erudite students

62

7'he Grammar School Magazine.

might have derived some benefit from the excellent lectures given this session. We sincerely hope that the present Sixth will next year as the Seventh take more interest in School affairs.

We sympathise with those members of the Seventh whose time is so much occupied with study that they have no time left for exercise and recreation, except a The intricate few minutes at the forenoon interval. manoeuvres performed at that time in the field, though condemned by some as beneath the dignity of the Seventh, afford a most edifying spectacle. It is clear that in the Seventh there is a desire to strive after the ideal of " mens sana in corpore sano."

We have sometimes heard whispers of studying being done by members of the School on the first day of the week, but our reply to such tales has always been, Quite recently, however, " Credat Judceus Apella!" circumstances have led us to modify our belief, for we have heard on excellent authority that a youth confesses that his anxiety to improve his general knowledge of Greek and his style in Latin Prose has led to his studying occasionally on Sundays the Greek Testament and the works of the Church Fathers.

We are now in the midst of the Lenten season of the School year—namely, the period immediately before the much-dreaded Competition. It is a time so much consecrated to unbroken study that it seems almost sacrilege to devote a few hours to the production of the Magazine.

THE NEW PARLIAMENT. There Ir struck me as the strangest place I had ever sat in. was a humming and bustling so that you could hear nothing for the most part ; the members all sitting with their hats on talking to one another, coming and going. You only saw the Speaker, a man in an immense powdered wig, in an old, elevated chair, and half-heard him mumbling, " Say aye, say no; the ayes have it."

—Carlyle.

Carlyle was once in his life persuaded to visit the House of Commons, and the foregoing quotation conveys his impressions of what he saw and heard. We are told by his biographer that once in after years, on an invitation from a northern Borough, he did for a moment con-

The New Parliament.

63

template the possibility of becoming a Member of Parliament, but it was with no more than a purpose of telling Parliament his opinion of its merits: " For it was his fixed conviction that in that place lay not the strength of England, but the weakness of England, and that in time it would become a question which of the two would strangle the life out of the other." This was more than sixty years ago, and Parliament has not yet been stangled, nor has it succeeded in strangling the country.

There have been many changes during the interval, some of them actually intended to avert the strangling process ; yet, in all probability, if Carlyle were living to-day, he would be as firmly persuaded as when he wrote it that his prediction would be fulfilled at no distant day. He would doubtless have been inclined to imitate the example of his hero, Cromwell, by going to the House of Commons and turning all its members into the street, congratulating himself that he was doing a notable service to the State.

Having no Cromwell and no Carlyle to act for them, the constituencies of the United Kingdom have been content to take the constitutional course of applying, in their own way, a sort of " Pride's Purge" to the old House of Commons, by electing a new one of a totally different political complexion.

They bided their time very patiently, but when the opportunity came, they astonished the country and astonished Parliament by the sweeping changes they made in what is called the " People's Chamber." It is not at every General Election that a Prime Minister and a number of his head men are sent adrift, to find, if they may, some place of refuge.

Such has been the fate of the ex-Prime Minister and of an unusual number of his colleagues in the late Administration; and their experience has been that of an altogether exceptional number of their former most faithful supporters. It used to be believed that it was an established rule with the constituencies that at every General Election " other fellows " ought to have a chance, and that then a Liberal majority should follow a Tory majority, and rice versa, in regular succession. We have yet to come to an unbroken observance of this easy-going method of electing the House of Commons. What has happened at the recent General Election is not merely that the " outs" have become the " ins," but that the most extraordinary change in the relative strength of

64

The Grammar School Magazine.

political parties that has been witnessed since the Reform Act of 1832 has just taken place. The " outs " in the last Parliament were considered " a feeble folk " in point of numbers, but they have now become by far the largest majority that this generation has seen in the House of Commons, whilst those who constituted the powerful majority in the last Parliament have been reduced, we can hardly say to a mere remnant, but to a total considerably less than one-half its former number. Those alike who hoped for the best and who feared the worst have been completely taken by surprise. There were prophets who foretold that the Liberals would not secure a majority over Conservatives and Irish Nationalists; on the other hand, prayers were offered that the Liberals might have a majority over all other party combinations.

The petitions of the prayerful on that side have been more than answered.

It is said that " sweet are the uses of adversity." If the ex-Prime Minister is enabled to realise the sweetness of his present reverses, it is likely to be a form of satisfaction his victorious opponents cannot possibly begrudge him. He has had a good innings in all the sunshine of prosperity and of big majorities. Now that he must pass a considerable time in what are called " the cold shades of opposition," he will have the best possible opportunity of showing the stuff of which he is made. He did not find it an easy task to be the leader of a big majority, but it is certain to be a more testing time to be the leader who has himself suffered defeat, and who finds himself at the head of a body of supporters also smarting under a sense of disaster. Mr. Balfour is not without experience of what it means to be a member of a defeated minority.

He was one of the notorious Fourth Party under Lord Randolph Churchill's generalship which succeeded in proving that honesty in political manoeuvring was not always the most successful policy. He may be said, therefore, to have given a trial both to the scrupulous and the unscrupulous methods of party warfare. Moreover, he will have the assistance of a colleague in Mr. Chamberlain who " knows his way about" in the methods of Parliamentary warfare.

It has often been a matter of more or less indignant protest on this side the Border that public speakers, even when addressing a Scottish audience, referred to the " English " Parliament and the " English " Government.

41IP •

S

The New Parliament.

•

•

p

65

It may be legitimate to speak of England as " the predominant partner" in the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, but in the new Government now in power it may be claimed that Scotland is " the predominant partner." The Prime Minister is a Scotsman and a Scottish member. This, to be sure, is nothing new. His predecessor--nay, his two predecessors—were Scotsmen, and Mr. Gladstone, to go a stage still farther back, was not only a Scottish member, but of Scottish descent. The Lord Chancellor, that exalted dignitary who occupies the Woolsack in the House of Lords, is also a Scotsman. The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is a Scottish peer well known in Aberdeen, and the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant is one of the members for Aberdeen. I am not quite sure if we had such functionaries as a Lord-Lieutenant and a Chief Secretary in Scotland that we should be very ready to welcome Irishmen or Englishmen in those positions, however distinguished their personal merits might be. We should very likely feel that there was " something rotten in the state of Denmark." Be this as it may, we have the fact that the new Cabinet, which forms the inner circle of the Government, contains an unusual number of Scotsmen or Scottish representatives. Those who are now students at the Grammar School may live to old age and not have the privilege of seeing another British Government with a Scotsman at its head and so many Scottish members occupying leading positions in it.

Another peculiarity of the new Cabinet is that it includes among its members one whom we are accustomed to speak of as a working man. There have been working men in previous Liberal Governments—for the Government is a larger body, of which the Cabinet forms a sort of Select Committee—but this is the first occasion on which a working man has been admitted to a seat in the innermost circle. We have not to go very far back to find a Cabinet made up almost entirely of peers. We may not go very far forward to reach a time when there will be more working men than peers of the realm in the British Cabinet. But it has taken a very considerable time since the working classes in our towns first had votes for members of the House of Commons before one of them has found a place in the select circle of the Cabinet. It is not so very long ago since John Burns, now Right Honourable, was regarded as a typical mob orator. But

66

The Grammar School Magazine.

the atmosphere of the House of Commons seems to have its influence even on mob orators. I might quote a good many examples of the obvious effects of this moderating influence. And some of them should be drawn from the ranks of the most irreconcilable section, the Irish Nationalists. A Labour member seemed a dreadful innovation when first he appeared on the floor of the House of Commons, but in the course of closer acquaintance no members were more generally esteemed by their fellowmembers than those who had come from the coal mine or the workman's bench.

And this brings me to another feature of the new House of Commons. It contains, for the first time, a Labour party of some thirty members, which claims to be independent of all other parties. There are nearly as many more Labour members in the new House of Commons, who prefer to sit and act with the Liberal party rather than occupy an independent position. A great deal has been written and spoken about the advent of an Independent Labour party, several members of which are avowed Socialists—a title that seems to have as much terror for some folk as that of anarchists. From all I have seen of the influence of the House of Commons on extremists of every kind, I would rather see them represented in that assembly than excluded from it. I feel sure that it is a wholesome thing for the country that representatives of all sections of opinion should have an opportunity of rubbing shoulders in an arena that is as thoroughly democratic as a school playground. To me the surprising and the really significant thing is not that an Independent Labour party or Socialist party, or whatever it chooses to call itself, has at last appeared in Parliament, but that so many years should have passed before its appearance. It is almost forty years since the enfranchisement of the working class in the boroughs. It is more than twenty years since the enfranchisement of the householders in counties, yet it is only now that this dreaded Labour party of twenty-nine members has appeared. Next General Election, no doubt, there will be more of the same class. But our history shows that we are very deliberate in this country in carrying out revolutions. We shall get pensions in old age, perhaps, at no distant time, but they will only be forthcoming when the Chancellor of the Exchequer can find the money without appearing to make anybody pay for them.

c

4

t i

The New Parliament.

67

It seems to be forgotten that there has been in the House of Commons for more than twenty years an Irish Nationalist party of more than eighty members holding opinions quite as advanced, and even revolutionary, as those professed by the new Labour party. They have accomplished wonders for Ireland by means of the ordinary procedure in Parliament, but some things they have failed to accomplish, much as they have persevered. And their experience in this respect will probably be the experience of the British Labour party. Under their present circumstances, so much more will depend on the skill with which their proceedings are conducted than on the number of votes they are able to command. Like the Irishmen, the Labour men have shown themselves indifferent to the orthodox Parliamentary deportment. Once upon a time it was the etiquette of the House that a member should wear a silk hat and a black suit, save in the height of summer, when he was at liberty to wear a suit of grey.

In these days a Member of Parliament may outrage the proprieties by wearing a cloth cap or any other form of headgear that pleases his fancy. It is thus that revolutions are brought about in the Mother of Parliaments, and everybody acquiesces in the thing accomplished.

AN OLD PARLIAMENTARY HAND.

" JUDICIAL NIGHT."

f

A SUBDUED hum of excitement filled the Courtroom on the night of December 1, the date of the Annual School Assizes. A heinous crime had just been committed in Beechgrove Place, and, as a result, a young man was on trial for his life, on a charge of poisoning his uncle.

Exactly at seven o'clock the stately form of the Usher preceded the Judge and Counsels into the Courtroom. After the Usher had sworn in the Jury, the Senior Counsel for the prosecution (R. M. Porter) delivered a magnificent oration to the Court, and roused indignation against the prisoner to the highest pitch.

The conclusion of the Counsel's speech was greeted by the appearance of P.C. MacTavish, the first witness for the prosecution. The constable stated that he had visited the scene of the murder on the night in question, and had seen the body of the murdered man. He had

68

The Grammar School Magazine.

also seen the cook, a fact which rendered his evidence utterly worthless. MacTavish could remember nothing but the cook, and cook's master's whisky. Raving over Hannah, the witness was ordered to stand down and try to recover himself. A deep, rumbling sound, coupled with the shaking of the whole room, heralded the entry of P.C. Longshanks. A fine piece of evidence, which flatly contradicted MacTavish's miss-statements, caused the prisoner's face to fall, and Longshanks stepped down with a self-satisfied smirk on his face. A dapper little man, who called himself Alex. Gerrie, chemist, next occupied the attention of the Court. Mr. Gerrie apparently had not completed his toilet before leaving home, for he kept continually twirling his moustache while giving his evidence. On Mr. Gerrie's exit, Dr. Kennington-Greeves attempted to enter the witness-box, and, with the help The of all three constables, eventually did enter it. astonished cross-examination in doctor of the revelations all, and Kennington-Greeves was committed for perjury.

A violent outburst on the part of P.C. MacTavish proclaimed the approach of Hannah Gronmeyer. The presence of " Tugal," coupled with a hankering fear for the safety of her umbrella, nullified Miss Gronmeyer's evidence. Miss Frances Cumming, the beautiful barmaid, was the last witness for the prosecution.

When the Court had somewhat recovered from the startling contrast suggested by the last two witnesses— Beauty and the Beast—the Senior Counsel for the defence (F. Wishart) opened the prisoner's case by a powerful speech, his plea for the youth and previous good character of the accused moving many to tears. When the audience had put away their handkerchiefs, Mr. Arthur Devereux entered the witness-box. Witness completely overthrew the case of the prosecution by his lucid evidence, and the prisoner resumed his wonted appearance.

Mr. Devereux's place was taken by his assistant, Jock Tamson, who supported the statements of his chief, and said that the poison was to kill " rottens " and not men.

Highly pleased with the effect his testimony had produced, Jock quitted the "box" in favour of Miss Mathilde G. Verity, a lady whose name belied her words, for her testimony was made up of contradictions. " Mr. Gessus R. Yankedoodle, 6.75389 College Bounds," was the name and address of the next witness. Gessus recognised the Judge as a " bad man " out West (for Gessus

I

i

" Judicial Night."

69

came from America), and lost his head in a violent denunciation. The doctor certified witness insane, so Mr. Mr. Hutcheon Ledger, bank clerk, was announced.

Ledger testified to the good character of accused, as also When Mr. did Mr. Mortar, mason, the last witness.

Mortar had retired, the Junior Counsels (F. W Gerrard and W. P. Selbie) summed up, and were followed by the Judge, who leant towards the prosecution. The Jury then retired, and brought in a verdict of " GUILTY." The prisoner no sooner heard his fate than he bolted, and has neither been seen nor heard of since, though £100 is offered for his apprehension. The Judge assumed the black cap and condemned prisoner to death in his absence, whereon a very successful trial came to an end.

K. T. ON REVERIE AND CONTENT. GERON.—" Thou sittest with thy chin to thy naked knees, reading

runes in the embers." . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEANIAS—"Didst thou never dream, grandfather, in thy youth?

0' nights when the moon is yellow and lieth low down, and the wind a-getting ? Didst thou never hear the world calling thee over the moor?"

—" Pan and the Young Shepherd"—M. HEWLETT.

Little waves plash lightly on the long wide sweep of The evening breeze is just sufficient to yellow sand. ripple the surface of the sea without disturbing its variegated colourings. Towards the shore the water is blue, farther out merging to green, broken here and there by patches of violet, showing where seaweed-coated rocks approach the surface. Through the bay the herring-boats glide slowly in, their clay-dyed sails scarcely to be made out against the red-brown of the cliffs, while in sharp contrast is the white triangle of a pleasure boat. A pale blue film of smoke hazes over the red roofs of the little fishing village, and curving between the green fields of the headland to the north is the broad, dusty band of the highroad. Far to the left is the white trail of a train bearing its load of passengers on to the unresting discontent of the town, their backs turned to the western sky, which every five minutes is producing new and brilliant spectacular effects expressly for our benefit.

The Grammar School Magazine.

70

The great hills stand up vague and menacing. A sharp line separates their stark black shadow from the opposite hills in the full radiance of the cold white moonlight. Seated in the shadow one is solitary there, alone under the steely-pointed stars glittering threateningly from their indigo setting. A light from the hotel window falls across the black surface of the brook which frets along the bottom of the glen, and by some strange effect shows unsuspected scarlet, emerald green, orange, violet currents in the swiftly-flowing water. An invisible hand draws a curtain, and all is intense darkness; save beyond the limit of the shadow cast by those impassive hills. . . . . . . . . . .

The reflection of the leaping flames dances gaily on the wall. The firelight flickers cheerfully over the glistening backs of the orderly rows of books. Occasionally a raindrop falls with a splutter into the fire, which only glows the more brightly as a louder gust shrieks round the corner of the house and buffets the window, dashing the rain against the glass. A rare cab rattles along the street, and as we think with pity of its shivering freight and of the dripping wayfarers, we draw our arm-chair closer to the fire, and poke it, and pile on coals until the flames roar up the chimney.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Such are some of the situations which are conducive to Reverie. Yet in the first, our minds are too much occupied with the mere joy of life to have room for other thoughts. The grass is so very green, the crimson and lilac, the purple and gold of the sunset so vivid that we delight simply to be. But the hills, the great, massive, solemn hills, inspire us with a kind of terror : they have been there so long, have watched unchanging the evanescent dwellers in the glen, and from their summits we see no kindly, cultivated fields, no busy, thriving town—only endless waves of mountains, with here and there a small loch, and, under the shelter of the boulders and in the clefts, odd patches of snow, even in midsummer.

Surely, surely, the fit time for dreaming is after one has returned from a long tramp on the hard, ringing, frost-bound road, from a swift bicycle-run under the flooding moonlight, from a stiffly-contested football match, when, garbed anew and refreshed, one is extended in front of a fire, door and window snugly closed, with

On Reverie and Content.

71

slippered feet stretched to the mantelpiece, with pipe in full blast, when a pleasant glow suffuses one's skin, when the limbs tingle with an inspiriting weariness. In vain then to pick up a book. Your favourite volume holds your attention for a bare dozen lines, and straightway you fall into a contemplation, perchance suggested by what you have read, and passing thence to other topics; or it may be that you return to muse on the incidents of the day. Or you catch a glimpse of some of your photographs, cricket or football groups, or the photograph of your class-fellows at school or college. Then you think of this one or that; how you liked him and disliked the other, yet now, with the tolerance of added years, you recognize that he was not such a bad fellow after all.

You wonder if you'll ever see him again, and where he is now. That reminds you of others of your old acquaintances whose whereabouts you know. One is in the next county, a second in Canada, another in England, a fourth in India, and you know that however you may have opposed, even injured, each other in the past, yet, did you meet now, you would at once grip hands, just for the sake of the old bond between you. And you think of them, all busy with the countless little duties of their lives, in the midst of myriads of others, all like them, whatsoever the colour of their skin, all working out their appointed destiny in the world, and then you suddenly realize how utterly ridiculous it is that such a fine fellow as yourself should be so entirely insignificant, that such hosts of your fellow-creatures should be unconscious of your very existence.

But wait a few years! You'll show them the stuff you're made of! You'll be a doctor, whose consulting room is besieged with patients clamorous for your august opinion : you are to enter the Church--well, every Sunday people will be contented with standing room, only to say that they've seen you: as an actor you will draw tears from the eyes of the most callous by the pathos and fidelity of your representations : or, your business will be the envy of all your — — no, not rivals, for you will have crushed them out of existence : as a financier you will sway stocks and shares, and shake credits at your pleasure: or, all the newspapers of the country will anticipate your speeches as those of the leading politician of the day, and earn the gratitude of their readers by reporting them verbatim, and still more by expounding what exactly all

72

The Grammar School Magazine.

your fine-sounding phrases are intended to convey or to conceal.

Then your castles come clown with a crash, which you discover to be the noise of a fallen coal, and with a smile at your folly you forthwith proceed to it again, in an even more fantastic vein. Gazing into the fire you see grotesque shapes, faces horrible and beautiful, a castle on perilous crags wherein a lovely damsel is imprisoned by a wicked enchanter : not for long now, however, for up to the portcullis rides the Fairy Prince, who kills the magician, whereupon the coal falls, and knight and maiden disappear. In the next valley, gnomes and sprites are dancing, and far away in the heart of the fire glows the palace of their beautiful queen.

Almost you hear the music in her halls, and refuse to believe it a distant clock chiming the hour.

As the slow strokes ring faintly out you think of the ever-widening circumference within which they are heard, and ponder on the different meanings which may be read into them. To one, perhaps, they cause a thrill of eager anticipation of some great joy that is due on the morrow.

In the next house, an invalid, racked and tossing, groans that so much of the night should still be to drag through.

An old man may shiver at the thought that he has twentyfour hours less of existence left him, while one who has lost all he cared for, who long since has said with Paracelsus, " I give the fight up: let there be an end, A privacy, some obscure nook for me.

I want to be forgotten even by God,"

is thankful to know that he is a day nearer the death and oblivion for which he yearns. Work into which he has put all his energy, all his intellect, has come to naught, and not once only.

He suffers the continual tolerant contempt of other men, less scrupulous, perhaps, if more successful, and his galled spirit is broken. Not for him the delight in the fruit of his labour, the joy of seeing his plans debouch to his wish. He has tried, and he has failed. The busy, merciless world tramples him; it has no place for him, and he—is suppressed by utilitarian Nature.

Familiar though the phrase, " the love of Nature," be, few people apprehend it. When one considers, one will admit the two phases of Nature—" Maligna" and " Benign a." One can fear and shun the bleak mountain-

On Reverie and Content.

73

side, the desolate wind-swept heath, the pendulous cliffs as " far below them roars The long brook, falling through the cloven ravine In cataract after cataract to the sea;"

or one may admire them with a silent awe ; but one's unrestrained affection, one's careless love is reserved for the glowing swelling fields, the green arcades of the woods, and " the tender bow'd locks of the corn."

In the one environment one would be uneasy, in the other happy. Happiness has been defined as " complete harmony with one's surroundings," but surely the lack of discord comes from one's inward peace. Then why with incessant labour seek an unattainable sufficiency? Is it not better to find content in the simple pleasures of an obscure existence, to be satisfied with what one has ? Let it not be forgotten that " hord hath hate and climbing tikelnesse."

The farther one struggles up the steep ascent of ambition the greater is the danger and the completer the destruction. " The wrastling for this worlde axeth a fal."

And after all, a few brief years and it is beyond a man's power to enjoy all his gains. Life is an instant's flicker between two aeons of dark. " We came like water, and like wind we go."

The dead and withered leaf, driven and tossed by every fickle gust, is a homily in itself. High-spirited and eager, you may burn for the fray, awaiting willingly the pains, expecting joyfully the pleasures of life. And even as you raise the winecup to your lips, you find that in its stead you grasp—a funeral urn.

The more one toils, the less do the returns seem commensurate with one's exertions and the more humiliating the set-backs. It is the man of simple desires who is the best philosopher; the rebuffs of Fortune to him are no more than her caresses. With a stout heart he accepts his destiny; unquestioning he meets his death, as unseeking he passed his life. The rest is on the knees of the Gods.

74

The Grammar School Magazine.

THE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY FINALE. two performances of their play had Tins year the Society on Thursday and Friday, 15th and 16th February. The The concert which hall was crowded on both nights. by the Misses Thursday, on to, contributed was it preceded Stronach, Whyte, and Mr. Oxford. Marvellous Mervant The accompanist was D. gave a conjuring interlude.

C. Rees. On Friday the programme was sustained by Mrs. Burnett, Misses Stronach, Riddell, Mearns, Robson, ; Hensman, L.R.A.M. ; and Mr. Oxford. Hugh Ross Souper ably accompanied the singers. The grand piano was kindly lent by Mr. Macbeth.

The play chosen for this year was very appropriate, considering the present relations between France and Great Britain. It was entitled " Ici On Parle Francais."

The cast was as follows :— Major Regulus Rattan, Monsieur Victor Dubois, Mr. Spriggins, Mrs. Spriggins, daughter), Angelina (their Rattan), Major lulia (Wife of Anna Maria (Maid-of-all-work), -

-

F. W!MART. R. M. PORTER. R. E. BOTC BART. - W. L. GILBERT. - F. K. ROBSON. - K. P. M'KENzIE. - J. R. MURRAY. -

The scene of the play is laid in a boarding-house at a fashionable watering-place.

The story, briefly, is as follows :—A party of distinguished foreigners were about to pay a visit to England.

Mr. Spriggins, the owner of a boarding-house, thought he would make some money out of the foreigner, so he decided to betake himself and family to the garret, and let the rest of the house. As an additional attraction for his house, he placed in his window a placard bearing -the legend, " Ici On Parle Francais." At the same time he began to study the language by a new system entitled " French before Breakfast."

While he and his family, assisted by Anna Maria, are engaged in tidying up the house, the door bell rings, and The first to the first of the boarders is announced. enter is Mrs. Major Rattan, who has left her husband behind at the station while he was engaged in getting "two bath-buns and a glass of sherry and water " for her refreshment. She is accompanied by a young Frenchman, Mons. Victor Dubois, who travelled with her in the same carriage, and who is in search of a young lady. This

The Literary and Debating Society Finale.

75

young lady happens to be Miss Spriggins, whom he had met in Paris, and had fallen in love with.

Mr. Spriggins commences to converse in the French (?) language, but is entirely nonplussed by the rapidity of Mons. Victor's utterance. At length he succeeds in letting two rooms to Mrs. Rattan, and another to Mons.

Victor, both at exorbitant prices. On seeing how much work she has to do, Anna Maria gives notice (Mr Spriggins having refused to raise her wages), and poor Mr. Spriggins has to open the door to Major Rattan, who enters in a fury.

He overwhelms Mr. Spriggins—whom he accuses of aiding and abetting the Frenchmen to elope with his wife with his forcible conversation, and demands to see the new female lodger. Mr. Spriggins, believing the Major to be telling the truth, points out his wife as his lodger, and the Major, pacified for a time, takes his departure.

The Major soon returns and finds the Frenchman in the room. They are about to fight a duel, when Mrs. Rattan returns from her search for her husband and interrupts the two hot-headed gentlemen. Mons. Victor now informs Mr. Spriggins of the love he bears Angelina, and all ends happily, even Anna Maria consenting to remain.

The part of the miserly Mr. Spriggins was taken by R. E. Butchart. His mannerisms and make-up were excellent, and he did full justice to a difficult part. R. M. Porter was perhaps the success of the evening. His pronunciation was perfect, while his hashing of the King's English was very amusing. F. Wishart, as the Major, must have had difficulty in keeping up the semblance of anger.

He acted with intelligence.

F. K. Robson, as Angelina, repeated his success of last year.

No more need be said. Julia (K. P. M`Kenzie) and Anna Maria (J. R. Murray) had small parts, but made the best possible out of what they had to do. A feature of the performance was that all spoke distinctly, so that not a sentence was lost.

It undoubtedly maintained the high level of the Society's productions. For this, much is due to the careful training and superintendence of the stagemanager, Mr. Charles Davidson.

The evening's entertainment was concluded by the actors joining in the School song, "Bon-Record," the words of which are by our much-respected Rector, the music being by Mr. J. C. H. Macbeth.

L'ENTENTE CORDIALE.

76

The Grammar School Magazine.

SCHOOL V. 'VARSITY A.—This match was played on the

fine but windy morning of 2nd December. The School lacked the services of their captain. With a strong wind blowing against them, the School kicked off, and managed to keep their opponents out for a time, but at last Massie eluded the half-backs and scored. After this the School played up better, and Murray had a good run, which might have culminated in a try if he had not been so selfish in keeping the ball to himself. The School were again driven back (although the forwards were playing a fine game, particularly Butchart), and the 'Varsity again scored. Soon after a third try was added. This was the only try of the match which was converted. At halftime the scores were—'Varsity, 11 points; School, 0. The wind by this time had abated somewhat, which was very unfortunate for the School, who had relied on the wind keeping up. On resuming, the 'Varsity again pressed, and scored through Savage. After this the School had the better of the game, and had hard lines in not scoring, Gerrard, in particular, for twice he broke away and dribbled over the line, but on each occasion he was robbed of the ball just as he was about to touch down. Final result—'Varsity, 14 points (1 goal 3 tries) ; School, nil.

ScHooL v. INVERURIE.—On the 9th December the School met the Inverurie at School. The School were at full strength, but were quite small in comparison with the Inverurie men. Whenever the ball was kicked off,

Football Notes.

77

Inverurie came away with a rush as if they would carry everything before them. Bisset muddled, and Johnstone The The try was converted. scored for Inverurie.

With a School were surprised, but not disheartened. rush they brought the ball into the Inverurie twenty-five.

From a pass from Kelman, Murray scored smartly. He, himself took the kick and converted. The weight of the Inverurie pack pushed the School back, but the threequarters soon brought the ball back to the Inverurie twenty-five. Then Kelman wriggled through and scored a try, which Giles converted. No further scoring took place in the first half. At the start of the second half, Inverurie pressed, but were never dangerous.

The School forwards went away in their usual style, Butchart, Wishart, and Macrae being conspicuous for smart footwork. Anderson found touch just on the Inverurie line, and Murray, noticing Wishart unmarked, threw the ball to him, who threw himself over the line. Murray failed with the kick. The play after this was very fast, ranging from end to end, but no further scoring took place.

Final result—School, 13 points (2 goals 1 try); Inverurie, 5 points (1 goal).

SCHOOL v. 2ND NOMADS. —The School turned up to play this fixture in cold and miserable weather. They were still smarting under the heavy defeat which they had received at the hands of the 2nd Nomads in the beginning of the season. Both teams had a full fifteen, and were very equally matched. At first the Nomads pressed, but Giles relieved by finding touch well. The School then pressed for a considerable time, and Murray scored.

Taking the kick himself, he muddled. The Nomads were exasperated at finding all their moves checkmated by the School, and began to show some feeling, a thing which took away all enjoyment from the game. As a matter of fact, as the game proceeded, they became less particular in their methods. On several occasions Stewart saved the School brilliantly when Giles was beaten. No further scoring took place before half-time. Give-andtake play was the run of things in the second half.

Wishart on one occasion almost scored, but was brought down heavily on the line. The play that ensued was very fast, but, on the whole, uninteresting.

Final result— School, 3 points (1 try); 2nd Nomads, nil.

SCHOOL V. 2ND DUNDEE HIGH SCHOOL F.P.'s. — The Dundee High School, although offered two dates by the

78

The Grammar School Magazine.

School, found that they were unable to travel north to Aberdeen. .

SCHOOL V. 2ND 'SHIRE. This match was played at School on 13th January. The School were considerably under strength, Butchart and Johnstone being absent from the forward line. At first the 'Shire pressed, on account of the slackness of the forwards, and almost scored. Stewart, however, cleared by finding touch well up the field. Gilbert was conspicuous for some dashing After pressing for some time, runs along the line.

The try Murray managed to get through and score. was not improved upon, and no further scoring took place in the first half. The second half opened sensationally, for the School at once pressed back the 'Shire, and after some fine passing among the three-quarters, Gilbert slipped over the line and scored. Kelman took the kick and converted. After this the 'Shire very seldom got past the centre, although they managed to keep the School out. Towards the end of the match, Bisset got over, but Murray failed with the kick. No further scoring took place, and the game thus ended in a substantial win for the School. School, 11 pointi (1 goal 2 tries); 2nd 'Shire, nil.

SCHOOL v. 2ND F.P.'s.—This match, which ought to have been played on the 20th January, was abandoned owing to the inclemency of the weather.

SCHOOL V. GORDON'S COLLEGE.—This match was played at King's College in fine weather on the morning of 27th January. Both teams were at full strength, and very equally matched. The School lost the toss, and played towards King Street. Some midfield play ensued at the beginning of the game, but the School slowly drove Gordon's back. Gordon's were penalised for unfair mauling in their own twenty-five, and Murray muddled a very easy kick. Gordon's were again driven back, and after some mauling, Kelman got over, but the point was disallowed, it being alleged that he picked out. Gordon's made little use of the resultant free kick, and Murray got over. The referee disallowed the point, on the ground that he did not see clearly. A maul five yards out followed, but the School were unable to get over again. Towards the end of this half, Gilbert effected a piece of brilliant work. Gordon's went off with a rush, which neither the halves nor the three-quarters could stop. A try for Gordon's seemed certain, when Gilbert dashed in and

79

Football Notes.

threw himself on the ball just on our line. When halftime arrived, no scoring had taken place. The second half opened briskly, Gordon's driving the School back.

Stewart and Anderson were conspicuous for their fine tackling. Play became loose, far too much fly-kicking being in evidence. This gave Gordon's their opportunity, and Gordon dashed in and scored far out. This had the effect of wakening up the School, and Kelman initiated a fine run along with Murray and Ingram.

Ingram stuck too long to the ball, and was brought down heavily.

The School were again driven back, but Anderson had a Unfortunately, the fine dribble right down the field. ball rolled into touch. A twenty-five followed, and this allowed Gordon's far up the field, but they were again driven back, and just on the call of time \Vishart marked a punt within Gordon's twenty-five. Murray took the kick, which was at a very difficult angle, and, amid great enthusiasm and excitement, scored for the School, the ball " stotting " over the bar. Immediately after this the whistle blew, and the match thus ended in a draw.

School, 3 points (1 penalty goal); Gordon's College, 3 points (1 try).

ScnooL v. 'VARSITY A.—The 'Varsity were unable to raise a team to play the School on 3rd February, therefore the School were awarded the match.

FIRST FIFTEEN. Summary of matches, 1905-1906, up to date : — Opponents.

Ground.

Results.

Scores.

Oct. 21 „ 28 Nov. 1 „ 4 „ 18 ,, 25 Dec. 2 7, 9 „ 16

2nd Nomads 2nd 'Shire 2nd XV. Gordon's College 2nd Queen's Cross Gordon's 2nd F.P.'s 'Varsity A Inverurie 2nd Nomads

School School School School School School School School School

Lost Drawn Won Won Won Won Lost Won Won

23 to nil 3 to 3 59 to 3 3 to nil 5 to 3 29 to nil 14 to nil 13 to 5 3 to nil

Jan. 13 „ 27

2nd 'Shire Gordon's College

School King's

Won Drawn

11 to nil 3 to 3

Date.

1905.

1906.

Played, 11; won, 7 ; drawn, 2 ; lost, 2 ; not played, 4.

J. K.

80

The Grammar School Magazine.

THE FIRST FIFTEEN.

THE 1st XV. this year does not suffer from a comparison

with last year's team, and, indeed, compared with all former XV.'s, it shows up very well. Seldom, if ever, has a captain found himself able to command the services of eight of a preceding year's team, and to the return this year of so many " veterans " may be attributable the remarkable success of the team. Exceptional lightness is the outstanding characteristic of the XV., and this is Lightness, especially the case amongst the forwards. however, has not detracted from the brilliancy of the pack, whose excellent " scrumming " and fine touch-play have been instrumental in winning many a hard-fought game. The forwards' only defect is a weakness in combined dribbling, but this defect is greatly remedied by their fine rushing tactics. An energetic and hard-working pair of halves (who might, with advantage, give the three-quarters more opportunities) ably second the efforts of the forwards. Too much individualism and a lamentable lack of combination have made the three-quarter line the weak spot of the team. The " line " is possessed of little speed, and, though it shines in a defensive game, its offensive play is sadly defective.

The following is a criticism of the team :— Full Back.

J. S. Giles.—An exceedingly safe back, who tackles well, and is exceptionally smart at picking up and catching the ball. kicks well into touch with either foot.

Is sometimes handicapped by slowness.

Three-quarter Backs.

A. S. K. Anderson.—The fastest and most dashing of the three-quarters, but gets rather few opportunities.

Marks his man well, and is a good kick.

W. MacGavin.— A good kick and very sure tackler.

Is rather slow, but has lately improved in his passing.

J. S. Stewart.—Though on the light side, is a splendid " dodger " and good kick. Is inclined to pass wildly at times.

W. L. Gilbert.—Takes a pass well, and goes straight for the line. Might, with profit, keep further from touch in his runs.

Half-Backs.

J. Kelman.—An enthusiastic captain, with good command over his men. A grand half, who makes the best

Football Notes.

81

use of his fine turn of speed. Finds touch well, and is becoming more unselfish.

J. R. Murray.—A hard-working half, who tackles very well. Is too selfish, and by sticking too much to the ball is often taken while in possession. Is a good drop and place kick.

Forwards.

F. Wishart.—Has improved immensely since the beginning of the season. Is a very fine drop kick, and follows up well. Makes a good centre-forward, using his weight well in the mauls. Tackles well.

R. E. Butchart.—A hard-working, enthusiastic forward, who has a good idea of a forward's game. Tackles well, and is ever on the ball. Lacks kicking power.

F. Macrae.—Has plenty of weight, which he uses to the best advantage in the mauls. Is very good in the line-out, but cannot kick.

F. W. Gerrard.—Has good speed, which he employs well in following up the ball. Shoves well in the mauls.

A. M. MacLeod.—An energetic forward, who, however, lacks speed. Marks his man well, and is good at touch.

G. A. Johnston.—A good forward, who has improved greatly this season.

Should be prominent next year.

Tackles well, and keeps on the ball.

W. Ingram.—Shoves and tackles well. Has improved greatly from beginning of the season.

J. E. Law.—A forward who lacks speed and weight, but works hard.

2ND XV. FIXTURES. 2ND SCHOOL V. 2ND GORDON'S COLLEGE.—This match was played off at King's College on 2nd December in windy weather. The School played with the wind first half, and began to press right away. Their efforts did not go long unrewarded, and after about ten minutes' play, Bisset dashed through and scored. MacGavin converted the try.

Soon afterwards the School was awarded a free kick in Gordon's twenty-five, and MacGavin dropped an excellent goal.

Eight points to the good, the School kept up a continual pressure on their opponents' line, and a second free kick was awarded them for " offside."

MacGavin again increased the score. Just before halftime, Bisset, who had been playing a great game, scored a second try after running through most of his opponents.

The score at half-time stood—School, 14 points ; Gordon's

82

The Grammar School Magazzne.

College, nil. Uninteresting midfield play, with occasional forward rushes, in which Gilbert was very prominent, was the rule of the second half. Gordon's mauled over the School line, and one of their men dropped on the ball, for which a try was given. The kick at goal failed, as also did the one from their second try. When time was called, the School were in the Gordon's twenty-five. Final score School, 14 points (1 goal, 1 try, 2 penaltyfoals) ; Gordon's College, 6 points (2 tries). With the winning of this match, the 2nd XV. gained their rubber.

2ND XV. v. 3RD XV.—This match, which was to have been played on 3rd February, had to be put off owing to the weather.

2ND SCHOOL V. 2ND GORDON'S COLLEGE F.P.'s. —This match, which ought to have been played on 10th February, had to be put off owing to the weather.

3RD XV. FIXTURES. 3RD SCHOOL V. 3RD GORDON'S COLLEGE.—In damp, miserable weather this match was played off at King's College on 16th December. Gordon's turned out a very strong team, including most of their 2nd XV. men. The 3rd XV. was at full strength. Play in the first half was very equal, and was confined mostly to midfield, with ocAt half-time casional rushes into either twenty-five. neither side had scored. The School began to press immediately on the resumption, but were driven back to midfield. From here the Gordon's forwards came away with a rush, but the School backs saved finely. From a serum in the School twenty-five, the ball was kicked up the field, and Marshall, following up magnificently, beat the Gordon's back in the race for possession, dribbled The all the way up the field, and scored a grand try. try was not improved on, and time was called soon after School, 3 points (1 try); with the score unchanged.

The School forwards played a Gordon's College, nil. great game, Marshall, Mann, and Ghee being especially The backs played safely and well, and the brilliant. whole team is to be congratulated on a win over what With was practically a 2nd XV. of Gordon's College. the winning of this match, the 3rd XV. gained their rubber.

3RD XV. v. 2ND XV.—This match, which ought to have been played on 3rd February, had to be put off owing to the weather.

Debater Notes.

D E,E3ATZFC

83

NOTES

Friday, November 24. As the Magazine had not yet been published, the debate for this evening was, " Ought the Present System of Competitive Examination to be Abolished P "—Aff., J. S. Giles; Neg., F. Macrae.

F. Wishart was in the chair. Giles's chief arguments were that competitive examinations led to cramming, and cramming was a great evil. He said that patronage had produced as good or even better men than the present system. IIe quoted from numerous authorities in support of his statements. Macrae's chief argument was that competitive examinations allowed room for men with brains.

He said that they had brought many famous men to the front. The chief speakers were W. P. Selbie, A. Edwards, A. M. Macleod, and W. Peters.

The voting resulted in favour of non-abolition by 17 votes to 10. A " Hat Night " was then agreed upon, but few good debates were put in.

Friday, December 1.—" Judicial Night " was held on this evening. A full account will be found elsewhere.

Friday, December 8.—A debate had been arranged for this evening, but, unfortunately, one of the members could not come, and so a " Parliamentary Night" was held instead. F. Wishart occupied the chair. A. M. Macleod was appointed Prime Minister, and R. M. Porter Leader of the Opposition. After the Cabinet had been chosen, Macleod rose, and, in a masterly manner, set forth the views of the Liberal Party. Home Rule, the Unemployed, and the Education Bill were all discussed in turn. When he had finished, questions began to pour in from the Opposition, and the various members of the Cabinet were called upon to answer them. One of the best questions put forward was about " juvenile amok-

84

The Grammar School Magazine.

ing." The Leader of the Opposition seemed very doubtful whether Macleod's theory would meet the requirements of the age. The House was adjourned shortly after, and a "Hat Night," productive of several good debates, was got up.

Friday, December 15.—On the above evening, a lecture was delivered by Rev. F. J. Rae on the subject of " Robert Louis Stevenson." Mr. Murison was in the chair. In introducing the lecturer, Mr. Murison spoke of his continued interest in the School. Mr. Rae began by telling us of Stevenson's early life, and gave us quotations to show how indisposed he was to learn. The Stevensona were an engineering family, but Louis does not seem to He was forced to have inherited the family talent. travel in search of health, and he found it in Samoa, where he was eventually buried. Mr. Rae called special attention to the fact that Stevenson laboured under a terrible disease while he wrote. Stevenson's motto was, "I cling to my paddle," and this sums up his life.

Stevenson makes one think that one would like to know At the close of the lecture, the President, F. him.

Wishart, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Rae in an exceedingly neat speech. Mr. Rae, in reply, said he hoped that his lecture would influence some of those present to read Stevenson. Afterwards a " Hat Night" was held, but it was not a great success.

Friday, December 22. The Society met on the above evening to criticize the Magazine. The criticism was of short duration, only two faults, and these extremely minor ones, being found with the Magazine. The general opinion seemed to be that the Magazine was so good that it was quite beyond criticism. The rest of the evening was passed away in singing, gramaphone selections, etc.

Friday, January 12.—The Society met on above evening to hear a " Humorous Reading ' by W. L. Oxford, F.P. F. Wishart was in the chair. The speaker gave us selections from the works of Jerome Ti. Jerome. Those of the audience who had read the pieces enjoyed them none Mr. Oxford's the less for its being the second time. recital kept the audience in roars of laughter for the greater part of the evening. At the close of his reading, Mr. Oxford favoured us with a recitation, which was of a somewhat weird nature. We regret to say that one youthful member had to be ejected for unruliness during After Mr. Oxford had the course of the recitation.

85

Debater Notes.

finished, the President thanked him in a few words, and called on the Society to give him a hearty vote of thanks, which they did with a will.

Friday, January 19.-- The Society met on the above evening to hear the lecture, " A Visit to America," by The Mr. Mackie occupied the chair.

Mr. Middleton. lecturer commenced his description at Liverpool, and gave us a few amusing anecdotes about the voyage out. He then gave us his ideas of New York, and described his voyage to Denver and his expedition to the Rocky MounOf the things which most took the lecturer's tains. fancy, the principal were the great noise in New York and the rush of pedestrians in that city. He disillusioned several members of the audience by telling them that he heard " aeternal" only once, and " straanger" never.

Mr. Mackie, in calling for a vote of thanks to Mr. Middleton, related several of his experiences when he was a boy of nine and a half years. At that age he was crossing the " pond " to the mother country.

Friday, January 26.—The Society met on above evening to hear the debate, " Is the Power of the British Empire Declining? "--Aff., W. Peters ; Neg., A. M. Garden. F. Wishart occupied the chair. Peters stepped up to the rostrum amid great applause. He brought forward a great number of strong arguments in support of his side. He pointed to the fact that British influence is not so strong as it used to be. He finished his paper by asking his hearers to vote where common sense directed. Garden said that Britain was growing stronger both at home and abroad, a fact which anyone could see.

One had but to look at our Customs returns to see how we had increased our trade during the last few years.

The vote resulted in favour of the Neg. by a majority of nine. A few good debates were proposed, and discussed for a short time, but much annoyance was caused by some rude fellows outside. Towards the end of the evening F. Macrae took the chair.

Friday, February 2.--No meeting was held on this evening owing to the Students' Concert.

J. S. GILES, Secretary,

86

The Grammar School Magazine.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

THE Editor begs to acknowledge with thanks the 'receipt of the following magazines : —" The Edinburgh Academy Chronicle" (2), "The Glasgow Academy Chronicle," " The Yellow Dragon" (3), " C. A. I.," " The -Clarksville Index " (Clarksville, Tenn.), " The Olavian," " The -Portmuthian " (2), " The Scotch Collegian," with supplement, " St. Andrew's College Magazine," with supplement (Grahamstown, S.A.), " The Tooter."

The Editors of the " St. Andrew's College Magazine " publish a supplement as large as the ordinary issue of their magazine; in celebration of the College Jubilee.

The following part-description of a concert appears in the " C. A. I."--" Mr. Robertson now got away with the National Anthem, but was penalized by Mr. Houston.

The free was given to Mr. D. 3lachaughlin, who scored, winning much applause, and for whom it was a case of try, try, try again (with apologies to " Punch " and the New - Zealanders).

But Mr. Robertson was not to be denied, and just before the whistle blew scored in a magnificent burst with ' God Save the King.' " The description is prefaced by the ominous words " The MS. was here handed over to the Football Editor.Our -latest exchange, " The Clarksville Index," contains some delightful items, amongst which are the three following :—

She gave him a rose, and he kissed it, Then she was a jealous pearl— So seeing wherein he had missed it, He kissed the offended girl.

BEFORE. There are meters of accent And meters of tone, But the best of all meters, Is to meet 'er alone.

AFTER. There are letters of accent And letters of tone, But the best of all letters Is to let 'er alone.

Little Girl (entering grocery store)—" Ain't you got no aigs? " Grocer—" I ain't said I ain't."

Little Girl—" I ain't ask you is you ain't : I ask you ain't you is, is you? "

Onr Contemporaries.

87

Always a bright and cheerful periodical, ".The Yellow Dragon " has eclipsed itself in its October issue of 1905.

From its " Light and Gay " page we reproduce the two following : — His Papa—" Bobby, I merely punished you to show my love for you."

Bobby—" If I was only bigger, pa, I would return your love." " Do you suppose that a man can see better by the aid of glasses? " said a man in company. " I know he can," said a toper, " for, after I have taken a dozen glasses, I can see double."

In the same issue appears a delicious poem on " Advertisements." Space forbids us to publish the whole poem, but we extract three verses :- Oh come with me to the count ry, Let us haste to the shady slope; To the bright green fields whose fragrance yields An odour of—Matchless Soap.

For the worried and worn, as nature No tonic is half so good; There's a feast to the eyes where the poplar sighs, And a plenty of - Infants' Food.

But the sun is low in the heavens; We must home ere the daylight cease; And rejoice that the moon is eclipsed so soon By some—Patent Candle Grease.

In the December issue of the same periodical appears an interesting article on " A Shakespearian Discovery." " The Tooter" contains some good burlesque poems on a few of the most prominent inmates of the S.O.H.S. Excellent football notes are a prominent feature in both " The Edinburgh Academy Chronicle" and " The Glasgow Academy Chronicle," as also in " The Portmuthian." " The Olavian " and " The Scotch Collegian " are both up to their high standard of merit.

Just as we are revising our proofs, we have received another issue of " The Tooter," and also a copy of " The Blade " (Bowden, Tenn., U.S.A.).

Both magazines are really excellent, but time and space prevent us from giving our readers a resume of their contents ; but this we hope to do in our next number. We bow our thanks to " The Tooter " for its smooth words of flattery.

Zcbool Officials. = - - - - 1905-6.

SESSION

Games Committee.

The RECTOR. Mr. JAMES DAVIDSON. Lower School). (representing Mr. J. C. KNOX (Football, Cricket).

KELMAN J. CAMERON. P. J. W. MACGAVIN (Football).

A. S. K. ANDERSON (Football). , F. MACRAE (Football).

R. E. BUTCHART (Football).

H. J. MILNE (Cricket).

G. F. Cox (Cricket). : G. A. MUNRO (Cricket).

W. L. GILBERT (Cricket).

J. R. MURRAY (Football).

J. S. GILES (Cricket, Football).

F. WISHART (Cricket, Football, Magazine).

President, Hon. Secretary,

Captain, Secretary,

-

-

_

Cricket.

-

-

Football.

F. WISHART. J. S. GILES.

J. KELMAN. F. WISHART. Swimming Club.

A. WILSON. Captain, D. WI-I. SEmPLE. Vice-Captain, I. G. BISSET. Secretary and Treasurer, Committee.

W. PETERS. G. S. LAWRENCE. W. WILLIAMSON. J. V. LORIMER. F. WISHART. Debating Society.

F. WISHART. President, A. M. MACLEOn. Vice-Presidents, R. M. PORTER. { S. GILES. J. Measurer, Secretary and Committee.

J. KELMAN. G. F. Cox. F. MACRAE. GARDEN. A. M. W. P. SELBIE. Library.

F. WISHART (Lending).

J. P. CAMERON (Reference).

R. M. PORTER (Lending).

(Lending).

MACLEOD A. M. (Lending).

F. MACRAE Magazine.

F. WISHART. Editor-in-Chief, J. KELMAN. Editorfor Sport, W. P. SELBIE. Literary Editor, F. MACRAE. Business Manager, ALFRED W. The Hon. Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club is Mr. EDWARDS, 29 Union Street, Aberdeen.

Captain, Secretary,

Our Contemporaries.

87

Always a bright and cheerful periodical, ",The Yellow Dragon " has eclipsed itself in its October issue of 1905.

From its " Light and Gay " page we reproduce the two following: -His Papa—" Bobby, I merely punished yon to show my love for you."

Bobby—" If I was only bigger, pa, I would return your love." " Do you suppose that a man can see better by the aid of glasses? " said a man in company. " I know he can," said a toper, " for, after I have ta ken a dozen glasses, I can see double.'

In the same issue appears a delicious poem on " Advertisements." Space forbids us to publish the whole poem, but we extract three verses : -Oh come with me to the country, Let us haste to the shady slope; To the bright green fields whose fragrance yields An odour of—Matchless Soap.

For the worried and worn, as nature No tonic is half so good; There's a feast to the eyes where the poplar sighs, And a plenty of - Infants' Food.

But the sun is low in the heavens; We must home ere the daylight cease; And rejoice that the moon is eclipsed so soon By some—Patent Candle Grease.

In the December issue of the same periodical appears an interesting article on " A Shakespearian Discovery." " The Tooter" contains some good burlesque poems on a few of the most prominent inmates of the S.O.H.S. Excellent football notes are a prominent feature " The Edinburgh Academy Chronicle" and " Thein both Glasgow Academy Chronicle," as also in " The Portmuthian." " The Olavian " and " The Scotch Collegian " are both up to their high standard of merit. ,Just as we are revising our proofs, we have received another issue of " The Tooter," and also a copy of " The Blade " (Bowden, Tenn., U.S.A.). Both magazines are really excellent, but time and space prevent us from giving our readers a resume of - their contents; we hope to do in our next number. We bow ourbut this thanks to " The Tooter " for its smooth words of flattery.

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE. Published three times during the School Year.

The Magazine may be obtained from the Janitor, at the School ; James G. Bisset, Bookseller, Broad Street; and D. Wyllie & Son, Booksellers, Union Street.

The Annual Subscription to the Magazine is 2s.; or, post free, 2s. 6d., at home and abroad. All subscriptions should be forwarded to the Business Manager of the Magazine, Grammar School, Aberdeen.

Back numbers of the Magazine since 1885 may be had on application to the Business Manager.

All literary communications should be sent to the Editor, Grammar School, Aberdeen.

Correspondents must enclose their names, not necessarily for publication.

Cho forth of „icotland jancy Goods (Emporium For

Webbing gifts, Virtbbar -,-gifts, (presentations, anb

pri3o, &c.

tU

E respectfully solicit the favour of a visit to our Showrooms, which are replete with a most attractive variety in all Departments.

Workshop on the Premises for the Covering, Repairing, and Manufacture of Umbrellas, &c.

McIVIILLAN, LTD., 151 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. Will. STE WA B' I. Manager.

daily hgd arrivsin anes n NEW SEASON'S GOODS Arienall Leather at JOHN A. DUNN'S,

THE GLOBE BOOT AND SHOE HOUSE, Come and have

All Goods

your Choice.

marked in Plain Figures

The

and at

Variety is

Lowest Prices.

Endless.

See

See

WINDOWS.

WINDOWS.

26 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. Repairs a Specialty, either in Leather, Gutta Percha, or Rubber. Also, Rubber Revolving Heel Pads—Ladies', is., Gent.'s, 1s. 3d. per Pair.

Telephone No. 158.

. . the . .

-

osemount press. et, I

Printers, Lithographers, AND

Wholesale Stationers.

Vooh Printing A Speciality.

Vbotograpbic artists, Estimates on application.

25 CROWN ST., ABERDEEN:

Farmer's Hall Lane, ABERDEEN.

AND AT BRAEMAR.

Telephone 1035.

N32C18313V 63e•acils e•Sp!afa 0 L `.1assaipapll s‘ uatualjuaD pun ,samni

4zjimad

•5

01 SW113A d Od

leitt

• 44fruloods ie „dn-Ouppvii„ •seolad ono 413 „‘frin-upiumi „ do, ;derv emspibea &MAO puu s4upid esuoap

131:111H HO 371/S EIOA

`0S 1

`SDIM Ivoauvairil _ .1N30V -210S gig! 1,O11id 3NQ Tift Sia9VMee7.1q/5;40,04r.V60Sr

%I 9 Wan

I; 3 '-1,;

iI c,6ig ut z, 1"1 11Ij

'!ii$ • Lh g

3lrluu3;3 -.r.,y:reuy l+ul, lI1O.t f 9/Li 1141.

934

:a.ttl+l:l

Lfl1S 7io"]11r'S ic1if~17Anr

991 9E1 9'14

9 SL 9.31 901

a

11 'WI

1moilni .110 I1P alaitituo3

7114

f711M ..LSAA

'1111,1144;

liPP

SIL!..111, L.11, }firm,

v ,(1(Mni; SaLa tr4 01, 13WRS j".;p„..-0,vAinr L II aAuil pine ol!.1.1 alp t 3 lwrai 4 , out e lx Ior 010,.. Amu,

,tirpq

6

9111S

I .latritIlils

IMMUld

au)

6

*.ra)invr

iti.ncJ alt.! P)

sqpicIA

:7'rlpti 1101!

T N i1

4SA0/1

I