Issuu

June, 1004.

ABERDEEN • JAS

G.B/SSET.

Educational Books. V -•

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N. B.-BEST VALUE IN STUDENTS' NOTE BOORS.

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85 BROAD STREET (Opposite Marischal College).

The Sportsman's Depot and Athletic Stores. —

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N.B.—Close to Railway Station. •

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CONTENTS. - 1ST XV.

SCHOOL NOTES

Front ispiece

NOTES ABOUT OLD BOYS

RANDOM NOTES

THE BURSARY COMPETITION

THE 'VARSITY AND THE SCHOOL

LYRIC LOVE -

THE WAY WE MUST ALL Go -

THE FINALE -

A BULL FIGHT IN SPAIN

POETRY-THE ARISTOCRATIC AILMENT

86 86

PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE JAPANESE NAVY •

FOOTBALL NOTES

CRICKET NOTES

THE 1ST XI., CRITICISM OF

THE SWIMMING SPORTS -

OUR CONTEMPORARIES

97 97

100

103

106

107

108

The ABERDEEN SCHOOL of SHORTHAND AND

TYPE WRITING OFFICE.

C. M. Lawrence, TELEPHONE 875.

if-t3

19 CROWN STREET.

TEXT BOOKS

Of all Math-, (NEW AND SECOND-HAND), A'r

D. WYLLIE & SON

247 9

ON STREET, UNI ON

JOHN C. M‘LEOD, - - HATTER, - -

UNION STREET,

respectfully intimate to pupils of Grammar School WOULD a Large Stock of Cap and elengarrp I3abges, as

football 3erseps, 1Belts, Eatbing Pants, Costumes, and 'Ines.

authorised; also,

Great variety of Football, Cricket, Tennis, and Boating yerseys, Sweaters, Knickers, Trousers, Shirts, yackets, Belts, Cowls, Caps, and Hats. TROPHY AND CLUB CAPS MADE TO ORDER. FOR

SUMMER-Straw Hats, with Club and other Fancy Bands, Guards, Puggarees, &c.

NEW STYLES FELT HATS, TWEED CAPS, &c. TIES, SCARFS, COLLARS, BRACES, and UMBRELLAS.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV., I9433- 1904. R. W. Eddie. A. J. Findlay. T. Stewart.

L F. Merrylees.

G. C. Cheyne.

H. C. M. Wdson. D. H. Lermonth. C E. Struggle.

J Macdonald. Mr. J. Davidson. G. H. Macdonald. J. D. Cruickshank. (Hon. Se, Games Com.).

D, Adam (Capt.). J. Reiman.

J. A. Reid. F. G. M. Ross (See.). A. Campbell.

THE

Orarnmar School Maga3ine. Vol. VII.

JUNE, 1904.

No. 3.

ANOTHER School year is ended, and with it the School life of many. Once more the outside world will exact its annual share of victims. The University and commercial life will claim their own; and to all those who are about to leave us, we give our best wishes for happiness and prosperity in their new spheres of activity.

Half willingly, half reluctantly the Editor resigns his post after a period of two short. years. Yet others there are ready to take up the pen he is laying down ; and they in turn will have their (lay. The School may forget them, but their names will be printed in their Magazines. As regards the Editors, they shall never forget : when they reach the age of manhood, they will look back with pride on the days when they occupied the editorial chair. Before making his departing bow to his readers, the Editor begs to thank all those who have helped him with his labours. In a sense they were labours, but, on looking back, he is ready to admit that the labours were quite outnumbered by the pleasures. His staff has been excellent; and it is greatly to be regretted that none of its members will be back at School again to look after the Magazine.

The Grammar School Magazine.

At the end of this term the School will lose among the rest its football and cricket captains. They have tried hard to make their teams worthy of the " Grammar," and by dint of unremitting energy they have succeeded. Let others arise to take their place. Let the School close its ranks as it has ever done before. Let it not want for those who are willing to give their services for its good. The Bursary Competition is over. The results for the School were good, but not brilliant. The highest place was taken by W. Arthur Lothian, who was 5th. In Mathematics, Lothian specially distinguished himself, gaining full marks in that subject. By so doing he was the only one who gained full marks in any one subiect. In Mathematics he was more than a hundred marks ahead of anyone else. All praise is due to Lothian, and also to Dr. MacLeod, his teacher, the brilliant successes of whose pupils in the past Leaving Certificate Examinations We congratulate have already been commented on. Richards and Hunter also on attaining the 7th and 11th places respectively. Along with this number we publish the photograph of the Football Team, and we feel sure that everyone will welcome it. This group has already been posted up in our corridor alongside of its companions. This year the F.P.'s Football Club with its usual generosity has sent us photos of its two teams which had so successful a season. Our corridor is beginning to look quite cheery now—quite a change from the cold, plastered walls. Our " Footer" XV. was perhaps not so good as in former years, but this was not owing to want of skill, but to want of weight among the forwards. Next year the team ought to be good, as several of our best players are to attend the School for another season. From these players we expect great things, and hope that they will manage to beat Gordon's College, although we were unable to do it this season. Already the cricket season has begun, and is now in full swing. Up to .now the School has done rather well, although it has been again beaten by the teams

School Notes.

which infict severe defeats on it year after year. We have been practising steadily, and now there is not a batsman in the team but who can give a worthy account of himself. -The old rivalry between the Classicals and the Moderns, we notice, still exists. Twice in cricket this season have the Classicals showed their superiority. Buck up, Moderns; you will win yet, if you try hard! The " Debater" had a most successful season. The majority of the debates were held before Christmas, while after Christmas the programme consisted chiefly of lectures. In this way the usual falling off of the members toward the end of the season was prevented. The season was brought to a close by the annual Concert and Dramatic Performance, which was as great a success as ever, and that is saying a great deal. The results of the Smith Gold Medal Examination have just been published, and we note with pleasure that the coveted prize has been secured by R. Y. Hunter, the prospective Dux of the School. Some people are inclined to sneer at the practice of making a valuable gold medal depend upon a single version, but no better proof can be given of the fairness of this examination than the fact that every year since the medal was first bestowed it has been won by the boy who was first in Latin in the Seventh for the year, as of course it should. We heartily congratulate Hunter on his well-deserved success. We would also extend our hearty congratulations to H. R. Souper and J. Youngson, who have attained the honourable places of 2nd and 3rd equal respectively in the Examination. This is not the first time, however, that a Sixth boy has occupied the honourable position of " proxime accessit" in the " Smith" Examination. On this occasion, as the Sixth was such a strong class, dark rumours were circulating among the Seventh that a Sixth boy had actually won the medal. Great was the indignation at the thought, and we fear that if such a thing had happened, assassination, ducking, " bumping," or some other terrible fate would soon have overtaken the hapless youth.

The Grammar School Magazine.

The air already smells heavily of Leaving Certificate Examinations, and we earnestly hope the School will put its best foot foremost and maintain its honourable record in these examinations. You especially, ye stalwarts of the Seventh, we would remind that the " Grammar " expects every man of you to do his duty. Remember that for three successive years the " Grammar" has taken eight Honours. Be sure you keep up, if not excel, that glorious record, and prove yourselves worthy of the position you hold ! We are glad to see that the Reference Library is being well patronised, but though it is a veritable godsend to those who have to remain at the dinner hour, we scarcely think that boys who have a considerable distance to go home during that hour can get much advantage from it. It should surely be open from four to five some (lays at least. Admiral Farquhar's munificent gift, the Edinburgh " Waverley," has been particularly appreciated, and has helped to develop quite a craze for the great novelist's works. On several occasions almost all the volumes were borrowed at the same time. The Botanical Garden has at last been completed, and adds great beauty to our grounds. The gravel walks give the place a neat and picturesque appearance, as also do the fountains and the Denburn. The additions to the Lodge also are a great improvement. — The Assault-at-Arms, which took place towards the end of April, proved a great success. The programme was long and interesting, and was thoroughly appreciated by the large audience. The whole proceedings, which went off without a hitch, reflect the greatest credit on our gymnastic instructor, Mr. Josephs. -ground is at present under football and cricket Our repair, so that no suitable pitch is available for 1st XI. Accordingly, at the request of Mr. James matches. Davidson, we have been given a pitch in the Duthie Park every Friday afternoon. This really ought to prove very beneficial to us, and we mean to take full advantage of it.

School Notes.

The other day we had a letter from W. Bryan Wright, who, although it is only a year or two since he left the " Gram.," is now the proud owner of a farm of 320 acres in Canada, not far from the steadily rising town of Edmonton, in Alberta. Well done, Bryan ! May you be an example to many more Grammarians. With this number we produce a criticism of the 1st XI. This ought to be of great interest to the School, and especially to members of the 1st XI. themselves, who, we hope, will not be discouraged if their criticism is not up to their expectations. This number brings the Magazine to the end of its seventh volume, and to the end of its twentieth year of existence. •

We hear that very extensive operations are to be carried on at School during the summer holidays. A new Preparatory Department is to be erected, with a handsome frontage toward Leadside Road. By this the general appearance of the School will be greatly enhanced, and the beauty of the architecture will not be confined altogether to the front of the School. The additions include improved accommodation for Reading Room and Library in the present Lower School Class Rooms, and the conversion of the present Library and old Lunch Room into a Museum. The Pavilion is to be moved back to the line of the infants' playground, with a bicycle shed attached. The entire heating arrangements are also to be remodelled. The effect of these additions will be to set free the present Reading Room and Room 20, occupied by Lower 4, for other classes and sections.

• a We regret to announce the death of one of our most distinguished " Old Boys," the Right Reverend Robert Machray, Archbishop of Rupert's Land and Primate of all Canada, Prelate of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Along with Lord Strathcona and Lord Mount Stephen, Archbishop Machray may rightly be honoured as having largely made Canada what it is to-day. On his first episcopal visit to his diocese, almost as large as the whole of Europe, he had to drive seven days over the snow in a dog-sledge. But his magnificent physique—he was . six feet three inches in height--enabled him to get through a marvellous amount of work. He gradually divided his immense see, till now there are eight distinct dioceses. He founded the University of Manitoba, of which he was Chancellor. In his capacity of Prelate of the Order of St. Michael and St. George he was an imposing ceremonial figure at the coronation of King Edward. He was LL.D. of Aberdeen University and D.D. of both Oxford and Cambridge. We have also to record the death of the Rev. George Durno, Rural Dean of Bodmin and Vicar of Egloshayle, Cornwall. A Cornish newspaper says that he was very deeply regretted, and that the funeral was attended by so many mourners that the parish church was far too small to hold them all. The coffin was borne to the grave by the clergy of the deanery. Mr. Durno was a pupil in Melvin's day. One of the oldest clergymen of the Church of England, and the oldest graduate of Aberdeen, the Rev. James Davidson, Rector of Nafferton, Yorkshire, is one of " ours."

•

Notes about Old Boys.

He left School in 1833, and has just celebrated his jubilee as rector of his parish. He was ordained in 1833. Our hearty congratulations. The Rev. Peter Forsyth, D.D., Principal of Hackney College, London, has been appointed Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. He has been giving some interesting references to his school life in the British Monthly, where he naively confesses, does this learned Doctor of Divinity, that in one of his classes he used to read the novels of Mayne Reid, all unnoticed by the masters! His class-fellow, the late Rev. Professor Elmslie, kept him company, it would seem. A new race of masters has appeared, alas! for such innocent pastimes are no longer encouraged.

Although the Moderator of the ChUrch of Scotland this year is not an " Old Boy," yet we have several ExModerators on our roll. And remembering the fact that one of our first bursars is now Father Humphreys, a leading member of the Jesuit community in England, have we not some right to feel proud of our real catholicity of spirit in supplying from our cold north-eastern corner of Scotland such distinguished men to carry our fame and name in all directions? The Rev. Alexander Fiddes, Minister of St. Bernard's Church, Edinburgh, has been appointed Chaplain to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Rev. Dr. Hector, late of Calcutta, a former Dux, has been appointed Professor of Pastoral Theology for all the United Free Church Colleges of Scotland. We hear that William Trail carried off most of the honours in the combined annual sports of Sandhurst and Woolwich. C. F. G. Crawford is also doing very well at Sandhurst. His brother, Kenneth, is waiting for his commission in the Inniskilling Dragoons. William Clapperton is first in Philosophy, Latin, and Greek at the College of Ushaw, where he is in training for the priesthood of the Church of Rome.

The Grammar School Magazine.

Sir George Reid, Ex-President of the Royal Scottish Academy, has received the degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh University. It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Dr. William Findlay, a distinguished graduate in Arts and Medicine of Aberdeen. He was Dux and Gold Medallist at School. He studied at Aberdeen, London, and Berlin, where he engaged in scientific research, under Virchow. He was afterwards assistant to the Professor of Medicine at Aberdeen. Those who knew him in his early days foretold a brilliant future for him. He was not by any means a mere bookworm, for both at School and College he was a leading member of the football and cricket clubs. And the F.P. Club had a pillar of strength in him, for he was its first secretary, and it was in a large measure due to his energy that the club made such an auspicious start. His bereaved relatives have our sincerest sympathy. Mr. J. G. Anderson, I.S.O. (Imperial ServiCe Order), has resigned the post of Tinder-Secretary to the Department of Public Instruction, in Queensland. He has been an Inspector of Schools since 1862, and in 1891 was appointed a member of the University Royal Commission. The pungent remark of the Saturday Review, that I.S.O. meant ignotas sed ornatus, would not apply in his case. Mr. Harry J. Watt, Fullerton Scholar, has taken the degree of Doctor of Philosophy magna cum laude at the University of Wiirzburg. We have to announce the deaths of the Rev. Thomas Mackay, B.D., Minister of the Parish of Strath, Skye ; the Rev. Robert Cushny, B.D. (Edin.), Minister of Longside; Mr. John White of Dalhebity, Ex-President of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen ; Mr. John Shand, M.A., Headmaster of Mortlach School; Mr. James Berry, Grand Master-Mason of Forfarshire ; and Mr. Lewis Chalmers, Banker, Fraserburgh. Mr. James Meston, of the Indian Civil Service, a former Dux, has been " lent" by Lord Curzon to be appointed

Notes about Old Boys.

a Royal Commissioner, to inquire into the state of the Civil Service of Cape Colony. Mr. Fred Rennet is the special representative of Laffan's Newspaper Agency at St. Petersburg airing the war between Russia and Japan. Mr. J. N. Adams has passed fourth on the list at the first examination of the Faculty of Actuaries ; and Mr. J. G. Kyd has passed the intermediate examination of the same body. These examinations are not easy to pass. Mr. J. P. Wingate, M.A., late of Amoy, China, has died in Edinburgh. Mr. A. Cruickshank, of the Indian Civil Service, Madras Presidency, has also died, after a service of twenty-five years in India. Sir George Watt, M.B., C.I.E., has received the degree of LL.D. from Aberdeen University, and Sir David Gill, K.C.B., has received the degree of D.Sc. from Oxford. The Rev. A. Duncan (a Dux of the School), Lumsden and Sachs Scholar, has been elected minister of the U.F. Church, Dufftown. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of the Orange River Colony has unveiled a tablet at Bloemfontein to the memory of the Rev. John Brebner, LL.D., late Superintendent of Education for the Orange Free State. The sermon was preached by his old school friend the Rev. John Smith, of Maritzburg. His Excellency, at the end of a eulogistic speech, remarked that " for the deeds of such men a country may well be thankful to Almighty God." Our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Hugh Gunn, Dux in 1889, who has been appointed Director of Education for the Orange River Colony. Mr. Gunn's career has been almost meteoric in brilliancy, for he commenced as schoolmaster at Brora, and then was made Sub-Inspector of Schools in Scotland, and afterwards became Inspector of

The Grammar School Magazine.

Schools in the Orange River Colony, where now he is the supreme head. We believe that if more Scotsmen of the type of Mr. Gunu were sent out to take responsible posts in our new territory in South Africa, the entente cordiale between Britoil and Boer would soon be an accomplished fact.

Mr. Hector Duthie, who was with us for some time as a Master, has abandoned the teaching profession in Rhodesia, and has entered the Rhodesian Civil Service.

Mr. James Clark, who went through the South African campaign as an officer in Plumer's Horse, has received au important appointment in the city of Mexico. He has been busy learning Spanish for some months, and leaves in June for his post, visiting the great Exhibition at St. Louis by the way. As he is a subscriber to the Magazine we expect a few interesting articles from him. Mr. Norman Leslie, M.A., B.L., has received a place in the South African Bank, London, and hopes to leave for South Africa soon. At the University we notice that J. M. Robertson has been appointed President of the Debating Society, and G. H Mair, Secretary and Treasurer. H. Wiseman is SubSecretary. J. Rae, is Vice-President of the Debating Society ; and altogether our School is much in evidence both at King's and Marischal. Theodore Watt is Editor • of Alma Mater. Dr. Ronald Macdonald is Chess Champion of Scotland, whilst another distinguished member of the Clan, General Macdonald, an " Old Boy " also, is our country's champion in Tibet, watching the firing of the " jingals from the jong! " What is, or what are, the jong? The Rev. Dr. Philip, senior minister of Fordoun U.F. Church, has been entertained to dinner by the Presbyteries of Fordoun and Brechin, on the occasion of his ministerial diamond jubilee. He was five years at School, which his distinguished brother left as first bursar.

Notes about Old Boys.

It is with much regret that we record the death of Mr. John Johnston, LL.D., Milwaukee. Mr. Johnston occupied a foremost position in the public life of the State of Wisconsin. He was President of the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, of the Wisconsin Historical Society, of the Bankers' (Iub, of the University of Wisconsin, and of many other important institutions, both commercial and literary. His interest in his old School was always great, and our readers will still remember his interesting article on his school life in our October number, 1901. Sir John MacDonell, C.B., LL.D., Master of the Supreme Court, has again been appointed by the TTniversity of London, Quain Professor of Jurisprudence for the next five ye irs. Edmund M'Bain has left to take up farming in Manitoba. David Learmonth and Percy Fildes have entered the Hudson Bay Company. Alan .Johnson has matriculated at Melbourne -University.

RANDOM NOTES. THE performance of the School as a whole in the Bursary Competition has perhaps not been quite as good as some of the most sanguine had hoped, but ill some respects the results present very satisfactory features. Compared with last year, we have this year twice as many in the first ten, three times as many in the first fifteen, and half as many again in the first twenty. 4

The cricket season has begun, and the first few matches have been played. We were not present at the match against the 'Shire at Maunofield, but we believe it was a most enjoyable day for the School Team. They organised a very imposing procession, marching in single file to and from the pitch. (We are not sure whether the music was the " Dead March " in " Saul " or " See the Conquering Hero comes "—and goes.) Afterwards the School Eleven had a most enjoyable afternoon's exercise in the field : we believe that several of them are now in capital form for the next Sports.

The Grammar School Magazine.

Evidently our batsmen were not quite in fettle for cricket that day however. But of course it was their first match, and we should never dare to suggest that that performance showed their true form, for we believe them quite capable of making double the score in future matches. The grass in the enclosure in the middle of our field took a considerable time to make its appearance, but now it is a waving mass of green. Several cricket balls, it is said, have been lost in some of the thickest clumps of grass, while one small boy, who rashly ventured to plunge into the thick, green forest in search of one, could hardly find his way out again. This last statement, however, is unconfirmed, and we publish it with all reserve.

The Fiscal Reform movement has made itself felt in connection with the importation of certain foreign products into the School grounds. Protection of the strictest kind has been instituted with a view to crushing the ice-cream and " slider " trade, which usually flourishes so vigorously between one and two o'clock at the School gates. A very " heavy" protective duty has been imposed on all imported " sliders." The Rector, we believe, is Chancellor of this Exchequer, and the duty has to be paid in his room. Other tariff barriers also, in the shape of locked gates, have been set up against the importation. Unless there is an efficient company of Revenue officers, however, we fear that a good deal of smuggling will go on.

THE BURSARY COMPETITION. The School evidently chose as its Competition motto this year, " Blessed is he that expecteth nothing for he shall not be disappointed." The highest class was again very small in numbers, and indeed everyone expected that the results would be less favourable to the School than they

The Bursary Competition.

turned out to be. The following table shows this year's results as compared with those of 1903 :-

•

In the first „ ,, ,, ,• If f ,

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

.... ...

. . ....... ... ..

1903.

1904.

1 2 5 7 8 12 13 15 18

2 3 4 4 5 9 12 16 19

Even from these figures it may be seen that the position of the School has improved. The feature of this year's Competition has been the great success of W. A. Lothian, who made full marks in Mathematics—a feat which, to those whose mathematical ability is almost nil, seems almost as wonderful as the discovery of radium. Apart from this there is one other point upon which the Grammar School may, with justice, pride itself : it does not " nurse " candidates. That is a most regrettable feature of this year's Competition, and has been done by more than one School. Successes gained in this way are more a matter for shame than rejoicing, and we can pride ourselves that our products are homegrown." The School has taken the following places on the list (total marks, 1800).

5.—W. A. Lothian .. 7.—Robert Richards 11.—R. Y. Hunter ... 28.—H. J. M. Milne ... 47.—H. J. Rae ... 54.—W. C. Milne ... 55.—John Sutherland 57.—J. W. Robertson 59.—R. P. Masson ... 61.—R. M. Easton ... 64.—R. N. Paton ... 69.—H. G. M. Wilson 73.—J. B. Gillies ... 75.—A. J. Findlay ... 76.—H. R. Souper ... 77.—R. N. Gilchrist ... 81.—G. C. Cheyne ... 82.--John Macdonald 85.—J. A. Mackie ...

••• ... ...

...

... ...

...

... ... ...

... ... ... ...

...

1,407 1,383 1,369 1,236 1,154 1,122 1,118 1,108 1,099 1,081 1,077 1,036 1,019 1,013 1,012 1,010 991 991 976

The Grammar School Magazine.

The highest marks scored by Grammar School boys are : -Mathematics- --W. A. Lothian, 400; R. RichardS, 258. English—R. Richards, 299 ; R. Y. Hunter, 281. Latin- R. Richards and It. Y. Hunter (equal), 349; H. J. M. Milne, 320. Greek—W. C. Milne, 338 ; R. Y. Hunter, 336. French—R. V. Hunter and R. M. Easton (equal), 148 ; H. J. Rae, 146. German—H. J. M. Milne, 172 ; IV. C. Milne, 154. Dynamics—J. Macdonald, 110 ; J. IV. Robertson, 98. F.P. THE 'VARSITY AND THE SCHOOL. During Session 1903-4 the number of our F.P.'s attending Aberdeen University was 157 : namely, at Arts, 71 ; Medicine, 60 ; Science, 13 ; Divinity, 3 ; Law, 10. A recent number of Alma Mater seemed to indicate the opinion that the Bursary Competition is the only criterion of the extent to which the schools are feeders of the University. The above figures show that the School is feeding the University very substantially, to the extent in all of about 28 per cent, of its male students---through other avenues also. Over 130 F.P.'s appeared in the Class Prize and Merit Lists of all Faculties for last summer and winter sessions. Including 4 Honorary Degrees, 47 Degrees were taken.

LYRIC LOVE. Some souls there are that suffer greatly and withal suffer gladly. Their anguish is supreme, yet hath in it something of pleasure. They joy in their pain, having regard to the object for which they endure. Their torment is grievous, yet do they clasp it to their bosoms and will not that it be taken away. Cognisant are they that with themselves lies the power to remove it, yet on this account do they rather the more delight in it, and ponder fondly on the privilege they esteem. Nevertheless, ever and anon doth the full extent of their dolorous plight Hash upon them

Lyric Love.

and—such the weakness of humanity—they may not forbear from uttering a piteous plaint. Most often is this the case in that passion of love, whose noble thoughts of their own accord express themselves in noblest language, and, thus " shrined in immortal verse," descend to posterity. This passion would seem to be most prevalent between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two, when the adolescent heart is yet tenderly impressionable and inly responsive to the behest of beauty. If this be not the reason, then we are at a loss to account for the remarkable and interesting display of poetic feeling, as expressed in the impassioned outburst of amatory lyric, the products of which we have been privileged to examine, and to which we have been permitted to give a publicity wider than that which would have fallen to their lot had they been kept concealed from general knowledge. Greatly beholden are we to the authors for the favour they have vouchsafed unto us, and their guerdon shall be the additional renown which shall accrue to their already illustrious names. Alack that we are unable to deal with the effusions in a manner commensurate with their originality, but with heavy sighs of heartfelt sorrow we have restricted our quotation to one stanza of each, which, peradventure, will suffice for an attainment of the appreciation at the proper value of the whole work by all save the brutish intellects of certain sottish scullions. The first of these gems runs as follows :— " Annie, dear, I love you More than words can tell, And if you told me, I would go And jump into a well."

What pathos! what sublimity! and withal—as the Official Head of English Poetry would say—it is characterised by a simplicity of diction, an artless association of ideas which Wordsworth himself might have envied. Even in " The Idiot Boy " there is nothing like it. Mark especially the natural touch introducing the well, with its already intimately reminiscent suggestion of drowned puppies. But we must refrain from further expatiation on the beauties of this touching composition, and proceed to the next, which we approach with mingled feelings. " Bessie. dear, I love you More than words can say, And at your bidding I would go And Asander far away."

The Grammar School Magazine.

The language of this is even more ingenuous, but the forms betray great similarity to that of the previous example. So close indeed is the likeness that we can draw only one conclusion, that the affections of the inconstant wight were turned from his first love, the rival charms of another siren having evidently proved too strong. How much so we may gather from the last line, with its melancholy hint of the homeless wanderer, wandering without a home in a cold and unsympathetic world, until some compassionate magistrate shall take pity on him, and cause him to be provided with food and shelter for at least a month. The next lucubration is on a still higher emotive plane, and of a more " elevated " nature. " Oh, Ella, my heart is ensnared in the meshes Of the net that you wield with such wondrous dexterity ; You always repel when I offer caresses : I wonder in what way I soonest may merit thee."

There are distinct and unmistakable indications that this was written under spirit-ual influence. In support of this, we have only to point to " caresses " rhyming with " meshes," which it would naturally seem to do with one whose thoughts " Were with his heart, and that was far away,"

loftily soaring in the realms of fantasy, untrammelled by the mundane cares of a carnally-minded, conventional multitude. When the sympathetic tear hath brimmed over, pass we to the next. " Oh, Nell, how I admire your hair— Bright as a new struck penny ; But when I ask you for a lock, You will not give any."

It would be a work of supererogation to attempt to point out the beauty and originality of the simile embowered in that memorable and imperishable phrase, the second line. Uninspired poetasters have hitherto been content to describe their adored's flowing tresses by the hackneyed, obvious, and commonplace similitude to " ruddy gold," forsooth ! It was reserved for our divinely inspired bard to strike boldly away from convention, and trace their resemblance to the gleaming disc of bronze, yet unsmirched by the grimy hand of the labourer, fresh from, and refreshing himself after, his toil; or by the chubby palm of the infant, schoolwards meandering, moist with the sticky delicacies dear to the puerile palate. DON JAIME.

The Way We Must all Go.

THE WAY WE MUST ALL GO. " A THING of beauty is a joy for ever." This is true; or at least it ought to be, for otherwise the poet must have been lying, and I cannot conceive any reason for his so doing. There certainly was no inducement held out, and to lie without inducement— ! But this is not to the point. The fact is, the poet omitted to state that there are other "joys for ever" besides " things of beauty " : and firstly and foremostly amongst them is the "Barbarity" Class at Queen's College. Truly, a professor at Queen's College is one of the happiest beings on earth, if he only knew it. I speak from experience. (I may here however state, for the benefit of those at present ignorant of the fact, that I am not a professor at Queen's. Quite the contrary : my experience is all on the other side.) And of all the professors, he who presides over the Barbarity Class occupies the most enviable position. For brilliant flourishes of intellect and wit this class is unrivalled. I am a member of it. There is also here an unparalleled and awe-inspiring display of feet. If you shut your eyes, it is quite easy to imagine that you are in the Roman Senate—just as it used to be, with this difference, that all the members are pedarii, and signify their opinion with their feet. One can see on entering the Barbarity Class-room at 11 a.m. that the Bajans miss the morning prayers to which they have been accustomed, for the air resounds with the " Old Hundredth," " Balm of Gilead," " My Flo from Pimlico," and other such soul-inspiring and elevating harmonies. If to some delicate ear the different voices may not seem to accord altogether as one would like, a look at the enraptured countenances of the choristers dispels the momentary gloom, and the dissenter lends his voice to swell the song. The entrance of the professor, his face aglow with kindly interest and almost paternal love, has a strangely pleasing effect on the melody. All roughness or harshness in the music immediately melts away, the earnest voices taking a more subdued tone, as though soothed by the fatherly presence into a softer cadence. The work then progresses, the students showing—by the enthusiastic manner in which they search for and

The Grammar School Magazine.

find out jokes where none exist—how thoroughly the few simple stanzas have fitted them for more earnest application to their duties. A stranger might be pardoned for feeling somewhat startled and astonished, not to say perplexed, at the suddenness with which the feet of one and all descend upon the floor with unanimous crash; and then—amid the uprising clouds of a dust which has accumulated since the remote period when a broom was a recognised article of furniture—continue such a rattling and banging, double-shuffie and quick time, that the very walls tremble, and the mighty edifice threatens to fall in ruins. During the last week of the session this is accompanied by an extremely rapid clapping of hands, which makes one think of a hundred little boys running down the street rattling flat sticks on the railing of the front gardens. To others the Barbarity Class resembles a penny magic lantern entertainment for children. The professor, however, is undisturbed, and, when the uproar had died away and the dust somewhat subsided, he continues his lecture, well knowing that the sudden enthusiasm and clamour were provoked by some reference to the Capitoline slope, or a remark upon the quality of wines grown in some particular locality. Distinguished as this class is for wit, it is not less so on the score of gallantry. There chance to be in it a fair percentage of the gentler sex, and this portion-contrary to the usual customs of the sex-- has contented itself with a back seat. Such is the interest felt in the welfare of these fair ones by their stronger companions that they are not permitted to indulge in any conversation or audible smiles (which are most detrimental to earnest work), such being immediately hushed by the rows of pained countenances turned round in astonishment, and by gentle admonition in the way of hoots and hisses. In short, the Barbarity Class is a model one, and it is to be hoped it will keep up to its present standard as years roll on. And as each session draws to a close, let all members of the class continue to sing as they do now, with the same depth of feeling, that beautiful hymn—" Oh, that will be joyful, when we part to meet no more ! ! ! "

t 4

THE

GRAMMAR SCHOOL

MAGAZINE

NEW SERIES—Vol,. VII. 1903-1904.

‘

ABERDEEN JAMES G. BISSET. MCMIV.

Zcbool efficia16. =

SEASON

1903= 1904.

(lames Committee. The RECTOR. President Mr. JAMES I)AVIDSON. Hon. Secretary Mr. J. C. lirrox (representing Lower School). I C. D. PETERKIN (Cricket). D. ADAM (Football). F. M. RAE (Cricket). J. P. CAMERON. A. CAMPBELL (Cricket, Swimming). H. G. M. WILSON (Cricket, Football, Magazine). I J. B. Galles (Swimming).

Cricket. Captain Secretary Captain Secretary -

A. CAMPBELL. H. G. M. WILSON.

Football. . -

D. ADAM. F. Ross.

Swimming Club. J. B. GILLIES. Captain W. R. EDDIE. Vice-Captain A. CAMPBELL. Secretary and Treasurer Committee. G. E. SCROGGIE. H. G. M. WILSON.

R. N. PATON. C. D. PETERKIN.

Literary and Debating Society. H. G. M. WILSON. President ( J. B. GILLIES. Vice-Presidents lA. J. FINDLAY. A. CAMPBELL. Secretary and Treasurer Committee. R. N. PATON. R. RICHARDS.

G. C. CHEYNE. R. Y. HUNTER. H. J. RAE. Dawn RIID (Reference). R. M. EASTON (Lending). ). A. M. BROWN (

Library. (Lending). R. RICHARDS I ,, ). H. G. M. WILSON ( ). ,, C. D. PETERKIN ( Magazine.

Editor-in-Chief Editor for Sport Literary Editor Business Manager -

H. G. M. WILSON. A. CAMPBELL. R. N. PATON. J. A. WATTIE.

The Hon. Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club is Mr. ALFRED W. EDWARDS, 267 Union Street, Aberdeen.

The Grammar School Magazine.

and it cannot be denied that he was particularly noticeable even on a stage where all acted well. His frequent outbursts of passion were most natural, and his frantic terror when he imagined himself poisoned was as fine a piece of acting as was ever done on our stage. G. E. Scroggie ably performed the part of the irrepressible Sergeant Trounce, and nearly took the roof off with his shout when imitating the lieutenant's way of giving orders, all unconscious that the honest rustic with whom he thought he was speaking was the lieutenant all the time ! The other male characters, namely the three soldiers and the man-servant, were of little importance in the play, but the actors all discharged their parts admirably. A Smith, as Lauretta, was charming in manner and make-up. "She" acted the part of the romantic eighteenth century maiden splendidly. J. B. Gillies, as the fussy and rather sour-visaged matron, acted with great success, her amusing callousness at her husband's supposed poisoning and his sarcastic remarks thereon being one of the most amusing features of the comedy. All the actors without exception spoke out most distinctly, making themselves heard in every part of the hall. On the whole the entertainment was most successful. It is far from our intention to give unqualified praise: there were several faults which many of the audience found with the performance. Several of the scenes were ridiculously short, the curtain being up only for a minute or two, and the play itself was scarcely as amusing as last year's. But these were certainly not the faults of the actors. The costumes and make-up of the actors were perfection. Throughout, the piece bore eloquent testimony to Mr. C. Davidson's skill as stage manager.

A BULL-FIGHT IN SPAIN. It was on a Thursday, about three o'clock in the afternoon, that I started for the Plaza de Toros. There was no occasion for me to ask the way. The stream of gaily dressed holiday folk, all going in one direction, in a highpressure state of pleasurable excitement, was quite a

INDEX TO VOLUME VII. PAGE.

BULL FIGHT IN SPAIN,

BURSARY COMPETITION. THE BY

CONCERNING NAMES. CORRESPONDENCE

CRICKET NOTES

A. MACKIE

DEBATER NOTES

FISHING EXCURSION, FOOTBALL NOTES

F.P. CONCERT, THE IN THE DARK. BY J. M. C. JUDICIAL NIGHT, THE

CRITICISM OF 1ST ELEVEN

FINALE, THE

LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS

A. BY ALEXANDER REID

LEOPARD HUNT IN CHINA,

LIBRARY, THE LYRIC LOVE

MURISON, MR. WILLIAM,

M.A.

NOTES ABOUT OLD BOYS NOTHING.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES

PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE JAPANESE NAVY.

61 8, 47, 78 15 33, 108

SWIMMING CLUB, THE SWIMMING SPORTS, THE TALL AMERICANS "THE

97 10, 83 - 1, 41, 73 Facing Index 20 21, 107 17

EDITOR WISHES YOU TO SEND A HUMOROUS ARTICLE."

BY A. R. W.

BY LIEUTENANT

E. W. DANSON RANDOM NOTES SCHOOL OFFICIALS

BY A. C. H. -

SCHOOL NOTES - .

31 92 84 • 54 38 . 24, 103 106 - 34, 69 . 91 13 - 24, 65, 100 60 50 62 37 22 38, 46 -

ATHLETIC SPORTS, THE

The Grammar School Magazine. 'VARSITY AND THE SCHOOL, THE

. -

"UNDERSTANDING" OF THE POLICEMAN, THE. WAY WE MUST ALL GO, THE

BY C. A. M. -

PAGE. 86

OUR POETS' CORNERARISTOCRATIC AILMENT, THE PEACE

SNOW OF YESTER-YEAR, THE SONNET.

BY MR. J. WIGHT DUFF

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ALEXANDER BAIN, LL.D. WILLIAM MURISON, ESQ., M.A.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, 1903

Facing page -

1 41 73

The Finale.

THE FINALE. THE annual evening concert and dramatic performance, otherwise known as the Finale, of the Literary and Debating Society was given in the School Hall on Friday, 4th March, at 8 p.m. There was a full dress rehearsal on the Thursday, which was open to the public, and as it was fairly largely attended there was not such a " pack " on the Friday as has been usual at our Finale for the last few years, but still the " house " was well filled in every corner. The musical programme was of a very high order, but was this year entirely vocal, there being no piano or violin solos. Miss Nettie E. Gibb, Miss Evelyn Riddell, Mr. James Rae, and Mr. G. C. Fimister all contributed solos, and the enthusiastic applause and clamorous encores showed how much their songs were appreciated. Mr. G. Cooke also, like all the other singers, acquitted himself in a manner which left nothing to be desired, and his two comic solos especially were received with an applause which we would not demean or belittle by comparing it with such a comparatively peaceful thing as thunder. We can only say that the noble walls of our School were as near coming down as we hope they will ever be. All the accompaniments were skilfully played by Mr. D. B. Nicol, who also played some piano solos between the scenes of the play. The dramatic part of the entertainment was much more ambitious than usual; instead of there being only one scene, there were five, and the number of actors was unusually large. The play was Sheridan's farce, "St. The Patrick's Day," or the "Scheming Lieutenant." stalwart, handsome, and ingenious but sorely love-stricken Lieutenant O'Connor was ably represented by H. G. M. Wilson, who acted as well as he spoke, which is saying a good deal, and who particularly excelled in his disguises of the honest rustic and the German quack doctor. R. H. Easton played most admirably the part of the Lieutenant's friend, Dr. Rosy, and took snuff and sauntered about the stage in the most natural manner, while his repeated moralisings on the virtues of his defunct wife set the audience into fits of laughter. A. P. Jameson, as the choleric Justice Credulous, was pronounced by many to be the " star" of the evening,

The Grammar School Magazine.

and it cannot be denied that he was particularly noticeable even on a stage where all acted well. His frequent outbursts of passion were most natural, and his frantic terror when he imagined himself poisoned was as fine a piece of acting as was ever done on our stage. G. E. Scroggie ably performed the part of the irrepressible Sergeant Trounce, and nearly took the roof off with his shout when imitating the lieutenant's way of giving orders, all unconscious that the honest rustic with whom he thought he was speaking was the lieutenant all the time! The other male characters, namely the three soldiers and the man-servant, were of little importance in the play, but the actors all discharged their parts admirably. A. Smith, as Lauretta, was charming in manner and make-up. "She" acted the part of the romantic eighteenth century maiden splendidly. J. B. Gillies, as the fussy and rather sour-visaged matron, acted with great success, her amusing callousness at her husband's supposed poisoning and his sarcastic remarks thereon being one of the most amusing features of the comedy. All the actors without exception spoke out most distinctly, making themselves heard in every part of the hall. On the whole the entertainment was most successful. It is far from our intention to give unqualified praise: there were several faults which many of the audience found with the performance. Several of the scenes were ridiculously short, the curtain being up only for a minute or two, and the play itself was scarcely as amusing as last year's. But these were certainly not the faults of the actors. The costumes and make-up of the actors were perfection. Throughout, the piece bore eloquent testimony to Mr. C. Davidson's skill as stage manager.

A Bull-Fight in Spain.

sufficient guide for my footsteps. The air was full of laughter, and there was evidently a great deal of goodhumoured banter going on in the crowd. The Spaniard, even of the lower class, is on ordinary occasions sedate, dignified, and incapable of seeing a joke ; but the prospect of a bull-fight thaws the icy reserve of his demeanour as nothing else can. On arriving at the amphitheatre I found it to be, as it really is, a large, roofless edifice built of stone, with seats and boxes rising tier by tier, from some feet above the arena, to a few feet below the summit of the outer wall. The favourite seats, and those which of course command the highest prices, are on the shady side, and here it is where I obtain a place. On the sunny side, with the full glare of a Spanish July sun blazing on them, sat the In the people, regaling themselves with water melons. boxes were numerous ladies, each of course armed with a fan. A Spanish lady appearing in public without her fan would be like a soldier going into action without his gun. The house—that is to say, if you can call a roofless building one—was soon filled with about 20,000 people. As soon as the house was filled, a blast from a trumpet heralded the approach of the brave performers, and then, to the strains of a military band, which was accommodated in a large box, the procession entered the arena amidst a deafening roar of welcome. First rode two men with plumes in their hats, dressed in dark blue velvet. After them, followed on foot, about a dozen banderilleros and capeadores glittering in gold and silver embroidery ; after them rode, two by two, four picadores; and finally marched three matadors surpassing in splendour of apparel even their predecessors in the procession. All the men on foot are models of manly symmetry, and as there is no dress like that of a Spanish bull-fighter for showing off a good figure to the greatest advantage, they look their very best—and, what is more, they seem to be perfectly aware of that pleasing fact. The men on horseback are so padded from their waist downwards, as a protection from the horns of the bull, that it is impossible to see whether they have good figures or not. Right across the arena, every eye rivetted admiringly upon them, swaggered the glittering heroes of the show, to the martial strains of the band. As I watched the cortege making its way across the open space, I said to

The Grammar School Magazine.

myself, " Well, I think he would give a peacock half-adozen more feathers in his tail, and then beat his head off at an exhibition of self-importance." As soon as the party arrived immediately under the Governor's box, they halted and saluted. Then, as the Governor rose from his seat and responded to the salute, the band ceased playing and the applause was hushed. He addressed a few words to them which I could not hear, but which were, in effect, his gracious permission to commence operations. With another salute, and amidst applause, the party broke up and betook themselves to their stations in the ring. The short interval that elapsed before the entry of the bull, I shall devote to a cursory description of the bullfighters. The picadores are the men who fight the bull on horseback, armed with lances about ten feet long, which are so constructed as not to penetrate much further than the skin. These men and their horses are the least imposing figures in the spectacle. They wear enormous broad-brimmed hats, tied under their chins by pieces of broad black ribbon-- -not exactly the style of head-dress generally considered suitable for a cavalier, and they wear buff leather breeches, so padded that they all look as if they were suffering from elephantiasis. . Their steeds are miserable animals. There is a law in force throughout Spain that the horses employed in the bull-ring are not to be above the value of five pounds. The banderilleros are the bull's chief tormentors, their duties being to infuriate him by means of darts, which, with extreme agility and coolness, they fix into the bull's shoulders ; while the eapeadores are those who mainly employ themselves in diverting the bull's attention with their bright-coloured cloaks. They are specially useful when any man is wounded in the ring. (A man in a bullfight is wounded once in a blue moon). The wonderful adroitness with which they draw the animal from their fallen comrade, and occupy his attention while the wounded man is being carried out, is perhaps the most admirable—or, shall I say, the least revolting—feature in the whole proceeding. The matador is the great gun of the show. He it is who, armed with a sword, will coolly confront the bull and give the infuriated animal the coupde-grace. All were at their stations in different parts of the arena—picadores, banderilleros, and capeadores (the matador's time had not vet come), and the hushed silence of

A Ball-Fight in Spain.

absorbing expectance was on the crowd. Nothing broke the stillness which reigned over the vast concourse of about 20,000 people but the gentle rustling of the ladies' fans. We were all waiting the blast of the trumpet which was to be the signal of the bull's entrance, and the symptoms of pent-up excitement I read in the hushed stillness and in the faces all around reminded me of those moments when an English crowd on a racecourse are waiting the magic cry of, " They're off ! " Suddenly the looked-for signal rang out with startling • clearness. A door was opened, and in trotted the bull, looking very angry. It was not as big as the general run of English bulls, but it looked fierce and formidable enough. To one of his shoulders was fixed a large blue and silver rosette which, I believe, were the colours of his breeder. The roar which greeted his appearance seemed to stupify him, and he suddenly stopped, looked about in a dazed manner, and then gave a bellow, more in sorrow than in anger. It soon got over its astonishment and dismay at finding itself so suddenly surrounded by a roaring multitude, and in its swelling rage it looked around for a. victim on whom to vent its wrath. A picador, waiting to distinguish himself, rode past as if daring him to come on, and the enraged animal, at once accepting the challenge, charged headlong. I! expected to see man and horse, especially as the latter's legs were trembling under him, borne to the ground with a crash, but the picador afforded me instead a striking proof of the superiority of science over brute force. With coolness, dexterity, and strength, he received the charge on the point of his lance, and seemed to turn the bull from his course, and the trembling steed he has wheeled round just in the nick of time. Smarting with rage the bull now furiously charged a banderillero. This man carries in his hand a dart about two feet long, with a barbed point and gaily ornamented with coloured paper and ribbons. He stands motionless as if courting destruction, but just as the bull was all but on him and when all possible means of escape seemed gone, quick as lightning he stepped out of the way, and as the bull blindly rushed past, he placed, in the neatest manlier possible, and with the most consummate ease and grace, two darts into the animal, one on each shoulder, with almost mathematical precision. A clapping of hands and loud cries of "Bravo! bravo, banderdlero" rang from all parts of the amphi-

The Grammar School Magazine.

theatre, just as English spectators might applaud a smart bit of fielding in a cricket match. As an exhibition of grace, skill, and daring, it would be certainly hard to beat. Indeed, so carried away was I by my admiration of these three brilliant attributes, that I altogether for a few moments lost sight of the cruelty of the proceeding, and found myself joining in the cries of " Bravo." For some moments the two darts remained in their upright position, the coloured ribbons streaming gaily in the air as the bull hounded onward, and then they hung by their points from the bull's shoulders. A storm of hisses greets when there is a failure, for there are no more critical and exacting spectators than a Spanish crowd at a bull-fight. The bull now charged a horse, and undeterred by the picador's lance succeeded in ripping the wretched animal's hide. The picador did not attempt to dismount, though, by leaning over in his saddle, he saw what had happened. At this point, generally, the horse falls dead in the arena, and the picador is taken outside the ring. Now the bull turned out a rare good one. It made charge after charge at its tormentor, and the fact of its always getting the worst of it did not seem to daunt it, and as it charged around the arena they shouted " Bravo torn, bravo tore." After the animal had been performing for a quarter of an hour, the matador made his appearance, and general interest rose to the highest pitch. The new corner saluted the Governor, spoke a few words, and kissed the hilt of his sword. It is always rather difficult to hear what he says, but everyone knows that his short speech, which of course was applauded to the echo, is something to the effect that he will either kill the bull or perish in the attempt. As soon as the matador had made his speech announcing his intention to do or die, the other bull-fighters retired, leaving him alone with his four-footed antagonist. The solitary figure in its glittering dress was soon observed by the bull, which charged wildly. The matador, quick as thought, stepped on one side and drove the sword into the animal's body between the shoulder and the ribs. To all appearance the sword went in as easily as a fork goes into a boiled turnip. It was buried to the very handle, and the point had pierced right through the heart. Then the brute crossed his fore legs and fell to the ground with a crash, while the matador bowed

A Bull-Fight in Spain.

gracefully to all parts of the house. The air became The military band struck up a filled with shouts. martial strain, " See the Conquering Hero Comes." Then a large door was opened, and six gaily ornamented mules, with their bells ringing merrily, were rapidly driven into the arena. In a few moments they were harnessed to the dead bull, and then, amid shouts and cracking of whips and ringing bells, they took a turn round the ring at a smart gallop, and then dashed through the way they came. In each bull-fight six bulls perform one after the other. " Bravo, bravo ! " resounded on all sides, the men clapped their hands and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the band finished with a brilliant march, which filled the house with enthusiasm and joy. L. L. A.IIIRRAY. THE ARISTOCRATIC AILMENT. In John Bull's Isle, King Edward leads The changing fashions, as he pleases— And so it is that bramble-seeds Cause the most up-to-date diseases ! For since the King rose from a bed Of sickness showed how great his might is ! And vanquished angry pain—'tis said The fashion is Appendicitis! A friend of mine, hearty and strong, Went with me for a yachting trip. We steamed off gaily—but ere long, He swallowed half an orange-pip ! At once headed our yacht for home, My friend, in panic-stricken woe; Nor ate, nor slept—could only roam The deck—with execrations low! In port again—a specialist He sought—and begged for verdict true. Earnestly did the man insist, " There's really nothing wrong with you! " Yet my friend—sore to be denied An illness—which he deems his right is, If only to maintain his pride, Still swears he has Appendicitis! !

The Grammar School Magazine.

PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE JAPANESE NAVY. As I have been asked to contribute something to the Grammar School Magazine, I think that the most appropriate subject I can choose, at present when war is raging in the Far East, is my personal knowledge of the Japanese Navy. During the years '97 and '98 I was employed as an officer in one of the Japanese Government hired transports, named the "Inaba, Maru," which brought the officers and crews of several of the Japanese war vessels, then building on the Tyne, over to this country to join their ships. The trip I remember best was the one when we carried the crews of the cruisers " Asania " and " Tagasako," both vessels engaged in the recent bombardments of Port Arthur. Amongst the officers I had many personal friends. The one with whom I was most intimate was Lieutenant Takeuchi, a very intelligent fellow, who has lately distinguished himself in command of a destroyer, by sinking one of the three Russians which came to grief on 8th February at the first attack on the fortress. His appearance, which I can always remind myself of, as I have his photo, was far from prepossessing, but he was as keen a naval officer as I have ever met, and often on the passage home would spend a couple of hours with me during my night-watch on the bridge, taking astronomical observations of the most delicate nature, which, although not often used in ordinary navigation, are a thorough test of a good observer and calculator. I have never met another naval officer of any nationality who would go to such pains on a troopship passage, when he might have been enjoying himself in the smoking-room or sleeping peacefully in his bunk. Occasionally he would relate to me incidents which happened in the Chino-Japanese war in which he took part, and although he could talk only broken English, and that very slowly, he was so realistic in his yarns that I never got bored with them, and thus learnt exactly from an eye-witness what took place in the various engagements. On one of the patriotic festivals which fill the Japanese calendar—probably the Mikado's birthday--our ship was

Personal Knowledge of the Japanese _Navy.

in Colombo, loading cargo. About eleven at night, while in charge over one of the holds, I was suddenly collared by half-a-dozen of the junior Japanese officers and carried shoulder high into the saloon, where the remainder were assembled, and was there informed that I had to drink the Mikado's health. A row of festive-looking gold papered bottles promised well, so naturally I was quite ready to join in, and thought that they had used a good deal of unnecessary force in securing my presence there, when a quiet invitation would have done equally well. When, however, my glass was filled up, and I discovered that instead of Perrier Jouet it was nothing better than saki, the native Japanese wine, I thought differently, as it had been my bad luck to have tasted it once before, and I hoped then never to have to do so again, for it is by no means the Britishers' idea of a drink, and has an indescribably nasty taste. I was in rather a delicate situation, as I could not very well back out of drinking the toast, but I made the stipulation that if I drank their Emperor's health they should all sing the " English God Save," as they call it, afterwards. I drank the saki and then they sang: I am not sure which was the more unpleasant, for I never heard such a discordant rendering of the National Anthem, yet, to give them their due, that what was lacking in harmony was fully made up for in volume and heartiness. Every Sunday evening during the passage home the entire crews were mustered on the spar deck, seamen one side and stokers the other, the petty officers placing themselves on the cargo hatches amidships, and at the word of command from the senior officer they commenced a long performance of patriotic songs, including the latest compositions of the local Kipling on their war with China, which was still quite fresh in their memories, marking time as an accompaniment to the music. One of these songs consisted simply of the names of the various battles of the war strung together. This was followed by a series of wrestling competitions between members of the crew, varied by an occasional round of fencing with the two-handed sword-stick, a formidable weapon to look at, but very skilfully manipulated by these masters of the art. With little diversions of this sort, the voyage passed very pleasantly, and on our arrival in the Tyne, when we made fast alongside the new cruisers, I was quite sorry to

100

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bid adieu to my eastern friends. I left them examining their new ships with the keenness and curiosity of a child with a new toy. Little did I think that when next I heard of them they would be engaged in the series of glorious actions in which everyone is at present taking such interest. E. W. DAMON, Lieut. Royal Indian Marine.

SCHOOL V. 'VARSITY A.—This match was played on School Grounds on February 13. On winning the toss the 'Varsity elected to play up against the wind. During the first half, play was of a very even order ; now and again rushes were made into the opposing 25's, but they never resulted in any scoring. Our forwards were playing a fine game, and easily held their heavier opponents in check. Scroggie and Wilson were playing a good game at three-quarters. Half-time came with no scoring on either side. On crossing over, we fell off completely. Our forwards lost their dash, and were gradually driven back, till Ross of the 'Varsity succeeded in touching down. The kick brought out the full points. After this first reverse, the Grammar never plucked up courage, and were beaten time after time. In the second-half the 'Varsity scored

School Football Notes.

101

17 points—rather a disappointing result, seeing we started so promisingly. The forwards were chiefly to blame, and looked sorely in need of training. Final scores—'Varsity,. 17 points (1 goal 4 tries) ; School, nil. SCHOOL V.2ND F.P.'s.—This match took place at Mannofield on the following Saturday. The School started to play down, and for a time held the F.P.'s in mid-field. But when once the F.P. forwards got on the swing, they were irresistible, and the Grammar had to cross over with 13 points (2 goals and a try), recorded against them. The School started well in the second-half, and after some give and take play, Wilson got clear, and looked like scoring, but kicked the ball into touch. After this we never got a chance, and two goals were scored in quick succession. The game ended-2nd F.P.'s, 23 points; School, nil. Our team played well, but were not a match for their heavier and more experienced opponents. SCHOOL V. GORDON'S COLLEGE.---This match was played on Wednesday afternoon (February 24th), at School Grounds. Adam appeared again after his injury and took his place amongst the three-quarters. For the first ten minutes play was confined to mid-field. All the passing was done by the Grammar, who were now having the best of the game. At last Adam got the ball and passed to Wilson, who scored far out, after a splendid run. He just missed with the difficult kick. Soon afterwards, however, the Gordon's forwards had a rush, which brought play into our 25. The ball was kicked across our line, and touched down, while the opposing forwards were following up closely. By some misunderstanding of the referee they granted a try, and Stewart landed a lovely goal. Half-time arrived with the scores—School, 3 points; Gordon's College, 5 points. In the second half the spectators crowded into the field and proved very troublesome to the players. Three of our fellows had to leave the field, amongst them Adam. We were now playing with two three-quarters and seven forwards. Yet these were playing a fine game, and kept the ball on the Gordon's line for fully twenty minutes. We had hard luck several times in not scoring. A few seconds before time, Bain, of Gordon's College, got the ball, edged his way through the spectators, running in and out of touch, and finally scored between the posts. Stewart again landed a very fine goal.

102

The Grammar School Magazine.

Thus ended a very unsatisfactory game, with the scores at full-time—Gordon's College, 10 points (2 goals); Grammar School, 3 points (1 try). Scnom, V. QUEEN'S CROSS (27th February).--This match was played on School Grounds in dry weather. A few minutes after the game started, the School opened the scoring with a fine try between the posts by Wilson. The kick failed. Shortly afterwards Heiman scored a neat try, but again the kick failed. The School crossed over with a lead of 6 points. In the second half our forwards became very slack, while the opposing forwards bucked-up immensely. Anderson scored for the Queen's Cross, but failed with the kick. But our forwards would not wake up, and were driven back several times. They were distinctly better than their opponents, yet they did not seem to realise the possibility of Queen's Cross scoring again. They however did it, and this time succeeded in bringing out full points. So a game ended in a defeat for the School I., 8 points to 6, where they should have won by 20 points ! ScHooL v. 2ND 'ShrinE (13th March).--This was the last . match of the season, and th e School, waking up from their previous defeats, added another to their list of victories. The game was hotly contested, but the 'Shire were seldom very dangerous. Robertson, the late School three-quarter, was by far their best player. He gave several opportunities to them of scoring, but nothing resulted. Campbell and Scroggie both scored, but neither score was improved upon. The game ended School, 6 points; 2nd 'Shire, 0. Thus ended our football season of 1903-4. Our team was not so successful as in former years, but we cannot be the champion team every year. One consolation is that the champions for the season are the 2nd F.P.'s, who are composed, in great part, of our last year's 1st XV. The summary of the matches played is—won, 5 ; lost, 9 ; drawn, 0 ; not played, 9. A. CAMPBELL.

Cricket Notes.

,0C

103

ABERDEENSHIRE V. SCHOOL (April 30).— As usual the School started the season with a match against Aberdeenshire. The day The was bright, but cold and windy. 'Shire won the toss, and sent the School in, who made a very poor show, Peterkin being the only one who stayed at the wickets a few minutes. The 'Shire did not start well, and soon seven wickets were down for 57, but Galloway and Tait made a fine stand, and brought the score up to 137 before Galloway hit his wickets. The innings closed for 150. KINTORE V. SCHOOL (May 7).—The School travelled to Kintore in the hope of making a better show than against the 'Shire on the previous Saturday. But alas ! Kintore Mair and Webster played very well, went in first. having 32 and 27 respectively. The score was 96 when the School went in. Unfortunately the first three wickets went down for 0. The least said about the batting the better. The School were all out, 24. UNIVERSITY V. SCHOOL.--This match was played at King's College. The ground was in perfect condition, and is said to be the best in Scotland. Lucky University ! The University made a good stand at the beginning. Massie played a steady game, and was top scorer with 16. Ross was the only other in double figures with 11. Eddie and Rae bowled well for the School. The University total was 69. The School started with Giles and

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The Grammar School Magazine.

Scroggie. Peterkin followed, and played very steadily, 'but was unfortunately caught for 13. Rae also had 13. The scores were—University, 69 ; School, 51. MODERN V. CLASSICAL (May 13).—Mr. Harper has kindly allowed the School to play matches in the Duthie Park on week-days, as our field is under repair. The Classical went in first. Only Peterkin and Wilson got into double figures with 15 and 12. It was nearly dark before the Moderns started. The Classical bowling was good, and the Moderns could not make much of a stand. Campbell had 20, and Scroggie made a good 10. Rae, Semple, and Cheyne bowled for the Classicals. Cheyne captured three wickets for 0 runs, and only bowled one over. The scores—Classicals, 66 ; Moderns, 44. GORDON'S COLLEGE V. SCHOOL (May 14).—The above match commenced at King's College at 10 a.m. with heavy showers at intervals. Gordon's College won the toss, and sent the School in. The School were at the wickets for more than two hours, and just failed to reach the century. Murray and Park were the most successful bowlers for Gordon's College. Rae opened the bowling for the School, with Eddie at the other end. Campbell went on towards the end. Philip and Park made a stand for some time, but all their team were put out ten minutes before time, although we were instructed to leave the field on account of the pitch being soft after the heavy rain. The following are the detailed scores :— GORDON'S COLLEGE.

SCHOOL.

1. H. Murray, b Eddie . . . 1 2. Cameron, lbw b Rae. . . 5 3. Philip, b Eddie. . . . . 17 4. Duguid, c Pererkin b Rae . 0 5. Park, c Bannochie b Campbell 12 6. Reid, b Eddie, 1 7. Munroe, b Campbell . . 0 8. Stark, b Eddie 0 9. Brown, not out . . . 3 10. Stuart, b Eddie 0 11. Forbes, b Campbell . . 0 Extras 4 — Total 43

1. Peterkin, run out . . . . 9 2. Cheyne, b Murray . . . 9 3. Scroggie, b Murray . . . 1 4. Wilson, b Murray . . . . 8 5. Campbell, b Park . . . . 15 6. Rae, lbw b Park . . . . 18 7. Eddie, not out 19 8. Semple, b Park 0 9. Bannochie, b Park . . 0 10. Wishart, b Park . . . 2 11. Stewart, c wicket keeper b Park 17 Extras 1 — Total 99

SCHOOL V. 2ND XI. (May 20).—This match was played in Duthie Park when a high wind was blowing. The 2nd's won the toss and decided to bat. Our bowlers did

Cricket Notes.

105

not take long to find their length, and in less than twenty minutes had bowled them all out for the small total of 5. Eddie had five wickets for 0, while Rae had five for 4. The School sent in Peterkin and Wilson to face the bowling of Reid. The first three balls sufficed to bring our total to 6 ; so we won the match by 10 wickets. But after this wickets very soon fell, for not a single batsman made a stand, except Bannochie, who was 11 not out when the tenth wicket was taken. We hope to see the 2nd XI. make a better stand next time. UNIVERSITY v. SCHOOL (May 21).—The second match with the 'Varsity Wanderers was played at King's in splendid weather. The School won the toss and sent their opponents in to the wicket. Leslie played a very steady game for his 25 not out. Walker and Gerard made 10 and 18 respectively. The School fielding was very bad and discouraging to the bowlers. The fielders are not half smart enough. Many runs could have been saved with ease. The University score was 79. For the School Peterkin was again top scorer. We expect great deeds from him this season. The rest made no stand at all against the bowling of Ross, and were all out for 41. Eddie, one of the new members of the Eleven, is bowling very well, and is a great help to the team. In time with practice he will be a first-class bat, as he has the knack. His bowling analysis so far is as follows—Balls bowled, 231; runs, 100 ; wickets, 19 ; maidens, 3 ; average, 5.2 runs per wicket. CLASSICAL V. MODERN (May 27).—This match was played on the following Friday in the Duthie Park. The second " test match " added another win to the Classicals. On winning the toss the Classicals sent in Peterkin and Giles. These did not stay long together, and three wickets were down for very few runs. Then Wilson came in, and, after playing carefully for some time, gained complete mastery over the bowling. Each bowler in succession he despatched to the boundary, and was not got rid of till he had scored 65, including 5 five-hits. The closure was applied with the score at 101 for 9 wickets. The Moderns had a big task before them, but they were never like making a score. Consequently the innings closed for 44. UNIVERSITY V. SCHOOL (May 28).—The third of our fixtures with the University was played at King's College

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The Grammar School Magazine.

Grounds. The School had been beaten in the two former matches, but had resolved to win the third. The University batted first, and ran up the very substantial score of iu6. When the School went in, they lost three of their best batsmen for 11 runs. Then Campbell and Wilson got together and had turned the game completely in our favour before Campbell was run out after having compiled 38. The fourth wicket put on 77 runs. Wilson survived him only a few minutes, being clean bowled for 46. Ultimately the score was brought to 135, the highest made by the School for several years. Let us hope that the 1st will take confidence at this victory, and make many more high scores in future. A. CAMPBELL. THE 1sx XI. ONLY four of last year's 1st XI. are back at School again, so that seven of this year's team are playing for the 1st XI. for the first time. In spite of this we are quite as good as last year, and if our present rapid improvement continues we hope in a very short time to be much better. Already we have gained more matches this season than we gained during the whole of last. The following is a brief criticism of the team :— A. Campbell (captain).—Plays a splendid game himself and keeps the rest of the team in excellent order. Is the most stylish and most reliable batsman in the team. Exceptionally smart in fielding. Is a good bowler, but at times erratic. H. G. M. Wilson.—Also a good batsman, but does not take full opportunities for scoring. Plays better on a slow wicket than on a fast. A good fielder, who runs his hardest in the field. C. D. Peterkin.—Has been showing good form lately. A very steady batsman, who has many good scoring strokes. F. M. Rae.—One of the best bowlers in the team. Bowls very few loose balls. Is also a good batsman, whit makes his runs by hard hitting. R. W. Eddie.—Also a very good bowler. Keeps up a good length throughout. In batting, is rather given to " swiping." A. Reid.—Steady batsman and a good bowler. Is the only left hand batter in the team.

Cricket Notes.

107

G. E. Scroggie.—Fits his place behind the wickets well, but is rather slow. Is a fair batter, who has improved immensely since the beginning of the season. T. Stewart.—A fairly good batsman, but should cultivate more scoring strokes. F. W. Wishart.—Batting rather erratic. Is a good change bowler. Should practice fielding. J. Bannochie.—Has been playing carefully lately. Is also a good change bowler. Should field more smartly. Ought to improve greatly by end of season. S. S. Giles.—Rather eager to score by " slogging." Is a very good fielder. Has improved greatly. - -

THE SWIMMING SPORTS. OUR annual Aquatic Sports took place on the afternoon of

Friday the 10th. There was an excellent attendance of both parents and pupils, who appeared to take a keen interest in the proceedings. The Rector, as President of the Club, occupied the chair. The chief race of the day, that for the Rector's t'up was first on the programme and was won easily by R. W. Eddie. This is the second time that he has won this race. A good finish was witnessed in the " Old Boys' " race, which is an entirely new feature in the sports. Burnett was first, followed very closely by D. Williamson. The neat dive, plunge, and swimming under water were all very well contested, Campbell surpassing everyone in the latter. The comic element was supplied by the balloon race, blindfold race, and walking the greasy pole. These races, we note, are becoming more popular every year. At the close of the gala, the Rector in a few remarks congratulated the officials on the improved entry for the competitions, and on the excellent standard of the swimming now reached by our boys. He said that a few years ago when a census was taken of the pupils, nine out of every ten could not swim fifty yards, which meant that, in a case of emergency, they would not have been able to keep themselves afloat for five minutes. He was glad to see that the excellent facilities for swimming were now being fully taken advantage of, and hoped that the improvement would be even more noticeable a year hence. Our best thanks are due to Dr. W. F. Croll and Mr. D.

108

The Grammar School Magazine.

Mailer, who kindly acted as judges, and also to Mr. A. Johnstone, who made a most efficient starter and referee. The following are the detailed results : Rector's Cup (120 Yards)— 1, R. W. Eddie; 2, D. Semple ; 3, T. Mackay. Former Pupils' Race---1, I. A. K. Burnett; 2, D. Williamson ; 3, M. Williamson. Neat Dive-1, A. Wilson, 91 points ; 2, J. B. Gillies, '9 points. Senior Handicap-1, G. A. Ledingham ; 2, D. Semple. Plunge-1, J. B. Gillies; 2, R. Eddie; 3, A. Wilson. (Distance, 46 ft. 6 in.). Swimming under water 1, A. Campbell ; 2, R. W. Eddie ; 3, A. Wilson. (Distance, 65 feet). Beginners' Race--1, J. Robertson ; 2, W. A. WilliamSon.

Balloon Race-1, R. W. Eddie; 2, D. Semple; 3, A. Wilson. Blindfold Race-1, T. Mackay: 2, J. B. Gillies; 3, R. W. Eddie. Walking the Greasy Pole-1, E. Ducat; 2, R. W. Eddie. BALNEAE.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES. We beg to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of the following magazines : " C.A.I." (Coleraine Academical Institution) ; " St. Andrew's College Magazine " (Grahamstown) ; " St. Andrew's College Magazine" (Dublin) ; " High School Sentiment " (Kansas) ; " Yellow Dragon " ; " Mercer's School Magazine " ; " Edinburgh Academy Chronicle " ; " Glasgow High School Magazine " ; " The Nelsonian " ; ' Alma Mater."

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