AGS Magazine June 1923

Vol. XXVI., No. 3.

1

JUNE, 1923.

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CONTENTS ..

Page 177 PORTRAIT OF SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON NICOLL, C.H. ..

LONDON .. . • Facing p. 196 THE BYRON BANQUET IN THE HOTEL CECIL, 204 .. ..

HALL SCHOOL THE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE " and 205 THE SCHOOL HALL—NORTH WALL AND EAST WALL.•. Between pp. 204 ..Facing p. 205 ..

UNVEILING OF WAR MEMORIAL—PLATFORM PARTY 212 ..

• ..

•• ,, •• •• THE SCHOOL PREFECTS .. „ . .

213 • • 1ST XV MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL RUGBY

Page 161 ..

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THE UNVEILING OF THE WAR MEMORIAL 169 " MAGAZINE " COVER COMPETITION SCHOOL'S RECORD IN THE WAR. 170 NOTES ABOUT OLD BOYS •• •• 44 •• •• •• • •• ..

186 •• .. .. .. . • " THE OLDEST SCHOOL " ..

187 ..

•• .. ..

•• BYRON BANQUET IN LONDON 198 • • • • •• THE BYRON STATUE AND DR. SIMPSON . • 200 ..

• • .. .. .. ..

A VISIT TO MEXICO CITY • .

203 •• • • •• THE REDECORATION OF THE SCHOOL HALL 206 •.

CHURCH PARADE OF SCHOOL SCOUTS, MONYMUSK, EASTER, 1923 211 . .. .. ..

RETIREMENT OF MISS JESSIE A. MACKIE 213 :. ..

0 . ..

60 00 SCHOOL NOTES NOTES..

216 . • . . ..

DEFICIT OFF WIPE TO STATUE-EFFORT THE BYRON 218 •• GEDDES MEDAL FOR SCIENCE. SCHOOL MEDAL AND PRIZE FUNDS 220 SCOUT NOTES ..

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•• •• •.

•• •• •• ..

221 .

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• • • • SCHOOL CRICKET NOTES AND TENNIS NOTES 222 •• SCHOOL LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY. SCHOOL MUSEUM 223 SCHOOL OFFICE-BEARERS, 1922-23..

O. • • • • ..

•• THE FORMER PUPILS' CLUB245 ...

LORD ALNESS ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON .. ..

228 . .. ..

•• THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CLUB 235 . • MONTHLY LUNCHEONS. SUBSCRIPTIONS. VISITORS' REGISTER 236 ..

CONSTITUTION OF THE CLUB • • .. ..

• • 00 242 .. . 0 .0 . .

APPOINTMENTS IN CEYLON . • . • 243 ..

•• . .

•• •• •• •• CLUB CONSULS ..

246 MEMORIAL TENNIS, CRICKET, AND MOTOR SECTIONS. SCHOOL WAR 247 DINNER LIST OF NEW MEMBERS. " ROLL OF PUPILS." ANNUAL 248 ..

•• •• •• ..

OFFICE-BEARERS, 1923-24 ..

W. LUMSDEN &SON, 58 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

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LONDON

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DAVID M. A. CHALMERS, ESQ.

GARDEN ALEXANDER DUFF, ESQ.

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ALFRED MARTINEAU, ESQ.

GEORGE MILNE COOK, ESQ.

DAVID M. M. MILLIGAN, ESQ.

Manager for Scotland

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R. MACKAY, F. F.A.

Aberbeen &anima School titaga3ine. .

Vol. XXVI.

JUNE, 1923.

No. 3

The " Grammar School Magazine " is issued under the auspices of The Former Pupils' Club, in March, June, and November. All communications with regard to the " Magazine " should be addressed to the Editor and Secretary and Treasurer of the Club, THEODORE WATT, M.A., The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen. os• Members of the Club are requested to inform the Secretary of any change in their address.

The Unveiling of the War Memorial.

•

An Impression. " Tell it in Sparta, thou that passest by— Here faithful to their charge her soldiers lie."

The undying words of the noblest of all martial epitaphs haunt the mind as striking the keynote of the service at the unveiling of the School War Memorial. Exquisitely pathetic as it was, with every moment highly charged with tense emotion, vibrant with the passion of unavailing sorrow, yet it was far from being merely a service of lamentation. Mingled with all the pang of pain the predominant feeling was one of pride—pride, yea, and thankfulness too ; pride and thankfulness that those who passed beyond were true to the high ideals of the Mother-School which nursed them and sent them forth ; that they also, like the Spartans of old, were "faithful to their charge." In his beautiful address Lord Alness voiced appropriately this cardinal emotion of the service. With instinctive delicacy he forbore needlessly to torture the sorrow-laden hearts of the many relatives and friends of the Fallen who were present. With noble eloquence he urged them to look forward rather than back, to lay up in their hearts and practise in their lives the lessons of the War, the lessons of chivalry, of duty, of unity taught by those whose sacrifice that day was being commemorated.

And the service was first and foremost a service for, and

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by, the School. Large as was the gathering of parents and friends and public representatives, one felt throughout that it was the School which was performing its own peculiar act of homage to the Fallen. One of the most impressive moments in the whole proceedings was when, amid the wailing lament of the pipes, the Senior Prefect reverently placed the beautiful wreath, a tribute from the boys at School, caesorum comitum memores. And the very culmination of the service was reached in the march past of the School, " eyes right " upon the names of the Fallen. From first to last the ceremony was, in the most intimate sense, an act of homage by the School.

The tragedy of the War has been terrible beyond the power of words to describe—incomprehensible in its utter magnitude.

Yet its tragedy would be vastly greater still if the memory of those who fell, if the sublimity of their heroism and the great testimony of love and sacrifice which in their death they furnished, should ever be forgotten by their successors in the grand old School. For out of ideals such as these—public spirit, self -sacrifice, devotion to duty, and above all that love than which it is written that no man hath a greater—out of such ideals our School has drawn its strength and pride adown the ages. They are the woof and very texture of the School Tradition. And therefore fittingly, in the Prayer of Dedication, was the petition humbly offered to Almighty God " that this Memorial, raised up in the midst of this School, may be to the generations of Thy children here a perpetual inspiration." War is terrible indeed, but there are things worse than war ; and dire would be the calamity if the high purpose to which our glorious Dead consecrated the young ardour of their lives, and to which they paid the utmost measure of devotion, should ever be lightly held by our School or by our nation. " Give peace in our time, 0 Lord, if it be Thy will ; but give us righteousness, give us loyalty, give us courage, through Jesus Christ our Lord." " The public memory," said Lord Alness truly, " is short, and the recollection of great happenings rapidly fades away."

So it is also with a great Tradition. It is easy to take it for granted, to wave flags and blow trumpets about it on special occasions. It is less easy to remember that as a Tradition was created only by the high ambition and strenuous toil of those who went before, so it can be maintained only by daily and hourly strife for the same ideals on the part of those who are now and shall be hereafter. And therein lies the true and highest significance of a War Memorial. It is far more than a mere expression of grief and record of remembrance of the Dead ; it is a reminder and an inspiration for the living. In dedicating its Memorial to the Fallen, the School at the same time dedicated itself to the furtherance of the ideals for which they fell.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

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For so high and sacred a charge the genius of Dr. Kelly has devised a fitting emblem in the noble Record in carven oak, harmonizing so aptly with the School Valhalla redecorated under his care. Equally fitting, in its emphasizing of the solemn charge and responsibility of the living, was the simple and dignified ceremony of unveiling. In the minds of those who saw it the service will ever linger, a recollection sad indeed, yet strangely sweet.

The Ceremony.

The ceremony of unveiling the War Memorial erected in the School Hall was performed on the afternoon of Tuesday, 8th May, by the Right Honourable Lord Alness, LL.D., Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland, who, before doing so, delivered a singularly appropriate and touching address. The Service was throughout of an exceptionally impressive character. To all the arrangements which contributed to make the occasion a memorable one a great deal of forethought and care had obviously been devoted.

The Hall, admission to which was by ticket only owing to the very limited accommodation available, was specially seated for the occasion. Facing the Memorial, which was hidden from view by two large Union Jacks, were the parents or other relatives of the Fallen, members of the Education Authority and of the Secondary Schools Management Committee, and civic representatives. At the east end of the Hall were seated nearly 300 of the senior pupils of the School, who filed in impressively shortly before 3 o'clock.

On the permanent platform at the west end of the Hall were the ladies and gentlemen of the School Staff—the latter in full academic costume, and accompanied by their wives ; the President and Executive of the Former Pupils' Club, and a small number of representative citizens specially interested in the School. At the north side of the platform was the School Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. J. Mackenzie Forbes.

Mr. George Duncan, advocate, the Chairman of the Aberdeen Education Authority, presided, and accompanying him on a special platform at the right-hand end of the Memorial, were Lord Alness (1884—85), Rev. Dr. James Webster (18671869), who was for many years a missionary in Manchuria, and engaged for a considerable period in special War work with the troops in France ; Rev. D. Bruce Nicol (1900-02), M.C., B.D., of St. Margaret's Parish Church, Edinburgh, who served as an Army Chaplain in France, Salonika, Egypt, and Palestine ; Rev. Dr. John Hector (1857-62), late Principal of Duff College, Calcutta, one of the oldest surviving duxes of the School ; Rev. Professor Pittendrigh (1872-76), D.D.,

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Convener of the Secondary Schools Management Committee ; Mr. Theodore Watt (1889-1901), Honorary Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club, and Convener of the special committee in charge of the redecoration of the Hall ; and the Rector.

The Service.

The proceedings opened with the singing of the Paraphrase " Come let us to the Lord our God," to the tune " St. Agnes "— the School Orchestra leading.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Webster, who gave thanks for the remembrance of the blessed dead, for what they were and for what they achieved, for their willing service and great sacrifice, for their fidelity even unto death, and for the assurance that the promise had been fulfilled to them, " I will give to thee the crown of life." Dr. Webster, in concluding, led the audience in the Lord's Prayer.

The Rector of the School then read a portion of Chapter XI of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Introduction of Lord Alness.

The Chairman, thereafter, in introducing Lord Alness, said :—" It is now my duty, and I count it a high honour, to call on Lord Alness to address you and to unveil the Memorial which has been placed here in memory of the many Former Pupils of the School who gave their lives during the Great War. In this Hall Lord Alness is no stranger ; he is an old pupil of the School—one whose career as a statesman we in Aberdeen have followed with pardonable pride, and for whom, in the high judicial office to which he has now been called, we confidently anticipate a career of equal distinction.

The whole life of Lord Alness has been, I think, an inspiration to the School. " The record of War service which was given by Former Pupils of this School is one of which any school in the country might be proud.

No fewer than 1,686 Former Pupils are known to have joined the colours.

Of these, 264 gained high military distinctions, including the Victoria Cross, and, as far as has been ascertained, 243 gave their lives. It is these whom we are met to commemorate.

We desire by this Memorial to preserve their memory for all time in this Hall, which in their lives they knew so well.

We seek to do homage, to give all possible honour to the high service which they rendered. And may I venture to express respectful sympathy with their relatives and friends who are present on this occasion ? " Before calling on Lord Alness I have two words of thanks.

The first is to Mr. Theodore Watt, the Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club, to whom it has been a labour of love to collect

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

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165

the information about his fellow-pupils, and without whose help we could never have made this Memorial the accurate record of service which it is so desirable that it should be.

The other word of thanks is to the designer of the Memorial, Dr. William Kelly, to whose artistic genius Aberdeen owes so much, and who has made the erection of the Memorial just as much a labour of love as Mr. Watt has done of the collection of the information for it."

Lord Alness's Address.

Lord Alness then said :—" It is with great diffidence that I address you this afternoon. There are occasions in life when the sheer inadequacy of language to express what we think and feel is borne in upon us. This is one of these occasions.

Words are entirely inadequate, and I shall not unduly multiply them. Indeed, I feel that on such an occasion silence is more eloquent than speech. For what can I say which will not sound unworthy, conventional, and even cheap? We are not an emotional or demonstrative people. We do not wear our hearts upon our sleeves. We find it difficult at the best of times to express what we think and feel—particularly what we feel. But although we do not parade our feelings or prate about them, I am quite sure that they are none the less strong and none the less deep. I am certain that they are both strong and deep to-day.

LOOKING BACK. " The public memory, alas ! is short, and the recollection of great happenings rapidly fades away. We do well, therefore, I think, to look back to 1914—to the insolent challenge which Prussia then made to the world. We look back with pride to the instant response which was made to that challenge, and to the deeds of valour—many of them uncommemorated by the Victoria Cross or any other military distinction—which were wrought upon the fields of France and Flanders. We look back with pride upon the victory that was won, upon the great deliverance that was wrought— pride because the sons proved themselves to be worthy of their great sires. " But with pride must surely be mingled gratitude—profound gratitude. Surely there is none among us so thoughtless or unreflecting that he or she does not sometimes sit down and think of what would have happened if Germany had won the War. We were delivered from a fate more terrible than death itself. If Germany had won, freedom would have been a memory, enterprise dead, life itself a very nightmare. Do we really realize this ? I say it, and you assent to it, but have these things really gripped our imagination? I venture sometimes to doubt it. Why, there were people who even during the War so comported themselves as to make

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

it plain that they did not understand that within a few miles of these shores the most earth-shattering conflict of history was going on. Ah ! if they had seen what I have seen,, and what many in this Hall must have seen—if they had seen, for example, a leave train go out from Victoria Station, if they had seen strong men on the platform with grim faces and tightened lips, crushing down the emotion that surged within them, as they went forth to face death again, if they had seen the women and the children sobbing on the platform ; or if they had seen an ambulance train come into Charing Cross, if they had seen the fleet of waiting motor cars swiftly bearing off their living freight to the great hospitals of London, if they had got a glimpse of the pale, wan faces in these cars, drawn with pain—the faces of men who that very morning, a few hours before, had been as fit and strong as any of us here to-day, but who had, in a few short hours, exchanged the ruddy hue of health for the pallor of the invalid—if they had seen these things, perhaps they would have understood. " Men and women, when you go home to-night sit down in your chair and try to realize what defeat would have meant to this country, and then, if you have any imagination at all, you will go down on your knees and thank God for the Grammar School lads, and others like them, who saved this country from such a fate.

THE PRICE OF DELIVERANCE. " Yes, the deliverance was wrought, but at what a price !

I am not going to say much about that ; for I know how easy it is for one who has not directly suffered to talk about it, and I also know what torture it must be to those who have suffered to listen. I say at what a price ! We all know what gay and high ambitions were frustrated, how many young lives were snuffed out like candles in the wind, how many hearts were broken, and how many homes were desolated.

"And this is no merely local or parochial affair. I have just come back from France. There you still see mourning on every side. I stood under the great canopy of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and I looked at the simple slab which marks the grave of the Unknown Soldier who gave his life for France. And, as I looked, I felt that France, like Scotland, was mourning for her first-born. I felt that the world is knit together in the great fellowship of grief. And so we look back on the past with pride, with gratitude, but also with sympathy, and with understanding.

LOOKING FORWARD. " So much for the past. But surely we must look forward as well as back. If a victory so great has been won for us, and at so great a price, surely we must have duties to discharge.

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First, we must see to it that there shall be no recurrence of the bloodiness of war, and we must also see to it that the lessons of the War are laid up in our hearts and practised in our lives. Our hearts and our eyes turn with wistfulness and high hope to the League of Nations, to the great ideal of world peace which the League envisages and enshrines.

Let none of us have part or lot in the cheap sneers that are sometimes levelled at the League of Nations. I tell you that movements such as that are the one hope of humanity to-day ; they are the sheet anchor of civilization. If these hopes fructify, if the anchor does not drag, then the seal will be set on the victory which has been won, and precious blood will not have been spilt in vain. " And let us learn the lessons of the War. Look around to-day and what do we see ? We see a world still rocking and reeling under the shock of war, still riven by its fury ; we see men and women bewildered and bemused by the problems which the War has thrown up ; we see suspicion, , misunderstanding, and division. There was no class strife on the battlefield ; there was no bickering in the trenches.

Capital and labour joined hands on the reddened fields of France and Flanders. Can we not achieve in peace that which was accomplished in time of war ? Can we not cooperate to win the Peace as we co-operated to win the War ?

If we face the future with the courage, the chivalry, the sense of duty, and above all, with the unity which won the War, we may still hope to build up the fabric of a new world which will be better and brighter than the old.

LOOKING UP. " I have said that we should look back. I have said that we should look forward. Should we not also look up ? Look up to Him who gave us the great victory. Look up to Him who alone can bind up the broken-hearted and heal their wounds. Look up to Him who alone can bestow that wisdom which can redeem the world from faction and from failure, from selfishness and from strife, and who can consecrate it to the pursuit of purposes which are noble and high. " Thinking these thoughts, let us share in this solemn and moving service of remembrance : let us salute the great dead."

The Unveiling and Prayer of Dedication.

The audience stood as Lord Alness drew aside the Union Jacks which had screened the Memorial. Then the Rev. D. • Bruce Nicol offered a prayer of dedication and thanksgiving in these' words :— " 0 Almighty God, who art worshipped in the beauty of holiness, and art Thyself the Author of all things beautiful and holy, we dedicate to Thy glory this Memorial of our brothers who gave their lives for us ; beseeching Thee to bless

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unto us their sacrifice, and to keep us ever mindful of their love. " O Lord God, before whom stand the spirits of all flesh, we bless and praise Thy name for all Thy sons who have gone forth from this School to serve Thee in their day and generation—especially for those whom this day we remember, who laid down their lives for their friends. Grant unto us who now remain, saved by their death, grace to follow in the way of their service and sacrifice, that we, justifying their confidence, and being faithful also even unto death, may receive with them the crown of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. " And grant, we beseech Thee, for His sake, that this Memorial raised up in the midst of this School, may be to the generations of Thy children here a perpetual inspiration.

May truth and righteousness and mercy flourish here ; may those who learn here, and those who teach, be ever true to those high ideals for which our brothers died. May the sons of this School be evermore a defence of the weak, and a buttress of every enterprise of honour, that they may justify this sacrifice of our beloved dead. " Give peace in our time, O Lord, if it be Thy will ; but give us righteousness, give us loyalty, give us courage, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Lament and Last Post.

From a distance came the plaintive notes of the lament, "The Flowers o' the Forest, played by Pipe-Major H. Eadie and Piper Adam, from the Gordon Highlanders' Dep6t, and Cecil A.G. Savidge, senior prefect, and Keith R. T. Matthew, entered the Hall bearing reverently a beautiful wreath. On a wide red, white, and blue ribbon were the words Caesorum comitum memores—" Mindful of our slain comrades." This tribute from the boys of the School was laid below the centre panel of the Memorial.

When the lament had died away, the " Last Post " was sounded by Drummer M`Grath, also from the Dep0t, and then the audience, led by the Orchestra, joined in the Paraphrase, " How bright these glorious spirits shine! " to the tune " St. Asaph."

The Rev. Dr. Hector pronounced the Benediction, and the pupils of the School saluted the Memorial as they left one by one, the pipers meanwhile playing that haunting tune " The Green Hills of Tyrone "—this march past of the boys with " eyes right " upon the Roll of Honour concluding, and being not the least touching part of a really beautiful ceremony.

The full list of those whose names are inscribed on the Memorial forms an Appendix of the " Roll of Pupils 1795-1919."

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It may be well to mention that the Memorial that has been erected in the Hall forms no part of the School War Memorial Scheme, which was instituted at a public meeting in December, 1918, and to which over £4,000 has been subscribed. This scheme provides for the erection of a Pavilion at Rubislaw Field, and for the completion of the " Roll of Pupils," including a record of the War services of all Former Pupils. The " Roll " is now being printed and will shortly be published. The plans for the Pavilion have been finally approved by the War Memorial Committee, and it is anticipated that building operations will be started in the course of the next few weeks.

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The School's Record in the War. With reference to the summary in the last issue of the Magazine of honours and decorations conferred on Former Pupils who served with His Majesty's Forces during the War, an unfortunate omission must be rectified. This was none other than the most outstanding honour conferred on a Grammar School boy—namely, the Victoria Cross won by the late Lieutenant Robert G. Combe, Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Infantry. Doubtless every reader of the Magazine at once " spotted" the omission, and charitably assumed that it had occurred through inadvertence. Aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus.

" Magazine" Cover Prize Competition.

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We have pleasure in announcing in this issue, as promised, the result of the Cover Competition. The number who sent in designs was rather disappointing, but it facilitated the work of the jury of experts, who had no difficulty in selecting the most meritorious, although they all agreed that even this design could be improved. When the sealed envelope which accompanied it was opened by the Secretary of the Club, the name of the designer was found to be JAMES HARRISON BALL (1909-17). He has been asked to alter his design in certain respects, and if it then meets with the approval of the Magazine Committee, it will be adopted in the November issue.

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*** It is requested that the Editor be informed of all new appointments and interesting Incidents in the careers of Former Pupils.

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The dates given in parentheses after names indicate the sessions of attendance at the School.

Robert Abbey* (1903-08), who is in the service of the Royal Bank of Canada, has been transferred from Hamilton, Ont., to Toronto.

David Adam* (1898-1904), who was formerly engaged in mining in the Transvaal, and served in the War as an officer in the Royal Engineers, has recently been appointed Lecturer in Mining at Glasgow University.

John Malton Adcock* (1901-11), A.M.Inst.C.E., engineering assistant, Borough Surveyor's Office, Tynemouth, was recently awarded a prize for an essay on " Should superelevation on road curves be advocated," which appeared in the Contractors' Record and Municipal Engineering.

Robert Whitelaw Allison* (1911-18), M.A., has been appointed Classical Master in the secondary school at Coatbridge. He was Classical Dux of the School in 1918, and graduated at Aberdeen University last year with first class honours in classics.

Alexander Smith Anderson* (1905-09) is now Resident Secretary in Aberdeen of the Standard Life Assurance Company.

Charles Alastair Aymer* (1913-15), M.B.; Ch.B., holds an appointment in the Royal Victoria and West Hants Hospital, Boscombe.

William Straton Bruce (1862-64), M.A., D.D., attained his jubilee as minister of the Parish of Banff on 6th March last.

The occasion—which must have been almost a unique one, because not only did Dr. Bruce celebrate his jubilee as a minister, but as minister of his first and only charge—was marked by a special gathering at which the Doctor was presented with a gold watch and chain. In the course of the presentation it was remarked that he must have preached something like 5,000 sermons during his ministry at Banff.

That Dr. Bruce is still mentally alert and keenly interested in all the modern developments of thought is proved by his * Indicates Member of Former Pupils' Club.

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having written a recently-published book entitled "The Psychology of Christian Life and Behaviour."

George Gordon Bulmer* (1910-16), M.A., was in 19211922 attached to the Non-Collegiate Delegacy, Oxford, and took his secondary teacher's training at the Oxford University Department for the Training of Teachers.

Alexander Cheyne (1903-09), M.A., who was minister of the United Free Church, Maryculter, Kincardineshire, from 1920, has recently been appointed minister of the West United Free Church, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire.

Douglas Gordon Cheyne* (1901-05), M.C., M.D., Captain, R.A.M.C., has returned to this country from Naini Tal, United Provinces, India, and is at present stationed in London.

Francis Fairhead Crichton* (1916-19) went out to India a year or two ago, and is now in the service of the Delta Jute Mills, Sankrail, Howrah District, near Calcutta.

John No Dawson* (1900-04), who entered the service of Messrs. Guthrie & Co., Ltd., East India merchants, in 1904, and was latterly stationed in Medan, Sumatra, has been transferred to Singapore.

Lucien Des Clayes* (1894-96), who joined the LondonRangoon Trading Company Ltd. in 1919, is at present home on furlough and returns to the East in the autumn, his station being in Java.

George Hunter Donald (1918) has been awarded a Lord Kitchener Scholarship of the annual value of £175 for four years at the University of Oxford.

William Duthie (1853-55) of Collynie, Aberdeenshire, the world-famous breeder of shorthorns, who died on 16th February last, left heritable and movable estate amounting to £266,568, on which £56,016 estate duty has been paid. „Arthur Dymock* (1887-95), Major, R.A.O.C., is at present stationed at the Army Ordnance Office, Valetta, Malta.

Robert Morrison Easton* (1894-1904), M.A., M.D., who retired from the Indian Medical Service in 1921 and has latterly been in medical practice in Kent, has recently left for Margherita, Upper Assam, where he has received an appointment as medical officer to a group of five tea gardens.

William Flett* (1896-1900), Superintendent of Claim Department, London and Lancashire Indemnity Company of America, is now stationed at Hartford, Conn., U.S.A., whither the administration office of the Company has been moved.

William Grenville Irvine-Fortescue* (1910-13), M.C. and Bar, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, has been appointed

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Adjutant of the 51st Highland Divisional Engineers, and will be stationed at Aberdeen for the next three years.

Frederic W. Galloway (1893-97), who served in the Indian Police from 1901 to 1922, has recently gone to Victoria, British Columbia.

Alistair Sim Garden* (1896-97), is now in practice at Southport, Lancs. He was for a number of years in medical practice at Colombo, Ceylon.

William Wallace Gauld* (1893-98), M.A., who served as a chaplain in the Army from 1915 to 1918, and was appointed minister of Langside Hill United Free Church, Glasgow, in 1920, was recently inducted to the charge of the New North United Free Church, Edinburgh, in succession to Rev. Dr. J. R. P. Sclater.

Robert Shirra Gibb (1863-64), M.B., having been for 50 years tenant of Boon, the largest farm on the Marquis of Tweeddale's estate, was recently honoured at Newton St. Boswells by Scottish agriculturists, in recognition of his valuable public services. The presentation took the form of an illuminated address together with a cheque for £200.

He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1872, and shortly afterwards leased the farm of Boon. For many years he was Medical Officer of Health for the county of Berwick.

William Robert Daniel Glennie* (1911-17) has passed Sections A and B of the examination for Associate Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Alexander Reid Gordon* (1884-88), M.A., D.Litt., D.D., Professor of Hebrew, McGill University, Montreal, is going back to the University of Chicago this summer as Visiting Professor in the Oriental Department. He acted in the same capacity in 1917.

William Ernest Gordon* (1913-17) left in November of last year for Northern Rhodesia to take up tobacco and cotton farming.

William Morton Grant* (1907-12), M.A., B.D., entered the Union Theological Seminary of New York as a " fellowship " student in September of last year, and a few weeks ago received the degree of Master of Theology summa cum laude.

Olaf Everard Gray* (1912-14), who served in the War as an officer in the Gordon Highlanders, and later in India with the Royal Scots Fusiliers, was recently married in Aberdeen and has left for Chicago.

Gerald Harper* (1891-1902), who prior to the War was engaged in tea planting in Assam, is now growing oranges for export at Karino, East Transvaal.

John Hay* (1913-19) on leaving the School entered the

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service of Messrs. Williamson, Balfour & Co., merchants and bankers, Valparaiso, and is now stationed in London.

Gordon Wallace Hunter* (1907-16), who went to sea for a career, recently passed as Second Mate, and is now Third Officer with the Welsford Steamship Co. on the s.s. " Indianola."

Robert Eric Hunter* (1907-13), after serving for four and a half years as a Private in the 51st Divisional Signals, qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist, and is now in Bombay, India, with the firm of Messrs. Parke, Davis & Co. Laurence Leslie Huss* (1909-18), having completed his apprenticeship with the Harbour Engineer, Aberdeen, has recently left to take up an appointment with the Sudan Plantations Syndicate, Ltd., Barakat, Egyptian Sudan. He has passed Section A of the examination for Associate Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

David Albert Hutcheson* (1882-94) is now resident medical officer of the Royal National Sanatorium, Bournemouth.

William John Sivewright Ingram* (1905-06), M.C., M.B., Captain, Indian Medical Service, was recently home on twelve months' leave and took a course at the School of Tropical Medicine, London, and at various hospitals. He left for India again in May. Alexander Johnstone* (1904-10), M.A., M.B., is now in the service of the Health Department of the County of Dumbarton.

Thomas Evans Jones* (1910-15), who served his apprenticeship as an engineer with Messrs. A. Hall & Co., Ltd., shipbuilders, Aberdeen, is now on the Kahuku Plantation, Kahuka, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands.

Harry Jackson Kinghorn* (1876-80) has recently retired from the command of the Royal Engineers of the 51st Highland Division, after almost 39 years' unbroken service as a Volunteer and a Territorial. He took the 2nd Highland Field Company to France in December, 1914 ; was severely wounded at Neuve Chapelle in March, 1915 ; and in the following year was promoted Lieut.-Colonel and appointed C.R.E. to the 64th Highland Division.

John Laird (1901-03) M.A., Professor of Logic and Metaphysics, Queen's University, Belfast, has been invited to deliver the Mill Lectures in the University of San Francisco.

Hamish Ogilvy McIntosh* (1910-14), after demobilization from the Army, went to U.S.A., and is now in the service of the New England Coal and Coke Co. in Boston, Mass. He studied accountancy and business law at Boston and Harvard Universities.

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John Moir McKenzie* (1905-08), M.A., M.B., Captain (Temp. Major), R.A.M.C., who was D.A.D.M.S., Wana Column, from April, 1921, to January, 1922, has recently been gazetted O.B.E. (Military. Division) for services rendered in the Field with the Waziristan Force. He served in the War with the Northumberland Fusiliers in France and was awarded the M.C. in June, 1916.

Alfred Scott Mackie* (1905- 09), M.B., after serving in the War as a Surgeon-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, received a medical appointment in Kenya Colony. He was recently home for some months and has now returned to East Africa.

John James Rickard Macleod* (1884-93), M.B., who was appointed Professor of Physiology in the University of Toronto in 1918, after being for 15 years professor of the same subject in the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., has been associated with the discovery of the new " Insulin " treatment for diabetes. Insulin is a preparation of an extract from the pancreas of oxen, sheep, or pigs, and was recently discovered during research work carried out in the laboratory of the Toronto University under the direction of Professor Macleod. He published a work on diabetes in 1913.

Alexander Adam McIntosh Nicol* (1915-17), who graduated M.B. last year, is House Surgeon at the East Suffolk and Ipsidich Hospital, Ipswich.

John Minto Robertson* (1894-1901), M.A., who has for fifteen years been Classical Master in Turriff Secondary School, was recently appointed Head Master of Kemnay Secondary School.

William George Robertson* (1884-90), M.A., B.D., in view of his retiral from the position of Principal of the Gujarat College, Ahmedabad, India, was admitted a minister of the Church of Scotland at the recent General Assembly.

Benjamin Theodore Saunders* (1896-1908), M.B., D.P.H., now holds a medical appointment in Bolton.

George Taylor Simpson* (1910-20) has gone to take up an appointment in the Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway at Ahmedabad. He says in a recent letter: " I have been plumped down in the centre of the Ghandi country —presumably on account of my peaceable nature, so that the Government of India will feel safe in the event of another rising."

John Manson Sleigh (1914-16) has passed the final examination in engineering and obtained the degree of B.Sc. at Glasgow University.

Charles William Sleigh* (1874-79), M.A. (father of the foregoing), who is Chairman of the Education Authority for

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the County of Aberdeen, was some months ago appointed Chairman of the Provincial Committee for the Training of Teachers at Aberdeen—one of the four Scottish Provincial Committees.

John Smith (1849-54), D.D., Pietermaritzburg, Natal, remarks in a recent letter that it is 69 years since he left the School, and that he is now on the list of ministers emeriti of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa.

Lawrence Gilling Smith* (1909-15) has passed Section B of the examination for Associate Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Arthur Percy Spark* (1905-11), M.B., is now in medical practice at Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent.

William Stephen (1863-65), M.A., B.D., has resigned his charge as minister of Garvock, Kincardineshire, where he has been for 45 years. • George Robert Wilson Stewart* (1906-13), who after the War went to Florida and engaged in fruit farming at Punta Gorda, is now resident at Morganton, North Carolina.

George Grant Thomson* (1910-12), who is in the service of the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, has recently been transferred from Peking to Manila, Philippine Islands.

George Wilson* (1864-69) has recently become a member of the F.P. Club, of whose existence he first became aware through seeing a paragraph about the Byron Banquet in one of the London newspapers. He joined the Mercantile Bank of India on leaving the School, and was sent out to Madras in 1873 as assistant accountant. He remained in the Bank's service till 1885, when he retired as manager at Shanghai.

Two years after his return to London, he joined the London Stock Exchange as stockbroker, and is now head of the firm of Wilson & Anderton, stockbrokers, 56 Moorgate.

Harry James Wilson* (1883-86) has recently been appointed H.M. Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories, Home Office, London. He was previously Superintending Inspector for Scotland and North Ireland.

At the Spring Graduation of Aberdeen University degrees were conferred on the following F.P.s :— Master of Arts (M.A.)— William Andrew Baxter* (1916-19), with First Class Honours in Classics and Distinction in Greek History.

Robert Francis Gordon MacCallum* (1910-17), with First Class Honours in Classics.

Robert Donald Strachan* (1912-19), with First Class Honours in Classics and Distinction in Greek History.

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William Begg Jack* (1913-19).

P A,

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)—

Francis Charles Kelly* (1905-14), with Special Distinction

in Zoology.

Charles Barron Bisset* (1909-18).

Walter Grieve Mackinnon (1905-08).

Charles M`Hardy Hunter Sutherland* (1908-14).

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Bachelor of Commerce (B. Corn.)—

William Ogilvie Fiddes* (1904-15).

Thomas Fotheringham (1903-06).

Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.)— Nenion Elliot* (1909-15), M.A. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)— Alexander Eric Bruce* (1902-15), M.A., with Distinction.

Norman James Wilson* (1905-15) M.A., with Distinction.

Thomas Patrick Edward Murray* (1907-18), M.A. Norman Sutherland Rose* (1907-16), M.A. Bachelor of Law (B.L.)—

Donald Arbuthnot Davidson* (1905-15).

Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.) and Bachelor of Surgery (Ch.B.)— )—

Alexander Swan Benzie* (1907-16).

Al Alexander Craig* (1910-13).

Herbert Anderson Eccles* (1905-13).

Robert Petrie Gammie* (1912-18).

Wallace John Gill (1911-17).

Richard Ogilvie Girdwood* (1907-15).

William Taylor Barron Joss* (1909-14), M.C. James Pickford Lillie* (1913-18).

Ian Wyness MacGregor* (1907-18).

Christopher Donald MacRae (1917-18).

Lawrence Don Robertson* (1915-16).

Frederick Roberts Sleigh* (1914-17).

Cecil Vivian Spark* (1914-16).

In the Faculty of Arts William Andrew Baxter shared

with another the Simpson Greek Prize of £65, and the Robbie Gold Medal ; Robert Donald Strachan was awarded the Dr. Black Prize in Latin of £28 ; and Robert Francis Gordon MacCallum was awarded the Liddel Prize for Greek Verse Composition.

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OBITUARY. Sir William Robertson Nicoll, C.H.

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It may well be a matter of pride with every F.P. and present pupil that our School had a share in shaping the life and developing the talents of a journalist as eminent as the late Sir William Robertson Nicoll, C.H., D.D., LL.D. It was no small feat for one man to found and direct a paper so widely read and so influential as the British Weekly, and thereby attain a position of power and, authority equalled by few in modern journalism ; and that is but one of the claims of Sir W. Robertson Nicoll on our admiration and respect.

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He was the remarkable son of a remarkable father, who, the minister of Auchindoir Free Church, Lumsden, remote from towns and universities, with a stipend that never amounted to £200 per annum, yet collected a library of 17,000 books.

This passion for books was inherited by his son. Sir J. M. Barrie writes of him in the memorial number of the British Weekly :—" Many will tell of his enormous home library, out of which it seemed to be his ambition to crowd even himself.

He never believed there was a sufficiency of books in that vast apartment ; he was, perhaps, the only man in the world who thought that more people should write books ; he considered that the next best thing to a good book was a bad book. He was so fond of books that I am sure he never saw a lonely one without wanting to pat it and give it sixpence.

I should say that he read thousands of them every year of his life, and as quickly as you and I may gather blackberries.

He had not the slightest interest in science, but would have been interested in it at last if it could have shown him how to treat his eyes so that he could read two books at once ; he grudged two eyes to one book." Nor did he collect books merely for the sake of collecting. His private library contained over 25,000 volumes ; yet he knew exactly where to find almost every volume in it, and on what page to look for a reference he required. " His memory," said the Times, " was preternatural."

The story of Sir William Robertson Nicoll's life is the record of an infinite capacity for taking pains continually employed, even when ill-health had apparently wrecked the career he had chosen for himself. For journalism was a second choice. When he came to the School in 1866 from the parish school at Auchindoir, he was bent on following his father's profession, the ministry. But even at the School his strong journalistic bent manifested itself ; he commenced contributing to the Aberdeen Journal to such good purpose that before he was out of his teens he was earning, by writing and private teaching, about £100 a year, and was able to relieve his father of all the burden of his education.

His time at the Grammar School was not long, as he early gained a University bursary. But it was long enough to enable him to form some friendships that had a deep and lasting influence on him, among his companions being Robert Neil, afterwards to rise to eminence at Cambridge in the study of Sanskrit. When he went to the University, it was an old Grammar School boy that, most of all his teachers, appealed to him, Professor Alexander Bain.

After a training in Divinity at the Free Church College, he was ordained, at the age of twenty-three, minister of the Free Church at Dufftown. Three years later he was called to Kelso. During his eight years' ministry there he worked

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hard and consistently at literary work, coming into touch for the first time with the firm of Hodder & Stoughton, with whom he was to be so long and so successfully connected.

For them he commenced editing The Expositor, and so was brought into touch with Anglican and Continental schools of thought.

Then came the illness which was to change the whole current of his life. His mother had died of consumption, and had bequeathed a share of her fatal heritage to her family.

The young minister was stricken down with typhoid, after which pneumonia set in. His doctors insisted that he should resign his charge, take a long rest from pulpit work, and remove to a milder climate. Such were the conditions that determined his real entry into journalism, which now became a profession instead of a recreation.

About this time Hodder & Stoughton had the idea of starting a religious weekly at a low price, a venture that was far from sure of success. William Robertson Nicoll was the man chosen to edit the new paper. The rest is journalistic history. Everyone knows how phenomenally the experiment has succeeded, what influence the paper has exerted, not only in the religious but in the political sphere. " More than one Prime Minister," says the Times of Robertson Nicoll, " is said to have solicited his counsel and respected his reproof."

It would be superfluous, too, to allude to the share that Robertson Nicoll's own articles had in the popularity of the paper. The articles he wrote under the pseudonym of " Claudius Clear" were awaited every week by thousands of readers, who found in them a source of comfort and help.

Perhaps his best gift was his unerring flair for talent, to which the reading world owes the discovery of more than one author now famous. His encouragement of Sir James Barrie in itself has earned him the gratitude of the Englishspeaking peoples.

Robertson Nicoll's influence was first, appropriately, recognized by his Alma Mater, which conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1890. A knighthood followed in 1909, during Mr. Asquith's premiership. After the War the University of Halifax honoured him with the degree of D.D., and St. Andrews with an LL.D. The most cherished distinction came last, the Companionship of Honour, which he received at Buckingham Palace in 1921. On his seventieth birthday his numerous friends entertained him to a complimentary dinner, at which the speech of the evening was made by the Prime Minister of the day, Mr. Lloyd George. That was his last public appearance. About a month before he died it was rumoured that he had resigned the editorship of the British Weekly, a rumour that was almost immediately contradicted. Rest and retirement had little attraction for

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such a man, and as long as bodily strength remained, he persisted in carrying out the duties which had become the breath of life to him. On the 4th of May he died. His funeral was attended by many of the most eminent men of the day, including Sir J. M. Barrie.

Another famous F.P., Sir Thomas Sutherland, once wrote of our School that it " taught young men from their earliest years to overcome difficulties." While it would be vainglorious to claim too much for the influence the School exerted on Sir William Robertson Nicoll, one would like to think that the time he spent in it helped to strengthen and encourage that infinite capacity for taking pains and love of hard work which raised him to the high position he occupied in after life, and that courageousness of spirit that saved him from being overwhelmed by the break which illness made in his career.

A portrait of Sir William, presented by ,Lady Robertson Nicoll, has just been hung in the School Hall.

Herbert Spencer's Biographer.

David Duncan* (1860-61), M.A., D.Sc., LL.D., late Director of Public Instruction, Madras, died at his residence, 14 Rubislaw Den North, Aberdeen, on 18th May, in his 84th year.

He had a notable career as an educationist in India, but probably he will be best remembered as the private secretary and biographer of Herbert Spencer, under whose direction he edited the four volumes of " Descriptive Sociology," dealing with uncivilized races. David Duncan was born in Aberdeen on 5th November, 1839. His father, a manufacturer, died when he was but a child, and he went to reside with relatives in the country, first near Banchory, and subsequently at Glasslaw, near Aberdour. He received his early education at Kennerty School, Banchory-Ternan, and later attended the Free Church School at New Aberdour, at that time under Mr. Adie. He next attended the Aberdeen Grammar School for a time, but in the autumn of 1861 went to Edinburgh, matriculating at the University, and also going to the Congregational Theological Hall, his intention being to enter the ministry of that communion. He studied there until 1866, when he came to Aberdeen University, and as a private student attended the classes (1866-67) of logic, natural history, chemistry, and physiology.

In 1867 Herbert Spencer felt the need of a helper to devote himself under superintendence to the gathering and grouping of data. He relates in his autobiography that Professor Masson recommended " a young Scotchman, Mr. David Duncan, well known to him and to Professor Bain, under whom he had studied. Qualms of conscience had obliged him to relinquish a clerical career, for which he had

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been intended, and he was seeking something to do." Spencer thought him too good for the place, and said so, but Duncan decided to accept, and was accordingly put through a course of " preliminary discipline." His reading to the philosopher brought on what the latter called " one of my serious relapses," but it is evident that Duncan proved of great service, for in 1869 Spencer writes in a private letter :— " Very unfortunately for me, though perhaps fortunately for himself, Mr. Duncan has been appointed Professor of Logic, etc., at Madras ; and leaves me for India some six weeks hence. It will be a very difficult thing for me to find anyone to undertake and carry on efficiently the work he has been doing in preparing classified and tabulated materials for ' The Principles of Sociology.' " Spencer also observes :— " He promised to go on with the work in India as fast as his professional duties allowed ; and he loyally fulfilled this promise—finishing the division he was engaged upon without further remuneration."

In India Dr. Duncan had a successful career, becoming successively Registrar and Fellow of Madras University, Principal of the Presidency College, Director of Public Instruction, Member of the Legislative Council, and ViceChancellor of the University. He retired from the service in 1899. He published " The Life and Letters of Herbert Spencer," and was one of the members of the trust which the philosopher created in his will for the publication of volumes by various writers on " Descriptive Sociology."

A son of Dr. Duncan, HERBERT SPENCER DUNCAN, M.A., was at the School from 1880 to 1883, and is now Principal of the Presidency College, Madras, in the Indian Educational Service.

An Intrepid Explorer.

Charles Michie* (1881-84), C.B.E., died at Glenmuick, Ballater, on 16th May, aged 54. He was a son of the late Mr. Charles Michie, librarian, Marischal College. Educated at the Grammar School, he served as a youth in the Aberdeen and Dundee offices of the Caledonian Insurance Company, afterwards joining the London headquarters of the National Bank of New Zealand. Proceeding to India, he obtained an appointment with the Agra Bank, and was transferred later to the Shanghai branch. While in China, Mr. Michie conducted several exploring expeditions, and on returning to India as a partner of the firm of Messrs. J. H. Thomas & Co., jute and gunny brokers, Calcutta, he travelled extensively on survey missions in the northern provinces. In the winter of 1901, Mr. Michie, unaccompanied, made a remarkable overland journey from Calcutta to England. He traversed altogether 7,896 miles, covering great distances on foot,

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horseback, and by sledge ; and at the request of the geographical authorities of India and Britain, the record of the journey was prepared in book form, the sections of his work dealing with the interiors of Persia and Russia revealing much new information concerning these countries. Going back to India, Mr. Michie continued exploration, and won distinction by a journey into Tibet, where he preceded Colonel Younghusband's armed mission of 1904. Fearless and an excellent shot, he won a considerable reputation as a tiger hunter. It was while on a big game expedition 14 years ago that he contracted a fever which led to his retirement from business, and his return to Scotland. On the outbreak of War he gave his services voluntarily in connection with the Aberdeen Branch of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, which subsequently was merged in the local War Pensions Committee. When the Ministry of Pensions was formed, Mr. Michie was asked to take charge of the administration in Scotland and the northern counties of England, and he prepared the organization of the area between Shetland and Newcastle. His splendid services, particularly in regard to the adjustment of the financial system of the Ministry's local committees, were rewarded with the honour of M.B.E., and in 1920 fuller recognition was made by his promotion to the Companionship of the Order. When the national work of organization had been sufficiently developed, Mr. Michie restricted his activities to local work in connection with the curative treatment of wounded soldiers, becoming joint secretary and afterwards chairman of the North of Scotland Joint Disablement Committee.

While in India, Mr. Michie formed considerable collections of natural history and antiquarian interest, which he gifted to Aberdeen University. He was conducting an important investigation into the genealogical histories of Aberdeenshire, and has left behind extensive records, which, when arranged, will add largely to the information available concerning the families of the north-east of Scotland in bygone days.

Charles Cameron (1887-91), M.B., C.M., died at Aberdeen on 23rd April, aged 49 years. He was the younger son of the late Mr. William Cameron, schoolmaster, Culsalmond, and graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1895. Two years later he started as a medical practitioner at Inverurie, where he built up a large practice. When the War broke out, he was mobilized as a Captain in the 1/2nd Highland Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), and in November, 1914, was promoted Temporary Major, and in March, 1916, Acting Lieut.-Colonel. He was in command of the 2/2nd Highland Field Ambulance to March, 1917, and Senior Medical Officer of the Seaforth. and Cameron Brigade from May, 1915, to

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March, 1917. Thereafter he served with the 22nd Field Ambulance, 7th Division, in France to November, 1917 ; with the 7th D.A.C. in Italy to September, 1918 ; and then in command of the 46th Motor Ambulance Convoy at Salonika.

After the Armistice he served at home till March, 1919. His son, CHARLES WILLIAM MORRISON CAMERON* (1916-18), iS at present studying medicine at Aberdeen University.

Paul Macphail Clark (1883-87) died at Peterhead on 26th March, aged 50 years. He entered the service of the Commercial Bank of Scotland, Ltd., Aberdeen, in 1888, and was latterly agent of this Bank in Peterhead.

Alexander G. Groundwater (1883-84) died at Stoneywood on 20th March, aged 53 years. He served as an apprentice engineer with Messrs. Alex. Pixie & Sons, Ltd., Stoneywood Works, Aberdeen, where he was appointed assistant engineer in 1892, and chief engineer in 1906. He was also latterly chief engineer of Messrs. Pixie's Photographic Paper Co. Ltd., Waterton Works, Bucksburn.

George Duncan Jamieson (1862-64) died at Lunugalla, Ceylon, on 17th March, aged 75 years. He went to Ceylon in 1866, and from that time, with the exception of two years spent in New Zealand, held appointments on various tea estates, being manager of the Glenlyon and Stair Estates from 1896 to 1909, when he retired.

Murdoch Macdonald (1883-85), M.A., died at Leeds on 17th March, aged 58 years. He was a son of the late Angus Macdonald, Montgarrie, Alford, and graduated M.A. with double first class honours—in Classics and in Mental Philosophy—at Aberdeen University in 1889. "A brilliant future," says a Leeds newspaper, " was foretold for him, but his life was ruined by overstudy. He became a licentiate of the United Free Church, but his mental instability was such that he had to give up his calling early in life, and for a great number of years he had been maintained by weekly allowances from relatives. He had apparently no gift for economical spending, and towards the end of the week was even in a starving condition. He was a keen student in theology and philosophy, and his single room, while bare of household furniture, was literally crammed with books of learning. By his death a picturesque and well-known figure in Leeds has been removed. He usually wore his hair very long, and donned a long frock coat of old-fashioned type, while an antiquated silk hat added to the singularity of his appearance. ' Accidental Death ' was the verdict returned at the inquest after his death. He was found dead, in the house where he had lived a recluse for twelve years, partly lying on the bed in the attic, with a large magnifying glass in his hand and a newspaper in front of him. It appeared

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as though he had been reading when he suddenly expired.

Medical evidence was given that he had neglected a cut in his thumb, and death was due to the poisoning which had set in."

Alexander McRae* (1893-97) died. at Tynemouth on 4th May, aged 42 years. He served as an apprentice engineer with Messrs. Hall, Russell & Co., Ltd., Aberdeen, and from 1902 was a naval architect in the Estimating and Designing Department of Messrs. Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne. In January, 1916, he became chief shipyard draughtsman of this company's Neptune Works.

He was appointed an M.B.E. in 1918 for his War service.

Alexander Leslie Routledge* (1862-67), M.A., died at Scarborough on 6th December last. After graduating in arts at Aberdeen University in 1871, he studied at Wadham College, Oxford, for three years, and was ordained a deacon of the Church of England in 1874, and priest in 1875. After holding several curacies, he was appointed Vicar of St. Mary's, Marshchapel, Lincs, in 1883, and resigned in 1905 on account of failing health. Latterly he lived at Scarborough, becoming paralysed and not able to get out. It is worthy of note that in the early days of the scheme for a " Roll of Pupils " of the Grammar School, Mr. Routledge sent towards it the handsome and very welcome donation of £50.

Thomas Alexander Skene (1862-68), M.D., died at Cove Bay, Kincardineshire, on 6th June, aged 73 years. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1875, and thereafter for about thirteen years was in medical practice in Stonehaven.

In 1888 he succeeded to the practice at Cove. " Webster of Manchuria."

James Webster (1867-69), D.D., Foreign Mission Secretary of the United Free Church of Scotland, died at Edinburgh on 4th June, aged 69 years. His death was quite unexpected, and occurred less than four weeks after he took part in the ceremony of unveiling the War Memorial in the School Hall.

At that time he appeared to be in good health. He was born at Mill of Auchintoul, Marnoch, in 1854, and after studying at the School, was for four years engaged with a chemist in Banff.

By the time he was 20 his interest in foreign mission work had become so keen that he decided to devote his life to that cause. He accordingly went through the arts course at Glasgow University from 1874 to 1878, and spent the following four years as a student at the Free Church College, Glasgow, and at New College, Edinburgh. In 1882 he was ordained a missionary of the United Presbyterian Church to Manchuria, North China, where he was a colleague of Dr. Dugald Christie. Although he encountered many difficulties and hardships, he won his way into the affection of the Chinese. During the Boxer rising

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he and his wife had to flee for their lives, but he was quickly back amongst the ruins reorganizing the work and rebuilding the missionary stations. He accompanied General Gaselee as interpreter to the China Expeditionary Force for the relief of Peking in 1900, and received the medal with clasp.

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 he organized relief for wounded and refugee Chinese, and was rewarded by the Chinese Government. In 1910 he was appointed Foreign Mission Secretary by the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland. His great energy, fervent spirit, and fiery eloquence soon made him a familiar and welcome figure at missionary meetings up and down the land, and it would be difficult to estimate the impetus he gave to the cause he had so much at heart. His last address was delivered at the recent General Assembly on Foreign Mission night, when he described, with his usual eloquence, the contrast between the Manchuria of to-day and of forty years ago. During the War he organized Y.M.C.A. work with the Chinese Labour Corps in France from November, 1917, to April, 1920, receiving from the Chinese Government the 4th Order of the " Striped Tiger." He received the D.D. degree of Glasgow University in 1920.

One who knew Dr. Webster intimately writes :—James Webster was a man of singularly strong individuality. He was like no one else, but he was always himself—open, hearty, winsome in all his ways. In the Mission Field he showed at once the heroic courage of the soldier and the consummate judgment of the statesman. He faced the greatest dangers during the time of the Boxer persecution in China, and he took a leading part in the Red Cross work during the Russo-Japanese war. In France, during the recent War, he exercised an incomparably fine influence over the many Chinese coolies.

His knowledge of the language made him simply indispensable to the British officers. In his work at home he was known as " the Missionary Orator " of his Church, and his fervid eloquence and passionate zeal made everywhere the deepest impression. It has been finely said of him that " he was a man in a thousand,—uniting in a wonderful way the ripeness of experience, the judgment of one born wise, the hot enthusiasm of the missionary whose soul is afire, and, with it all, the glorious heart of a boy, that was his all through, and that won him the love of so many hearts."

Marriages.

Adams (1911-12).--At Glasgow, on 27th March, GEORGE NAPIER ADAMS to Kitty Bell, eldest daughter of Norman Maclver, Stornoway.

Gray (1912-14).—At St. George's-in-the-West Parish Church, Aberdeen, on 5th April, OLAF EVERARD GRAY,* Captain, late Gordon Highlanders, elder son of the late Lt.-Col. William Henry Gray, I.M.S., and Mrs. Gray, 341 Great Western Road, Aberdeen, to Margaret (Daisy), only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Smith, 167 Victoria Road, Aberdeen.

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Ingram (1905-06).—At Greenbank U.F. Church, Edinburgh, on 28th April, Captain WILLIAM J. S. INGRAM,* M.C. and Bar, M.B., Ch.B., Indian Medical Service, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Ingram, London, late of Aberdeen, to Elizabeth Simpson (Betty), elder daughter of the late Mr. John S. Wilson, steam tug owner and dredging contractor, Bo'ness.

Lee (1884-90).—At Stretford, Manchester, on 7th April, ALEXANDER E. LEE,* son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Lee, Aberdeen, to Eileen, second daughter of the late Charles Frederick and Mrs. Harbourn, kUnnston, near Manchester.

Smith, (1909-15).—At Rosemount Parish Church, Aberdeen, on 23rd April, LAWRENCE GILLING SMITH,* youngest son of the late Charles Smith, solicitor, Aberdeen, to Lily Russell, youngest daughter of the late Captain George G. Gordon, 41 View Terrace, Aberdeen.

Taylor (1900- 04).-At St. Mary's Church, Higher Crumpsall, on 25th April, WILLIAM TAYLOR, M.C., M.B., Ch.B., second son of the late William Taylor, Cairnfechil, Udny, and Mrs. Taylor, Burns Road, Aberdeen, to Doris Alexandra, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Smith, Heath Bank, Park Road, Higher Crumpsall, Manchester.

The Editor was surprised and delighted to receive from one of the forementioned F.P.s not only an intimation of his marriage, but a sample of the wedding cake. 0 si sic omnes !

" The Oldest School."

Under this heading there appeared in the Morning Post of 1st May last a column-long article " by an old pupil" apropos of the Byron Banquet in London. As it is probable that only a few readers of the Magazine have seen the article, we quote the opening paragraphs :— The oldest school in the Empire is about to honour the memory of its most distinguished pupil, who died just under a hundred years ago. Here, in a sentence, are three ascertainable historical facts ; but of the readers of the Morning Post, how many would deduce therefrom that this ancient school was the Grammar School of Aberdeen, and that the pupil was a London-born boy, to wit Lord Byron. The centenary of Byron's death falls on 19th April, 1924 ; and Dr. Pittendrigh Macgillivray's bronze statue of the poet, which (as a project) has been in incubation for nearly twenty years, will be unveiled in the School grounds this month.

THE SCHOOL'S ANTIQUITY. The history of the Grammar School goes back nearly seven centuries, though unfortunately there are no hoary buildings to attest its great age.

In my day, before publicity became one of the fine arts, the School Prospectus was content baldly to state that in the Register of the Abbey of Arbroath, under date 1262, one Thomas de Bennum was designated Rector Scholarum de Aberdene, and that the succession of Rectors since 1479 was known.

But when the School was presented the other day with a portrait in oils of Mr. W. K. Leask, that patriotic veteran, who has done more to foster pietas for his School and University than any other man dead or alive, boldly claimed for it (and he always verifies his references) that it was the most ancient School in the British Dominions. The rival pretensions of Ayr Academy, of St. Peter's School, York, and of King's College, Canterbury, had been examined and found wanting. Merton College, Oxford, England's most ancient educational institution, was founded in 1274, and Winchester, England's oldest school, dated from 1387. But the Grammar School of Aberdeen had a practically unbroken record from 1256.

The writer went on to deal with Byron's youthful sojourn in Aberdeen and on Deeside, concluding with the following :— The London Section of the School's Former Pupils' Club, mindful of the

fact that Byron was a Londoner before he was an Aberdonian, forestalled the unveiling of the monument by a Byron Banquet last week. Lord Meston, the School's most distinguished Old Boy now living, and the first since Byron to become a Peer of the Realm, presided, and Mr. John Murray, Byron's publisher, was one of the speakers.

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Byron Banquet in London.

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" To celebrate the [approaching] Unveiling of a Statue of Lord Byron in the Grounds of the School" the London Section of the Former Pupils' Club entertained a large and distinguished company at a banquet in the Hotel Cecil on the evening of Wednesday, 25th April. The President of the Section, the Right Hon. Lord Meston, K.C.S.I., LL.D., was in the chair, and accompanying him at the top table were the Right Hon. The Earl and Countess of Haddo, The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Cook, G.C.M.G., and Lady Cook ; The Right Hon. Lord Alness, The Right Hon. Sir Henry Craik, Sir W. Watson Cheyne, Bart. ; Sir John and Lady Collie, Lt.-Col. Sir David Frain, F.R.S. ; Mr. John Murray, C.V.O. ; Lt.-Col. John Murray, D.S.O. ; Professor A. F. Murison, Professor James C. Philip, F.R.S., and Mrs. Philip ; Dr. and Mrs. J. Malcolm Bulloch, Mr. Douglas G. Miller, Rector of the School; Mr. Walter A. Reid, Chairman of the Byron Statue Committee ; and Mr. Theodore Watt, Secretary of the Former Pupils' Club.

Others present were :— Mr. and Mrs. David Adam, Mr. and Mrs. T. D. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bruce, Dr. Frank Collie, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Croxford, Col. George Cruden, Major and Mrs. J. W. Fraser Cruden, Mr. T. W. Davidson, Mr. J. S. B. Davidson, Mrs. Drummond-Hay, Mr. J. Murray Easton, Dr. R. M. Easton, Mr. J. Ross Esson, Mr. and Mrs. G. Topham Forrest, Mr. and Mrs. A. Brodie Fraser, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Garland, Lt.-Col. Sir Walter and Lady Gibbons, Dr. James Gilchrist, Dr. A. Hill Griffith, Mr. F. Griffith, Dr. Peter Harper, Mr. A. S. Hector, Mr. and Mrs. William Hutcheon, Dr. Peter R. Ingram, Major and Mrs. R. Lloyd George, Mr. David Macbeth, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Mackintosh, Mr. Frederick Martin, M.P. ; Mr. James McBey, Dr. Duncan McCombie, Dr. J. Glanville Milne, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Milne, Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Morton, Brig.-General Magnus Mowat, Dr. and Mrs. J. R. Murray, Dr. A. S. Niven, Mr. H. L. Pixie, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Pixie, Dr. and Mrs. J. Burnett Rae, Miss B. M. Rae, Mr. and Mrs. D. Bruce Rae, Mr. J. O. Rae, Mr. A. F. Rae, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Reid, Miss Ethel Reid, Major Charles Reid, D.S.O. ; Miss Gertrude Rennie, Miss Rennet, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ronald, Mr. J. A. Robson, Dr. A. J. Shinnie, Colonel and Mrs. William Sinclair, Mr. and Mrs. J. Cruickshank Smith, Mr. G. Thow Smith, Mr. Leonard J. Smith, Dr. and Mrs. G. Cardno Still, Dr. Ian S. Thomson, Dr. and Mrs. A. Landsborough Thomson, Dr. G. Thomson, Mr. A. Turreff, Dr. J. S. Walker, Mr. J. H. Wallace, Sir Logie and Lady Watson, Mr. and Mrs. George Watson, Mr. G. I. Watson, Mr. H. J. Wilson, Mr. T. J. Wilson, Secretary of the London Section of the Club, and Mrs. Wilson.

Among those from whom apologies for absence were received were :— Guests : The Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, Sir James M. Barrie, Bart., O.M. ; Mr. Hilaire Belloc, Sir Robert Blair, Viscount Bury, Lord Byron, Lord William Cecil, Mr. G. K. Chesterton, Lord Ernie, Sir Eric Geddes, The Marquess of Huntly, Sir Arthur Keith, F.R.S. •' Sir Edwin Lutyens, R.A. ; Lord Riddell, Mr. Paul Waterhouse, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Members of the Club: Dr. J. Mitchell Bruce, C.V.O. • Sir George S. Gibb, Mr. Howard A. Gray, Mr. G. H. Mair, C.M.G. ; Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, F.R.S. ; Sir Francis Grant Ogilvie, Sir James Reid, Bart. ; Dr. T. Irvine, Rowell, C.M.G. ; and Colonel D. Wardrop, C.B..

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Dinner was served in accordance with the following MENU. Natives Hors d' fEuvres Fantaisis Consommé Riche Mimosa Veloute Margotin Dame de Saumon Mousseline Salade de Concombres Selle d'Agneau de Lait Modeme Haricots Verts Fins de Paris Pommes Nouvelles a la Menthe Haggis Sorbet au Champagne Poularde de Surrey Souvaroff Coeur de Laitues a la Creme Peches Glacee Georgette Douceurs Cafe

THE TOAST LIST. After the President had proposed the toast of " The King," and supplemented this with " The Duke of York and his Bride " (on the eve of whose wedding the Banquet was held), Mr. John Murray, C.V.O., publisher, London, proposed the chief toast of the evening " The Memory of Byron," and spoke particularly on The Popularity of Byron.

Mr. Murray said :—" It is now 60 years since I first set foot in Aberdeen, and hardly a year has passed that I have not spent some time in the county. I owe it a debt of gratitude, for it was a lady from Aberdeenshire who consented to share my fortunes in life—a member of one of your best-known and oldest families—the Leslies of Warthill—and she is connected through both her father and mother with the Gordons and the Byrons. " I am not an Aberdonian by birthright, but I am at least one by adoption and grace, and my son, Colonel Murray, has a further claim, because when the war broke out in 1914 he was Major in command of the squadron of Scottish Horse which assembled at Kintore, and after five years of service he became Lieut.-Colonel of the Regiment. " You know that my grandfather and father were devoted admirers of Byron, and always made it their purpose in life to bring forward his great qualities as a poet and to dwell less on his domestic affairs ; but in 1869 Mrs. Beecher Stowe exploded a bomb-shell, or rather a poison-gas bomb, with her scandalous story of Lord Byron. All of us must regret that

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Byron's own grandson took up the matter in the way he did.

I am sure we all agree in feeling the greatest respect for Lord Lovelace's object in defending his grandmother, but that respect does not extend to the manner in which he chose to carry out that defence. In order to whitewash his grandmother he chose to blackwash his grandfather. I venture to think he was mistaken in believing that the public had any bitter feeling against Lady Byron, for, so far as I can judge, the public cared but little about her except that she was the ill-mated wife of the poet, and we cannot but pity her. I think Lord Lovelace was also mistaken in his estimate of Byron's popularity. I venture to think that I am in a much better position to judge of that. I live in the house which he frequented more than a hundred years ago, and not a year passes without some scores of people, many of them complete strangers, asking permission to see the Byron relics which have accumulated in my house. Englishmen, Americans, Germans, Frenchmen, and Greeks came almost every month before the War, and displayed a knowledge of Byron which was astonishing. I have had German professors spending hours inspecting the manuscripts. Scarcely a week passes without letters from Americans who take the keenest and most intelligent interest in all that concerns Byron. Only a few days ago one wrote that in fifteen States in the Union there were towns named after Byron. I do not think that even Shakespeare could beat that record. April 19th next year will be the centenary of Byron's death. Already I have had many letters from Americans asking what is to be done to celebrate the centenary. Byron's old house in St. James's Street has been pulled down, and a correspondence has been going on in The Times on the proposal that the tablet on it should be placed on another house and not lost. " Byron's best friends cannot defend all his private life, but I would ask you to consider both his opportunities and his temptations. His childhood was spent in the sole company of his mother. She was a woman of the most violent passions, with alternating paroxysms of rage and affection.

The boy was keenly sensitive, and his mother would taunt him with being a lame brat. On both sides he was inspired with an intense pride of race, and his mother thought the Gordons were much better than the Byrons. His genius and his passions were abnormal. Later he was suddenly thrown into the midst of London society at a time when it was probably more dissolute than ever since the reign of Charles II, and he was endowed with a fascination which was almost diabolical in its power. He was the idol of his day. ' Let him who is without sin amongst us cast the first stone ' at Byron. " You will find that Byron chose his companion from

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among men who were celebrated for their ability, but not of noble stock. There was Hobhouse, Scrope-Davies, C. S. Matthews, "Monk" Lewis, Moore, Hodgson, Harness, and Gifford. His popularity did not die with him. Whenever a question concerning Byron crops up in the newspapers, it is taken up with interest by a number of people. Fifty years ago Browning, in " Fifine at the Fair," made a most discreditable attack on Byron for his bad grammar in one of the Cantos of " Childe Harold." Byron wrote :— "And dashest him again to earth :—there let him lay."

The passage has been much discussed, but never fullyexplained.

In looking through my papers about a year ago, I came across a letter from Byron in which he replied to expostulations on the error. He wrote: ` I know, but idleness and illness and the post ! ! ' " Byron excelled in romantic, lyric, satirical, and comic poetry. ' Don Juan ' was a thing by itself—a tour de force in the English language. Byron has produced in all branches of poetic literature something which will live for ever. " I wish to call very special attention to his amazing power as a letter-writer. I was talking to a most distinguished man of letters who told me that he had been reading again Byron's letters, and he said : ' With the possible exception of Charles Lamb, I regard him as the finest letter-writer in the English language.' The best letters he ever wrote were to my grandfather, because he was conscious when writing them that they would be handed about amongst the literary celebrities of the day. Byron had occasional squabbles with my grandfather, as with all his friends, and on one occasion he called him that ' rugged rhinoceros, Murray' but his general attitude towards him was one of genuine friendship. One cannot read his letters without seeing that in the latter years he had become utterly weary of his mode of life, and was earnestly seeking for some means of being of use to the world. The object he selected was Greece, and you all know the end, how he sacrificed himself to ungrateful people, who were using his money but could not combine to support his efforts. " You know that, amongst other things, he said that the Aberdeen Grammar School did not teach him writing, but spoilt it. It is something to know that in Aberdeen the reputation of Byron still survives. You, gentlemen, are preparing to erect a monument to the poet's memory. No doubt you are well acquainted with the saying—' Tak' awa' Aiberdeen an' twal' mile roun', and whaur are ye ? ' (Laughter.)

Aberdeen is the hub, the centre of the world ; and what Aberdeen does to-day, the rest of the world is sure to do before long." (Loud cheers.)

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Byron as a Scot.

Dr. John Malcolm Bulloch, in supporting the toast of " The Memory of Byron," said :— " Fascinated as I always am by the continuities of history— and it is just such a continuity which is the very basis of this Club, linking it up with the Grammar School of 1256-I have listened with intense interest to Mr. John Murray, for in his presence I feel almost face to face with Byron himself. Not only did Mr. Murray's grandfather publish Byron, but his father actually knew him, and Mr. Murray himself was cradled and has been brought up in the atmosphere of the Byron tradition—one of the greatest of our literary sagas—and still lives in the house in Albemarle Street which Byron so often visited. Mr. Murray, moreover, has not only published Byron himself, but he has written of him with inherited knowledge and acquired insight. I cannot hope to equal Mr. Murray as an authority on Byron. I shall content myself with the Scots aspect of Byron. " In the restless thoroughfare which Sir Philip Gibbs has fitly called the Street of Adventure, you perhaps have seen a curious castellated Scots building, designed by the late Sir John Tollemache-Sinclair, and dedicated to the ' Pilgrim of Eternity.' Sir John was a very curious man, but he was on the right track when he commemorated Byron in the architecture of the Scot. " Byron, as you all know, was half a Scot by birth. That, for some unexplained ethnographic reason, frequently makes a man or woman of English nationality more Scots than a fullblown Scot. I think, at any rate, that it was this strain in him which put him out of the current of the real English tradition, and gave him a place in the literature of Europe, so that the Continent probably esteems him more to-day than his own countrymen do, thereby corroborating the recent theory of Baron Friedrich von Hugel, that the Scot has what he calls ' the European mind.' " To casual observers who think of the Scot and the ' bangwent-saxpence ' view of him in the same breath, it may be difficult to associate what has come to be called the Byronic, that is something dashing and daring, with the traditional canniness of the Scot. As a matter of actual fact, the Scot, being devoid of that spirit of compromise which is the hallmark of the Englishman, can be very canny, or very enterprising and reckless. It was a Scot who floated the mad Darien scheme, and another created the South Sea Bubble.

The daring of the Scot, indeed, has taken him to every corner of the earth. " Now, Byron's Scotsness was much stronger than the mere fact of his having a Scots mother, and partly a Scots education.

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His mother was a Gordon, and she literally carried out the tradition which tells us that the Gordons ' had the guidin' o't,' for the boy really knew no other parent but her very domineering self. Moreover, she belonged to a very Gordonesque brand of Gordons, the Gordons of Gight, who mixed the gayness of the race with a recklessness unexampled in any branch of that vast house. " The Gight Gordons from first to last were ken-speckle in a countryside which expected anything of a Gordon. This statement is not based on tradition. Exactly twenty years ago, largely under the impulse of the Byron Statue proposal, which brings us here to-night, I published a minute documented account of the Gight Gordons, largely based on the records of the Privy Council of Scotland, which constantly had members of the family before them to answer for endless brigand-like escapades. These extended to the Continent itself, for it was one of this family who helped to change the face of Central Europe by assassinating Wallenstein at Eger in 1634. The barest summary of the Gight Gordons is amazing. " The first laird, Sir William Gordon, who was a son of the second Earl of Huntly, and came into the estate in 1489, fell at Flodden. Two of his sons were killed at Pinkie, and one was murdered. Seven grandsons and seven great-grandsons met violent deaths. The catalogue of casualties, in fact, was so catastrophic that by the beginning of the eighteenth century the males had all died out, and the line ended in a woman. This heiress married a Mr. Davidson, who came of a line of douce lawyers, but the Gordon strain was so dominant that her son and her grandson, who succeeded her in turn, were both drowned, probably by suicide, and the line was once more reduced to a woman, the dumpy damsel who married the handsome Jack Byron. That was the end of it all, for she had to sell her beautiful little estate to pay his debts. Even then the tragedy attaching to the lands of Gight asserted itself in fulfilment of a supposed prophecy by Thomas the Rhymer, for the new laird, Lord Haddo, was thrown from his horse on the Green of Gight, leaving the succession to his son the great Earl of Aberdeen, whom Byron immortalized as the ' travelled Thane, Athenian Aberdeen.' " It is a lurid story, but Mrs. Byron was intensely proud of her race. Byron once wrote : ' My mother was as haughty as Lucifer, with her descent from the Stuarts and her line from the old Gordons. She told me the story, always reminding me how superior her Gordons were to the southern Byrons, notwithstanding a Norman and always a masculine descent.' " Byron's Scotsness did not end, however, with his blood ; it bore also on his breeding, for he spent eight of his first ten years continuously in Aberdeen and the North with his mother, who took the little lame boy to Bon-Accord after her

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husband left her. The boy, sensitive and emotional, was all eyes and ears, and the town and its environment made a deep impression on him ; and, equally, he affected the people of the North, which still echoes with strange and wonderful stories about him. He got a good grounding in Scots schooling, first at a mixed school kept by one ' Bodsy ' Bower, and then at the Grammar School, which he attended for over three years—he remembered long after that it was called the " squeel "—and it always remembers him as the greatest pupil. .That was a great day in the history of the School when the Rector read out his name, on his succeeding to his uncle's peerage, as ' Georgi Domine de Byron.' The boy could not pipe his usual ' adsum.' He burst into tears and ran out.

"Then there was the dear old Brig o' Balgownie, across which he used to put his pony to the gallop, fearful that it might fall, as Thomas the Rhymer had once prophesied, under the weight of a ' wife's ae son and a mear's ae foal.'

There was the little summer cottage* in the Stocket Road, and in summer time Ballaterich and Morven and Dark Lochnagar and all the marvellous countryside. If it can move us, how much more it must have acted on a poetic nature like Byron's, its beauty evoking the beauty that was within him. " Althouglihe was only a boy of ten when he left Aberdeen —never to see it again—tradition has laboriously suggested that he was even then a Don Juan, having affairs with three damsels—Lexy Campbell, Woodside ; Mary Duff, and May Robertson. " Byron's experience of Scotland did not end when he left Aberdeen, for he spent two years in a school at Dulwich kept by an Aberdonian, Dr. Glennie, though he afterwards called it a ' damned place.' When he went to Harrow he had as a contemporary Charles Gordon, son of the Laird of Abergeldie, another fellow pupil being Sir George Sinclair of Ulbster, father of the old gentleman who medallioned London with the ' Pilgrim of Eternity.' " His mother played a great part in his life to the day of her death in 1811. But that did not end the Scots influence on Byron, for when he came to London—that London which but a few years before had been thrilled by Lord George Gordon, the Rioter—George Gordon Lord Byron found a Scots publisher in the person of John Murray the second, the grandfather of John Murray the fourth, who has most appropriately been chosen to record the memory of Byron to-night. It is all in the line of delightful continuities that Mr. Murray's son, Colonel John Murray, who, too, is with us here to-night, is also descended from the great House of Gordon, though for • For views of this cottage—Honeybrae—and descriptive article, see the

Magazine, Vol. XIX, No. 3 (June, I916).—Ed. A.G.S.M.

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his own peace of mind I am able to assure him that it is not through the wild Gight line.

"There is no denying the fact, however, that the Scots reviewers got badly on Byron's jangled nerves, but his attack on the " oat-fed phalanx only proved that nobody can be so hard on a Scot as another Scot. " I should like to think Byron's passion for Greece was fired by one of the heroes of that country—General Thomas Gordon of Buthlaw and Cairness, who was born in the same year as Byron, and not so far from Gight. But the two men never encountered one another, though they were both in Greece at the same time. " The association of Byron with the Silver City by the Sea, while based on actual fact, has snowballed itself into a great saga. Indeed, I often feel that Byron, like Dr. Johnson, has become a saga in himself even more than as the singer of other people's sagas. To the making of that saga I think the tradition of the Gay Gordons, with their tense sense of drama, exhibited in our own time in such figures as Chinese Gordon and Adam Lindsay Gordon, contributed quite as much as the blood of the Byrons, incalculable as it was. But either as a saga or a saga-singer, we who live in the shadow of his fellow-pupilship at our ancient Grammar School know that the ' Pilgrim of Eternity ' is immortal." (Loud cheers.)

The tcast was pledged with enthusiasm. " The School."

Of Lord Meston's speech in proposing the toast of " The School" only a brief report appeared in the newspapers, and it has been found impossible to supplement it. This is regrettable, for the speech was a singularly fine one. Lord Meston began by voicing the regret of the Committee that the present Lord Byron was unable to attend the banquet, but he had sent a most cordial message. After referring to one or two other matters, Lord Meston went on to say that when the School was founded, certainly not later than the first half of the 13th century, Scotland was engaged in a life-and-death struggle on her own soil with Norway. England's King was sulkily accepting the Magna Charta, France was engaged in the most disastrous of the Crusades, the Moors were still in Spain, and Constantinople was still occupied by the Romans. It was a few douce burghers of Aberdeen who got together and started the School, and it has been passed on from generation to generation from that time to this. (Applause.)

There were others present, however, who perhaps were more fitted to speak of the School. There was Professor Munson, and they were glad of the honours that had fallen so thickly upon him. Then there was Mr. Theodore Watt,

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who was doing yeoman service in organizing the Club, and had undertaken the difficult task of compiling and publishing the School Record. (Applause.) There was also Mr. Topham Forrest, the second Christopher Wren of London— (laughter and applause)—but there was one who had a special claim upon them, Mr. Miller, the Rector. (Applause.) He had shown during his occupancy of the throne that he was determined that the School would not cease to add lustre to its reputation. " May he sometimes think," concluded Lord Meston, " that he has behind him the support of all Former Pupils." (Applause.)

The Rector's Reply.

The Rector, in reply, said that he felt it an honour at all times to reply to the toast of " The Grammar School," but particularly so in the company of that evening. Lord Meston had referred to the antiquity of the School. Mr. Miller said that he would ask them to picture him standing every morning in the School Hall with a panel in front of him recording the names of Rectors back to Thomas de Bennum in 1262, and they would appreciate the sense of responsibility which attached to his office.

When he was a boy his geography lesson consisted in learning the names of the various products which the towns offered. He did not remember what products were associated with Aberdeen, but he supposed they were fish and granite.

Two years in Aberdeen, however, had convinced him that the chief export of Aberdeen was not fish or granite, but brains. He thought he could say, without wishing to flatter the company, that they had only to look around England and the Empire to see the truth of that. In that respect Aberdeen was doing a work out of all proportion to its size.

Now the development of brains was the business of the schools, and in the school world of Aberdeen the Grammar School held beyond challenge a vital place.

The School flourished. There were close on 900 boys within its walls. The old tradition of hard work was, he said, still being maintained. Not that all the boys worked hard. He had not yet come across a school where that was the case ; when he did, he was sure he would wake up and find that it was a dream. But there was a keen edge to the work that was being done in the School ; hard work was the key-note, and the record of success and distinction was being continued.

At the last degree examinations at Aberdeen University three out of the five candidates who gained first class honours in Classics were Grammar School boys. He did not, however, consider that a school was in any way doing its duty if it confined its efforts to the class-room. What they had done during the last 30 years, and still were doing at the Grammar School, was

•

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to develop the corporate life of the community. For this purpose they had instituted Prefects, had divided the School into " Houses," and had encouraged a large variety of clubs —athletic, literary, musical, and social. They must remember that in the old days, before the establishment of industrialism, the home was the centre of work and industry, and it was there that the boy received his real schooling in character.

Under modern industrial conditions, the time and opportunities of the home had inevitably become limited, and at its worst it could be a mere family meeting-place. Society looked to the school to supply the deficiency, and at the Grammar School they were making use of the whole machinery of that corporate government which had hitherto been associated with the boarding school. In doing so, they had this advantage over the boarding school, that they were free from the unnatural monastic' conditions which that type of school had to face.

His final word would be one of strong, reasoned confidence in the future of the School. They had just recently had a series of concerts and a sale to find the balance necessary for the Byron Statue Fund. Without exception everybody had worked with enthusiasm and determination : all had contributed according to their means. Apart from the financial success of the undertaking and the achievement of their object, to him the most inspiring feature had been that for two days all had worked intensively without friction for the honour of the School. They were proud of its present position ; they were sure of its future. " Our Own Beloved School."

(By One of the London Section.)

To whom should one ascribe the glories of the great School Dinner at the Hotel Cecil—to Byron's immortal memory or to Topham Forrest's monumental activity? We of the London Section have had Dinners that have been more reminiscently vital to F.P.s, for, after all, not even the oldest of us can go back to anything approaching Byron's days.

Our monthly gatherings in the Dickens Room at Carr's in the Strand are homely and informal ; and once our pipes have got going easily, and, under the sunny influence of our President, Lord Meston, we have shed our Aberdonian veneer of reserve, we love to talk of Sleigh, of Pope, and of Legge and others who were the terror or the idols of our day, and usually we discover an old friend or a School contemporary among the newcomers.

But this was really a historic Dinner, and the Front Bench was the most impressive that London has yet seen.

The completion of the Byron Memorial (which has hung over

THE BYRON BANQUET IN THE HOTEL CECIL, LONDON, 25TH APRIL 1923.

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us like a phantom shadow for a score of years) was admittedly a School occasion for worthy celebration, and Forrest rose to it and brought together a wonderful reunion of Old Boys.

How Robertson Nicoll, had he been able to be present, would have revelled in the occasion ! Forrest wisely concentrated on the Top Table, and it was a happy inspiration that led to the choice of Mr. John Murray as the chief orator. For, in addition to being Byron's publisher, Mr. Murray is, as he said and as everyone who knows him is aware, an Aberdeenshire man "by adoption and grace." In spite of his English associations he is at heart one of us, and I am sure that no one is more sorry than he that he has not the added distinction of being himself an F.P. His defence of Byron was declaimed with much spirit, and the Byroniana which he produced for the inspection of the diners were wonderfully interesting. I think, though I may have misheard him, that he poked fun at the School by suggesting that its teaching may have been responsible for the faultiness of Byron's " There let him lay " ; but it is good to learn that the poet knew his grammar better than he wrote it.

Bulloch, too, was excellent among the ghosts of his favourite Gordons—witty, and full of assertive challenge. His grim history of the Gordons of Gight might well be expanded into a fascinating volume. Mr. James McBey, who was one of the guests, caught in a lightning caricature a characteristic attitude of Bulloch's, with arm extended and declamatory gesture, laying down the law to Mr. Murray.

Of the others, there was Lord Meston, who spoke of " our own beloved School " with the sincerity and grace that are characteristic of the man, and with a feeling that plumbs the grip the Grammar has upon its sons ; and there was Mr. Douglas Miller, debonair and amazingly youthful to be the latest of the long and distinguished line of Rectors that has ornamented the centuries, who brought us happily back from the days of our grandfathers to the cheerier days of our grandsons. It was all very stimulating, this gathering of Former Pupils of the old School, of all ages, clustered in groups of half-a-dozen or so round the many brilliantly decorated tables of the Hotel Cecil. And surveying all, from behind a big pipe among the demigods of the Top Table, there beamed the appreciatively genial visage of Professor Munson, probably the last survivor of the teachers of the past who helped to make the School stand for what it means to us to-day.

For a very special reason I was personally but an indifferent listener-in to the oratory ; and as the explanation may not be irrelevant, I will give it. Through the Magazine I learned that a member of my class had long been resident in London. By telephone I sounded him as to his desire to

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renew the memories of bygone days. God forgive him, he had never seen a copy of the Magazine, nor was he a member of the Club ; but he willingly agreed to be assigned to my table on the evening of the Dinner. When the party filed in to the tables we met for the first time for forty years. For a moment we regarded each other doubtfully. Then I saw the shy, boyish, well-remembered smile break forth, and the remainder of the evening passed all too swiftly.

And here is the moral. The Club represents the Grammar's great family ; the Magazine (I take off my hat to its Editor) is the most effective link ever forged to bind that family together.

As we grow older we grow more and more absorbed in our own associations and in our own interests. But deep down in the soul of all worthy sons of " our own beloved School " are strings ready to vibrate to the influences, the friendships, and the memories of our youth. To that end these reunions are amazingly helpful. It was nearly five o'clock on the morning after the Dinner before I had ceased to think of the School and sleep came to me.

The Byron Statue and Dr. Simpson.

"The Cxsar's pageant, shorn of Brutus' bust, Did but of Rome's best son remind her more."

Childe Harold, iv, 59 ; TACITUS : Annals, iii, 76.

At last : but not here. He will not be forgotten, for all will miss the face of the man who made the Statue possible, and for which he had waited so patiently and so long. His death will recall the famous quotation from Tacitus, when the imagines of Brutus and Cassius were not carried at the funeral under the empire of Tiberius, but were all the more conspicuous to the people from their very absence. Such will be the feeling of many on the day of unveiling at the thought of the late Rector.

A note or two on Byron may not be amiss here, as they may have escaped the notice of speakers at the time.

Forty years ago I heard Walter Bentley, son of the Rev. Dr. Begg, recite with great dramatic effect Hood's Dream of Eugene Aram. With the rest of the world Bentley did not know the allusion in the stanza : " My gentle lad, what is't you read— Romance or fairy fable ?

Or is it some historic page, Of kings and crowns unstable ? " The young boy gave an upward glance,— " It is ' The Death of Abel.' "

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It is safe to say not one in a million knows it. The reference is not to Genesis, but to the Death of Abel by Solomon Gesner of Zurich (1730-1788), who wrote it in 1758. Byron, in his drama of Cain, dedicated to Scott in 1821, explains it. In his preface he says he read it at Aberdeen when he was eight and had never seen it since. The edition in which Byron read the little book I have seen long ago, about the size of a post-card, bound in brown leather, with an engraved frontispiece and title-page.

Byron's bad grammar in Childe Harold, iv, 180, " there let him lay," has been commented on by Mr. John Murray at the London Banquet, where he read Byron's excuse of idleness and illness. But that use of the verb was quite common in high society during the Regency. Byron's ear had seduced him into the slip. Lord Robert Seymour (1748-1831), son of the first Marquis of Hertford, in his diary, s.v. 1788, writes : " Poor Miss P's clothes entirely laid upon the water, and made her appear an awkward figure." All Byron's contemporaries, e.g., Lord John Russell, Landor, and others, spoke of " cowcumbers," " laylocks," " 'ooman," " yaller," and " goold."

Bain (H.E.G. 1879, 330) knows the common misuse, but had not known Byron's case.

Grant Duff, in his Diary, 25th February, 1871, writes: " Lacaita told us that Lord Brougham confessed in his presence at Brougham Hall, after denying it for thirty years, that he had written the article in the Edinburgh Review which made Byron write English Bards and Scotch Reviewers."

The famous lines on the Old Bridge (D.J., x, 18) Byron quotes in his notes as " black's your wa'." But the balance in the clauses " Brig o' Balgownie, wicht is thy wa' " renders the version with " wicht " almost inevitable.

The quotation from Masson's Memories of Two Cities is usually given as assigning to Byron, on the authority of Knight, his dislike for " a dumpy woman." But this is a mistake, and it is strange that Masson did not see the point. Knight was referring not to a past memory, but to Byron's own words in D.J., i, 61.

Byron's knowledge of Latin is quite remarkable. His reference (C.H., iv, 44) to Servius Sulpitius would floor all but experts. Strict Melvinians will regret all the more that he shares the universal mistake about (D.J., xvi, 102) curiosa felicitas, which he correctly assigns to Petronius Arbiter.

The words mean that the felicity of Horace in his choice of the exact word was not " curious," but the result of " careful " and long-selected thought.

WILLIAM KEITH LEASK.

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A Visit to Mexico City.

In the following letter JoHN Ross EssoN (1893-97), who has recently returned from a business trip through the northern part of South America and through the various republics of Central America, completes the very interesting account which he has been contributing to the Magazine of what has probably been a unique journey :— From Guatemala to Mexico. " Continuing my journey, I went from Guatemala City to Mexico City overland. This is a long, tedious, and uncomfortable experience, which occupies five days. The route is to Ayutla on the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate River, where a night has to be spent under conditions very far from pleasant. The place is a very small native village, without even the usual electric light. One leaves it the following day without any regrets, and by rowing boat across the river, Mariscal, on the Mexican side, is reached. Mariscal is about one-and-a-half hours' railway journey from Tapachula, one of the chief towns in the State of Chiapas. Here a good deal of trouble is frequently encountered with the Customs authorities. After surmounting the obstacles, I went to a coffee plantation about five hours' ride from the town. This plantation is owned by an English company, and is quite a small town in itself, where one can enjoy all the amenities of civilized life, except, perhaps, the trunk telephone and the Daily Mail. The houses of the officials are equipped with the latest sanitary arrangements and labour-saving devices, and the electrical installation would put many of the Aberdeen houses to shame. An electrically-driven ropeway is used to bring coffee to the central treating establishment. A visit to an English family in a remote part of the world such as this is very pleasant, and the hospitality one receives makes a hard mountain ride well worth while. I stayed there three days, and then returned to Tapachula. There is one Scotchman there. He is British Vice-Consul—Mr. Stephenson—and I believe he is an Aberdonian. Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure of seeing him, as he was on his estate. Another long day, from 7 a.m. till 8.30 p.m., is spent in the train (no Pullmans or dining cars on this route) before San Geronimo is reached. There one has to remain till 5 a m. the following morning, when the connection is made for Santa Lucrecia, which is reached about mid-day. Another long and uncomfortable wait occurs, until 3 a.m., for the train to Vera Cruz.

What a relief it is to arrive there ! There is fresh sea-air and a fairly good hotel at a very exorbitant price. The Mexican Railway, a British-owned line, runs from Vera Cruz

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to Mexico City, and Pullmans and sleeping cars now take the place of the filthy cars that are run in the South.

Mexico City. " Mexico City stands at an altitude of 7,500 feet, and on part of the railway the gradient is very steep. Here two special double-ended locomotives are used to pull the train up.

This very steep section is to be electrified this year. A fine view of the snow-capped volcano, Orizaba, is obtained, and a bird's eye view of a town called Maltrato constitutes one of the unique sights on this journey. Mexico City has a population verging on a million, and reminds me somewhat of Rio de Janeiro, although much cooler. The chief avenues are wide and the buildings imposing. A National Theatre, built entirely of marble, has been in course of construction for many years and is not yet completed. The city possesses a very fine service of tramways, and I spent a very pleasant day going over the system. The Managing Director of the Tramway Company and of the Light and Power Company is Mr. G. R. G. Conway, who was well known in Aberdeen when he was resident engineer on the Girdleness Outfall works. Mr. Conway has a wonderful collection of etchings, takes a keen interest in the ancient history of Mexico, and is at present engaged in writing a life of Thomas Gage, the early-seventeenth-century traveller and missionary in these parts. A day spent in Mr. Conway's company is a liberal education, and his versatility makes itself abundantly evident.

Mrs. Conway is an Aberdonian, and is the life and soul of society in the Capital. Her activities know no bounds, and to her and her husband I was greatly indebted, for they contributed largely to the enjoyment of my visit to Mexico City.

MEETING THE CLUB CONSUL. " I was having dinner in a restaurant one evening, when I saw WILLIAM ANDREW MCQUEEN [1897-1900], son of Rev. Andrew McQueen, Aberdeen. He served his apprenticeship with me, and I had not seen him for about sixteen years. He pointed to a table and asked if I knew anyone sitting at it.

At once I recognized CHARLIE COOK t [1894-99], who is the Club Consul in Mexico City. He also served his apprenticeship with me. McQueen was passing through Mexico on his way to Chile. Cook, of course, is in the Mexican Light and Power Company. We afterwards met frequently at the British Club, where Scotland is well represented. Cook makes an admirable Consul. His own characteristic ways make him very popular, and through him I got to know a great many people. I t As this issue of the Magazine is beim, printed, intimation has come of the death of Charles Grant Cook in a nursing home in Mexico City on 28th May.—Ed. A.G.S. Mag.

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visited Chapultepec, where is situated the magnificent palace in which the Emperor Maximilian used to live ; Xochimilco, famous for its floating gardens ; and Guadalupe Church, where at certain seasons thousands of pilgrims from all over Mexico congregate. Unfortunately I had not time to visit the famous pyramids. " Things political in Mexico are subject to rapid changes, and it would be very unwise to prophesy. Suffice it to say that General Obregon is doing all he can to pull the country together again after the devastating civil wars it has suffered since the downfall of Porfirio Diaz. The natural resources of Mexico are undoubtedly great. Its mineral wealth is tremendous, and it possesses vast tracts of most fertile country, for the most part uncultivated. Valuable timber is also found in abundance. It seems unlikely, however, that sufficient foreign capital will be invested there to develop these resources until such time as confidence is felt in the power of the Government to stamp out revolutions and acts of brigandage, which have contributed so much to the retrogression of the country.

Through the States to New York. " From Mexico City I went to San Antonio, Texas, where I stayed for a few days with some friends. San Antonio is a typical American city, rapidly growing, and depending chiefly on the oil interests for its development. From there I went to New York by way of New Orleans. The sleeping accommodation on American railways leaves much to be desired, but the restaurant-car service is very good. Whatever may be thought of the " uplifting " methods of Washington wirepullers and their evident desire to impose their domestic legislation on the ships of other nations (which desire, it is to be hoped, will be stoutly resisted if we are still to lay any claim to the supremacy of the seas), I found the New Yorkers to be infinitely more polished than is generally supposed in this country. The funding of our debt to the States is said to have profoundly impressed the American people, and certainly it seemed to me that they were anxious to show kind feelings towards Britishers. " This letter would not be complete without the mention of one more F.P.—one who does great credit to the old School.

A good many years ago now Tom WILSON [1896-1903] introduced me to Mr. GEORGE WATSON [1873-77], who holds an eminent position in financial and business circles in London.

To him I owe a great deal, and he it was who made this interesting trip possible for me. In acknowledging my debt to him, I also acknowledge my debt to the Club, and can only hope that every member will have as much cause for grateful remembrance as I have."

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The Redecoration of the School Hall.

t

With the unveiling of the War Memorial the scheme of the Aberdeen Education Authority for the redecoration of the School Hall has been completed. The work has been continuously in progress since July of last year, and a great deal of thought and care has been given to it.

The entire interior of the Hall has been repainted in a colour scheme which gives a fine ensemble. The woodwork has been darkened and the walls decorated in broken or flecked orange-colour, while the regilding of the eight electroliers pendant from the roof has added not a little to the total effect. Upon a frieze running round the top of the walls six Latin texts, selected by the Rector from the Vulgate Psalms, have been inscribed in " black-letter " with vermilion initials picked out in gold. The names of the Benefactors of the School, with the particulars of their gifts, have been retained in their former position on the frieze of the dado panelling. In the south-west and north-west angles of the Hall have been placed respectively the busts of John Hill Burton, Historiographer Royal, and of Principal Sir William Duguid Geddes ; while in the position of honour in the centre of the west wall, at the back of the platform, is the bust of Lord Byron.

When the Hall was remodelled in 1894 the names of the Rectors, Duxes, Gold Medallists, First Bursars, etc., were painted directly on the walls in lettering somewhat wanting in distinction; and when subsequently the stage curtain was put up, many of the names on the walls behind and at either side of the platform were cut off from view. Under the new scheme these walls have been left without names, and the lists of Duxes, Gold Medallists, and First Bursars have been painted upon long panels, arranged in four groups of three on the north wall in front of the line of the curtain.

On the east wall there are three double and two single panels.

All the panels, whether single or in groups, are framed in heavy black mouldings. The names are in black on a buff background, with the headings, such as " Duxes," " Gold Medallists," etc., in vermilion. A beautiful form of Roman alphabet has been used, and although the lettering is much smaller and much more closely spaced than formerly, it is legible even from a considerable distance. The effect of a completely filled group of panels is exceedingly decorative and satisfying. The painting of the walls can be readily renovated, and ample space is left for the addition of further names. It will be of interest to mention that while the names of the Duxes of the School and Gold Medallists were being re-inscribed, the opportunity was taken to add the names of the Duxes of the Modern Side since the year in which

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the Town Council first presented both a " Classical " and a " Modern " Gold Medal. The names of the Rectors now appear in double column in the centre of the east wall, opposite the platform, and it is intended that eventually they be flanked by the names of eminent Former Pupils of the School.

The School Portrait Gallery.

On the high dado panelling of the east wall the following portraits in oils have been hung to great advantage :—In the centre, beneath the List of Rectors, Dr. H. F. Morland Simpson; to the left, Dr. Patrick Dun (by George Jamesone), Mr. W. Keith Leask (the fine portrait, by Mr. J. B. Souter, presented to the School last autumn), and Dr. James Melvin (by James Cassie) ; and to the right, Dr. James Dun, James Gibbs (presented by Former Pupils in 1921), and Field-Marshal Keith (a crayon copy of the portrait in Marischal College).

The dado panelling of the south wall, on both sides of the main door, is almost entirely covered by the collection of blackand-white portraits of former Rectors and Masters, and of distinguished Former Pupils. These have been reframed uniformly in dark oak, and on the mounts, under the protecting glass, the names and brief particulars have been inscribed. It is hoped that ere long an annotated catalogue of the School Portrait Gallery will be compiled, so as to furnish past and present pupils and visitors to the Hall with some account of the men whose portraits adorn its walls.

The Rector's " pulpit," with its three heraldically-coloured coats of arms in relief, has been redecorated to be in keeping with the general scheme. On the eastern portion of the dado panelling of the north wall have been placed the seventeenth century Archery Medals (perhaps the School's most valuable possession), surmounted, in a glass case, by the " House " Trophy recently presented to the School by Dr. John F. Christie ; and in specially designed cases, on either side of the Archery Medals, the All-Round Trophy and the Rector's Challenge Cup for Swimming. On the western portion of the panelling of the north wall (beside the platform) hangs the official emblazonment and description of the Arms of the School.

The War Memorial.

On the high panelled dado of the middle portion of the north wall, between the two doors leading into the main corridor of the School, the War Memorial has been erected.

This is constructed of dark, fumed oak and consists of three bays, each having three panels—nine in all, and on each panel appear 27 names—the total being 243—lettered in rich gold on a warm grey ground. An unusual if not unique feature is a horizontal range of small panels running along the base of the Memorial. There are seven of these small

The Platform Party at the Unveiling of the War Memorial.

Back Row—Rev. D. Bruce Nicol, M.C., B.D. Front Row—Rev. John Hector, D.D. Mr. George Duncan.

The Rector.

Lord Alness.

Rev. James Wel,ster, D.D. Rev. Professor Pittendrigh, D.D. Mr. Theodore Watt.

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MEMORIAL IN THE SCHOOL HALL, UNVEILED 8TH MAY 1923.

The Platform Party at the Unveiling of the War Memorial.

Bath Row—Rev. D. Bruce Nicol, M.C., B.D. Front Row—Rev. John Hector, D.D. Mr. George Duncan.

The Rector.

Lord Alness.

Rev. James Webster, D.D. Rev. Professor Pittendrigh, D.D. Mr. Theodore Watt.

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panels to each of the nine main panels. Thus they number 63 in all, and they contain in letterpress a short but comprehensive biographical account of the Fallen, giving the date of birth and of entering and leaving the School, and details of the civil and of the naval or military career of each man. These details, which form such an interesting yet poignant record, have been reprinted from the " Roll of Pupils 1795-1919," which is now on the eve of publication.

Specially-coated, brown-toned paper has been used to secure the permanency of this very important part of the Memorial, and also to harmonize with the colour scheme. On the main panels nothing appears but the full Christian names and surnames of the Fallen. For particulars about each man reference can be made to the printed record at the base of the Memorial.

The Memorial is architecturally framed with pilasters, frieze, and cornice, the pilasters being surmounted by pinnacles.

A brightly-coloured carved cresting runs along above the cornice, and on the frieze is placed in carved and gilded lettering PRO PATRIA MORTUI, flanked with the dates mcmxiv and mcmxix. Above each of the three bays is an armorial shield : in the centre, the arms of Scotland ; on the dexter side the arms of the City of Aberdeen ; and on the sinister the arms of the School. The St. Andrew's Cross is set within a carved wreath of holly on a background of thistles ; the coat of arms of Aberdeen, in an ivy wreath, has a background of barley; while the School coat of arms is surrounded with a laurel wreath, with a background of pansies—for remembrance.

The scheme was prepared by Dr. William Kelly, A.R.S.A., and carried out under his personal supervision. The finely carved woodwork was executed by Messrs. J. & A. Ogilvie, while Mr. Edward Copland was responsible for the painting and lettering both of the Memorial and of the large panels on the walls of the Hall. In this connection it will not be out of place to put on record that almost 12,000 letters had to be painted, and that this laborious work was carried out with the greatest care by one skilled craftsman, Mr. Edward Garden. For completing the colour decoration of the Memorial the services of Mr. John M. Aiken, A.R.S.A., were enlisted.

From the foregoing detailed description, which is based to a large extent on an authoritative account which appeared in the Aberdeen Press and Journal, it will be gathered by those who have not yet seen the Memorial that it is a very fine example of mural work. It is the predominating feature of the redecorated Hall, and will worthily preserve fortgenerations the names of those who so gloriously upheld in the Great War the honour and traditions of " the oldest School in the Empire."

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Church Parade of School Scouts, Monymusk, Easter 1923.

The following Address was delivered by Mr. W. Douglas Simpson, M.A., in the Parish Church of Monymusk on the occasion of the Church Parade of the ist and 9th Aberdeen (Grammar School) Troops of Boy Scouts on Easter Sunday, .rst April, 1923.

When first I was offered, through the kindness of my good friend, your pastor Mr. Lovie, the privilege of occupying his place and addressing you on the occasion of our Boy Scout Church Parade this morning, the first thought that occurred to me was of the high responsibility that rests upon anyone who shall presume to speak within a spot so holy, so sanctified by long antiquity, as this, your ancient Church of Monymusk.

For it is a spot hallowed by centuries of Christian worship ; the very stones in the walls around us are redolent with ages of bygone piety ; from Monymusk, in the dim old days of our Celtic past, radiated a stream of light, Christian light, piercing the darkness of pagan Aberdeenshire. For more than seven hundred years, in this very building in which we are here assembled to-day, through all the changes of our country's stormy religious history, worship has never ceased to be offered up to Almighty God. It is this idea of a long and noble religious past stretching back behind us in our Church, the idea of the continuity of faith here in this holy spot, that has been most powerfully present in my mind since our service here was first projected.

As a historian, therefore, it seemed to me that my words to-day might be of greatest service to you, and to myself, if I endeavoured, in some small fashion, that we should together consider the nature of this priceless tradition of Christian faith and Christian service which we who worship in the Church of Monymusk are specially privileged to inherit ; so that, from this precious legacy of the past, we might draw inspiration and courage for the present and the future, and thus foster in ourselves that spirit of active and living faith which was never more needed than in these days of sordid and slipshod materialism.

We are all, of course, aware that here in Monymusk there once existed a fraternity of Culdees or Celtic monks, whose origin is lost in the mists of remote antiquity. But do we realize, I wonder, what manner of lives these early missionaries lived ? After all, it is a subject of more than mere curiosity to us at Monymusk. We profess that we are Christians ; we are all of us endeavouring, in some sort, to lead the Christian life. That same profession, and that same endeavour, were made by the Culdees who lived, and wrought, and worshipped here in the long, long ago. They too were trying, amid

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very different circumstances, to do what we are trying to do to-day. Perhaps, therefore, the attempt to discover something of the fashion in which they faced their trials and temptations, the way in which they sought to solve the great problem of the Christian life, may not be without its practical value to us in our own perplexities.

Let us picture the Culdee monastery here at Monymusk a thousand years ago. Think of the little community with its group of wooden or wattled huts, its smithy, its barns and byres, its bakery, its kiln for corn-drying, and its little heatherthatched church of uncemented stone—on the very spot where now we worship in what is still in substance the noble Norman church erected for the later priory by the pious munificence of Earl Gilchrist of Mar at the end of the twelfth century. Think of the inmates, and their daily and nightly round of work and worship. Most of them would be laymen, exempt from the heavy duties of religious service, and wholly taken up with the practical work and manual labour of supporting the community. The religious brethren, or monks proper, were grouped into three classes. There were the Seniors, old men past active work and rich in holiness. There were the Working Brethren, on whom the main burden of the missionary and religious life of the community was cast.

There were the Juniors, novices under instruction. The system of devotional exercises was very severe. A feature was the " perpetual praise," maintained in the church day and night by relays of brethren. For example, we are told that in one of the monasteries founded by St. Kentigern (otherwise known as St. Mungo, the Patron Saint of Glasgow) three hundred and sixty-five monks " divided into companies, so that the praise of God never ceased," " devoted themselves to the divine office in church by day and by night, and scarcely ever went forth out of the sanctuary," or sacred precincts of the monastery. The dress of these monks was of the simplest form, consisting of a shirt reaching to the heels, and an upper garment with hood and sleeves ; shoes of hide, and a white surplice for use at festivals. Each monk had his own cell or hut, and slept on a bed of stone ; or, at best, on boards covered with straw. Up in the surrounding hills, on Cairn William or on Bennachie, would be the hermitages whither the holy brethren withdrew at intervals for solitary meditation. We all have two conflicting tendencies in our nature.

We must have society, intercourse with our fellows, and we must have a certain amount of privacy. These two fundamental facts of human nature were provided for by the common life of the monastery, and by its outlying hermitages high on the bare hillsides, where the solitary Culdee, with his keen Celtic eye for the beauties of nature, could brood upon the wonder and the mystery of life, and on God its Creator.

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In addition to the work connected with the maintenance of the civil and religious life of the monastery, there was also the missionary activity of which each community was a centre.

The Culdees would go forth, often in parties of thirteen, like Christ and His Apostles, for long periods, sometimes months on end, preaching to the natives and setting before them the ideals and standard of a Christian life. Moreover, every monastery possessed its school, and here at Monymusk you still preserve its memory in your Scollatis-land, which is the ground whereon stood the building apportioned to the scolocs or scholars. We also know that the Culdees provided systematic training in agriculture, and gifted seed to the faithful in the neighbourhood. St. Nathalan of Tullich, the great apostle pf Deeside, made the wise and beautiful remark that " among the works of men's hands the cultivation of the earth approaches nearest to divine contemplation " ; and this profound thought was fully translated into practice by the Celtic Church. All the Culdees were agriculturalists.

Such was the life led by the holy men of old who, a thousand years ago, kept the light of Christianity aglow in Monymusk.

You will agree that it was no unworthy life ; that, having in view the violence and barbarism amidst which they lived, they succeeded not ill in maintaining the essential ideal of Christian service.

Above all, it was a practical life. In the East, monasticism abandoned itself to barren and selfish introspection. But the monk of the Celtic Church held an outlook widely different from that of his self-absorbed brother in Macedon or Egypt—so vividly portrayed for us in Charles Kingsley's " Hypatia."

Instead of fleeing for his own salvation from the vices of his fellow-men, the Culdee was an ardent missionary who boldly plunged into the strife of this world in order to save souls other than his own. " Go ye therefore," said the Master, " and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." And the monks of the Celtic Church not only secured for their flocks the immense spiritual advantages of the True Faith, but they also won them to a higher standard of social and material welfare. The Culdee went forth into the highways and the byways to win men not only for the life to come, but also for a fuller and a richer life in the present world. Service to others was the keynote of his creed ; and, as usual, service to others brought the highest and perfect reward to him by whom the service was rendered. No finer task has, perhaps, been entrusted to man than was given these early missionaries to perform. In a wild land, amid circumstances of great personal hardship and danger, they lived strenuous lives of the purest self-sacrifice for the great cause of Christianity to which they were unreservedly consecrated, body and soul.

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Their lives were rich in well ordered, fruitful toil, both physical and intellectual.

Now these two ideals, the ideal of service and the ideal of fruitful work, are elements of permanent value in the Christian life. They did not perish with the Culdees. We of the Boy Scout Movement are endeavouring, in our system of training, to carry them out. We also, like the Culdees of old, go forth into the highways and the byways of our great cities to rescue boys from the shiftless, drifting life that is so common among young folk to-day, and to win them to make the most of the wonderful opportunity which God has conferred upon them in the fact of their existence. We also, like the Culdees, preach the ideal of service, teaching our boys that the noblest and the most fruitful life is that which is of most benefit to others. We also, like the Culdees, endeavour to fit those entrusted to our care for such a life of service by teaching them handicrafts that may help them to ply that vocation of citizenship to which we are all called. We are not a military movement, given up to drill and routine. If you visit our camps, at Cluny and at Pitfichie, you will see no regimentation under canvas. You will see our boys living a free, natural, open-air life, learning to fend for themselves and to realize the value of helpful co-operation in the common life of camp, enjoying the glories of nature and assimilating the divine message that lurks therein.

What, then, are the lessons, applicable to our own time, that we may draw from the religious life of the old Culdees which we have been considering together? I think they are threefold.

In the first place, there is that great lesson of the continuity of Christian faith of which I spoke at the outset. The stone and lime of this ancient church are themselves the concrete embodiment of that lesson. And it is a lesson which is in danger, sore danger, of being forgotten to-day. In this age of feverish hubbub and soot and cant and pleasure-seeking, we forget that our lives are not ends in themselves, but only opportunities—opportunities which, seized or lost, will make or mar the lives of those who come after us. Just as the good work of those old Culdees had results of lasting benefit in the history of Scotland, so will whatever we think and say and do to-day have effects, for good or evil, on generations yet unborn. If this idea of the great intersecular responsibilities devolving on succeeding generations of mankind were more fully realized, there would be less hasty action, less proneness to violent and ill-considered measures, than there is in our country to-day. Revolutionary ideas are always the product of living for the present only ; and we want to live for the future.

In the second place, there is the grand lesson taught us by

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the all-embracing nature of Culdee Christianity. It pervaded every thought and action of their daily life. They believed that, whether worshipping in the church, toiling in the fields, ministering to their flocks, or meditating alone on the mountainside, they were always doing the work of God. The same high purpose inspired all their actions in every branch of the monastic life. Can we say that we have upheld this noble ideal in our own time? With us, though we still profess to follow the rule of our Master Christ, our Christianity has become a matter only for Sundays. During the rest of the week we go about our daily business, too often without a thought of service due to the Lord. Nay more, in many cases we do not even pretend to regulate our daily life by the standard which we profess on Sunday. We are all familiar with the phenomenon of the man who prays upon his knees on Sunday, and upon his neighbours during the rest of the week. I think that if our Christianity were not restricted to lip-service to the cause of Christ on one day in the seven, if it were imported into all the transactions and relationships of our everyday life, then many of the perplexities and irritations that distract the world to-day would speedily vanish.

And lastly, there is the lesson of watchfulness in faith.

The Culdees have long since vanished from Monymusk ; so have the Roman canons who succeeded them. In each case the cause was the same. High ideals and strenuous performance gave place to worldliness and sloth. I daresay most of you know something of the later history of the Priory of Monymusk, how it became a house of idleness and a sink of corruption. No community, whether it be a tiny brotherhood of monks or a great and teeming nation, can exist for long, once it has scrapped its ideals. Society must have an ideal to strive for, a definite objective set before it. Without such an ideal it is lost. Yet in the world to-day we seem to be drifting towards that deadly peril. On all sides we see evidence of reckless materialism, of a practical reversion to paganism of outlook that ignores Christianity, or openly flouts it. It will be an evil day for our country when such ideas get the upper hand. " Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation," said Christ to His disciples in the agony of dark Gethsemane. " Watch and pray." Only by ceaseless watchfulness and prayer, by daily confirming ourselves in our trust in God, by holding fast to the essentials of our Christian faith, by making it the rule of our daily lives in precept and in practice, as the Culdees did of old, shall we escape the deadly reefs of materialism, and pilot the great, labouring, sorrow-laden barque of humanity into the calmer waters for which, in these days of storm, we all earnestly yearn.

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Retirement of Miss Jessie A. Mackie.

It is with sincere regret that we chronicle the imminent retirement of Miss Jessie A. Mackie from the position of "Junior Mistress " of the School. She has spent over 40 years as a teacher, and has been a member of the School Staff since 1892, when she succeeded Miss Daniel as mistress of the class which was then called Lower II. Possessed of a strong personality, Miss Mackie has been an eminently successful teacher, and has won the esteem and affection of more than a generation of School boys, who will join most heartily in wishing her a long and happy period of retirement.

(From a London Correspondent.)

The news of Miss Mackie's impending retirement from the post of Mistress in the Lower School, which she has held for over thirty years, will awaken lively recollections of the old School in many Former Pupils who had the privilege of passing a year of their School days under Miss Mackie's care.

In looking back to those earlier years when the youthful mind was so impressionable and so receptive of new ideas, we feel that we have not appreciated to the full how strong an influence for good was Miss Mackie's regime at the Aberdeen Grammar School. Though it is now all but twenty years since the present writer passed through Lower V (as Miss Mackie's class was then called), he well remembers her happy skill in teaching, her unfailing sympathy and patience with the backward, her ready interest and pleasure in helping those who showed signs of promise, her firm and tactful handling of the unruly, and her scrupulous fairness towards all.

Hers was a class untroubled as yet by the cares of Latin Grammar, unharassed by the woes of Greek Syntax. Miss Mackie, if we remember rightly, presided over less arduous studies—English, poetry, and history, arithmetic and geography, the elements of French, and botany—the gentlest of the sciences. But in the end it is not what is taught, but how a thing is taught that is important. Miss Mackie had the gift, so essential to good teaching, of interesting her pupils in their task ; and we remember her class particularly for the impulse which it aroused to go beyond the mere letter of the lesson in the quest for further knowledge. Indeed, we think that Miss Mackie did much to foster that spirit of enquiry without which (so Plato tells us) life is not worth living.

We feel sure that Miss Mackie will carry with her in her retirement the warm wishes and affectionate regard not only of her colleagues on the teaching staff and of the boys now at School, but also o€ th.p inany hundreds of old pupils of hers

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scattered throughout the world. She will have the satisfaction of knowing that in her teaching during the last thirty years she has had no inconsiderable share in shaping the destinies of the School and in maintaining its best traditions ; and in reviewing her long service now nearing completion, she will be conscious, we hope, that she has worthily played her part in training the young minds and moulding the characters of many sons of the old School who now hold responsible posts at home or in the outposts of the Empire.

(From a More Recent Pupil.) is one of those teachers who not only enjoy Mackie Miss their profession but make learning a pleasure. With her to encourage us, even mental arithmetic became interesting.

It was a breathless and exciting game to find out as quickly as possible how much fourteen eggs cost when each was 2d.

I still remember what I used to repeat in her class, that there are 63,360 inches to the mile.

Miss Mackie was interested in drawing, and always ready observation. She taught us how to watch birds encourage to and animals and plants, and to describe and draw what we saw. Through her many of us learned to appreciate the interest and beauty of nature, and this was a great thing.

She read to us about birds and animals-I still remember one story vividly, the life history of Rana, the frog. On the broad window-sills there were large glass bowls, where yearly we saw, amongst a forest of chickweed, a mass of frogs' eggs.

And as the tadpoles developed to frogs, it was a red-letter day for Miss Mackie, as well as for us, when the first of them gained a pair of front legs. Changing the water was an exciting operation. Miss Mackie encouraged all our expeditions to ponds and burns, sometimes accompanying us herself.

At first we looked upon her with a kind of awe. We saw that, enjoyable as the class might be, yet to those who in any way came short there was a sure and just retribution. Miss Mackie kept perfect order. And so when two or three of us got a summons to go to tea at her house, we felt like prisoners about to appear before the court. With some qualms we rang the bell, but to our surprise, before we were up the stairs, we were engaged in interesting conversation. We had a splendid tea, and Miss Mackie talked of nature study and everything that interested us. She showed us, if I remember rightly, her own newts and tadpoles ; we saw her books and their illustrations, and very soon we forgot all our shyness.

We left charmed, and always afterwards, when there was anything that we felt interesting or important, Miss Mackie was among the first whom we told about it. Lucky were those who were in her class, for she was an ideal teacher, and her old pupils will never forget her.

School Prefects, 1922 23.

K. R. T. Matthew.

B. Wright.

C. A. G. Savidge (Senior Prefect).

W. W. Georgeson.

D. A. Robb.

J. P. Weir.

Aberdeen Grammar School 1st XV Players, 1922-23.

Mr. D. MacGregor, D. M. Wood. A. D. Mackintosh. W. T. Simpson. H. E. J. Brown. J. Grant. J. B. Esslemont. D. S. i ochran. N. Jolly.

Games Master.

J. A. Davidson. N. D. Begg. J. Middleton, R. C. Scrimgeour.

Secretary.

K. R. T. Matthew, Captain.

J. P. Weir. N. Esslemont.

C. A. G. Savidge.

J. C. W khart.

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Once again duty calls us, and we take up the pen for the last time in an endeavour to write of the happenings at School. * * * end, and the Rugby season, to an must come Everything sad to relate, proves to be no exception. King Willow once more has come into his own. The " Debater" has also ceased to function, giving way to Tennis. The past session has been one of the most successful in the annals of the Society, all the lectures and debates being extremely edifying and interesting. The President and Secretary are to be congratulated on their excellent syllabus. * * * Members of the First and Second XVs celebrated the close of the season by an " At Home," held in the School.

The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Miller and those Masters who, during the season, had given their support at the Field.

A very pleasant evening was spent. * * * The Cricket XI of this year includes a good many new faces, but, although not sweeping everything before it, yet, with practice and confidence, will uphold the honour of School Cricket in any field of combat. * * * Tennis is now in full swing, and if one may judge by the large membership and the large number who play regularly at the Courts, the Club is in a healthy condition. The interHouse Tennis matches have added a fresh keenness and interest to the game, which has become very popular. A tournament has been arranged, and has aroused great interest and speculation throughout the entire School. * * * The 17th Troop of Scouts, which was started some time ago in the School, held a flannel dance in the Gymnasium on F1 iday, 11th May. A large number was present and an extremely enjoyable evening was spent. * * * On the afternoon of Tuesday, 8th May, the School War

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Memorial was unveiled by Lord Alness, Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland, a distinguished Former Pupil. The ceremony was impressive and dignified in its simplicity. Lord Alness was introduced by the Chairman, Mr. George Duncan, who paid a tribute to his lordship's career as a statesman, and stated that his whole life had been an inspiration to the School. Lord Alness's address was impressive and touching, although he himself said that on such an occasion silence was more eloquent than speech. Then followed the unveiling.

The audience stood while Lord Alness unveiled the Memorial, and a prayer of dedication was offered by the Rev. D. Bruce Nicol. This was followed by the lament, " The Flowers of the Forest," during the playing of which C. A. G. Savidge, Senior Prefect, and K. R. T. Matthew, on behalf of the School, placed a wreath below the centre panel of the Memorial.

When the lament had died away the " Last Post " was sounded.

The ceremony closed with a march past of pupils, who saluted the Memorial before leaving the Hall.

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On 24th May, Empire Day was celebrated in the School, as usual, by a brief service. Sheriff Laing, who had never previously addressed Grammar School boys, was the speaker, and in a very fine, inspiring speech he reminded the boys that the responsibility of upholding the name and honour of the Empire rested upon them, while he also referred to the Rector and his colleagues as true Empire-builders. They were responsible for the formation of the boys' characters, and character played a large part in the building of an Empire.

On the call of Dr. McLeod, Sheriff Laing was given three rousing Grammar School cheers. After the ceremony the School was dismissed. * * * In the afternoon of Empire Day the School played their annual cricket match with the Masters. The Masters were very confident, because they felt they were fielding the strongest team which had ever represented the staff in these matches.

They were, however, destined to be disappointed. The School batted first and when 115 runs had been scored for 2 wickets, they declared. The Masters, with this huge total against them, did not make a great response, and were all dismissed for 27 runs. Apart from the result, the Masters enjoyed the game very much.

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The Annual Gymnastic Assault, held in the Hall on 31st May, was, as usual, a very great success. A large audience enjoyed a pleasing and varied programme, the performers ranging in age from five to eighteen years. The work of the

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infants was delightful to watch, and the unconcerned look on their faces showed they did not know what stage-fright was. Mention must also be made of the boxing bouts, which were very keenly contested, especially by the lower classes. At the close the Rector called on Dr. Pittendrigh, who expressed the admiration of the audience, and, on its behalf, thanked Mr. Summers and Miss Cheyne, 'the pianist, for what they had done to provide this excellent display. A vote of thanks was also given to Mr. Mackenzie Forbes and his orchestra. * * * There is no rest for the wicked. Just when we thought we had finished with exams., when we saw the last of the Leavings, we were informed that there were some medals to be competed for. These medals have to be won, and therefore there must be examinations. We heartily congratulate the winners of the medals. To those who have gone forward to the Bursary Competition we wish the best of luck, and hope they have done their utmost to uphold the honour of the School. * * * The Annual Swimming Gala was held on 8th June and was a huge success, all the events being very keenly contested.

The race for the Rector's Cup provided many thrills for the spectators, and was won by W. T. Simpson, who swam the four lengths in 101 secs. The blindfold race and the candleand-potato race caused great amusement, some of the blindfolded swimmers going in the reverse direction, like the proverbial Irish pig. The inter-House team-races were very keenly contested, and some of the junior boys almost became hoarse in supporting their House. Keith House won the senior race, with Melvin a good second. The Captain and officials are to be congratulated on the success of the Gala, and on the way in which the numerous events were smartly carried out. * * * As everything must have an ending, we find ourselves penning our last School Note. When one comes to the end of a pleasant task, one is always filled with feelings of regret, and we are filled with such feelings as we write these few lines.

The position of School Editor has been rendered very easy by the help of eager and willing comrades, and we hope our successor will find his duty as pleasant. Our thanks must be extended to the School for the manner in which it has supported our efforts. And now we close by wishing all a very pleasant holiday when it comes. Adieu !

D. R.

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The Byron Statue.

School's Successful Effort to Wipe off Deficit.

On 20th April a concert was held in the Hall in aid of the Statue Fund. It attracted a very large audience, and a feature of the programme, which was widely varied, was the playing by the School Orchestra of four " House " marches composed by Mr. J. Mackenzie Forbes. Mr. Forbes figured in the concert as organizer, composer, conductor, and entertainer. The other numerous soloists maintained the high standard of an excellent concert. Violin solos were beautifully rendered by Mr. Neil Marr, and Mrs. Mackenzie Forbes, L.R.A.M., was an artistic accompanist. The concert closed with a humorous sketch entitled, " An Invitation to Tea," for which Mr. H. G. Edwards was responsible, and in which he took the leading part.

On 21st April a Continuous Concert and Dramatic Performance with Tea, Stalls, and Side Shows, was held in the School during the afternoon and evening, to help to augment the Statue Fund. Mr. Walter A. Reid, C.A., Chairman of the Statue Committee, presided, and the opening ceremony was performed by Sir James F. Simpson. In an eloquent speech he pointed out that Aberdeen made a poor show in respect of its statues, but he firmly believed that the Byron Statue would rank amongst the greatest, and, when erected, would be an adornment to Aberdeen and especially to the School.

Much credit is due to the Committee, of which Mr. Murison was Convener, for the success of the effort. The Continuous Concert was a huge success, varied items being given by a large number of performers. An exhibition of dancing by Miss Hendry's pupils was much enjoyed by everybody. The Lower School Choir was trained by Mr. A. Adams, who, however, was unable to attend owing to his duties at the Music Festival. Fortunately, Mr. W. M. Henry took his place, and carried through that part of the programme very successfully. Enormous crowds attended in the evening, the Hall being packed long before the first item on the programme came on—an Eightsome Reel by the 1st Troop of Scouts. The 9th Troop Camp Fire was greatly enjoyed, particularly the songs relating to Scout life and other topical subjects. The lighting effects were very realistic. Songs were rendered by Miss Jean Mackay and Mr. Max Wright, and violin solos by Mr. Neil Marr ; the accompanist was Miss Janet Johnston.

A one-act farce, " Leave it to Me," was performed by members of the Debating Society. The actors all entered into the spirit of the play and obviously enjoyed themselves.

Savidge, as the illiterate but resourceful costermonger, played with great verve. Begg, as the housemaid, managed

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the Cockney accent excellently, being particularly good in the mock-sentimental passages with Savidge. Wright gave a very good study of the irritable elderly gentleman. Wood, as the young lover, endured the cramped position under the table with considerable fortitude. Bain made a very taking young maiden, and had evidently studied the mannerisms of the part very carefully. Esslemont had a most ungrateful part, but he hit the right note and added materially to the fun of the climax.

Thanks must be extended to Mr. C. W. Walker for making up the players. Of the services rendered by Mr. Norrie and his assistant, Mr. J. K. Wilson, in arranging all the stage lighting, it would be difficult to speak without using superlatives.

A concert on such a scale must call for good organization, and much credit is due to Mr. A. F. Hyslop for the manner in which he arranged the large number of items.

Everything went without a hitch, and this says a great deal for the abilities of Mr. Hyslop.

During the afternoon tea was served in the Library and the Infant Department to wellzfigh a thousand visitors. Large as the numbers were, Mrs. Theodore Watt and her large band of assisting ladies were completely successful in coping with the situation. The Produce Stall (Mrs. D. G. Miller and Mrs. McLeod), the Cake and Candy Stall (Mrs. Munson and Miss Watson), and the General Stall (Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Millar and Mr. Winkley) did a wonderful trade in spite of the congested corridor in which they were placed.

The financial result of the effort eclipsed all expectations, the net amount handed over to the Statue Fund being £285 Os. 1d., arrived at as follows :— •• .. . • £111 6 0 Sale of Tickets .. ..

48 13 8 Cake and Candy Stall ..

• ..

31 3 0 Produce Stall ..

•• 34 10 4 General Stall ..

•• 4 13 5 •• ..

•• Sale of Programmes 38 19 4 ..

•• Tea Tables .• •• 5 7 6 Sale of Refreshments ..

•• 6 4 1 Side Shows •• •• Donations ..

9 0 6 ..

•

..

•

•

0

•

•

•

Less Outlays and Expenses

0

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

£289 17 10 4 17 9 £285 0

1

The small amount of the expenses is explained by the fact that all the printing and advertising was defrayed anonymously, and that no charge was made for the hiring of the tea requisites.

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For the splendid result achieved thanks are due to Staff, Pupils, Former Pupils, Parents, and Friends. All worked with a will, but special mention must be made of Miss Sinclair and Mr. George Laing, who acted as joint secretaries and treasurers.

Subscriptions received since last " Magazine." . £1 1 0 .

Dr. George Middleton, 8 Woodside Place, Glasgow . . . .

1 0 0 G. K. Fleming, 1 Bon-accord Crescent, Aberdeen 3 3 0 Right Hon. Lord Meston, Cookham Dene, Berks . . .

1 0 0 .

George Wilson, 56 Moorgate, London, E.C. 2. . . .

Dr. T. Irvine Rowell, 33 Clarges Street, Mayfair, London, W. .

1 0 0 .

5 0 0 . . . . . .

Lord Glentanar, Aboyne .

Miss Veronica Lucas, 81 Elm Park Gardens, London . . .

0 10 0 .

1 0 0 Lt.-Col. J. W. Ferguson, Tarland . . . . .

W. Y. McDonald, 17 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen . . .

2 2 0 .

5 0 0 Right Hon. Lord Alness, Edinburgh • • • .

5 5 0 . .

Sir James F. Simpson, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen Sir F. G. Ogilvie, Dewdney, Shere, Guildford . . . .

0 10 6 .

1 0 0 .

Captain D. H. W. Williamson, c/o Holt & Co., London .

0 19 0 Colonel R. B. W. Holmes, Haifa Station, Palestine . .

H. J. Butchart, D.S.O., B.L., Marischal College, Aberdeen . .

1 0 0 .

• .

5 0 0 David Scott, Colombo, Ceylon .

1 1 0 Alexander Sharp, Advocate, 45 Gray Street, Aberdeen .

Geddes Medal for Science.

When home some months ago Dr. ALEXANDER MARR GEDDES, the Consul of the F.P. Club at Cape Town, made an offer, through the Secretary of the Club, to present a silver medal annually to the School. After careful consideration the Rector decided to recommend that the medal be awarded for Science, and this has been approved by Dr. Geddes and by the Education Authority, who have expressed to him their thanks for his generous gift and their appreciation of his interest in the welfare of the School.

School Medal and Prize Funds.

The attention of the Education Authority was recently drawn to the fact that in the case of certain of the Medal and Prize Funds managed by the Authority, the total free annual income had not been devoted to the purpose for which the Funds were given, and that consequently very considerable balances had accumulated. A remit was accordingly made to a Sub-Committee to inquire into the matter and report.

In the case of the Johnston Medal Fund the Sub-Committee came to the conclusion that the expressed intentions of the founder would continue to be realized if in future the free annual revenue of the fund were, after the purchase of a medal, devoted to the provision of a prize in money to be awarded to the best Latin scholar (the award to be called the " Arthur Johnston Silver Medal and Prize "). The Sub-Committee agreed to recommend accordingly, and also (1) that the competition for the Medal and Prize should be open to pupils

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of the 5th and 6th classes, both Classical and Modern, and (2) that the Medal and Prize should not be held more than once by the same pupil.

With reference to the Brebner Prize Fund it appeared that the founder had placed the money at the discretion of the old School Board for establishing one or more scholarships in the School for proficiency in Modern Languages.

The Sub-Committee were of opinion that a prize should be instituted for French on the same general lines as the Johnston Medal and Prize for Latin, and it was decided to recommend that the conditions governing the award of the Johnston Medal and Prize, as above proposed, should apply also to the Brebner Prize in French. In devoting, as far as practicable, the whole revenue of the fund to a prize in money for French, the Sub-Committee were given to understand that in all likelihood provision would be made by the Former Pupils' Club for the award of a prize in German in the shape of a Medal, which would take the place of what had hitherto been styled the " Brebner Prize for the Best Scholar in German."

The Sub-Committee also considered the position of the Samuel Pope Silver Medal for Art, and, in order to obviate the possibility of accumulations arising on this fund, the Sub-Committee decided to recommend that any surplus revenue arising in any one year after the cost of the Medal had been borne, should, as far as practicable, be expended on the award of a book or books to the winner of the Medal.

The Sub-Committee further agreed to recommend that the changes involved in their report should not take effect until Session 1923-24, and that notification thereof should be made in the next issue of the School Prospectus.

The Sub-Committee were of opinion that the following special Medals and Prizes should be open to competition by members of the two highest classes, both Classical and Modern :— Arthur Johnston Silver Medal and Prize to the best Latin Scholar.

Morland Simpson Silver Medal to the best Greek Scholar.

Smith Gold Medal for the best Latin Version.

J. Mortimer McBain Gold Medal to the best Mathematical Scholar.

Former Pupils' Club Silver Medal for English.

Former Pupils' Club Silver Medal for German.

Geddes Silver Medal for Science.

Brebner French Prize.

The report of the Sub-Committee has been approved by the Authority, but the remit to the Sub-Committee has been continued in order that they may have an opportunity of investigating the position of the various bursary funds connected with the School.

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Ateraeen Grammar School Magazine.

Scout Notes.

The camping season opened for the 1st and 9th Troops during the Easter holidays, when both Troops went under canvas, the 1st at Cluny—an old haunt of theirs—and the 9th at Pitfichie. Each had a very creditable number of boys in camp, the 1st having thirty-five, which must be a record for an Easter camp in the Grammar School Area. It cannot be said that the weather was very favourable, there being a lack of sunshine ; but in comparison with Easter, 1922, when snow fell three days in succession, it seemed tolerable.

Much of the usual camping programme was carried out, though a visit from Mr. Crichton, the Travelling Secretary of the Movement in Scotland, provided the Troops with some new ideas. The Troops in conjunction, under the guidance of Mr. W. D. Simpson, visited the Castle of Tillycairn, and the 1st paid the 9th a visit at Pitfichie, and were shown over the Castle.

The one event of the two camps that did not follow the usual lines was the joint Church Parade to the Church of Monymusk. The service was a Scout one, Mr. Simpson reading the lessons and addressing the congregation on the ecclesiastical history of their parish. By a fortunate chance the infant grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Smith of Pitfichie, who have done the 9th Troop a multitude of " good turns," was to be baptized after the service. Learning of this, the Scouts offered to provide a Guard of Honour at the Church door ; and so ended a Parade that must be quite unique in the history of the Troops.

It is a regrettable circumstance, from the point of view of a writer of Scout Notes, that the activities of the School Troops since the last issue of the Magazine have consisted almost wholly of camps. It is, however, a very healthy sign for the Troops themselves, especially when one considers how little encouragement they have had from the weather. But though one camp, as a rule, is rather like another, there have been two recent exceptions to this rule, the Training Camps for Officers and for P.L.s. On the May holiday week-end a Training Camp was held for Officers of Troops in the City and County, of which Mr. Crichton took charge. The individualistic spirit, which is one of the chief virtues of the Scout system, has this decided disadvantage, that a Scoutmaster, seeing as he does very often no Troop other than his own, has not very much chance of learning from the methods of his fellowScoutmasters. It is just this defect that Training Camps can do very much to remedy ; and it is a matter for considerable satisfaction that the Officers of the 1st and 9th all attended the Camp on the May Holiday week-end.

Meanwhile, the newly-formed 17th Troop had reached the stage of preparation when it could hold its first Troop meeting, which was attended by about twenty Scouts. The Troop has been given the use of the School Gymnasium for its meeting-place, and is already growing in numbers. Three weeks after the first meeting, the Troop held its first camp, at the Hut, over the May Holiday week-end, the Scoutmaster very wisely choosing the earliest available opportunity. The camp was most successful, and has since been followed by another, even better attended than the first.

It is gratifying to report that in the matter of the Hut the two older Troops have given very practical proof of their interest in their younger brother, by offering to the 17th Troop the use of the Hut whenever possible, and refusing to allow it to contribute in any way towards the upkeep of the Hut. In time, of course, the 17th will be able to stand on its own legs, but meantime its finances are very slender, and the sympathetic action of the 1st and 9th is an evidence of the true Scouting spirit.

In order to provide a small fund to buy camp equipment, the 17th Troop held a small informal dance recently. Tickets were issued at a very reasonable rate, and any profit would have been impossible if the Parents' Committee had not volunteered to supply the refreshments, which they did on a most generous scale. There could be no doubt of the success of the dance ; indeed, the Troop has been asked by several who were present to make it an annual affair, a good omen for the entertainments the Troop may organize in the future.

To return, however, to the May Holiday—while the Officers of the 1st and 9th were engaged at the Training Camp, both Troops had other activities on foot. The patrols of the 1st Troop all held separate camps, in quite a variety of camping-grounds, from Stonehaven to Cluny and Banchory to Bishop's Loch. The 9th Troop P.L.s went on a cycle tour to prospect for a new camping-ground for the Summer Camp. Altogether, full use was made of what has been easily the brightest week-end so far in 1923.

If the Officers were fortunate in the weather they had for their TrainingCamp, the Patrol Leaders had less cause for congratulation. Their camp, held on the last week-end of May almost under the shadow of Castle Forbes,

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221

commenced in a downpour of rain, which lasted from the Friday afternoon till the Sunday morning. Fortunately, Lord Forbes, by whom the camp was primarily arranged, secured a neighbouring hall for the accommodation of the campers. Two Grammar School F.P.s, Dr. Stephen and Mr. R. B. Williamson, Scoutmaster of the 1st Troop, were in charge of the camp, which was in full swing by the Sunday afternoon. As a practical education in Camp-craft, the training was of the utmost value, all sorts of " gadgets " being taught, the making and use of which would increase adaptability and comfort at any camp.

In a few weeks from the time of writing, the improvement in efficiency that is bound to follow these two Training-Camps will be having the opportunity to manifest itself at the Summer Camps of the three Troops. The 9th and 17th are trying to arrange for new sites ; the 1st is returning to Tillyfumerie, on Dyeside, than which a better camping-ground could scarcely be imagined. In all three Troops there are already signs of large camps. Surely by the beginning of July this abnormal weather will have given place to the broiling sunshine for which everyone is longing, and the School Scouts will be able to return to their parents at the end of the fortnight as brown as berries.

At any rate, one has the consolation of knowing that the weather cannot be worse than it was last year, when, more than once, rain and wind beat upon the camps for thirty-six hours at a stretch. And yet the boys enjoyed themselves. No weather can destroy the fascination of camp.

School Cricket Notes.

The Cricket season up to the time of writing has been a failure. Match after match has had to be put off owing to the seemingly unceasing rain, and practice has been rather a negative quantity.

The School team has played six matches, winning three and losing three.

The fielding has, on several occasions, been very slack, and the team will have to realize that fielding is just as important as batting and bowling. A summary of the matches is given below.

28th April.—School played F.P.s in a practice game. F.P.s batted first and scored 36, but School could only make 29. School bowled and fielded well.

5th May.—School v. St. Clements. St. Clements batted first on a very wet wicket and scored 54 for 4 wickets. School made 59 for the loss of 7 wickets.

8th May.—School v. Free Press. School got their opponents out for 57, but on going in to bat, collapsed and were all out for 13.

19th May.—School v. Royal Mental Hospital. School batted first and were all out for 30. Play had to be stopped several times owing to rain.

Our opponents went in and made 67, J. Richardson taking 3 wickets for 8.

School fielding was very poor.

22nd May.—School v. 'Varsity XI. School went in first and scored 51. G. Wilson making 12. 'Varsity went in and scored 55, thus winning by 4 runs. Manthei took 5 wickets for 17 runs.

24th May.—On this date we played our annual match against the Staff XI. School batted first and made 115 for 2 wickets. Manthei and Duff us added 86 for the second wicket. After tea, School got the Staff out for 27, Manthei taking 7 wickets for 11.

29th May.—School v. Mannofield Junior XI. Mannofield Juniors won the toss and went in and scored 56. J. Richardson took 4 wickets for 4 runs.

School went in and soon knocked off the runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Davidson and Savidge making 15 each.

School Tennis Notes.

Once more Tennis is in full swing and in School there is no lack of enthusiasm. The School Tennis Club is in a flourishing state, with the membership just over a hundred. A School Tournament is being held, which should give some very fine matches, and we are only sorry that the entry was not larger.

House matches are also commencing, and there is sure to be great competition between the. House teams, which are composed of six couples each. The Courts themselves are never empty after School hours, but in spite of the amount of play they are in better condition even than last year.

To date only three matches have been played—with the Aberdeen Tennis Club, with Stonehaven Academy, and with the Former Pupils. The first and third were won, but the Stonehaven Academy team was just too good for us. The following are the details :—

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28th May.—Aberdeen Tennis Club (home). School played quite a steady game and won by 7 matches to 2, 14 sets to 5, 95 games to 59.

School were unsteady at 2nd June.—Stonehaven Academy (away). first, and lost the first three matches. They played better later, but lost by 4 matches to 5, 9 sets to 10, 94 games to 99.

4th June.—Former Pupils. School gained a good win, playing very steadily. Result : 8 matches to 1, 16 sets to 5, 115 games to 72.

School Literary and Debating Society.

9th February, 1923.—On this evening Mr. Hyslop delivered a lecture to the Society on " Photographic Memories." The lecturer started in Belgium and showed photographs of town and country life. Towards the end of the lecture he screened several photographs of the School troops of scouts at camp. At the close Mr. Georgeson proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Hyslop, 16th February.—Mr. Gray delivered a lecture to the Society on " East African Memories." Mr. Georgeson introduced the lecturer to a fairly large audience. Mr. Gray then gave a very interesting account of his life in Africa from 1915 till the end of the War. After a very good lecture a vote of thanks was proposed to Mr. Gray, who made a suitable reply.

23rd February.—On this evening the Rev. A. J. Gossip delivered a lecture on " Robert Louis Stevenson." Mr. Georgeson presided over a large audience.

The lecturer spoke of the indomitable and cheerful character which made Stevenson one of the best of friends. Mr. Georgeson proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was cordially given.

8th March.—On this date, before a record audience, Dr. McLeod gave a lecture on " Wireless." During the evening music was heard from London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Birmingham. At the close of the lecture Mr. Georgeson thanked Dr. McLeod for his lecture, and also his son, who had assisted.

16th March.—A debate was held on this evening between Mr. Middleton and Mr. Bothwell on " Should games be compulsory in School ? " Mr. Middleton opened for the affirmative and delivered a very convincing paper. Mr. Bothwell followed, but his paper was far from convincing. After the subject had been discussed, the vote was taken and it was found that the affirmative had gained by a large majority.

23rd March.—The Society met in Room IV to hear a lecture delivered

by Mr. Mackenzie Forbes on " Jacobite Songs." Mr. Forbes talked of the wonderful vividness of these songs, written by Lady Nairne and James Hogg.

During the evening the lecturer sang a few of these ballads, and Mrs. Forbes played the accompaniments. After the lecture Mr. Georgeson thanked Mr. and Mrs. Forbes for the enjoyable evening they had given the Society.

A musical evening was afterwards held, when Messrs. Anderson and Strachan performed at the piano. Mr. Georgeson, the President, addressed the Society and thanked the officials for their assistance throughout the year. " Auld Lang Syne " was then sung, and the last meeting for the session broke up.

The past session has been a very successful one for the Society. Besides giving a contribution to the War Memorial, the Society produced a play in aid of the Byron Statue Fund. Under the able management of Mr. Hyslop the play was a great success and made an excellent conclusion to the Byron G. L. C. Café.

School Museum.

The following donations have been received :—Collection of Carribean Stone Axes from Jamaica, gifted by Miss R. Paterson through Miss M. B. Davidson, 28 Rubislaw Den South ; stuffed alligator, gifted by Charles Smith.

Lower IVA ; oyster shell used as pinning in the masonry of the conventual buildings, Coldingham Priory, Berwickshire, also fragment of mortar from Proncy Castle, Dornoch, Sutherland, showing use of shells in making lime, gifted by Mr. W. D. Simpson ; adder caught in Aberdeenshire, gifted by Mr. A. Gray through Mr. W. Kennedy, the School Janitor.

Mr. R. Hay Fenton has now completed the rearrangement of the Egg Collection. He wishes to acknowledge valuable assistance kindly given by Miss J. Sinclair, the Rector's Secretary, who made out typescript labels for all the boxes.

The Stamp Collection has been classified and mounted on cards by David Shennan (Middle IIc), and is at present displayed in the open window cases.

The School is greatly indebted to him for the time and patience he has expended W. DOUGLAS SIMPSON. on this work.

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School Office-Bearers.

Session

-

1922-1923.

Prefects.

N. B. WRIGHT. C. A. G. SAVIDGE (Senior Prefect).

W. W. GEORGESON. K. R. T. MATTHEW. J. P. WEIR. D. A. ROBB. Games Committee.

- THE RECTOR. President, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, - Mr. DUNCAN MCGREGOR. R. C. SCRIMGEOUR. Mr. JAMES DAVIDSON, J. A. DAVIDSON. J. P. WEIR. M.A. H. BROWN. N. BEGG. J. B. ESSLEMONT. K. R. T. MATTHEW. W. T. SIMPSON. N. ESSLEMONT. C. A. G. SAVIDGE. J. WISHART. E. M ANTHEI. J. MIDDLETON. Captain, Captain,

Football.

K. R. T. MATTHEW. I Secretary, Cricket.

- C. A. G. SAVIDGE. I Secretary,

-

J. MIDDLETON.

-

J. A. DAVIDSON.

Tennis.

D. WOOD. I Secretary, I. C. BARCLAY. Captain, Swimming.

W. T. SIMPSON. I Vice-Captain, G. KILGOUR. Captain, Secretary, - J. STUART. Committee.

G. ANDERSON. I A. CRUICKSHANK. I J. MCLEOD. I R.C.SCRIMGEOUR. Literary and Debating Society.

W. W. GEORGESON. { C. A. G. SAVIDGE. N. ESSLEMONT. Vice-Presidents, -

President,

W. BOTHWELL.

G. L. CRUICKSHANK. Secretary and Treasurer, Committee.

I. C. BARCLAY. I D. WOOD. I J. MIDDLETON. I H. RUTHERFORD. Lending Library.

C. A. G. SAVIDGE. A. ROBB. _ ) D.A. Librarians, J. BOTHWELL. H. RUTHERFORD. Orchestral Society.

J. MACRAE. President, A. EMSLIE. Vice-President, Mr. J. MACKENZIE FORBES, M.A. Hon. Conductor, " Magazine " Committee.

School Representatives.

D. A. ROBB. School Editor, C. A. G. SAVIDGE. Sports Editor, -

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The Fotmer Pupils' Club.

FOUNDED 1893.

presibent: ALEXANDER THOMAS CRUICKSHANK, O.B.E.,

M.A.

VicesPresibent anb Chairman of Erecutine: WILLIAM GORDON CRAIGEN, M.A., LL.B. Secretarg ant) treasurer: THEODORE WATT, M.A:, The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen.

Secretaries of Sections: London Section—T. J. WiLsoN, C.A., 59/60 Old Bailey, E.C. 4.

[This Section comprises, without additional subscription, all Members of the Club resident in London, and within a radius of 50 miles.]

Rugby Football Section—DoNALD S. STEWART, View House, View Terrace, Aberdeen.

Hockey Section—NORMAN S. ROSE, 16 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen.

Cricket Section—ALEXANDER J. ALLAN, 54 Whitehall Road, Aberdeen.

Tennis Section—W. B. S. PIGGE, 49 Gray Street, Aberdeen.

Motor Section—HERBERT J. EDWARDS, 54 Queen's Road, Aberdeen.

Rates of Subscription for Membership: Life Membership . .

• £5 5 0 Ordinary Membership— For those under 21 years of age at commencement of Club year . . . . 0 2 6 For those of 21 years of age and upwards . 0 5 0 Club Colours.

•

•

•

The Club Colours are Magenta and Dark Green, which may be had in the form of ties, scarves, etc. (See advertisements.)

Visitors' Register.

Members visiting Aberdeen are requested to enter their names and addresses in the Visitors' Register, which is kept at the office of the Aberdeen Press and Journal, 30 UNION STREET.

F.P. Athletic Association.

The objects of the Association are to assist and co-ordinate the working of the various Athletic Sections of the Club, and to extend the athletic activities of the Club. The annual subscription is three shillings, except in the case of members of any of the affiliated Sections. Their annual subscription is one shilling and sixpence.

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Lord Alness Entertained at Luncheon.

The Right Hon. Lord Alness, the Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland, was the guest of the Club at Luncheon in the Palace Hotel on Tuesday, 8th May, before going to the School to unveil the War Memorial in the Hall. Dr. John F. Christie, M.A., President of the Club, was in the chair, and accompanying him and Lord Alness at the top table were—Lord Provost Meff, Mr. D. G. Miller, Rector of the School ; Sheriff J. D. Dallas, Sheriff A. J. Louttit Laing, Mr. George Duncan, advocate, chairman, and Mr. John D. Munro, advocate, a member of the Aberdeen Education Authority ; and Lieut.Col. James Dawson, D.S.O., Director of Education.

The others present were :—Mr. W. G. Craigen, advocate, Vice-President of the Club ; Mr. William A. Cameron, solicitor; Mr. C. T. Christie, Mr. William Crombie, Mr. A. T. Cruickshank, advocate ; Mr. C. J. Davidson, advocate ; Professor William L. Davidson, Mr. Howard G. Drummond, Mr. James C. Duffus, advocate ; Mr. W. A. Elmslie, Mr. Ranald Esslemont, Mr. James Fiddes, jun. ; Professor Alexander Findlay, Capt.

Godfrey P. Geddes, D.S.O. ; Mr. A. F. Hyslop, Grammar School ; Mr. J. B Innes, Mr. A. M. Johnston, Mr. George M`Bain, C.A. ; Mr. James M'Allan, M.R.C.V.S. ; Mr. James D. Mackie, advocate ; Mr. W. A. M'Robbie, Mr. A. W. Marshall, Mr. R. P. Masson, advocate ; Mr. G. Angus Mitchell, Mr. R. Gordon Nicol, harbour engineer ; Col. Thomas Ogilvie, C.B., C.M.G. ; Mr. James T. Ogilvie ; Rev. Professor George Pittendrigh, D.D. ; Mr. Ernest Rennet, advocate ; Mr. Henry A. Richards, advocate ; Dr. Robert Richards, Mr. John Rust, Mr. Norman A. Scorgie, joint clerk, Aberdeen Education Authority; Rev. Dr. James Shepherd, Mr. W. Douglas Simpson, lecturer in British History, Aberdeen University ; Mr. Charles W. Sleigh, Strichen; Lieut.-Col. A. G. Nicol Smith, D.S.O. ; Mr. Alfred Smith, Dr. H. Edgar Smith, Dr. W. Clark Souter, Mr. John C. Taylor, Mr. J. H. Taylor, Mr. D. S. Walker, Mr. Norman J. J. Walker, advocate ; Mr, Charles Watt, Lieut.-Col. Edward W. Watt, Mr. R. B. Williamson, Mr. John D. Anderson, Mr. Hugh R. Barr, assistant harbour engineer ; Rev. George Bartlet, Mr. J. A. C. Coutts, Professor James Hendrick, Mr. Alexander Mitchell, M.Ch. ; Mr. Alexander T. Morrison, convener of the Incorporated Trades ; Mr. Archibald C. Morrison, advocate ; Mr. Gavin Sinclair, advocate ; Rev. J. K. Thomson, Rev. Dr. James Webster, Edinburgh ; and Mr. Theodore Watt, hon. secretary of the Club.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Among the apologies for absence was one from the late Sir W. Robertson Nicoll, written only a few days before his death.

After an excellent luncheon, the toast of " The King" was proposed by the Chairman. " The Lord Justice-Clerk."

Dr. Christie, in giving the toast " The Lord Justice-Clerk," said that our guest was one of ourselves, a former pupil who was one of the most illustrious and cultured that the dear old School had produced. (Applause.) Many of those present might not remember Robert Munro at the " Grammar " in 1884-85. He admitted the crime of being old enough to remember him. He had had the good fortune to live in the same street as Lord Alness boarded in—that rather famous street Fountainhall Road, which had housed quite a number of famous men—(laughter and applause)—including their guest, the late Robertson Smith, the Principal of the University, the late Dr. Lister, the late Dr. David Rennet—and himself. (Applause and laughter.) When building expenses came down he was certain that tablets would be erected in the houses occupied by these famous men.

Dr. Christie said he could remember this regarding Lord Alness—that he was no cricketer, either offensive or defensive ; he did not think he was a great football player ; but he knew now that he was a very great golfer, and that his wife was playing—or had been playing—(laughter)—in the Ladies' Championship. But could one blame for being lacking in these accomplishments the lad at school destined to become K.C., LL.D., a Member of Parliament, the most successful Secretary for Scotland that the country ever had, and, in October, 1922, appointed the Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland ?

(Applause.) He must have been thinking, as a son of the Free Church Manse, of these three terrible oaths administered to him 38 years afterwards—the oath of allegiance, the official oath of service, and the judicial oath.

Might he, in the name of all former pupils, thank his Lordship for gracing our table, and express to him from the bottom of our hearts, the great inspiration which his life of hard work, much more than well done, had been to us all ? The example of his great achievements and success was a constant stimulus to all present and past pupils. (Applause.) Let us take as our motto from his life the famous words of our splendid navy, " Carry on." He did not think we could pay him a higher compliment. (Applause.) Old words were never hackneyed, if and when they were from the heart. " Better lo'ed ye canna be ; will ye no come back again ? " concluded Dr. Christie in asking the company to drink to the health of Lord Alness. (Applause.)

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Lord Alness's Reply.

Lord Alness said in reply that he was greatly indebted for the very cordial welcome given him, and also for our hospitality. It was not the first time we had laid him under such an obligation. It was only one more example of the unfailing kindness which he had always received from the Club, and for which he was not ungrateful. The toast to which he had the honour of replying was " The Lord JusticeClerk." He hardly recognized himself as yet under that designation. It reminded him that he was no longer Secretary for Scotland, as he was when he last visited Aberdeen. He would confess to us that he had laid down that office with infinite regret. Its tenure covered by far the most interesting, if responsible, years of his life. He would also add that having been for nearly fourteen years a Member of Parliament, it was a greater wrench than any of us could imagine to leave Westminster and all that Westminster stood for. He had said the other day in Edinburgh that when people were in the House of Commons they were in the habit of defaming its air, its food, its late hours, the tyranny of the whips, but once they left it, most of them would give their eyes to get back again. That must seem strange to those who did not admire or understand the politician. He could give us examples of many distinguished men who had expressed themselves to him in that sense. There was a strange magnetism about the House of Commons, and about its camaraderie, which was difficult to explain, but any man who had been there would endorse what he said—that there was nothing quite like it in the whole world. (Applause.)

He would now have a little more time to travel and read —two privileges which were denied him for many years while a member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown. The office which he had now the honour to hold was certainly not to be lightly regarded. As Mr. Lloyd George said when he offered him the position, it was a great office, and when he thought of the line of illustrious men who had preceded him in holding it, he very well might feel, and did feel, very humble indeed. He had been greatly encouraged by the messages he had received on his appointment, which seemed to indicate that many of his fellow-countrymen approved of the appointment, and bade him god-speed in the work to which he was putting his hand. (Applause.) One of the messages which he received and valued most came from our Club.

He was glad to be in Aberdeen again. He enjoyed every minute he remained in the city, and looked back upon his visits with great pleasure. His mission on this occasion was in connection with the unveiling of the War Memorial in the Grammar School. He esteemed it a very great privilege to

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be asked to take part in that ceremony. It would be one more tie binding him to the old School. (Applause.)

He was glad to know that the Club was flourishing both north and south. So far as the south was concerned, he could bear personal testimony. He was at the Byron Banquet in London, and had listened to the speeches delivered there.

He might be allowed to say that one of the speeches which impressed him most because of its thoughtfulness, suggestiveness, and scholarship, was the speech by the present Rector of the Grammar School. (Applause.) Mr. Miller and Mr. Watt would bear him out that the same note of loyalty and affection so familiar to us in Aberdeen with regard to the Grammar School was sounded in the City of London, as loud and clear as it was in these northern parts. (Applause.)

A feature of the luncheon was the very representative character of the company. There were several of the older members present who are not often seen at Club functions. i

The Annual Meeting of the Club.

The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Palace Hotel on Thursday, 10th May, Mr. W. G. Craigen, advocate, Vice-President of the Club, presiding.

After the minute of the last Annual Meeting had been read and approved, the Annual Report by the Executive for the year 1922-23 was submitted, as follows :REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 15th APRIL, 1923.

The Executive submits with pleasure the Report of the Club for the year ended 15th April, 1923.

Membership and Subscriptions.

The membership of the Club has increased by 81 during the year. The comparative figures are as follows :Life Members Ordinary Members Honorary Members

1922-23.

483 1,213 49

1921-22.

472 , 1,143 49

1,745 1,664 During the year 13 Life Members and 103 Ordinary Members were enrolled, compared with 19 and 76 respectively in 1922.

Of the boys who left the School during or at the end of the session 1921-22, 51 have already joined the Club, the corresponding figure for the previous year being 33. The Executive notes with great satisfaction that it is becoming more and

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229

more the custom for boys to join the Club immediately on leaving the School.

The number of subscriptions unpaid at 15th April, 1923, was 102, compared with 131 a year ago. Of these 102, 69 were due for one year and 33 for two years. The total value of the subscriptions outstanding was £31. 17s. 6d.

Losses by Death.

The number of Members who died during the year is unusually small, being only 12, compared with 21 in 1921-22, and 23 in 1920-21. Among those who passed away was Sir John Duthie, K.B.E., one of the Honorary Vice-Presidents.

The " Magazine."

The increased support accorded to the Magazine by the School referred to in the last Annual Report has been maintained, and in view of this the Editors have tried to make each issue attractive from the School point of view. The issue of November 1922 was a record one as regards size, consisting of 112 pages and 8 plates. The object of the Editors is to make the Magazine as complete and interesting a record as possible of the doings of both past and present pupils. Contributions to the pages of the Magazine are always most welcome, especially from members of the Club resident abroad.

The Club and the School.

The Club, as usual, presented to the School three silver medals, which were awarded at the close of the session 1921-22 as follows :Silver Medal for English . . . . Maxwell G. Gibb. „ „ Mathematics . . John Shand.

Science . . . . George M. Pirie.

The Club All-Round Trophy was awarded to George M. Pirie, the Trophy Medal being presented to him by the President of the Club at the Annual Distribution of Prizes.

In the last Annual Report reference was made to the scheme for the redecoration of the School Hall, including the inscribing on panels of the names of Former Pupils who fell in the Great War. The Executive is sure that all Members will admire the artistic way in which the Hall has been redecorated under the expert direction of Dr. William Kelly, A. R.S.A. During the past year the Education Authority invited the Club to send a representative to be a member of the Secondary Schools Management Committee. The invitation was gladly accepted by the Executive, which welcomes this action of the Authority in recognizing the great interest which the Club takes in the welfare of the School.

PP

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Social Activities.

The Annual Dinner was held on Saturday, 21st October, when the chief guests were Mr. George A. Morrison, Head Master of Robert Gordon's Secondary School, and Patrol Leader James W. S. Marr, who had recently returned from his Antarctic voyage in the " Quest." The attendance was again excellent, and the gathering in every way successful.

The Annual Ball was held in the Music Hall Buildings on Tuesday, 26th December. The record attendance in 1921 of over 200 was completely eclipsed in 1922 by a gathering of fully 250 members and guests. The financial result of both the Dinner and the Ball was entirely satisfactory, a considerable balance from each being handed over to the general Club funds.

The Informal Club Luncheons instituted in the autumn of 1921 were held regularly throughout the year. The attendance has seldom exceeded 30, and the Executive would urge members who are resident either permanently or temporarily in Aberdeen, to seize the opportunity offered by the Monthly Luncheons for meeting with one another. In order to facilitate the attendance of members resident at some distance from Aberdeen, the day of the Luncheon has been altered from the first Wednesday to the first Friday of every month. The Luncheons are held in the Palace Hotel at 1 p.m.

The Athletic Sections.

The Rugby Section has completed probably the most successful year in its history. The 1st XV maintained an unbeaten record for the whole season, winning the North of Scotland League Championship and the North and Midlands Cup, while the 2nd XV won the Junior Championship.

The Hockey Section has had the most successful season in every way since the War, and holds the second highest place in the League. A very satisfactory feature is the increased keenness and enthusiasm of its members, as many as three Elevens having been available.

The Cricket Section had a season of varying success last year, but it is perhaps worth noting that three of its members were chosen regularly to play in the County Championship matches for Aberdeenshire, while two others were high up on the reserve list and played several times. The Annual Tour was as enjoyable as ever, and another has already been arranged for the coming season.

The Tennis Section continues to grow and is becoming one of the most popular of the Sections, the introduction of " Guest Nights " proving very attractive. The standard of play is noticeably improving.

The Motor Section of the Club is extending rapidly.

Several very pleasant outings were held during the season,

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and a more extended programme, including week-end runs, has been arranged for next season. Everything seems to point to this Section proving as successful as it was in the pre-War days.

The London Section.

The membership of this Section has increased from 180 to 190. During the past winter four informal dinners were held, three of which were followed by lectures. The opportunity afforded by these meetings for very pleasant intercourse has been well taken advantage of by members of the Club resident in and around London.

Club Consuls.

During the year great progress has been made in developing the scheme for the appointment in various places abroad of representatives of the Club. Over 40 Consuls have now been appointed, and these have all entered on their duties with enthusiasm and a keen desire to help members of the Club in every possible way, both when considering the advisability of going abroad and on arrival for the first time in a strange country.

The " Roll of Pupils."

The compilation of the " Roll " has at last been completed, and the final printing is now in progress. During the year members were given the opportunity of subscribing for copies, and the Executive would urge all who have not already subscribed to do so immediately, as only a limited number of copies is being printed. The contents of the " Roll" are such that it is felt that every F.P. will desire to possess a copy, not only for immediate perusal, but for frequent reference in years to come.

The Byron Statue.

The Executive records with satisfaction that the movement for the erection of a Statue of Lord Byron has now almost been completed. The Statue, designed by Dr. Pittendrigh Macgillivray, R.S.A., the King's Sculptor for Scotland, has been delivered in Aberdeen. In January last the Statue Executive Committee resolved to offer the Statue to the Grammar School. The Aberdeen Education Authority, as custodian of the School, has accepted the offer and has undertaken to provide a site for the Statue in front of the School buildings, and to prepare it for the reception of the Statue, which, it is anticipated, will be unveiled during the summer of the present year. All who have seen the Statue are enthusiastic in their commendation of it, and there can

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHO( Abstract of Revenue and Expenditu REVENUE. I. CAPITAL ACCOUNT-

Life Members' Subscriptions received during year

• •

,.

II. ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE—

£93

Subscriptions received during 1922-23 applicable to future years

III. " ROLL OF PUPILS "—

£1 0 0 6 12 8

• •

• •

• •

• •

81 7

•

• •

• •

• •

2 11

• •

IV. BYRON STATUE FUND—

••

V. RECREATION GROUND FUND-

Interest on sum on Deposit Receipt

53 7

• •

..

Amount received during year Amount transferred from Capital Account ..

Amount received during year

9

•

7 12

VI. APPLICABLE TO YEAR 1922-23—

Ordinary Subscriptions received prior to 15th April ..

1922 (transferred from Capital Account) Ordinary Subscriptions received during the year..

Arrears recovered ..

£61 19 6 184 7 6 19 2 6

.. ..

£265 9 6 53 5 1 31 19 1

Revenue from Investments ..

Miscellaneous ..

• •

• •

• •

•

• •

• •

•

350 13 £589 1

Balance Sheet CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES.

I. CAPITAL— £1,038 6 2 Amount at credit as at 15th April 1922 ..

Add—Life Members' Subscriptions received during 93 9 0 ..

1922-23, as per Revenue Account.. „ Surplus for year ended 15th April 1923, 35 2 6 as per Revenue Account .. " ROLL OF PUPILS "—

Amount at credit as per last Account Less—Transferred to Revenue Account

• • • •

III. BYRON STATUE FUND—

..

Amount at credit as per last Account Add—Transferred from Revenue Account

IV. RECREATION GROUND FUND—

..

Amount at credit as per last Account Add—Transferred from Revenue Account

V. LONDON SECTION—

..

Amount at credit as per last Account Add—Transferred from Revenue Account..

Less—Paid to account for 1922-23..

• •

£6 12 8 6 12 8

.. ..

£148 3 11 83 19 9

.. ..

£170 3 3 2 11 4

.. ..

£10 18 2 23 15 0

• •

..

VI. ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCEBalance of Subscriptions received prior to 1922-23 .. .. applicable to future years, Subscriptions received during 1922-23 applicable to future years, as per Revenue Account

£34 13 2 8 3 6

£1,166 17

232 3 172 14

26

9

£35 1 3 53 7 6

88 8 £1,686 14

RMER

PUPILS' CLUB.

:ount for Year ended 15th April 1923.

EXPENDITURE. I. CAPITAL ACCOUNT—

••

£93

9 0

..

Amount transferred to Capital Account as per contra ..

I. " ROLL OF PUPILS "— •. .. .. ..

Amount expended during year ..

T. BYRON STATUE FUND— £2 16 9 .. .. .. during year Amount expended 78 10 5 ..

Amount transferred to Capital Account ..

53

7

6

7 12

8

81

7

2

2 11

4

..

Amount transferred as per contra

..

..

ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE—

7. RECREATION GROUND FUNDAmount transferred to Capital Account as per contra • • I. APPLICABLE TO YEAR 1921-22Byron Statue Fund—Interest for year (trans£5 9 .. ferred to Capital Account) 92 12 Working Expenses ..

Magazine—Cost for year, less revenue from ad162 5 vertisements and sales..

London Section—Capitation Grant for year 23 15 .. .. (transferred to Capital Account) 31 9 .. ..

Miscellaneous Expenses 00

40

• •

4 Si 0

..

0 1i 2 6

£315 11 35 2

Surplus for year

350 13 8 £589

1

4

15th April 1923.

ASSETS. SUMS DUE FOR ADVERTISING

. •

••

••

• •

CASH IN HAND AND INVESTED FUNDS AT 15TH APRIL 1923

.. £117 1 9 .. 1,569 12 7

ABERDEEN, 19tk May 1923.—We have examined the foregoing retitle and Expenditure Account for the year ended 15th April 3, and relative Balance Sheet as at that date, compared the figures 1 the vouchers, and found the Accounts correct. We are of opinion 1 the above Balance Sheet correctly states the position of the Club It 1Sth April 1923. We have had exhibited to us the various ❑cities supporting the Funds at the close of the Account.

BOWER & SMITH, C.A., (Signed)

Honorary A uditors.

£1,686 14

4

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

be no doubt that the School will shortly be in possession of a magnificent work of artistic genius. During the past year a sum of over £80 was subscribed by members of the Club and others towards clearing off the deficit in the Statue Funds.

The Memorial Pavilion.

The Executive has learned with satisfaction that the plans for the War Memorial Pavilion have now been practically settled, and that in all probability building operations will be started in the coming summer.

Revision of Constitution.

In view of the steady development of the Club, the Executive appointed a Sub-Committee to go over the whole Constitution of the Club and to suggest any amendments that might seem advisable or to draft a fresh Constitution. The Sub-Committee decided to draft a fresh Constitution. which, after careful consideration and adjustment, was approved by the Executive, and is being submitted to this Annual General Meeting of the Club far adoption.

The Club's Finances.

The Revenue and Expenditure Account for the year shows a surplus of £35. 2s. 6d., compared with a surplus of £14. lls. 9d. for 1921-22. The ordinary Revenue for the year 1922-23 shows an increase of £21. 4s. 11d. over the previous year, and the capital of the Club now amounts to £1,166. 17s. 8d., having increased during the year by £128. 11s. 6d. This sum includes £25. 4s. 0d. received from eight members who paid the difference of £3. 3s. between the old rate and the new rate of subscription for life membership. The Executive cordially welcomes this action on the part of these life members, and trusts that others will see their way to increase their . original subscription to £5. 5s. The total funds of the Club on 16th April, 1923, amounted to £1,686. 14s. 4d., compared with £1,471. 4s. I ld. at 15th April, 1922. A valuation at the close of the year of the securities held by the Club shows that their market value exceeded by almost £100 the value at which they stand in the Balance Sheet.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. A. T. Cruickshank, advocate, the Report and Accounts were unanimously adopted.

Office-bearers and Members of the Executive for 1923-24 were appointed in accordance with the list which appears on page 248. Messrs. Bower & Smith, C.A., were re-appointed

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Honorary Auditors, and were awarded a special vote of thanks for their services during the past year.

New Constitution of the Club.

The next business was the submission for adoption of a proposed new Constitution of the Club, a draft copy of which had previously been sent to every member of the Club. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. James C. Duffus, advocate, the draft Constitution was unanimously adopted ; and on the motion of Mr. Charles Watt there was passed a cordial vote of thanks to the Sub-Committee of the Executive which had been responsible for the drafting of the new Constitution.

•

Monthly Club Luncheons.

Discontinued till October.

The Executive has decided that the Club Luncheons shall be discontinued during the summer months, and that the next one will take place on the first Friday of October. At the Luncheon on 1st June Major A. Irvine-Fortescue, D.S.O., R.A.M.C.. gave an exceptionally interesting address on the present state of affairs in Waziristan and on his experiences in that lively part of the Empire. So impressed was the Rector with the address that he got Major Irvine-Fortescue to talk to the pupils at the School a few days later, when the speaker kept his audience spellbound for over an hour.

Club Subscriptions.

Ordinary Subscriptions for the year which started on 16th April last are now due, and the Treasurer will be grateful if members will remit without waiting for a further notice.

As a rule, a great deal of energy has to be expended before all subscriptions are collected, and this would be obviated if members would pay up promptly. Subscriptions may be paid in advance for any number of years.

Visitors' Register.

Will Members visiting Aberdeen please make a special point of signing the Register which is kept at 30 Union Street ?

From the comparatively few entries it is obvious that a large number of F.P.s are ignoring or forgetting about the Register.

The Secretary will be pleased if members from a distance will, when in Aberdeen, in addition to signing the Register, pay him a visit at The Rosemount Press. He is always delighted to be brought into personal touch with F.P.s, and will gladly do all in his power to assist them.

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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

Constitution of the Former Pupils' Club as adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on 10ki May 1923.

1.—The Club shall be called " THE ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL FORMER PUPILS' CLUB." 2.—The objects of the Club shall be to promote educational and social intercourse among the Former Pupils, to keep them in touch with the School, and to assist Former Pupils and the School in whatever way may be deemed advisable.

3.—The Club shall consist of :— (a) Life Members, (b) Ordinary Members, (c) Extraordinary Members, and (d) Honorary Members.

All Former Pupils of the School shall be eligible for admission as Life or Ordinary Members, and all present members of the Teaching Staff of the School for admission as Extraordinary Members. Past members of the Teaching Staff of the School and any persons showing a special interest in the School or the Club may be elected Honorary Members under para. 23(f).

4.—The colours of the Club shall be Magenta and Dark Green.

Finances.

5.—The subscription for Life Membership of the Club shall be £5. 5s. The subscription for Ordinary Membership shall be 2s. 6d. per annum for members under 21 years of age at the commencement of the Club year, and 5s. per annum for members of 21 years of age and upwards, payable on 1st January in each year. The subscription, if any, for Extraordinary Membership shall be fixed from time to time by the Executive.

6.—The subscriptions shall entitle members to a copy of each number of the School Magazine, which will be sent post free, subject to the provisions contained in para. 23(g).

7.—The financial year of the Club shall end on 31st December, and the accounts of the Club made up to that date shall be audited by the auditor or auditors appointed at the preceding Annual General Meeting. The accounts shall be approved by the Executive and shall be submitted at the Annual General Meeting.

Office-Bearers.

8.—The Office-Bearers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and shall consist of the following :— An Honorary President, Honorary Vice-Presidents, a Presi-

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237

dent, a Vice-President, a Secretary and Treasurer, and, if desired, a Joint or Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. The Honorary President and Honorary Vice-Presidents need not necessarily be Former Pupils.

9.—All Office-Bearers shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election.

General Meetings.

10.—A General Meeting of the Club may be called at any time— (a) By the Executive under para. 23(d). (b) By one-third of the members of the Executive under para. 27, or (c) At the request of 50 members of the Club conveyed in writing to the Secretary.

11.—Notices of motion for a General Meeting shall be sent to the Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the meeting.

12.—Intimation of any General Meeting and of the business to be transacted shall be given in writing at least ten days before the date of the meeting, to each member of the Club having in the Club Register an address in Aberdeenshire or Kincardineshire, and to any other member who may apply to the Secretary in writing to have intimation sent to him.

13.—At any General Meeting the Vice-President shall preside or in his absence a Chairman appointed by the Meeting.

14.—At any General Meeting other than the Annual General Meeting the only business before the meeting shall be :— (1) The special business for which such meeting shall have been called.

(2) Any motions competent under para.11.

15.—The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held not later than the 15th day of March in each year.

16.—At the Annual General Meeting the business before the meeting shall consist of the following :— (1) Report by the Executive on the activities of or work done by the Club during the preceding year.

(2) Accounts and Treasurer's report.

(3) Election of Office-Bearers.

(4) Appointment of Members of the Executive.

(5) Appointment of an Auditor or Auditors.

(6) Any motions competent under para.11.

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Management.

17.—The management of the Club shall be vested in an Executive, which shall consist of :—The Vice-President of the Club, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Club, the Joint or Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the Club (should one have been appointed), 15 Life or Ordinary Members of the Club, and representatives from Sections in terms of para. 31.

18.—The 15 Life or Ordinary Members on the Executive shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

19.—The members of the Executive shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election.

20.—The Vice-President of the Club shall be the Chairman of the Executive, and in his absence the Executive may appoint one of its members to act as Chairman.

21.—Each member of the Executive shall have one vote, and the Chairman shall have both a deliberative and a casting vote. Six members shall form a quorum.

22.—The Executive shall have general control of the affairs of the Club and of any Sections which may be formed, and may determine any matter relating to the Club not provided for in the Rules.

23.—In particular the Executive shall have power :— (a) To appoint Committees, which need not consist wholly of members of the Executive. (b) To fill any vacancy occurring among the Office-Bearers or in the Executive during the year. The Office-Bearers so elected or the member of the Executive so appointed shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting. (c) To regulate the admission of persons not members of the Club to meetings of or arranged by the Club : provided that in no case shall any Former Pupil who is not a member of the Club be admitted to such meetings. (d) To call a General Meeting of the Club at any time to transact any special business. (e) To appoint members of the Club to act as its official representatives, such representatives to be designated " Club Consuls." (f) To elect Extraordinary and Honorary Members of the Club.

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(g) To withhold the Magazine from any member whose subscription is in arrears : provided always that if a member's subscription be not paid by 28th February, he shall be entitled to receive a reminder along with the next number of the Magazine published after that date. (h) To pass a resolution removing from member ship of the Club any member :— (i) If his subscription to the Club be more than two years in arrears ; or (ii) If, in the opinion of the Executive, his conduct shall have been such as to make it undesirable in the interests of the Club that he should remain a member thereof : provided always that the procedure laid down in para. 34 shall have been complied with.

No member so removed shall be entitled to repayment of any subscription or relieved of liability for any sums due by him to the Club or to any of the Sections at the date of his removal.

24.—The Executive shall appoint annually :— (1) The representatives of the Club on the Rubislaw Field Committee, who shall be members of the Executive.

(2) Four representatives of the Club, of whom at least two shall be members of the Executive, to act on the Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Committee.

(3) One of its members to act on the " All-Round " Trophy Committee.

25.—The Executive shall meet to transact the ordinary business of the Club once in every two months, with the exception of the months of July and August : provided always that the Vice-President may summon a meeting of the Executive at any time.

26.—For Executive Meetings notices of motion shall be sent to the Secretary in writing at least seven days before the date of the meeting, and intimation of Ordinary Meetings and of the business to be transacted shall be sent in writing to each member of the Executive at least four days before the date of the meeting, or at least 24 hours before any Special Meeting convened by the Vice-President under para.

25.

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27.—An appeal against any final decision of the Executive may be made to a General Meeting of the Club, provided it be supported by 50 members of the Club, or by one-third of the members of the Executive : such appeal to be lodged in writing with the Secretary within seven days of the decision in question.

Sections.

28.-A Section of the Club may be formed at any time with a view to furthering the objects of the Club, provided the sanction of the Executive be obtained.

29.—A Section shall have a Constitution or set of Rules governing it, which shall be subsidiary to and in conformity with this Constitution.

30.—The Constitution or set of Rules of a Section shall be submitted to the Executive for approval, but the Executive shall withhold its approval unless such Constitution or set of Rules include a rule to the effect that " only members of the Former Pupils' Club shall be eligible for membership."

31.—A Section having a membership of at least 20 shall be entitled to appoint to the Executive one representative, who must be a Life or an Ordinary Member. The representatives of Sections on the Executive shall retire annually, at the date of the Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election.

32.—The Secretary of each Section shall send to the Secretary of the Club annually, at such date as may from time to time be laid down by the Executive, a list of the members of the Section, a report, and a financial statement.

33.—An appeal against any final decision of a Section may be made to the Executive, provided it be supported by onethird of the members of the Section : such appeal to be lodged in writing within seven days of such decision with the Secretary of the Section, who shall immediately intimate such appeal to the Secretary of the Club.

Removal of Members.

34.—If in the opinion of the Executive the conduct of any member requires investigation :— (1) The Executive shall send to such member (a) a notice stating that his conduct is to be investigated and requiring him to appear before the Executive, (b) a copy of paras.

23(h) and 34 of this Constitution, and (c) intimation of the date and hour of such meeting as hereinafter laid down. Such notice,

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241

copy, and intimation shall be held to have been duly served on him if sent by registered post letter to him at the address appearing in the Club Register.

(2) At the next meeting of the Executive occurring in the case of a member resident in the British Isles not sooner than one month from the date of posting said registered letter, or in the case of a member resident abroad not sooner than three months after date of posting, the member shall be heard and be allowed the services of a friend. If from any unavoidable cause such member is unable to be present at the meeting, he may be represented by a friend.

(3) After such member or his friend has been heard, or in the event of the member neither appearing nor being represented, the Executive may, at that meeting or any adjournment thereof, exercise the power conferred on it under para. 23(h) : provided always there are at least 12 members of the Executive present at the meeting at which the said power is exercised.

(4) Any member so removed shall have the right within one month from the date of such resolution, by giving notice in writing to the Secretary, to appeal from the decision of the Executive to a Special General Meeting of the Club. On receipt of said written notice the Secretary shall call within one month a Special General Meeting of the Club to consider such appeal, and the decision of such General Meeting shall be final.

The member so removed shall be entitled to (5) receive seven days' notice of such General Meeting and to appear to defend himself and to have the assistance of a friend.

(6) Pending the decision of such General Meeting, the member so removed shall be suspended from the privileges of membership.

Alteration in or addition to Constitution.

35.—No alteration in or addition to this Constitution shall be made except with the consent of two-thirds of the members present at a General Meeting.

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Appointments in Ceylon.

The following appointments are vacant in Ceylon, and applications are invited from F.P.s :— (a) A young Scotch Chartered Accountant is required for a mercantile office in Colombo on a four years' agreement on the following salary :1st year . . . .

Rs700/- per month 2nd year . . . .

800/do.

3rd year . . . .

900/— do.

4th year . . . .

1000/— do.

The par value of the rupee is 1/4, consequently the above salaries are the equivalent of £560, £640, £720, and £800 stg. per annum respectively. First-class steamer passage to Ceylon will be provided by the employers. On completion of his period of service, the Accountant would be provided with a single passage to England, plus six months' half-pay. In the event of his entering into a further agreement with his firm for an additional period of three years, on terms to be mutually arranged, he would there and then be entitled to six months' furlough on full pay (at the rate drawn at the end of his 4th year), first-class steamer passage both ways being provided by his employers. (b) A young Scotchman in the early twenties is required for a first-class tea estate in the hills, on a five years' agreement.

Salary would be Rs250/-, 300/-, and 350/- per month respectively for the first three years, the salary to be drawn for the fourth and fifth years to be decided later. At par, Rs250/- per month is the equivalent of £200 stg. per annum. In addition thereto, a bungalow and the customary coolie allowances would be provided by the Estate. Passage to Ceylon would have to be provided by the prospective planter, but the cost thereof would ultimately be repaid, provided the full period of service is carried out. At the end of the five years, first-class steamer passage to England plus six months' half-pay would be provided by the Estate, and in the event of the planter returning to the Estate for a further period of twelve months' service, first-class return passage would be provided by the Estate together with six months' furlough on full pay reckoned on the salary being drawn at the end of the fifth year.

Applications for the above should be addressed to Mr. THEODORE WArr, M.A., Secretary of the Grammar School F.P. Club, The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen. Envelopes covering applications for the Accountant's post should bear the word " Accountant " at the top left-hand corner. Similarly, applications for the planting billet should have the word " Planter " written at the top left-hand corner of the envelope.

Applicants should give full particulars as to their age,

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

243

occupation since leaving School, etc., and copies of references, if any. Mr. Watt is in no way responsible in the matter, and merely serves as a medium for the passing on of the applications.

Replies to applications cannot be guaranteed.

The Club's Consul in Ceylon, who is at present in this country, has pleasure in 1 ecommending both billets to F.P.s desirous of seeking their fortunes abroad.

Club Consuls.

Four additional Consuls have been appointed since the last Magazine was published—for Chile, Fiji, Madras, and Natal. Their names appear, marked with a dagger (t), in the " Full List of Consuls already appointed" which is printed below.

ERNEST A. BUCHAN (Chile), on taking up his new duties, was anxious to get the names of any old Grammar Boys who were living in Chile and who were not members of the Club.

He accordingly got a special notice inserted in the Pacific Mail, the most widely-read English paper on the West Coast of South America. He thought it likely that all F.P.s out there would either see the notice or here about it, but up to the time of the writing of his last letter no replies to the notice had been received, " which would indicate that there are very few F.P.s resident in this part of the world. I fear, therefore, that we cannot look forward to a very active branch of the F.P. Club in Chile."

KENNETH J. ALLARDYCE (Fiji) wrote that he WaS quite ready to accept office, but he lives in a very isolated part of Fiji, with uncertain means of communication, and anyone merely passing through or making a short stay would have no chance of getting into touch with him. For this reason he thinks that if there are any other F.P.s in the Colony, any one of them would probably be in a better position than he to further the objects of the Club. In view, however, of the fact that there is no other member of the Club known to be resident in Fiji, and as he has spent a long time there, he has been appointed Club Consul for the present, until it is seen whether some other member turns up who is more favourably situated.

DAVID R. SMITH (Natal) says that he has been 34 years in Natal in commercial business, and would be glad to give any information he can regarding business and other matters to anyone from the old School. Durban, he remarks, is the business centre of Natal, and the coming town of South Africa.

Coastal climatic conditions are tropical ; inland, semi-tropical.

With reference to " Some Suggested Duties of a Club Consul " which appeared in the March issue of the Magazine, J. C. M. LIGERTWOOD writes from Calgary, Alberta, that there

244

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

is one duty which is not mentioned, and that is that every Consul should see that all F.P.s resident in his district become members of the Club. He himself has rounded up one nonmember. Ligertwood is a stamp collector, and says he has written several of the Consuls whose names appeared in the last issue of the Magazine offering to exchange stamps of Canada and the United States for the stamps of their respective countries. He will be pleased to hear from any other F.P. who is interested in stamp-collecting.

Through A. M. BISSET (Southern Rhodesia) the Secretary of the Club has received a number of copies of a pamphlet, entitled " Notes for Prospective Settlers," issued by the Southern Rhodesia Settlers' ' Board. These have been forwarded with a view to a copy being handed to anyone to whom the subject of land settlement in Southern Rhodesia is of interest.

Lotus WILSON (Island of Hawaii) has sent a bundle of literature on the Territory of Hawaii, and also copies of " Paradise of the Pacific: Hawaii's Illustrated Monthly Magazine." Any members of the Club interested in Hawaii can peruse this literature on application to the Secretary of the Club.

Full List of Consuls already appointed.

Canada.

ALBERTA :-JOHN CHARLES MURRAY LIGERTWOOD (1903-06), C.A., c/o Messrs. Marwick, Mitchell & Co., 27 Canada Life Building, Calgary.

NEW BRUNSWICK :-WILLIAM MENZIES KESSON (1893-98), North Devon.

NOVA SCOTIA :-GEORGE MACKENZIE WOOD (1880-82), c/o Messrs.

Joseph Wood & Co., Central Wharf, Halifax.

ONTARIO :—ROBERT FLEMING (1891-98), C.E., c/o Messrs. Wood, Fleming & Co., Royal Bank Buildings, Toronto.

Federated Malay States.

NEGRI SEMBILAN :-DONALD TRENCH SKEEN (1895-99), M.B., Seremban. [At home for remainder of year.]

SELANGOR :—DAVID GRAEME ROBERTSON (1900-09), 1 Robertson Road, Kuala Lumpur.

India.

ASSANI:-WILLIAM H. G. HALLY (1889-96), Singlo Tea Co., Ltd., Jaboka Division, Sonari P.O. BENGAL :-G. F. ROSE (1881-92), c/o Messrs. Andrew Yule & Co., Ltd., 8 Clive Row, Calcutta.

BOMBAY :-ROBERT ROBERTSON HYND (1879-84), Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Bombay. t MADRAS :—Rev. Professor WILLIAM MESTON (1881-86), M.A., B.D., Madras Christian College.

PUNJAB :-WILLIAM NORMAN LESLIE (1892-95), Southern Punjab Railway Co., Ltd., Ferozepore.

TRAVANCORE :—JOHN FORBES FRASER (1879-83), Travancore Tea Estates Co., Ltd., Bonami, Peermade P.O. UNITED PROVINCES :-ALEXANDER MACGREGOR WILLIAMSON (1908-11), c/o The Cawnpore Woollen Mills Co., Ltd., Cawnpore.

School Suits and Blazers Boys' Sports 'and Rugby Suits, Fit 7 to 14 years,

25/11.

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Youths' Long Trouser Suits, Fit 13 to 18 years,

39/6.

All-Wool Grammar Blazers, With Badge (Lined Sleeves), Price, to fit 6 years,

14/6.

Rise 1/- per size.

ESSLEMONT

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UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.

W. KENNAWAY, Ltd., BAKERS and CONFECTIONERS, 5 and 7 Holburn Street.

Luncheon and Tea Rooms,

173 Union Street, ABERDEEN.

SPECIALTIESWEDDING CAKES.

SHORTBREAD-

ROYAL DEESIDE IN TARTAN TINS, ALSO A

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I

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

245

South Africa.

CAPE PROVINCE :-Dr. ALEXANDER MARR GEDDES (1897-1903), Grove Avenue, Claremont, Cape Town. t NATAL :—DAVID ROBERT SMITH (1875-77), 120 Victoria Road, Maritzburg.

ORANGE FREE STATE :—DOUGLAS GORDON BISSET (1890-1900), Castor Siding, Private Bag, Bloemfontein.

TRANSVAAL :—JAMES MOIR (1881-93), M.A., D.Sc., Government Laboratory, Box 1080, Johannesburg.

United States.

NEW YORK :—WILLIAM MACKINTOSH (1893-96), Royal Insurance Co., Ltd., 84 William Street, New York.

ISLAND OF HAWAII :-LOUIS WILSON (1872-75), Hilo, Hawaii.

West Indies.

TOBAGO :-KENNETH REID (1901-04), King's Bay. TRINIDAD :-ARCHIBALD YOUNG (1889-94), c/o Messrs. Alston & Co., Ltd., Port of Spain.

AUSTRALIA (Victoria) :—THOMAS G. WATSON (1896-99), Box 26, Stock Exchange, Melbourne.

BORNEO :—Rt. Rev. E. D. LOGIE DANSON (1892-94), D.D., Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak, Bishop's House, Kucking, Sarawak, via Singapore.

CENTRAL AMERICA (Guatemala) :—CHARLES H. MOIR (1873-76), 6a Avenida Norte Prolongacion No. 1, Guatemala, via New Orleans and Puerto Barrios.

CEYLON :—DAVID SCOTT (1886-94), etc. Messrs. Lewis Brown & Co., Colombo. [At home for remainder of year.] t CHILE :-ERNEST A. BUCHAN (1890-97), Anglo-Chilian Nitrate and Railway Co., Ltd., Tocopilla.

CHINA (Shanghai) :—GEORGE ALSTON BUYERS (1906-08), C.A., c/o Messrs. G. H. & N. Thomson, 2 Canton Road, Shanghai. t FIJI :—KENNETH JAMES ALLARDYCE (1894-95), Nabavatu.

GOLD COAST COLONY :—WILLIAM MILLER (1894—?), Assistant Colonial Secretary for Harbours and Railways, The Secretariat, Accra.

HONGKONG :—JOHN CAMERON TAYLOR (1904-06), c/o Messrs.

Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., Hongkong.

JAPAN :—WILLIAM NICOLL BUYERS (1906-10), c/o The Zangtsze Insurance Association, Ltd., 750 Main Street, Yokohama.

JAVA :—ALEXANDER STEWART CATTO (1900-03), Djasinga Estates.

Halte Tendjo, Bantamlijn.

NEW ZEALAND :—Dr. THEODORE GRANT GRAY (1895-1901), Mental Hospital, Nelson.

NIGERIA (Southern Provinces) :—Dr. WILLIAM EDWARD GLOVER (1896-98), c/o The Principal Medical Officer, Lagos.

RHODESIA (Southern) :—ALEXANDER MURRAY BISSET (18861895), M'Gutu, Private Bag, Salisbury.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (Penang) :—JOHN RHYS DANSON (18971903), Municipal Office, Penang.

SUDAN :—JAMES LORIMER SOUPER (1898-1909), Gordon College, Khartoum.

SUMATRA :—EDWARD PERCY BARNETT (1895-1903), The Bandar Sumatra Rubber Co., Ltd., Bandar Pinang, P.O. Galang, E.C. Sumatra.

Any member of the F.P. Club who is going out for the first time to a town or district abroad where there is a Club Consul can appeal with confidence to him for advice and assistance. Club Consuls will gladly answer inquiries about their particular areas.

246

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine,

F.P. Tennis Section.

The Tennis season is now in full swing, and although bad weather hindered play at the beginning, the prospects are very encouraging. Matches have been arranged, but up to the time of writing not one has been played.

The membership is satisfactory, and any F.P. who wishes to join should apply immediately to the Secretary (W. B. S. Pigge, 49 Gray Street). There are special terms for those who wish to join for a limited period.

F.P. Cricket Section.

Owing to our " summer " climate, the Section has very little to report at present. The two most important fixtures—both with Huntly—had to be postponed owing to bad weather, and the other matches played have been more or less practice games. Games have been played with the School, Royal Mental Hospital, 'Shire, Huntly, 2nd St. Ronald, etc. Of these, the games against Huntly and the Hospital were both lost, but the F.P.s were weakened on both occasions by the absence of members playing for the County.

The game against Aberdeenshire was also lost, mainly owing to Vogler, who took 6 wickets and scored over 50 runs.

The Section promises to have a strong team this year, and when not unduly weakened by members playing for Aberdeenshire in County Championship matches, should give a very good account of itself.

F.P. Motor Section.

The Section is now in full swing again, and, with an improvement in the weather, the members look forward to a most successful and enjoyable season.

A feature of this year's outings will be week-end runs. Owing to bad weather only one such run has been held as yet, but those who were present at it spent such a thoroughly pleasant time that it is hoped to hold at least one such run each month during the summer, in addition to the Saturday afternoon and Sunday runs. It is hoped that members of other Sports Sections, who are engaged on Saturdays, will take full advantage of the latter. Any addition to the membership of the Section will be welcomed. Either car or cycle owners are eligible, and guests are allowed on all runs—one per member.

The following is a resume of the runs held this season :— Saturday, 7th April.—On this date a short opening run was held. The weather was not of the best, but the run proved very enjoyable. The route was by the South Deeside Road, through Strachan, and over the Shooting Greens to Potarch, thence across to Torphins, where tea was served, and home by Cullerlie.

Saturday and Sunday, 21st/22nd April.—A most enjoyable week-end run was held on these dates. The route followed was by the South Deeside Road to Banchory, through Glen Dye, and over the Cairn o' Mounth, thereafter through Fettercairn to Edzell. Tea was served on arrival, after which a number of the party had a run along Glen Esk to Loch Lee, returning in time for dinner at Edzell, where the night was spent. In the hotel there, many of the party heard their first wireless concert, which added novelty to the enjoyment of the outing. On the Sunday most of the party felt very energetic, and set out for Dundee. Owing to the condition of the roads they rather repented of their zeal, and wished they had joined the select few who went direct to Montrose and thence to Stonehaven. There the whole party reassembled for tea, and the return to Aberdeen was made early in the evening.

One and all voted this, our first week-end run, a huge success, and we look forward to many more.

May.—Owing to the weather conditions all through May, a Sunday run and a week-end run which had been arranged had to be abandoned.

H. J. E.

The School War Memorial.

Subscriptions received from 15th March to 5thJune 1923.

Grammar School Swimming Club, per J. Mitchell Stuart, 22 Gor.. .. .. .. .. dondale Road, Aberdeen Aberdeen Grammar School Debating Society, per G. L. Cruickshank •• ..

G. Keith Kynoch, 3 Clarence Road, Tunbridge Wells Proceeds of Gymnastic Assault at Grammar School, per D. G. •. .. .. .. .. ..

Miller, Esq., Rector

£10 0 0 10 0 5

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Established over 75 years.

ROBES et MODES.

WATT & MILNE, 172 Union St., ABERDEEN.

FOURRURES et MANTEAUX.

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

247

List of New Members of the Club • LIFE MENIIII;Its. Adcock, John Malton (1901-11), A.M.Inst.C.E., 26 Carlton Place, Aberdeen.

Smith, William Elder (1904-09), c/o Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., Hankow, N. China.

Additional Subscriptions from Lite Members.

The following, who became Life Members of the Club when the subscription was £2. 2s., have remitted the additional sum of £3. 3s. in order to bring their subscriptions up to the new rate of £5. 5s.

It is hoped that others will do likewise.

Williamson, W. A. (1897-1907), go Westminster Bank, Ltd., 217 Strand, London, W.C.2.

McDonald, W. Yeats (1866-67), 17 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen.

Mitchell, Charles E. (1897-98), Northness, Lerwick.

ORDINARY MEMBERS. Gray, Captain Olaf Everard (1912-14), Wilkinson, James Dawson (1916-22), 341 Great Western Road, Aber19 Albert Street, Aberdeen. deen.

Fettis, William (1885-86), Margie, McHardy, John D. (1915-20), 225 Edzell.

Union Grove, Aberdeen.

Gauld, Edgar R. (1917-22), 16 DessWilson, George (1864-69), 56 Moorwood Place, Aberdeen. gate, London, E.C. 2.

Munro, Ian B. (1911-22), 3 Bayview Croll, John Francis (1910-22), 28 Road, Aberdeen.

Ashley Gardens, Aberdeen.

Bremner, James Anton (1916-19), Ironside, George (1890-92), M.A., Bulwa Estate, Amani, Yanga, Schoolhouse, Cairnbanno, by Tanganyika Territory.

New Deer.

Notice.

BRIGHTON.—An ex-Regular officer (F.P.) is open to receive a limited number of paying guests. Best position, facing sea, in the most select residential neighbourhood. Apply " X," c/o Mr. Theodore Watt, The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen ; or c/o Mr. T. J. Wilson, C.A., 59/60 Old Bailey, London, E.C.4.

" Roll of Pupils 1795-1919."

The response to the second circular referred to in the last issue of the Magazine has been very gratifying, and it is confidently anticipated that before long the desired minimum number of subscribers will be reached. Meanwhile the printing of the " Roll " has nearly been completed, and but for the proximity of the summer holidays, it would have been issued almost immediately. It can now definitely be stated that the " Roll" will be published not later than October—an appropriate time, for on the 23rd of that month falls the 60th anniversary of the opening of the present School buildings, which is the starting date of the annotations in the " Roll."

The Annual Club Dinner.

The Executive of the Club has approved of a suggestion that the next Annual Dinner be held in the School Hall in October, provided the necessary catering arrangements can be made. If all difficulties are overcome, it is expected that there will be a record gathering.

248

Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.

F.P. Club Office-Bearers, 1923-1924.

Honorary President— DOUGLAS GORDON MILLER, M.A.

Honorary Vice-Presidents— Sir JOHN BAKER, M.D. (1875-79).

Sir GEORGE CARMICHAEL, K.C.S.I., LL.D. (1876-81).

Sir WM. WATSON CHEYNE, Bart., M.P., K.C.M.G., C.B., M.B., C.M., F.R.C.S., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S. (1863-68).

Sir JOHN COLLIE, C.M.G., M.D., C.M. (1873-76).

ProfeSSor WILLIAM LESLIE DAVIDSON, M.A., LL.D. (1859-64).

ALEXANDER DUFFUS, Advocate (1871-76).

Sir DAVID FERRIER, M.A., M.D., LL.D., D.Sc., F.R.S. (1854-58).

Sir GEORGE STUART FORBES, K.C.S.I., M.A. (1860-64).

Sir GEORGE STEGMANN GIBB, LL.B. (1860-65).

Major-General Sir JAMES R. L. MACDONALD, K.C.I.E., C.B., LL.D. (1873-76).

The Right Hon. Lord MESTON, K.C.S.I., LL.D. (1876-80).

The Right Hon. Lord ALNESS, P.C., M.A., LL.D., Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland (1884-85)Sir FRANCIS GRANT OGILVIE, C.B., M.A., B.Sc., LL.D. (1872-74).

Sir ALEXANDER OGST0N, K.C.V.O., M.D., C.M., LL.D. (1855-58).

Lieut.-Col. Sir DAVID PRAIN, C.M.G., C.I.E., M.A., M.B., LL.D., F.R.S. (1872-73).

Sir JAMES REID, Bart., G.C.V.O., K.C.B., M.A., M.D., LL.D. (1861-65).

Major-General Sir ANDREW SKEEN, K.C.I.E., C.B., C.M.G. (1881-86).

Sir GEORGE WATT, C.I.E., M.B., C.M., LL.D. (1867-69).

The LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEEN. The CHAIRMAN OF ABERDEEN EDUCATION AUTHORITY. President—ALEXANDER THOMAS CRUICKSHANK, O.B.E., M.A. (1882-87).

Vice-President—WILLIAM GORDON CRAIGEN, M.A., LL.B. (1894-97 and 1900-02).

Secretary and Treasurer— THEODORE WATT, M.A. (1889-1901), The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen.

Committee-DOUGLASP. COCHRAN A. M. JOHNSTON. CHAS. J. DAVIDSON, ALAN MCBAIN, M.A. R. R. MACDONALD, M.A., B.L. M.A., B.Sc. J. C. DUFFUS, M.A., bOUGLAS SANGSTER. LL. B. H. EDGAR SMITH, H. G. EDWARDS. M.A., M.B. A. F. HYSLOP, M.A.

JOHN T. SORLEY, M.A. W. CLARK SOUTER, M.D. D. S. WALKER, M.A. E. W. WATT, M.A. CHARLES WATT.

Hon. Auditors—Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.

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British and Continental Cooking. . • • • Table d'Hote and a la Carte Menus.

Meats, etc., selected from display are grilled in view of Customers. . . .

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Fountain Pen Emporium.

Premier House in the North of Scotland for the sale of Scottish Publications.

Publishers and Proprietors of " The Aberdeen Book-Lover."

:: TRAINING :: AND COPYING OFFICE ■ PROPRIETOR:

JAS. R. MORRISON, A.F.T.

Established 1814.

Telephone 402.

TelegraphicAddress : "Wyllie, Booksellers, Aberdeen."

19 Crown Street Established 1884.

'Phone 875.

TAYLOR

THE

CORONA PORTABLE

For Drawing Instruments & Materials PICTURE FRAMER AND ARTISTS' COLOURMAN.

FOLDING

TYPEWRITER. This wonderful Typewriter has every modern improvement, Standard Keyboard of 84 keys, Back Spacer, Two-Colour Ribbon, etc., and at the same time weighs only 9 lbs. in its case, and can be carried about anywhere.

Above all it is reliable.

Thousands went through the War, often in front line trenches.

SCHOOLHILL,

Price only 13 Guineas.

ABERDEEN

Sole Agent for North of Scotland—

CHAS. H. WEBSTER Telephone 2870.

3a Alford Place, Aberdeen

Where to get Men's Wear In all the Latest Styles .

Specialities Raincoats

Underwear

Overcoats

Gloves

Shirts

Ties Hats and Caps

WILLIAM MUNRO Gent.'s Outfitter 40

BRIDGE

STREET

ABERDEEN

ABERDEEN Rector

-

EDUCATION

AUTHORITY.

GRAMMAR

SCHOOL.

(FOUNDED PREVIOUS TO 1256.)

DOUGLAS GORDON MILLER, M.A. (Hone.) (Oxon.)

HE GRAMMAR SCHOOL provides for Boys a complete course of Study, both Elementary and Secondary, Classical and Modern.

The School, which is organized in three Departments—Lower, Intermediate, and Upper Schools—contains excellent laboratories handsomely furnished and equipped, including a Chemical Laboratory, Science Theatre with Physical Laboratory attached, Natural Science Laboratory, Art Room, Gymnasium, Workshop, Botanical Garden, Library, Reading Room, and Museum.

Pupils in the Lower School are prepared for the Qualifying Examination, while the Senior Classes are examined for the Intermediate and Leaving Certificates of the Scottish Education Department, passes in the latter examination being recognised as exempting from further examination in the corresponding subjects of the Preliminary Examination for graduation in Arts, Science, Law and Medicine at the Scottish Universities.

The situation of the School in the West end of the City is open and healthy. The Class-rooms are large, and the Grounds for Recreation include separate Play-grounds for Juniors and Seniors, Tennis Courts, and a field for Cricket and Football.

T

ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. Headmistress

-

(ALBYN PLACE.) , Miss LUCY L. WARD, B.A. (Load.)

HE HIGH SCHOOL provides a liberal education for Girls from 5 or 6 to i8 or x9 years of age, and aims at fitting them for home life and for professions open to women.

The School is organized in three Departments—a Junior, an Intermediate, and a Secondary.

The curriculum in the Junior and Intermediate Departments embraces the ordinary branches of an English Education, and in the Secondary or Higher Department, pupils receive advanced instruction in English Literature, Latin, Mathematics, French, German, Natural Science, Drawing and Painting, Artistic Needlework, Domestic Economy, Cookery, etc. The course in the Secondary Department also includes preparation for the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department and for the Entrance Examinations to the Universities.

Pupils whose parents desire it are taught Theory and Practice of Music (Pianoforte, Violin, and Organ) in preparation for the Examinations of Trinity College of Music, London, and of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music. Advanced pupils are prepared for the Licentiate of the Royal Academy.

The School buildings occupy an excellent and spacious site in the West end of the City. The furnishing and equipment of the School comprise, in addition to numerous Class-rooms fitted up with many modern conveniences for teaching purposes, an Assembly Hall, Art Rooms, a Lantern Room, a School Library of 2,000 volumes, spacious Cookery and Laundry Rooms, and a suite of Laboratories of the most approved description for the teaching of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

T

Information as to Fees, Scholarships, Courses of Study, etc., at the Grammar School and High School for Girls is given in the School Prospectus which may be had free on application to the Director of Education, Education Offices, 22 Union Terrace, or to the Rector or Headmistress respectively.

WILLIAM GRAY Tailor and Outfitter, HOLBURN JUNCTION, ABERDEEN. \Vc are Official Outfitters to the Grammar School, and hold Stocks of everything for present and former pupils in the official colours.

Your patronage will he esteemed.

'PHONE 2211.

ESTABLISHED 1886.

ESTABLItilIED ISIS.

1

& Son J. Williamson (w.

11. NILLIATISON, PROPRIETOR),

MEAT PURVEYORS and POULTERERS,

1, 2, and 3 MARKET BUILDINGS ('Phone 452),

ABERDEEN. Branches:

35 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD ('Phone 1724).

THE SQUARE, CULTS ('Phone, Cults 2).

Garden and Farm Seeds and Plants.

Forest and Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

Fruit Trees and Bushes.

Bedding and Border Plants and Bulbs.

Herbaceous and Rock Plants.

Stove and Greenhouse Plants, etc., etc.

Catalogues, descriptive of alt the newest and best varieties, post free on application.

W. SMITH & SON, Ltd., Exchange Seed Warehouses, ABERDEEN.

If you want a treat in HOME-MADE

CHOCOLATES

get our Crown Assortment.

SPECIAL CENTRES.

From

SPECIAL COVERING.

Manufacturing Confectioner, 402 and 404 UNION STREET.

T H O M S O N,

R. K. SMITH, Ltd.,

THE KING'S BUILDINGS,

1 13-1 19 Union Street, Aberdeen The House with the Arcade.

Perfect Fitting Suits for Boys and Youths.

OU naturally do not wish to pay more for your clothes

Y

than is necessary. At the same time you want to be correctly fitted and get a suit that will hold its shape for months to come.

R. K. SMITH'S service of READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHING is so well-known that we have no hesitation in asking you to call and see the big variety of styles and fittings we offer at prices that enable you to dress with economy and good taste.

Oar name on your suit is a dependable guarantee of quality and style—and there is no guess work about the workmanship either.

Telegrams—" Clothing, A berdeen ."

Telephone No. 3151.

A Comfortable SHOE Made Stylish. possess the feeling of being TO smartly attired, together with

the luxury of a Perfect Fitting Shoe, is very simple with a John A. Dunn Shoe. Because they fit as they should fit. Because great care is exercised in cutting the patterns so that they will fit snug about the ankle and around the heel.

As Illustlaiea.

Ladies' very dainty Patent Leather I 4:SLY SHOE, smart toe, high Cuban heel, Cinderella make.

17763-238.

This feature has made DUNN'S SHOES popular wherever they are worn.

John A. Dunn, 26 and 175 Union St. PRI , `ED AT rm.

As Illustrated.

Ladies' Patent Leather DERBY SHOE. Goodyear welted, smart toe, medium Cuban heel, latest pattern.

No. 4ir-2O/• l NT PRESS, ABERDEEN.