AGS Magazine June 1913 by AGSFP Association

•

TI6I 'a N a C

.E .°N "IAX '1OA

Educational Books. JAMES G. BISSET

ONTINUES to supply all the Class Books (New or Second-hand) suited for the Requirements of the Higher Educational Institutions in the City, at the Lowest Prices.

N.B.—BEST V.4LUE IN STUDENTS' NOTE BOOKS.

JAMES G. BISSET, Classical, flnebtcal, ant' Encational ~ookset[er,

85 BROAD STREET (Opposite MarInched College).

J. & A. MARR. [ .2)7. ( Pianos. Organs. Gramophones. Violins. Mandolines. Melodeons. Cornets. Bugles. Autoharps. Banjoes. Concertinas. Flutes. Piccolos. Music. Music Rolls and Portfolios. Strings, and all Musical Fittings and Repairs. Best and Keenest in the Trade.

J. & A. MARR, 58-60 ST. N ICH O LAS STREET, ABERDEEN. Telephone No. 89.

ENGAGEMENT RINGS. Finest Quality Diamonds.

A. & J. SMITH, Selections

Rings of JEWELLERS, SILVERSMITHS. every WATCHMAKERS, OPTICIANS, description 191 UNION STREET. AND from £loo. £1 to 23 AND 25 ST. NICHOLAS STREET. ABERDEEN.

sent on Approval at our risk.

WAIT AT

RIGBY'S FOR BEACH CARS.

The Shop where to buy your

FRUIT, CHOCOLATES, & SWEETS Note the Address-

54 UNION ST. Where Beach Cars Start from.

ELLIS & M`HARDY, IS REGENT QUAY & 13(:)

UNION STREET

- ,-

l opom.— • .

Importers of Household and Steam Coals. I), if rerel by Careful and Telephone 2889.

Experienced Drivers.

for over Cwentv wears.

Patronteeb by 1Rovaltp

SPICER & KIDD, HAIR SPECIALISTS, 7Labtes' ant) aenttemen's ibigh.class bairbressers ant) perfumers, 10 BRIDGE STREET, AND PALACE HOTEL, 7XBERDEE

The Largest Ladies' Saloons in Scotland. Face Massage—French and American Methods. Electrolysis, Chiropody, and Manicure. Telephone No. 2995.

DINE AT

The

Royal Athenaeum Restaurant and Grill Room (OPPOSITE TOWN HOUSE)

THE PREMIER DINING

HALL IN THE CITY.

Pcrtronised by the elite of the Gown ek County. CHOICE SELECTION OF

OLD VINTAGE CHAMPAGNES AND OTHER WINES. HIGH-CLASS PURE HIGHLAND POT-STILL WHISKY, Tel. No. 2273.

John Mitchell, Proprietor.

Established 18S9.

Telephone 1750.

FOR

MILK and CREAM, BUTTER, EGGS, TEA CAKES, SCONES, & OATCAKES, Ices, Trifles, and Pies to order, TRY

FINDLAY S DAIRY, 457 UNION STREET, & BRANCHES, ABERDEEN.

BROWN & THOMSON, CABINETMAKERS &

UPHOLSTERERS,

242 Union Street. DESIGNERS AND MANUFACTURERS. 14-0•. DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES FREE

Telephone No. 1204. (145 * Licensed Valuators.

Removal Contractors.

P.41/IblIVIVIIAMWIAAPWROSiloW0.46/41111011.1

evorersipsimilitivies4p

PURVEYORS TO

BiS MAJESTY.

APPOINTMENt

The Unprecedented Demand for our 1 : / ) , 01

VIDCOM CAKES] HAS MADE AN EX1ENSION C F THIS DEPARTMENT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Our Increased Facilities will Ensure Prompt Attention to all Orders.

1.̀,,Z.11.411,a4A14

411,404,441/4/441044/11.41, 441.41.41,114

SEEDS, BULBS AND PLANTS. VEGETABLE and FLOWER SEEDS, specially selected. . FARM SEEDS of the utmost purity, all carefully tested. (00 NURSERY ..BULBS grown by the most skilled STOCK. Cultivators. i TREES and SHRUBS, All kinds of Garden HERBACEOUS PLANTS Requisites. and ROSES, FRUIT TREES ii f,-- 1 4.0

and BUSHES all healthy and well rooted. FLOWERING and FOLIAGE PLANTS, in extensive variety, for Greenhouse or Table Decoration. CUT FLOWERS, WREATHS, BOUQUETS. etc., artistically arranged and supplied on the shortest notice. Catalogues gratin an Post Free on Application

A ,

OFFICES AND WAREHOUSES : -

18 MARKET ST., 1 to 5 HADDEN ST., ABERDEEN, Nurseries—Burnside and Silverhillock,

106-UNION STREET-106

High=class TEAS at moderate prices. Rare Old WINES, excellent value. Mellowest WHISKIES obtainable. Speciality, 21s. per Gallon. " Semper Idem."

P. GRANT GARIOCH, tea, Mine, & %pita Merchant,

1O6 UNION

STREET,

ABERDEEN. Rifle

Not a toy, but a serious weapon

a B.S.A. Air LEARN TO SHOOT with (Guaranteed accurate up to 50 yards.) Made in various Weigkte and Bores.

e" Junior Model, for Boy and Ladies, 401- each. Heavy Model for Adults, 45/- and 50/- each. Ammunition, No. 1 Bore, 1/2 per 100. Accurate '22 Rifles (for 50 and 100 yards) 10/6. Catalogues Free.

Inspection

Invited.

Intending Purchasers can Shoot Rifles on our Underground Rifle Range in Aberdeen.

ALEXANDER MARTIN, Gunmaker, 128 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. Tel. No. 480.

F.P.'s and Present Pupils, Interest You! We have by far the largest stock in Aberdeen of Fountain and Stylo Pens, and every Pen we sell is guaranteed perfect. The "Armil " Fountain Pen (14-carat Gold Nib) Self-Filling Pen Stylo Pen Swan, Waterman, and Onoto Pens, from

A. &

3/6 5/B 3/6

10r6

R. MILNE, 229 Union Street, Aberdeen.

Telephone 269.

Established

1847.

1.Logaif libitsic %aloons, 349 Union Street, Aberdeen. PIANOS and ORGANS.—A Large and Varied Selection of the Best

Cash or

An Inspection Invited.

Models always on hand. Instalments.

MUSIC.—Up-to-date Music of all kinds always on hand.

Examination and Educational a Speciality. Any kind of Music sent on approbation. Music specially ordered delivered in Three days.

MISCELLANEOUS.—Violins, Bagpipes, Mandolins, Strings, and

all

Musical Accessories of the Best Quality. Proprietor.

GEO. T. CANTLAY, a

CONTENTS. PORTRAIT OF SCHOOL RUGBY FOOTBALL 1ST N V. PORTRAIT OF THE SCHOOL STAFF IN 1885-86 DRAWING OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AS TO BE EXTENDED

_ -

. .

SUMMER MEETING OF THE CLUB ; NOTES THE MOTOR SECTION THE HOCKEY CLUB THE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB -

LIST OF NEW MEMBERS OFFICE-BEARERS-1913-14 SCHOOL OFFICIALS

THE MUSEUM THE FORMER PUPILS' CLUB : ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

LIFE ON A PERAK COCONUT ESTATE TWELVE MONTHS IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA OUR LETTER-BOX -

184

PORTRAIT OF MR. JAMES ESSLEMONT SCHOOL NOTES RANDOM NOTES NOTES ABOUT OLD BOYS FIFTY YEARS AFTER THE AWAKENING OF CHINA

SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTES SCHOOL CRICKET NOTES

Frontispiece Facing p. 136 152 , 129 133 136 150 166 168 171 175 181 182 183

. -

184 190 193 196 197 198 199 200

BREAKFASTS, LUNCHEONS,

WEST END ell.FE,

CONCERTS, DANCES, and AT HOMES

TEAS,

LIMITED,

Purveyed in Cafe.

DINNERS, Finest in City.

Prices

Moderate. Everything First-Class.

SWIFT .

154 UNION STREET.

ttl V,," 4> •-•

A 2I 1 .7 SPARKBROOK CYCLES.

BILLIARD ROOM, and SMOKE ROOM.

TELEPHONE 2309.

THE

CYCLES. I

DRAWING-ROOM,

BON=ACCORD CYCLE CO., CYCLE & MOTOR AGENTS, 234 UNION STREET,

TRIUMPH CYCLES. . `•I

c7, to

g .•• m-tO AL I

o o

ABERDEEN. "Triumph," "Swift," "Enfield," and "Motosacoche" Motor Cycles. "Rollo" Cycle Cars,

:.0.1

N A

•

ENFIELD CYCLES.

NEAT. CHEAP. QUICK.

Printing.

ESTIMATES GIVEN. **

THE CENTRAL PRESS (John Milne), GENERAL PRINTER, LITHOGRAPHER, AND STATIONER,

61 BELMONT STREET, ABERDEEN. Telephone No. 809. Telephone 431.

130W1V1111\1 & SON, Picture ffrainers, 187 UNION STREET. The Ideal Schoolboy's Watch :

5/- "THE ENIGMA" 5/In Oxydised and Nickel Cases. To be had from THE

City Goldsmiths' Co.

98 Union Street, ABERDEEN. Will be sent to any Address on receipt of P.O. for 5/6.

A large selection of Wristlet Watches also kept in stock.

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB ist XV. JUNIOR CHAMPIONS, SEASON '9'2.13.

James Davidson, Esq. R. M. I crgu,..ii. (lion. Sec.)

Matfarlane.

C. E. Saunders. W. T. E. Joss. W. J. Johnston. W. P. Garbutt (Ser.) A. Hendry.

•

A. Ritchie.

D. MacRae.

J. G. F.lmslie (rapt.)

•

a NIcCaaum.

N. K. Robson.

C. J. C. Hunter.

R. D. Lyon. F. A. Conner. A. H. P. Ferguson. It

NEAT. CHEAP. QUICK.

Printing.

ESTIMATES GIVEN. **

THE CENTRAL PRESS (John Milne), GENERAL PRINTER, LITHOGRAPHER, AND STATIONER,

61 BELMONT STREET, ABERDEEN. Telephone No. 809. Telephone 431.

SOWNITIN & SON, Picture fframers, 187 UNION STREET. The Ideal Schoolboy's Watch :

5/- "THE ENIGMA" 5/In Oxydised and Nickel Cases. To be had from THE

City Goldsmiths' Co., 98 Union Street, ABERDEEN. Will be sent to any Address on receipt of P.O. for 5/6. A large selection of Wristlet Watches also kept in stock.

cr The

Rosemount Press SUPPLY

EVERY

DESCRIPTION OF

LETTERPRESS AND :: LITHOGRAPHIC ::

PRINTING On the Most Reasonable Terms. ESTIMATES ON APPLICATION.

Farmers' Hall Lane, Aberdeen. Telephone -No. 1O35.

"To shorten time is to lengthen life."

THE GAZETTE FOUNTAIN PEN ought to be one of the most cherished possessions of every student. It will materially aid him in his studies, will make writing a pleasure, and will tend to increase his leisure for recreation. It is well worth Half-a-Sovereign, and only costs

HALF-A-CROWN, With 14-carat Instructions.

Gold

Nib, in

box with

Filler and

6d. 5s. 6d.

STILOS, with Gold Spring Needle, 3s. POST FOUNTAIN PEN,

Filling for a day or a week. As easy as dipping once. Secure one now at the

"GAZETTE" OFFICE, •

UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB tat XV. JUNIOR CHAMPIONS, SEASON 1912.13.

James Davidson, Esq. R. M. Ferguson. I. Macfarlaqe. A. RLci-ie. I). McCa.lum. (Han. Sec.) C. E. Saunders. W. T. B. Joss. D. MacRae. N. K. Robson. C. J. C. Hunter. W. J. Johnston. W. P. Garbutt (Sec.) J. G. Elmslie 'Cap.) R. D. Lyon. F. A. Conner. A. Hendry. A. H. P. Ferguson.

—

•

—'-

—

•—

• ••••••,... *if;

Grammar School Maga3ine. Vol. XVI.

JUNE, 1913.

N o. 3.

Lowell has said:— Our seasons have no fixed returns,

Without our will they come and go.

And so, whether we welcome it or not, we have, with the passing of the seasons, come within sight of the close of another School year, and to the last number of our Magazine for the present session. According to an ancient authority, " Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof," and it may be with a sigh of relief that we contemplate the end now in prospect. Yet it cannot be without a pang of regret that those of us who are about to leave face the prospect of taking farewell of the School. We shall leave it with many pleasant memories, and in days to come we shall live over again in imagination the happy years spent within its walls. 0 The results of the University " Prelims " held in March were highly satisfactory from the School point of view, as the percentage of failures was very small indeed among the School candidates. This augurs well for the results of the Leaving Certificate Examinations when they come out during the holidays.

130

Aberdeen, Grammar School Magazine.

The Bursary Competition takes place from the 10th to the 13th June inclusive, and it is being regarded with mixed feelings by those doomed to try it. The prospects of the School candidates are unusually bright this year, to judge by the last list; but it is not safe to rely on this, and the hard work goes on as in former years. The Fifth should again take high places in the Competition, we are told, and we wish them, as well as their senior colleagues, all success. tc;

The Annual Gymnastic Assault was held in the Hall on Friday, 14th March, and proved, if anything, more successful than its predecessors. Mr. Summers has gained a reputation through these annual displays; and every year we see the pupils engaged in them getting more and more proficient, while the attendances increase also. The Assault is one of the most successful functions of the School year, and we wish Mr. Summers every success on future occasions.

a With the Sing-Song, which was held on March 21, the Debating Society's session came to an end. The Society has again had a most successful year, and we must congratulate the President upon his efficient management. There has been, however, a distinct lack of support from the Modern side recently, which has spoiled the attendances at the meetings. It would be a good thing for the Society if some of the older members of the Modern side would consent to become officials next year, and help to bring up the membership on their side of the School. We might also add that this would afford an outlet for the energies of those members who are always engaged in brightening the President's life in a manner which he does not appreciate. 6g

The football season ended on 8th March, and the School XV. turned out Junior Champions for the fourth year in succession. Last year the XV. were joint champions with the 2nd Former Pupils' team; but this year they are unrivalled leaders, in fact their position was assured before the last league match was played. Unfortunately the final match for the season, that between Champions and 2nd City, was lost; but we cannot blame the players for that, as 2nd City were undoubtedly a strong team, and the match was not played on the School ground. In this number we reproduce a photograph of the successful fifteen.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

131

Soon after the end of the holidays the cricket season started, and now one has to be on the alert in order to cross the field safely. The air is generally thick with balls, and he will be indeed lucky who gets through the season without one or two hard knocks. It is a common thing to hear some wounded youth saying plainly what he thinks of the batsman who hit him. Owing to the smallness of the field, and the consequent crowding together of pitches, this is a danger which cannot be altogether done away with; but a step has been taken in the right direction by continuing the policy of limiting each class to certain prescribed hours for play, thus greatly reducing the overcrowding. This year the first XI. are looking forward with confidence to a successful season. Six members of last year's XI. have returned, including J. G. Elmslie, who is now captain, and N. K. Robson, who is secretary. All the XI. are capable bats, and a large number of them are also bowlers. Stewart, last year's captain, has returned, and may be expected to play sometimes, if not always. The prospects, therefore, are very bright, and we wish the best of luck to the team in all their matches. The Tennis Club has now been re-started, and is being carried on under the same conditions as before. The Club is divided into a senior and a junior section, each with certain hours allowed for play. These hours are the same as formerly. R. I. Maxwell has been elected captain, and we hope he will arrange for another tournament. It would be well, if this is done, that the tournament should begin earlier, in order to have plenty of time to finish it before the holidays. Last year the arrangements of the Club were upset by the long spell of bad weather, and we can only hope that this will not be the case again. Good luck to the Club, and to its efforts to promote the game in the School! The Swimming Club is, as usual, in a flourishing condition. The membership is not immense; but it is steadily on the increase. Some difficulty has been found with the arrangements for the convenience of members of the Club at the baths, owing to our hour off coinciding with the Wednesday half-holiday. The baths are always crowded on Wednesday now, and Club members arriving late, cannot find boxes. We understand that arrangements are being made to

132

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

alter these conditions, and we hope that these changes will take place before next session, because the membership of the Club will then increase largely. We must mention here that the Swimming Sports will take place on Friday, 30th May, and all the usual events will figure on the programme.

7. The Library will close for the year in the beginning of June, and all books must be returned by the time announced, in order that they may be counted and arranged before the Bursary Competition begins. The Library has had a record membership this year; but it is a miserably small record in proportion to the size of the School. Several additions have been made to the number of books, and now the cases can hardly contain the whole of the volumes, yet the membership has not risen above fifty. Let us see what can be done next year to improve this state of matters. The School is strongly supporting the Territorials. Thirty present pupils have recently enrolled under Captain Thomas Ogilvie (F.P.) in D Company of the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders. This Company now consists almost entirely of " Grammar " boys, past and present. It may also be mentioned that the Boy Scouts of the School at present number over 100. Our last words, as we vacate the editorial chair, must be words of acknowledgment and thanks. It was an honour, for which we may well be grateful, to have been called to fill a position which has received high traditions from its former occupants. It has likewise been a pleasure to be associated with colleagues so loyal and helpful, and to have the support To all of these we desire to of so willing contributors. express our cordial thanks, and we can only hope for our successor that he may have the same support and encouragement in his duties in a year that is likely to be memorable in the history of the School. The Extension of the School Buildings. Our warm thanks are due to Mr. J. A. O. Allan, architect to the School Board, who, in spite of great pressure of work, has found time to make a special drawing for the Magazine of the School Buildings as they will appear next year when extended. We know that our readers are eager to see what the effect of the extension will be, and they will appreciate Mr. Allan's kindness in supplying the drawing.

Aberdeen Grammar School _Magazine.

133

Random Notes. Time and again we have heard it remarked—" Hope springs eternal in the Editor's breast." Well, perhaps it does, but we can safely say that though it spring, it does not always attain maturity. Various things can prevent the germination of a seed and the developing of a plant: superfluity of rain, or plentiful scarcity of sunshine. We do not know which of these two has been our experience, but of this we are positive-the hope has sprung, but it has borne no fruit. In short, our breast vibrates with hope: our pen scratches with lack of matter. No one in the School has striven with tooth and nail to knock the ordinary routine of things on the head ; nothing but commonplaces have to be recorded. We live in a world of change. Whatever else we may deny —the practicability of " Grimm's Law " or " Palatalising " —this fact must be admitted. Inspired and glutted with the maxim, The old order of things changeth, giving place to the new, the President of the Debating Society attempted to secure another " Magazine Night" for his own delectation, perhaps, but ostensibly to brighten the rather stale state of affairs in the Society. The Editors, however, were minded otherwise. One of them, in a pathetically touching oration, which reminded us partly of the last days of Cicero, and partly of the last few hours of a swan—so brilliant and unexpected and extraordinary was the outburst—pointed out that as long as the President's tie was worn, so long would the necessity of more light in Room I. be unnecessary. " And pity 'tis, 'tis true." If we might have the presumption to offer any suggestion to our noble and usually quiet-tasted President, we would say that salmon pink does not become him; it presents too striking a contrast with his many other good qualities. Let us proclaim to the world in general the joyful tidings —" Trade here is very busy: at least, among the painter The season for getting new glass into old fraternity." window frames is upon us, and is likely to overwhelm us, for paying for glass does pick one's pockets. In brief, cricket has begun, and damage has been done. We overheard one player who was returning from an interview with a lady in Leadside Road, muttering to himself, " Still, it was worth it! " meaning, we presume, that the game—the joy of the " swipe "—was worth the candle --the forking out of the half-crown. Besides windows, the usual miscellaneous assortment of bats, stumps and balls,

134

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

have, like the pieces of skin snipped from all parts of the body, passed into oblivion. As for the grass, it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. Our eleven speak of doing great things this year. They have already broken bats and lost balls ad infinitum; but, of course, these are minor performances: opponents' legs have yet to be broken; opponents have yet to be made lose runs! A curious sight was seen by some members of the School one morning in March. One of the most illustrious and learned-looking of the Sixth had arrived at School and taken up his stand near Room I. Upon his head, he wore a cap —an ordinary pancake, draughts-board cap. But suddenly a youth, or perhaps, man (for he is at the 'Varsity), comes careering down the corridor; scans the faces of the Sixth with a fierce and angry eye; darts towards our particular friend; snatches the cap from off his head; grunts—" I thought as much! " ; claps his own headgear on the head of our terror-stricken hero; and swaggers off with the air of a turkey-cock dressed approximately as man. When we could regain our breath to ask our poor, shaking schoolfellow the why and wherefore, we received this explanation :—" I m-must h-have taken his c-cap by m-mistake ! " In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of poetry. The thought here expressed by a present day writer, was realized in our midst. With somewhat startling suddenness, a spring poet sprang up amongst us. In his all-absorbing passion for cultivating the muse, one of our number forswore all the joys of the material world; there was nothing for him but to sit and muse on the beauties and glories of spring. 0 Spring, 0 Spring, dare I begin Thy beauties to extol— The merry bird, the blithesome word, The green trees by the wall?

This is but a fragment (which, on our reading it, fastened itself so indelibly on our memory, that we feel constrained to put it on paper) of a long effusion written in the same strain. No one who has any music in his soul can fail to detect the note of a real genius in these lines. Let us hope, then, that our poet that sprang in spring will blossom in summer and bear rich, ripe fruit in autumn! Though we cannot vouch for the veracity of this little episode, we heard on good authority that it actually took place. At the time when the medical inspection was proceeding briskly at the School, a young boy was told that his eye-

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

135

sight was " not very good." On his reaching home, this was what happened :— Boy: "Papa, what shall I do? The medical inspector told me to-day my eyes are bad." Papa : " Oh, is that all ? That's nothing to cry about." Boy: " But I must be falling in love. We read in the ' Merchant of Venice ' that love is blind! Boo-hoo ! " The sequel can be better imagined than described. It is a lamentable fact—but nevertheless true—that many of the pupils of the Junior Classes have taken to swaggering up and down our principal street. Perhaps they know that in aimlessly wandering through the town they but imitate a. prince who " grew a companion to the common streets." More than likely, however, they do not, but forsake their books to study—the latest fashions in feminine attire ; or to show off the beauties of the various paraphernalia which they honour by their bodies. Sic itur ad astral And now, we await the morning when " much study is a weariness of the flesh " shall form part of our Scripture reading at prayers. The time draws nigh when we must bid farewell to our School, our Masters, our duty of Literary Editor of this Magazine. No more shall we hear the bell's last notes urging us to haste; no more shall our doughty name beautify the notebook of the watchful master set to catch the late-comers; no more shall we wear our pen in impositions. Though sneered at by some—who, as far as features go, were eminently fitted for the post of joker but proudly refused—our duty has been sweet. Uninteresting and pointless, exhausting and stale as our remarks have been, many have been the words of encouragement. We would most earnestly extend these to our successor, who, let us hope, shall indeed be " a fellow of infinite jest," and not have to try (and fail) to be witty. But to return to our muttons, as the French say : Magazine, Masters, School, farewell!

Our Contemporaries. Copies of the following magazines have been received:— " The Armachian," " The Nelsonian," " The Yellow Dragon," " Turriff School Magazine," " The Penang AngloChinese Scholars' Own," " Edinburgh Academy Chronicle," " St. Andrew's College Magazine " (Dublin), " The Courier," " The Fettesian," " The Erasmian," " The Herioter," " The Olavian," " The Portmuthian," " Glasgow Academy Chronicle," "The Watsonian," " Sligo Grammar School Magazine," " Under the Dome," " The Boltonian," " Foyle College School Times," " The Westovian."

136

Aardeen Grammar School Magaz ne.

The dates given, in parentheses after names indicate the years of entering and leaving the School. *Indicates Member of the Former Pupils' Club Our series of reproductions of old School photographs is continued in this issue with a group of the Staff in 1885-86. It will awaken many memories in Former Pupils of the 'Eighties, and to those of other periods will at, least be interesting as showing how fashions change in the sartorial and tonsorial arts! Some notes on the members of the Staff will doubtless be welcome, especially to those who have for some time been out of touch with the School. In the first place it may be mentioned that the group is not complete. One master " conspicuous by his absence " is Rev. JAMES WILSON LEGGE, M.A. The lady teachers, too, and several of the visiting masters also are wanting. Only one of the group still continues on the Staff of the School-MAXWELL H. MACKIE, M.A. (French), who joined in the spring of 1881. Several are dead: JAMES MOIR, LL.D. in 1891, and D.Litt. in 1898, who continued as Rector of the School until 1893 and as Co-Rector until 1899, died on 16th May, 1902; CHARLES SLEIGH, M.A. (Mathematics), resigned in 1893 and died on 22nd June, 1894; JAMES MORISON (English) retired about 1890, and after living in the country for twenty years, died on 12th February, 1910; JAMES D. CROW, M.A. in 1887, became a doctor in Forres, and died there on 29th December, 1898; and Sergeant CHARLES DUNCAN (of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders), the Janitor, died on 3rd April, 1895. Of the survivors, several are resident in Aberdeen: JAMES S. SHEWAN, M.A. (Lower School), is in practice as a solicitor; GUSTAV HEIN (German) is on the staff of the Girls' High School; ALEXANDER GREEN, M.A. (Lower School), recently retired from the headmastership of Skene Square Public School; HUGH F. CAMPBELL. M.A. (English), B.L. in 1895, is a member of the Society of Advocates; and SAMUEL POPE (Writing and Drawing) retired from the School last year. Of the other survivors GEORGE

MEMBERS, OF TtiE SCHOOL STAFF IN 1885-86.

BACK

Row—Wm. Rankine. Sergt. Duncan Chas. Cowie. Jas. Morison. J. D. Craw. M. H. Mackie. A. V. Lothian. J. S. Shewan. Gustav Hein. Robert Black. (Janitor). FRONT Row—Geo. Harvey. Alex. Green. Hugh F. Campbell. James Moir Charles Sleigh. Samuel Pope. George Robb. (Rector).

r 1

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

137

HARVEY, M.A. (Classics), retired in 1887, and is resident at CrTaIltOWD-011-Spey; GEORGE ROBB, M.A., became head of a

school in Rosario de Santa Fe, Argentine Republic, and is now resident in Edinburgh; A. V. LOTHIAN, M.A. (Science and Arithmetic), is on the staff of the Training Centre, Glasgow; CHARLES C. CowIE (Lower School) is now U.F.C. minister at Rothes; and WILLIAM RANKINE, M.A. (Classics), is schoolmaster at Chapel of Garioch, Pitcaple. ROBERT BLACK (of the 21st Hussars) was the Gymnastic Instructor. A very fine portrait of Sir GEORGE REID (1853-54), R.S.A., LL.D., has been presented to the School by Lady Reid. It will, of course, be hung in the Hall. 4 '.'

•

1•6='.

Sir JOHN COLLIE* (1873-76), M.D., is the author of a recently published work on " Malingering and Feigned Sickness." In the course of a laudatory review The Times says, " Under the influence of statutory compensation for injuries and insurance against sickness, it [malingering] has developed into an art or craft (in the double sense of the word), and has called forth the counter art of detection, of which Sir John Collie is a distinguished professor. As consultant medical officer to two public bodies and a number of private corporations, and formerly medical referee to the Home Office under the Workmen's Compensation Act, he has had a. very extensive experience in the examination of doubtful claims. This book embodies his experience." WILLIAM HUTCHEON* (1882-84), of the Morning Post staff, has undertaken to edit for Mr. John Murray, the publisher, a new book consisting of a collection of the less known of Disraeli's early writings. The volume will be similar in form to those of the authorised biography now in course of publication.

JOHN J. R. MACLEOD* (1884-93), M.B., Professor of Physiology in the Western Reserve University, U.S.A., has published under the title of " Diabetes: Its Pathological Physiology," the substance of eight lectures delivered last year in the Physiological Laboratory of the University of London. ANDREW RAMSAY (1896-99), who has recently been devoting himself to aviation, was passenger in the first aeroplane to be " held up " under the new aerial regulations issued by the Home Secretary. The machine in which he was travelling was being brought from Paris to a purchaser in this country. It was observed coming across the Channel by the coastguard at Dover, and when it landed at Adisham, the pilot and our F.P. were questioned by the police, who were pleased to express themselves as satisfied with the information given.

• 4-•

138

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Until recently we had no idea that an Old Boy took part in the Russo-Japanese War. It appears that ALEXANDER TOPPING (1897), some time after leaving the School, went out

to Japan, and on the outbreak of the War, was enrolled in the Japanese army which besieged Port Arthur. He died of fever before that fortress in 1904. Rev. ALEXANDER R. SAUNDERS* (1872-77), who since 1887 has been a missionary under the China Inland Mission, is at present home on furlough, and a very welcome contribution from his pen appears in another part of the Magazine. An interesting account of Mr. Saunders and his work in China appeared in the Aberdeen Free Press in February, and the following paragraph is taken from it:—

Mr. Saunders has been stationed in various parts of China. When the Boxer troubles broke out in 1900, he was in the northern province of Shansi, and he had to flee with his family to the coast. There was a party •of fourteen men, women, and children altogether, and for 49 days they were driven along the road to Hankow, sleeping sometimes at the roadside, and at other times getting shelter on the rough floors of Chinese prisons. They were stripped of all their possessions, and even their clothes were torn from them, for Mr. Saunders walked into Hankow with nothing upon him but a pair of Chinese trousers. Hats or helmets they had none, and it was surprising that they did not all collapse with sunstroke in the hot, torrid weather. As it was, Mr. and Mrs. Saunders lost two of their children in the exposure and privations of this terrible flight to the coast, one a girl of seven, and the other an infant of two. A little booklet " Two Child Martyrs" was written by Mrs. Saunders, and published by the China Inland Mission, telling the sad story. It has been translated into Danish, German, and Chinese, and has been read by thousands all over the world. FRANK R. BARRY* (1896-1902), B.A., scholar of Oriel College, Oxford, has been awarded the Hall and HallHoughton Prize for 1913.

(1898-99) recently passed the whole examination for associate membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and GEORGE IRVINE THOMSON (1899-1900) passed the studentship examination. Sir JAMES SCORGIE MESTON* (1876-80), K.C.S.I., Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra. and Oudh, India, is to receive the LL.D. degree from Aberdeen University. JAMES CECIL D. MACKIE* (1898-1909), M.A., has received a grant from the Carnegie Trust in the department of Economics. The subject of his research is " The origin, operation, and political and social effects of the Referendum in Switzerland." WILLIAM COWAN GLEGG*

•

ROBERT GORDON NICOL* (1871-73), President of the Former

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

139

Pupils' Club for 1912-13, has been appointed Consulting Harbour Engineer to the Fishery Board for Scotland. JOHN DUTHIE (1871-73), of Cairnbulg Castle, Aberdeenshire, has been re-appointed by the London County Council one of its representatives on the Port of London Authority. WALTER MCGILVRAY Mont (1883-85) has been appointed special Justice of the Peace at Warrenton, South Africa. This position is an important one, corresponding to the British Resident Magistracy. He went to South Africa in 1891 and took up diamond digging concessions on the Vaal River. During the Boer War he went through the siege of Kimberley. Now he is a diamond merchant in Warrenton. JAMES MELVIN (1887-90) has been made Mayor of Jagersfontein, South Africa. He left this country about fourteen years ago, and qualified as an attorney in the Orange River Colony. He is now practising in Jagersfontein, which is a He served through the South diamond mining centre. African War in the Cape Mounted Force. RICHARD R. M. PORTER* (1895-1906), M.A., M.B., who a short time ago passed first into the Indian Medical Service, has at the R.A.M.C. College, London, continued to take the lead. He was recently congratulated on his success by Colonel Seely, Minister for War. Dr. JAMES CROMBIE* (1884-89) took a prominent part in the All-England Championships at the Badminton Tournament held in London in the end of February. He reached the final round of the men's doubles championship, and the semi-final round of the men's singles championship. Rev. ALEXANDER T. GRANT* (1847-52), who was ordained in 1864, has resigned from the position of chaplain at Wemyss Castle. He is the owner of an extensive library of antiquarian and historical works. Rev. KENNETH MCLENNAN (1889-91), M.A., B.D., minister of the U.F. Church, Insch, has been called to Fortrose. Rev. DAVID STEWART DAWSON* (1905-06), M.A., who recently completed his divinity course in Aberdeen, has been appointed assistant in the Portobello Parish Church, Edinburgh. Rev. ALEXANDER J. MORRISON (1903-05), M.A., who has been acting as missionary of Rutherford U.F. Church, Aberdeen, has been elected minister of Portree U.F. Church. ALEXANDER LEO HAY* (1898-1900) is going to Sydney, New South Wales, to take up an appointment in the seed trade. For some years he has been employed in Edinburgh.

140

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

GEORGE M. JOHNSTON* (1898-1907), B.Sc. (Agr.), has received an agricultural appointment in the Channel Islands. His duties include lecturing and advisory work, and he has also charge of an experimental farm, including a herd of Jersey cattle. ALEXANDER G. G. ELLis (1908-09), B.Sc. (Agr.), has been selected by the Colonial Office for the post of Assistant Inspector of Agriculture in the Federated Malay States. JOHN R. MACNEILL (1905-06), M.B., has been appointed resident surgeon in the Dundee Royal Infirmary.

JOHN G. ELDER (1900-05), M.B., who has been house surgeon at Bury Infirmary, has been appointed resident medical officer at Inverness Northern Infirmary. ALFRED J. WILLIAMSON* (1897-1902), M.A., M.D., has been appointed medical officer to Woolwich Tuberculosis Dispensary. He has latterly been specializing in diseases of the chest. ALFRED MARSHALL THOM (1900-01) has been appointed engineer-in-chief on one of Messrs. Harrisons and Crosfield's rubber estates at Medan, Sumatra. After serving his apprenticeship as an engineer in Aberdeen, he held a Government appointment in India, and since 1911 has been on the staff of the Pneumatic Tool Works, Fraserburgh. PERCIVAL R. KIRBY (1892-1907), M.A., who is now in his third year of study at the Royal College of Music, has taken the Associate's degree (A.R.C.M.) in composition, a subject rarely successfully tackled. Earlier in the year he gained the Sullivan Composition Prize with a set of ten symphonic variations for orchestra on the well-known air " A-Roving," or " Nancy Dawson." We remember well how, when he was at the School, he tootled on the flute the " Cock o' the North " at the time when Piper Milne of Dargai fame made the air world-famous. WILLIAM S. FOGGO (1878-82), formerly a solicitor in Aberdeen and now a fruit farmer in British Columbia, has, we observe, been taking a prominent part in the agitation which has arisen among British Columbian fruitgrowers for He increased protection against American competition. recently visited Ottawa to put their views before the Dominion Government. The Right Rev. Bishop ANTHONY MITCHELL* (1882-86), D.D., has accepted the invitation to deliver the Hale Lectures at Chicago next October.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

141

WALTER INKSTER* (1903-08), M.A., B.Sc. (Agr.), who has been in Germany with the German Potash Syndicate, is now going to Australia in its interest. JOHN DUNCAN MACRAE (1904-09), M.A., is, for reasons of health, going to settle in Rhodesia. ALFRED A. BLACK* (1882-84), M.A., secretary of the Victoria (cotton) Mills Co., Ltd., Cawnpore, is at present home on holiday after eleven years in India. JOHN Ross* (1898-1906) has received an appointment on the Neboda Estate, Ceylon. ALEXANDER WATT* (1901-06), a classfellow, has been there for three years. ROBERT RANNIE COOK* (1899-1908) has been appointed to the London staff of Messrs. Harrisons and Crosfield, Ltd. GEORGE ADAM* (1889-90), M.A., has recently been appointed headmaster of Barr School, Girvan. When DOUGLAS H. W. WILLIAMSON* (1894-1902) visited the British Museum a few weeks ago to see his friend, IAN KENDALL BURNETT* (1894-1903), he found him indexing Trial Latin Versions at the Grammar School. A curious coincidence.. Dr. CHARLES A. MASSON* (1900-02), from Peterhead, has been cruising round the West Indies as surgeon on a liner. We hope to record some of his experiences in the next number. LAUNCELOT H. Ross* (1898-1901) has commenced practice as an architect in Glasgow. HECTOR ROBERT ADAM* (1897-1902), B.Sc., has been appointed Junior Assistant to the Professor of Metallurgy at the South African School of Mines and Technology, Johannesburg. ROBERT SMITH ASHER* (1898-1903) has received an appointment in the office of the City Engineer, Weyburn, Sask., Canada. JOHN I. DAWSON* (1900-04), who is in the service of Messrs. Guthrie & Co., Ltd., has been promoted from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. WILLIAM WILSON JAMESON* (1892-1902), M.A., M.B., is now one of the medical officers of Hackney Union Hospital, London. ROBERT JOHNSTON* (1881-89), M.B., formerly of Assam, has been appointed personal physician to the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, Bengal, India. JOHN NORRIE* (1897-1902), B.Sc., has been appointed a member of the staff of His Majesty's Dockyard School, Chatham.

142

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

of the 1st Worat Mustapha stationed is at present cestershire Regiment, Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt. CHARLES F. G. CRAWFORD* (1898-1902),

SIANG RYE Eu* (1903-5), A.I.M.M., M.A.I.M.E., has been appointed Superintendent of all the mines in Perak and Selangor belonging to Mr. Eu Tong Sen, member of the Federal Council of the Federated Malay States. NEWELL B. CRAN* (1881-84), who is in business as a chemist and pharmacist in Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia, mentions in a recent letter that his father, he himself and his brothers, and his son, were all taught by Mr. Pope. He has no doubt the latter will be pleased to hear that the son, who was at the School in 1910-11, in Classical I., came out fourth in the Beit Examination, thus securing a bursary of £40 per annum for three years.

We have seen lately ROBERT DUTHIE home from the Tanganyika Co. in Africa. He is now engaged in the motor car industry, his speciality being a non-puncturable tyre. DOUGLAS JAMIESON, of bowling fame, is also home from India. He tells us that he often meets F.P.'s in India who are not yet members of the Club. DAVID MACBETH is here on a flying visit from India, and so is his brother JAMES from Penang. Dr. ALEXANDER B. SIMPSON* (1889-94) writes from Singapore enclosing subscription for life membership of the Club, and says " If you would care to have a donation towards getting a prize for any event in the School Sports, I would, as one who had many a struggle in the old days, be pleased to send it—let me know in good time." Needless to say he has been communicated with. He is going to Java for a holiday. ALLAN E. MAITLAND (1888-91) is at present manager of the cattle stations of the Queensland National Bank situated in the far North-West of Queensland, near the Northern Territory border. In that part of the country, he says, a great deal of the work among cattle is done by the aborigines who, as a general rule, are very good stockmen. GEORGE G. D. KILPATRICK (1895-99) graduated in Theology at Knox College, Toronto, in April 1912, and thereafter was on a frontier mission field 50 miles north of the Saskatchewan During the past River, about 100 miles from Edmonton. winter he has been taking his father's first year Theological Class at Knox College (Rev. Professor Kilpatrick being abroad for his health). He is looking forward to active ministry, somewhere in Western Canada.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

143

At the Spring Graduation of Aberdeen University, degrees were conferred on the following Old Boys :— Master of Arts (M.A.)— ANDREW MILNE* (1903-09), with first class honours in Classics. WILLIAM GILBERT LYON GILBERT (1898-1905), with second class honours in Classics. WILLIAM GEORGE WALKER (1902-09), with second class honours in Classics. JOHN MACKINTOSH* (1904-10). JOHN DUNCAN MACRAE (1904-09). Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)-EDWARD WYLLIE FENTON* (1895-1908), M.A. Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc., Agr.)— IAN GEORGE INNES* (1905-08), M.A., B.Sc. Joarr HALL RITCHIE* (1903-09), M.A. Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.) and Bachelor of Surgery (Ch.B.)FRANK GRIFFITH* (1905-07). ANTHONY JOHN WCREADIE (1905-08).

JOHN Ross MACNEILL (1905-06), M.A. ALEXANDER LAWRENCE ROBB* (1897-99). BENJAMIN THEODORE SAUNDERS* (1896-1908) JAMES SMITH STEWART* (1901-08). ANDREW MILNE* (1903-09) was awarded the Simpson Creek Prize of £65 and the Liddel Prize for Greek Verse. ROBERT D. LAWRENCE* (1900-09), M.A., was awarded the Fife Jamieson Memorial Gold Medal in Anatomy and the Lizars Gold Medal in Anatomy. HAMISH FORSYTH (1884-86), who was formerly engaged in banking in Birmingham and later in Cape Town, and who now holds a large cattle farm in North-Eastern Rhodesia, has sent home a description of a thrilling encounter he recently had with a man-eating lion. " I spotted the brute walking in the bushes about 80 yards away, and as it saw me it turned and stood looking straight at me. I fired at the lion's chest, and it turned and cleared, but on going to look I found a lot of blood, so followed it up, all the boys coming on behind with spears. We soon came on it lying down, but it made off again, and we followed on slowly. After going about 150 yards I caught

144

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

sight of it, when it rushed straight at me. I fired hurriedly, but found afterwards that my bullet had caught it in the front paw, and only broken two of its claws. It knocked me down, sending my rifle flying out of my hands, then rushed at the boys, who were running away, I believe; bit one in the neck, and mauled two more, all in a few seconds. When I found that the lion had left me, I rushed on to some open ground, where I saw my cook running away with the shotgun; and, taking it from him, I ran back. The lion was clawing on to my chief cattle herd, and I finished it with a shot from the shotgun at close quarters. It was nearly done for before, as two of the boys it had mauled had thrown their spears into it. The boy who was bitten in the neck died in about twenty minutes, but the other two are, I think, getting better, although very ill. Luckily for myself, I was wearing an old jacket, which rather saved me, and I escaped with a claw mark on the arm, which is now almost healed up. The lion had been wounded by a bullet in the hind leg a long time before, and this must have crippled it and caused it to hang round native villages ; and, finding it easy to kill human beings, it kept on with it after its leg had recovered.. It was a large male lion in the prime of life."

•

OBITUARY. Rev. GEORGE MCARTHUR (1844-45), M.A., died in London on 6th March, aged 84. In addition to being a former pupil of the School, he was also a former master. He graduated M.A. at King's College in 1850, and some years later entered the ministry of the United Presbyterian Church, being for a time minister at Lynturk, Alford. In 1863 he was appointed mathematical master of the School, and remained in this position until 1871, when he was succeeded by Mr. Charles Sleigh. From 1872 to 1889 he was employed as a press reader of the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," and it fell to him to read the whole work, attending to all corrections from beginning to end. Afterwards he did similar work for the " Century Dictionary " in America. He celebrated his ministerial jubilee in 1905, when he was in charge of St. George's Church, Brondesbury. Rev. ALEXANDER YOUNG (1845-46), M. A ., senior minister of Chapel of Garioch, died at Cults on 10th March in his 84th year. He graduated in Arts at Marischal College in 1851 and was ordained in 1858, in which year he went to Ceylon as a missionary minister. With Kandy for a centre,.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

145

his " parish " extended thirty miles on all sides, and at that time there was not a single mile of railway in Ceylon, so that travelling had to be done on horseback or by coach on the trunk roads. The services on Sundays were held almost invariably in the planters' bungalows, and sometimes in a courthouse or coffee store. The congregations as a rule were small, averaging from five or six up to twenty. Mr. Young was enabled by grants from the Government and by local help from the planters to build two or three small churches in the coffee districts. He was afterwards appointed colonial chaplain of St. Andrew's Church, commonly known as the Scotch Church, where he officiated during the remainder of his stay in Ceylon. He was also about the same time appointed chaplain to the troops in the garrison of Colombo, his length of service in Ceylon extending to fifteen years. Had his health not broken down, he might have remained there many years. He came home on leave of absence in 1873, and shortly afterwards was offered and accepted the ministry of the parish of Chapel of Garioch. He celebrated his ministerial jubilee in J909, and retired from active duty in 1912. ,M.B., Surgeon-General GEORGE BIDIE* (1845-47), C one of our Indian Mutiny veterans, died at Bridge of Allan on 19th February, aged 83. At the School he was a fellow pupil with Principal Sir James Donaldson and the late Rev. Dr. Gray of Auchterless. After taking degrees in medicine at Aberdeen and Edinburgh, he entered the Hon. East India Company's Madras Medical Service in 1856. He served with the Madras Artillery and the 12th Lancers, and with the Hyderabad contingent during the Mutiny, receiving the medal and a good service pension. For some time he was Professor of Botany and Materia Medica, Madras Medical College. In 1884-5 he occupied the position of Deputy-Surgeon-General, Burma, and in 1885-6 that of Sanitary Commissioner, Madras Presidency; he was appointed Surgeon-General in 1886, and continued in this position until 1890. In 1883 he was made Commander of the Indian Empire for the discovery of a preventive for an insect pest which threatened the extinction of the coffee plantations in Southern India. He was an Honorary Surgeon to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII., and King George V. It may be added that he took a keen interest in the F.P. Club, first as an ordinary member and later as a life member. Rev. ROBERT DAVIDSON (1845-47), M.A., died at Ramsey, Isle of Man, on 16th May, aged 81. After graduating in Arts at Marischal College in 1851, he became a Wesleyan minister. In 1894 he retired to Ramsey as supernumerary.

146

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Rev. WILLIAM D. FRATER (1849-53), M.A., late of Maud Parish Church, died in Aberdeen on 10th May, in his 76th year. After graduating in Arts at Marischal College in 1857, he became schoolmaster of Premnay, and in 1866 he was licensed as a preacher by the Presbytery of Aberdeen. In 1878 he was ordained minister of Maud Chapel, which later became Maud Parish Church. Rev. JAMES ROY (1850-52), M.A., B.D., senior minister of the U.F. Church, Evie, Orkney, died in Aberdeen on 5th March, in his 77th year. He graduated in Arts at King's College in 1856 and later received the B.D. degree. He was ordained• minister of Firth, Orkney, in 1862, and was translated to Armadale in Linlithgow in 1880. He returned to Orkney in 1888 on a call from the Free Church of Evie and Rendall. He retired from active service in 1906, and celebrated his jubilee as a minister in November last. ALEXANDER EDMOND,* Junior (1850-55), advocate, of the firm of Messrs. J. and A. Edmond, advocates, Aberdeen, died in Aberdeen on 17th March, aged 71. He joined the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen in 1864, and from 1904 to 1906 was President of the Society. In this connection it is worthy of note that he was one of three classfellows at the School (members of the Club) who all in time became Presidents of the Society. The other two, who happily survive, are DAVID LITTLEJOHN* (1850-54), LL.D., Sheriff Clerk of Aberdeen, and FARQUHARSON TAYLOR GARDEN* (1850-54), advocate in Aberdeen. Mr. Edmond served his law apprenticeship with his father, and in 1872 entered into partnership with him. He was an ardent and life-long supporter of the Volunteer movement. JOHN MASON (1851-53) died at Auchinblae on 17th March, aged 78. He was for two years a student at King's College, and subsequently was appointed a teacher in the Royal Academy, Gosport, where he remained for over thirty years. He retired to Auchinblae in the 'Eighties, and was well known as an authority on botany, geology, and astronomy.

Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel ALEXANDER BREBNER (1851-53), M.A., M.D., died at West Newport, Fife, on 30th March, aged 72. He graduated in Arts at Marischal College at the age of 17, and took the degrees of M.B. and C.M. in 1862 with honours, and the M.D. degree in 1873. He was a member of the Army Medical Service from 1863 to 1888. WEMYSS PARK (1855-57), banker, died at Oakland, California, on 20th February. He was formerly agent in Fraserburgh of the Town and County Bank.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

147

The Very Reverend WILLIAM HATT (1857-58), Dean of the Diocese of Brechin, died in Dundee on 29th April, aged 76. He was for 48 years Rector of St. Ternan's, Muchalls, having been ordained in 1865. ALEXANDER BURNETT WHYTE (1858-62) died in London on 30th March, aged 65. When a young man he went to Manilla and entered into business as a general exporter. After a very successful career he was forced on account of bad health to retire from active business, and latterly lived in London. JOHN CLARK GRAY* (1859-60), lately British Vice-Consul at Cartagena, Spain, died at Paris on 16th February, in his 68th year. He received his business training in the office of Mr. Joseph Wood, the well-known Aberdeen ship-owner and shipping agent, and he was sent out to Spain in the early days of the esparto trade, to inquire into the possibilities of this industry, and open up a connection with the Aberdeen paper mills. Mr. Gray finally settled in Spain, and he started a ship-broking business at Cartagena, which he expanded into a large and important mercantile firm with interests in mines and other commercial undertakings in the district. He was for many years British Vice-Consul at Cartagena. He held a high place in the British community in Spain, and by his enterprise and resource contributed not a little to the development of the great mineral wealth of the region. His three sons were sent to Aberdeen to be educated at the Grammar School. He sent a. handsome contribution to the Byron Statue Fund in which he was much interested. Canon JAMES HENRY SKINNER (1860-61), for twenty-four years Rector of Luton, Chatham, and Honorary Canon of Rochester, died at Paignton, Devon, on 8th March in his 61st year. ALEXANDER GARDEN (1864-66)

died at Edinburgh on 8th

April. CHARLES ALEXANDER WALKER (1864-66) died at Kalispell, Montana, U.S.A., on 18th April, aged 64. After being at the farm of Tillyfour for some years and later in the office of Messrs. Walker and Beattie, C.E., Aberdeen, he entered the service of the Colerado Company at Denver, U.S.A. A short time thereafter he started ranching on his own account at Kalispell, Montana, and also became the proprietor of the National Hotel there. DAVID PETER DUIRS (1867-69), M.A., M.D., died at Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, on 3rd December 1912, in his 61st year. After graduating in medicine at Aberdeen,

148

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

he was for a time assistant in a practice in the Midlands. He then emigrated to South Africa and finally settled in Johannesburg, where he built up a very large and successful practice. FRANCIS FALCONER* (1870-75), M.A., M.B., died in Leeds on 12th May, aged 54. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen University in 1883, and two years later started practice in Oldham. There he remained until 1904, when, for reasons of health, he removed to Lytham, Lancashire, where he continued in practice.

(1884-98), M.A., B.L., died at JAMES ROBERTSON* Calgary, Alberta, on 10th March. He was in practice there as a barrister and solicitor. JOHN GORDON RIDDOCH (1894-99) died in Aberdeen on 4th May, aged 32. He went to Durban, Natal, in 1903, and in 1904 was appointed accountant to the Swaziland Corporation Ltd., at Embabaan. After a short time he had to return home owing to bad health.

IN MEMORIAM.

(From The Times of April 19, 1913.) BYRON.-GEORGE

GORDON

NOEL LORD

BYRON

[1795-98]

died nobly for Greece at Missolonghi, April 19, 1824. " When love who sent forgot to save The Young, the beautiful, the brave." " The Bride of Abydos." Sir Walter Scott speaking of his death said, " It is as if the sun had gone out."

This advertisement appears in The Times every year. Everywhere, except in his old school, Byron has a monument. His " place of birth alone is mute," we might almost say. We remember that at the Hotel Pellegrino in Bologna, Italy, there is a handsome white marble tablet in the hall commemorating in golden letters the fact that the poet lived there for some time. At Cintra, in Portugal, visitors are charged double price when they occupy Byron's room.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

149

MARRIAGES. BARCLAY (1883-88).—At the Mission Station, Tangoa, New Hebrides, Captain DAVID REID BARCLAY,* to Miss Wells, daughter of S. G. Wells, of Sanawoa, Malo.

(1883-87).--At St. Hilda's Church, Old Manchester, on 10th May, DUNCAN CHARLES CAMPBELL, M.R.C.V.S., Manchester, to Ada Burgess, youngest daughter of the late J. Faulkner, Stamford House, Altrincham. BROWN (1884-90).—At St. Andrew's Church, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, on 16th April, ARTHUR RICHARDSON BROWN, advocate, Edinburgh, to Isabel Keith Johnston, daughter of the late Archibald Young, retired general manager, Capital and Counties Bank, Ltd., London, and of Mrs. Young, 4 Learmonth Gardens, Edinburgh. MACKIE (1887-90).—At the Fife Arms Hotel, Banff, on 5th April, J. FERGUSON MACKIE, M.A., headmaster of Slains Public School, to Mary Bremner Ord, M.A., second daughter of the late William Ord, Blythestone, and stepdaughter of Aeneas Reid, Clayfolds, Alvah. SCOTT (1891-99).—At St. George's, Hanover Square, London, W., on 10th April, JAMES BUYERS SCOTT,* younger son of Ronald Scott and Mrs. Scott of Aberdeen, to Helen Janet, only daughter of Alexander Haig, M.D., F.R.C.P., ' and Mrs. Haig, of 7 Brook Street, London, W. CLAPPERTON (1892-1902).—At Medicine Hat, Alberta, on 30th April, DAVID WOOD CLAPPERTON,* barrister, Medicine Hat, to Louise Harris, third daughter of the late Charles Stronach, registrar, St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, and of 107 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen. CORKE (1896-98).—At St. Peter's Church, Croydon, on 6th May, NORMAN RICHARD CORKE,* eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. B. Corke, to Doris Fordham, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Frisby. FINDLAY (1898-1904).-At Ruthrieston U.F. Church, Aberdeen, on 30th April, ALEXANDER JOHN FINDLAY,* M.A., B.Sc. (Agr.), of Southern Nigeria, to Primrose Alice (" Rosie "), daughter of the late Arthur Aiken, and Mrs. Aiken, Ruthven House, Ruthrieston, Aberdeen. LAMB (1899-1902).—At Letchworth, Herts., on 22nd March, JACK LAMB, foreman engineer, Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., eldest son of Thomas Lamb, Sunnyhurst, Aberdeen, to Annie Louise, third daughter of A. H. Gruncell, retired builder, Letchworth. CAMPBELL

Trafford,

150

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Fifty Years After. Sic fortis Etruria crevit. On 23rd October the School will celebrate the Jubilee of the present buildings. In one sense it is important to note this, in another sense it is not an event, but only, as Talleyrand said of the death of Napoleon, a piece of news. Since 1256 at least, the School has seen many Jubilees, and, with the exception of the church of St. Nicholas, it is now the oldest institution in the City of Aberdeen. It has existed from before the battle of Largs, it has seen the rise and fall of thrones and " Long before dynasties, and is likely to see many more. Edinburgh," says Cosmo Innes, " had acquired the precedency of a capital, or even the first place among the four burghs of Southern Scotland (Berwick, Edinburgh, Roxburgh, Stirling) ; while Glasgow was yet an insignificant place dependent on its bishop, Aberdeen had taken its place as a great and independent Royal Burgh," from the days of William the Lion. And the School has kept pace with the development of the city. It is impossible by any feat of imagination to divorce the School from the city. Still, it is right that the present Jubilee should be commemorated. The prospectus of 1863, a modest pamphlet of 16 pages, thus describes classes, hours, and fees :— The course for the year 1863-4, commences on Wednesday, November 4, 1863, at 10 o'clock. The Fifth Class, under the charge of the Rev. William Barrack, the Rector. Branches taught—Latin, Greek, English, History, and Geography. The Fourth Class, under the charge of the Rev. Alexander Beverly. Branches taught—Latin, Greek, English, History, and Geography. The Third Class, under the charge of the Rev. J. W. Legge. Branches taught—Latin, Greek, English, History, and Geography. The Second Class, under the charge of the Rev. Chas. Macdonald. Branches taught—Latin, English, History, and Geography. The First or Elementary Class, will be opened by Mr. Alexander Margin. Branches taught—Latin, English, History, and Geography. The Fees in each of the above Classes, for all the branches, are halfa-guinea per quarter, except in the November quarter, when half-a-crown additional is charged for fire and light. Classes for Writing, Arithmetic, and Mathematics, are taught in the Town's Public Schools in Little Belmont Street. Writing (under the charge of Mr. Craigmyle)—Junior Class, 11-12 forenoon ; the Senior Class, 12 to 1 ; fees, 5s. per quarter for one hour daily. The Arithmetical and Mathematical Classes (under the charge of the Rev. Robert A. Gray)—The Junior Class, 12-1 forenoon ; the Senior Class, 11-12 ; fees, 5s. per quarter for one hour daily, 7s. 6d. per do. for two hours daily. The School opens every day at 9.30 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m., and there is an interval of one hour every day from 1 to 2.

••

•

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

151

THE OLD GUARD. In 1864-5 the arrangements in the School were thus tabulated :— Hours. Classes. masters. Fees. ( The Rector, Rev. Wm. Greek, 2-3 . 15s. per qr. Barrack The Rev. J. W. Legge Latin, 3-4 . . 154. • lls I Latin, 9-11i. Fifth . The Rector . . • ( Greek, 3-4 . • 5s. j Latin, 9-11i . . lls. ft Fourth . . • Rev. J. W. Legge ' ( Greek, 2-3 . . 5s. ft Third (Latin, Greek, Mr. Thomas Still . • 9-101i, 11i-12h, and 13s. 6d. „ and English) 2-4 Second (Latin and Mr. Alex. Martin . • 10i-12i and 2-4 . 13s. 6d. „ English) First (Latin and Eng- Rev. Alex. Beverly . 10i-12i and 2-4 . 138.61 „ lish) French and German . Mr. C. F. Miiller . • 2-3 and 3-4, Mon., 10s. 6d. „ Wed., Fri. IJunior, 1-2 . . 7s. 6d. „ English . . • Mr. W. Rattray . l Senior, 2-3 . . 7s. 6d. „ Arithmetic and Ma- Rev. R. A. Gray . • Varioushours from 6e. „ thematics 9 to 2 Writing . • . . 6s. „ • Mr. Gray's Assistant . 9-107j . Drawing . . . Tues. & Th urs. 1-2; 108. 6d. „ . Mr. Cleland . Wed. & Fri. 3-4 Gymnastics • • Mr. Roland . . . Mon.& Thur. 4-5 in 10s. 6d. „ Aug. & Sept. Sixth

•

In 1867-8 arithmetic and writing were under the Rev. G. McArthur and Mr. Pope, while drawing was under the charge of Mr. Mitchell. Mr. McArthur died this year, 1913, but Mr. Pope and Mr. Mitchell, though retired from the School, are still in perennial youth, the latter immortal as his chosen Deeside. I have known Mr. Pope from 1868, and Mr. Mitchell from 1866, and in neither can I at least detect any change. Mr. Pope was born in Cornwall in 1839, so is 74. He was elected to the School on 27th November 1867, having entered Aberdeen in his fourteenth year, attending Ledingham's Academy in Correction Wynd. The account of 8O111C of his colleagues should be preserved in his own words, at the dinner given in his honour by the London section of the Club on 6th Janary 1911:— " I have served under five rectors. Two teachers of Dr. Moir's choosing, George Harvey and Alexander V. Lothian, were deservedly very popular, the one as classical, the other as science master. I have known three mathematical masters, Rev. George McArthur, Mr. Charles Sleigh, who held the mastership for more than twenty years, and was a strict disciplinarian, and the present mathematical and science master, Dr. Charles M`Leod, whom you all know as a brilliant teacher. There have been many changes in the English mastership.

152

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Mr. Forbes, a favourite pupil of Dr. Bain's, was appointed at the same time as myself, and died after holding the office for a few months. He was succeeded by Mr. Stephen, a student for the ministry, and now a minister in the Established Church of Scotland. Following Mr. Stephen came our chairman to-night, Mr. A. F. Murison. In his presence I shall only say that at the general election last month he was a candidate for the Central Division of Glasgow, and was defeated by only a very narrow majority. For the honour of the School, I am not without hope of yet seeing him M.P. He was succeeded by his brother George, who resigned on becoming a minister. Next came George Macdonell, who held office for only a short time, and resigned to go to the Bar in London. His successor was Mr. (now the Rev. Dr.) John Hector, a former pupil of the School. He was studying Divinity at the time, and shortly after being licensed was appointed a Professor in the Calcutta Training College, of which he afterwards became Principal. He is now retired, and lives in Aberdeen. Then came Mr. Beaumont, from Lerwick, who was transferred to Commerce Street School as headmaster, and died quite recently. Mr. Hugh F. Campbell followed Mr. Beaumont, and held the mastership and taught with much acceptance and ability for more than fifteen years. He studied law during the later years of his mastership, and is now in practice as an advocate in Aberdeen. The present English master is Mr. W. Murison, third of the Murison dynasty, who is well known to many of those present to-night." EVANS AND BARRACK. Barrack, the Rector, entered at a critical period in the story of the School. His predecessor, Thomas Waller Eyre Evans, elected in 1855, from various causes had proved ineffectual, and had to be pensioned off by the Town Council. The Fifth Class had suffered frightfully, and in 1859 sank to two boys. An interim of eight months was filled by James McLachlan of Insch, and in 1860 Barrack was elected Rector, his initials being carved above the main door with those of Sir Alexander Anderson, the Provost of the time. The architect of the School was a later Provost, James Matthews the builder was Adam Mitchell. Barrack at the time was Rector of the Old Town Grammar School, to which he had been appointed in 1857. He had drained Evans powerfully. and in 1860 he brought with him 100 boys from his own school_ This in turn killed for a time the Old Town Grammar School, which from about 1800 had been started and taught by Ewan Maclachlan, a Celtic and Classical scholar of repute, in the ground floor of the Town House in High Street. The Kirk

1 1 4

THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AS THEY WILL APPEAR AFTER EXTENSION (1914). (From a Drawing specially prepared by Mr. J. A. 0. Allan, Architect.)

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

153

Session of St. Machar controlled the school, paying the rector and others out of the fees for banns of marriage in the huge parish that then included Gilcolmston as a quoad sacra. Barrack thus saved the Grammar School, but left a hopeless legacy to his successor in Old Aberdeen. This was Thomas Davidson, who died some years ago in America, known as one of the most learned men in Europe, with a world-wide reputation as an educationist and philosopher. His handicap was too much for his youth and inexperience. " The school bell rang one Monday," said the late Principal Sir William Geddes to me, " but both school and rector had alike vanished." When Barrack left for Dollar, an interim of a year was filled by T. A. Stewart, later Senior Inspector of Schools. Martin, who had been on the staff since 1863, was elected Rector, holding office from 1869 to 1881, to be succeeded by Dr. James Moir 1881-93, and the present Rector, Dr. H. F. Morland Simpson. The number of boys in October 1866 was 285, distributed as follows :—Class I. 58; Class II. 52; Class III. 63 ; Class IV. 42; Class V. 70. Early school books were Melvin's Latin Grammar, Geddes' Greek Grammar, Pillans' Classical Geography, Smith's Classical and English Histories, Clyde's Geography, Allen & Cornwall's English Grammar, Jacobs' Latin Reader (trans. by Principal Donaldson of St. Andrews), Anderson's Geography, White's Scotland, Dalgleish's Analysis of Sentences. Bain's Grammar seems to have been recognized by Dr. Beverly in 1864, and Bain's books were fully introduced by Murison. Mr. Sleigh in arithmetic believed an Edinburgh man's book, Henry Smith's, was second to none. Kruger, a Swiss I think, used his own French Grammar, and Meissner's in German. A word of praise is due to the late Mr. Brebner, French Master, who taught gratuitously in the School for two years. He undertook the office to give the School Board time to obtain a properly qualified master, and was succeeded by Mr. Maxwell H. Mackie. Mr. Brebner was an enthusiast in French, and conducted with conspicuous success for many years classes in the Mechanics' Institute, using his own excellent Grammar. He resigned his seat on the School Board, came to the School, and in 1887 gifted his salary for prizes in French and German. A visitor from the 'Sixties and 'Seventies would not know the present interior. The course has been remodelled, classrooms been rebuilt, altered, and divided in a bewildering way. I am not sure if this change, though demanded by the rules of the Education Department, is altogether an improvement. I may be permitted to regret the disappearance of the large and handsome classrooms, with their fine seats and desks; they

•

••

154

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

had an educational value of their own which I must think absent from their successors to-day. Nothing more struck in my time boys from the School than the change from those rooms to the mean desks and knife-board seats of the University, and to-day I should be inclined to say that the old associations of roominess are afforded only by the Hall and the Library. The transference of the School from a purely classical one to its adaptation to modern demands has not been made in a day, but has taken long and laborious planning. In my own time (1868-73) the state of the School may be " Far off its coming best described as one of transition. shone." Up to 1872 the School was under the entire control of the Town Council, the hereditary Patrons still. In that year the Education Act transferred it to the School Board, as one of the eleven secondary schools of Scotland. OLD AND NEW TYPES. " Rest to the souls," says Charles Lamb, " of those fine old pedagogues ; the breed, long since extinct, of the Lilys, and the Linacres ; who believing that all learning was contained in the languages which they taught, and despising every other requirement as superficial and useless, came to their task as to a sport. . . . The modern schoolmaster is expected to know a little of everything ; he must be superficially, if I may say so, omniscient." Far be it from me to depreciate the older race; I am their product, and I have my own private doubts about much of the superior merit claimed for their successors. The last of the race in the School was Mr. Legge. Of him I never can think without reflecting that, like the Agricola of Tacitus, he was felix opportunitate mortis, and recalling Sir Henry Wotton's epitaph on the death of Sir Albertus Morton's wife :—

He first deceased, she for a little tried To live without him, liked it not and died.

This touch I find accurately noted in the obituary notice of him in the Magazine for August 1895. " Times changed, and with them the conditions of education. The old Melvinian order of things was to a large extent superseded. Mr. Legge was unwilling to break with the past, and could never bring himself to acquiesce in the new methods and aims. He sought, not without success, to accommodate himself to the altered conditions, but the change had its regrets for him, and he felt that the days of his greatest usefulness were over. When he resigned, four years ago, he had been for twenty-one years the Senior Master." " Almost everybody," said J. Russell Lowell of his own time, " looks back regretfully to the days of some Consul Plancus. Never were eyes so bright. Nor is it merely the

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

155

sunset of life that casts such a ravishing light on the past, and makes the western windows of those homes of fancy we have left for ever tremble with sentiment of such sweet regret. We set great store by what we had, and cannot have again, and what is past is infinitely past. The President of our year is apt to become our Plancus very early." It is best that this should be so, and that each should select the Rector of his own particular period as the ablest, for there is generosity and often justice in the attitude. Of Barrack I can only say Virgilium vidi tantum, but all the other teachers I have either seen or known well. Each, then, will select for himself his own individual floruit as the Golden Age, when he condescended to grace the School with his presence. Perhaps it will be best for me, if I dwell here more fully on what concerns the School and its changes since the accession of the present Rector. This practically corresponds with the period covered by the Club, and consequently most familiar to the great majority of the readers of the present Magazine. To-day is the first of May, a holiday in my time, though I know not if it is so held by the School now. Across the gr14 of years I catch with particular clearness sight of the page odes, which we had as a schoolbook in 1870, and " reaolent or joy and youth can breathe a second spring." RECTORSHIP OF DR. SIMPSON. Mr. Simpson was appointed Rector in June 1893, having applied for the vacancy on the recommendation of the late R. A. Neil, LL.D. (F.P.), an intimate friend of the chairman, Professor Salmond (F.P.). When the School opened on August 14, he commenced work, a fortnight after the close of Fettes College, the governors of that body allowing him to leave in the middle of July. Thus he had four weeks to consider, The School session then get married, and take up house. closed in October with the Bursary Competition, so that he had to continue the past system, study a new, and wind up 1892-3 with a Prize Day. When the School opened in August, 241 boys previously enrolled returned, and new comers brought the total up to 334. In March 1894 there were 388 boys, and 560 in November 1897. This was followed by a decline to 419 in May 1904, through an unfavourable report. Since then the numbers have risen steadily and methodically, reaching in October 1912; the total of 607, the highest in 28 years. The staff increase may be tabulated thus 1893 1913 9 20 . . . . . /Met' Permanent . . . . 3 8 1Women 7 Visiting . . . . 5

156

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

For centuries the School had only the Rector, who was generally provided for by preferment in the Pre- and PostReformation Church. In 1631 by Dr. Dun's will three extra masters were appointed. The Modern Side had to be organized, as a Science and Art School, under the regulations and grants of the South KensingThe grants then amounted to less than ton Department•. £200; to-day they exceed £2,000 a year. The Modern Side (Upper School only) of three classes, I. II. III., numbered respectively 7, 0, and 1 boys ; extended over the Middle School it now consists of 200 boys in 9 classes, sub-divided for certain subjects into 13 or more sections. I have spoken of the erection of the present buildings in 1861-3, opened 23rd October 1863, at a cost of £16,605. The original buildings were added to in the Rectorship of Dr. Moir, by a northward T-wing, chiefly occupied by the Lower School or Elementary Department, which was thus called into being. In 1894-5, to meet the need for smaller classes, all the larger ones were sub-divided. The building was entirely refloored and refurnished, the Chemical Laboratory enlarged, a room set apart for Physics, another turned into a small Reading Room and Lending Library of about 200 tattered volumes, managed by the Literary and Debating Society. The remodelling was designed by Mr. Alex. Marshall Mackenzie. In addition the Hall, then a wilderness of benches and poles, was remodelled, the plaster roof being lowered 8 or 10 feet, and supported on strong iron girders, so as to give a space in the pitch of the roof for three new classrooms, 18, 19, 20, the middle room on this new floor being appropriated to Art. Temporary accommodation for Gymnastics was obtained for some years in the hall of the Skene Street Congregational Church until the Westfield School was completed, in which space was found on the ground floor for the Grammar School Workshop and Gymnasium. Botany was provided for by the use of the garden at the back •of the janitor's lodge, with conservatory attached. All will hear with mingled amazement and indignation that it was actually contemplated by the Board to cut up the Hall into classrooms: only at• the urgent and patriotic entreaty of the Rector was this insane vandalism checked and irreparable damage to the corporate life of the School and community prevented. The whole Hall is now converted into a historic Valhalla of the past and future of Bon-Accord. There are already over sixty portraits of distinguished Former Pupils and others connected with the I for Names of benefactors are also preserved. School. one should protest most resolutely against the honoured name and 1659 benefaction of Catherine Rolland being lost to the memory of the School and town, or being ignobly slumped

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

157

into some dull and meaningless limbo of the Aberdeen Endowments Trust. It may be of interest to Old Boys abroad to know what has been done, and that this affords them a chance for their liberality. THE HALL AS VALHALLA.

The walls have been painted dull gold, divided into panels by dark brown beading. The frieze at the top is tastefully adorned in brown, initialed red, with texts from the Vulgate version of Psalm CXXVII. as follows:— THE WEST OR " GOVERNORS' WALL."

iVlsi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in canum laboraverunt qui aediflcant eam. (" Except the Lord build the house," etc.) Two panels filled with the list of Rectors. The remaining three panels occupied by the Duxes, continued on the north wall. On a frieze of the panelling, the Benefactors. Below this a. group of portraits, Dr. Patrick Dun (Chief Benefactor), Dr. J. Dun (Rector), Dr. Melvin (Rector). Busts of Lord Byron and Sir William Geddes in the angles. Case of Archery Medals and Swimming Cup in the centre. NORTH OR " CITY WALL." Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem,, frustra vigilat qui custodit earn. (" Except the Lord keep the city," etc.) Panel 4, First Bursars. Panels 1-3, Duxes continued. Panel 5 (the large centre panel), City Arms; lists of Provosts educated at the School. Below, the portrait of Sir Alexander Anderson, surmounting the Latin Rules drawn up in 1553 (for the Grammar School of King's College, the original low building to the west) framed in five compartments, along with the Town Council rules established in 1700. These rules, engrossed in Indian ink on parchment, have been written out and presented by the Rector. Panels 6 etc., First Bursars continued. Thereafter space for lists of General Distinctions, to be continued on the east and south walls. In angle, bust of John Hill Burton. THE EAST OR " SONS' WALL."

maim potentis. Beet. hereditas Domini flu; sicut sagittae (" Lo, sons are the Lord's heritage, like arrows in a strong man's hand.") Below this a clock presented by the Literary and Debating Society. THE SOUTH OR ' ' PARENTS' WALL."

Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium ex ipsis. (" Blessed is the man who has fulfilled his desire of them.")

158

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

In this way it is believed that the Hall will represent a corporate history of the School and Town. Schools and cities are not creations, but long and slow growths of Time. In 1897 extension again took place, when Room 4 and the adjacent Infant Room were fitted up as a Physical Science lecture room and laboratory, and more recently by the erection, at a cost of £5,000, of the present• Lower School buildings, opened in April 1906, with a new Pavilion and Cycle Shed, etc. The transference thus made led to the old schoolrooms, thrown into one, forming the present combined Library and Reading Room, next to the Hall the most imposing room in the School. At the same time the long gallery leading to this, which up to 1895 had been an open gallery overlooking the Hall, was again thrown into one, and is now the School Museum, much enriched of late years by handsome donations from Former Pupils. All this is a curious advance on the old days, when boys had to read in Penny Circulating Libraries, purchase Penny Dreadfuls, and cheap reprints of Fenimore Cooper and other novelists. In every way the Museum is a credit to the School, and worthy of the fullest confidence and extended generosity of Old Boys at home and abroad. The appropriation of so much space to special objects, the limitation of numbers in a class to 30 boys, and the growth of numbers, have all for several years enforced a, further policy of extension. The Board has now resolved on a scheme of additions and alterations, by subdividing large classrooms and building cross wings at each end, east and west, so as to extend the present handsome frontage by two new bays, affording room for Natural Science Laboratory, Geography Room, a new Masters' Common Room, besides cloakroom accommodation, at a total cost of £6,500. The Department cannot sanction plans which would continue the present method of hanging cloaks in corridors. At present it is open to any enterprising thief between hours, when classes are engaged, to enter the building and loot the whole School. The additions are calculated at £5,800, the internal alterations at £300, with furnishings at £400. A commencement of the work will be made when the School is closed for the holidays in June. It is pleasant, therefore, to indicate that after 650 years of unbroken life the ancient School of Bon-Accord is still going strong, ready and willing to play her old part in the work and development of the city. New extension must involve fresh responsibility, and surely the School can look for legacies and donations from Old Boys at home and abroad. •

CRICKET AND FOOTBALL CLUBS. Down to 1893 the only existing corporate body was the Literary and Debating Society instituted by Dr. Moir, which

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

159

controlled the old small library, and published a magazine at intervals. In my time there was a cricket club, which had annual matches on the Links with the Gymnasium, and Homerically revered " like unto a god " Andrew Higgins, professional of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, with its grounds in Holburn Street. The School ground was simply disgraceful, and was like " lyart haffets wearin' thin and bare," in the words of Burns. Playing was really often at the risk of life, limb, and windows. A football may at times have been listlessly kicked about, but, as Traddles in " David Copperfield " says of his Sophy's piano-playing, " nothing scientific " was attempted. Many amused themselves on the " slopes " of the ground—the very word indicates the nature of the cricket ground—towards what is now an open street, Esslemont Avenue, and beyond. Every season saw the club in distress. I have sat, with others, like Belisarius of old at Byzantium, at the top of Ferryhill brae and begged an obol from passing prominent citizens and the benevolent. Then came the long tramp on Saturday mornings about 9 o'clock to the Links, with the refreshment for the juniors of ginger bread at the old well at the foot of the Broad Hill, and a penny bottle of spruce beer at the house there used for the old Wapinschaws. The homeward journey about 5 p.m. was generally like Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, boys straggling up Constitution Street to face, with Lord Ullin's daughter, " an angry father " or mother, get their lessons, read their penny papers, and go to bed. Clubs came regularly into existence only when boys combined with a few shillings to raise the, very barest estimates. The School had no goal posts, coats and jackets being used. In 1894 the Board founded a Games Fund, charging a shilling per quarter from all boys in the Middle and Upper School. Then a Games Committee was organized with a master as Permanent Secretary. In this way cricket and football clubs have been established in every class, and so far as the still very imperfect and, with extension, lessening space allows, adequate material provided. A Swimming Club has been formed. Old Boys will think of the old beach days before the erection of the present buildings there. The papers to-day chronicle coming attractions, and I seem to feel a Sahara of sand blowing along the beach to the intense discomfort of many of us, nearly all in my class dead. Members of the club are admitted also to the Beach baths at half cost, and they hold an annual swimming gala. The club runs to about 100 members annually, and probably but for the distance and the short time of the privilege would include the great bulk of the School. What a memory will here arise to many of my readers of the old days ! There was the building in Crooked Lane with the baths. I can see the place yet and smell the

160

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

very boxes! It was said by the keeper that boys with a " piece " in their pocket would have the very fullest value of their money, by remaining the greater part of a day inside, till they were simply blue as ancient and woaded Britons with cold. Athletic Sports were made an annual event, and a Gymnastic Assault about March is among the popular items. The admission money provides a surplus devoted to purchasing pictures for classrooms, books for the Library, etc. The gymnastic club of my time was an aristocratic society of grown up people chiefly, meeting in the arches under Bridge Street, to which you descended by a wooden trapstair in the present Bath Street. It took itself very seriously, gave high class concerts, dramatic entertainments, and assaults-at-arms. It was large, lofty, and commodious: I can smell the sawdust yet, and hear the rumble of traffic overhead. THE BYRON STATUE.

What of the Byron Statue ? many will ask, most naturally and justly. The sculptor, Mr. Pittendrigh Macgillivray, has not implemented his promise to have it ready for erection in June this year (1913), and I for one think that either drastic measures must be resorted to in order to accelerate his action, or he must be dismissed and another man selected. The Byron Statue proposal was inaugurated long ago in 1898, at the Prize Day, the centenary of Byron's accession to his title. The great bulk of the money raised for the bronze statue, over £1,000, has been secured through the Rector and the School, the F.P. Club subscribing 10 guineas and raising £116. I regard it as nothing short of a public scandal that this statue has not been in time to commemorate, at the corner of the School grounds facing Rose Street, the Jubilee of the present buildings, and the fall of Salonika. Here I need hardly advert to the F.P. Club, founded, on the initiative of the Rector, on 11th September 1893. It now embraces about 1,300 members, and the task of the Executive has come to be one of a very serious nature, with a London Section. But, with the Annual Report in the hands of readers of this issue of the Magazine, I need say no more on this head; and in the Magazine itself Aberdeen, and not the School alone, is provided with the most extensive and powerful agency for the creation of local and civic patriotism. In its present form it practically appeared in 1894. But the School circulation was naturally insufficient to prevent chronic difficulties, till the Club entered into a scheme of joint editorIn this way its success has been ship and management. assured, it is read in all parts of the world by Aberdonians, while frequent testimony to its value reaches the Secretary

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

161

from exiles abroad. But it speaks for itself, and completely eclipses the old tradition of manuscript magazines edited by boys on version paper stitched with worsted. The task of the Editors would be most materially lightened if those abroad would remember that magazines do not edit themselves, and that the matters under their cognizance should from time to time be sent as contributions to the Club Executive. Only in this way can its usefulness as a link between past and present be best served and maintained. In 1906 the celebration of the 13th Jubilee, 1256-1906, coincided with the University Quatercentenary, and the account of the proceedings is preserved in the large quarto volume issued by the University in 1907. Some 3,000 persons passed through the School at the Reception, and the occasion was fitly marked by the publication of the Rector's Bon-Record: Records and Reminiscences of A berdeen Grammar School. On June 22, 1894, died of peritonitis Mr. Charles Sleigh, mathematical master, who had retired on a pension. He was appointed to the School in succession to Mr. McArthur in 1871, and served till November 1893. He was succeeded by Dr. Charles Macleod. Dr. James Moir died at Bridge of Gairn, Ballater, on May 16, 1902, aged 56. TWENTY YEARS RECTOR. Such have been the leading events in the reign of the present Rector, to whose energy and zeal the School owes much. Dr. Simpson enjoys the very fullest confidence of the School, the Club, and the Town, and all three classes can look to him in the future for still further services. He is now in the twentieth year of his Rectorship. In a Board there must be ever some members that cannot and do not rise to the full height of the duty entrusted to them. It is as obvious, as it is idle to deny that this has necessarily been the case in Aberdeen, and the memory of the unfortunate Westfield School is such as can never pass from the thoughts of all true and patriotic citizens. That any body of men could have alienated the property of a great secondary School to save the rates from the cost of a site for an elementary school would, had it not been done, have been justly thought On the part of many, social prejudices and impossible. It has been ignorance of facts have worked against us. declared that the School was a close preserve of West End Year aristocrats, who needed nothing and should get less. But after year we were undercut, underpaid, undervalued. the general result was only to retard the educational advance of the city, for in developing and strengthening the Grammar School, they were but honouring themselves and the citizens.

162

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Cheap rivalry has been raised up at our own doors, and the force of the town split and dissipated upon insane competition, for which we are indebted to the fatal educational legacy left us by the late Provost Esslemont and Dean of Guild Alexander Walker. But this scandal of what may to-day be called the Krupp Armoured-Plate Armament cannot long continue. The Board and the Department have their eyes fixed on this question, and events are likely at no distant date to settle it for ever. SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY. Even on the bare side of figures, the School still continues its claim to be the leading feeder of the University. It alone perhaps of all schools in the North contributes directly students both to the Arts and Medical faculties. In 1912-13 they numbered 53 in Arts, 3 in Divinity, 41 in Medicine, 6 (out of 16) in Law, 6 in Science, 12 in Agriculture, 3 in others. Thus 124 out of 662 in the Handbook come from the School. During the summer and winter sessions 1912-13, F.P.'s took in their various classes the first place 30 times, the second 16, the third 18, the fourth 17, the fifth 8, the sixth 6 times. They gained 75 first class certificates, in those subjects, chiefly Science and Medicine, in which such certification is made. They gained the Liddell Prize for Greek verse, the Simpson Greek Prize, the Hunter Gold Medal in Roman Law, the Lizars and the Fife-Jamieson Gold Medals in Anatomy, the Edmond Prize in Law, the John Murray Medal and Scholarship, and the prizes given in Law by the Society of Advocates and Society of Solicitors. They took 38 degrees, 2 with first class honours, 2 diplomas in Agriculture, and one D.P.H. I have said that in the history of our School, a Jubilee is but an ordinary event. It is indeed a distant day from the Rectorship of Thomas de Bennum, or of Benholm, in 1262 in the Abbey Register of Arbroath. It is fairly certain that the original Grammar School was either founded by or connected with the Black Friars Monastery, and could never have moved far from the old Schoolhill site. In 1623 an old building was taken down by the Town Council, and a new one ordered "to be bigget, and to be jeasted, lofted, and sklaited sufficientlie as afferis." In 1625 Robert Ferguson, " burges of this burghe," gave the School a bell and undertook " on his awin charges to taus big a belhous, of aistler wark, and to put up the said bell thairin." In 1757 this building was again reconstructed, and lasted till 1863. It was such a familiar landmark in the heart of the city that many returning to Aberdeen for the Quatercentenary in 1906, and finding it gone, fairly lost their bearings. The bell, in the School Museum, is now the most ancient relic it possesses, and, with the 1613 and 1616 money

i $

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

163

of Dr. Duncan Liddel and Dr. James Cargill, is the oldest benefaction. At the University Bursary Competition in 1873 I was the bursar of Cargill. It goes without saying, but I do think it ought to be said here, that a little more historical imagination and civic knowledge, as far as the School and its functions are concerned, would not be lost upon the town. She has trained for nearly 650 years all her public men, and nearly every one on the long list of those that have spread the name and fame of Aberdeen among the nations has been counted among her children. The Hall is meant to-day to indicate this. Many that might and could out of their means have remembered the place of their education, have not done so. Out of her scanty endowments she at least has fully done her duty to Aberdeen, and these endowments it has been meanly sought to divert, or in plain words to steal. Even the very close of the Balkan War may serve to remind some that the Dux of 1817, the late Principal David Brown, received in 1893 from the King of Servia the honour of Knight Commander of the Royal Order of St. Sava, for his Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, translated into Servian by a member of the Cabinet. SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIFE. The Socialists in the city have been agitating of late for the recognition of a civic spirit. I cannot but think that the School has fulfilled its task here. They seem not unnaturally weary of the eternal competitive spirit, and within just limits I fancy this has never been fostered by it at least. " Manners mayketh man." And the want of them the fellow. If parents want stuffing and cramming for their children, let them look elsewhere, for manners and morals, the only true element in education, have always been high in the traditions of the School. There is a class of people, as my old friend Dr. George Birkbeck Hill—chief of all Johnsonian scholars and critics—has but too truly said, by whom " the world is looked upon as a vast battle-field in which the exceeding great reward is not the inner life nobly lived, but the outer life nobly recompensed. It is not a race against oursebies, but a race against outsiders. It is not a race *here all who run, if they have laboriously trained themselves are sure of a prize, but one in which the runners are many and the prizes few. The child, the boy, the young man are not taught that their chief competitors are themselves. It is not themselves but their companions that they must strive to overcome. As if this strife were not enough we are terrified by the sound of foreign competition ; unless our children are taught the natural sciences, French and German, shorthand, and what not, we shall be beaten out of all the markets of the world." We are being warned that Dundee has outstripped us, and baillies are

164

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

getting restless. I would reply that between Aberdeen and Dundee there is a great gulf fixed, and ever will be. In HiIl's words, " we must teach the love of honest, thorough work and its dignity; we must teach the love of knowledge; the enjoyment of what is simple, innocent, beautiful and noble; that sober reasonableness, that knowledge of the art of life, that wisdom by which alone we can guide our little bark down the rapid brawling stream of life. And to teach all these good things we must first learn them. The answer was given long ago. ' Get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding.' Not one, not even the outcast, not even the poorest workhouse boy is to be trained as a mere producing machine. He is to be made a man first and a producer afterwards." If Education Departments could but learn that lesson, lasting good to the world would result. OUR LATIN TYPE. Old associations, old memories in common, old and tried sources of all moral and internal strength, are they not well worth striving for and retaining? The ordinary vulgar individualism should have no quarter. " No mean city," and therefore no mean School. Let us remember that famous retort of Lowth to Warburton :— "I enjoyed all the advantages, both public and private, which that famous seat of learning so largely affords. I spent many years in that illustrious society, in a well-regulated course of useful discipline and studies, and in the agreeable and improving commerce of gentlemen and of scholars, in a society where emulation without envy, ambition without jealousy, contention without animosity, incited industry and awakened genius. I breathed the same atmosphere that the Hookers, the Chillingworths, and the Lockes had breathed before, whose benevolence and humanity were as extensive as their vast genius and comprehensive knowledge . . . And do you reproach me with my education in this place and with my relation to this most respectable body, which I shall always esteem my greatest advantage and my highest honour?"

Our type has avowedly been the Latin note. Of the four great Scottish Latinists—Buchanan, Arthur Johnston, Ruddiman, and Melvin, three have been connected with the city. There is more than accident in this. Dr. Beverly in my time used to preach that the Aberdeen cast of character, familiar as its own accent all over the world, was the result by slow evolution of that Latin type through the long centuries from Vaus, Wedderburn, and Melvin. " If we ask," said his immediate successor in the Rectorship, " what were the spell and secret of Melvin, we should find them in the word Duty." The city of his birth is still ruled by the traditions of Melvin. Lord Cockburn finely said of Dr. Adam, of the. Edinburgh High School, that his mission on this earth was to teach much Latin, some Greek, and all Virtue.

165

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Nor have we lacked such men all through the history of the School. Take the case of one, James Wilson Legge, one in whose class I never was, but whom I knew well. To have known him was at once to know what in a class of boys moral strength and influence go for. For six and thirty years he maintained, practised, and preached the best traditions of the School. On his retiring from work he said: " Of more than a thousand boys who passed through my hands during the first twenty-five years of my course, I think I have hardly forgotten a single face, though it goes without saying that many of them are much altered now. I treasure the remembrance of the unwearying courtesy and respect which you ever showed me—of the uniform good understanding and hearty sympathy which characterized all our intercourse both in and out of School, and of the sincere attachment to me which was often displayed as the years rolled on, for I loved my boys as I was convinced that they loved me." I have noted this in many quarters, heard it from grey-headed men. Legge had learned Hill's lesson, one from which all mean thoughts and wishes were banished. When I remember him, I can say, in Longfellow's lines t•o Parker Cleaveland (1875) :— Among the many lives that I have known None I remember more serene and sweet, More rounded in itself and more complete Than his, who lies beneath this funeral stone . These walks frequented by scholastic feet Were all his world ; but in this calm retreat For him the teacher's chair became a Throne.

•

1180-1913.

I believe it has been suggested that the October dinner of the Club should be held in the School to celebrate the Jubilee of the present buildings. Perhaps that may best be deferred till the completion of the Extension and the erection of the Byron Statue, when an effort should be made to have it unveiled by Royalty and a representative of the Greek Legation. But in October the toast of the Jubilee should be entrusted to some speaker of distinction to do honour to its memories. To-day the hill of Torry is white with the hard-fish that recalls the Charter of 1180 granted by William the Lion to Aberdeen, and its trading privileges as a Hanse or League. The dried fish of 1913 is still the ancient " Habberdine," known for centuries to Norway and the Baltic ports, and revealing the inexplicable and misplaced aspirate that to-day lingers indestructible in Torry and Footdee. Saint Nicholas was the patron of sailors and seaboard towns, and it is fitting that the Church and the School should represent the two most ancient and associated memories of Bon-Accord. WM. KEITH LEASK.

166

Aberdeen Gm in mar School Magazine.

The Awakening of China. By Rev. ALEX. R. SAUNDERS (1872-77), of the China Inland Mission. It is probable that no country has ever aroused world-wide interest in itself to the extent that China now has done, first by the wonderful revolution. that in little more than two months changed the government of a nation of 400,000,000 from that of the most despotic despotism to a republic which promises to be of the most modern type; and then by the action of the Cabinet, unprecedented in history, of asking the Christian portion of its population to set apart a special day for intercession to God in behalf of the nation. As a subject for an article in the Magap.ne, it seems as if nothing could be of greater interest at the present tune than to recount the steps leading up to this marvellous action of the Chinese Government, as they appear to a Former Pupil of the School, who has spent a quarter of a century in the land of the blue gown. In the history of all nations there are crises, from which we date progress or declension; and the destiny of the nation is determined by the deliberate choice made at the time of crisis. Such a crisis came to China in 1898 when the young Emperor Huang-Hsu issued the famous reform edicts, and then China seemed to be in a fair way to go forward and take her place among the nations of the world. The old EmpressDowager, knowing that the safety of her own position depended upon keeping the people in gross ignorance, put the young Emperor into solitary confinement, seized the reins of government, and revoked the reform edicts. Also, aware of the fact that reform sprang from the enlightenment of the leaders, and that the missionaries were the heralds of light, she deliberately determined upon, and set machinery in motion for, the extermination of the whole Christian religion in China. The Boxer Rising, the object of which was the murder of all missionaries and Chinese Christians, was the plan adopted, but how that failed to accomplish her end, and how the Court itself had to flee from Peking, are matters of history so well known that they need not be dwelt upon here. That base attempt sounded the death-knell of the Manchu Dynasty. Eleven years intervened between the Boxer Rising and the first outbreak of the Revolution in Wu-Chang in October 1911, and during that time the seeds of disintegration were• at work. Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the only one of eighteen reformers who escaped death at the hands of the late Empress-Dowager, and

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

167

upon whose head at one time there was a reward of one hundred thousand pounds, was during this time raising funds in Great Britain and America, and was travelling in many parts of China, disguised as a pedlar, spreading broadcast the revolutionary propaganda. Secret meetings were held in all important cities, in private houses, but never twice in the same house for fear of detection. At these meetings the plans of the Revolution were fully discussed and decided upon. So far from the Revolution being something suddenly sprung upon an unprepared people, it was a well ordered plan, and though the outbreak took place six months before the fixed time, the whole country was in a state of preparedness for it, and that is the only reason that can be given for the rapid spread and success of the Revolution. Nor were the reactionaries idle during that interval, for knowing the prominent part taken in the reform movement by Chinese Christians, the Manchu Government sought to lay every possible disability upon them, and, to give their schemes more effect, they endeavoured to obtain a census of the Christian population, but without success. When a scheme of constitutional government was put forward, it was enacted that Christians were to be denied the franchise; and students of Christian schools and colleges were debarred from competing for official appointments. When the Revolution broke out it soon became evident that the position of missionaries and Chinese Christians was completely changed. The sole responsibility for the Boxer Rising was openly spoken of as resting upon the late EmpressDowager, and the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty was regarded as the judgment of God for that diabolical attempt to exterminate Christianity in China. Now everything was done to protect church property, and the success of the Revolution was attributed by the leaders to the presence of God in the movement. General Li Yuan-hung when writing to his uncle, Yuan Shi Kai, entreating him to espouse the revolutionary cause, used as his one great argument that God was with them. The so-called " Tige•r " General, Hsu Pao-San, when he invited the writer to hold Gospel Services for the officers and men in his command, made the following public statement in the presence of his staff and regimental officers, " The success of the Revolution is to be attributed not so much to the force of arms as to the prayers of the missionaries to Jesus." One of the first acts of the new Government was to proclaim religioui liberty, and the former odium of the Christian religion was immediately removed. When Dr. Sun Yat Sen visited Peking early this year the keynote of his reply to an address of welcome from the

168

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Christian Church, was a call to them to see to it that the whole country was permeated with Christian doctrine. With such facts as these before us our surprise will be somewhat lessened that the leaders of the new Chinese Government should appeal to the Christians for a special day of prayer on behalf of the nation at the most critical juncture in its history. We are also able to appreciate the fact that this is not a mere passing sentiment, but a deeply wrought conviction that the constitution of the new Republic to be enduring and for the best good of the 400 millions of its people must have righteousness and God for its very foundation, and when the leaders adopt that attitude we may well have great hopes for the future of China.

Life on a Perak Coconut Estate. [From a letter addressed to the Rector.] You will no doubt be surprised at receiving a letter from me, but as I always see by the Magazine so many F.P.'s who are abroad send letters giving an idea of their work, etc. in a new country, I have determined to tell you something about life on a coconut estate. I am sorry to say that I am rather a bad letter writer, but trust you will excuse any mistakes I may make. Well, to start off, I am sending by cargo boat one Malay blow-pipe and also a native calabash water-bottle, which I trust may be of some use as an exhibit to the. School Museum. Unfortunately I have not yet received the arrows for blowpipe, but I will send immediately on receipt. I have also given an order for a Malay kris: this, I may say, is the native dagger. It is two-edged, the blade being wavy on both edges. It is a most deadly instrument as it is deadly poison. The blade is composed of 44 different minerals, including gold, silver, copper, tin, etc. When I send on the kris would you please see that it is kept in a case, so that none of the boys or anyone else may touch it, as the slightest scratch would at once cause blood poisoning. Where I am stationed in Lower Perak, the Government strictly prohibits the natives to carry or have in their possession these krises, so that I will have to get it from Northern Perak. The blow-pipe and water bottle came from Pahang, a big gold and tin mining country in Northern Perak. When I receive the blow-pipe darts and kris, I will send you a fuller description of both. I hope also to send

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

169

you some models of the fish-catching contrivances of the natives, which are most marvellous in the workmanship, also some models of the native rowing boats called sampans. I do hope the blow-pipe and water bottle may be of some use as an exhibit to the Museum, and anything else I can pick up in the way of curios, you may be sure I shall send you straight on. I will now try and give you an idea of life on a coconut estate. The estate I am on is one of 3,500 acres, which means from one end to the other a matter of 5 miles. Our day starts at 5 a.m., when the watchman calls us. Then comes roll-call, or muster of the coolies. Any coolie who is sick comes and asks leave. The usual sickness is malaria fever. Well they get leave for the day, and are sent off to the estate hospital for medicine. The rest of the coolies go straight out to work. I then come home for breakfast, which I have about 6.30 a.m. At 7 a.m. I am out in the fields looking after the work; at 11 a.m. I come back for lunch, and at 1 p.m. go out again round all the fields my people are working in, and come back at 4 p.m. for good, and I can assure you I feel pretty tired by 4 o'clock. I am supplied by the company with a cycle, which is a great help. A chap has got to be a bit of everything out here, viz. doctor, lawyer, clergyman, etc. For instance a man will come up to me in the field and say he is sick: ask him what is wrong, he'll say a headache or something else; the fact is there is really nothing wrong with him at all, laziness is the usual sickness. Then as regards law, one man steals another man's goats or dollars, well that's got to be squared up, of course. It's a pure case of cross-examination, as the Tamils are such awful liars that they don't know when they are telling the truth. As a matter of fact they wouldn't know the truth if they met it. As regards the parson part, a man and woman come up to the bungalow and say they want to be married. The procedure is as follows: I ask the man if he wants to marry the woman, he says " yes." Then I ask the woman if she wants the man to marry her, she says " yes." So it's finished. Then they get a long lecture, and are told that if they start quarreling or thrashing each other, they will both get a sound thrashing for their trouble, and a divorce nisi granted. Of course they immediately call upon their gods that they will never quarrel, and about a month after you find them at each other's throats. The labour here is mostly Tamil. We have over 1,000 Tamils on the estate and 150 Javanese. The Javanese are a I don't like them at all. most treacherous and lazy lot. They all carry knives, and don't think twice about using

170

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

them. One Javanese drew a knife on the other assistant who is with me, but luckily he got him by the throat and half choked him. It sounds callous, but it is the only way to deal with them. ; The Chinese are the people I most dislike out here. About a year ago I had 125 Chinese to look after, and I had a terrible time with them. They are the essence of laziness and very morose. If they have a grudge against a person they will keep that grudge going on until they see an opportunity to strike, and if they do strike, it is when your back is turned. At their last New Year there were some terrible doings (their New Year is about 30th or 31st January). It was the time when the order was issued that all Chinamen must have their tow-chungs (pig-tails) cut off. Some were in favour of it, and a great many against it. The result was a regular fight all over the country. I happened to be in Teluk Anson (the nearest town to me, 40 miles distant) one day at this time, and went out with the Inspector of Police, who is an old soldier, and a great friend of mine. We got into a 'rickshaw, and as we were driving along, a broken bottle was thrown at us. It went past my face and cut the Inspector on the arm. Luckily I was carrying a revolver, so the Inspector got his out and so did I, and he said, " The next thing like that happening, prick the man on the leg or arm." However, nothing else happened to us, although the air was full of bricks, stones, bottles, sticks, and anything they could lift. A great many Chinamen were seriously damaged and some killed ; also some white men were pretty badly cut up. I must say it was rather exciting. I will now give you some idea of the sport to be had here (sorry to use the 1st person singular so often, I know it's not good grammar, but as I said before I'm not a letter writer, and trust you will excuse me). Wild pig are in hundreds, and are an awful pest, as they eat up any fallen coconuts and also a new field planted with young trees. They up-root the plant and eat the kernel; but pig shooting is rather a paying sport, as the coolies are very fond of the flesh. I have shot several pigs, and always got from $25 to $35 for them (S.S. $1 = 2s. 4d.), which is not so bad. Then there are deer, which also sell well, but they are rather scarce although a few have been shot on the estate. I got one native bear some time ago, another pest. They climb up the full-grown trees and eat what is called the cabbage, that is, the young leaves at the top. They break these off and eat the white stuff inside, pushing their paws right down and pulling the stuff up, with the result that the trees die. Bears are very easy to

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

171

trace, as when they are eating they make a grunting sort of noise, which can be heard a long distance off. The other assistant and I got a black panther some time ago, and it happened to be about 10 a.m. Our men both were working in the same field, and my dogs (I have eight) saw something, and rushed at it. The panther getting a fright went up a tree. We sent home for rifles, and we got him. He was a beauty, from nose to tail about 7i to 8 feet long. There was a tiger here about two months ago down at the manager's bungalow, which ate two dogs and killed a third, and very nearly had a Tamil " boy." The next night my chum and I went down to try our luck, but the tiger had shifted his Wild elephants are also abundant, not on our quarters. estate, but quite close. Crocodiles are also very plentiful in the Perak River, on the banks of which my bungalow is built. I have had several, the longest, 10 feet. Now I think I will draw this epistle to a close, and am only sorry it is not more interesting. I am afraid you will find it rather dull reading, but it is the best I can put forth at present. If anything of interest should happen I will send a letter either to you, or the good old " Mag." Strathmashie Estate, Ragan Datoh, Perak, F.M.S.

JAMES FISHER (1897-1904).

Twelve Months in Southern Nigeria. Some perhaps will ask, as I did myself at one time : Where is Southern Nigeria? You have heard of the West Coast of Africa, or " the White Man's Grave." Well, there you have it. Again if you ask anyone who is acquainted with Foreign Missions where Calabar is, you will probably be informed that it is a mission station in West Africa which is always in need of money for the purpose of educating and clothing " our poor black brothers." Ask me about Calabar, and I shall tell you that it is the headquarters of the Eastern Province of Southern Nigeria, and was my headquarters also during my twelve months' loan of service in the Department of Agriculture of Southern Nigeria. In the first place let me say something of the nature of my work in that country, and the places and circumstances into which it led me. In 1910 the Department of Agriculture was separated from the Forestry Department, with which it was formerly incor-

172

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

porated, and in February 1912 I assumed duty at Calabar as Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture, being the first purely agricultural officer to take up the work there. Formerly there had been Curators of Gardens, who were also in part agricultural officers. Consequently a good deal of the " spade work " of the Department devolved upon me. In Calabar there are the Economic Gardens, which have now taken second place to an experimental station which is being opened up for the advancement of agriculture in the Eastern Province. The station is being laid out in experimental and demonstration plots and as an extended nursery for the rearing of tropical plants of economic value for distribution throughout the country. The provincial work naturally necessitated a good deal of travelling in order to study and report on the agricultural conditions and possibilities of the various districts. This was generally followed by the establishment• of model plots and nurseries at various centres, as being the best means of seeking to educate the native in the most advantageous methods of tropical agriculture. An endeavour was also made at meetings of chiefs convened at various places to persuade them to adopt those methods, but such efforts were often but little appreciated by the very conservative natives, who must see final and successful results before they will even consider the theory or make the slightest attempt to carry out the practice. After one has laboriously lectured to them through an interpreter for an hour or more, it is far from encouraging to be told that they will go home and consider what one has told them and the generous offers of help, knowing as one does the extent of that consideration. They know not what gratitude is. More than likely, when you have finished, they will tell you that they have come a long way in the heat of the day to meet you and ask for a " dash " of money to buy some gin. Such is the nature of your " poor black brother." But now a word about modes and means of travelling. Where there are waterways, steam and motor launches are utilised if possible. Failing these, big steel canoes or even native canoes (dug-outs), with about twelve paddlers, are requisitioned. This latter mode of travelling is rather slow and tedious, but one must make the best of it, spending the day in a long deck chair and the night in a camp bed erected Even a long on the small space available in such craft. journey in a small motor launch is very similar, especially in the dry season when the black crew has to get out and push the launch over a sand bank, or the launch has to follow one of the boys who is wading in front searching for the deep parts.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

173

On land one has to cover the ground on a cycle, failing which, on foot, and all one's baggage is transported on the heads of native carriers, who take loads of 50 to 60 lb., traversing, according to circumstances, any distance from 10 to 25 or 30 miles a day. A good day's march would be about 20 miles, the time occupied being about eight hours. The personal servants generally look after the carriers, and they require watching if you do not wish any of your boxes to disappear in the " bush." The gentle touch of a good stick is an excellent thing to remind the carriers that they are transporting a white man's " loads." The number of carriers required depends upon the duration of the tour. If you are to be " bush whacking " for a month, your loads will number about eighteen. The loads comprise everything and anything necessary for life during that period; provisions, liquid as well as solid, all kitchen utensils, camp kit, clothes, etc., etc. You take up your abode in Rest Houses; these are mud houses with mat roofs, made from palm leaves, the doors and windows being spaces in the mud walls. A good mud house is cool, and there is no objection to its being open so long as a tornado does not come to blow you and your belongings about, or even remove the shelter of the roof. " Bush whacking " is not a life of luxury, but it is a free and open one, which is much to my liking. The roads are good, bad, and indifferent. There are not made or metalled roads, simply cuttings through the " bush," with the ground levelled out a bit. If you deviate from the main roads, you must follow bush paths narrow enough for walking, still more so for cycling. The bridges, where they exist, take various forms, one being perhaps a single palm tree trunk, providing an excellent opportunity of practising tightrope walking when you have a cycle on your shoulder. In conclusion, a few words about the country generally, and its inhabitants. The southern part of the country, that is the coast part, is very flat, mangrove swamps abounding, especially near the sea and along the banks of the rivers and creeks. The land is covered with dense bush, which generally speaking does not grow to a great height because it is cut down periodically, every five to nine years, to provide land for farming purposes. This coast belt is the land of luxuriant vegetation, where the oil palm abounds. This constitutes the The climate in this great natural wealth of the country. part is distinctly humid, the annual rainfall, from March to October inclusive, averaging about 150 inches. The remaining months constitute the dry season, and are generally very dry. Leaving the coast belt and going north, one finds higher

174

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

undulating land with large tracts of grass land interspersed with dense " bush." Here the climate is drier. Taken all over the climate is a moist, relaxing, and exacting one. In the wet season it is almost impossible to keep anything dry. It is not conducive to good temper or moderation of language to find a beautiful growth of green mould on the silk facings of one's dinner jacket. Mosquitoes, the carriers of the germs of malaria fever, Are the bane of the country, but mal-aria is not the only kind of aria you may contract. As shown by the rate of mortality, the health conditions are certainly improving, but in the writer's humble opinion, it is not a white man's country and never will be. I cannot say that I have become imbued with a love of the West African native since I came in contact with him. The " bush man " who has not become tainted either with the evils which follow in the wake of civilisation or consequent education, is a. much better man to deal with than the half educated or " book savez " man or even the hypocritical " God palaver" man. The latter two classes I thoroughly and wholesomely distrust.. Southern Nigeria is undoubtedly a country with possibilities in agriculture, but I am afraid progress will be rather slow, mainly owing to the fact that the native lacks ambition, has the natural wealth of the oil palm all round him and is quite happy so long as he can get his stomach filled and buy a loin cloth, when he considers such an article of apparel necessary. The Department of Agriculture has been making strenuous efforts to introduce on an extensive scale the cultivation of such valuable tropical products as rubber, coco, cotton, maize, and rice. In the meantime the average native cultivates little or nothing beyond the common food crops, yams, cassava, and maize. In a word, the native can find the necessaries of life too easily, consequently he has no incentive towards effort or improvement in any way. He will never advance unless he is driven. A. J. FINDLAY. 5th May 1913.

Owing to the illness of Rev. Joseph D. Carnegie, the continuation of his article " 1877-1880 " has had to be postponed until next issue.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

175

Our Letter-Box. Information about a Former Master. [To THE EDITOR OF " THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE."] Selborne College, East London, South Africa, 1st February 1913. Dear Sir,—In common, I fancy, with most of your overseas subscribers, I look forward to the arrival of the Grammar School Magazine, and seldom do I find that there is nothing in any of the articles to interest me. I was specially interested in the issue of October 1912. First, the class group of the Middle School 1881-82 is a group of the class that I joined in 1885 as the 1st Classical B under the old classification, and I could recognise quite a number of pupils who were still members of that class. Then, the teacher of the class, Mr. Young, was, ten years ago, when I came to South Africa, the Principal of the School to which I had been appointed, and is now Government Inspector of Schools in this, the East London, district. I think it might interest some of the members of that group, if they have the usual kindly feelings of pupils towards their teachers, to know of his whereabouts. One of the group is, I know, a doctor in the Transvaal, and there may be others resident in this country. I showed the picture to Mr. Young, who is my next door neighbour here, and after the lapse of over 30 years he could distinctly remember most of his pupils. Trusting that this short note may be of some interest to your readers, I remain, Yours faithfully, ALEX. CLARK.

College Life in Minnesota. JAMES EwING* (1901-07), M.A., B.Sc., who was for a short time on the staff of the School and who last year was appointed Lecturer in Botany in Carleton College, Northfield,

176

Aberdeen Grammar ,S'eltool Magazine

Minn., U.S.A., writes to us in very good spirits. What he says will be read with great interest :— " Northfield is a perfect Saint's Rest, Heaven's Gate, and is a byword for goody-good men and priggish men. The College, however, is different. It is burdened with puritanic traditions, but the upholders of these are now in the minority in the faculty, so that the place is quite tolerable. " I enjoy the work very much, although there is no society outside academic circles. The only way of spending spare time, which, however, is a rare commodity, is in sport, and this compensates for much. " We are located near the Hiawatha country, not far from the place where he ' Heard the Falls of Minnehaha Calling to him through the silence.'

" The autumn is gorgeous in its colouring, golds, reds, bronzes, yellows, all in glorious profusion, and I have never enjoyed anything so much as those delightful days in the ' Indian Summer,' paddling silently up the river, or better still drifting down in the canoe by the moonlight. " The winters are cold, and the streams are frozen for a few months, and the snow lies deep on the hills. I have consequently taken full advantage of the skating, and best of all have started ski-ing. The days are longer just now than at home, and it seems curious to walk through the snow in broad daylight at 7 a.m. or 6 p.m. " The students are a fine set, of the same age as those at home, but their normal physique is higher, owing to a compulsory system of physical training. I have been joining them in the ' gym.' lately, have learnt to swim, and my old school ' thews ' are now returning. It would do you good to see the enthusiasm which the football games kindle here. The whole college turns out en masse with its band and cheerleader, and the enclosure is usually filled with motors and buggies; then when victory comes a huge bonfire is built at night in the campus, and speeches are called for. I shall always remember my maiden speech. I was raised above the surging masses on an old cart, and although I had no preconceived notion of what I was going to say, I said something and the students applauded like the deuce! My speech was referred to in the college newspaper as the ' event of the evening ! ' Ye gods! ! " I often think of the old School, and I read the Mag. from cover to cover, and then read it again. Give my regards to all the masters—my quondam teachers, and, be it not forgotten, my colleagues also."

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

177

Sport in Shanghai. JAMES E. LAW* (1905-6), who is in business in Shanghai, in a recent letter says:— " I haven't run across any School chaps out in these parts yet, but I believe Whamond, who is in Chefoo at the present time, is to be transferred to Shanghai " We get any amount of sport in this place, in fact, more than you do at home. Of course I have joined the ' Rugger ' Club. Last month I managed to get my place for Shanghai in the Interport Match with Tientsin, when we ' put it across them.' I also played in the match for Scotland v. England. We have over a hundred playing members in the Club, so you can imagine we have some good games. " Another flourishing club in Shanghai is the Rowing We have a very big membership, and hold two Club. regattas a year. Our club races are held in the spring, and the International races in the autumn, at a place called Henley (named after•the Henley). Last Autumn I was one of the eight who helped to pull the Scotch eight home to victory. In the boat there were three other Aberdonians, Gordon's College men. Next regatta I am rowing for Aberdeen Schools in the " Public School" pairs, with a man named Graham from Gordon's. Hope to bring the old town home to victory. " I hope the School carried off the Junior Championship this year, and the F.P.'s the North of Scotland Cup."

From the Lesser Slave Lake. CHARLES A. WALKER* (1894-1902) writes from Grouard, Alberta, Canada, as follows:— " Just a few lines to let you know that I am alive and Was awfully glad to receive the last copy of the well. Magazine. This copy had a very close call, however, as it happened to be in the mail sacks which were on the teams that went through the Athabasca River. The drivers saved themselves, but both teams were lost. Out of about 27 sacks of mail, 13 were saved. This copy of the Magazine happened to be in one of the lucky sacks, which I was very glad of. You don't know how I enjoy getting the Magazine—it's fine to be able to see where some of one's classmates are. " I better tell you first, however, that I am now stationed at the Hudson's Bay Company's Post, Grouard, or Lesser Slave Lake, as it used to be called. This is a very pretty place_

178

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

The town is situated on the west end of the lake, and has a population of about 800. It is one of those growing western towns. We haven't got the railway here yet, but expect it soon. The Edmonton, Dunvegan, and British Columbia Railroad has got as far as the east end of the lake, and ought not to be very far off us next Fall. The lake is practically the gateway to the much talked-of Peace River Country, and all traffic goes through here. The lake itself is 75 miles long and is teeming with fish and wild fowl. The Hudson's Bay Company have a very up-to-date steamer, which runs from Saltian Landing on the Slave River to here, a distance of over 100 miles. It was a great change when I was moved from Wabasca, for there I was right amongst Indians, while up here it's mostly white people, the " Noble Red Man " being a secondary consideration. " The country around here is all good land, and quite a number of homesteads have been taken up. I suppose in another year or two the country will be all settled up, and one will have to keep to the main roads, instead of driving across country at will. " I had a letter from DAVID LEARMONTH* (1899-1904), who is with the Company at Peace River Crossing, about 80 miles from here. I expected a visit from him last Fall, but he was taken very ill and could not come. You can just imagine when we do meet the time we shall have talking over old 4 Grammar' days. I still hear from LEONARD SMITH* (1890-1902) from time to time. He is in Toronto and getting on well. " So Mr. Pope has at last retired ! The old School will seem funny without him. When I was reading about him I shut my eyes and could imagine that familiar voice saying, ' Now Walker, don't be a talker.' Wouldn't I just like to be present at the annual dinner and see him once more ! "

Alone in North Borneo. ALEXANDER W. DUNCAN* (1892) in a letter dated 27th March, from Siliko, British North Borneo, via Labuan, says :— The February Magazine has just reached me here via Palembang, which I left in December last. I am working here for the Netherlands Colonial Petroleum Co., and as they have just begun operations, we are busy—houses, roads, etc., to be built, and heavy machinery to be landed in a surf which is very heavy at this time of year; however, we are

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

179

gradually getting ship-shape, and overcoming most of the difficulties. I have been here for three months—the first month quite alone—and although it is lonely and out of the way-40 miles from the nearest post and telegraph office !— it is healthy—fine sea breezes, and not uncomfortably warm. " There are a fair number of natives scattered over this peninsula, Bajaus, Bisayas, Dusuns, and Malays, and from amongst them I've collected a fair labour force considering everything. Malayan and kindred races have the greatest respect for iron, and care and patience is necessary in training them. When first shewn a lump of iron or steel and told to carry it, the invariable answer is, ' Besi, Tuan! tida boleh-terlalu brat' i.e. ' Iron! Impossible, much too heavy,' and this before they touch the article which may weigh only a few pounds. As may be imagined from this, great patience is required."

In a Manitoban Village. ALLAN C. ANDERSON* (1907-12) is now working in Winnipeg. He has been ill lately, and has been staying in a small Canadian village. He sends us, in a letter dated 29th April, the following account of his experiences there:— " I spent the last week of my illness at Balmoral, a small village 30 miles north of Winnipeg, and I was interested in noting how different it is from a Scotch village. Practically all the few houses, of course, are of wood. Very few people live in the village itself, most of them being farmers. There are no pretty walks round about. Manitoba is divided in sections, one mile square, by roads one mile apart, running north and south, and east and west. The village occupies about half a mile of one of the east and west roads. If you want to go for a walk you can go north, south, east, or west, and continue practically in a straight line to the boundary of the province. . . . " Nobody here walks unless absolutely compelled to. If you are walking along the road, and a rig passes, you are sure to be invited to jump in. (By the way, a ' rig' is a horse and buggy, and a `buggy' is a light, comfortable carriage, very well fitted for the bad Canadian roads.) . . . " One fine evening I heard the ' Canadian Band '—that is, the piping of the frogs. This being the first time I heard it, and as I did not know its source, it impressed me as a wonderful, and almost eerie sound. It is a loud, continuous,

180

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine. •

shrill whistle, with a sort of r-r-r-r in it. It goes on often for hours without stopping. Occasionally some old bull-frog punctuates the chorus with a deep bass ' croak, croak,' which sounds almost like a duck quacking. " I found all the people with whom I came in contact very kind and hospitable, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first and only experience of a Canadian village."

Floods in Ceylon. SAMUEL J. HALLY* (1893-1901) in a. letter from Mahadova, Madulsima, Ceylon, with which he encloses subscription for life membership of the Club says :— " The weather out East here has been exceptionally wet, there being over 100 inches of rain in twenty-eight days. On one estate 22 inches fell in 10 hours, the record for Ceylon. Roads were washed away, also the railway at numerous places, and it was nothing uncommon to find hundreds of Tamil coolies who were carrying rice to the estates over 50 miles away, discarding their loads, owing to these getting too heavy with the. rain. At a place called Haputale, over half a mile of the main railway line was washed away, and now the railway people have erected an aerial tramway to convey foodstuffs. " Out here they still go in for the old form of transport by bullock carts, and owing to disease of the cattle caused by the wet weather, planters have turned their motor cars into lorries, and are conveying rice to their estates, the assistant superintendent generally driving. " Engineering out here nowadays is very brisk, and a tea estate thinks nothing of spending 2 or 3 laks of rupees on a new factory or aerial ropeviay. " While in Colombo at Christmas I met FRED FRASER* (1888-99), and had a grand time with DOUGLAS DAVIDSON* (1891-1902). I picked up DOUGLAS WATSON* (1892-1900) at Kandy, and took him on to Newar Elyia, where we had a. few rounds of golf. I have not seen DAVID SCOTT* (1886-94) for some time, but met an F.P., JOHN TuoMsoN* (1892-97), late of Carden Place, Aberdeen, at Haputale. He is superintendent of Haputale Estate, one of the largest in the Ilya district."

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

181

22nd February—School v 2nd 'Shire.—This friendly fixture was played at School on a splendid pitch. The School pressed immediately and soon scored through Thomson. The try was converted, and this added much to the determined spirit of the 'Shire. The School played very consistently, however, and Conner scored. Our threes were not combining well, and many fine opportunities were lost. At forward the School was distinctly the superior side, although the 'Shire's ponderous weight had some effect. Immediately on the resumption, 'Shire swooped down into the School territory and crowned their efforts with a try, This gave the required impetus to the which was converted. School, and Garbutt dropped a lovely goal. Play became intensely interesting and exciting, and Joss won his way back into popular favour by scoring a brilliant try. Then came the feature of the match—a feature, however, which we do not wish to see again. Three players were " laid out" at one fell blow. Elmslie and Munro and a 'Shire man had all to be assisted off the field. Soon after the whistle blew. Of the forwards, McCallum was the best, while, at back, Elmslie was easily the most versatile. Scores :— School, 17 points (two goals, one dropped goal, one try) ; 'Shire, 5 points (one goal). 1st March.—The School travelled to Montrose on this date to play their annual fixture with Montrose Academy. The weather was dull, but the pitch was in excellent condition. During the first quarter of an hour, the Academy had matters all their own way and scored from a free kick. The School began to liven to their work, however, and Conner scored a try, which was not converted. The scores being level, play became fast and furious, and Conner, following up a kick, scored a brilliant try. This was converted, and half-time arrived with the School the better team. After the interval, however, play was more even, and good passing was witnessed on both sides. Conner was by far the outstanding man on the field, and entranced the spectators by

182

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

dropping a brilliant goal. After this the Academy made a great effort; indeed, succeeded in scoring, but McPhee went into touch during his victorious run. Towards the close of the game play was very interesting and even, but the School increased their lead through Maxwell. It was an excellent try in an excellent position, but, unfortunately, full points were not gained. The School team was greatly handicapped by having several players out of their regular positions. Munro at back could hardly be called a success, although Maxwell was an excellent substitute for Joss. Conner and Elmslie were, perhaps, the best of the School team ; at least, they appeared to be the only two who were interested in the game. The forwards, with the possible exception of Garbutt, were too lackadaisical. Scores :—School, 15 points (one goal, one dropped goal, two tries); Montrose, 3 points (one penalty goal). 8th March-2nd City v School.—The School, the Junior Champions, turned up at King's at full strength to play this match. The forwards were strengthened by the inclusion of Lyon. The weather, though cold and windy, was fortunately dry, and a fast game resulted. School pressed immediately on the start, but found the City defence sure. For the first quarter of an hour the City did not get past the centre, but then they broke away and succeeded in scoring. Play now became faster ; every School man worked with a will, and it was only ill-luck that prevented the scores being level at the interval. On the resumption of play the City played brilliantly, just failing to increase their lead. Lyon then broke away with some fine dribbling, and transferred play to the City's " 25." The School, however, were unable to press home their advantage, Elmslie being hurt at the time. Thus handicapped, the School were forced back, and the City scored again. It says much for the School play that the score was only 8-0 against them at the end of a very fast, tiring. and exciting game. Of the School backs, Elmslie, Conner, and Saunders were the best. The forwards played the best game they have played this season ; McCallum and Lyon, however, were outstanding. Scores :—School, 0 points ; 2nd City, 8 points (one goal, one try).

School Cricket Notes. The chill of winter is fast receding before the congenial and smiling aspect of summer, with all its joys and sorrows—joys when the ball flies humming from the bat glistening with fresh oil to the ever-waiting boundary, or when at last a wicket falls after a long and stubborn fight; sorrows when a particularly fast ball, rising with a lightning-like bound from a hard pitch, just reaches the most painful angle of your elbow. Cricket, as will perhaps be deduced from the foregoing remarks, has once more come to its own. The field is resounding to the crack of bat meeting ball, of ball meeting head, of the merry tinkle of breaking windows. In front of the School, on that verdant patch of grass, is stationed the First's net, and the prospective members of the Eleven can be seen any afternoon after 4 o'clock putting in

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

183

an hour's hard practice. The men are just a little unsteady but time and more experience will bring them up to a standard worthy of the School's traditions, and as the captain says, " There's not a team like it in the School." Yet the lack of professional advice is clearly seen in the rather wild hitting and erratic bowling. We feel sure that the professional from Mannofield could be persuaded to coach the Eleven at least once a week for a very reasonable sum. The School men are needing it, and it certainly would not lower the status of the School, since, of course, he would not be expected to play for the School, and since all the great English Schools employ professional advice without reproach. Several practice games have been played and it seems that the School will be richer in bowling than batting ; but the season is not yet far enough advanced to estimate correctly the form of the Eleven. 9th May.—On this date the match with Elkin Gordon was put off, owing to the state of the weather.

The Museum. Recent Additions.—Eggs—Purchased (per Mr. R. H. F.), 1-2 white-tailed eagle*, 1 Griffon vulture*, 1-2 Egyptian vulture*, 1-4 wood sandpiper*, 1 purple sandpiper*, 1-9 fire-crested wren*, 1 Madeiran fork-tailed petrel* (the last two sets, rare and costly). Presented by R. H. Fenton, Esq.-1-4, 5-5, 1-6 tree-pipit (7 beautiful sets of these very varied eggs), 1-6 reed-bunting, 1-6, 1-4 corn bunting, 1-4 red shank, 1 bittern*, 1-2 buff-backed heron*, 6-1 quail (to show varieties), 1-5 robin, 1-5 starling (white eggs), 1-5 pine grosbeak* (fine clutch of this rare bird), 1-5 red-backed Those marked (*) are new species in our collection, shrike. making in all 233 British species and 1,981 eggs, including 45 foreign. From C. Davidson, Esq., F.P.—Two poisoned blow-pipe darts, used by the Dyaks of Borneo. From C. Penny, Esq., Skillymarno, Strichen—A fine specimen (mounted) of the Toco Toucan, from Buenos Ayres, distinguished by its enormous red beak, white " shirt front," and black plumage; largest of the Toucan kind, general in Central and S. America ; family, Rhamphastidie, allied to our woodpeckers. In our last notice reference was made to the birds of the Aboyne Castle collection. The purchaser of the whole collection was Mr. James Sellar, late of Singapore, by whose generosity four of the eight cases are now exhibited in our Museum. These birds, collected by the Marquis of Huntly, have been very skilfully mounted by an expert taxidermist. The first case contains Australasian birds—the lyre-bird, the laughing jackass, a beautiful white hawk, varieties of kingfisher, etc. The second case, foreign pheasants (Central Asian), including the magnificent Moonal or Impeyan pheasant (Cristophorus refulgens). The third case contains British game birds, capercailzie, black and red grouse, and a very interesting series of ptarmigan, showing the gradual transition from the speckled summer plumage to the pure white of winter. The birds of the fourth case await identification.

IS -I

Aberdeen Grammar ,School Magazine.

The Former Pupils' Club. The Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Grand Hotel, Aberdeen, on the evening of Wednesday, 23rd April. Mr. Charles J. Davidson, M.A., B.L., Vice-President of the Club, presided. After the usual preliminary business, the Chairman called upon Mr. James Wm. Milne, C.A., the Secretary and Treasurer, to read the Report for the year 1912-13, which is here reproduced in full:— Annual Report for Year ending isth April 1913. The Executive has pleasure in submitting the Twenty-First Annual Report of the Club. The Membership. The number of Members on the Roll is as follows :. . 219 . Life Members . 1,059 . Ordinary Members . 30 Honorary Members . . giving a total of 1,308, as compared with 1,236 last year, an increase of 27 Life Members and 45 Ordinary Members, a total increase of 72 Members. It will be noticed that there is again an increase in the Membership, but that this increase is not so large as in former years. It is, however, greater than appears from the abovementioned figures, as death has removed a considerable number of members, amongst these being two Vice-Presidents of the Club —Sir George Reid, R.S.A., I.L.D., and Sir Wm. Japp Sinclair, M.A., M.D. The Executive recognises that a further increase can only be obtained by present members doing everything in their power to induce Old Boys to join the Club. The most effective method is for members to obtain the subscription on the spot, and send it along with the name and address to the Hon. Secretary, who will acknowledge receipt direct to the new member. The Roll of Old Boys.

The Editor of the Roll reports that during the past year great progress has been made in the work of annotation. He is hopeful of having a part, if not the whole, of the 1863-1913 section ready for printing during the coming year.

JAMES ESSLEMONT, President of the Former Pu,bils' Club, 19t3.14.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

185

The Magazine. The Magazine still retains its good reputation and its popularity. Its success, in view of the large number of varied interests in all parts of the world which have to be catered for, has been wonderful, and it remains with the members to keep the Editors well supplied with articles, information, old class groups, etc., so that they may be enabled to enhance, if this is possible, its value in the future. The work of the Editors would be considerably lightened if members would volunteer contributions, and not wait to be pressed for them. The Various Sections. At the commencement of the present year the Club had the following Sections :—Rugby Football, Hockey, Badminton, Territorial, and Dramatic. These have progressed favourably during the year, and carried out interesting fixtures and programmes. There has been added during the year a Motor Section, which will hold monthly runs during the summer, and assist in organising the Annual Golf Meeting, which was so successfully started last June. At the initial meeting of this Section there was a very good attendance, and it should prove of great advantage to members during the summer months. Club Medals. The Club, as usual, presented medals to the best English and Science scholars in the School, and, in addition, they also presented medals to the best Mathematical scholars on both the Classical and Modern sides. Various Social Events. During the year the following social events have taken place :— the Club Meeting at Cruden Bay, the Club Dinner, the Club Ball, the Club " At Home," a lecture by Dr. J. R. Levack, and several Bridge Matches. The Dramatic Section gave successful performances of "The New Clown," and the Gordon Highlanders and Rugby Sections arranged Cinderella Dances. These functions organised by the Club and its various Sections have become well known on account of the good organisation which has been characteristic of them during past years, and this year they have been quite as successful as in previous years. The Financial Statement. The Treasurer's Accounts, after being duly audited, show that the balance at the beginning of the financial year amounted to

186

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

£625 16s. ld., of which sum £396 3s. was capital. The revenue, inclusive of the Pope Testimonial Fund, amounts to £593 ls. 7d., and the expenditure to £514 19s. 6d., leaving a total balance of £703 18s. 2d., of which sum £452 9s. 6d. is capital, £114 8s. 60. is at the credit of the Byron Statue Fund, £72 Os. 11d. is at the credit of the Roll of Old Boys Scheme, and £15 16s. 2d. is at the credit of the London Section. These funds are invested to the extent of £250 in 4 per cent. Debenture Stock of the 1st Scottish Northern Investment Trust Ltd., £150 on Deposit Receipt with the 1st Scottish Northern Investment Trust Ltd., and £100 on Deposit Receipt with the City of Aberdeen Land Association Ltd., the balance being on Deposit Receipt with the North of Scotland and Town and County Bank Ltd., in the Savings Bank, and in the London and Aberdeen Treasurers' hands. It will be noticed that the capital sum of £452 9s. 6d., which represents the total of all Life Members' subscriptions, along with all subscriptions paid in advance, is held intact, and that there is an accrued surplus revenue over expenditure amounting to £49 3s., of which sum £25 17s. 8d. is the surplus for the year. In General. The Executive desires to thank the large number of Old Boys who so willingly subscribed to the Pope Testimonial Fund. The appeal has resulted in a sum of £110 being handed to Mr. Pope from his old pupils as a token of their appreciation of his service to the School during a long period of years. As recommended in the last Report, the Executive has had under consideration during the year the advisability of obtaining a combined Recreation Ground for the School and the Club, and for this purpose a special committee was appointed to consider the matter in all its bearings. On account of the very large sum that would be required to purchase the ground, the special committee felt that the Club could not take the whole responsibility, more especially as the School would benefit to a much larger extent than the members of the Club. It was also felt that in view of the fact that a large extension of the School was contemplated, it was not an opportune time to approach the School Board. The special committee reluctantly agreed to recommend that the whole matter be left over meantime, and suggest that the remit be continued. The Executive has also had under consideration the question of developing a scheme whereby present pupils and younger members of the Club may be put in touch with suitable situations.

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL FORMER PUPILS' CLUB.

Abstract of Revenue and Expenditure Account for Year ending Isth April 1913. EXPENDITURE. REVENUE. I. Lectures, Evenings, etc. I. Cash in hand and Invested Funds at 16th April [912 £625 [6 1 lI. Development Scheme Subscriptions— III. Roll of Old Boys Scheme Life Members— _ Magazine I Admitted during year-27 - £56 14 O V. General and Working Expenses Ordinary Members— VI. Cash in hand and Invested Funds - 15 5 O Arrears recovered Aj5jlicable asfollows :— Subscriptions paid in advance Capital - 14 O o during year £452 9 6 72 O 11 Roll of Old Boys Scheme Subscriptions paid during Byron Statue Fund 114 8 6i - 103 o O 1912-13 London Section 15 16 2 i 88 19 O £654 15 2 III. Miscellaneous— Add—Surplus Revenue at 16th April Roll of Old Boys - £1 6 O 23 5 4 1912 Sundry Interests and Discounts - 25 15 O Surplus Revenue for year ending Dramatic Section - 25 18 4 25 17 8 15th April 1913 Annual Ball—Surplus 5 14 O Byron Statue Fund 5 3 8 £703 18 2 63 17 O

£16 8 54 7 3 3 40 It II 59 6 84 51 3 7 703 18 2

•

£878 12

ABERDEEN, 2151 /Orli 1913.—We have examined the foregoing Revenue and Expenditure Account for year ending 15th April 1913, compared same with the vouchers, and found it correct. BOWER & SMITH, C.A., Auditors. (Signed)

188

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

A register of situations vacant and a register of present pupils and younger members requiring situations were instituted. This scheme has attained a fair measure of success, and no doubt, as time goes on, will become of great value, not only to the younger members of the Club and present pupils of the School, but also to the older members of the Club who have situations for which Grammar School Boys might be suitable. A

PHENOMENAL

MEMBERSHIP.

The Vice-President, in moving the adoption of the Report, said he did not think that it called for any special comment. It was a most interesting, though necessarily condensed, report of the wide activities of the Club during the past year. It was very satisfactory to find that although the increase in membership had not been as rapid as in the past, yet there had again been an increase. "We have now," he said, "reached the phenomenal number of 1,308 members. Some further expansion, I hope, is possible, but we have got, I suppose, pretty near the number that would represent the total available number from the School, so long as it continues about its present scale. We must expect a drain on our membership through death, but it is very satisfactory to know that the drain is being met by the younger members who have recently left School, and if Old Boys knew about the Club, the maintenance of the membership would not be attended with serious difficulty." Mr. Theodore Watt, the VicePresident continued, would speak about the Roll of Old Boys. With regard to the Magazine, he thought he need say very little. If everyone read it front cover to cover as he did, they could not fail to appreciate its intrinsic worth, and particularly its worth to the School, and its value in the extension of the corporate feeling of which the Club was an expression. To those more directly responsible for the Magazine they owed a very great debt indeed. At the commencement of the present year, Mr. Davidson proceeded, the Club had five Sections, and it was very satisfactory to learn that there had been added to these during the year a new Motor Section. He had noted that with much interest and no small feeling of envy, but in regard to it he was not in a position to offer any intelligent comment. (Laughter). The Club medals had been presented to the School as formerly, and he was sure it must be a valuable stimulus to the pupils coming on that they had this formal recognition from the Old Boys who had preceded them. The various social events called for no comment as the work done had been on the lines of former years. The Financial Statement was one of interest and very great importance to the Club. He thought the financial position must be considered a very sound one. It was really a striking position for a voluntary organisation of this kind to have acquired during the period of its existence. He was sure they were all very pleased that the Pope Testimonial Fund should have had so satisfactory a reception from the members of the Club. It was difficult to express what they owed to Mr. Pope, but after what had been said in appreciation of his services in the past, it would

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

189

be unnecessary and unbecoming that he should say more. He wished to express the gratification of the Executive that this very satisfactory response had been made to the appeal. (Applause). THE

ROLL

OLD

BOYS.

Mr. Theodore Watt, in seconding the adoption of the Report, said he thought it was only right that at their annual meeting the affairs of the Club should be gone into fairly fully, because he thought a great number of members did not know what was actually going on. They did not know what a big undertaking the Club was. The membership, they would agree, was capital. In this connection he thought it would be interesting to mention that in November 1906, when Mr. Milne was appointed secretary, the membership was 365, so that in less than seven years the membership had increased by almost a thousand. (Applause). The moral was obvious: they were extraordinarily indebted to Mr. Milne for the work he had done in connection with the Club, and, indeed, the members, he was more and more convinced, did not know how much they owed to Mr. Milne, and even the members of the Executive did not know. One needed to be in constant touch with him to realise what a tremendous amount of time he had been devoting to the Club and its interests. During the past year the work of the Roll of Old Boys had been going on very satisfactorily. There again the members of the Club did not, perhaps, realise what an undertaking the job was. He was glad to say that the annotating was progressing very rapidly. The end was certainly coming within sight, so far as it was possible to annotate the names. There would, however, be about a tenth of the names that it would be impossible to annotate. He was hopeful that the work—which had been in hand for four years— would be ready to print, in whole or in part, by the end of the coming year, and one of the duties of the new Executive would be to consider the ways and means of producing the Roll. There would be a great deal of work to do after it was put into type, in the way of revising and checking information. Without further comment the Report was unanimously adopted. AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

The Vice-President, in accordance with the notice that had been given, moved the motion standing in his name—" That the words and an Assistant Secretary and Treasurer' be added to Rule 9." Mr. Davidson again emphasised the work which Mr. Milne had done for the Club. It was not fair to ask Mr. Milne to go on so continuously and unintermittently. The burden was increasing yearly and the Executive was unanimous in thinking that some steps should be taken to lighten the weight on Mr. Milne's shoulders. It was not easy to divide the work, but some help Mr. Milne must have. They were all clear upon that. The Executive thought it would be possible to divide the work to some extent in such a way that while they would retain the services of Mr. Milne for the general organisation and the wider responsibilities, they would relieve him to some extent of detail work. The matter

190

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

would fall to be dealt with by the Executive. He proposed to alter his motion by inserting the words "and if required or desired," before "an assistant secretary," so as to make the appointment optional. Mr. A. G. Nicol Smith, in seconding, thought it would be a very good thing for the Club if they had an assistant secretary who had knowledge of the work. The motion, with the alteration suggested by Mr. Davidson, was unanimously agreed to. (The list of office-bearers elected for the year 1913-14 will be found on page 199.)

Summer Meeting of the Club: Cruden Bay, Saturday, 14th June. GOLF, MOTORING, AND TENNIS. Last year a successful Golf Tournament was held in June, and the Golf Committee has arranged to hold a competition on similar lines this year. The Motor Section has also arranged a run to Cruden Bay on the same date, and special arrangements have been made to have the two excellent tennis courts ready for play by that date. If a sufficient number of members indicate their intention to play tennis it may be possible to arrange a tournament ; but, in any case, the courts will be open for play. Cruden Bay is a charming place even for those who do not play golf or tennis, and as the railway company have kindly granted special facilities for travelling and do everything in their power to make their guests at the hotel comfortable, it is hoped that a very large number of the members of the Club will take advantage of these arrangements, full particulars of which are enclosed with the current number of the Magazine. Any member who does not receive these particulars should at once apply to the Secretary, and members intending to be present might please note to inform the Secretary by Monday, 9th June, at latest, in order that the detailed arrangements may be completed.

Notes. The Magazine. With this issue the Magazine Committee appointed by the Club enters upon its seventh year of service. We may perhaps, therefore, be allowed to remark that we feel it no small honour to be so long entrusted with the production of the Magazine. It is true that before any issue can appear a very considerable amount of time has to be devoted to it, but the knowledge that the Magazine is appreciated by its readers and is fulfilling the purpose for which

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

191

it is intended, is ample recompense for all the labour expended. Since the last Magazine was published a large number of letters has been received from all parts of the world, and in almost every one of these the writers indicate how much the Magazine means to them, and how they look forward to getting the successive issues. It is very delightful to read these letters, and, in thanking our correspondents, perhaps we may mention that when preparing each number for the press, it gives us peculiar pleasure to think that what is being written will be perused in course of time in all quarters of the globe, and that it may help to draw together a great body of men of diverse ages, habitations, and occupations, whose common bond is love for their old School. From what has been said above, it will be gathered that the Magazine does not edit itself. In other words, contributions are essential. It ought not to be a difficult thing in a Club such as ours to obtain ample material for publication, but the fact is that there is seldom any great pressure of contributions. Not a few promises are made, but our experience is that they take a long time to be fulfilled. Many members, of course, never realize that they could produce magnificent " copy." Scattered as they are in every part of the world, they must some time or other be meeting with experiences that are worthy of record, or viewing scenes that lend themselves to description. Let not members think that they " can't write " —no formality is required. What we want them to do is to put on paper just what they would say to us were we spending a reminiscent evening with them. We trust that every one who reads this will devote a little time to thinking whether there is not something he ought to tell us about. Let each member keep in mind that the Magazine takes a great interest in him and eagerly desires to hear from him. All communications with reference to the Magazine will reach the proper quarter if addressed to the Secretary of the Club.

The Record of Old Boys. The fourth and last " Information Wanted " sheet is sent to members along with this issue. Of the large number of copies of previous sheets issued only a small proportion has been returned with notes giving definite information or suggesting clues. Members might kindly devote a little time to going over this last sheet as soon as they receive it. If they put it aside with the intention of looking at it later, the chances are that they will forget all about it and thus much valuable information may never reach the Editor.

School Records. In connection with the compilation of the Record of Old Boys, the following extract from The Times is very interesting. Dealing with a Biographical Register of Christ's College, Cambridge, it said—" These two handsome volumes present a monumental mass of facts rescued with great industry from many sources, and the interest of the compilation extends far beyond the bounds of the College. It is to be hoped that in time every college and school may, in the same way, gather together records of the lives of those who have

192

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

passed through them since their foundation, for in such lies their true history, and by their sons are they justified." (The italics are ours.) The Times also dealt very encouragingly with a little 32 pp. monograph tracing the history of Grantham School from its earliest mention in 1329. It remarked :—" Such monographs are valuable ; the continuity of English history is strikingly displayed in studies of single institutions, and as the author says—' On the Continent a school whose history.can be traced back more than a century is a rarity ; here, nearly all the older grammar schools have records reaching far back into the Middle Ages '." When are we to have a connected history of the Aberdeen Grammar School from its earliest mention in 1256?

Slackness of Members. We have been requested to call the attention of members of the Club, and in particular those resident in Aberdeen and neighbourhood, to the fact that they are often very slow to respond to circulars about Club meetings. It is not that members are unwilling to attend these, but they put aside the intimations and forget all about them. The result is that those responsible for the arrangements have to make a personal appeal to members, and this naturally entails a large expenditure of time and trouble, and makes the labour of love a very heavy one. Will members please note this, and have a little more consideration?

Dramatic Section. The Committee for 1913-14 consists of Messrs. J. H. N. Craigen (secretary), P. B. Simpson, W. G. Craigen, A. M. Johnston, and G. G. Nicol. No play has as yet been decided upon for next winter, but as arrangements will be made before autumn, any member of the Club desiring to join the Section •should communicate with Mr. John H. N. Craigen, 40 Carden Place.

The Motor Section. This Section was duly formed at a meeting held on 24th February 1913, and the following office-bearers were elected:— President, W. S. Gill; Vice-Presidents, Alexander Duffus, and Dr. W. F. Croll ; Captain, J. B. Gillies; Vice-Captains, James Ellis, and G. A. Ledingham; Secretary and Treasurer, D. R. Macdonald, 98 Queen's Road ; Committee, W. P. Barron, W. Bisset, J. Brown, jun., J. Bruce, jun., H. N. Macbeth, J. E. Rae, and J. J. Williamson. The Section had an opening run to Banchory, and spent the May Holiday week-end in a run to Inverness, the Caledonian Canal, Pitlochry, and Braemar. There are about forty members, and any member of the general Club wishing to join the Section should communicate with the Section Secretary, who will supply full information about the Section and future runs.

Golf. The Golf Committee (Messrs. James Hay, J. B. Gillies, and P. B. Simpson) have entered a team for the Aberdeen (Foursome) Tournament, to be held on the course of the Royal Aberdeen Club at Balgownie, at the end of May.

Aberdeen Gram mar School Magazine.

193

The Motor Section. Since the last issue of the Magazine the Motor Section therein forecast has become an accomplished fact, with a membership of some forty to fifty and the hall-mark of the approval of the Executive. The opening event was a Club Run to Ballater, but as the weather authorities had chosen the same date for a snowstorm only a small band of enthusiasts turned up at the starting point and did some forty miles, with tea at Banchory, about half way. A postponed " opening run " was almost as unfortunate, though at least two members found someone to console them in Banchory. The first serious item in the Section's programme was a weekend run to Inverness, down the Canal, and home by Pitlochry and Braemar. The official start was at Hazlehead at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, 3rd May. Edwards and passenger left town in a Palladium earlier in the day, and the following was the party at the start :— Gillies, 8 h.p. Matchless, and side car; Ellis, 3i h.p. Scott, and side car ; Bisset, 3 h.p. Scott, and side car ; Cook, 2i h.p. Twin Enfield; Barron, 3I h.p. B.S.A. ; Bruce, 34 h.p. Humber; Glegg, 34 h.p. Triumph ; Macdonald, 3) h.p. T.T. Triumph ; and Williamson, 34 h.p. Rudge. Craigen (34 h.p. Rudge), familiarly known as " Tammy," who had turned up to see the party start, had ignition trouble at Blackburn and had to be towed in to Inverurie by the Humber. This caused some delay at the first check, but Elgin was comfortably reached in time for tea. The next " collecting point " was the Fountain at Nairn, but as various ideas of the best route from Elgin to Forres prevailed, and as everyone took it for granted that the party would go by his route, a good deal of country was covered between these two ancient burghs, the section which went by the Priory having the finest views if the longest route. At Forres, where heavy rain started, lamps were lit, and a few miles further on the main body joined the Humber and the Secretary. the former having shown a disinclination for further work that night. However, after the experts on the spot had done their worst, a few dismal groans were extracted from the engine and the party got going once more after about an hour's delay. Nairn was soon reached in pelting rain, in spite of which the local yokel seemed to prefer the middle of the High Street for conversing with his fellow agriculturists. Inverness was reached about 11 p.m. On entering the Station Hotel, Cook—by this time known as the Boy Scout from his penchant for travelling miles ahead—and the luxurious Palladiumites were found comfortably ensconsed in the lounge. Under the soothing influence of supper and other refreshments the spirits of the party, at no time very low, rose considerably, and it was at a very early hour indeed that one of the Scott exponents was observed looking for his blankets which had mysteriously disappeared. Next morning all were up betimes except the Rudge roughrider, whose excuse was that, having broken a collar stud, he had had to effect a repair with a belt fastener. The Palladium and the Boy Scout pushed off about 10.30, and the rest of the party followed through magnificent scenery to Drumnadrochit. The

194

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Triumph had the first puncture of the run, and it was evidently a bad one as its owner and Bruce, the official patch-sticker, took about an hour to repair it, and gave the main party a long interval for refreshments at Invermoriston, which was fully taken advantage of. The road from Drumnadrochit to Invermoriston was found to be more like a scenic railway than a turnpike, and the Palladium, which tried conclusions with a telegraph pole, found the latter quite substantial and had to crawl back to Inverness to get matters straightened out. Lunch was taken at Fort-Augustus. The Boy Scout chalked up one kind action for the day by having the meal ready on the arrival of the party. The first stop after lunch was Invergarry, and the road now became—in the words of a side car passenger on a similar occasion—" most poisonous." Here and there along Loch Lochy the road had been completely washed away, and riders had to make their way across long stretches of shingle and water courses with the inevitable result—punctures. The first of the party reached Spean Bridge about 5.30. Rain having fallen heavily for some time and the party being considerably damp there was some disinclination to set out for Loch Laggan, which was at this time thought of as a stopping place for the night. However, the party eventually pushed off, and for the first few miles the road improved. The rain had stopped, leaving clear to the view a country of lochs, hills, and waterfalls, the latter ranging from the merest feathery trickle to roaring torrents, a magnificent sight. The road was too good to last, and long stretches of loose metal were soon encountered, with no blinding and no rolling. This may make good going for traction engines but is ruinous to the average motor vehicle, and shooting was mild compared to the ends proposed for the surveyor responsible. At Laggan it was found that the accommodation was limited, and it was decided to push on to Dalwhinnie. Lamps were lit, and the short cut over to Dalwhinnie was found a few miles from Laggan. Much unparliamentary language was heard amongst the •riders of fixed gears, caused by the hilly nature of the road, but ultimately the lights of Dalwhinnie were seen far below. The road here is unique and resembles nothing so much as a bunker after the passage of a party of earnest golfers. What are the qualifications for a road surveyor's job? At the Loch Ericht Hotel a party of lively Aberdonians who had been trying to climb Ben Alder had apparently exhausted the hotel's possibilities, for not only was there no accommodation, but absolutely no food (or drink) could be procured. The enterprising Scout was found slumbering audibly in his little cot—the last vacant bed in the place! A suitable reward for merit. The party, therefore, shook the dust, or rather sand, of Dalwhinnie from their back tyres and set their faces for Killiecrankie and Fisher's Hotel, Pitlochry, it now being after 11 p.m. and some 30 miles to go. The long descent from Dalwhinnie was made in fast time, and after some joy riding in the neighbourhood of Blair-Atholl, a most excellent supper and comfortable beds were found at Fisher's, on whom the party called down blessings about 1 a.m.—the hotel manageress having previously blessed them for rousing her from her beauty sleep at that same hour.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

195

At breakfast next morning the party was joined by the Palladium, which had come on by Carr Bridge after making good all damage—a smart piece of work. Bisset and Brown, his passenger, also rejoined at breakfast. They had lost a side car spring in the dark shortly after leaving Dalwhinnie, had returned to Dalwhinnie where they spent the night in the hotel lounge till 6 a.m., when they had sallied forth, found the spring, and rejoined as stated—a very good performance.

From photo. by Han. C. Glegy.

At the top of the Cairnwell. The forenoon was spent in putting machines in order after the severe gruelling they had had the day before, and a start was made about lunch time for the Glen Shee Hotel, which was reached in beautiful weather about 3 p.m. After light refreshments, the party proceeded to tackle the notorious " Devil's Elbow." The majority of the party reached the top without much trouble. The Humber made a clean ascent, as did the Matchless with passenger and luggage aboard. After tea at Braemar there was some speed work over the now excellent road to Ballater and then to Aboyne for dinner. One member of the party, without any special exertion, reached Aboyne 16 minutes after leaving Ballater. The same member of the party had to be towed the last eleven miles into Aberdeen as a result of his petrol drain tap being accidentally turned on with disastrous results. Such is fate. The whole party were unanimous in declaring the week-end one of the best ever spent, and a great deal of the credit is due to the Secretary, Mr. D. R. Macdonald, who, both in his advance arrangements and on the road, was most efficient. Considering the conditions the machines did excellently, the Rudge and Matchless having no involuntary stops; while in general the riders were particularly smart in effecting repairs, Bruce, in particular, seeming simply to revel in all sorts of 10 M.P.H. punctures.

196

Aberdeen Grammar School 31(1ria:ine.

The Hockey Club. The last four League engagements included two wins and two defeats. 1st February.—At our first meeting with Gordon's F.P.'s the state of the Duthie Park did not favour good hockey. Won by 4-2. 15th February.—We had some reason to be pleased with our play against the formidable Bon-Accord team at Stewart Park. Both sides were a forward short during the first ten minutes, but we also lacked a goalkeeper during that period. Three soft shots were registered against us while the goal was still undefended. A fourth followed before half-time, while our attack remained fruitless. In the second half a fine recovery was made ; the forward line got going well and were supported by a steady pressing defence. Main opened our score with a neat shot, and the extent of the subsequent pressure may be judged from the fact that the second goal came from the half line, being scored by Hawes. Late in the game we were awarded a penalty corner ; an accurate hit out was neatly stopped by Hawes, letting Forgan put in an unsaveable shot. Time came all too soon, but after crossing over four goals down we felt a defeat by 3-4 was not discreditable. 18th February.—Our other game with Gordon's F.P.'s, postponed from December, had to be played at Walker Park on a week day, with only ten men aside throughout ; we lacked Dawson, while Hastings was replaced by I. S. Thomson. Unlike our opponents, we played without a goalkeeper, and during the first half this worked fairly well ; we scored once through a brilliant " reverse " from the left wing. In the second half both our backs were lamed and, especially as we were not getting the full benefit of the off-side rule, the lack of a goalkeeper spoilt our defence completely. Gordon's soon equalised, but Simpson and Forgan put us well ahead. Towards the end our opponents scored a second and a third goal, but a fourth for us (from Forgan) luckily came between. Won by 4-3. 22nd February.—The final game found us at full strength and Duthie Park in •splendid condition. Aberdeen, nevertheless, deserved their win, but were distinctly lucky to get such a large margin. They had more of the play and scored twice in each half, having two good and two " lucky " shots. There were also periods of very even play, while during the third quarter the game was entirely in our favour. During that period our forwards lost several chances through their own muddling and the International goalkeeping against them ; but our left wing put in one rocket shot from a difficult angle. Lost by 1-4. Season's League Result.—Played 10, won 3, last 7, goals for . 19, goals against 29, Championship points 6. The 1st XI. prospects for 1913-14 are fairly bright, but we suffer the greatest possible loss by Davidson's departure. One or two other vacancies are likely to occur—and, of course, the

MCMILLAN'S, BESIDE THE BRIDGE. THE PLACE FOR

EVERYTHING iN

PRESENTATION GOODS. SPECIAL TERMS TO COMMITTEES.

McMILLANy Ltd., UNION BRIDGE, ABERDEEN.

DRESS SEASON, I9I2-I3. -)-

--Th

1Dre9 Zutt9: £5 5s.

£6 6s.

£7 7s.

Mtnner 3ache0: £3 3s.

£3 15s.

£4 4s.

Lined Satin.

—

Faced Silk.

W. DAVIDSON & SON, TAILORS,

123 UNION STREET, Aberdeen. Telephone 579.

LEADING IDEAS IN . . . FLORAL ART.

CHOICEST FLOWERS.

BRIDAL BOUQUETS. UP-TO-DATE DESIGNS.

ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENT.

BRIDAL BASKETS. MODERATE PRICES.

Everything Newest and Best in the World of Flowers.

M. H. SINCLAIR, Cbc 'Eta jflorwt, 156a and 156b UNION STREET. Telephone No. 1121.

Famous

HATS All One Price, 3/9. Best Value under the Sun.

° L

BOOTS All One Price,

10/6. Ladies' and Gent.'s

Guinea Styles for Half a Guinea.

) P27 Union St, & 119 George St1, goaRDEEN.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

197

more competition for all places the better. The 2nd XI. makes the strongest possible appeal for many new members, whether old hands or absolute beginners. (Present pupils who do not play Rugby are eligible.) The Secretary of the 2nd XI. is William Main, 44 Union Grove.

The Rugby Football Club. The Rugby Club again finished second on the Northern League Table, two points behind the University. The 'Shire team ousted them in the semi-final for the Cup by 5 points to 3. In this game most of the members of the team seemed to be completely off their form, and as a combination the team played badly. But, on the whole, the season was quite successful ; the unfortunate thing was that so many of the matches had to be put off on account of bad weather, and the play of the team suffered accordingly, owing to lack of practice. Financially, the season just ended has been a record one; for, after paying the heavy rent of Mannofield, and the other necessary expenses and subscriptions, the Club Treasurer hopes to be able to show a balance of between £20 and £30. The Cinderella dance, arranged by the Rugby Section and held in the Palace Hotel on the night of Saturday, 15th February, was a great success, almost 40 couples being present. 1st XV. Results since 25th January.

1913. Feb. 8 „ 15 22 Mar. 8

Match. 'Shire (League) . . Queen's Cross (Cup Tie) Gordonians (Cup Tie) . 'Shire (Cup Tie) . .

Result. Won. Won. Won. Lost.

. . . .

For 9 6 9 3

Points Against. ... 3 ... 3 3 5

Results of All Matches.

Played 13, Won 9, Drawn 0, Lost 4; Points for, 112 ; Points against, 54. The 2nd XV. The 2nd XV. have had a moderately successful season, winning half their matches and losing half. Their best performance was their victory against the School team who again finished up as Junior Champions, and it was very creditable for the 2nd F.P.'s to be the only junior team in town to beat the School. Another gratifying thing about the 2nd team was the large membership which it had, and although the 1st XV. often needed several of their best players, nevertheless the 2nds rarely turned up short. 2nd XV. Results since 1st February.

1913. Match. Feb. 1 'Varsity " A " „ 15 School .

. .

• •

Result. Won. Lost.

For . 15 . 3

Result of All Matches.

Played 12, Won 6, Drawn 0, Lost 6.

Points Against. ... 12 ... 23

198

Aberdeen Grammar ,School Magazine.

List of New Members. Life Members. The following have become Life Members of the Club since the last issue of the Magazine :— Dr. James A. Simpson (1891-94), Alford. Thomas D. Macintosh (1904-11), 56 Eldon Street, Glasgow. Rev. Charles P. Littlejohn (1859.64), M.A., St. Mary's House, Thetford, Norfolk. Dr. Wm. E. Glover (1896-98), c/o Horeemann's Place, Dartford, Kent. James Gordon Daniellson (1896-1901), Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Co., Ltd., 36 Wall Street, New York. Louis Wilson (1872-75), Paauhau, Hawaii, U.S.A. Samuel J. Bally (1893-1901), Colombo Commercial Co., Colombo, Ceylon. Alex. W. Duncan (1892), Siliko, British North Borneo, via Labuan. Dr. Thomas Irvine Bonner (1881-86), 3 Bradford Road, Shipley, Yorks. Dr. Alex. B. Simpson (1889-94), Singapore, F.M.S. Leslie C. Elmslie (1863-68), M.A., 51 Bidston Road, Birkenhead. Robert M. McNeill (1885-92), Lagos, Southern Nigeria. Ordinary Members. The following have become Ordinary Members of the Club since the last issue of the Magazine :— Herbert R. Anderson (1900-02), Borhat Tea Estate, Namrup P.O., Sibsagor, Assam. Rev. John Coats (1876-80), Berryton, Alvah, Banffshire. Dr. John Macpherson (1900-03), 218 Victoria Street North, Darlinghurst, Sydney, N.S. W. Alexander Blacklaws (1881-82), Gillespie's Higher Grade School, Edinburgh. John H. Ducat (1881-86), c/o 69 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen. Wm. M. McPherson (1878-79), Mile-End House, Aberdeen. Wm. W. Leckie (1885.87), 13 Derby Crescent, Glasgow. James Mackie (1877.82), Ythanside, Fyvie. William T. Jack (1883-85), 9 Barclay Street, Stonehaven. Alfred E. Milne (1894-97), 40 Coates 3ardens, Edinburgh. Ernest C. Fraser (1909-11), 11 Belgrave Terrace, Aberdeen. W. Kelman Smith, 14 Jasmine Place, Aberdeen.

Sidney H. Smith (1881-87), Kensington and Notting Hill Electric and Lighting Companies, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, W. Hugh F. D. Middleton (1899.1903), 4 Dee Place, Aberdeen. Keith B. Miller (1898-1902), 4 Mangoe Lane, Calcutta. Dr. Herbert M. Jamieson (1894-98), 35 Albert Street, Aberdeen. Robert C. P. Philp (1911.12), c/u Bank House, Strichen. James R. Milne. D.Sc. (1 7- ?), 11 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. John S. Burton (1888.91), The Grange, Stamford Road, Kettering. Roderick F. Thomson (1905.08), 16 Fountainhall Road, Aberdeen. Chas. B. Milne, LLB. (1893-96), 11 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. George N. Adams (1911-12), The Schoolhouse, Finzean, Birse. Rev. Alex. R. Saunders (1872-77), 116 Westburn Road, Aberdeen. Alex. P. Gordon (18994), c/o Messrs. G. R. Alston & Co., Port of Spain, Trinidad.

For Club Office-Bearers and School Officials see pp. 199 and 200.

Watt & Milne,

3(iy/z-c/aSS OressmakerS, Costumiers,

I72

i 11'

Union Street,

)W717

furriers,

Aberdeen.

Outfitters.

Dinners,

OF ALL KINDS CATERED FOR IN ROOMS OR AT YOUR OWN HOMES.

Dances, and Parties

NO WORK OR WORRY TO HOSTESS. Menus, Terms, Engagements, from Manager, 173 Union Street. TABLE

APPOINTMENTS

WEDDING

HIRE_

CAKES A SPECIALTY, Unsurpassed for Quality.

Ka1\11\17x\xf7KY, BAKERY AND SALE

SHOP,

5 and 7 HOLBORN STREET.

Telephone 994.

WEST=END TAILORING AT MODERATE PRICES.

evercoatinge.—The Newest Designs and Colourings are now to hand.

DRESS SUITS, from 4 Guineas; Silk Lined, 5 Guineas and upwards. Patterns on application. (Every Garment made under the expert supervision of Mr. WATSON, formerly Principal Cutter with R. K. Smith.)

WILLIAM N. WATSON, 1Labies' ant) C3ent.'s tailor ant' Outfitter,

347 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. Telephones-1591 and I59Ia.

WM. SMITH, HIGH-CLASS

FRUITERER, FLORIST, and CONFECTIONER. THE SHOP FOR LUCKY WEDDING BOUQUETS. Only Address:

HOLBURN

JUNCTION

(TOP OF UNION STREET).

Greenhouse and Vineries-12 HUNTLY STREET.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

199

Aberdeen Grammar School former Pupils' Club. Office-Bearers-1913-1914.

Hon. President-H. F. MORLAND SIMPSON, M.A., LL.D. Hon. Vice-Presidents— Right Hon. Lord STRATHCONA, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., F.R.S., LL.D., P.C., D.L. Hon. Sir WM. BISSET-BERRY, M.A., M.D., LL.D. ( 1848-53)Col. Sir WM. SINCLAIR SMITH BISSET, K.C.I.E. (1854-55)Sir WM. WATSON CHEYNE, Bart., M.B., C.M., C.B., F.R.C.S., F.R.S., LL.D., D.Sc. (1863-68). Sir WILLIAM MORTIMER CLARK, K.C., LL.D. (1845-47). Sir ROBERT JOHN COLLIE, M.D., C.M. (1893-76). Professor WM. LESLIE DAVIDSON, M.A., LL.I). (1859-64). Sir JAMES DONALDSON, M.A., D.D., LL.D. (1842-46). ALEXANDER DUFFUS, Advocate (1871-76). GEORGE BIRNIE ESSLEMONT, M.P. (1871-76). Sir DAVID FERRIER, M.A., M.D., LL.D. (1854-58). Sir GEORGE STUART FORBES, K.C.S.I., M.A. (1860- 64). Sir GEORGE STEGMANN GIBE, LL.B. (1860-65). Sir WILLIAM DUFF GIBBON. (1848-51). Major-General Sir JAMES R. L MACDONALD, K.C.I.E., C.B. (t873-76). Sir JOHN MACDONELL, C.B., M.A., LL.D. (186o-61). Sir WILLIAM MACGREGOR, G.C.M.G., C.B., M.D., LL.D., D.Sc. (1865-67). Lieut.-Colonel Sir ALEXANDER BURNESS WHARDY, K.C.B. (1853-57). Sir JAMES SCORGIE MESTON, K.C.S.I. (1876-80). Sir WILLIAM ROBERTSON NICOLL, M.A., LL.D. (1866). Major-General Sir ALEX. J. F. REID, K.C.B., M.A., LL.D (1859-61). Sir JAMES REID, Bart., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., M.A., M.D., LL.D. (1861-65). Right Hon. Sir JAMES STIRLING, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., P.C. (i846-51). Sir THOMAS SUTHERLAND, G.C.M.G., LL.I). (1844-48). The LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEEN. The CHAIRMAN OF ABERDEEN SCHOOL BOARD. President—JAMES ESSLEMONT (1875-80). Vice-President—CHARLES J. DAVIDSON, M.A., B.L. (1886-91).

Secretary and Treasurer— J AmEs WM. MILNE, C.A., 46a Union Street, Aberdeen. Committee— W. AITKEN. W. G. CRAIGEN, M.A., LL.B. ALEX. DAVIDSON. J. C. DUFFUS, M.A. J. B. GILLIES, B.L.

TALBERT HELMRICH. A. M. JOHNSTON. W. KEITH LEASK, M.A. D. R. MACDONALD. GEORGE A. SMITH.

A. G. NICOL SMITH. THEODORE WATT, M.A. CHAS. WATT. E. W. WATT, M.A. D. H. W. WII,LIAMSON, M.A.

Magazine Committee—THEODORE WATT, M.A. (Convener) ; CHARLES DAVIDSON, M.A. ; WM. KEITH LEASK, M.A.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

200

Zthoot Officiat6. SESSION

President, Hon. Secretary,

I ip I 2.• I 9 I 3.

Sports Committee. The RECTOR. JAMES DAVIDSON, Esq.

F. A. CONNER. C. C. HUNTER. j. G. ELMSLIE. W. T. B. Joss. A. H. P. FERGUSON. J. C. KNOX, Esq. A. E. GAMMIE. J. LUMSDEN. W. P. GARBUTT. I R. D. LYON.

J. M. MCBAIN. M. H. MACKIE, Esq. D. MCCALLUM. R. I. MAXWELL. N. K. ROBSON.

Football.

Captain, -

- J. G. ELMSLIE. I Secretary,

Captain, -

Cricket. J. G. ELMSLIE. I Secretary,

- W. P. GARBUTT. -

N. K. ROBSON.

Swimming Club. C. E. SAUNDERS. A. H. P. FERGUSON. R. I. MAXWELL. M. H. MACKIE, Esq. Committee. D. MACFARLANE. J. D. TAGGART. D. MCCALLUM.

Captain, Vice-Captain, Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, R. ESSLEMONT.

Debating SoCiety. J. M. MCBAIN. _ ,I R. D. LYON. t A. M. BARRON. G. H. MCKENZIE. Committee. J. LUMSDEN. J. MCBAIN. A. MCBAIN.

President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary,

•

I. CUMMING. A. E. GAMMIE.

Library.

Reference,

Mis5 SINCLAIR.

Lending— A. M. BARRON. I

A. E. GAMMIE. J. LUMSDEN.

R. D. LYON. I

Tennis Club.

Captain, - R. I. MAXWELL. I Vice-Captain, - J. LUMSDEN. Secretary, C. E. SAUNDERS. F. A. CONNER.

Committee. D. MCCALLUM.

•

1 N. K. Rousom.

Magazine.

. Editor-in-Chief, Editor for Sport, Literary Editor (Random Notes), Business Manager, -

A. E. GAMMIE. J. LUMSDEN. R. D. LYON. H. A. ECCLES.

TELEPHONE No. 1891.

ARCHIBALD McKELLAR, family Grocer and Wine Merchant,

456

UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

Excellent Value given in 2/- Tea. English Bottled Fruits, in globe-shaped bottles, 1/- each. Glass Shapes, Chicken, Ham and Tongue, etc., etc., 1/6 each. Glasses Potted Grouse, 6d. each. Glasses Potted Wild Duck, 6d. each. White's Crystal Jellies, per pint packet, 3d. each.

Medicinal Wines—Yibrona, Hall's, Wincarnis, Glendenning's.

COLLAR STUDS. A special make of Stud for back of Neckband.

Price

- ONE PENNY.

W. J.

MILNE,

Fatter anb 'Mosier,

251 UNION ST., ABERDEEN, Slightly West of, but nearly opposite, the Royal Northern Club. Telephone 1293.

Messrs. MORGAN, 'photographic artists, Miniature 'Painters, an Makers of artistic frames. .

393

•

UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. 0

Special

'erns to Grammar School Stuaees. &F3I7:

10 A.M. TILL 5 P.M.

TELEPHONE No. 603.

tailoring for Oentlemen. FASHIONABLE OVERCOATS For Autumn and Winter Wear.

DRESS SUITS, Newest Styles. SUITINGS in the Latest Designs and Colourings.

GEORGE NICOL, 11 CROWN Telephone 2540Y5.

STREET.

Visit .

Moir's Hairdressing Saloons, 5 DEE STREET (Just off Union Street).

.461'

First-class Assistants always in attendance O. Business Hours—

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 440Fuma Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MEMBER OF THE ABOVE Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1.3o p.m. FOR

Drawing Instruments and Materials, 'Picture jframer ant) 9 iirtiatv Colourman, SCHOOLHILL, ABERDEEN.

TAYLOR Telenhone 2870 -

HIGH' CLASS

Tobaccos, Cigars, and Cigarettes. Specialities :—

" DIYAN " CIGARETTES and MIXTURES

All kinds of Smokers' Requisites. Large Assortment of Walking Sticks.

478 UNION STREET. J. GEDDES, Proprietor. TELEPHONE 989.

Established over Half a Century.

TRAVELLING

REQUISITES.

GLADSTONE BAGS, 12s. and upwards. IMMENSE TRAVELLING TRUNKS, tos. to 3os. SELECTION. Solid Leather PORTMANTEAUX. SCHOOL BAGS and BOOK STRAPS. REPAIRS neatly executed by practical workmen on the premises.

GAUL 6' WILSON,

SADDLERY, TRUNK, AND PORTMANTEAU MANUFACTURERS

BON-ACCORD STREET, ABERDEEN.

RO BINH 00 D " CYCLES are Second to none. Built throughout of the finest Steel in every part, and fitted with Dunlop Tyres, Brooks' Saddles, and Oil Bath Gear Cases.

Prices from £13 13s. to £7 7s. Liberal discount for cash. Our own make, " The Nelson," are undoubtedly the finest value in the market. All fitted with Palmer Tyres and Brooks' Saddles, with or without Gear Cases.

Prices from aell 1 11s. to £6 6s. See our range of cheaper makes. Why Patronise the Bogus Advertisements from Private Houses when you can be supplied by a Legitimate Trader with Cycles from L5 58. to L3 I2S. 6d. (Ladies' or Gent.'s), with Free Wheel and two Brakes 1 Also any Make of Cycle supplied to order at keenest Prices. Repairs of every description undertaken. Satisfaction guaranteed. Cycles sent for if required.

J. A. M'COMBIE STREET 344 KING (Facing Nelson Street).

Telephone No. 467.

Rest Quality of DRUGS, etc., at Lowest Cash Price.

JAMES D. DUNCAN, M.P.S., ebonEitoPbarmactt3t,

231 UNION STREET

231

Telephone 311.

DAVID WYLLIE & SON (Established 1815),

"Fountain Pen Emporium," 247 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. EVERYONE WRITES—more or less : hardly a 'day passes without frequent occasions for it. Now, to write with any degree of comfort and rapidity, one wants a pen thoroughly suitable and always reliable. The "SWAN" Fountain Pen combines all the advantages of the perfected pen, with a reservoir of ink sufficient to write continuously for hours. Prices fo/6 and 16/6. Satisfaction guaranteed. Repairs speedily executed. Ink and other accessories. Fountain Pens by other makers also Telephone No. 4os. stocked. Prices 1/- upwards.

An Easy Chair which is really Cosy. THE first and fast cover of the Chair is in an artistic two-tone Green Striped Cotton, the facings being neatly corded. The seat is very comfortable, and the filling material is part hair. The loose cover is of Cretonne, and can be had to suit any colour scheme. Samples of Covering free on request. This illustrates our Laughaut chair at 39 , 6 c.,in1,1et e.

Produced by

WATT BROTHERS, 412 Union Street, W., Aberdeen.

M. GERARD, i

\\ I.LLER AM) SILVERSMITH,

411 UNION STREET (WEST Engagement and Wedding Rings. JEWELLERY OF EVERY DESCRIPTION; AI,SO

Watches. Clocks, Silver and Electro=Plated Goods in Newest Designs, and Large Selection to choose from. Telephone 2533Y5.

ABERDEEN

GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

(Founded previous to 1256.) Rector—H. F. MORLAND SIMPSON, M.A. (Cantab.), LL.D., F.S.A. Scot. The School, which is one of the Secondary Public Schools of Scotland, provides for Boys a complete course of study—Elementary and Secondary, Classical and Modern. The Lower School receives Boys of the Infant stage and upwards. The School contains excellent Laboratories—Chemical and Physical, Art Room, Workshop, Botanical Garden, Gymnasium. Library, and Reading Room. The situation of the School is open and healthy, within ten minutes of the Railway Station. There is a Cricket Field, and there are separate Playgrounds for the various departments. Boarders are received by several of the Masters. Information as to Fees, Scholarships, etc., is given in the School Prospectus, which may be had free on application to the CLERK of the SCFIOOL BOARD, 22 Union Terrace, or to the RECTOR-

ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. Head Mistress—Miss LUCY L. WARD, B.A. (Lond.) The School, which is one of the Secondary Public Schools of Scotland, is organised in Three Departments—a Junior, an Intermediate, and a Secondary—the last combining Modern and University Sections. The Art and Music Departments are under highly qualified Masters and Governesses. Pupils are received from the age of Five Years. The recent additions, consisting of an elegant Hall, Cookery and Laundry Rooms, and a Suite of Laboratories of the most approved description for the teaching of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, make the School one of the best equipped in the country. A Library and Reading Room and Luncheon Rooms are provided. The School occupies a spacious site in the West End of the City, within twelve minutes of the Railway Station. The Head Mistress can arrange for the Boarding of Pupils from a distance. Information as to Fees, Scholarships, etc., is given in the School Prospectus, which may be had free on application to the CLERK of the ScilooL Roan), 22 Union Terrace, or to the HEAD MISTRESS.

PIANOFORTES, ETC. Upright and Horiscmtal Grand Pianos, by excellent makers, from £1t to £150 also Second-hand Pianos. Bargains may be had on 3 years' Instalment System. Kimball Organs, Panorma, Cramond and Ruddiman Violins, also Violas, 'Cellos, all of high-elass make and cheap. De Meglio and other Mandolins, Guitars, Banjos, Cornets. Violin Repairs, Strings, Bows, Bridges. Pianos Tuned, Exchanged, and Repaired. Teachers Supplied. AGENT for Skitimere's Bent Steel Fire-proof Safes, and Hobbs & Co.'s Fir.- and Burglar-proof Steel Safes, Doors, and Looks ; Makers to the King, and Bank of Eingland, etc.

JOHN G. MORISON, 48 Netherkirkgate.

Jewellery of Quality and Refinement. CHOICE STOCK.

FREDERICK WM. LAWSON, Watcbmaher anb 3eweller, 7 ROSE STREET, ABERDEEN. Please remember our Repair Department. Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery are altogether useless ornaments if out of order. We specialise in Repair Work. Charges moderate. Colonial Orders receive Special and Prompt Attention.

FRED HARDIE, Vbotograpbtc Erttst,

ii16 UNION ST., RBERDEEIV, For every style of In- and Out-door Group, Composite Groups, and General Portraiture, etc., At Popular Prices.

Tetephone gal.

FAMILIES FOR ABROAD Secure Cheapest Fares, Comfortable Cabins, and Heavy Baggage Shipped at. Cargo Rates if booked by

IVIRCKRY

BROTHERS,

48 UNION STREET. Luggage despatched in advance, and everything arranged quietly and economically. No Booking Fees. Aberdeen Address—

MACKAY

BROTHERS, 48 UNION STREET;

Also at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Kirkcaldy, etc.

" BE PREPARED." Anything and

Scouts' Uniform

Everything

Jtc

the Boy Scout requires. -

and

Complete List on

Equipment.

Application.

R. K. SMITH, Ltd., THE RING'S BUILDINGS,

113 to 119 Union St. (°".Trclitee), Aberdeen. Telephone No. 677.

Telegrams—" Clothing, Aberdeen."

JOHN A. DUNN'S New Spring Styles in Footwear for Ladies and Gent.'s, Boys and Girls. —~— Patterns and Styles specially suitable for Town and Country wear. Light and heavy makes of Boots and Shoes in Black and Tan Leathers. All Prices. Boots and Shoes Made to Measure, Splendid Fit Guaranteed. . . We do repairing, either with Leather, Rubber, or Gutta Percha. LETTER ORDERS HAVE PROMPT ATTENTION.

26 & 175 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. TELEPHONE No. 158.