THE
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHODL MAGAZINE
ABERDEEN
p1-in
for The Former PuFi.11 Club at-The Rosernounr Press•
Volume XXXV, No. 2.
March, l432. PRICE ONE SHILLING.
EDUCATIONAL BOOKS JAMES G. BISSET CONTINUES to supply all the Class Books (New or Second-hand) suited for the requirements of the Higher Educational Institutions in the City, at the Lowest Prices. N.B.-Best Value in Students' Note Books.
JAMES G. BISSET Classical, Medical, and Educational Bookseller,
85 BROAD STREET (Opposite Marisehal College).
GOOD BREAD builds brain and brawn Good Bread is full of nourishment: it builds brain and brawn. Active brains and sturdy frames thrive on good Bread, such as Hutchison's, made from THE
FINEST
EMPIRE
FLOUR.
ai.B.HUTCHISON THE CENTRAL BAKERy
13 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 'Phone
753.
VEST POCKET EYE WEAR
FOLDING
SPECTACLES
LENSES PROTECTED All the advantages of Eyeglasses and none of the disadvantages. All the advantages of Spectacles and Eyeglasses combined.
OCULISTS' PRESCRIPTIONS MOST CAREFULLY EXECUTED.
A. & J. SMITH I9I UNION STREET, ABERDEEN Established 1863 NATIONAL
HEALT H
INSURANCE
OPTICIANS
A. C. LITTLE & SONS, LIMITED,
COSTUMIERS & FURRIERS. For High-Class Garments and Furs at the very Keenest Prices, including :— FUR COATS TAILORED COATS AFTERNOON GOWNS COAT FROCKS LEATHER COATS 2- and 3-PIECE SUITS SHOWERPROOFS DRESS SKIRTS, ETC.
We can Fit any figure in our LARGE SIZE DEPARTMENT. Large Size Garments of every description always in stock.
MOURNINGS. We pay very prompt attention to Mourning Orders. Fit is Guaranteed within 6 hours. Black Coats, Costumes, Dresses, Coat Frocks, 2- and 3-Piece Suits, Skirts, etc., always in stock at the very Keenest Prices.
"THE HOUSE FOR VALUE" Telephone 523.
105 UNION ST., ABERDEEN.
xe--- SPECIALIST
-.4,71,
Ce--- STAINED GLASS 6? MURAL DECO 00
A. D. COPLAND.
JAMES FYFE & SON OFFICE AND SHOWROOMS:
Telephone 304.
Telegrams—" Fyfe, Painters."
WILLIAM GRAY 17 HOLBURN ST. ( Jt ,',1,=), ) ABERDEEN. We are Outfitters to the Grammar School, and hold Stocks of everything for present and former pupils.
Your patronage will be esteemed. 'PHONE 2211.
ESTABLISHED 1886.
Coffee is Curr's equally acceptable and invariably delicious. There is 60 year? experience of Coffee making in it—hence the reason of its excellence.
CURR'S COFFEE ABERDEEN.
ALL SORTS AND SIZES Established
Telephone No. 291
1855
Quality is our Truest Economy
ROBERT STOTT Family Grocer Italian Warehouseman, Tea, Coffee, Wine and Spirit Merchant
53 ALBERT
STREET, ABERDEEN Telephone 1848
!
-..MLIME••••••=1•1•EM=Cd.....
Telegraphic Address : "Undertake, Aberdeen."
Telephone No. 2300. Works: Rosebank Place.
GORDON & WATSON FUNERAL UNDERTAKERS AND MOTOR HEARSE PROPRIETORS
12 HOLBURN ST. & 40 VICTORIA RD. ABERDEEN
Royal (Dick) Veterinary College EDINBURGH. Principal: 0. CHARNOCK BRADLEY, M.D., D.Sc., M.R.C.V.S. After attendance on Complete Courses of Instruction in this College, Students may proceed to the Examinations for the Diploma of Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (M.R.C.V.S.), and for the Diploma in Veterinary State Medicine (D.V.S.M.). Students of the College may also present themselves for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Veterinary Science conferred by the University of Edinburgh. The College being recognised as a Central Institution under the Education (Scotland) Act, :908, Students are eligible for Bursaries granted by Education Committees in Scotland. A Copy of the College Calendar, containing particulars of Scholarships, Fellowships, etc., may be obtained on application to A. C. DOULL, C.A., A.S.A.A., Secretary and Treasurer.
OatterSbl? HATS s STOCKED BY
• •-•::r.
FRED WATT Coat Specialist 23 BRIDGE STREET ABERDEEN
,
• -
SNAP BRIM TWENTY SHILLINGS 'PHONE 3515
W. KENNAWAY, Ltd. BAKERS and CONFECTIONERS, 5 and 7 Holburn Street. Luncheon, Tea, and Reception Rooms, 1 73 Union Street and 8 Bridge Street, ABERDEEN
SPECIALITIESSHORTBREADWEDDING CAKES. ROYAL DEESIDE IN TARTAN TINS, ALSO A LARGE SELECTION OF PLAIN AND FANCY ICED CAKES.
Telephone No. 1891.
ARCHIBALD McKELLAR Family Grocer and Wine Merchant, 454-456 Union Street, Aberdeen. . . We Specialise in . . Cooked Gammons, " Sinclair's "
Belfast Smoked Hams, " Harris's " Wiltshire Bacon.
MedicinalWines—Vibrona, Hall's, Wincarnis, Glendenning's.
WONDERFUL VALUE IN
Boys' and Youths' Good Clothes Parents who make ALEX. SCOTT & CO. their BOYS' OUTFITTING HEADQUARTERS find that the problem is robbed of Its worries and curtailed in its expense.
BOYS' 4-PIECE RUGBY SUITS. Consisting of JACKET, VEST, AND TWO PAIRS OF KNICKERS, which are very essential to the life of a School Suit. The Sleeves have Double Elbows, and the Knickers Double Seats. 1 / For the Offered at A / — Four Garments Sizes 2 to 9. Fit Boys 6 to 15 years. All sizes One Price. In a large variety of All-Wool Irish and hard-wearing Dark Brown or Grey Saxony Tweeds. Since we offered those Suits last year, they have enjoyed an enormous sale and brought us a host of satisfied customers.
BOYS' 3-GARMENT RUGBY SUITS. In SINGLE OR DOUBLE-BREASTED STYLES. Made from a very fine quality of All-Wool Botany Worsted, Fine Twill Serge. Guaranteed Indigo Dye. Each Suit is faultlessly made in every detail. Sizes 2 to 9. Fit Boys 6 to 15 years. Offered at per Suit. All sizes One Price. Can also be supplied in Dark Brown. Extra Knickers, 6/6 a pair. A Bargain In every sense of the word. YOU CAN SHOP BY POST WE PAY CARRIAGE
22/6
ALEX. SCOTT
& CO.
58 ST. NICHOLAS STREET
ABERDEEN
Friends Abroad or at Home appreciate neat Scotcb Shortbread SEND THEM THE BEST!
MITCHELL & MUIL LTD. PACK AND POST FOR YOU
ESTABLISHED I 897.
A. &W. ALEXANDER : Butchers and Fishmongers : Game and Poultry Salesmen
-
PURVEYORS
492
Telephones-817, 818.
OF
THE
FINEST
QUALITY
UNION STREET ABERDEEN Telegrams— " Alexanders, Fishmongers, Aberdeen."
Telephone—Aberdeen 1710.
1 DESSWOOD PLACE, MATTHEW ABERDEEN. BOOTH, THE MASTRICK DAIRY. WE offer you a Choice Selection of DAIRY PRODUCE from our own Farms, and produced under the direct supervision of members of the family. Our Customers may rely upon the absolute Purity and Cleanliness of all our products. Distributors of Lord Carnegie's Certified Milk. Head Dairy: 3, 5, and 7 WHITEHALL ROAD. Branches: 33 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD. 7 MID STOCKET ROAD. 25 BEDFORD PLACE. 473 GREAT WESTERN ROAD.
CONTENTS Portrait of The Right Rev. Bishop Danson, M.A., D.D. . Facing page 79 Portrait of the London Centre of the F.P. Club at Dinner . After page 154 Portrait of the School Rugby Football 1st XV • • ,, 154 The New President of the F.P. Club • The Norman Mackie Prize . . . • Notes about Old Boys . . • . . . . . Obituary . . Marriages . . . . . . Life in the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police . . . The English-Wet-Nursed Scots Boy. By Dr. J. M. Bulloch An Unsuccessful Tiger Hunt. By Donald F. Mursell . A Tour in the Himalayas. By R.D.B. . . . . School Section— School Notes . Random Notes . . . . New Year. By A.R.H.K., Cl. VI . Easter Tour to London and France . The Library . • School Rugby • House Notes . The Dramatic Society . . • The Literary and Debating Society . . Scout Notes . . F.P.s and the School Orchestra . • The Former Pupils' Club— Visitors' Register . . The Annual Meeting of the Club Club Consuls . . . . . . . The London Centre—Annual Dinner . Annual General Meeting . Informal Dinner . • The Glasgow Centre . . . Formation of Centre in Edinburgh . . Rugby Football Section . . . . . . Hockey Section . . • . • , Tennis Section . . . • . List of New Members . . . • . • The Club Tie . . . . • . Club Office-Bearers, 1932-33 . . . • • •
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R_J11-4/11.-.IIMAII
JERSEYS
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MI
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IlliPlriffr'
FOR
BOYS
You can gain some idea of the delightful colour blendings from the collars illustrated. To really appreciate their qualities, however, "BRAEMAR" Jerseys must be seen and handled. Guaranteed to give a maximum of neatness and freedom combined with really hard wear, they are the result of generations of Jersey-making for boys who a.e boys—and their fine botany wool affords adequate protection, whatever the weather. Any of the above styles can be procured by quoting the reference number attached. To fit 8 years . 12/6 To fit 3 years . 9/6 10 „ . 13/6 . 10/ 6 „ 4 „ . 14/6 „ 12 „ . 11/6 „ 6 „ Ties to match . 1/9 Hose to match . 4/11 " BRAEMAR ". Knickers—made from the same yarn as the Jerseys, and therefore an exact match—in a washable tweed. To fit 7 and 8 years . 11/6 To fit 3 to 6 years . 10/6
ESSLEMONT & MACINTOSH, LTD. UNION STREET
ABERDEEN
BIRTHDAY CAKES a Speciality
BIRTHDAY CAKE.-Bronze Medal at London Exhibition.
If you have a Birthday Party coming off buy your cake at MCPHERSON'S, and you can rest assured that you will get full value for your money. .
W. M. McPHERSON Baker, Confectioner and Pastrycook
15 Fountainhall Rd., ABERDEEN TELEPHONE
1515
THE COLOGNE, 8 St. Swithin Street Telephone 1503
LOW'S Wm. Cay & Sons BOOKSTALLS ESTABLISHED 1843
39-50 New Market Gallery ABERDEEN
ffuneral
7.1100ertahers,
BOOKS on All Subjects and at All Prices Over 500,000 Volumes in Stock Educational Books in Great Variety
415 UNION STREET AND
209 GEORGE STREET, ABERDEEN. Motor Hearses and Cars for Town and Country Funerals.
CATALOGUES ISSUED Telegrams—" Cay, Aberdeen." 'Phones Nos. 92 and 54.
'PHONE 3332
E s1ASLILHiD
BY APPOINTMENT TO
181 S
H.M. THE KING
J. WILLIAMSON & SON (W.
B.
WILLIAMSON.
PROPRIETOR)
Meat Purveyors and Poulterers 1, 2, & 3 MARKET BUILDINGS, ABERDEEN 'PHONE BRANCHES,
452
35 FOUNTAINHALL ROAD 'PHONE 1724 ALSO
AT
THE SQUARE, CULTS 'PHONE, CULTS 2
CHURCH SQUARE, BALLATER 'PHONE
38
D. Wyllie & Son 247 Union Street,
FRED
HARDIE
Photographic Artist 416 UNION STREET ABERDEEN
Aberdeen.
0
s
If you are requiring PHOTOGRAPHS of any description
Wyllies' Bookshop, Aberdeen ; Prompt service ; prices keen ; Established—One-eight-one-four ; Car service at our door. What to do, 'Phone 402.
CONSULT US.
Our long experience is at your command. WE ARE EQUIPPED FOR ALL CLASSES
OF
PHOTOGRAPHY.
e
Commercial Photography our Speciality.
Telegraphic Address:
AT POPULAR PRICES.
"Wyllie,Bookseller,Aberdeen"
BRITISH
Established 1875.
Telephone 851.
GOODS
MEN'S GALLOWSES IN DIFFERENT LENGTHS.
For Short, Medium, or Big Men. PRICE 4/6 A PAIR.
W. J. MILNE, LTD. HATTERS
249-251 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN (Opposite Royal Northern Club)
Burberry Agents.
'Phone 1293.
For Drawing Instruments & Materials PICTURE FRAMERS AND ARTISTS' COLOURMEN
TAYLORS' ART SALOON 49-51
SCHOOLHILL
BUY BRITISH
BUY BEST
THE IMPERIAL TYPEWRITER too% British, is the beet and lowest-priced Standard Typewriter. No increase.
THE REGENT PORTABLE 50% British. The best and lowest-priced Portable, and will soon be too% British. Second-Hand Bargains of all Makes of Typewriters.
C. H. WEBSTER 4 Rose Street, Aberdeen
ABERDEEN
BUY BEST
Telephone 2870.
BUY BRITISH
The MoSt Accurate Wrist Watth in the World— BEST BY
TEST.
WATERPROOF-DUSTPROOF-SANDPROOF. SEALED AGAINST ALL THE ELEMENTS.
7
0
9-carat, I2 I2
O
18-carat, i8 18
o
Snowite, L7
THE ROLEX "OYSTER" WRIST WATCH.
GEO. JAMIESON & SON W. W. CARRY Next
142 UNION STREET (Union Bridge), ABERDEEN
Co-operation HE enthusiastic co-operation of many minds and hands make possible the fine productions of the HOUSE OF OGILVIE. For over three-quarters of a century our constant endeavour has been to give the best possible service to our Customers. We base our claim to your patronage on our ability to please you.
T
J. & A. OGILVIE, 369
UNION
STREET,
ABERDEEN. Telephone: No. 433.
Telegrams : " Interiors."
RANGES, STOVES, WATER HEATERS and COOKERS. FIREPLACE ARRANGEMENTS IN MARBLE AND TILES. We cordially invite you to visit our Showrooms and inspect the many Designs displayed.
JAMES SCOTT & SON (Aberdeen) LTD. 483-485 UNION STREET, ABERDEEN. Telephone Nos.: 1881-1882.
Telegrams : " Strength," Aberdeen.
ELLIS & M`FIARDY, LTD. 18 REGENT QUAY & 130i UNION STREET.
Importers of Household and Steam Coals. Delivered by Careful and Experienced 11in.
Telephone 2889.
GEORGE BISSET'S Clan Tartan Warehouse
15 UNION STREET ABERDEEN CLOTHIER TO THE
ADMIRALTY, R.N.R., and R.N.V.R.
HIGHLAND OUTFITS a Speciality ••
••
••
••
for Boys, Youths, and Gentlemen, also for Maids' and Ladles' Wear; and will gladly supply patterns of Ladies' favourite Tartans for Kilts. Telephone 2680.
Telephone No. 2299.
S
,./ e, ue
IC
Telephone No. 2299.
WE ARE CLOTHIERS TO THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN. QUALITY FIXES THE PRICE.
WE KEEP ONLY THE BEST, IT'S CHEAPEST IN THE END.
LARGE OF CORRECT SCHOOL
SELECTION WEAR
ALWAYS IN
STOCK.
A. & J. SCOTT, Tailors, Clothiers, and Outfitters,
I
29 GEORGE STREET, ABERDEEN.
A Book every F.P. should possess and treasure.
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL ROLL OF PUPILS 1795-1919 ANNOTATED FROM 1863 BY THEODORE WATT, M.A.
Only a few copies left. To clear,
5r-
(Packing and Inland Postage, Is. additional—for postage abroad allow for 5 lb.) THE ROSEMOUNT PRESS, LTD., ABERDEEN.
NORTHERN ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, Assets £22,000,000.
Established 1836.
ALL CLASSES OF INSURANCE, INCLUDING :—
LIFE MOTOR CAR
FIRE ACCIDENT
Life Assurance Branch. The Company's Tables of rates for Life Assurance include every class of Policy. Write for Particulars of:WHOLE LIFE POLICIES ENDOWMENT ASSURANCE POLICIES EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT POLICIES CHILDREN'S DEFERRED ASSURANCE POLICIES The Reversionary Bonus to Participation Policyholders for the quinquennium ended 31st December, 1930, was at the rate of 50/-% per annum upon the sum assured.
CHIEF OFFICES :
ABERDEEN LONDON
-
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1 Union Terrace. 1 Moorgate, E.C. 2.
Aberdeen Board of Directors. GARDEN A. DUFF, ESQ. A. S. R. BRUCE, ESQ. The Right Hon. The LORD The Right Hon. The EARL OF FORBES.
CAITHNESS. FRANCIS J. COCHRAN, ESQ.
.
Manager Secretary
A.
MARTINEAU, ESQ.
R. MACKAY. J. L. WILLIAMS.
The Right Reverend BISHOP DANSON (Ernest Denny Logie Danson, M.A., D.D.), President of the Former Pupils' Club.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine Vol. XXXV.
MARCH, 1 932.
No. 2 -
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 (the Secretary and Treasurer of the Club), THEODORE WATT, M.A., The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen. ** * Members of the Club are requested to inform the Secretary of any change of address.
The New President of the F.P. Club. The Right Rev. Bishop Logie Danson.
As is reported on another page, the Right Rev. Bishop ERNEST DENNY LoG1E DANSON, M.A., D.D., has just been elected President of the F.P. Club for the year 1932-33. A son of the late Very Rev. Dean Danson, whose incumbency of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Aberdeen, is well remembered, he was one of five brothers who attended the Grammar School, his dates being 189z to 1894, when he went to Glenalmond. He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen in 19oz, with Honours in Mental Philosophy, and thereafter studied at the Theological College in Edinburgh of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Ordained deacon in 1906, and priest in 1907, he was curate of the Cathedral Church, Dundee, from 1906 to 1911, and of the Cathedral Church, Singapore, 1911-1 2. I n 1913-14 he was acting chaplain in Java, and in 1914-17 chaplain of Negri Sembilan. In September, 1917, he was consecrated Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. His jurisdiction covered 81,000 square miles, including Sarawak, Labuan, Brunei, and North Borneo, the estimated population being one million, and the Church population
8o
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
9,000. Last year he was appointed by the Bishop of Carlisle to the Third Canonry of Carlisle Cathedral, and he took up residence in Carlisle in the autumn. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Aberdeen in 1921 at the early age of 41. While a student at King's College, Aberdeen, the future Bishop was a keen member of the "U" Company of the Gordon Highlanders, and rose to the rank of Colour-Sergeant, as also later did his younger brother, James Gordon Danson. During the War, while chaplain at Negri Sembilan, he acted as drill instructor of the local Volunteer Civil Guard at Seremban. Throughout his residence in Borneo he was the F.P. Club Consul for that region. Bishop Danson, who has maintained the warmest interest in Aberdeen and in his old School, was the very welcome guest of honour at the Annual Dinner of the Glasgow Centre of the F.P. Club in January, and will undoubtedly make a very acceptable chairman at the next Annual Dinner of the Club in Aberdeen.
The Norman Mackie Prize. As recorded in the last Magazine, in the report of the Rector's speech at the Annual Dinner of the F.P. Club in Aberdeen in November, 1931, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Mackie, Marchmont, Rubislaw Den South, Aberdeen, have gifted to the School the sum of £2OO to found a prize in memory of their son, Norman Ord Alexander Mackie, who was a pupil of the School from September, 1919, to June, 1925, and who died on 25th April, 1931. The conditions which have been approved for the awarding of the prize are as follows :—The prize, to be known as the Norman Mackie Prize, shall be open for annual competition among the boys in Class Middle III (Classical and Modern), this being the third year of the secondary course. The prize shall be awarded for all-round excellence. In addition to scholarship, account will be taken of (a) interest in School sports and School activities, and (b) character, as expressed by influence with school-fellows, gifts of initiative and leadership, and generally the possession of those moral qualities which it is the aim of the School to foster. The Prize is to take the form of books, and no boy shall be considered eligible for it unless he has been a pupil at the School for the two years preceding the award of the Prize. The award is to be made by the Rector in collaboration with the Masters concerned, and it cannot be awarded twice to the same candidate. No award is to be made in any year in which it is considered that an insufficient standard of merit has been reached.
Aberdeen Grammar School Magarchp.
hl
** * It is requested that the Editor be informed of all new appointments and interesting incidents in the careers of Former Pupils.
The dates given in parentheses after names indicate the sessions of attendance at the School. The Right Hon. Lord Alness*—Robert Munro—(1884-85), P.C., LL.D., Lord Justice-Clerk in Scotland, was the author of an article that appeared in the Sunday Times in January on " Wintering in Nairn." In it he pointed out that the shores of the Moray Firth during the winter months can vie, in salubrity as well as charm, with the better-known coast-lines of Devon or Cornwall. Closing the article on a personal note he wrote :— " I was, I believe, taken to Naim in the course of each year of my childhood. Since I became entitled to direct my own affairs I have returned to it, I think—with the exception of the years of the War—every year of my life. That life, I must own, moreover, is not a short one. And I will also say that I propose to return to it in each of the years which may yet be mine. All that points either to an incurable and irrational idiosyncrasy on my part, or to an irresistible magnetism exhaled by Nairn. In all modesty, I think the explanation is to be found in the latter alternative. The truth is that Naim has an aura all its own, which it is impossible to capture and reproduce in cold print. Put my word to the test, reader—gentle or otherwise—and I will wager that you will be grateful to me for my counsel."
David Abernethy* (1925-28), of Balmain, Fettercairn, has now completed the first part of his training in the Metropolitan Police, and is doing the necessary six months' " beat" work before he can be allowed into the plain-clothes branch. He is stationed in East Ham. Cecil Hay Aiken* (1911-14), who was formerly an engineer in Assam and Ceylon, is now associated with a firm in London that markets all descriptions of refractory materials, moulding sand, boilers, pulverized fuel plant, and various furnaces for foundry, metallurgical and other heat treatment uses. Andrew Duncan Anderson* (1916-27) recently sent a letter to the Secretary of the F.P. Club from Bindura, Southern Rhodesia, by the First Official Air Mail. He says that tobacco is the great thing out there just now. They had recently finished building some barns, and were to be curing in a week or so. * Member of Former Pupils' Club.
8z
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
" It's a great country this : all the farmers are ' broke,' but they just carry on the same as ever. We should be getting rain at present, but we've had a five weeks' drought. The mealies are beginning to feel it, and it's not doing the tobacco any good." The only F.P. he has met in Southern Rhodesia is NORMAN A. SINCLAIR* (1913-16), the Club Consul. Albert John Angus* (1919-2o) is in the service of the Bank of Montreal at Strathroy, Ontario. Wilfred Philip Shepherd Barron* (1896-1903), M.Inst.C.E., is Chief Engineer of the Karachi Port Trust, India. Stewart Duncan Begg* (1909-1o) is now in the service of Messrs. John I. Thornycroft & Co., Ltd., at Hongkong. Charles Ogilvie Will Bowman* (19 i i 5) came home on leave from Calabar in October, and left at the end of February for a new billet in the same region as before. Charles Grant Brown* (1921-24), M.A., LL.B., was in January admitted a member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. John Malcolm Bulloch* (1877-80), M.A., LL.D., in a letter to The Times of 3oth December last, wrote :— " As the enriching of the English language by Scots words was largely influenced by the Waverley Novels, may I suggest that we might honour the centenary of their author's death by introducing the fine phrase ` Ca' through,' not merely because it connotes his own extraordinary sense of drive, but because it forms a counsel of perfection for the New Year, when we shall have to display much of the same enterprising energy ? " We have already incorporated its exact opposite, Ca' canny,' a quality with which the association of ideas might come to credit the Scot. As a matter of fact, he flouts it in a whole series of scathing terms, such as ` feckless,' ' fooshinless," easy-ozy.' "
Subsequently another correspondent wrote :— " Dr. J. M. Bulloch, in his letter urging the enriching of the English language by the incorporation of the ' fine phrase " Ca' through," ' attributes its ` exact opposite, Ca' canny,"' to the Scots. Surely this is a mistake ? ` canny,' in its accepted sense of prearranged and intentional slackness, is an English corruption of the Scots phrase, the motto, I believe, of canny and ca' awa',' that is, an injunction to a steady Kirkintilloch, ` and persistent effort."
To this Dr. Bulloch replied :— " In suggesting the importation of ' Ca' through ' as a counter to ' canny,' I was thinking of the imported sense of the latter phrase. Of course, I know in Scotland itself it means caution, not slackness, to which it has been corrupted here. All the more reason to counter the corruption."
Robert Selbie Clark* (1894-1901), M.A., D.Sc., and William Clark Souter* (1893-98), M.D., were present at the unveiling on 7th January of the Shackleton National Memorial at the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society in London. In addition to Dr. Clark, who was biologist in the Endurance with the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16, two other F.P.s visited the Antarctic regions under the leadership
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of the great explorer. JAMESON BOYD ADAMS (1893-94), D.S.O., was second in command of the Nimrod expedition of 1907-09, and was one of the party of four who got within 97 miles of the South Pole; and JAMES WILLIAM SLESSOR MARR* (1913-19), M.A., B.Sc., was chosen from 1,700 boy scouts by Sir Ernest Shackleton to accompany him in the Quest in 1920-21. Dr. Clark Souter served as a surgeon in one of the relief ships, the Terra Nova, which was sent to rescue Captain Scott when his original ship, the Discovery, was held up by heavy pack ice at his winter quarters in M`Murdo Sound in 1904. Dr. Clark and Dr. Souter were present at the Dinner of the Antarctic Club on the evening of 7th January. The membership of this Club is confined to those who have visited the Antarctic on exploration work, and is consequently one of the most exclusive clubs in existence. James Cooper Clark* (1894-96) left for Ceylon at the end of December with the intention of visiting some quite unexplored and unknown ruins away at the north end of the island. He has specialized in archzological matters for many years, and is recognized as an authority on the ancient life of Mexico. Douglas George Wilson Clyne* (1919-20) is at present studying at Magdalen College, Oxford. Robert Haldane Cook* (1877-82), M.D., has retired from the position of Resident Medical Superintendent of the Enfield and Edmonton Isolation Hospital, World's End, Winchmore Hill, London, and taken up residence at Malvern Mill, Blockley, Glos. George Edmond Crombie* (1916-21), M.A., who gained the eighth place in the last examination for the Home Civil Service, has been assigned to the India Office. Alexander Cruickshank* (1915-19), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., recently passed the final examination for fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (F.R.C.S.). He has latterly been on the staff of the West London Hospital. James Gordon Danson* (1894-1903), M.D., SurgeonCommander, R.N., is now serving in H.M.S. Hood. He was previously in Plymouth R.N. Hospital. Peter Diack* (1904-09), who was elected minister of Forfar United Free Church in 1923, has recently accepted a call to King Street Church, Kilmarnock. John Wight Duff* (1877-82), M.A., D.Litt., LL.D., F.B.A., Professor of Classics in Armstrong College, Newcastle-uponTyne, recently delivered to the Northumberland and Durham Classical Association a presidential address on " The Magic of Virgil," which has been printed as part of the Virgil Bi-millenary Celebrations, and in recognition of Dr. Duff's long services to
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the Association. At the end of December there was published the ninth edition of his " Literary History of Rome (from Origins to Close of Golden Age)." This book was first published in 1909, a second edition being called for in the following year, and it has gone on re-appearing continuously since that time. Running into 71z pages, it has itself become a classic. Alexander Mathieson Dugan (1898-1907), M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., has resigned the post of Assistant Medical Officer of Health (Schools) under the Aberdeen Town Council. He has received a similar appointment in Manchester. John Stewart Dunnett* (1922-28) has received an appointment with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and started work in London in January. Francis Millar Esson* (1918-25), having passed his examination for Second Mate, has gone to Calcutta to take up his duties as Junior Officer on the Indian Coast of the British India Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. Edward Fiddes* (1876-81), M.A., received in November from the University of Manchester the honorary degree of LL.D. on the occasion of his retirement from the chair of History. He went to Owens College, Manchester, as Assistant Lecturer in Classics in 1890, became Secretary to the Principal of the College, and in 1895 was made Secretary to the Council and Senate, and later College Tutor also. He was afterwards appointed Registrar of Manchester University on its reconstitution When presenting him for the conferment of the degree Professor Alexander, O.M., said : " I present to your Lordship [the Chancellor, Lord Crawford] a man who will be remembered hereafter among the makers of our young University. As an administrator, whether as Registrar, or in his later office, expressly created for him, of suffragan Vice-Chancellor, he has played a part in every important advance that has been made, with an influence not less potent that it was latent, and that, in his self-effacing modesty, his devotion sought no reward nor even recognition. Bringing with him from the stern Scottish North an austere sense of discipline, he was yet not unbending, and could adjust his mind to all ideas supported by good reasons, and to an almost exasperating soundness of judgment and mastery of detail he could add the fertility of resource which new circumstances required." James Hall McIntosh Gordon* (1901-02), M.C., LieutenantColonel, 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), has recently been gazetted Brevet Colonel. John Hector* ( 5 8 5 7-61), M.A., D.D., on 14th December last celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ordination as a missionary. He celebrated his 86th birthday on 21st December, and is still hale and hearty. Dr. Hector is a younger brother of the
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late Mr. Thomas Hector, for many years Clerk of the Aberdeen School Board, and a brother-in-law of the late Rev. Professor GEORGE PITTENDRIGH (1872-76), M.A., D.D. Dr. Hector was ordained as a missionary in the Free South Church, Aberdeen, on 14th December, 1871, and was appointed to Calcutta, where he joined the staff of the Free Church Institution. He later became Principal of the Institution, succeeding his class-fellow, the late Rev. Professor JAMES ROBERTSON (1861-62), and held that office till 19oz, when he was invalided home, after 3o years' service. His three sons were educated at the Grammar School : GEORGE PITTENDRIGH HECTOR* (1889-97), M.A., D.Sc., iS the Government Economic Botanist for Eastern Bengal ; JAMES MASSON HECTOR (1889-1900), B.Sc., is Professor of Agricultural Botany in Pretoria University, South Africa; and KENNETH STUART HECTOR (1893-1901) is agent of the Imperial Bank of India at Bangalore. Dr. Hector was Dux cf the School in 1862, and we hope that he will be on the platform at the Presentation of Prizes this year, on the loth anniversary of that early distinction. Stanley Frank Walker Humphrey* (1912-22), C.A., is in the service of Northern Trust (Pty.), Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa. Charles Innes (1883-84), who has been head master of Stonehaven Public School since 1919, has recently resigned. Harry Jackson Binghorn* (1876-8o) was in December entertained at a complimentary dinner in Aberdeen and received a presentation, on the occasion of his relinquishing the chairmanship of the ounty of the City of Aberdeen Territorial Army Association. Colonel Kinghorn enlisted in the 1st V.B. Gordon Highlanders in 1883. Ten years later he received a commission in the ist Aberdeenshire Royal Engineers (Volunteers), and became Captain in 1905, and Major in 1910. He commanded the and Field Company from 191o until 1915, and while it was at Bedford on the outbreak of the Great War, he and his company volunteered for service in France. They joined the 7th Division there, and on loth March, 1915, he was seriously wounded at Neuve Chapelle. When he left hospital in August, he was attached to the Scottish Command from September, 1915, until March, 1916, when he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, and made C.R.E. of the 64th Division. On the resuscitation of the Territorial Army, he was appointed C.R.E. of the 51st Division, and on retiring from the position in 1923, was promoted Colonel. In 1927 he was appointed Honorary Colonel to the 51st Divisional Royal Engineers. He became a member of the Territorial Army Association in 191o, and served continuously on it until 1931. Philip Douglas Lawrence* (1909-16), M.A., of St. Margaret's Church, Dunfermline, a son of the late Mr. Calder M.
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Lawrence, who used to teach shorthand and book-keeping at the School, recently received a call from Wardle Church, Leith, but decided not to accept it. Mr. Lawrence's popularity was demonstrated by an unusual incident which followed his announcement of this decision. Although in church, the congregation were unable to refrain from expressing their pleasure, and for a minute the church was filled with applause. Eric Robert Russell Linklater* (5913-16), M.A., " the brilliant author of ' Juan in America,' " recently contributed an entertaining, if provocative series of articles to the Daily Express on various aspects of London life. The first article began hopefully as follows :—" Let me confess my yokeldom, let me display for your amusement the straws in my hair. Owing to circumstances too personal—and therefore tedious—to relate, I have some acquaintance with cities distant and different as Bombay, San Francisco, and New York. I have even bowed in passing to Bergen and Bagdad. But of London I am so ignorant that were you to set me down in Cambridge Circus, turn me round three times, and tell me to go to Australia House, the odds would be no more than six to four against my arrival in Cavendish Square. Therefore I am a rustic, and there is clay on my intellectual boots." "THE MAN WHO SPEELED THE SPIRE."
Charles Ludwig* (1917-26), who is at present a third-year medical student at the University of Aberdeen, caused no little sensation in December by climbing in the dark to the weather vane of the Mitchell Tower of Marischal College, and there, at a height of 135 feet from the ground, affixing a weird effigy. This consisted of a human-size wooden framework, stuffed and draped in pyjamas, socks, and rubber gloves. One arm pointed skywards, and the headpiece, which was crowned by a silk hat, consisted of a human skull. It is understood—no official account naturally is available—that Ludwig, who is an expert in rock climbing, scaled the central pinnade of the tower by means of the hand and foot holds provided by the projecting crockets. According to the Press and Journal he did this unaided by anyone, and upon the side of the tower away from the quadrangle, with the object, of course, of escaping detection. Bearing the effigy on his back, he found the first part of the climb, from the platform from which the pinnacle rises, to be the worst. It involved some difficult and precarious " shinning up " to a point from which a rope could be thrown lasso-wise on to one of the " knobs " which stud the tower. After that, progress was not particularly difficult. He gained his objective, fastened securely the dummy in effective pose upon the weather vane, and descended, not by sliding down his rope, but by proceeding hand and foot to the jumping-off point for the platform. At the end of his descent, as at the beginning, he had to use the
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rope, and indeed he had to climb back some distance to slacken the noose, which held too securely to allow of its being whipped off, as intended, when the platform was reached. " Not so very difficult " is reported to have been Ludwig's verdict on the adventure. Rumours that he was badly scratched and bruised proved incorrect. According to another writer: "This is the greatest practical joke in the history of the University. It puts all the others into the shade. There is no one who has not admiration for the perpetrator of the Mitchell Tower prank." The effigy was removed about a week later by two slaters—in daylight. Alexander
Morrison
Ferguson
Macinnes
(1885-86),
M.A., B.D., Ph.D., is now senior minister of Kiridiston, near Edinburgh. He has continued to prosecute his studies, especially theological, and has contributed to theological and other journals. He received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of " The Kingdom of God in the Apostolic Writings," a book most favourably received in this country and overseas. At present he is engaged on a work on Old Testament religion—" The Dawn of the Kingdom of God." Robert Gordon McKerron (1907-13), M.A., sustained a grievous personal loss through the great fire on Christmas Eve at the Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, when the manuscript of his book on the Law of Delict was burned. He had been engaged for three years on the work, and had completed three-quarters of his volume. All his important lecture notes were also burned. A central committee of 200 citizens has been formed in connection with the appeal for £8o,ooo to make good the loss caused by the fire. McKerron is Professor of Law in the University. Alexander Bain Mackie* (1896-1904), the F. P. Consul for Brazil at Rio de Janeiro, in a recent letter to the Editor, says :— " I regret to tell you that I am afraid I am in the minority now, as there are two or three Gordon's men in Rio, and I am alone from the old School. However, I have got temporary stalwart assistance in the presence here of Mr. RONALD HOLMES (1910-21), of Messrs. A. & M. Smith, Ltd. He is spending a few months here in the interests of his firm. In Slo Paulo I believe things are better, where we have WILLIAM J. JENKYNS* (1894-1903), who I understand is still going very strong; and JAMES I. MELVILLE* (I917-21), who is with the branch of the Royal Bank of Canada there." Our Consul is the enthusiastic Secretary of the St. Andrew Society of Rio de Janeiro. Edwin Salisbury Macleod* (1881-89) has recently been promoted to be Principal Survey Officer of the Board of Trade for the London District. He was appointed Nautical Surveyor
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to the Board of Trade at North Shields in 1913. He is a son of the late Mr. Alfred Macleod, whom older F.P.s will remember as teacher of elocution at the School. Louis Francis Merrylees* (1896-19o 5 ), who was engaged as a civil engineer in Canada both before and after the War, is at present in London, where his brother, HARALD MERRYLEES* (1895-98), is in business at 3o Dorset Square. The Right Hon. Lord Meston*—James Scorgie Meston— (I 876-80), K.C.S.I., LL.D., is the author of " Nationhood for India," published in December by the Oxford University Press. It is composed of lectures which he delivered in America in the autumn of 1930. According to one reviewer, " Lord Meston's book is not only a faithful outline picture of the complicated Indian situation, but abounds in passages which stimulate the reader to develop the hints thrown out in every chapter. The book, in short, is not only informative : it is a spur to independent thinking about a problem which concerns about one-fifth of the whole human race." Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell* (1879-8o), C.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S., the Secretary of the Zoological Society of London, had the following amusing letter in The Times in January, on the subject of sky-writing:— " Probably no one wishes to see advertisements of suspenders added to Orion's Belt or of a dentrificce to the face of the Man-in-the-Moon. But the fears of some of your correspondents may be excessive ; could we not have details, or even a demonstration, of Major Savage's proposals before demanding that Parliament forbid them ?"
Sir Peter is one of three trustees nominated by the Zoological Society of London to lease for seven years the park at Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, with the object of preserving the famous herd of White Park cattle. A recent appeal for funds for the preservation of the herd states that Chillingham Park has been enclosed for many centuries, and its area, approximately 7oo acres surrounded by a wall, remains almost in its original wild condition of rough pasture and woodland. The herd now consists of 44 animals. Statements, to which it would be unwise to give full credence, have been made that the cattle are direct descendants of the Aurochs, or primitive wild ox of Britain, but in any case, the herd has existed in the park for several centuries, and is the most interesting and most genuine of the unique White Park cattle of this country. The animals are white in colour, with the insides of the ears and the muzzles now red, although formerly black. They are rather small in size, and have rough and curly coats. They are wild animals, the strongest bull acting as king of the herd until he has been fought and displaced by a younger rival. It is recorded that when Bewick was making his drawing for his " Chillingham Bull," the leader of the herd gave chase, and the artist escaped
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by climbing a tree, where he completed his sketch. Landseer, also, when making sketches for his pictures, was tracked by some of the herd, and was glad to seek refuge in the forest. George Mollison* (1864-66) has recently retired from the post of Manager and Secretary of the North of Scotland Canadian Mortgage Co., Ltd., Aberdeen. Alexander Falconer Murison* (1860-63), K.C., LL.D., had a very interesting letter in The Times in February, on the subject of lost manuscripts and the value of photographic copies. In the course of the letter he wrote :— It is apparent that, in spite of all the devices and all the care of the custodians of rare books and valuable manuscripts, occasional losses are suffered ; and every such loss is more or less serious. Can nothing further be done to prevent such disasters ? I daresay the Vatican Library will now have its foundations strengthened. Witwatersrand is said to be placing its faith in a so-called fireproof room. The people of Messina have complacently erected their new University buildings on the very spot where the previous buildings were engulfed. All this does not seem very hopeful. Has it been really considered wherein the value of a manuscript consists ? . . . Essentially the true value of a manuscript is its unfailing accessibility to scholars for the promotion of learning. I have no statistics, but it is clear that much waste is steadily going on. On est un peu embarrasse, as M. Graindorge said, de se presenter soi-mime" ; yet everyone knows his own troubles best. Well, many years ago, in an ill-omened hour, I started to make a new edition of a big legal book written in Greek. By and by I wanted to collate the oldest and best manuscript ; I found it had been swallowed up in an earthquake. I applied elsewhere for another manuscript ; I was told it had been burnt in a recent fire in the University Library. Two more I shall want presently. I know they ought to be in the Vatican Library, but are they safe or lost ? If such disasters go on at the same rate, by the end of the century none of my 16 manuscripts will be left to collate. It is but little that a private scholar can do, though I could give an example of that as well. In 5830 the first manuscript mentioned above was at Halle, and there a scholar noted its various readings on the margin of a printed copy of the ordinary text. This copy the Director of the National Museum in Berlin was good enough to lend to me some 20 years ago, and my transcription lies in the strong room of University College Library. And I have by me a copy ready for the press, and hope one of these days to be able to place a printed copy of these various readings—all that remains of the original manuscript—in a hundred important and widely separated libraries. That will, for some time, defy earthquakes, fires, the knife of the assassin (as at the Aska Mosque), and other deadly enemies. But the great thing is some such action on the part of the custodians of manuscripts. Now let every big library have its department of photography ; even a single photographer constantly at work would soon reproduce a good many manuscripts. . . . And the manuscripts would be effectively " ensured." If there is a better or more feasible plan, well and good. Only let the manuscripts be saved.
After Professor Murison's letter appeared there was a special article in The Observer dealing with photography in the museums, in which it was stated :—` Professor A. F. Munson, the legal historian, described in the press his misfortunes in collating important Greek texts, some of which had been destroyed by earthquake, and some by fire within the past two years.
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Professor Murison has transcribed a number of texts known only from one original, and deposited his transcripts in the library of University College, Gower Street. He advocates, however, the organization of a department of photography in every big library, and the gradual photographing of manuscripts in order of importance, to be exchanged with other institutions, or sold to them, or even given away for preservation. Dr. G. F. Hill, the Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum, informed The Observer that he agreed entirely with the principle advocated by Professor Murison, and that the practice of the Museum followed it so far as was feasible." The article concluded : " More is being done to reproduce manuscripts both by institutions and by private publishers than Professor Murison's warning might seem to imply, but not all editors of texts realize, perhaps, how much co-operation they can get from a printer with modern methods of reproduction." John Runciman Nisbet* (1908-09), who for a number of years was an " honorary " member of the Shanghai Branch of the F.P. Club, has recently become a member of the parent body, largely at the instigation of GEORGE PATERSON BURR* (1894-1905), M.B., Ch.B., of Swatow. Nisbet has spent the last eleven years in the service of the China Navigation Company. He says that he is coming home next September on leave, when he hopes to be able to correct his watch by the " Shanghai Ticker ' now in the School tower. He is at present master of the s.s. Yingchow, Shanghai, and no doubt has been having a fairly lively time recently. Sir Francis Grant Ogilvie (1872-74), M.A., B.Sc., LL.D., who died last year, is to be commemorated by a memorial prize fund established by the Governors of the Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, of which he was the first Principal. The prize fund is a direct result of an appeal which was issued to the former pupils of the College. Students in the printing department of the College have produced a handsome document containing appreciations of Sir Francis by Professor Sir Thomas Hudson Beare and Principal Sir Thomas Holland, with a list of contributors to the fund. David Barclay Palmer* (1915-24) is at present home on leave from West Africa, where he is in the Agricultural Department of H.M. Nigerian Government. James Ogilvy Rae* (1912-21), who is in the service of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Co., Ltd., at Shanghai, is coming home on furlough, and will be in this country for five months. William Rae* (1867-69), M.A., advocate, Aberdeen, senior partner in the firm of Rae and Mitchell, celebrated his golden wedding on 23rd February last. He was married on his birth-
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day, and is 78 years of age. He is now the second oldest member of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen, to which he was admitted in August, 1877. His three sons were educated at the School :—WILLIAM RAE (1888-1900), M.A., B.L., is in business in London ; JAMES RAE (1889-1901), M.A., M.D., was drowned while on his way to Egypt when the troopship Arcadian was torpedoed in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1917 ; and JoHN RAE* (1892-1903) is with an engineering firm in Leeds. David Cooper Rees* (1897-1907), M.A., who was ordained minister of the Campsie U.F. Church, Lennoxtown, near Glasgow, in 1919, and was subsequently minister of the Cairns U.F. Church, Stewarton, Ayrshire, and of Bayswater Presbyterian Church, London, relinquished the Presbyterian ministry and received Anglican orders in 1929. He served as assistant priest at the church of S. John the Evangelist, Notting Hill, London, for two years, and has recently been appointed by the Bishop of London, priest in charge of All Saints' Church and District, North Hillingdon, Middlesex. Irvine Sempt Reid (1872-77), M.D., of the Colonial Medical Service, who died on ist October, left £28,300. After making provision for private legacies to the amount of several thousand pounds, he left the residue of his estate to be divided equally between Earl Haig's Fund and the Salvation Army, "in recognition, as regards the latter, of the wholehearted devotion of its members, who have won my admiration in the performance of their mission in public places." George Stanley Russell* (1894-1901), M.A., has for the last three years been minister of Deer Park United Church, Toronto. This Church has had a further addition of 73 to its membership, making a total net addition of 317 members since Mr. Russell began his ministry. The extended premises, costing over £30,000, were opened in November by the Prime Minister of Ontario. Wiring has been put in for relaying the services from the church to the chapel and gymnasium, as it is still frequently impossible to accommodate the crowds that desire to attend the services. Alexander R. Saunders (1871-77) is now in his 43 th year of service for the China Inland Mission. Latterly he has been stationed in Yangchow. Writing in August last he said: " The weather has been the most remarkable we have ever experienced, almost constant high winds and torrential rains, and now at the close of the summer the greatest devastation from floods ever known. No fewer than sixteen provinces are ruinously affected, by far the worst being the Hankow area, and at the time of writing millions are facing pestilence, famine, and death, while civil war, communism, and banditry are far from having been stamped out. Tens of millions have been
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made homeless, their homes and all they possessed having been swept away by the floods, the rushing water carrying countless numbers to death. Kiangsu, where we live, is one of the provinces affected, and everywhere terror reigns. It was an awful storm on the night of August 25-26, the terrific N.W. wind howling weirdly, and the incessant driving rain giving an uneasy feeling, but my cot on the verandah, having a southern aspect, was protected from all but the din, and during the night, in the spells of wakefulness, I was able to pray for the workers on the dykes. In all our more than 4o years in the Far East, the veritable typhoon zone, we have not experienced a storm either so violent or so destructive, and words are utterly too inadequate to describe the havoc wrought. Whole villages were swept away by the rushing torrents, the whole country inundated to a depth of from 5 to 1 o feet, crops gone, and many of the homes swept away. The poor people who are left are utterly destitute and in a sorry plight indeed. It has been reported that on that night more than two hundred thousand persons lost their lives, but the real number never will be known." Cecil Arthur Grant Savidge* (1913-24), M.A., of the Indian Civil Service, writing in January from Jubbulpore in the Central Provinces, says that he is enjoying life out there very much, in spite of the troubles and uncertainties which fill the political arena. " They all add a spice to the life. Interesting work and any amount of sport make the days pass all too quickly." Arthur Martin Scrimgeour* (1921-27) has now joined the staff of Messrs. H. J. Foster & Co., Ltd., import and export merchants, India. In December he was in Bombay, but expected to be transferred in a few weeks' time to Calcutta. Ian Murray Shaw* (1908-16) has recently been transferred from the Jerantut Estate, Pahang, to the Gadeh Estate, Tampen P.O., Negri Sembilan, F.M.S. John Alexander Hampton Shepherd (1923-27) is at present a pupil of Greenock Academy and editor of the Greenock Academy Magazine. John Alexander Trager Simpson* (1919-28) is now resident with his parents at " The Log Cabin," Swastika, Ontario. After leaving the Grammar School he attended the Glasgow High School for three years, and went out to Canada in April of last year. William Alexander Roger Smith* (192o-26), M.A., sailed on 3oth December last for Calabar as a missionary teacher in the Hope Waddell Training Institution. On the previous Sunday, in Beechgrove Church, Aberdeen, a dedication service was held. The right hand of fellowship was given by the minister and elders of the Church, among the latter being two
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F.P.s, Rev. JOHN HECTOR* (1857-62), M.A., D.D., and JAMES GEORGESON* (1883-86), M.A.; and one of Smith's masters at the School, Mr. William Munson. Francis John Gartly Stephen* (1921-23) is the proprietor of Strichen Motors, automobile engineers, Strichen. Alexander Alexander Thomson (5895-98), B.Sc., is now consulting mining engineer, Sir Robert Williams & Co., London. He spent many years in the Belgian Congo as the representative of Messrs. R. Williams & Co., of which firm he became a partner in 1921. George Walker Smith Walker* (1876-82) was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) at the New Year. He is senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Adam, Thomson & Ross, advocates, Aberdeen, and was Secretary of the F.P. Club in its early days. He has been Deputy Commissioner of the City of Aberdeen Special Constabulary since its inception. Thomas Yirrell Watson* (5919-25), B.Sc.(Agr.), of Balcairn, Old Meldrum, has been appointed an Agricultural Officer in Kenya under the Colonial Office. He received his training in Cambridge, the Transvaal, and India. Thomas Meikle Watt (5889-94), M.A., is to receive the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Aberdeen. He graduated M.A., with First Class Honours in Philosophy, in 1899, and in 1900 won the Ferguson Scholarship in Mental Philosophy, open to the students of the four Scottish Universities. He graduated B.A. at Oxford in 1904, and M.A. in 1907. From 5904 to 1909 he was Fellow and Lecturer in Mansfield College, Oxford, and was minister of Ocean Road Congregational Church, South Shields, from 1913 to 1918. In 1919 he was admitted a minister of the Church of Scotland, and in 1921 was appointed to St. Modan's, Falkirk. For a number of years he has been minister of the Scots Church at Geneva. Leslie Wishart (19oi-o5), Hill of Minnes, Udny, has recently purchased the well-known farm of Balcairn, Old Meldrum, from Mr. William Watson, the father of T. Y. Watson referred to in the note above. Cairnmyre is included in the property, which extends to 410 arable acres. The dwellinghouse at Balcairn is modern and beautifully situated, and the steading is commodious and in perfect condition. Leslie Wishart is a brother of Alexander Wishart (1897-98 and 19o1-o5), Hill of Fiddes, Udny, who is one of the foremost of food producers in this country. Beef, mutton, and milk are his chief specialities. He runs eleven farms in Aberdeenshire and two in Oxfordshire. Their combined arable area extends to practically 3,000 acres. In addition, he rents several thousand
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acres for summer and winter sheep requirements. Two clear days each fortnight are spent by Mr. Wishart at his Oxfordshire farms. Charles Featherstonhaugh Wylie* (1915-2o), who recently finished his apprenticeship in the wholesale department of Messrs. Esslemont & Macintosh, Ltd., Aberdeen, is now with Messrs. Sharp, Perrin & Co., 31 Old Change, London. ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY DEGREES.
At a Special Graduation Ceremony at Aberdeen University on 24th November, 1931, degrees were conferred on the following F.P.s :— Master of Arts (M.A.)— William Craig* (1921-27). Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc.Eng.)— Edward George Abercromby* (1913-25). Diploma of Public Health (D.P.H.)— John MacArthur Croll* (1912-24), M.B., Ch.B. Ronald Duncan MacRae* (1916-23), M.B., Ch.B. F.P.s IN SPORT.
Robert Duncan Bain* (191 5-23) and George David Wright Stroud (1914-19) played against the South African Rugby Touring Team at Aberdeen on 9th January, 1932. Bain was a reserve for the Scottish Final Rugby Trial at Edinburgh. Ritchie Allan Low* (1915-27) has been playing as a forward for the United Banks, London. The team is chosen out of a total membership of about 500. Roderick Ross Forrest MacLennan* (1909-18) continues to play forward for the London Scottish. Alastair George Sharp* (1918-24) was one of this year's Cambridge University Boxing Team.
Obituary. Robert Henderson I. Abel (1864-67) died on zoth December, 1931, aged 81 years. After leaving the School he studied for a time at Aberdeen University, and then taught in England for three years. Subsequently he entered the Free Church College in Aberdeen, and was Free Church minister at Fettercairn for eleven years, and of the Free Church, East London, South Africa, for six years. After 1902 he was occupied in preaching at various places in Scotland. Benjamin Alcock (1864-66) died at S46 Caledonian Road, London, N.7, on 5th March, 1932, aged 8z years. In 1872
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he was appointed parish schoolmaster of the old parochial school at Cruden, in which he remained until transferred to the present school at Port Erroll. In i88z he became a licentiate of the Church of Scotland, and frequently occupied pulpits in Aberdeenshire and the neighbouring counties. He retired in 1911, after nearly 4o years' service under the Cruden School Board. Edward James Bruce* (1892-95), M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., died at Huddersfield on 28th February, 1932, aged 5z years. He was the youngest son of the late Mr. Peter Bruce of Myreton, Insch, and a brother of ROBERT BRUCE* (1886-89), D.S.O., M.A., M.D., of Cults, Aberdeenshire. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1901. After taking the D.P.H. in 1904 he started in medical practice at North Leverton, Lines, and for the last ten years had been at Huddersfield, where he held the position of Medical Officer of Health to the Board of Guardians. George Milne Cook* (1864-69), a Life Member of the F.P. Club, died at his residence, Beaconhill, Murtle, on 19th January, 1932, aged 78 years. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Cook, shipowner, of Ashley House, Aberdeen, and entering his father's business, became a partner in the firm of John Cook & Son in 1879, and senior partner in 1890. His brother, JAMES COOK* (1877-79), became a partner of the firm in 1887. Mr. G. M. Cook, who retired from active business in 1922, devoted much of his time to the interests of the city of Aberdeen. He was an Aberdeen Harbour Commissioner for six years, and was president of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce in 1908-09. He was chairman of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for eight years, during which period a debit balance of £25,000 was turned into a credit balance of £50,00o. He was for a time chairman of Morningfield Hospital, and a director of the Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children from 1890 to 1927. He took a deep interest also in the Aberdeen Nursing Association, the Aberdeen Dispensary, and was for many years a director and chairman of the Aberdeen Sailors' Home. His work in the commercial interests of Aberdeen was wide and varied. He was director and chairman of the three Aberdeen Scottish Northern Investment Trusts, and he was a director of the Aberdeen Comb Works Company, the Northern Assurance Company, and the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Company. He was also a trustee and manager of the Aberdeen Savings Bank. Mr. Cook was consular agent in Aberdeen for Portugal, Sweden, and Norway, and in 1910 the Kings of Sweden and Norway recognized his services by conferring on him the honour of Knight of the Royal Order of Wasa (Sweden), and Knight of the Royal Order of St. Olaf (Norway). Mr. Cook was appointed a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of the City of Aberdeen in 1913. On 1 zth April,
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1882, he married a daughter of the late Mr. WILLIAM LimEjoHN (181I -15), M.A., the first manager of the Aberdeen Town and County Bank. William Dunbar Dey (1865-66), M.A., B.D., died at Forres in the middle of January. After graduating in arts at Aberdeen University in 1871, and in divinity at Edinburgh University in 1872, he was ordained minister of Marykirk, Stirling, in 1878. From 1881 to 1884 he was minister of the Church of Scotland at Kingston, Jamaica, and after being locum tenens in South Leith for two years, was elected in 1886 minister of Tomintoul, Banffshire, where he continued for 4o years. After his retirement he resided in Forres. Arthur Keith Forbes (1908-I2) was instantaneously killed in an accident at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, early in February. Thirty-five years of age, he was the son of Mr. Alexander Forbes, late head master of Ruthrieston School, Aberdeen, and a nephew of Sir Arthur Keith, the Rector of the University of Aberdeen, after whom he was named. On leaving the Grammar School in 191 2, he started his apprenticeship as an engineer with Messrs. John M. Henderson & Co., Ltd., Aberdeen. On the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted as a Private in the i/ist Highland Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. (T.F.), and was later transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers. He served in Gallipoli in 1915, and in France and Germany from 1916 to 192o. In 1918 he received a commission in the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, and was demobilized in 1920 with the rank of Lieutenant. In 1917 he received the Military Medal with Bar. In 1920 he went to Queensland, and later to South Africa. Two of his brothers were at the School: JAMES S. B. FORBES (1903-10), M.A., M.B., Ch.B., who is now a Major in the R.A.M.C. ; and THOMAS GUTHRIE FORBES (1898-1902), who, since the War, has been a farmer in Saskatchewan. James Ironside (1884-87), M.A., died at North Newmill on lab December, 1931, aged 6z years. He was successively head master of the schools at Arnage, Aberdeenshire (1896); Tongue, Sutherlandshire (t 901) ; Gourdon, Kincardineshire (1905); Ferness, Nairn (1916); Linhead, Alvah, Banffshire; and Leslie, Insch (1925). He retired from the teaching profession some years ago and engaged in farming at his birthplace near Methlick. John Alexander MacArthur (1902-03) died at Forres on 25th February, 1932, aged 46 years. He graduated in medicine at Aberdeen in 1910, and was thereafter in practice at Queensborough, Kent, and at Sheerness. For the past twelve years he had been in practice in Forres. He served with the Highland Division in France throughout the War, and was gassed on the Somme.
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James Alexander Mackie (1898-1904), M.A., died in Glasgow on 19th December, 1931, aged 45 years. He graduated in arts at Aberdeen University in 1907, and in the same year became a teacher at Kilwinning. Four years later he received an appointment in Lesmahagow, and in 1917 he was appointed head master of BeHeld School, Lanarkshire. In the following year he received an appointment under the Glasgow Education Authority, and taught English in John Street Higher Grade School, where he continued until he had to retire on account of ill health. On the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and served with the ist Battalion in France from October, 1914, to July, 1916, when he was wounded. Thereafter he served at home till 1917, and was demobilized with the rank of Lance-Sergeant. William George Maydon (I88z-95), M.B., Ch.B., Lieutenant-Colonel, R.A.M.C. (retired), died in Edinburgh on zznd February, 1932, in his 55th year. He was a son of the late Town Sergeant Maydon, Aberdeen, and after graduating in medicine at Aberdeen University in 1901, entered the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant in 1905. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1929, and resided at Woodend House, Fordoun, Kincardineshire. During the War he served in France, Salonika, and Italy. John Glanville Milne* (188x-88), M.B., C.M., died at Hove on 24th November, 1931, in his both year. After graduating in medicine at Aberdeen University in 1894, he practised his profession at Roodepoort, Transvaal, and served in the South African War in the Imperial Light Horse, rising to the rank of Major. He also served in the Great War as a Captain in the R.A.M.C. in Egypt, Palestine, Salonika, and France. After the War he was appointed Medical Officer of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, House of Lords. Five of his brothers were also at the Grammar School: ARNOLD S. MILNE* (1883-90), who is engaged in gold-mining in the Transvaal ; ARTHUR P. MILNE* (1881-83), of Messrs. Milne & Pledge, wholesale warehousemen, Aberdeen ; DOUGLAS MILNE (1886-90), who was a mining engineer in South Africa, and died in the Transvaal in 1905 ; NORMAN B. MILNE (1881-9o), who became a Government Mine Inspector in Natal ; and WILLIAM E. MILNE* (188190), who was formerly in business in Vancouver, and after his retirement in 1921 became F.P. Club Consul for British Columbia. David Russell (1884), M.B., C.M., who was a medical practitioner in Greenock, died there in December, 1931, aged 71 years. He was 21 years of age when he attended the School for a short time. James Leighton Rust (1863-67) died at Newhills, Strachan, Kincardineshire, on 11th January, 1932, in his Both year. He
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was farmer at Bowbutts, Strachan, until 1906, and thereafter holder of a small croft in the same district. For 35 years he was clerk and treasurer of Strachan School Board. David Troup (188z-86) died at Peterhead on 29th December, 1931, aged 61 years. Born at The Parsonage, Buckie, he was the eldest son of the late Rev. Alexander Troup, M.A., Dollar, and after attending arts and law classes at the University of Aberdeen from 1888 to 1893, became a solicitor in 1896, and a notary public in 1898. He was engaged in legal business in Peterhead from 1893, entering the service of Messrs. Boyd and Gray (now Gray and Gray), solicitors, and in 1914 became a partner in this firm. He was one of the leading public men in Peterhead, and took a keen interest in educational administration. His son, ARTHUR DAVID TROUP (I9I9-22) graduated in arts at Aberdeen University in 1925, and took the LL.B. degree in 1927. Robert Harvey Urquhart (1872-79) died at Vancouver on 23rd January, 1932, in his loth year. He was the son of the late Dr. John Urquhart, who was a well-known medical practitioner in Aberdeen, and after leaving the School attended law classes at Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities. He became a member of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts, Edinburgh, in 1893, and practised for a number of years as a member of the firm of Croll & Urquhart, solicitors, Aberdeen. About 3o years ago he went to Canada, and latterly had been engaged in estate business in Vancouver. He married a daughter of the late Rev. Henry Bell, of the Free High Church, Aberdeen, and was therefore a brother-in-law of WILLIAM EDMUND BELL (1878-83), solicitor, Aberdeen. His son is a bank manager in Vancouver. David McKay Whamond* (5900-02), a son of the late Mr. John A. Whamond, Meikle Mill House, Kirriemuir, died suddenly at Tientsin, China, on 17th January, 5932, aged 45 years. On leaving the School he served in the British Linen Bank, Aberdeen, from 19oz to 1907, and after being a year in London, entered the service of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, China. Most of his time was spent in Shanghai, but in 1916 he was stationed at Hankow. For a time he was manager of the China Navigation Company in Shanghai. In 1928-29 he was manager of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire in Hankow, and at the end of 1930 he took charge of the Tientsin branch of the firm, the post he occupied at the time of his death. He was a very able shipping man, and his death is regarded by his firm as a great loss. He was a member of the Shanghai Club, the Shanghai Race Club, the Hankow Club, the Tienstin Club, and several others. He was one of the donors to the School of the Shanghai Clock.
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Marriages. Cruickshank (19o9-ti).—At the Parish Church, Great Shelford, near Cambridge, On 24th December, 1931, DOUGLAS BARRON CRUICKSHANK, L.R.C.P.(Fdin.), L.D.S., D.P.H. (Cambridge), eldest son of the late Lewis Davie Cruickshank, M.D., D.P.H., and Mrs. Cruickshank, of 9 Dobden Crescent, Edinburgh, to Hilda Joyce, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Lockhart, of Riversdale, Great Shelford. Johnston (1916-17).—At Presbyterian Church, Glen Avenue, Dunedin, N.Z., on 18th November, 1931, JOHN Rurrox JOHNSTON, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Johnston, S7 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen, to Helen Law, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Fairley, 4 Crewe Street, Momington, Dunedin, N.Z. Kennaway (19o4-16).—At the Caledonian Hotel, Aberdeen, on 16th December, 1931, CHARLES GRAY KENNAWAY,* M.A., B.Sc., C.A., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kennaway, 16 Gladstone Place, to Mabel, second daughter of the late Mr. Alexander Gordon and Mrs. Gordon, Dunalastair, 9 Queen's Road, Aberdeen. Mursell (1921-22).—At St. Andrew's Church, Madras, on 5th December, 1931, DONALD FRASER MURSELL,* SOD of the Rev. Walter A. Mursell, D.D., and Mrs. Mursell, 78 Partickhill Road, Glasgow, to Laura Mary Hutcheon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Greig, Craigdon, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Sorley (19o6-18).-At St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London, on urd February, 1932, ERNEST ROBERT SORLEY,* Surgeon Lieut.-Commander, R.N., youngest son of the late Mr. John Tower Sorley (1875-74), M.A., advocate, and of Mrs. Sorley, Milltimber, Aberdeenshire, to Joan, younger daughter of Mr. Walter Davies, Cwmshudden, Carmarthenshire, and of Mrs. Davies, Chelsea, London. Still (pp t-t3).—At the Caledonian Hotel, on 9th December, 1931, GEORGE STILL, jun., of Strathray, Kinellar, to Louise Henrietta Milne, daughter of the late John Rennie, Upper Anguston, Peterculter, and of Mrs. Rennie, St. Meddens, Fintray.
Life in the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police. In a letter to the Editor from the B.P. Police, Imperial Reserve, Mafeking, South Africa, dated i ith November, 1931, DONALD MACFARLANE (1909-54), who served in the Great War as a commissioned officer in the Gordon Highlanders, writes :— I am afraid I have been rather a long time in writing to you, seeing that I had said I would let you have an account of the cane-carting I was on in Zululand last year. As it turned out there was really nothing worth writing about, except the monotony of driving day after day between the cane-fields and railway. Altogether I was seven months in Zululand last year, and again for two months this year. The cane crop this year was a wash-out, as there had been practically no rain between last December and July, when I returned to Durban. This drought has been general all through Northern Natal and Zululand, and has only just broken. Thousands of tons of cane were lost through the drought, and to cap that, in June there was a heavy frost which destroyed a
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few more thousand tons, especially young cane, so that the lookout for cane growers for the next year or two isn't too rosy. During the period I wasn't carting cane I was on transport work in Durban, but the bottom fell out of that, so I began to look for something else to do. Jobs are very hard to get these days owing to the depression, which is very bad in South Africa, and what makes matters worse, the Union Government insists on keeping to the gold standard, with the result that South Africa is losing a lot of business. As you will see by my heading, I have a new address, having joined the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police. Eighteen months ago I applied to the High Commissioner for South Africa for an appointment in one of the Police Forces in Africa, and had practically given up hope, when six weeks ago I got a telegram from the Staff Officer of the Police here to say that there was a vacancy and would I report to Mafeking at once for an interview. This was a chance not to be missed, so I caught the first train. I arrived on a Friday, and by xi a.m. the same day I had been enrolled as a znd Class Sergeant, which is the lowest European rank. The entire European Force is only about 35 officers and N.C.O.s, the rest being composed of natives. As you will no doubt have read in the papers, Foot-andMouth Disease broke out along the southern borders of Rhodesia, and all movement of stock was prohibited. Well to ensure that, if possible, the disease should not spread to the Protectorate, a police cordon was formed along the Transvaal and Rhodesia borders, assisted by special native police and one or two regiments of levies from the late Khama's tribe. I had no sooner joined than I was told to lay in a three months' supply of provisions and then proceed to take my place in the cordon, so here I am. I wasn't given much time, as I had to leave on the Sunday morning. On the Sunday I had to go so far by train, then a motor-bus took me to the end of its route, near the Transvaal border, where I stayed at a ranch for three days till ox transport was sent to take me further on. I had a three days' journey by oxcart to a place called Baines Drift, on the old Pioneer Road to Rhodesia, and at a crossing over the Limpopo River. Here I was stationed for three weeks till another N.C.O. came up to relieve me. From Baines Drift I proceeded to another ranch, where the first post on the cordon is, and after a day's rest there I came on here, where I am to be more or less permanently. I arrived here ten days ago. From this camp, Pitsani, I have to carry out various patrols. I have a force of six native police and three special police to carry out the patrols, as I have a large area to look after. My principal duty is to see that no cattle come in from Rhodesia,
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and any that do have to be shot and the carcases burnt, so as to prevent any infection. All cattle on both sides of the Shashi River have been moved well back, but there may be a few strays wandering about, and it is these we have to keep a look-out for. The road from Baines Drift to Tuli is the road the pioneers to Rhodesia travelled by, and was used until the railway was opened. The country all round here is heavy bush and teems with game, from elephant down, including lions and leopards. I have plenty of fresh meat, as I don't have to go very far from camp to shoot something. I do not know how long I shall be in this part, but I expect as long as the Foot-and-Mouth Disease regulations are in force. Luckily the outbreak so far has been mild, but may get worse now that the wet weather is coming on. The life is very interesting and already I have come to like it, chiefly because it is an open-air one. I was glad to get away from Durban, as I do not care for town life, having been very much in the open since I left School. I have met an old Grammarian here, in the service, WILLIAM HAY, acting G.V.O. He is in charge of the veterinary part of the cordon. He left the School in 1908 to go to Gordon's. We had a long talk about the School, though, of course, it was only the masters that we both knew, as I did not enter the School till 1909. Just before leaving Durban I looked up DAVID STRACHAN [the Club Consul], and I was to go up and spend an evening with him, but I left Durban before I could do so. I have a horse to do my patrols on, and the first time I mounted I felt very strange, as the last time I had been on a horse's back was in 1920. Needless to say I was very stiff at the end of my first trip. As this is not a permanent camp, I am under canvas, but I am trying to have a hut built, so as to be more comfortable in the rainy season. I expect I shall manage to take a trip home within the next four years, now that I have joined the Colonial Service. When that does happen, one of the first places I shall visit will be Aberdeen, and, of course, the old School and yourself. It will be strange when going into the School not to see the old " Janny" sitting at his desk, and if he is still alive at the time, I will try and see him : I have such pleasant memories of the many kindnesses he did to me when I was at School. I always look forward to receiving the " Mag." and always read it from cover to cover. I sometimes wish it were published oftener, as four months seem such a long time to wait between issues.
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The English-Wet-Nursed Scots Boy. By J. M. BuLLocH, M.A., LL.D. (From a " Sentiment " presented to the Caledonian Society of London on 12th November, 1931.) Scots at home and, even more, Scots abroad, sing " Scots wha Hae " with great gusto, not forgetting the line " Lay the proud usurper low 1 " But many of us feel that the rhetoric of it all does not fit the realities. The little garrison which is Scotland is as a matter of fact being heavily beleaguered. There is the attack from standardised business of every kind, such as multiple shops and the like, which make great inroads on local initiative. Some of these things probably cannot be avoided, but other forms of the attack can be avoided, whereas at present they are deliberately invited. Thus, if the poorer classes are being fed on Hollywood rations of movies and talkies with their thoroughly trans-Atlantic ideas of conduct and speech, the sons and daughters of the betteroff are being sent out of the little garrison into the usurper's camp, or rather schools, under the white flag of gentility. Scots often pride themselves on not " falling for," as the corrupting movies would say, the Englishman's extraordinary and maddening instinct for crying stinking fish, or " filin' his ain nest." It is very rampant at the moment, when trade is admittedly bad. But the fatuous instinct seems to be John Bull's perpetual endemic. You can trace it backwards in all his literature, classically so in the famous speech about " this precious isle set in the silver sea," which the greetin' John of Gaunt moaned out in Richard II. But if Scots do not cry stinking fish in so many words, certain snobs among them do so by implication, by turning up their noses at the local Grammar School and the old education—of which we used to be so proud —and sending their young hopefuls, under the lazy system of parenthood by proxy, to be wet-nursed either in boarding schools in England, or in schools in Scotland away from home, run on English lines. This process of training the young Scot is not new, for Scotland—much less insular than England, while well aware that it does not connote the last word of wisdom—has for many a year been proud to send her sons to Oxford and Cambridge, and in older times to the Universities of the Continent, on which its own are based. For a different set of reasons the boys of the Scots landed gentry have long been sent to English public schools—with disastrous consequences, for they have returned alien in spirit to the country, and have become practically negligible in the community.
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What is new, and what we are now witnessing, is the spectacle of the business and professional middle classes following the same course, whenever they can scrape up the money. Why ? Simply because it is supposed to give the boys a polish far more likely to be taken on when they are young, impressionable, and unformed, than if it were left till the time when they go to Oxford or Cambridge. It is not pretended that the actual education received is better. The expenses of it is certainly exorbitant and must strain many a paternal purse. But it is supposed to be worth all the trouble. An extremely interesting view of the objections to the fashion is contained in a closely argued essay on education, which Professor Graham Kerr contributes to " A Scotsman's Heritage," issued by London's youngest publisher, Mr. Alexander MacLehose, son of Dr. James MacLehose, of the Glasgow University Press. Professor Kerr, who I may say does not specifically mention the non-Scots boarding school, maintains that " by far the greatest part of a child's education takes place before he goes to school, and home influence continues to play an important part even after the school era begins." He then goes on to say, with what I believe is profound truth :— " In our Scottish educational history the home factor has been of particular importance. The highly strung Scottish temperament is particularly receptive and responds particularly readily to the tone of its surroundings. The Scottish home of the Victorian period with its strict discipline, its severe somewhat puritanical atmosphere, its intense racial and family pride, its ambition, provided an environment extraordinarily effective in moulding the character of the young, and it is not one of the least evils of our progress in communal evolution that it tends to make the family less and less important, and the parent less and less appreciative of parental responsibility."
This, I think, puts the case against parenthood by proxy on an unanswerable basis. I am glad to be in such acute company, though I had not thought the problem out in this way. Now don't imagine that I am attacking the English public school per se. What, however, I do suggest is that its whole outlook is fundamentally unsuitable for Scots, because it is the product of a much older and much more highly stabilised social system, whereas ours is in a constant state of transition. The English public school was for centuries the educational Newmarket for the feudal aristocracy, which was wholly contemptuous of trade. To this day the word " tradesman "—which includes shopkeepers, who on emerging from the homoeopathic stage, are " merchants "—represents something inferior for the middleclass Englishman ; and despite an immense amount of criticism and a demand for it to adapt itself to the times, the tradition and spirit of the English public school remain of a feudalised type.
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I know Scots who say they prefer that spirit. Thus one eminent countryman of mine praises the fact that the English public schools turn out men who neither think nor read. ' Thought," he says, " Aristotle's ' Theoria,' is the Scotsman's disease." That is certainly a defensible point of view. But my reply to it is that if you are born with a thinking brain, as the Scot undoubtedly is, you are not going to get rid of it simply by aping the manners and the speech of the English publicschool boy. It will take generations to exorcise it, for the whole social structure of Scotland would have to be changed and made to approximate the highly stabilised conditions of England. And by that time the demand may be made—as H. G. Wells is always making it—that people shall think. I am not, however, concerned with the Englishman's ideal of school education, though I may point out that the boys from the board and the secondary schools are plucking many of the plums from its fingers, especially in the case of higher posts in the cushy Civil Service. Again, M. Siegfried, the mordant French critic of our commercial situation, holds that it has been thoroughly bad for business that the sons of wealthy business people should take on the colour of the English schools —which still despise trade. I know cases when it has certainly been disastrous with Scots boys so educated. In one case two Scots boys I know of proved useless " tawpies " and lacked " smeddum " to such an extent that neither of them has been able to take up his father's very profitable business, which has had to be assigned to members of his staff, who know thoroughly the pretty rough and ready measures conditioning it. The Scots boy so educated away from home runs the risk of learning a lot of unmentionable habits, pilloried by Mr. Alec Waugh and others, and he acquires an inordinate interest in athletics. When I hear a parent, and especially a Scots parent, tell me that his son has got his blue, it frankly gives me the blues, especially in this time of great stress. Thus, in the midst of our turmoil and anxiety over the gold standard and dumping and all the rest of it, I see a whole newspaper bill devoted to the intentions of Bradman. In such a crisis as ours, I ask you, does Bradman matter? What does any man skilled in hitting a ball with a stick matter ? It simply makes one doubt whether there is any sort of national crisis. If the result is not always as disastrous as in the case I have mentioned, the boomerang effect on snobbish or self-sacrificing Scots parents may be pathetic or grotesque. When their progeny, easily assimilating English ways and words, return to the paternal roof, either on holiday or for good, they frequently have a contempt for their parents, or, if they display no such unfilialness, they have a contempt for their environment. Even if they do not think the vernacular vulgar, recognising that,
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as Lady Margaret Sackville once said, you might as well say that heather is vulgar, they know neither our vigorous native words, nor our native accent, speaking a strange tongue which Mr. William Power has called " synthetic English." I know cases in which the parents of these queer hybrids can hardly make out what their offspring say, much less what they think. Such parents always remind me of a hen hopping round the mill dam as, with a terrified cackle, she watches the ducklings she has hatched taking to the water. As I listen to these hybrids with their embarrassing way of calling me " Sir," I parody Burns on the Haggis :— Poor devils ! See them owre their trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, Their spindle shanks a guid whip-lash, Their nieves a nit : Thro' bluidy flood or field to dash, 0 how unfit I
If their meal, however, was that of really sound standard English one would not mind so much. But in a great many cases what they have learned to do at great expense is to exchange the vernacular of their particular districts for the vernacular of Cockaigne, for Cockney is creeping among what is called the " best people." If you have any doubts on the point let me quote Mr. Seymour Hicks in his little book about acting for amateurs. He says :— " There are quite enough highly educated murderers of our mother tongue in society to-day who, to be thought smart, distort words and their meaning, and as this is probably their chief occupation it would be unfair to rob them, of their only creative work. " The stage must stand sentinel against slang and slovenliness, else will our children grow up steeped in Americanisms and wonder why Dr. Johnson troubled to compile such an innacurate dictionary."
Many Scots parents really believe that this sort of accent pays, and that it franks their progeny into good society. I once heard the Principal of University College, Exeter, definitely say so. But here is an experienced and highly paid actor, whose business is to sell his voice, warning us against this method. Those of us who attend London theatres have to tolerate it, but the well-known American critic, Mr. George Jean Nathan, tells us, in his most recent book, that American audiences, who really look in their heart of hearts to England for a lead, will not have it at any price, and are deporting to this country such players—they are not human beings, but " bastardisers of English speech " who use it. If it is ridiculous for an educated Englishman to talk in this way, how much more unnatural it is for a Scot to do so ; and yet, that is the line of attack on our little garrison which we are called on to repel. We are now called to look at the question of accent, because it is being influenced at both ends of the social
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scale. I am not concerned with what Mr. Hicks calls the "murderers" of our mother tongue by educated English people themselves. But I confess I feel furious when I hear a Scot on whom a lot of money has been spent talking in this way, especially if he is a public speaker like a Scots man of letters I heard delivering a literary lecture on what he would call " the reg beg of re-ection." Why on earth should I swop my " eccent," which is at least articulate, for this queer sort of noise ? The Scot who speaks in this way simply shows that he lacks force of character and falls into the easy mimicry of the parrot, which can be made to swear or pray with equal facility according to the company it keeps. A really forceful personality declines to be " conteminated," as Mr. Mantalini would have said. As a last word I think the English public school craze is an undignified obsession—happily much too expensive to be unduly copied. * * * * * * * * * Postscript.—There may be doubts about the purely educational or spiritual side of these English schools ; there can be no doubt about the very heavy cost, which is bearing so hardly on parents that the whole question is now being closely examined. I have had the opportunity of seeing the school bills paid for two boys of eleven and seventeen. The one is at a preparatory school in Northants, the name of which can be supplied to any reader of these lines. For the three quarters of 1931 he cost his father, independent of clothes and keep in the holidays, £163 5s. The details for the summer term of 1931 are as follows :— Terms Board and Tuition . . . Drilling Games . . . • Laundry . . . • . Doctor . Books and Stationery . . . . . Dentist . . • . Music . . . . Singing . . • Dancing . . . . Boxing. . . . Carpentry . . . . Shooting . Swimming Bath . . . . . Tradesmen's Bills . . Supplied at School . . . Sundries .
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0 so 0 8 2 4 0 19
£57 4 8
His elder brother, who is at one of the new public schools, housed in a famous old manor and conducted on Eton i and Harrow lines, cost his father in the three terms L281 19s.
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again irrespective of clothes and holiday keep. up as follows :— • • . April term • . July term . December term . •
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£268 8 IT Here is the analysis of the £94 17s. paid for the first (April) term of last year :— . Lo 1 o 0 • . . Advances and Journey Money . . 0 2 6 • . . . . Bicycle Charge . . 3 o 3 • . . . . . . Bookroom . . o 9 4 • . . . . . Bootmaker . . I 0 0 . . . . . Boxing . Breakages, Materials, and Repairs . I I0 0 . . . . Carpentry Fee . . 0 2 5 • . . . Carpentry Materials . • . o 1 4 . . . . . . . Chemist . 2 2 0 . • . . . Chapel Subscription . . . . . . Conveyance . 2 2 0 • . . . . . Drawing . . . 0 I II . . . Drawing Materials . . . . Examination Fees . o 5 o . . . . . Extra Medical Expenses . . . Extra Pocket Money . . 2 5 o . • . . . . . Fencing Fee . o 8 4 . • . . . . . Hairdresser . . . . Motor Car Hire . . 3 3 o • . . . . Music Lesson . . 0 2 0 . . . . . Music Pieces • • 2 8 It . . . O.T.C., Fees, Uniform, etc. . . . . . . Parcels . 0 5 6 . • . Postage, Telegrams, and Telephone 0 I 0 Railway and Advance Luggage Charges . • • Riding • • • • • . . 0 12 0 . . . . Special Diet—Milk . . . I I 0 . Special Diet—Eggs . . . . o 5 6 • . . . . School Stationery ' . o 11 6 . . Additional Stationery . . • . . . Suits Cleaned . • . . Swimming Lessons • ' . • Tailor . . • 1 14 6 • • • . . 7 7 o • . . . Private Tuition . . • . School Fees for term . Pocket Money, 3/6 per week
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,C3o 5 6 . 63 0 0 . 1 it 6 £94 17
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The father of these two boys feels the expense pressing hard on him. But he is intensely proud of the system, and though he says that the elder one is not doing very brilliantly at his " lessons," he tells me the school gives the youth a " cachet " —without stopping to ask whether the writ runs beyond the
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British flag. Similarly, a correspondent tells me he learned more at the Aberdeen Grammar School in eighteen months than he did at an English public school in three years. But he is very proud of his sojourn in the south, and applauds the value of ' fagging " : while he quotes with complete approval a dictum of Sir James Duncan Millar, M.P., that " there are not too many features of our Scottish National life that we can hope to perpetuate to-day—but the kilt is one of the best " ! The same burden of expense applies equally to a girl, for a Sussex parent complains in The Times (29th February, 193z) of having to fork out £75 for the outfit of a little girl of la who is about to go to a public school—" not of the guinea-a-minute type either." There is some consolation in thinking that the heavy incidence of taxation, direct and indirect, will make some of these Scots parents "Buy Scots " in the matter of education. As some one said in " Sweet Lavender," long ago, " There may be a blessing in bankruptcy."
An Unsuccessful Tiger Hunt. I went out for a few days' shooting in the Indian jungle, hoping for a chance to get a good chital or sambur head. I started off at daybreak, accompanied by two natives to act as shikaris. I had never been out with these particular men before, but they were reported to be very good at jungle work. I took a light sporting rifle and a shot-gun with me. After a four-mile walk we entered the jungle just as the sun was beginning to rise. The monsoon was barely over, so that it was not easy getting about, the undergrowth being very thick. However, there were plenty of elephants in the neighbourhood, and I availed myself of one of their roads whenever possible. But the elephants proved to be a great nuisance. Three times I came up with small herds, and had to circle round them with great care, as if a herd becomes frightened, they stampede with so much noise that they scare away everything within miles. Had I been out after elephant I could have got a shot at two beautiful tuckers. I had a very unsuccessful morning, not managing to get a shot at all. Apart from elephants I saw a herd of four samburs, but as they were all females, of course I did not shoot. I could hear plenty of other creatures moving about : one usually does in the jungle. You may be going through some thick scrub, when you suddenly hear the sound of some big animal tearing its way through the undergrowth, and you stand stock-still, with every nerve and muscle taut, waiting for a shot, which in these circumstances very seldom comes. About mid-day I sat down for a rest and to eat a few sandwiches. My two shikaris were eager to be off again,.and they
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waited with considerable impatience while I smoked a pipe. By the time I was on the move the sun was fairly hot, in spite of the fact that we were under shade nearly all the time, and I was beginning to think that hunting in the jungle was not just all it might be. After about an hour of pretty heavy going we came to a water hole, and found that a tiger had just finished having a bath. We saw the fresh pugs (footmarks), and a trail of muddy water heading away from the hole. The water hole was situated in rather more open country, so that we were able to follow the tracks at a good pace, especially as every few yards there were patches of wet mud on the grass. In about half an hour we began to encounter the thick stuff again, and I thought we were going to lose the trail altogether. Just then, however, the tiger gave a kind of coughing roar, which sounded only about twenty yards away. It was not the first time I had heard a tiger roar in the jungle, and it was not at all pleasant hearing it so close without being able to see anything. I began to understand the sensation of feeling one's hair standing on end. However we carried on, and the tiger must have put on a spurt, as we heard him grumbling to himself some distance away. In about another half mile we came out on to a forest road, and at once one of my shikaris pointed to a mark in the middle of the road, saying that the tiger had gone along that way. The mark was quite unintelligible to me, but we set off at a good pace. I was very sceptical of seeing anything now, and was therefore more than surprised when, on rounding a bend in the road, I saw my tiger sauntering slowly along in front of me, about eighty yards or so away. He was a lovely animal, a fullgrown male, and very dark in colour. He offered a very difficult shot, as he was walking directly away from me, so I started to walk along behind him. He soon disappeared round another corner, and whenever he had gone out of sight, I began to run. When I got round the corner, I found that he was only about fifty yards away, still sauntering along the middle of the road and not taking the slightest notice of anything. He still offered a difficult shot, so I continued to follow up. I got to within about thirty or forty yards of him, and I began to think it was not very healthy to go any closer, especially as he was approaching another corner and I did not want to lose sight of him again. I took as careful an aim as possible and fired. The result was certainly dramatic. The tiger jumped round with a roar, and then subsided into a ditch at the side of the road. I was just preparing to take a second shot when my shikaris began to run towards him. I shouted to them to come back, but they were too excited to take any notice. They were within thirty yards of the tiger when he rose and stood for a moment broadside on in the middle of the road. It was a perfect shot,
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but I could not fire because my men were right in front. To say that I was annoyed is to put it mildly. After standing for a moment the tiger vanished into the jungle. By the amount and nature of the blood about, I came to the conclusion that I had shot him through the lungs, in which case I did not think that he would go far. We started to follow up the blood trail, one of my men going in front, while I came next, covering him with my rifle in case we should come upon the tiger suddenly. One has to have all one's wits about when following up a wounded tiger. It is always a risky game at the best of times. We followed him for perhaps a quarter of a mile, and then we began to get into very thick jungle once more. When we had to start crawling on our hands and knees I thought it was about time to give it up. It was really " asking for it " to go any further, and by this time it was pretty late in the afternoon. I was very sorry indeed to abandon my quarry, though I must say I had had a most exciting afternoon's sport. It was really a unique experience to walk down the middle of a road behind a tiger for about half a mile : an experience to be remembered. I have several times wondered since whether the tiger was as unaware of my presence as he appeared to be. I rather think he was, because few tigers will allow a man to approach them in the open. I sent my shikaris off the following morning to see if they could locate the tiger. They arrived back late in the evening to say that they had found him lying in a thick patch of undergrowth. They said he was almost done, as they had thrown stones at him and he had not moved ! I must say I should not like to throw stones at a tiger, however badly wounded I I went out again the next day in high hopes of bringing him back with me, but I was doomed to disappointment. When I got to the place where he had been lying up, I found that he had moved again. It was practically impossible to follow his tracks, as the country was covered with very thick scrub, and there had been heavy rain during the night. We did manage to follow the tracks a short distance, and found that in moving about a hundred yards he had come down three times, so that he must have been pretty near the end. I think it was fairly certain that be was lying dead somewhere not very far away, but in that country we might have searched for a week and not found him. As it was, I had six men on the job all day without any result. Had I not been sure that he was either dead or dying, I would not have given up the hunt. One cannot leave wounded tigers to roam about the district. I was sorry to leave my tiger, but I was very glad to have had such an experience. It was much more exciting than sitting over a kill for one. DONALD F. MURSELL (1921-22).
Aberdeen Grammar School Magerine.
A Tour in the Himalayas. In the past year we have been thrilled by the accounts of the Himalayan expeditions to Kangchenjunga and Kamet, and no doubt some of us here wished that we, too, could see these mighty mountains and sojourn amongst them for a time. Luckier than most, I was able to do this last year, and, perhaps, this account of the tour may be of interest. One day in October another young Scotsman and I left Calcutta for Darjeeling, glad to leave the steamy plains of Bengal behind us for a while. Darjeeling is the natural starting point for any expedition intending to make an attempt on the highest of the Himalayan range or to enter (if possible) Nepal or Tibet. I say " if possible," because Nepal and Tibet are both forbidden countries, and their frontiers are closely guarded,. no one being allowed to enter without special permission. We were not going to attempt anything so hazardous, but merely a trek in what one might call the foothills of the Himalayas. Although we reached i z,ooo feet at one point, that is not a great height when compared with 27,00o-29,00o feet, the height attained by the monarchs of the range. After an all-night journey in the train from Calcutta we arrived at Siliguri, the terminus of the railway, situated where the plains end and the mountains begin. From there a narrowguage railway, with diminutive engine_ and carriages, zig-zags up the mountain-sides until it reaches Darjeeling, situated 50> miles away at a height of over 7,000 feet. However, we did not travel by this mode of transport but preferred to go by car. The railway track and road, both wonderful feats of engineering, ran dose together for the whole distance, the railway crossing and recrossing the road scores of times. For the first half of the journey we got wonderful views of the great plain of Bengal, stretching for miles below us ; the rivers silver streaks intersecting the green jungle. But after Kurseong, where we had a short halt for tea, we entered a region of mist and cloud, and saw nothing more until our arrival at Darjeeling. Darjeeling is a delightful hill-station and the headquarters of the Bengal Government during the hot weather. It has a. wonderful situation on the ridge of a spur of the Himalayas. From it one gets a most magnificent view of Kangchenjunga, dazzling white and towering over z8,ooo feet into the sky. It is in the early morning, before the mists have risen from the valleys, that one sees this glorious mountain panorama at its best. At other times one just catches a glimpse of a snowy peak through a rent in the less white cloud. Very often the valleys beneath Darjeeling are filled with masses of cloud, and as these are ever drifting and breaking up, one catches momentary glimpses of, perhaps, a bungalow in a tea garden a few thousand
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feet below, while Darjeeling itself may be perfectly clear. This gives one the curious sense of being suspended between heaven and earth. We stayed three days in Darjeeling to make final arrangements for our tour, and also to get acclimatized to high altitudes before setting out. We were to be away for ten days altogether, and during most of that time would be more or less cut off from civilization. This meant that we had to carry with us sufficient tf'Everest rirq - ~''~--Ma ka Iu •
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provisions for that period. All these we had brought with us from Calcutta with the exception of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, which we purchased in Darjeeling. There we also engaged a band of coolies to act as porters, and a couple of hill-ponies. Having dispatched the coolies and ponies ahead of us, we set out one morning luxuriously by car. As the first fifteen miles of our route lay along a public highway, we decided to do that part by car and start the real trek where the route became no more than a mountain track. Here let me explain what we had set out to do. Briefly, we intended to take a circular tour amongst the lesser Himalayas, spending the nights at dak bungalows, erected and kept up by the Government. These bungalows are primarily intended
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for the use of Government officials and officers while on frontier duty, but other travellers are allowed to use them on payment • of a few rupees, if permission has been obtained previously. In addition to these bungalow passes, all travellers in this area have to obtain frontier passes before being allowed to proceed on their journey. Well, we had all these necessary passes, so we set off with light hearts, looking forward tremendously to ten glorious days among the mighty Himalayas, where the scenery is unsurpassed and the air is like champagne. Having covered our first fifteen miles by car, we arrived at Samana Busti, where our retinue of coolies was awaiting us. " Samuna " in Nepalese signifies " border "—in this case the border between Nepal and Sikkim, along which our route lay. We were quite an imposing cavalcade when we set out—nine carrying-coolies, a cook, a sweeper, a tiffin-coolie (who always remained close by and carried our tiffin or lunch), a sirdar (foreman—in command of the gang), and two others, who looked after our ponies-fifteen all told. "Tommy," my steed, was grey—much sturdier and broader than the other one and much more agile, too—until the last few days, when he cast a shoe : but that is another tale. Our usual mode of progression was to ride uphill and walk downhill and on the level. On the whole trip, however, there was very little level going—it was bne succession of ascents and descents. The first day was almost entirely uphill, so we rode all the time. We started off easily, as we did only nine miles that day, arriving at Tonglu bungalow (over io,ooo feet high) in time for tiffin. Most of our route lay through forest, and at 9,000 feet we came upon great rhododendrun trees— not small bushes, as we are accustomed to at home, but great giants, 3o-4o feet high. As I said, we arrived at this bungalow in time for an excellent meal which was waiting for us, the cook having gone on ahead to prepare it. We were very fortunate in our cook ; he was a splendid fellow, and turned out excellent menus during the whole trip. A description of Tonglu bungalow will stand for all we stayed in during our tour, as they are all built more or less after the same pattern. Each consisted of a living and dining room combined, two bedrooms (each with a bathroom attached), and a big verandah. At the higher bungalows these verandahs are dosed in with glass as a protection against the icy blasts which blow at these altitudes. The kitchen is generally situated in an outhouse at the back, amongst the servants' quarters. When I say there is a bathroom attached to each bedroom, please don't imagine anything luxurious, like procelain baths with H. and C. laid on. We had to have our bath in zinc tubs, but they served the purpose admirably. All the bungalows
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are furnished with a table and chairs, a small case of books, and two beds in each bedroom. Each bungalow is in charge of a " chowkidar " (caretaker), who is paid by the Government. It is his duty to have the bungalow cleaned and ready for travellers, and to supply wood for the fires. After an early dinner at 6 p.m. we usually turned in to bed about 8 p.m., being tired and sleepy after a strenuous day in the open, and also to be ready to get up at 5.3o a.m. to see the sunrise on the mountains. That night, before turning in, we were fortunate enough to see a glorious sunset. Kangchenjunga was a magnificent sight in the rays of the setting sun, the snowy peaks tinged with gold and pink. We both decided that it was worth while coming to see that alone. But better was to follow the next morning, when at 5.3o we saw our first sunrise on the Himalayas. While all was yet dark below, the snowclad peaks caught the first glow of the rising sun and soon became golden pink. Gradually the lesser heights lit up, until dawn became full daylight. Above, the sky was brilliantly blue—a sight never to be forgotten. After breakfast at 6.3o a.m. the coolies and cook set out at 7 a.m., while we followed on about 8.15 a.m. This was our usual time-table throughout the trip, as it allowed the coolies to get ahead of us, and on arrival at our destination the cook would have a meal ready for us. At mid-day we always halted for an hour in some shady spot by the side of the track and ate a light lunch of sandwiches, which we carried with us. Our coolies carried loads of about 6o-lb. each with the greatest of ease up the steepest slopes. At times they would diverge from the mountain track on which we were riding and take a short cut up the hill face, where it seemed to us that only mountain goats could have gone. These hill coolies are really splendid fellows and are always cheerful. Most of our squad were Nepalese and Bhutanese. And here let me add that among their number was a woman, who did her share of the work as cheerfully and as well as the men. Our second day's trek for the first five miles lay downhill through very thick bamboo glades, varied here and there by small waterfalls—a very pretty path. Afterwards our route was almost continually uphill, and for the entire length lay along the Nepalese border. As if to emphasize its mysterious and forbidding nature, the whole of Nepal seemed to be shrouded in a thick sea of clouds. After a wayside lunch we rode on through a different type of country. The mountain-sides were clothed with trees, many of which were changing colour and presenting a lovely patchwork of green, russet, yellow, and gold. The sun was warm, the sky blue, and altogether the prospect was beautiful. After a mile or two of this, the scenery again changed when we encountered the first of the pine forests which cover scores of the
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Himalayan valleys. This forest—like all the succeeding ones —bore traces of the ravages of fires and of fierce storms. The last few miles of our day's trek lay very steeply uphill. The track zig-zagged up the mountain-side, and at times we were riding along a very narrow ridge—sometimes nothing more than a knife edge, with clear drops of hundreds of feet on each side. However, thanks to the sure-footedness of our ponies, we negotiated them safely. It seems to be a habit of all hill-ponies to walk along the very edge of the khud (precipice) —a habit which one finds a little disconcerting at first. However, one soon gets used to it and learns to trust in the judgment of these sure-footed animals. That night, after having done fourteen miles, we were installed in Sandakphu bungalow, at a height of 11,919 feet. Although later on in our tour we rose to over tz,ooo feet, this was the highest of the bungalows in which we spent a night. And it was well worth climbing all that distance, for the sight from the top cannot, I am sure, be surpassed in the world. Those fortunate people who have travelled far and seen the snow mountains which are the pride of other parts of the world, consider that this mountain panorama from Sandakphu cannot be surpassed anywhere. Certainly I have never seen anything to surpass it, and never expect to do so. When one considers that the whole northern horizon is occupied by perpetual-snowclad peaks, culminating in Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga (the highest and second highest mountains in the world), some idea of the magnitude and grandeur of the scene may be got. But it is so grand and so magnificent that one cannot adequately describe it. At 5.3o a.m. all is dark save for the ioolmiles-long rampart of eternal snows, which are at this hour a pearly grey colour. Gradually the gloom lessens and each peak assumes its own shape, but all are still dull white. Our eyes are fixed on Mount Everest, much further off (and appearing much lower) than Kangchenjunga, which is only 3o miles away. Suddenly Everest—and Everest alone—catches the first rays of the rising sun, and so proves that it is monarch of the mighty Himalayas. Its snow-clad peak turns from grey to glistening white, then to rosy pink, and finally to gold. By this time Kangchenjunga has become lit up by the rising sun, and is quickly followed by Makalu, Jannu, Kabru, and Pandim, until the whole glorious range of snowy peaks glows golden in the first flush of dawn. Far away to the east, silhouetted against the pale blue sky, the lonely peak of Chumalhari stands sentinel over the tableland of Tibet. And so dawn comes to the high Himalayas—the grandest sight in the world. At this altitude daybreak is a chilly hour, and we were glad of the protection of the fur-lined Tibetan caps which we were wearing. There was frost on the ground and a patch of ice
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where water had been the night before. But so quickly does the temperature change in these regions that an hour or so later we were lying on the mountain-side basking in the hot sun and revelling in the glorious scenery around us. Under the influence of the sun the clouds packed in the valleys thousands of feet beneath us gradually ascended, floating higher and higher and finally shutting off from our view the mountain peaks. Then we turned our attention to things nearer at hand—the rhododendron copses. These rhododendrons were not tall trees as we had seen on the previous day, but small shrubs such as we find growing in Britain. They cover hundreds of square miles in the Himalayas and must be a gorgeous sight in May, when in full bloom—a riot of purple, red, pink, and white, as far as the eye can see. We spent another night at Sandakphu, and after witnessing another glorious sunrise, left next morning for Phalut bungalow, a distance of twelve miles. The first part of the track lay through rhododendron copses, which later gave place to pines. All along our route we had a magnificent view of Kangchenjunga—surely the Queen of the Himalayas, if Everest be the King. This is a superb mountain, flanked by lesser peaks standing by, like lords- and ladies-in-waiting, and protected by tremendous precipices, down which avalanches of snow and ice hurl themselves without any warning. Because of this the utmost peak has so far proved inaccessible to climbers. Still man may triumph and yet find a route to the top. That night we spent at Phalut bungalow, only about too feet lower than Sandakphu. On the mountain top immediately above and behind the bungalow is an old " mendong " in a fine state of preservation. This is a long wall-like erection, generally built to divide the road into two lateral halves to allow of the reverent mode of passing it, namely, with the right hand to the wall. No true Bhuddist would dream of passing a mendong in any other manner, otherwise it would being ill-luck on the march. Many of the stones of which the mendong is composed bear religious writings and carvings on them. Next day, having made sure that we passed the mendong on the correct side, we set out for Dentam. This was a distance of seventeen miles, and as we descended from i z,ooo to 4,000 feet, it was too steep for riding, so we tramped most of the way. But before beginning the descent we had to ascend to the top of Mount Singalela, zig-zagging up to a height of rz,roo feet, the highest point reached in our tour. At the summit, from which we had a magnificent view, three countries meet—Nepal, Sikkim, and British India. After this we left Nepal, and our route for the next four days lay entirely in Sikkim. As we came down from the mountain tops into the valleys, we left the rhododendrons and pines behind us and came into. semi-tropical forests, among which were seen some beautiful
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flowering plants and shrubs. The last few miles of the track followed the Kulhait River—a mountain torrent rushing along in a rocky bed. On the banks of the river all kinds of flowers grew in the greatest profusion. Pink and scarlet geraniums, flame and golden marigolds, pink and white cherry-blossom, purple and pink convolvulus, and great white trumpet lilies made a perfect riot of colour. Between the trees giant black and yellow and green spotted spiders had woven the biggest webs I have ever seen anywhere. One could not imagine a greater contrast than this scene with the one we had left in the morning—a bleak bare mountain-top open to all the icy blasts which were ever blowing from the perpetual snows. After a night at the dak bungalow at Dentam we crossed the Kulhait river the next morning by a somewhat unstable bridge, and began to climb up to the heights again. Our trek that day was to Pamionchi—a distance of eleven miles. The second half lay along a mountain ridge covered with dense sub-tropical forest—a forest of trees so weird and gloomy and damp that another traveller has likened it to the fantastic forests Gustave Dore imagined for his " Dante." All the hoary old tree-trunks were clothed from top to bottom with green moss, masses of green creepers hung in festoons from the branches, and the whole forest was pervaded by a curious green light. Everything was so quiet, too, that we had a curiously eerie, uncanny feeling as we rode through it. We were quite startled when a troop of monkeys shrieked at us from the tree-tops as we passed below. Occasional clumps of vivid mauve and yellow orchids hanging from some branch relieved this gloomy and weirdly silent forest. Three miles before reaching Pamionchi dak bungalow, where we were to spend the night, we diverged a short distance from our trail to visit Sangachelling Monastery—the oldest Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, built in 1697. It is a fairly large monastery, housing 25 monks. We were met by a few of them, who were clad in coarse, brown robes, and had bare feet and heads. They conducted our party over the building, showing us the innumerable images of Buddha, each with a little oil lamp burning in front of it and a bowl of yellow marigolds—the sacred flower of the Buddhists—placed before it. We were also shown the hundreds of ancient volumes in the library, all bound in yellow silk and containing sacred Buddhist writings. But to us the most interesting sight was the small cell, rather dark and gloomy inside, which housed the giant " math," or prayer wheel. This is a tall cylinder, some twelve feet high, brightly painted with mythological figures, which revolves when a handle is manipulated by a devotee. The mani strikes a sharp-toned bell at each revolution, informing all and sundry that prayer is being offered. This prayer wheel was operated by a withered old crone who, from the lines on her weather-
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beaten old face, seemed to have reached her century. Not content with pulling at the big prayer wheel, she was turning a " pocket edition " with her other hand, and all the while was muttering away to herself—no doubt some sacred incantation. She suited perfectly Sangachelling, which in the Tibetan vernacular means " place of secret spells." We gave her a rupee to say prayers for us—enough to last at least a month !—and then ,departed, loaded with fruit and flowers pressed upon us by the hospitable lamas. That night we spent at Pamionchi dak bungalow, from which there is the most glorious mountain view in fine weather. As luck would have it we never enjoyed this view, for it rained continuously while we were there—the only bad weather we encountered during our whole tour. The next day we visited Pamionchi Monastery close by, the biggest monastery in Sikkim, built in 1705 and housing 108 monks. Several years ago it was partially destroyed by fire, and the present building is more or less new. Pamionchi in Tibetan means " the sublime perfect Lotus "—the lotus being a sacred Buddhist symbol. The main building is plain and austere, but the situation is unique, with a superb view from the court-yard. Leading up to it is a long slope paved with cobble-stones, and lined with prayer banners fluttering in the breeze. Inside we saw much the same as at Sangachelling, with the addition of the great trumpets and masks used by the performers at the famous devil-dances. We were disappointed that we could not see one of these dances, but were partly compensated by being received by the head lama himself. He afterwards donned his full ceremonial robes and came outside to have his photograph taken. Knowing that we carried a medicine chest with us, a dozen or more of the lamas followed us back to the bungalow in order to beg pills and medicines for their various ailments. As they brought offerings of fowls, eggs, fruit, and flowers to us in exchange, we really did quite well out of our " travelling dispensary." We spent another night at Pamionchi and next day pushed on to Rinchenpong, a distance of ten miles. En route we passed through Gaysing Bazaar—a collection of crude native shops—and crossed the Kulhait river at its junction with the roaring torrent of the Rangit River After a night at Rinchenpong dak bungalow we went on next day to Chakung, a distance of thirteen miles. The route was very similar to that of the previous few days—a series of ascents and descents, sometimes through shady forest and sometimes under the blazing sun. After spending a night at Chakung dak bungalow our caravan set out to cover the twenty miles to Darjeeling. We had left our longest day's journey until the end. Part of our route lay though orange groves, and here by the side of the path sat an old woman selling fruit. We halted to buy some, and for half an
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anna (about id.) we got eight oranges and a dozen small bananas 1 This made me realize how really cheaply these country people can live. No doubt some of our retinue thought the eight annas -which we paid them daily quite a princely sum--although rather . a miserable pittance it seemed to us 1 We crossed the Rammam River by a bridge, at the end of which stood a native sentry of the British Indian Frontier Force. To him we had to deliver up our passes, for this river forms the boundary between the native state of Sikkim and British India. As we sat by the side of this river having our mid-day menu, the water looked so inviting that I stripped and went in for a" dook." Oh 1 the joy of the cool water on that blistering hot day 1 But, I couldn't stay in it all afternoon, and after a short time had to be out and on the trail again. Riding along the bank of the river for about a mile we came to Singla Bazaar, a flourishing native village, where a busy market is held every Sunday. Fortunately this day happened to be a Sunday, and while my pony was being reshod, we wandered up and down among the buyers and sellers in the market-place. Most of the buying and selling seemed to be on the barter system, grain and vegetables being exchanged for strings of gaudy glass beads, cakes of lurid-looking toilet soap, and masses of sticky sweetmeats. About half-a-mile from the bazaar we crossed the Rangit River, and here we entered our last lap. From here it was a continuous ascent for ten miles through tea gardens, from the Rangit river at i,ooo feet to Darjeeling at 7,ooo feet. At the river level the heat was terrific (even although it was November), and our exertions in riding up the mountain-side did not improve matters. All that afternoon I thought longingly of my mid-day dip. Up and up the path zig-zagged, first through the vast Singla tea gardens and then through the Tukvar tea garden. At intervals we passed the planters' bungalows, situated in very isolated and lonely positions, but having as some compensation the most glorious mountain views. Until a few years ago these bungalows were absolutely inaccessible to cars, and horses or motor cycles were the only modes of transport. Now the Ubiquitous Austin Seven has penetrated thus far ; these baby cars alone are able to go up and down the terribly steep gradients and negotiate the most acute hairpin bends of this very narrow track. As we rose higher and higher more and more of the snowdad mountain peaks came into view as the river receded—a green ribbon far beneath. A glorious sunset was lighting up the mighty Kangchenjunga and all the range of eternal snows with a beautiful golden glow—saffron coloured, like the sacred marigold before the Buddhas. And as we rode into Darjeeling at dusk the mists ascended from the valleys, blotting out the whole picture, as if ringing down the curtain on our Himalayan R. D. B. tour. (1913-22).
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SCHOOL SECTION. School Notes. At Christmas the School said good-bye to Mr. Laing, who for thirty-four years has taught commercial subjects to Grammar School boys. In thanking the boys for a present of golf clubs, Mr. Laing entertained them with lively reminiscences of the Grammar School thirty years ago : while the masters were much more solemn and dignified then than now (although, indeed, the gowns they wore seemed somehow always too big or too small—and the result was rather ludicrous !), still the boys were always the same 1 * * * At the same time we welcome Mr. Macara, B.Com., who has come to succeed Mr. Laing, and we wish him every success. * * * The Rev. Donald Fraser, D.D., of the Forward Movement, spoke to the School of his exciting experiences as a missionary in Africa, of adventures among warrior tribes in the wilds of Nyasa. Dr. Fraser, as the first white man to visit the far-away Senga tribe, had an interesting story to tell. He seemed to take the School with him, back to the Senga land, and show them quaint, stockaded villages deep in the jungle, and baboons and snakes and monkeys ; he told how he lay awake at night and heard lions prowling and howling outside his hut, and an old man singing to the lions, to tell them there was no one here in this village, but plenty of good fat people further on 1 * * * In January the Dramatic Society scored a great success by the presentation of five one-act plays. " The Elegy of a Country Churchyard," by L. Housman, is the story of the poet Gray's dream which he dreamed as he snoozed in the little churchyard. " The Invisible Duke " is a fantastic medieval comedy, played in the laboratory of a rogue of an alchemist, who dabbles in mysterious potions. " The Kings of Orion," by Gilbert Hamilton, deals with the punishment that comes to the stealers of an idol. " The New Wing at Elsinore " is a lively skit on " Hamlet," in which Horatio is harassed by the swarming ghosts which haunt the palace at Elsinore. " The Crimson Cocoanut," by Ian Hay, is a comedy about a bomb which is to blow up the Bank of England. For the success of the performances the Society's thanks are due to the masters who produced the plays, and especially to Mr. Farquharson. * * * The Orchestra continues its practices for another School
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concert, to be given in May. Mr. Falconer, however, makes an appeal for more players. * * * season, with more XV has had a successful The School ist than one notable victory. On zoth February School beat Gordon's College yet once more, after a fast, exciting game. * * * We congratulate J. S. MacLachlan and Lewis Middleton, who were capped this term ; and all the players who have won their colours—A. G. Halliday, J. Smith, D. M. C. Donald, J. Gillan, F. Smith, E. H. Still, and J. T. Riach. * * * Once again Dr. Cormack is going to take a party of Grammar School boys to France, this time to spend the Easter holidays at Angers on the Loire. We hope they will have a good time, as they always do. * * * Almost sixty unlucky Grammar School boys are now trying for the Leaving Certificate. We hope that almost sixty will come through with flying colours, and we can only wish them jolly good luck. * * * In December the 1st Scout Troop held a Concert and a Café Chantant, which was opened by Bishop Deane. Interesting side-shows and stalls, and perhaps especially good tea tables, made a great success of the Café, while the delightfully varied concert programme proved lively and most entertaining. * * * The Literary and Debating Society's Christmas serenading was a great success—at least from the point of view of the musicians, who were very well fed by the Masters ; whether the Masters enjoyed the music we cannot say.
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Random Notes. Whatever the Christmas exams. may reveal in the form of intellectual ability, they invariably produce a fine crop of howlers ; and this year's have been no exception to the rule. * * * The French papers, for example, revealed some really extraordinary data concerning the habits and outward appearance of the common squirrel. It may interest lovers of Nature to learn that the squirrel is " neither flesh-eating nor carnivorous," and that it is " only half-savage." It is " clean, pretty, lively, and very old, and has fiery eyes and a fine physic." And lastly,
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to remove any lingering doubts, the squirrel "is neither carnivorous nor a vegitarean ! " * * * " The obscurity of not a little of his production cannot be denied," wrote a critic of Browning. He might well have written it of the genius who presented the following as his translation of a French prose :— " All around a big and profound sombre park extends, it sleeps under the sky which mounts, and one hears passing for a moment the whistlings of the leaves." *
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The following is an extract from one of the French-English translations :— " N'avez-vous pas cinq pieds cinq pouces de haut? " " Oui, messieurs, c'est ma taille," dit-il en faisant la reverence. The most ingenious translation ran somewhat like this :— " Have you not five feet and five big thumbs ? " " Yes gentlemen, and then there is my tail," said he, finishing his reverence . . . Vive la France et la langue francaise I * * * But these gentlemen, ingenious though they were, must yield pride of place to the youth who described " ellipsis " as ' occurring when the moon came in front of the sun," and to the Latin scholar who defined "senate" as " something worn under the shirt 1 " Perhaps the finest original effort, however, came from the English class, where " Dangerous as the task was . . ." was described as a " subordinate adverbial clause of confession I " It is also interesting to know that there was formerly a famous oracle at Delhi. It would be sacrilege to doubt the truth of this statement, for did it not come from a no less august personage than a member of Classical VI ? * * * A short time ago the School .Prefects were acting as ushers at a musical concert. One Prefect, asked by a gentleman where the balcony was, thought deeply for a minute. Finally, in a moment of inspiration, he produced the following edifying reply : " The balcony ? Oh yes, it's—er—er upstairs ! " * * * And, in conclusion, while still touching on music, the following eulogy may not be out of place :— Although we have heard it said Moir Has a voice like a noisy destroyer, We have to admit (Though our rime doesn't fit) That he's quite a ' big noise ' in the choir !
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New Year.
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Hope for the New Year, memories of the old, speculation and reflection, a score of quaint associations, make a little ceremony only natural on the occasion of the " New Year." They appeal to our sentiment. Being sentimental, we like the thrill of that moment when the old year goes out (with a long beard down to his toes, and his old back doubled) and the New Year comes in. At any season there is a thrill about " the witching hour of midnight " ; how much more thrilling when this year, next year, last year are all confounded, and we are on the edge of another long year, mingling wonder of the future and recollection of the past I No wonder we like to toast the New Year then, and the Old Year, and us ; to wish each other jolly good luck ; and love to listen for the golden, mellow chime that merrily rings the New Year in— " How it swells I How it dwells On the future I How it tells Of the rapture that impels To the swinging and the ringing Of the bells, bells, bells— To the riming and the chiming of the bells."
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To set out on a New Year is like to start almost another life, and that is what inspires New Year resolutions, one of the best of New Year customs. I suppose, if one were given to start a new life all over again, one would say, " I'll be really good this time " ; some such idea suggested New Year resolutions. Perhaps the Romans never thought of New Year resolutions, but we know that they too, as we do, exchanged presents on the Calends of January, and that there was then feasting and masquerade and merriment at Rome, while sacrificial altars smoked, and white-robed priests marched to the Capitol—all on New Year's Day. Perhaps just as long ago, Scottish Hogmanay began. The hogmanay was at first a cake given on New Year's morning with wishes for a happy year. One visited one's friends, and everyone visited everyone else, to present the hogmanay, and, perhaps, to exchange memories and make plans for the coming year. Of all New Year customs, the quaintest, perhaps, is this First-footing, the visit in " the wee sma"oors " to wish good luck with the hogmanay. It is said that the first to foot the threshold must be dark, to bring good luck—dark, on that same principle which counts black cats lucky, and dark horses. The custom affords a good opportunity for carousal and merrymaking all together. I think our sentimentality has made a very pretty holiday of New Year ; we have made of New Year a season of jolly good
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will and happiness ; we have found a happy way to begin our long, long year, " In a happy Runic rime To the rolling of the bells— Of the bells, bells, bells I " A. R. H. K., CL. VI.
Easter Tour to London and France. Despite the present economic conditions the annual Easter tour has been arranged to Angers, the capital of Anjou, a province in the Loire valley. The party will be the smallest to set off— seven boys and Dr. Cormack, and the British Railway Companies have conceded the old terms to this small party in the special circumstances. As usual a day will be spent in London, and the services as guides of Sir F. C. Thomson, Bart., M.P., and Dr. J. M. Bulloch, President of the London Centre of the F.P. Club, enlisted. To maintain the cost at normal, excursions are cut out, and the period reduced from 18 to 14 days. Six other young Grammarians will be dropped in London to holiday with aunties and uncles. Despite the fall of sterling, the all-in price from Aberdeen to Aberdeen is, for boys under z6, 3 2s. 6d and for boys over 16, L14 i2s. 6d. The difference is in the rail fare in Britain. Anjou is a wine-growing and seed-growing (flowers and vegetables) province with a remarkably mild climate. It is the home country of the Percheron horse, the French Clydesdale. Angers, with its population of 86,ooo, is a quiet country town, well suited for the study of the characteristic manifestations of the genius of the French people. Monsieur Joussaume, the English master in Angers Grammar School, and his senior boys, have promised to co-operate to make the visit a success. The beautiful dahlias that adorned the School garden last summer were brought home by the School party from Brittany in exchange for Scottish potato seed varieties, which being clean of disease, are always welcome in France. This tour, which was instituted in 1924, and which is admittedly of general educational value, has been found to be valuable linguistically, for the study of a modern language should lead to a knowledge of another civilization; and vice versa, a knowledge of the civilization should help the boys to understand the subtleties of the French language.
The Library. Despite the seasonal decline in borrowing during the last few weeks, the total of books borrowed during the term (1,1[16) compares favourably with the total for the similar period last session (1,083) ; in only three of the weeks of the term were numbers below last session's figures. In the Lower School, Qualifying IV (258), and IVB (98) have borrowed most; in the Middle School, IIA (73) ; and in the Upper School, Classical VI (46).
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School Rugby. The season now ending has been among the most successful in the long history of the School. In some ways it has been a record season; in no way has it been unsatisfactory. The 1st XV has not a particularly good record, it began too badly for that, and its later successes must be balanced by its earlier failures ; but the standard of the teams from the 2nd downward has never been quite so good, the co-operation of several members of the staff in refereeing and coaching never quite so effective, and the weather never more suitable for Rugby. It will be recollected by those who read the notes on Rugby in the last issue of the Magazine that the 1st XV began the season under the handicap of having to form an almost entirely new team. Backs were found who promised well, but the traditional supply of forwards had at last failed. And what applied to the 1st XV applied equally to the znd and 3rd XVs. Match after match was lost by the teams, but under a system of more intensive practice than usual, progress was rapidly made, games began to be won here and there, others were lost by a point or two, and finally, in December, all teams began a run of successes, culminating, so far as the 1st were concerned, in the defeat for the first time of George Heriot's School. There has been little brilliance about the 1st XV, but it has been very sound and well-balanced. Defensively it has certainly been among the best School sides. The forwards were of more than average intelligence, and this made up for lack of experience and " beef." Since the Christmas vacation the 2nd XV has played very attractive Rugby, indeed the backs, as an attacking force, are now probably superior to those of the i st XV. The Junior XV (under i 5) has also been very successful. For the first time Minor XVs have played regularly. Boys of the Lower School and Middle I have, of course, had their class and Inter-House matches in other seasons, but this season, for the first time, quite a series of Minor XVs has been formed and coached. As far as House teams are concerned, twelve of these play on Wednesdays, six on Tuesdays, and four on Thursdays, making 22 House teams in all. School teams which play matches on Saturdays are ist, znd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th School XVs ; Colts XV, Juniors XV, Minors 1st, znd, and 3rd XVs, and recently a sub-Minors XV has been formed. This means that as many as eleven XVs may play on a Saturday; actually the maximum number on any one Saturday so far has been ten. The Juniors and Minors XVs are looked after by members of the staff. It is difficult to appreciate just how amazingly agreeable the weather conditions have been. Actually, of roughly It so games-playing days, only five have been unfit for games. The benefits of such a season as this are bound to show for years to
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come. Regarding next season, it is possible to anticipate a 1st XV with a good chance of setting up a record number of successes. There will probably be four six-foot, twelve-stone forwards, and one or two of this year's backs, together with several of the znd XV. Who's Who in the ist XV. A. D. D. Hutton (1929-3o-31-3z), 6 feet, 1z stone. Captain and leader of the pack. Very strong and speedy, but owing to his responsibilities has developed pronounced winging tendencies. Sound in most ways but tackles high. Should do well in Club Rugby. J. G. Fyfe (193o-3I-3z), 5 feet 8 in., 1 I stone. A speedy and clever centre three-quarter, " blessed" with a tantalising inability to hold his passes. A real match-winner on his day, which is not often. Comes up like a shot in defence. E. K. Cruickshank (1930-31-32), 5 feet 9 in., to stone 3 lb. A very promising scrum-half, with a quick, well-directed service. Defends splendidly and breaks away effectively. Sound in all the fundamentals of half-back play. The best since 1924. J. S. MacLachlan (193o-31-3z), 5 feet ix f in., it stone 6i lb. A very fine forward who should do well in Club Rugby. Strong, speedy, hard-working, and, above all, intelligent. Sound in every way. L. Middleton (1931-32), 5 feet 9i in., to stone II lb. Another very promising forward but of a different type. Solid and hard-working. A little inclined to be blind in the loose, but also decidedly intelligent. Hooks successfully. R. E. M. Paterson (1930-31-32), 5 feet 8 in., to stone 9 lb. Centre three-quarter or stand-off half, but at his best on the wing. Fast and thoroughly sound without being brilliant. Should develop into a very good wing. A. G. Halliday (1931-32), 5 feet 6 in., 9 stone 1 lb. A very speedy and earnest wing three-quarter who has come on a lot, but still hesitates when his path is blocked. A prince among those who are conscientious in practice. J. McKiddie (1931-3z), 5 feet 8 in., 2. stone 13 lb. A fast and determined little wing, with a good hand-off and a sound tackle, but very weak in kicking. Coming on nicely. F. G. Smith (1931-3z), 5 feet to in., II stone 3 lb. A hardworking reliable forward who does much valuable work in the scrummages. Intelligent in the open. Will improve greatly by another year. J. M. Smith (193o-31-32), 5 feet to in., 1 1 stone 1 lb. A very sound forward, good both in the tight and the loose. Unfortunately does not look like getting much bigger or heavier. An excellent dribbler.
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J. Gillan (1931-3z), 5 feet 9 in., II stone a lb. Centre threequarter or stand-off half. Sound enough and an excellent kick, but slow to think and slow to act. Improving, however, and goes hard when properly on the move. E. Still (1931-32), 5 feet 9 in., io stone 1 lb. Full back. Probably the most improved player in the side—a just reward for unremitting industry in practice. Coming on splendidly towards the end of the season. Should have a bright future, but must curb a tendency to petty displays of irritation. J. T. Riach (1931-3z), 6 feet 1j; in., rz stone. A young, hard-working forward who has come on a lot and should do well next season. Does not kick well with either foot, but sound otherwise. D. Donald (1931-32), 5 feet roi in., I I stone 4 lb. A good, honest, hard-working forward who does his job in the scrums and goes hard in the loose. R. N. Lees (1931-32), 5 feet 8f in., in stone 8 lb. A fast, intelligent, hard-working forward who has come on a lot; lacks size and weight, but should do well next year. xst XV Matches.
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54th November, 5931.—v. Dunfermline High School. School had to play with fourteen men in this game, as Gillan missed the train. Paterson took Gillan's place at stand-off, and MacLachlan was taken from the pack to fill Paterson's place in the centre. It is doubtful if this was a wise move, for there was a steady downpour of rain throughout the game, which was consequently fought out by the forwards. The seven School forwards held their own valiantly for most of the game, and the backs did what little came their way. Superior weight in the set scrums enabled the Dunfermline team to force their way to the School line, and their scrum half scored two snap tries. Both were converted with very good kicks considering the sodden state of the ball. Thereafter the School line was subjected to severe pressure, and only a sterling defence by the backs and good touch-kicking by Paterson and Cruickshank held out the eager home team. In an endeavour to relieve the almost continuous pressure, School played with eight forwards, but although they did manage to reach their opponents' twenty-five, they were unable to pierce a sound defence. The whistle blew with School attacking strongly. Result—Dunfermline, to points ; School, nil. List November.—v. Dollar Academy. For the game against Dollar, School made several changes—Bain, Rust, and Black replacing Still, Gillan, and Begg. School attacked strongly from the kick-off, and soon had the home team in their own twenty-five. McKiddie finished a fine combined movement by the backs by running strongly for the corner, being hauled down only a yard from the line. School, however, suddenly lost their dash. The forwards continued to ply the backs with the ball, but the latter seemed unable to hold their passes, let alone make ground. The backs, in addition, all ran across field or were caught in possession. Before half-time, Dollar scored two unconverted tries, due to bad blunders by the School backs, whose marking was also poor. School improved slightly in the second half, and from a forward rush, first Hutton, and then J. Smith and MacLachlan were almost over. Play remained in the Dollar twenty-five, and Middleton and Donald both just failed to break through on their own. Then Cruickshank swerved, and dummied his way to the line, being brought down before he could pass. The Dollar right-wing " three " suddenly broke away
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on his own, and scored a try. Persistent rushes by the forwards, who all played well, brought no reward. The backs were all off form, only Bain, at full back, playing anything like a normal game. Result—Dollar, 9 points ; School, nil. 28th November.—School played F.P.s and XV on this date, and lost a very close game by 9 points to ix. Paterson (2) and Gillan were the scorers for School. 5th December.-2nd 'Shire were the visitors at Rubislaw, and after an even game, School were a trifle unlucky to lose by one point. Birkbeck scored a try, and Wildgoose dropped a goal for 'Shire. Gillan and MacLachlan scored tries for School. izth December.—v. and Gordonians. School had and Gordonians as visitors on this date. Right from the kick-off, the School forwards had the opposing eight beaten in all ways. The backs, consequently, got many opportunities and were not slow to use them. After a period of pressure, Halliday broke off on his own, and touched down, for Gillan to convert. It was not long before School went further ahead, Halliday obtaining two more tries, one of which was converted by Gillan. Before half-time, McKiddie and Gillan (2) scored further tries, and Gillan kicked a penalty goal. The game was more even in the second half and play was mostly in mid-field. Towards the end, School renewed their attack, and MacLachlan got over for an unconverted try. J. Smith and Riach were good forwards, and Gillan the best of the backs. Result—School, 28 points ; znd Gordonians, nil. t9th December.—v. Engineers. For their game against Engineers, School were decidedly under strength, The forwards were as usual, but Cowan and Booth substituted for McKiddie and Paterson in the backs. Right from the kick-off School attacked with great vigour, and hemmed their heavier opponents into their own twenty-five. The backs had some good combined movements, in which Booth and Cowan showed up well. From a scrum on the centre line, School heeled the ball, and Gillan, taking his pass from Cruickshank, cut through the Engineers' defence beautifully, to score a great try, which he himself converted. This nettled Engineers, who tried in vain to pierce the keen defence of the School backs, who defended valiantly until half-time. Engineers started the second half with the fixed intention of pushing School into their twenty-five and keeping them there. For a long time School were hard pressed to keep out their opponents, but they finally took up the attack, a series of forward rushes gaining valuable ground. Then an Engineers' back broke away and scored. From then until the whistle School attacked without success. The forwards all played a splendid game, with Cruickshank and Cowan the best of the backs. Result —Schools points ; Engineers, 3 points. 16th January, 1932.—v. Edinburgh Academy. School visited Edinburgh on International day and played the Academy in the forenoon. School lost the toss and had to play against a strong cross wind. The pitch was, in addition, extremely soft, the conditions being entirely against good play. But the forwards, though smaller than the Edinburgh pack, soon dominated matters and gave the backs plenty of the ball. Despite the bad weather the backs handled well, and as the result of a good combined movement, which Middleton initiated, Fyfe broke through and passed to Middleton, who passed back again, for Fyfe to score a great try. Then Hutton intercepted a delayed pass by one of the Academy backs, and ran nearly half the length of the field to score a try, which Gillan converted. This was the finish of the first-half scoring. The second half was a repetition of the first—hard scrumming by the forwards, with occasional bursts by the backs. The backs, however, failed to handle so effectively this half and both scores came from forwards. Hutton, kicking ahead a loose ball, followed up hard to score the first, and Lees scored the second after the forwards, with F. Smith and and Donald in the van, had dribbled from their own half. Middleton played a great game for School, and Still and McKiddie did well amongst the backs. Result—School, xi points ; Academy, 3 points.
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;oth January.—v. znd Aberdeenshire. School were eager for revenge in this game, having twice been beaten by 'Shire by one point. The team was at full strength, and attacked strongly from the kick-off. After a spell of attacking, Cruickshank broke away from the scrum, to score a try, which Gillan converted. Almost immediately Gillan added a further try. School were completely superior to their opponents in all positions, and it was only to be expected when Hutton scored two tries, one of which was converted by Gillan. Then the backs had a clever movement which ended in McKiddie scoring far out. In the second half, School again monopolised the play. Paterson broke through cleverly and kicked across to the forwards for MacLachlan to touch down. 'Shire now appeared in a better light, and School had to defend for a time, but it was not long before they were attacking again. Paterson again cut through, this time finishing by scoring himself, and the game ended with School complete masters of their opponents. Result—School, 23 points; and 'Shire, nil. The team played extremely well together in this game, their backing up of each other being an encouraging feature. As the team-work was so splendid, it would be invidious to single out any one player for special mention. 6th February.—v. 'Varsity "A." School visited King's with two of their regular backs off injured, Innes and H. Paterson taking the places of Fyfe and Cruickshank respectively. School's run of successes came to an abrupt end against a strong 'Varsity team. There was a lack of cohesion amongst the forwards, and the team spirit of the previous game was completely missing. The backs, owing to the half backs' running across the field, were always crowded into touch, and there was, consequently, no penetrative power. H. Paterson played a very sound game at scrum-half, being the best School back on the field. He suffered, however, from the forwards' inability to obtain the ball in the set scrums. In the loose, however, the School eight were, if anything, superior to the 'Varsity forwards. Halliday obtained the only School score, midway through the second half, as the result of a forward rush. The team, although beaten, did give glimpses of what it could do, and had hard luck in not scoring more than once. H. Paterson was the best back, and Donald was ever in the midst of the work in the forwards. t3th February.—v. Heriot's. School were at recognized full strength for their important game with George Heriot's. The Edinburgh team had only been beaten once during the season, by Watson's, before they met School. School's great feat of beating them was, then, all the more meritorious, especially as Heriot's have been described as the best School Rugby XV in Scotland. It was evident that Heriot's depended largely upon Lawrie, their stand-off, and the way Lawrie was held by Paterson and the School back row forwards had much to do with our victory. The School forwards were superior in the loose, held their own in the tight, but were beaten at the line-outs. The backs were as fast as their opponents, but had not the weight to crash past a man in front of them. Heriot's were distinctly unfortunate not to score once when their winger was bundled into touch-ingoal by three School defenders. Gillan, by kicking a great penalty goal from far out, gave School a well-earned victory. Still, at full back, played a really brilliant game, giving his best display of the season. The threes were sound without being brilliant, and halves were also sound, Paterson holding Lawrie very successfully. The forwards packed sell together, their loose rushes being well executed. J. Smith and Riach played well. Result—School, 3 points ; Heriot's, nil. School team—E. H. Still ; J. M. McKiddie, J. A. Gillan, J. G. Fyfe, A. G. Halliday ; R. E. M. Paterson and E. K. Cruickshank ; A. D. D. Hutton, J. S. MacLachlan, J. M. Smith, F. G. D. Smith, L. Middleton, D. M. C. Donald, J. T. Riach, R. N. Lees. zoth February.—v. Gordon's College. For the return game with our old rivals we were fortunately able to field our strongest team. Right from the kick-off the game was very evenly contested. The first quarter of an hour was spent by the forwards scrumming in the centre, Then School
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attacked and were awarded a penalty. Gillan converted this, and School held on tenaciously to their lead. Just before half-time Murray broke away, dribbled the ball over the line and touched down for a try, which he himself converted. There was no more scoring until half-time. Gordon's were inspired with their lead, and try as they might, School were unable to pierce their defence. After a period of attack on the Gordon's twenty-five, MacLachlan threw a long pass into the centre, which Fyfe gathered and passed to Paterson, who ran strongly to score a fine try, which Gillan converted. It was all School now, and further tries were obtained by McKiddie and Fyfe, Gillan converting the former's. Halliday and McKiddie were the best of the backs, and Lees, F. Smith, Donald, and Middleton were good forwards in a hard-working pack. Result: School, 16 points; Gordons, 5 points. Team—E. H. Still ; J. M. McKiddie, R. E. M. Paterson, J. G. Fyfe, A. G. Halliday ; J. A. Gillan and E. K. Cruickshank ; A. D. D. Hutton, J. S. MacLachlan, J. M. Smith, F. G. D. Smith, L. Middleton, D. M. C. Donald, J. T. Riach, R. N. Lees. 27th February.—v. znd F.P.s. School, with a very weak team, owing to illness, lost to and F.P.s by 13 points to 54. Fyfe, Gillan, and Halliday scored tries, two of which Gillan converted. The team, weakened as it was, played a very good game. Still, Paterson, and Fyfe were the best backs, and J. Smith, MacLachlan, Middleton, and Hutton worked hard in the pack.
HOUSE NOTES. Byron House. In the return House games, Byron have not been successful, losing all three games. This is partly due to injuries and to illness, while it may also be said that the talent at our disposal is not of the best. Against Melvin we commenced brilliantly, and A. Bain succeeded in getting over for an unconverted try. After this, however, we were unable to cope with the fast Melvin backs, and Melvin ran out winners by 18 points to 3 points. In the game with Keith we were very unfortunate, being two men short throughout the greater part of the game. Thus handicapped, we were completely beaten in every department, and it suffices to say that Keith won by a clear margin. In the game with Dun we fielded a very weak team, while Dun had on their strongest side. Our backs were completely outplayed, though at forward Byron easily held their own. The final result was z7 points to 5 points against Byron. This completes the House Rugby games for the session, and in spite of our misfortune we are hoping to vindicate ourselves by carrying everything before us in Cricket, Swimming, and Athletics. R. N. LEES, House Vice-Captain.
Dun House. First of all we must congratulate Keith House on winning the Rugger this season. We hope, however, to give them and the other Houses a run for the Cricket, Swimming, and Athletic honours. Although the 1st XV has not been very strong this term, it has done much better ghan it did last term. Indeed, the team has shown a decided improvement. In our first game against Keith we were below strength, and were rather heavily defeated by 3 1 points to 3 points. In our second and most evenly contested game against Melvin, we were at full strength. Playing down in the first half, we were unlucky to be losers by to points to 8 points, for the young Dun forwards played really well and pluckily against the heavier and more experienced Melvin forwards ; if our forwards could have obtained the ball in the scrums Melvin would not have won. The backs showed a marked superiority over the Melvin backs. In the second half play was very even, and when the final whistle blew the score remained
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unchanged. Thus Dun sustained another defeat. This might have damped the spirits of any House but Dun. In our last game, however, we defeated Byron House by 27 points to 5 points—a well-merited victory after such an unlucky season. Resolved as we are to do well in Cricket, Swimming, and Athletics, we can achieve this only by a concentrated and combined effort from every Dun House boy, both senior and junior. J. GILLAN, House Captain.
Keith House. •
This year Keith can truthfully say that it has had a successful Rugby season. The ist and and XVs have been unbeaten, and the juniors have won two of their six games. In the Melvin game, Keith ran out winners by 3o points to 6. Tries were scored by Fyfe (2), Halliday (z), Tocher, Cruickshank, and Innes, three being converted by Innes, who also kicked a penalty goal. Our second and juniors both had fairly easy wins. The return game with Dun was rather one-sided, Keith winning by 35 points to 3. Innes (3), Fyfe, Rust, Riach, and MacLachlan scored tries, Innes converting five of them. Our 2nd also won, but our juniors had to admit defeat. Our second encounter with Byron was also a victory for Keith, despite by the fact that four regular players were off injured. Tries were scoredand Fyfe (3), Innes (3), Cruickshank (2), Halliday, Singleton, Morrison, MacLachlan. Halliday converted one, limes three, and the latter also kicked a penalty goal. Our and gained a narrow victory, but our juniors were badly beaten. The last game, with Melvin, was very close and interesting, despite the score, which was Keith 22 points to Melvin's 3 points. Fyfe, Halliday, Cruickshank, and Innes scored tries, three of which Imes converted. Halliday, in addition, dropped a goal. Our and and juniors both recorded easy victories. The 1st XV has had an amazingly successful season, scoring in all 189 points and giving away only a6, in their six inter-House games. The 2nd XV has been almost as successful. If the Cricket, Athletic, and Swimming standards of previous years are maintained, nothing can prevent Keith from retaining possession of the House Trophy for another year. J. S. MAcLAcHLAN, House Captain.
Melvin House.
•
Before beginning a review of this term's events we should like to take this opportunity of congratulating Lewis Middleton on his earning his ist XV Cap, and E. Still on winning his Colours. Our ist XV has again done quite well, beating Byron and Dun, but losing with to Keith. The Byron match was won rather easily, but in our game Dun, poor marking and passing by the backs caused us many anxious moments. Keith managed to defeat us by quite a large margin of points, threebut it must be remembered that illness forced us to present a weak quarter line to oppose Keith's strong one. The and and Junior XVs met with no success, losing all their matches. We must not, however, be downhearted at this record of Rugger matches, but must hope for better success in Cricket and Swimming. Our prospects we shall for the former are tolerably bright, while it seems fairly certain that All Melvin have no small measure of success at the Swimming Gala. season, swimmers, then, are urged to practise assiduously during the coming in swimming. so that we may uphold the high position we have always held The Swimming Captain, J. McKiddie, was elected last September. F. G. D. SMITH, House Captain.
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The Dramatic Society. On 15th January the Society held its annual production in the School Hall. The performance consisted of five one-act plays, which were received by an appreciative but somewhat small audience. The reports about the plays have been most satisfactory, and it is to be hoped that future performances will be as successful from the acting point of view. The evening's performance started off with a new play by Laurence Housman, entitled " The Elegy of a Country Churchyard." As this play was not licensed, the Society had to obtain a licence from the Lord Chamberlain to produce it. Because of this, Mr. Housman kindly permitted the Society to produce the play free of royalty. This, of course, was the first public production of the play. Mr. Sladen Smith's " Invisible Duke " was the next play. This play, dealing with an old astrologer of the Middle Ages, was most successfully produced and acted. " The Kings of Orion" was the third item in the programme. This play was also rather an unusual one. Mr. Gilbert Hamilton, the author —a former pupil of the School—succeeded in gaining in 193o the Society's Prize for the best original play written by a pupil. Mr. Hamilton's play was a difficult play to " put over," and the boys who took part in it are to be congratulated on the great success they made of it. The fourth play was entitled " The New Wing at Elsinore," written by St. John Hankin, and although rather shorter than the others, was a very amusing little skit on " Hamlet." Mr. Ian Hay's one-act farce, " The Crimson Cocoanut," was the last play, which was acted by some of the senior members of the Society. We learn with regret that Mr. Farquharson has been obliged to give up some of his activities in connection with the Society. Mr. Farquharson has for a number of years taken a very active part in the Society's affairs : as an Honorary Producer he has always taken great trouble to make arrangements for the Society's productions, and also to control the organization of the Society. The members wish to thank him for all that he has done for it in the past. Amongst the number of people, both masters and boys, whom the Society wishes to thank for their help, are Mr. Dewar, Mr. Himsworth, and Mr. MacLennan, the other Honorary Producers, and also Mr. Falconer and the School Orchestra for their pleasant selections from their repertoire. Wm. Mrrcitzlx, Secretary.
The Literary and Debating Society. 19th November, 1931.—This evening Mr. Farquharson was in the chair, and introduced Mr. Harry Townend, Director of the Art Gallery, who gave a talk on " Modern Painting." In the course of his lecture Mr. Townend described the three groups of painters who have influenced modern art. First there were the " Pre-Raphaelites," who delineated everything minutely, then the " Impressionists," who painted in broad outlines, and lastly, the ultra-modern " Cubists." Actually, modem painting seemed to be rejecting the " Cubists," and to be returning to the old styles. Mr. Townend then showed us some beautiful lantern slides, several of them in colour, illustrating the work of modem painters. The size of the audience was unavoidably diminished owing to " exams," but on the call of the President, Mr. Townend was awarded a hearty vote of thanks. 26th November.—On this date, before an exceptionally large attendance, a debate was held on the subject : " That the Sportsman gets more out of life than the Book-worm." Mr. Henderson, for the affirmative, maintained that the sportsman, by reason of his outdoor life, was refreshed both physically and mentally, and thus was able to enjoy life better than the book-worm. Mr. Maclver gave a humorous speech in support of the negative. His principal point was that the sportsman has to undergo the drudgery of
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practice, whereas the book-worm can indulge at ease in his hobby. The after speaking was lively, and was maintained mainly by Messrs. Cooper, Hewet, Marr, Milne, and Nelson. A vote showed a decisive majority in favour of the affirmative. 3rd December.—There was a good turn-out to hear a debate on the subject : " That the World owes more to the Genius than to the Plodder." Mr. Bryant; in a witty speech for the affirmative, stated the rather disquieting view that only by the inspirations of geniuses was man able to advance from his primeval state. Mr. Ritchie's opening speech for the negative occupied what must be the record time of almost twenty minutes. Mr. Ritchie quoted in support of his argument the examples of several great men, including that of Sir Isaac Newton. That great scientist was a plodder, but he benefited the world more than any genius. After some lively after speaking a vote was taken, when the affirmative was seen to have won by a considerable majority. loth December.—To-night, before a large attendance, a talk was given by Mr. MacGregor on " Games : their physical, mental, and social value." Mr. MacGregor opened by declaring that British people in general are far too concerned with games, and that in many cases they subordinate work to sport. He pointed out, however, that our own School is a kind of " happy medium" in this respect. Mr. MacGregor then showed how an average person benefits physically by participation in games. Mentally, too, games give people initiative,'make them alert, observant, and considerate to others, and teach them self-control and obedience. Games, moreover, have one great social value—if a man is known to play games he is well received in every grade of society, whatever his own rank may be. That Mr. MacGregor's talk had been thoroughly enjoyed was proved by the heartiness of the vote of thanks, proposed by the President. 7th January, 1932.—A debate was held this evening on the subject: " That the present age is happier and better to live in than the past." Mr. Tocher, for the affirmative, showed us how modern inventions, such as the gramophone, the cinema, and wireless have made the lives of modern people happier than those of their ancestors. He also showed that life in the present age is better and healthier than in the past, partly by reason of improved housing and drainage, and partly by reason of the increasing interest in games. Mr. Lees presented a strong case for the negative, in which he extolled the praises of the " simple " life of the past, without present-day inventions, which have brought so many curses as well as benefits. The affirmative, however, won by a few votes. t4th January.—Professor Findlay delighted a large attendance to-night with a lecture on " Alchemy and Alchemists." Professor Findlay told clearly and simply the history of alchemy from its beginnings among the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chaldeans to the alchemy we know to-day as modern science. We were also shown how alchemy at first included philosophy as well as science, and how alchemists strove through the ages to discover the " great elixir," which would change base metals to gold and silver. The lecture was illustrated by several fine lantern slides showing these old alchemists at work in their laboratories, some of their experiments, and examples of the apparatus they used. The President proposed a vote of thanks to Professor Findlay at the conclusion of a lecture which everyone admitted to be one of the finest the Society has had in recent years. 22nd January.—On this date the annual Inter-Debate with the Girls' High School was held in Hall, to discuss the question: "Is Chivalry Dead?" Mr. Farquharson was in the chair. Miss Garland, opening for the affirmative, gave a splendid paper. She pointed out that, although chivalry flourished in the days of old, it had no chance of surviving in our modern age, where the one aim in life was to amass money. Nowadays, we were too busy and too hurried to bother about chivalry ; consequently it had died out. Mr. MacLachlan, for the negative, began with a definition of
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the word " chivalry," and thereafter built up a strong argument showing that chivalry still existed. Chivalry, he maintained, was shown daily in little acts of politeness, and was obviously not dead. The negative was ably seconded by Miss Rhind, and the affirmative by Mr. Morrison. The after speaking was rather poor and painfully one-sided, with the result that the negative won by a large majority. 28th January.—This evening Mr. Dewar took us " From Rome to Pompeii.' Mr. Dewar's lecture, one of exceptional interest, was illustrated throughout by lantern slides. First we were shown pictures of Roman landmarks, including the Coliseum and the various Fora, then some views along the Appian Way, and a few scenes at Ostia, the port of Rome. We were shown also several slides depicting ancient buildings at Pompeii, which, thanks to the exertions of the Fascist Government, are in a wonderful state of preservation. On the call of the President, Mr. Dewar was heartily thanked for an excellent lecture, which was thoroughly enjoyed by one of the largest meetings of the year. 4th February.—There was a large attendance to-night to hear Mr. Charles Davidson give, as he himself put it, his " twenty-fifth lecture to the Society." His subject on this occasion was, " The Lost Galleon and the Western Isles." Mr. Davidson gave first a short account of the unknown galleon which lies at the bottom of Tobermory Harbour. Some beautiful lantern slides were then shown of the Western Isles, including views of Skye, Eigg, Uist, Iona, Staffs, and St. Kilda, and of Callernish, " the Stonehenge of Scotland." Mr. Davidson also gave us an interesting account of his experiences in the West of Scotland. At the conclusion of his lecture he was thanked in the traditional " Debater" manner. 11th February.—There was a fair turn-out to hear a debate between A. R. Hewet and D. M. C. Donald on the subject : " Have we too many periodicals? " Mr. Hewet, opening for the affirmative, pointed out that there were far too many periodicals to-day dealing with the same topics and catering for the same class of people. Mr. Hewet was especially scornful of the " Peg's Paper" type of periodical, which is at present flooding the country. Mr. Donald's chief point was that periodicals were necessary for people with little education. The greater, therefore, the number of periodicals, the greater would be the spread of education. The negative won by a small majority. 18th February.—The Society's meeting on this date took the form of a Mock Trial. The Trial was conducted throughout very methodically, and was a thorough success. 25th February.—To-night the Society welcomed a new speaker—Mr. Veitch, the managing editor of The Aberdeen Press and Journal, who gave us a talk on : " A Peep at Parliament." Mr. Veitch explained to us the meaning of many old Parliamentary customs ; he showed us how the cry of " Who goes home?" originated, and how members " catch the Speaker's eye," and he explained the duties of the Speaker and of " Black Rod. He greatly amused the Society, too, with his anecdotes of the unruly Irish Nationalist members. After Mr. Veitch had answered several questions about Parliament, put by members of the Society, he was awarded an enthusiastic vote of thanks. 3rd March.—A debate was held to-night to discuss the question : " Is Punning Wit?" Mr. Halliday, for the affirmative, showed that punning was no recent device, but was effectively used by Greek and Latin writers. He then proved, with the aid of several examples, that puns contained real humour. Mr. Milne, for the negative, declared that he saw no sense in puns, and that he was not even amused by them, for, in his opinion, they contained no real humour at all. The after speaking was enlivened by many (so-called) puns, perpetrated by speakers to stress points for and against. The affirmative won by a narrow majority. E. K. M.
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Scout Notes.
1r
•
.
The long winter season, whose icy blasts make the most hardened camper hesitate, is almost at an end, and the four Troops are now making arrangements for the Easter camps. The 1st and 9th are returning to Midmar Castle and Dunecht House, where they have camped for the last two Easters. The 17th is going to Pitfichie, which was a favourite camping place some years ago, but has not been used of late. The 38th is spending a week near Haddo House, the historic spot where the first 38th camp was held in 1926, although none of the original campers remains. About a dozen members of each Troop will be present in camp. Of the past winter, the outstanding event was the ist Troop Café Chantant and Concert, held in the School on i zth December. These important events were carried through with marvellous success in spite of gloomy prognostications that the lightness and tightness of purses, due to hard times and hard budgets, were bound to re-act fatally upon the purchasing power of the ist Troop's patrons. The Café Chantant was opened by Bishop Deane with a racy speech in his own inimitable manner, the Rector, as usual, kindly acting as chairman. The stalls and side-shows were as many, as various, and as predatory as usual. The evening concert, in particular, was crowded, and was received with enthusiasm. It included a sketch written by A.S./M. John C. Gooch, in which most of the Troop and Pack played the roles of savages with heavily black-leaded complexions (which took several days to resume completely their normal tint, though the producer had assured the performers that the cosmetic would wash off without any difficulty). There was also a one-act play, " One Year Later," written for the occasion by Rover F. N. Forster of the 9th Crew—a tragedy containing a sleep-walking scene that out-dares Shakespeare's effort in that line, and ending with a holocaust that would have made Aeschylus turn pale. The gratitude of the Troop is due to all who worked to make the Café Chantant and Concert so successful, particularly to the mothers, fathers, and friends of the Troop and Pack, to the members of other Troops, Crews, and Packs who gave their help, and to all who supported the entertainment by their presence and generosity. In all, the useful and gratifying sum of £135, clear of expenses, was raised. During the winter the usual Christmas festivities have helped to enliven the long campless season. The 1st Troop Court of Honour dinner, where thirteen sat down at table—unscathed, however, as yet—the P.L.s and Seconds' dinner of the 9th Troop, and the 9th Rovers' dinner, were all gastronomic masterpieces, the last especially being on a scale unparalleled in the palmiest days of Roman or Parisian epicurism. The 9th Rovers were also responsible for the entirely efficient management of their Troop dance. The Troop "Feeds" were, as always, highly popular and unanimously attended. At the 9th Troop " Feed " the Troop's Dramatic Society produced a play called " Buster," and then went on to justify the name. The 38th held their " Feed " in the Headquarters of the 9th Troop, who were kind enough to lend them again for this purpose—the last time, we hope, that the 38th will be obliged to borrow a hut—but more on that point later. All the Troops have, meanwhile, been busy with badge work and firstand second-class tests, and by the end of the Easter Camp many new badges will have been completed. In November, the 17th inspected the Donside Paper Mills. Two further variations in their programme took the form of a cinematograph show by Mr. R. B. Williamson, formerly Commissioner of the School Scouts, and a lecture by Rover A. Fraser MacBean on " The Use of the Camera." At the New Year the 1st-17th Rovers visited Braemar once again, as at the two former New Years, Rover-Leader W. P. Stewart in charge. They were unable to have the use of the " Chalet," but were lucky in securing more roomy and luxurious quarters in the Coldrach Bothy, kindly lent to them by Mr. Sim of Braemar. In spite ofwretched weather,
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they had a lively time. The t7th Pack has undergone a change of Cubmaster. C./M. Robert Fraser has been obliged to resign owing to that old bugbear of scouting—impending examinations. For eighteen months he has managed the Pack with skill and success, keeping up its high standard of spirit and keenness, and passing up a full dozen of finely-trained boys to the Troop. Cubmastering is not a thing that anyone can do : it requires a sense of humour, good nature, patience, and some brains. Of these qualities C./M. Fraser had his full share. He remains in the 1st-17th Rover Crew, so that he is not lost to us altogether and an " obituary notice " is not necessary. He is succeeded by A.C./M. J. Scott McLachlan, senior School prefect, who has been assistant to C./M. Fraser and to his predecessor, and whose competence can therefore be relied upon implicitly. The 9th Troop, since the last Scout Notes appeared, has had a new Scoutmaster. S./M. Alex. S. Duncan has resigned command in favour of A. S./M. Robert L. Milne, an old, well-known, and indispensable member of the Troop. If Mr. Duncan had been leaving altogether, this would indeed be an occasion for those who have tears to prepare to shed them, but fortunately the Troop is not to lose his services, for he has simply reverted to A. S./M., changing places with Mr. Milne. We are told that " Nona," the 9th Troop magazine, is again threatening publication and may appear any month now, when the many but vague promises of contributions assume material embodiment. In the 9th Rover Crew, Mr. W. W. Dickie, M.A., having resigned the post of Rover-Leader, as we announced in last Magazine, Rover-Mate John L. Johnston has charge of the Crew. The strength of the Crew is now sixteen, of whom thirteen are engaged in either Scout or Cub work. Valuable service to the Movement in starting two new Troops has been rendered by Rovers William Patterson and Edward Nicol, who have founded the Holburn Church Troop, and by Rover James Alexander, who has set the Queen's Cross Church Troop on its feet. The 38th Troop for more than two years has been endeavouring to obtain a site for Headquarters. Until this is obtained the Troop will not be able to enjoy to the full the advantages that a Scout Troop can give, although the meetings in the School Gymnasium have always been most enjoyable, and the Troop has built up and kept a high reputation among the city Troops. Now at last negotiations for a suitable site are going on, and should the rental and taxes prove not too high, it remains only for the Parents' Committee to sanction the leasing of the site. The following promotions have been made :-1st Troop—Second N. F. Wisely to P.L. Five Cubs have been promoted from the Pack to the Troop, and there is one newcomer. 9th Troop—Scouts James Reid and Ian K. Hay to Seconds ; Seconds David Wilson and J. Gordon Dawson to P.L.s. P.L.s Forbes Moir and Edward Nicol have left the Troop for the Rover Crew. Second Ian Thomson is instructor in the 9th Pack. P.L. David Wilson is now a King's Scout. 17th Troop :—Second Alex. Lightbody to P.L. P.L. and A. C./M. J. Scott McLachlan to be C./M. 38th Troop :— Second Robert Campbell to P.L. ; Seconds Douglas Dempster and Harry Slater are instructors in the 38th Pack.
F.P.s and the School Orchestra. All Former Pupils who play stringed instruments (violin, viola, 'cello, or bass) are invited to join the Orchestra. There are already fourteen F.P.s and four masters in the membership, but Mr. Falconer, the conductor, feels that there must be quite a number of F.P.s who are not members and who might wish to join. An orchestra of 5o players is aimed at. Those interested might please communicate with Mr. G. E. Falconer, 51 St. Swithin Street, as soon as possible, as the orchestra is to play a selection of pieces at the School Concert, which is usually held about the third week in May.
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The Former Pupils' Club. Founded 1893.
President :
The Right Rev. Bishop DANSON, M.A., D.D. a
Vice-President and Chairman of Executive : DOUGLAS P. COCHRAN. Secretary and Treasurer : THEODORE WATT, M.A., The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen. Secretaries of Centres : London Centre—Trios. D. H. BROWN, Esbourn, Lawrie Park
Cresent, Sydenham S.E. z6.
[The Centre comprises, without additional subscription, all Members of the Club resident in London, and within a radius of 5o miles.]
Glasgow Centre—H. G. EDWARDS, 12 Cresswell Street, W. z. [The Centre comprises, without additional subscription, all Members of the Club resident in the South-Western Counties of Scotland—west of a line drawn from Stirling to Carlisle.]
Edinburgh Centre.—J. S. ABERNETHY, LL.B., 6 Hill Street. [The Centre comprises, without additional subscription, all Members of the Club resident in Scotland south of the Tay and east of a line drawn from Perth to Stirling, and from Stirling to Carlisle.]
Secretaries of Sections : Cricket Section—J. LESLIE I. WILSON, 359 Holburn Street. Hockey Section—EDWARD L. YULE, 15 Union Terrace. Rugby Section—D. P. COCHRAN, 15 o Union Street. Tennis Section—W. GARTH LOGAN, 20 Oakhill Road. Rates of Subscription for Membership :
0
. . . . . Life Membership . LS 5 o Ordinary Membership— For those under 21 years of age at commence. o z 6 ment of Club year (1st January) . o 5 o For those of zi years of age and upwards
Visitors' Register. For a number of years a Visitors' Register has been kept at the School, under the charge of the Rector's clerk. The idea is that Former Pupils, and particularly members of the F.P. Club, who are paying a visit to Aberdeen and renewing their acquaintance with the School, should sign the Register. From the comparatively few entries in the Register it would appear that its existence is not well known, and it is hoped that in future many more visits to the School will be recorded in it, so that its interest and value may be greatly enhanced.
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The Annual Meeting of the Club. The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the Palace Hotel on Friday, i ith March. There was a small attendance of members, presided over by Mr. Alan McBain, C.A., the Vice-President of the Club. After the Minute of the last Annual General Meeting had been read and approved, the report by the Executive and the Accounts and Treasurer's Report for the year ended 31st December, 1931, were submitted, as follows :— REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1931. The Executive has pleasure in submitting the Report for the Club year which ended on 3 1st December, 1931. Membership and Subscriptions. The following is an analysis of the membership of the Club :— ExtraHonorary. ordinary.
Life.
Ordinary.
189 91 11 16
858 O.295) 197 (J.16) 47 (J.3) 57 (J.9)
11 2 —
79 208
149 (J.17) 194 (J.13)
3 —
Total at 31/12/31 Total at 31/12/30
594 584
1,502 (J.353) 1.478 (J.352)
16 16
Increase
10
24 0.1)
Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire London Centre Glasgow Centre Edinburgh Centre Rest of Great Britain and Ireland Abroad
--
43
Total. 1,101 290 58 73 231 402
43 43
-
2,155 2,121 34
J.= Junior Members.
From these figures it will be seen that the total membership is now 2,155, being 34 more than at the close of 1930, and 58 more than at the close of 1929. During 1931, 16 Life Members were enrolled, the same number as in 1930, but as 6 Life Members have died during the year, the net increase is only so. With regard to the Ordinary membership, 12 new Senior and 93 new Junior members were enrolled during the year. After allowing for the annual transfer of members from Junior to Senior rank, and deducting the number of those who have died or discontinued their membership, the net increases are 23 Senior members Some of those who have disconand one Junior member. tinued their membership have frankly stated that this has been due to economic reasons, and while the Executive regret that any F.P. should feel compelled to withdraw from membership, they are gratified that in these difficult times not only has the
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total membership been maintained, but substantially increased. The chief accession of new members comes from the groups of boys who leave the School annually. Of those over 15 years of age who ceased to be pupils either during or at the end of the session 1930-31, 6z have already joined the Club. This number compares with 67 in the previous session. The number of those whose subscriptions for 1931 had not been received up to 31st January, 1932, was 5 5 —45 who were due 5/-, and io who were due z/6—and the total amount of subscriptions for 1931 outstanding at that date was £I2 ros. Of this sum about £2 has been received since the closing of the accounts. There is a welcome decrease in the number of unpaid subscriptions. Of the £13 17s. 6d. stated in the last Report as being the amount of subscriptions outstanding at 31st December, 1930, only £2 15s. was recovered during 1931, and the balance of £II zs. 6d. must now be regarded as irrecoverable. A certain amount of loss through non-payment of subscriptions is inevitable, but it would seem only fair to the Club that anyone who intends to discontinue his membership should intimate this to the Secretary early in a Club year, and not wait to the end of the year, when the Club has incurred the cost of sending him two Magazines and a number of communications about his subscription. It has been calculated that this cost comes to over z/-. Losses by Death. The number of members who died during 1931 was 15, being three fewer than in 1930. Among those who passed away were Dr. John F. Christie, who was President of the Club in 1922-23, and commemorated his term of office by presenting the handsome House Trophy to the School ; Mr. Harvey Hall, advocate, who was the second oldest member of the Club ; Mr. R. B. W. Holmes, O.B.E., who was for a number of years the Club Consul for Palestine at Haifa ; and Mr. Norman 0. A. Mackie, an Arts student at Aberdeen University, whose parents have presented to the School the sum of £zoo for the foundation of a prize to be associated with his name. The " Magazine." The publishing of the Magazine continues to be one of the main activities of the Club, and there is ample evidence that it is highly appreciated by the members, particularly those who are no longer resident in Aberdeen. It was in 1907 that the Club took over the management of the Magazine, so that 1932 is the semi-jubilee year of that outstanding event in the Club's history. In June of this year the present Editor will have completed a quarter of a century's service, having brought out 74 numbers —three in each School session with the exception of 1918-19,
1
40
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
when only two numbers were published. From the editorial point of view, a gratifying feature in recent years has been the extent to which contributions for publication in the Magazine have come unsolicited, with the result that there has been very little trouble in getting attractive reading matter. The space devoted to " Notes about Old Boys " tends to increase, but at the same time there has been a very welcome development of the School Section, which is under the charge of the Head of the English Department of the School, and is written entirely by present pupils. In the issue of November, 1931, selections from the School Art Club Sketch Book were again reproduced, giving convincing testimony to the excellence of the work in the Art Department of the School. The Club and the School. The Club, as usual, presented to the School two Silver Medals, which were awarded at the close of the session 193o-31 as follows :— Silver Medal for English ... Ronald W. G. Bryant. Silver Medal for German ... Alexander P. Milne. The All-Round Trophy and No Dawson Prize were awarded to Geoffrey A. Rowton, and it may be mentioned that the AllRound Trophy Committee of the Executive of the Club were so impressed with the almost equal claims of Thomas F. Robson that they themselves presented him with a special proxime accessit prize. F.P. Successes. The Executive has great pleasure in recording that during the year a member of the Club, William A. B. Hamilton, obtained the first place in the Open Competition for the Administrative Class of the Home Civil Service, and that another member, George E. Crombie, gained the eighth place in the same competition. The Executive has also noted the outstanding successes of F.P.s at Cambridge. In last year's Tripos Lists a First Class was secured in Part II of each of the three subjects, Classics, Mathematics, and English, Hugh A. Murray gaining special merit in the Classical Tripos, and Charles Strachan special credit in the Mathematical Tripos. It is understood that this is an unprecedented record for the School. The School Boarding House. At the Third Annual General Meeting of the F.P. Club Boarding House Company the Directors again submitted a very satisfactory report. This stated that the average number of boys in residence in the Boarding House during the year 193o-31 had been 31, and that the House was well booked for the current year, the number of boys then being 33. After making
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
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1 41
a very ample allowance for depreciation, a dividend of 5 per cent. was declared, and the Club, being the largest shareholder, with 1,401 shares, received, after deduction of Income Tax, the sum of L52 ios. 9d. The Executive feel sure that the members of the Club will share with them a feeling of deep satisfaction at the outstanding success of the Boarding House Scheme from every point of view. Club Colours. During the year the Executive had under discussion proposed alterations in the Club tie, and decided that the present tie should continue, but that in addition there should be a black tie with narrow diagonal stripes of magenta and dark green. This new tie has just been put on sale, and is expected to meet with the hearty approval of the members of the Club. It is hoped that the new tie will be very widely adopted. The Athletic Sections. The Rugby Football Section, the Hockey Section, and the Tennis Section continue to carry on satisfactorily, and steps are being taken with a view to the resuscitation of the Cricket Section. A warm invitation is extended to boys as they leave the School to join one or more of the Sections. The Club Centres. A very welcome development of Club activity within the last eighteen months has been the establishing of a Centre in Glasgow, and, within the last few weeks, of a Centre in Edinburgh. The former has a membership of 58, and held its second Annual Dinner on 29th January last, when the chief guest was Bishop Logie Danson, one of the Canons of Carlisle Cathedral. The latter, which was initiated at a very representative meeting on 3rd February, 1932, has already a membership of 73, and is fortunate in having several prominent F.P.s actively associated with it. It is holding its first Annual Dinner on 19th March. The London Centre continues to flourish—it has now a membership of fully 29o. At the Annual Dinner, held on 4th December, 1931, the President, Dr. J. M. Bulloch, was in the chair, and the chief guests were Sir Arthur Keith, Rector of the University of Aberdeen, and Lady Keith. This was the first Annual Dinner at which ladies were present, and it has been decided that in future they will always be invited to attend this gathering. The second event in the Centre's winter programme was an Informal Dinner on 28th January last, when Mr. Alistair N. Tayler gave an address on " The Four Jacobite Attempts of the Eighteenth Century."
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL Abstract of Revenue and Expenditure Account REVENUE. I. CAPITAL ACCOUNT—
Life Members' Subscriptions received during year II.
7
6
91
5 0
410
3 6
ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE—
Subscriptions received during year applicable to future years III,
£84
9
APPLICABLE TO YEAR 1931—
Ordinary Subscriptions received prior to 1st Jan. 1931 (transferred from Capital Account) .. .. Ordinary Subscriptions received during 1931 Arrears recovered in 1931
£92 5 0 215 0 0 2 15 0
..
.. ..
..
..
£310 0 0 92 10 11 7 5 1 0 7 6
Revenue from Investments Credit balances from Dinner and Ball Miscellaneous .. ae
..
£585 16 0
Balance Sheet as CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES. 1. CA PITA L-
Amount at credit at 31st December 1930 £2,299 14 Life Members' Subscriptions received during 1931, as per Revenue Account .. 84 7 Donation of 5 Shares of F.P. Club Boarding House Co., Ltd. 5 0 Surplus for 1931, as per Revenue Account .. 18 17 II.
6 0 8 £2,407 19
3}
15 0
0
ENTERTAINMENTS SUSPENSE ACCOUNT-
Amount at credit as per last Balance Sheet III.
1}
..
•.
..
ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE-
Balance of Subscriptions received prior to 31st December 1930, applicable to future years .. Subscriptions received in 1931 applicable to future years, as per Revenue Account IV. Magazine advertisements prepaid for 1931-32
•.
£53 15 0 91
..
5
•
0
..
145 0
0
10
0
I
V. FUNDS OF CLUB SECTIONS IN SUSPENSE—
Motor Section Cricket Section
£4 3 8 20 12 7 24 16 3 £2,594
5 64
•
FORMER PUPILS' CLUB. for year ended 31st December 1931.
•
EXPENDITURE. I. CAPITAL ACCOUNT—
Amount transferred as per contra
• •
• •
..
£84
7 6
91
5 0
II. ORDINARY SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID IN ADVANCE-
r
Amount transferred to Capital Account as per contra III. APPLICABLE TO YEAR 1931—
£101 13 8 Working Expenses .. Magazine—Cost for year, less revenue from adver.. 226 3 10 tisements and sales .. 35 0 0 London Centre—Grant for 1930-31 9 1 0 Glasgow Centre— do. do. 19 7 4 Miscellaneous Expenses .. Surplus for year
..
• •
••
••
..
£391 5 10 18 17 8
410 3 6 £585 16 0
at 31st December 1931. ASSETS. I. ADVERTISING COMMISSION PAID IN ADVANCE
£27 11
..
4
II. LONDON CENTRE—
Amount paid to account of Capitation Grant for 1931-32
20 0 0
..
2,546 14
III. CASH IN HAND AND INVESTED FUNDS AT 31ST DECEMBER 1931 ..
•
2i
ABERDEEN, 71h March , 1932.—We have examined the foregoing Revenue and Expsnditure Account for the year ended 31st December 1931, and relative Balance Sheet as at 31st December 1931, compared the figures with the vouchers, and found the Accounts correct. We are of opinion that the above Balance Sheet correctly states the position of the Club as at 31st December 1931. We have had exhibited to us the various Securities supporting the Funds at the close of the Accounts. The Securities are all entered in the Balance Sheet at cost prices. (Signed) BOWER & SMITH, C.A., Honorary Auditors.
£2,594
5 6i
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
Finances.
The Revenue and Expenditure Account for the year to 3i st December, 1931, shows a surplus of £18 17s. 8d., as compared with £15 I4s. 3d. for 1930. In spite of increased taxation, the net revenue from investments continues to grow, but is not yet equal to the income that would accrue if the capital of the Club were sufficient to cover the total subscriptions of surviving Life Members at the current rate of £5 5s. each. There is again a satisfactory credit balance from the Annual Dinner and the Annual Ball. While the aim of the Executive is not directed towards making a large profit from these two social gatherings, it is directed towards ensuring that there will be no deficit to be defrayed from the general Club funds. For years this policy has been successfully followed, and the Executive feel that those in charge of Club Centres should have the same aim when arranging for their meetings. The capital of the Club now amounts to £2,407 I9s. 3 d., being £103 5 S. zd. more than at the close of the previous year. The total assets of the Club at 31st December, 1931, amounted to £1,594 5s. 61d., as compared with £2,487 15s. 71d. at 31st December, 1930. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. L. Riddell, the foregoing Report and Accounts were unanimously adopted. Office-bearers and members of the Executive for 1932-33 were appointed in accordance with the list which appears on page 160. Messrs. Bower & Smith, C.A., were re-appointed Honorary Auditors, and were thanked for their services during the past year. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to Mr. McBain, not only for presiding at the meeting, but also for his services as Vice-President of the Club during the past two years.
Club Consuls. A number of alterations in the list of Consuls fall to be recorded. There is at present a vacancy in Borneo as a result of the return of Bishop DANSON to this country. In China, W. R. MYERS, late Commissioner of the Chinese Maritime Customs at Shanghai, was transferred last year to Tsingtao, and consequently GEORGE A. BUYERS has again undertaken duty. In F.M.S. (Perak) WILLIAM C. WAanAcx has been transferred from Sungkai Estate, Sungkai, to Chumor Estate, Chemor. In India the vacancy in the town and province of Madras has been filled by the appointment of B. J. A. G. BARR, of the Mercandle Bank of India, Ltd. In the United States, THOMAS B. G. HENDERSON has resigned the Consulship for Chicago,
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because he is no longer resident in that city, and has been appointed to fill the vacancy in New York, caused by the death last year of WILLIAM MACKINTOSH, of the Royal Insurance Company.
•
a
List of Consuls. AUSTRALIA (Victoria) :—THOMAS G. WATSON (1896-99), Box z6, Stock Exchange, Melbourne. BORNEO :—Vacant. CANADA (Manitoba) :—JOHN CHARLES MURRAY LIGERTWOOD (1903-06), C.A., c/o Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., 205 Huron and Erie Building, Winnipeg. CANADA (British Columbia) :—WILLIAM ERNEST MILNE (1881-90), 347 Water Street, Vancouver. CANADA (New Brunswick) :—WILLIAM MENZIES KESSON (1893-98), Fredericton. CANADA (Nova Scotia) :—GEORGE MACKENZIE WOOD (188O1882), c/o Messrs. Joseph Wood & Co., Central Wharf, Halifax. CANADA (Ontario) :—ROBERT FLEMING (1891-98), C.E., dio Messrs. Wood, Fleming & Co., Royal Bank Buildings, Toronto. CENTRAL AMERICA (Guatemala) :—CHARLES H. MOIR (1873-76), 1a Avenida Norte No. 6, Guatemala, via New Orleans and Puerto Barrios. CEYLON :—DAVID SCOTT (1886-94). At present resident at 36 Rubislaw Den South, Aberdeen, CHILE :-JAMES ALEXANDER RHIND (1902-04), The AngloChilian Consolidated Nitrate Corporation, Tocopilla. CHINA (Hongkong) :—ALAN REID (1911-14), Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, Hongkong. CHINA (Shanghai) :—GEORGE ALSTON BUYERS (1906-08), C.A., 2 Canton Road, Shanghai. CHINA (Tientsin) :—JOHN CAMERON TAYLOR (1904-06), c/o Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., Tientsin. CZECHOSLOVAKIA :—Captain JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR (19061911), M.B.E., M.A., His Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul, Prague. EGYPT :—HAMISH FORREST MACLENNAN (1908-15), Turf Club, Cairo. F.M.S. (Negri Sembilan) :—DONALD TRENCH SKEEN (189$1899), M.B., Seremban. F.M.S. (Perak) :—WILLIAM CLARK WARRACK (1898-1909), Chumor Estate, Chemor, Perak. F.M.S. (Selangor) :—COLIN HAY MILLER (1900-04), Lenggeng Estate, Semenyih P.O. FIJI:-KENNETH JAMES ALLARDYCE (1894-95), Nabavatu. GERMANY :—JAMES GORDON DANIELSON (1896-1901), Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Mdnckeberg Strasse 27, Hamburg, 1. INDIA (Assam) :—WILLIAM H. G. HALLY (1889-96), Singlo Tea Co., Ltd., Jaboka Division, Sonari P.O. INDIA (Bengal) :—G. F. ROSE (x881-92), c/o Messrs. Andrew Yule and Co., Ltd., 8 Clive Row, Calcutta. INDIA (Bombay) :—JOHN HALL RITCHIE (1903-09), M.A., B.Sc., c/o Yacht Club, Bombay.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
INDIA (Central Provinces) :—CECIL ARTHUR GRANT SAVIDGE (1913-24), c/o Secretariat, C.P. Government, Nagpur. INDIA (Madras) :—BERTRAM JOHN A. G. BARR (1909-13), Mercantile Bank of India, Post Box No. 11, Madras. INDIA (Rajputana) :—GEORGE TAYLOR SIMPSON (191o-zo), Jodhpur State Railway, Jodhpur. MEXICO:—ALEXANDER and ROBERT YOUNG (1914-21), di. William Young & Co., S.A., za San Jeronimo, 3r, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. NEW ZEALAND :—Dr. THEODORE GRANT GRAY (5895-r9o1), Government Buildings, Wellington. NIGERIA (Northern Provinces) :—CAMPBELL GRANT McKENZIE (1910-12), c/o The Secretary, N.P., Kaduna. NIGERIA (Southern Provinces) :—Dr. WILLIAM EDWARD GLOVER (1896-98), di. The Principal Medical Officer, Lagos. POLAND :—JAMES BRYCE CLARKE (1896-99), Anglo-Polish Bank, Warsaw. RHODESIA (Southern) :—NORMAN ALEXANDER SINCLAIR (1913-56), Midlothian Syndicate, Midlothian Farm, P.B., Salisbury. SOUTH AFRICA (Cape Province) :—Vacant. SOUTH AFRICA (Natal) :—DAVID STRACHAN (1893-1902), 19 Hulston's Buildings, Durban. SOUTH AFRICA (Orange Free State) :—DOUGLAS GORDON BISSET (1890-1900), Castor Siding, Private Bag, Bloemfontein. SOUTH AFRICA (Transvaal) :—JOHN EWAN HENDERSON (1884-87), 24 Saxonwold Drive, Saxonwold, Johannesburg (P.O. Box 4466 ; Telephone—Rosebank 95x). SOUTH AMERICA (The Argentine) :—REGINALD J. G. WILSON (1905-II), Anglo-South American Bank, Buenos Aires. SOUTH AMERICA (Brazil) :—A. BAIN MACKIE (1896-1904), Royal Bank of Canada, Caixa do Correio No. 300, Rio de Janeiro. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (Penang) :—JOHN RHYS DANSON (1897-1903), Municipal Office, Penang. STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (Singapore) :—WILLIAM B. S. PIGGE (1914-21), Singapore Improvement Trust, Municipal Buildings, Singapore. SUDAN :—JAMES LORIMER SOUPER (1898-5909), The Gordon Memorial College, P.O. Box 286, Khartoum. . SUMATRA :—EDWARD PERCY BARNETT (1895-1903), The Bandar Sumatra Rubber Co., Ltd., Bandar Pinang, P.O., Galang, E.C., Sumatra. UGANDA :—GRAEME GEORGE SUTHERLAND (1903-09), Mengo Planters' Ltd., P.O. Box 19, Kampala. UNITED STATES (Chicago) :—Vacant. UNITED STATES (New York) :—THOMAS B. G. HENDERSON (1894-190o), Messrs. Lybrand, Ross Bros. and Montgomery, 9o Broad Street, New York. WEST INDIES (Tobago) :—KENNETH REID (5905-o4), King's Bay. WEST INDIES (Trinidad) :—ARCHIBALD YOUNG (r885-93), c/o Messrs. Alston & Co., Ltd., Port of Spain. [Consuls are requested to inform the Secretary of the Club of changes in their addresses.]
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The London Centre. Annual Dinner, 1931. The Annual Dinner of the London Centre was held in the Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue, on the evening of Friday, 4th December, 1931. After a serious lapse of ten years, it had been decided to invite ladies to be present, and the goodly array of the fair sex added grace and beauty to the occasion, which was heartily enjoyed by everybody. Dr. J. M. Bulloch, our President, and Mrs. Bulloch received the guests, numbering some 120, and when all were assembled, pipers of the London Scottish led the way into dinner playing " Brose and Butter." After an excellent dinner, and when the loyal toast had been drunk, the President rose to introduce our guest of honour, Sir Arthur Keith, that great son of Aberdeenshire and world-famous anthropologist. Dr. Bulloch drew attention to the work which Sir Arthur Keith had done for the world of science and how he had served his country, stating that it was a remarkable thing that Sir Arthur and Lord Meston, another great servant of the Empire, should be the present Rector and Chancellor respectively of Aberdeen University. This is the first time in history that both these offices have been held simultaneously by alumni of the University. SIR ARTHUR KEITH'S SPEECH.
In proposing the toast of " The School, the Former Pupils' Club, and the London Centre," Sir Arthur Keith said that despite his having been a pupil of Gordon's College, he was glad to be our guest and proud to propose the toast of a School which had such a great record and produced so many great men. He was an associate and friend of Lord Meston, to whom he paid a warm tribute for his service to the Empire, and he was also a friend of our President, Dr. Bulloch. Sir Arthur confessed to being a little nervous —a Gordonian amongst so many Grammar men—but he pleaded that he had very close connections with the Grammar, as his two brothers and his wife's father were all educated there, while at present his nephew was a pupil. He was not sure whether the Grammar would have done any better for him. We had every right, he said, to be proud of the antiquity and tradition of our School and of the great men that we had produced, though he humorously questioned whether Byron was great because he was an old Grammar boy or because he was a Gordon 1 Sir Arthur was glad, too, to be present, because at meetings like that, Scots were idealists as well as sentimentalists. He considered that of all peoples the Scottish race was the most misunderstood on earth, being so full of contradictions. We are materialistic, we are idealistic, we are sentimental, and the world does not understand this, though for centuries we have been obliged to wander all over the earth. At meetings like these Scot* people return into the past ; they think of home and the old folk, and they live again. They get back to sentiment. We have it, Sir Arthur said, in Barrie. There is no doubt Scots people are clannish, and they are always ready to give a helping hand to another exiled brother Scot, but he believed, too, that we were the hardest judges of each other. In concluding, Sir Arthur said that the London Centre of the F.P.s' Club was a fine thing, because it brought together old friends, so that in the barren arctic wilderness of London—no place, he thought, could be so lonely as London—a much-needed want was supplied. Dr. J. M. BULLOCH'S REPLY.
Dr. Bulloch, in replying to the toast, said :— A distinguished Scots Professor has recently given it as his considered opinion that Thought in the Scotch sense of Aristotle's " theoria" is a disease. Sir Arthur spends his life on thoughts about the whole Cosmos.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine.
He is almost on speaking terms with the Pithecanthropos Erectus and the Neanderthal Man. Personally I feel much more at home among my ain fowk, because I know their language and have not perpetually to re-adjust myself as I have to do with non-Scots. That is why in the course of the year I attend many Scots gatherings. . . . Personally I am out all the time and every time for our regional integrity and dignity—the integrity which has made the University choose for the first time in its history a Chancellor and a Rector who are both alumni. On the last occasion of our dinner I had on my right a Lord Rector who had gone far—though a great English Public School had turned him down. I found him a tremendous enthusiast for Aberdeen. He even wanted to go back and deliver what he called a demission speech, and almost regretted he was not an Aberdonian. To no gathering do I go with a greater feeling of hope than to the meetings of this Club, representing as it does an institution two and a half centuries older than the University, which is one of my great devotions. The Grammar School is the outcome of our own kind of social structure, which is, by reason of climate, tradition, history, and habits, fundamentally different from the social structure of England, and, by getting its pupils young and in the formative age, it ought to inspire them with the vision and the pride which will keep Scotland on the map. The belief in our Grammar School, which is the pivot of this Club, and which is older than any Public School in Britain, is not a question of the twal mile. It has become inherent in all grammar schools. Under Balfour's Act of 1902 the old grammar schools all over England were re-granted the right to teach Greek, while the mushroom schools of the educational authorities have extended their curricula and are now sending pupils to Oxford and Cambridge, where they are winning more and more scholarships and are beating up on the Public Schools proper. The reason is obvious. The boys in these schools have to work, and they work, as a distinguished Cambridge Don wrote to me only this week, in proportion to the proximity of the wolf at the door. Our Grammar School itself is becoming conscious of this in the extraordinary successes made at the Bursary Competition by boys and girls from the country schools. Thus the Scots parents who send their progeny away to the English Public Schools are a day behind the fair. We hear much said in favour of the now praktikos of the Englishman. But that involves Thought about the Past: otherwise Tradition, an invaluable, if invisible, asset which plays an enormous part in the youngest English Public Schoolboy's mind. It is not without its significance that we were not fully aware of the tradition of our immense age until Dr. Morland Simpson, who was almost wholly English, took it back to the year 1256. I sometimes think that the sense of tradition lapsed owing to the fact that the School was in a new granite structure, which had nothing of the antiqueness of, say, King's College, and moreover, in a building which had been designed in the spirit of baronial architecture, as if the School had anticipated the period when baronial castles are being turned into seminaries, in y cases because the original owners lost grip of all their Scotsness. I am glad that Lord Mackay underlined our age in Aberdeen the other day. This Club, and its sister Clubs, aided and abetted by Theodore Watt, are making us more than ever proud of our tradition. The toast of " Our Guests " was delightfully proposed by Lord Meston, with his usual gracious ease, and was replied to by Mr. C. G. Greenhill. During the evening Miss Mary Mackie, whose father—Mr. Alexander Mackie—did so much for the Doric, sang Scottish songs, and Mr. G. Sutherland Mackay played violin selections. The final toast of the evening, " Our President," was then proposed by Mr. J. Drummond Smith, who spoke in his characteristically breezy way, telling some of his early recollections of Aberdeen and of Dr. Bulloch; and the proceedings were brought to a conclusion by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."
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In addition to those already mentioned, the following were amongst those who attended the function :—Mr. and Mrs. Andrew R. Abercromby, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Allison, Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. G. J. Atkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Beazley, Mr. and Mrs. Blackhall, Mrs. Blakeway, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund B. Boyd, Mr. W. G. Boyden, Dr. R. Douglas Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Clark, Major J. Cooper Clark, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Coombe, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Croxford, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Davidson, Mr. Peter M. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. J. Murray Easton, Mrs. Eckert, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Esslemont, Miss E. C. Ewing, Mr. J. F. Fraser, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Grafton, Mr. and Mrs. John Grant, Mrs. C. G. Greenhill, Dr. A. Hill Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon Hardcastle, Mr. R. Norman Hally and party, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hay, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert D. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. W. Hutcheon, Mr. R. R. Hynd, Dr. Kirsopp, Dr. G. D. Knight and Miss Knight, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. O. Lawrence, Dr. A. G. Lumsden, Mr. and Mrs. James McBey, Mr. and Mrs. J. Morton Macdonald, Miss McDowall, Mr. W. M. McKenzie, Miss Mackie, Miss Marion McLean, Mr. R. R. F. MacLennan, Mrs. MacLennan, Miss MacLennan, Dr. and Mrs. James Melvin, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Milne, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh L. Pixie, Dr. Douglas Porter, Mr. and Mrs. J. Reid, Mr. D. H. Rennett, Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard J. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Smith-Spark, Mr. H. G. Smith-Spark, Dr. and Mrs. Donald S. Stewart, Mr. John Thom, Dr. and Mrs. A. Landsborough Thomson, Dr. and Mrs. Ian S. Thomson, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Thomson, Mr. Alexander Turreff, Mr. William Will, Major and Mrs. M. J. Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Wright, Mr. William Young, and Mr. Thos. D. H. Brown, Honorary Secretary, and Mrs. Brown. R. R. F. MAIL. Note.—The Secretary of the London Centre has two spare copies of the photograph of the Annual Dinner of the London Centre, which he will be pleased to present to any two members of the Centre who would like to have a copy.
The Annual General Meeting. This meeting was held at the Holborn Restaurant, Kingsway, W.C.t, on Thursday, 28th January, 1932, at 6.45 p.m., Dr. J. M. Bulloch, the President of the Centre, being in the chair. The President reviewed the activities of the Centre for the year ended 3oth September, 1931, and commented upon the gratifying increase in the membership of the Centre, the figure at ist October, 1930, being 28z, showing an addition of zo during the previous year. He also pointed out that we were rapidly approaching the 30o mark, and it was hoped that this year, or next at the latest, would see this figure reached and perhaps surpassed. To all new members the President, on behalf of the Centre, extended a very hearty welcome and expressed the hope that they would make a point of coming to the meetings. The President remarked that our membership had now reached such a figure that, unfortunately, we could not hope to go for a whole year without some losses by death, and he stated that this year we had to mourn the loss of several of our older members, including Sir Francis Grant Ogilvie, who passed away within a day or two of attending the last Annual General Meeting, in December, 1930 ; Mr. Walter H. Bulloch, Dr. G. Cardno Still, and Dr. J. Glanville Milne. With regard to the desirability of members of the London Centre being able to obtain the Club Colours from a recognized outfitter, to which reference was made last year, the Secretary had taken up the matter with headquarters in Aberdeen, where the idea had been welcomed and the necessary permission readily granted. Mr. Henry J. Hardy, tailor and outfitter, of 15 Maddox Street, London, W.1, had accordingly been appointed official outfitter. He
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
was prepared to supply the articles hitherto obtainable in Aberdeen only, at the prices charged by Messrs. Esslemont & Macintosh, Ltd. The President concluded by referring to our Annual Dinner, which was held in charming surroundings at the Hotel Victoria in Northumberland Avenue on 4th December last, when we were honoured by a visit from Sir Arthur Keith, F.R.S., the Rector of the University of Aberdeen, who was accompanied by Lady Keith. This was the first occasion since the Byron Banquet in 1921 on which we had entertained ladies, and it was generally agreed that the experiment had been a successful one. At the request of the President, the Secretary and Treasurer presented the accounts for the year to 3oth September, 1931, which showed a balance in hand of L9 17s. 6d., with a sum of Las 14s. 8d. in addition at the credit of the Contingency Fund Account, this balance being placed on deposit with the National Provincial Bank. The accounts, having been duly audited by Mr. H. S. Insch, C.A., were approved by the meeting. It was explained by the President that in accordance with the resolution adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on 1st December, 1927, Messrs. G. Topham Forrest, F.R.I.B.A., R. R. F. MacLennan, J. W. Milne, C.A., and Leonard J. Smith, the four senior members of the Committee, retired at this meeting and were not eligible for re-election till one year had elapsed from the date of their demitting office. To fill the vacancies thus caused, Mr. W. Rogie Angus, Mr. P. M. Davidson, Dr. J. Melvin, and Mr. H. L. Pirie were elected, and the retiring members were thanked for their services. The Secretary then read a letter from Mr. W. Hutcheon tendering his resignation from the Committee on account of ill-health. Mr. Hutchcon's resignation was accepted with regret. Mr. T. J. Wilson was elected to fill the casual vacancy thus caused. The Honorary Secretary and Treasurer also retired in accordance with the Rules, and at the unanimous request of those present agreed to carry on for a further twelve months.
Informal Dinner. Following the meeting, an informal dinner was held, and the speaker of the evening was the well-known Scottish historian, Mr. Alistair N. Tayler. After dinner, Dr. Bulloch opened by giving a typical rousing speech, Dr. Bulloch claimed that Mr. in which he introduced Mr. Tayler to us. Tayler was his spiritual " son," as he had been the first to put Mr. Tayler on the road to the intensive study of our Scottish history, a subject which has, alas, always been very much neglected even by Scots people themselves. He was very glad that by his work Mr. Tayler was doing a good deal to keep Scotland " upon the map." Scots people, said Dr. Bulloch, were oscillating between the absurdly foolish " wha's like us " attitude and an equally absurd inferiority complex. Why, it had been said by a very eminent man quite recently that Scotland was John Bull's Jester. But it is no jesting matter ; it is a very serious thing for Scotland. Conditions are appalling, and Scotsmen are very apathetic. However, the Grammar School was doing its bit to keep Scotland on the map, for Mr. W. A. B. Hamilton had come out first in the Civil Service Examination, and Mr. G. E. Crombie had taken eighth place in the same examination and was second for the Indian Civil Service. Both are members of the F.P. Club, and were present at the dinner. We want to re-create the historical atmosphere in Scotland, said Dr. Bulloch. A critic recently stated that it was our business " to keep history from smotheration," and it was our business, as Scots, to regain our ancient dignity by studying our history and endeavouring to be worthy of the best of our great heritage. Mr. Tayler was doing this, and with him in his work was associated his sister. He had produced a notable History of the Duffs and also a history of that interesting family, the Urquharts. He was an authority on the Jacobite Risings, and three books which his research had brought to light were an Aberdeen Poll Book, a Book of Valuations, 1667, and a Book of the Jacobites of 1715.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
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It was fitting, therefore, that Mr. Tayler should take as the subject for his most interesting paper, " The Four Jacobite Attempts of the 18th Century." Mr. Tayler, who was received with cheers, then read his paper, the greater part of which will appear in the next issue of the Magazine. Several members present availed themselves of the opportunity given for questions and discussion, and we feel confident that everyone left the meeting greatly enlightened on the reasons for and the history of the Jacobite Risings of the 18th century. R. R. F. MAIL.
The Glasgow Centre. The second Annual Dinner of the Glasgow Centre of the F.P. Club was held in the Grosvenor Restaurant on Friday, 29th January, 1932. The President of the Centre, Mr. James Ledingham, was in the chair, and the guests of honour were the Right Rev. Bishop E. D. Logie Danson, D.D., formerly Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak, and now one of the Canons of Carlisle Cathedral, and Mr. D. M. Andrew, the Rector of the School. The following members of the Centre were present :—W. A. Allan, J. Bryce Esslemont, George Lawrence, Dr. Keith R. T. Matthew, James Robertson, Launcelot H. Ross, Douglas C. Sangster, G. A. Murray Saunders, D. M. Semple, William E. F. Simpson, A. A. Rae Smith, Rev. Sydney C. Still, J. Murray Tomory, H. L. Watson, Dr. John T. West, and Henry G. Edwards, the Honorary Secretary of the Centre. Mr. Theodore Watt, the Honorary Secretary of the Club, and Mr. J. S. Abernethy, the interim Secretary of the Edinburgh Centre, were also present, and there was a considerable number of other guests. The toast of ' Our Guests " was proposed by Mr. J. Murray Tomory, and replied to by Mr. George Noble. Bishop Danson thereafter proposed the toast of " The School and the Club" in a very racy and humorous speech You have to remember," he said, " that I am simply a ' Jungle Bishop,' and for the last twenty years have lived with head-hunters and people of that kind, and have not yet had time to get the polish of the dignified civilization which is supposed to come through residence in an English community. (Laughter.) But, at the same time, I feel that my career in the East has made me appreciate one fact about the School, and that in a very special way." He could speak, Bishop Danson continued, about many different aspects of the School, but he was particularly proud of what the School had done in producing men who had been pioneers of Empire in the most remote corners of the world. (Applause.) It was not an easy thing for a man from the home country to go out to a country that was entirely different in climate, in language, in civilization, and in custom, and to find himself in a responsible position—responsible for controlling and directing the affairs of the country. Yet when they saw how many F.P.s had done it, and were doing it, he thought it reflected great credit on the all-round education of the School. In this connection the Bishop made special mention, from first-hand knowledge, of the work of Mr. Patrick A. B. McKerron as the British Resident and Adviser to the Sultan of Brunei, a Mohammedan State about the size of Aberdeenshire, lying between Sarawak and North Borneo. Referring to the Club, Bishop Danson said that all school clubs were of the greatest value in keeping old boys together and in keeping them keen about their old school. if I have never yet met an F.P. who was not keen on his School, and I think the F.P. Club is largely responsible for that. It has been under the most efficient direction of our friend, Mr. Theodore Watt. Every F.P. owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude." Mr. D. M. Andrew, Rector, who replied on behalf of the School, said that the Grammar School boy had the gifts of character, initiative, and independence in a very marked and striking degree. He had these qualities, the possession of which, one could safely say, would carry him far in after-
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
life. He did not say it was the exclusive possession of Grammarians, but the average Grammarian he felt was the type of man who was almost certain to make his way in the colonies or in positions of responsibility abroad. Mr. Theodore Watt, who acknowledged the toast on behalf of the Club, began by a reference to the time when he was a member of " U " Company of the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders and when the guest of the evening was Colour-Sergeant of that Company. Proceeding, he congratulated the Glasgow Centre on its President and Secretary, paying a warm tribute to the excellent work that was being done for the Club by Mr. Edwards. Dealing with the Magazine, he thanked previous speakers for what they had said about it, and then gave some indication of the methods he employed in compiling the Magazine, and particularly the " Notes about Old Boys." He mentioned that he had a card index of all the notes that had appeared in the Magazine since it was started in 1894, and that, as a result, he was able to produce promptly a longer or shorter biography of the great majority of former pupils of the School. As an illustration, Mr. Watt said that there were about twenty entries in the index relating to Bishop Damon, and he recalled a number of interesting incidents in the life of the Bishop, from which it appeared that there was a close resemblance between his life and that of St. Paul. The Bishop, Mr. Watt suggested, could apply to himself almost literally the words of the Apostle : " Thrice I suffered shipwreck ; a night and a day I have been in the deep ; in journeyings often ; in perils of waters ; in perils of robbers ; in perils by the heathen ; in perils in the wilderness ; in perils in the sea." In the course of the evening a number of very entertaining stories were told by Mr. A. M. Williams, formerly Principal of the Glasgow Training Centre, and there was also an enjoyable musical programme.
Formation of Centre in Edinburgh. A meeting to initiate a Centre of the F.P. Club in Edinburgh was held in the North British Hotel on 3rd February, 5932, when Lord Mackay, the President of the Club, presided over an enthusiastic gathering. Lord Alness, the Lord Justice-Clerk, a former President of the Club, was also present, and in moving that a Centre be formed in Edinburgh, said that he had rejoiced exceedingly when he heard from Lord Mackay that it was proposed to form a branch of the Club in Edinburgh. It seemed to him a most excellent idea, and now that it was taking shape, it was their business to further in every way they could the interests of the new organization. He wished it well, and would be glad to render any service that was open to him. Mr. J. S. Abernethy seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by the Very Rev. Dr. James Harvey, Lord Alness was appointed President of the Centre. In accepting office Lord Alness said he regarded it as a very high honour they had conferred upon him. The other office-bearers of the Centre are :—Vice-President, The Honourable Lord Mackay, LL.D. ; Secretary, Mr. James S. Abernethy, LL.B., 6 Hill Street, Edinburgh ; Committee: Rev. George Lawson, M.A., D.D. ; Messrs. C. H. Milne, D.Litt. ; John A. Lillie, K.C. ; Eric R. Birkett, C.A. ; and James L. Duncan, LL.B., Ph.D. The first Annual Dinner of the Centre is to be held on s9th March, which is just too late for a report of it to appear in this issue of the Magazine. Members of the Club residing in Scotland south of the Tay and east of a line drawn from Perth to Stirling, and from Stirling to Carlisle, are ipso facto members of the Centre. Any such member who has received no communications about the Centre, should communicate with Mr. Abernethy, the Secretary, as also should any F.P. who is not yet a member of the Club and who would like to become a member of the Centre.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magaine.
153
F.P. Rugby Football Section.
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Another season is rapidly drawing to a dose-a few more weeks and then the curtain will fall upon Rugby Football activities for 1931-3z. Jupiter Pluvius has behaved like a perfect gentleman, only one game having had to be cancelled. This would appear to be a record, and certainly recompenses for the dreadful weather of last year at this time. The Section is progressing, and another season with an enthusiastic membership of approximately 6o should, undoubtedly, bring F.P.s to the forefront. The 1st XV has not been as successful as was anticipated, perhaps due to the fact that the standard of the game has risen all round. The results of games for the season to date are—won, 8 ; lost, so. As will be seen from the statistics given below, several of the defeats are just on the verge of what might easily have been a win. It was unfortunate that F.P.s were knocked out of the first round of the Cup Tie by Gordonians, who won by 11 points to 3. The and XV has played 19 games, winning 13, losing 4 and drawing z. This is a very gratifying result, and augurs well for the future playing strength of the 1st XV.. The two drawn games were played against sst Engineers. The 3rd XV has turned out regularly and has won 11, lost 4, and drawn 1. R. D. Bain had the distinction of being picked as a reserve forward for the Rest of Scotland v. Scotland at Murrayfield on 19th December, 1931, and also brought further honours to his Club by being selected to play for the North against the Springboks at Aberdeen on 9th January, 1932. Colours for the present season have been awarded as follows :— Full—R. D. Bain, J. E. Bothwell, G. W. Bowes, N. S. Cowan, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen. Half-G. D. Bisset, E. B. Bright, J. L. Conner, A. S. Deacon, J. R. Lawrence, C. M. M. Liddell, I. L. Smith, E. W. M. Watt. RESULTS SINCE ISSUE OF LAST "MAGAZINE." 1931. 1st XV. Nov. 54. v. 1st Hillhead H.S.F.P.s, at Rubislaw • Lost 9-zs „ 2I. V. 1st Dundee H.S.F.P.s, at Rubislaw . • . Lost s1-13 z8. v. sst St. Andrews University, at Rubislaw • • Lost 8- 9 Dec. 5. v. 1st Engineers, at Rubislaw . . • Won zz- o „ 12. V. sat Aberdeenshire, at St. Machar . • Won 14- 3 . „ 19. v. xst Gordonians, at Rubislaw . • Won is- 5 z6. v. ist Aberdeen University, at Rubislaw . Lost 8-18 1932. • Lost 3-11 Jan. 16. v. 1st Gordonians, at Seafield 23. v. ist Dundee H.S.F.P.s, at Dundee • Lost 3-14 Feb. 6. v. 1st Engineers, at Rubislaw . • Won 27- o „ 13. v. ist Engineers, at Hazlehead . . Won 9- 3 20. v. 1st Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw • Lost 9-13 Mar. 5. v. ist Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw . Won 13- 3 • • • •
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1931. 2nd XV. Nov. 14. v. 1st Gordon's College, at Seafield • „ 21. v, 1st Engineers, at Hazlehead . . 28. V. 1st School, at Rubislaw . . . ,I , Dec. 5. v. and Gordonians, at Seafield . . „ 52. v. and Aberdeen University, at Rubislaw „ 19. v. and Aberdeenshire, at St. Machar . „ a6. v. ist Engineers, at Rubislaw . . 1932. Jan. 16. v. ist Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw . „ 23. v. 1st Gordon's College, at Rubislaw .
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
15 4 Feb. „ ,,
. 6. v. znd Gordonians, at Rubislaw 13. v. znd Aberdeen University, at King's 20. v. znd Aberdeenshire, at St. Machar . . . v. 1st School, at Rubislaw . 2 7 .
1931. Nov. 14. 2 I•
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v. 3rd Gordonians, at Rubislaw .
. . v. 3rd School, at Rubislaw . . . . z8. v. and School, at Rubislaw Dec. 5. v. 3rd Aberdeen University, at Rubislaw . 12. v. 3rd Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw 1932. . . Jan. 16. v. 3rd School, at Rubislaw . . 23. v. 3rd Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw „ . . >, 30. v. znd Engineers, at Hazlehead . . Feb. 6. v. 2nd School, at Rubislaw 20. v. and Gordon's College, at Rubislaw . „ 27. v. 3rd Aberdeen University, at Rubislaw Mar. 5. v. znd Gordon's College, at Rubislaw . I>
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ma XV MATCHES. 14th November, 1931. v. Hillhead High School F.P.s, at Rubislaw. F.P.s :—S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, H. B. Grant, G. W. Bowes, G. N. Gordon; C. W. France, I. L. Smith ; R. D. Bain, C. M. M. Liddell, J. Trail, G. D. Allan, Jr., J. E. Bothwell, A. M. Robertson, E. W. M. Watt, and W. P. Smith. Hillhead kicked off and Bowes took play to the visitors' " 25 " with a clever cut through, which sent Grant away. His final pass to Gordon went forward and a good chance was missed. Watt failed narrowly with a penalty. Mid-field play saw the forwards chiefly engaged. Hillhead were nearly over, but a good tackle by Wood saved the situation. A free kick took F.P.s to the Hillhead " 25," but a loose rush by the visitors' pack sent play back to mid-field, where it remained for some time, until from a scrum, a dropped goal was registered against F.P.s. From the kick-off a combined three-quarter movement by Hillhead resulted in a try, which was converted. Another pressure by Hillhead was relieved by Cowan, who kicked dead. F.P.s were being hard pressed until a breakaway by I. L. Smith sent Bowes over far out. Watt failed to convert. Soon afterwards another unconverted try was registered by Hillhead. Three more unconverted tries were scored by Hillhead in fairly quick succession, and just on half-time a loose forward rush took place to the visitors' " 25," and Cowan kicked ahead to score far out, the kick failing. Half-time—F.P.s, 6 points ; Hillhead, 18 points. F.P.s came away from the kick-off and play remained in midfield until the " threes " got possession and beat the defence, to score at the post. The kick failed. The game was now a forward one and F.P.s were holding their own much better. Play was moving rapidly from end to end and chiefly by loose rushes, but both defences stood up well to the attacks. From a loose scrum, W. P. Smith kicked ahead and ran over to score. The kick failed. The game ended with Hillhead pressing. Result—F.P.s, 9 points ; Hillhead, 21 Points. zest November. v. Dundee High School F.P.s, at Rubislaw. F.P.s— S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, and A. S. Duncan ; C. W. France, and I. L. Smith ; J. Trail, A. A. N. Bain, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, E. W. M. Watt, J. I. Mortice, G. D. Allan, and W. H. Stephen. Dundee kicked off with wind and slope advantage, and attacked. Strong play by F.P. forwards repelled the pressure, and a beautiful heel let the backs away, and from Duncan's cross kick, Smith scored a good try, which Watt converted. Dundee replied strongly, and from a blind side move, a score was registered, the try being converted. Following a rush by F.P.s, Bowes
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THE LONDON CENTRE OF THE F.P. CLUB AT DINNER, 4th DECEMBER, 1931.
School Rugby Football 1st XV-Season 1931-32.
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picked up a loose ball near the centre, and after cleverly dummying, the full back scored under the posts. The kick failed. Dundee scored another goal on half-time, when the score was—F.P.s, 8 points ; Dundee High School, to points. F.P.s resumed strongly and settled in their opponents' territory. From a spell of fierce pressure, Allan broke through and passed to Stephen, to score at the corner. The kick failed. F.P. forwards were now doing great work and had many chances, but handling was faulty. F.P.s were continually pressing, but could not get over, and just on time a breakaway by the Dundee backs resulted in an unconverted try. Result—F.P.s, it points; Dundee High School F.P.s, 13 points. 28th November. v. St. Andrews University, at Rubislaw. F.P.s— S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, and G. N. Gordon ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen, G. D. Allan, Jr., W. P. Smith, J. E. Bothwell, E. W. M. Watt, and C. M. M. Liddell. The visitors kicked off against a strong breeze, and after a short time the students scored through a free kick. End to end play ensued, and the backs on both sides were nearly over on several occasions, but the defence held out, until St. Andrews cut away from a scrum, for a clever unconverted - try. F.P. forwards were playing well in the loose, but could not get through a stout defence, and a good dribble by Bain to the visitors' line was only saved through a lucky fly-kick by a defender. Half-time—F.P.s, nil; St. Andrews University, 6 points. On the resumption, Smith carried the ball to the opponents' line with a clever dribble. From the ensuing loose scrum, Bowes got over at the post, for Watt to convert. F.P. forwards were securing possession from the scrums more frequently than their visitors, and from one of them, France sent Gordon over at the flag, but the kick failed. St. Andrews pressed hard, but F.P. forwards were playing a great game, and they made much ground with loose rushes. A long spell of mid-field play saw neither side able to be dangerous, until through a long kick ahead, Wood was beaten in the race for the ball, with the result that St. Andrews scored an unconverted try. A loose rush by F.P. forwards took play to the visitors " 25," where Watt failed to score from a free kick in front of the posts. No side found F.P.s attacking. Result—F.P.s, 8 points ; St. Andrews University, 9 points. 5th December. v. tat Engineers, at Rubislaw. F.P.s—S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, G. N. Gordon ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Mortice, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., E. W. M. Watt, and C. M. M. Liddell. F.P.s kicked off against the wind and the backs showed speed and clever handling in the early stages and were almost over the Engineers' line, but were repelled by good defensive work. A rush by the F.P. pack, however, resulted in Bain getting possession, and, making ground, he passed to Cowan, who ran over for an unconverted try at the corner. Engineers then had a spell of pressure and had hard luck not to cross the F.P.s line on several occasions. F.P. forwards, however, were in good form, and a great passing movement by the backs sent Cowan in for a second unconverted try. Halftime—F.P.s, 6 points ; Engineers, nil. In the second half F.P.s set up strong pressure, and Engineers were kept on the defensive. Macdonald and France were combining well and the three-quarters got plenty of chances to shine, with the result that tries were scored in the second half as follows by F.P.s—Watt (2), Gordon, and Cowan. Wood converted both Watt's tries, and thus the whistle blew without Engineers having crossed F.P.'s line. Result—F.P.s, 22 points ; Engineers, nil. 1zth December. v. Aberdeenshire, at St.-Machar. F.P.s—S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, G. N. Gordon ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., E. W. M. Watt, C. M. M. Liddell.
15 6
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
F.P.s kicked off with the incline advantage and play centred on 'Shire's line. Wood kicked a penalty goal from a free kick in front of the posts. On resumption, 'Shire came away strongly, play centring in midfield, until a forward rush by 'Shire was repelled by Wood with a good kick to touch near the centre. Gordon just failed with a drop at goal from a long range, Bowes being unsuccessful with a similar attempt soon afterwards. A free kick awarded to F.P.s was well converted by Watt from well out. F.P.s continued to attack, and after Grant had burst through, he parted to Bowes, who sent Cowan over for a score far out. Watt converted with another good kick. Half-time—F.P.s, x i points ; 'Shire, nil. Upon resumption, 'Shire pressed, with the result that a try was scored well out, the kick failing. F.P. forwards were now playing well, and after carrying the ball well up field, Cowan got possession, to go over for another score at the corner. The kick failed. End-to-end play ensued, and F.P. backs were getting a fair share of the ball, but there was no further scoring before full time. Result—F.P.s, 14 points ; 'Shire, 3 points. 19th December. v. Gordonians, at Rubislaw. F.P.s—S. W. Wood ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, T. F. Robson, G. N. Gordon ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., E. W. M. Watt, and C. M. M. Liddell. Gordonians kicked off, and a succession of scrums took F.P.s to the opponents' line, and F.P. threes just failed to score. A rush by F.P. forwards let Bain over for an easy try, which was not converted. Gordonians then pressed, and after a good three-quarter run, a try was scored behind the posts. Full points were brought out. Mist was now very heavy and continued until the end of the game. F.P. backs were seeing a little more of the ball, and after Macdonald had sent France off on the blind side, an opening was made for Cowan to score behind the posts, for Wood to convert. Half-time-F.P.s, 8 points ; Gordonians, 5 points. End-to-end play continued for some time until pressure by the F.P. pack resulted in Smith touching down in a melee, for an unconverted try. Gordonians pressed and were unfortunate not to score, due mainly to good marking by F.P.s. Full time came without further scoring. Result— F.P.s, xi points ; Gordonians, 5 points. z6th December. v. 'Varsity, at Rubislaw. F.P.s—E. B. Bright; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, G. N. Gordon ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., E. W. M. Watt, and C. M. M. Liddell. 'Varsity pressed from the kick-off, and a cross kick resulted in a 'Varsity forward falling over, for an easy score. A goal resulted. From a forward rush, led by Bain, Grant got possession and let Bowes away just on the line, and after making good ground, he parted to Cowan, who grounded well out. The kick failed. 'Varsity were pressing, but some good work by Bright saved the situation. 'Varsity, however, came back and their backs got possession, with the result that an unconverted try was registered. End-to-end play ensued, and no further scoring took place. Half-timeF.P.s, 3 points ; 'Varsity, 8 points. F.P.s resumed strongly, and, from a free kick, Watt failed to convert. A 'Varsity back dropped a good goal. From a line-out, a 'Varsity forward gathered, to score another try, which was not converted. F.P.s were being held in their own half, and 'Varsity again scored an unconverted try. On resumption, Bowes followed up a long kick ahead and ran through, to send Cowan in for a try, which Watt converted with a splendid kick from the touch line. Play remained on even lines, and no-side came with no further scoring. Result—F.P.s, 8 points ; 'Varsity, 18 points. 16th January, 1932. v. Gordonians, at Seafield. F.P.s—A. A. N. Bain ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, T. F. Robson, H. B. Grant ; C. W. France and I. L. Smith ; R. D. Bain, J. E. Bothwell, J. I. Morrice, W. H. Stephen, E. W. M. Watt G. D. Allan, Jr., W. P. Smith, and C. M. M. Liddell.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
157
After end-to-end play, Watt just missed a free kick, and thereafter Gordonian backs brought pressure on the F.P. line, without result. A series of line-outs and scrums in midfield followed, and after being awarded another penalty, which failed, F.P.s put on the pressure. Cowan was, however, brought down practically on the Gordonian line. From a free kick from Gordonians a score resulted. The wind was now blowing a gale, and the back play was consequently very ragged. F.P.s, however, were forcing the play and were rewarded with an unconverted try by Cowan. Half-time-F.P.s, 3 points ; Gordonians, 3 points. On the resumption, Gordonians put on pressure, and it was only through good, sound defence of F.P.s that several attempts at scoring were thwarted. The end came with no score in the second half, so that extra time of ten minutes each way, according to Cup-tie regulations, was played. During the first ten minutes, play was mostly in midfield, with little to choose between either side. In the second period, however, Gordonians asserted all their energy, and following hurricane tactics by the pack, a Gordonian forward scored an unconverted try. In the last minute Gordonians were awarded a penalty try which was converted. Final result—F.P.s, 3 points ; Gordonians, t t points. 13th February. v. Engineers, at Hazlehead. F.P.s-A. A. N. Bain ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, S. R. Smith ; C. W. France and A. Macdonald ; R. D. Bain, E. W. M. Watt, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., C. M. M. Liddell, and A. B. Hay. F.P. backs for some time were ruling the scrums, and Grant broke through, but owing to lack of backing, the chance was lost. Engineers retaliated by strong forwards rushes, and only good defence by F.P. backs repelled the danger. France, after a beautiful cut through, just failed to score. Play was of a fast nature, and F.P. forwards were combining well, but Engineers were putting up a good defence. From a hard kick ahead, Bowes outstripped Engineers' defence to score at the corner. The kick failed. Halftime—F.P.s, 3 points ; Engineers, nil. On the resumption, F.P.s attacked strongly, and after repeated efforts, Cowan crossed at the corner for an unconverted try. Continuing to attack, Bowes finished off a forward rush with another unconverted try. Engineers came away at this point and a forward scored a try far out, which was unconverted. The ground was by now very heavy, and play was confined to the forwards. No further scores were registered. Result—F.P.s, 9 points ; Engineers, 3 points. zoth February. v. Aberdeenshire, at Rubislaw. F.P.s—A. A. N. Bain ; N. S. Cowan, G. W. Bowes, H. B. Grant, S. R. Smith ; C. W. France and I. L. Smith ; R. D. Bain, J. I. Mortice, W. H. Stephen, J. E. Bothwell, W. P. Smith, G. D. Allan, Jr., C. M. M. Liddell, and E. W. M. Watt. Mid-field play marked the early stages of the game, until a combined movement by F.P. backs and forwards ended in Cowan scoring a good try at the corner. Watt failed with a good kick. 'Shire came away with a rush, but they were well held by F.P. forwards. Watt just missed from a penalty kick. 'Shire were now pressing, and through a splendid solo movement by one of their players he scored a good try, which was converted, giving 'Shire a lead of two points. Immediately on resumption France all but scored with a splendid solo run. The game was very fast at this stage, but there was no further scoring before half-time, Watt again failing with a penalty kick. Half-time—F.P.s, 3 points ; 'Shire, 5 points. Playing with the advantage of the wind, F.P.s were early on the attack, but a penalty awarded to 'Shire added to their score, thus giving them a lead of 5 points. F.P.s were now being hard pressed, and an interception of a delayed pass in a run by the F.P. backs resulted in a goal for 'Shire. F.P.s were fighting back hard, and Watt kicked a good penalty goal. Cowan just failed immediately thereafter to score, but his opportunity came soon, and he made no mistake. The kick failed. No-side came with no further scoring. Result—F.P.s, 9 points; 'Shire, 53 points. D. P. C.
15 8
Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
F.P. Hockey Section. The 1st team has done well in the second half of the season, having been defeated only once since December. This despite the loss of Colin Stewart, our most useful player, who obliged in almost any position. The Section wish him the best of luck in Manchester. Apart from his departure, and the substitutions at inside-forward caused by the going of Wylie, a promising young player, the 1st XI has remained fairly stable in its composition. Some criticism of individual players may help :— Neil Munro, in goal, has come on greatly. Has " saved our bacon " on several occasions, and his kicking is now better than ever during the season. The only goalkeeper whose " misses " (and " misses ") his team welcomes I Edward Yule, our mainstay at back for several seasons, has unaccountably " gone off." Has been introduced at inside-left solely on a reputation for robust play. George McCombie, after wondering for years why he was brought into the world, has found his life's work as a hockey full back. The way he sails into opposing forwards makes us pardon his foolish puns ! A distinct find. Maxie Todd is also a discovery. He plays a very stuffy game for a young 'un. Has even caused the President of the S.H.A. to murmur " that youth will have his day." Maclennan, after being allowed to play forward once or twice, has a goal-scoring complex, and at centre-half continues to sneak about our opponents' circle, even when he should be defending at the other end. Jim Watt—Auction Bridge is his game. A thoughtful player! But he has a " stop " in every suit. Peters—a very efficient outside right, when he remembers the rule— " Pass Traffic on the Right." Peters says that he would not mind if the ball were as fast as an electric hare, if it were only as big. Doug. Wood, after doing well at inside-right, promises to become the outside left we were looking for. Bill Menzies played some brilliant games at full back, especially at the Links, demonstrating every tennis stroke but the smash. Has never had time to settle down at his own position at centre-forward. Notable matches during this half of the season have been one with an Edinburgh University A XI, at Edinburgh, which we drew with our weakened team, and a recent game with Gordonians, also drawn. In the latter game there was shown all-round determination and admirable team-work. We congratulate the following new " Caps "—N. Munro, W. M. Todd, and D. M. Wood. Dates have been awarded to C. Maclennan, W. Menzies, C. J. Stewart, and J. B. Watt.
F.P. Tennis Section. The Tennis Section last year continued to flourish. Several matches were arranged at Rubislaw and several were arranged on away courts. A feature of the season was the Singles Tournament for members of the Section, which was won by J. Laing, who beat F. F. Stott after a close game. Laing received a replica of the Tennis Section Cup and had his name engraved on the original. This Cup, which was purchased last year, should prove a great incentive to the Section. During the winter a social evening was held, which was well attended by members. The Section desire to record their indebtedness to
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We have always a splendid selection of these fine quality Scotch-knit garments in stock. CARDIGANS from 17/6 to 47/6. SLIPOVERS from 12/6 to 30/THE NEW F.P. TIE is now ready. This has a black ground with narrow magenta and green stripes. Price The Sports Tie is as formerly.
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Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine.
159
•
F. F. Stott, who retires from the secretaryship of the Section, for the work he has done during the past two seasons. It is hoped to start play during April, and all intending members should send in their names to W. Garth Logan, 20 Oakhill Road, Aberdeen.
List of New Members of the Club. LIFE MEMBER. Munro, John Gray (1920-31), Eastbank, Fonthill Road, Aberdeen. ORDINARY Alexander, Alastair Ian Laing (192330), Newseat, Pixie's Lane, Woodside. Calder, Douglas James (1927-31), 8o Union Grove, Aberdeen. Emslie, Bruce Butchart (1924-29), 145 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen. Hay, Andrew Bertram (1921-31), Breezy Neuk, Muchalls. Jack, William Cadzow (1927-29), 55 Buckingham Palace Road,London, S.W.I. Kellas, Henry Ronald (1926-31), 63 Carlton Place, Aberdeen. Lyon, Thomas Walker (1918-21), 44 Carisbrooke Drive, Nottingham. Maitland, Douglas William (191823), 19 Granby Road, Edinburgh. Menzies, Walter Neil (1928-29), 82 Osborne Place, Aberdeen. Miles, Robert Charles Cruickshank (1923-30), 45 Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen. Morgan, Robert A. Gulliver (192130), I Bon-Accord Terrace, Aberdeen. Nisbet, Captain John Runciman (1908-09), China Navigation Company's s.s. Yingchow, Shanghai, China. Pennie, Gibb Niven (1923-26), St. Machar's Rectory, Bucksbum.
MEMBERS. Reid, William Ferris (1925-31), Fordhouse of Dun, Montrose. Ritchie, James Garvie (1928-31), Carmelite Street, Banff. Rowton, Geoffrey Allen (192o-31), 7 Devanha Gardens, Aberdeen. Sharp, Alastair George (1918-24), 45 Gray Street, Aberdeen. Simpson, John Alexander Trager (1919-28), " The Log Cabin," Swastika, Ontario, Canada. Stephen, William Hay (1920-29), 252 Queen's Road West, Aberdeen. Strachan, Albert Edward (1920-29), 18 Great Western Place, Aberdeen. Thomson, James Booth (1918-31), 52 Osborne Place, Aberdeen. Waugh, Frederick Chisholm (19283o), 11 Raebum Place, Aberdeen. West, John Thomson, M.B., C.M. (1882-86), 74 St. Andrew's Drive, Glasgow, S.1. Whyte, John (1921-30), 18 Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen. Wishart, Robert Petrie (1919-3x), 379 Holbum Street, Aberdeen. Wood, George (1927-30), 82 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen. Wood, James Officer (1925-29), 82 Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen. Wylie, Alastair Albert (1927-31), 30 St. Swithin Street, Aberdeen.
The Club Tie. As is mentioned in the Annual Report of the F.P. Club, which appears elsewhere in this issue of the Magazine, a new Club tie has been approved by the Executive, and is now on sale. The Club tie that was introduced some years ago is to continue, but will be manufactured in poplin only, the price being 4s. 6d. The new tie, which is black with narrow diagonal stripes of the Club colours, magenta and dark green, will be found suitable for wearing on almost any occasion. The new tie is made in silk only, and the price is 5s. 6d. Both the old tie and the new tie can be obtained only from the Official Club Outfitters in Aberdeen, Messrs. Esslemont and Macintosh, Ltd., Union Street; or from the Official London Centre Outfitter, Mr. Henry J. Hardy, 15 Maddox Street, W.I.
I Go
Aberdeen Grammar School Mageqine.
F.P. Club Office-Bearers, 1932-33. Honorary President— DAVID MIDDLETON ANDREW, M.A. (Rector since 1 924).
Honorary Vice-Presidents— Sir JOHN BAKER, M.D. (1875-79). Professor WILLIAM BuLLocH, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S. (1877-80). Sir GEORGE CARMICHAEL, K.C.S.I., LL.D. (1876-81). Sir WILLIAM WATSON CHEYNE, Bart., K.C.M.G., C.B., M.B., C.M., F.R.C.S., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S. (1863-68). (1873-76). Sir JOHN COLLIE, C.M.G.,, Sir GEORGE STUART FORBES, K.C.S.I., M.A. (1860-64). Sir ALEXANDER HENDRY, K.C.V.O., M.D. (1883-86). The Hon. Lord MACKAY (ALEXANDER MORRICE MACKAY), M.A., LL.D. (1882-91). Professor JOHN JAMES RICKARD MACLEOD, M.B., Ch.B., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S. (1884-93). The Right Hon. Lord MESTON, K.C.S.I., LL.D. (1876-80). DOUGLAS GORDON MILLER, M.A. (Rector, 1921-24). Sir PETER CHALMERS MITCHELL, C.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S. (1879-80). The Right Hon. Lord ALNESS (ROBERT MUNRO), P.C., M.A., LL.D., Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland (1884-80. Professor JAMES CHARLES PHILIP, O.B.E., M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S. (1886-89).
.
Lieut.-Col. Sir DAVID PRAIN, C.M.G., C.I.E., M.A., M.B., LL.D., F.R.S. (1872-73). Lieutenant-General Sir ANDREW S KEEN, K.C.B., K.C.I.E., C.M.G. (1880-86). Professor ROBERT SCOTT TROUP, C. I.E., M.A., D.Sc., F. R. S. (1888-91).
The LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEEN. President—The Right Reverend Bishop ERNEST DENNY LOGIE DANSON, M. A., D.D. (1892-94). Vice-President—DOUGLAS PATERSON COCHRAN (1906-15). Secretary and Treasurer— THEODORE WATT, M.A. (1 8 89-19o1), The Rosemount Press, Aberdeen. Committee— WM. G. CRAIGEN, M.A., JAMES LEITH, Jr. ALAN MCBAIN, M.A., LL.B. C.A. JAMES C. DUFFUS, M.A., G. G. Nicol., D.S.O. LL.B. JAS. PATTERSON, M.A., RANALD ESSLEMONT. LL.B. J. P. JEFFREY, C.A. 'W. DOUGLAS SIMPSON, M.A., D.Litt. A. M. JOHNSTON.
J. L. RIDDELL. J. F. WALKER, M.A. N. J. J. WALKER, M.A., LL.B. E. W. WArr, M.A. R. B. WILLIAMSON, M.A., LL.B.
Hon. Auditors—Messrs. BOWER & SMITH, C.A.
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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, Middle, 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 Control Examination of the Education Committee, while the Senior Classes are examined for the Day School Certificate (Higher) and the Leaving Certificate 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 Playgrounds for Juniors and Seniors, Tennis Courts, and a field There is also a Boarding House run in confor Cricket and Football. junction with the School.
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-
Miss BEATRICE M. ROSE. M.A. (Aberd., Oxon.)
HE HIGH SCHOOL provides a liberal education for Girls from 5 or 6 to 18 or ig years of age, and aims at fitting them for home life and for professions open to women. The School buildings occupy an excellent and spacious site in the West end of the City. The furnishings and equipment of the School comprise, in addition to numerous Class-rooms fitted up with many modern conveniences for teaching purposes, an Assembly Hall, Gymnasium, 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. The School is organized in three Departments—Infants, Primary, and Secondary. The Classes in the Infants and Primary divisions are graded in accord. ance with the requirements of the Scottish Code. The pupils are prepared for the Control Examination of the Education Committee. Pupils in the Secondary Department are prepared for the Day School Certificate (Higher) and the Leaving Certificate of the Scottish Education Department. The subjects of study include—Scripture, English with History and Geography, Mathematics, Classics, Modern Languages, Experimental and Domestic Science, Art, Class Singing, and Physical Exercises. 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.
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 Head Mistress respectively.
4),
"PREFECT" SCHOOL SUITS ARE MADE OF RELIABLE CLOTHS IN NEWEST DESIGNS, AND ARE Cl'T AND TAILORED BY EXPERTS. TO
FIT
AGES
$
TO
;141,YEARS.
Usual Qualities-
451- to 60/-
55/- to 70/to 90/-
Super Quality-65/-
"GRAMMAR SCHOOL" OUTFITS. BLAZERS. SHORTS AND CAPS MADE OF FAST COLOUR MATERIAL, BEST QUALITY. TIES, BELTS, STOCKINGS AND PULLOVERS IN CORRECT DESIGNS AND RELIABLE. QUALITIES.
TENNIS
CRICKET - -
GOLF
I NIPRO VI J)
SWIMMING COSTUMES IN
GRAMMAR
SCHOOL
COLOURS
CAMPBELL & CO., 18 Bridge St. 'Phone 157.
Telegrams, " Rubber."
THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. MARISCHAL COLLEGE. ABERDEEN. IVINTER SESSION SUMMER SESSION
_ _
-
-
OCTOBER TO MARCH. APRIL TO JUNE.
Courses for B.Sc. (Agr.) Ordinary and Honours Degrees ; College Diploma in Agriculture; National Diploma in Agriculture; Special Farmer's Course; Planter's Certificate Course, etc. Residential Course in Rural Domestic Economy for Girls at Craibstone. Calendar giving full particulars of Courses of Instruction, Syllabus of Experimental Work, and particulars of Advisory Work undertaken by the College ; and Prospectus of Craibstone School of Rural Domestic Economy, may be had on application to
THE SECRETARY, 41i UNION STREET, ABERDEEN.
ESTABLISHED 1/115
ABERDEEN SAVINGS BANK
FUNDS 28,750,000
(Certified under Act of Parliament)
sums
MALL AMOUNTS regularly put aside will grow to considerable S over a period of time. The practice of saving is conveniently effected with the aid of a Banking Account, and, through its Penny
Bank Department, the Savings Bank is able to offer special facilities for the receipt of small amounts. Parents will find this Department useful for training children to appreciate the " Saving Habit." There are over 200 Penny Banks connected with the Savings Bank in schools in the city and county. JAMES R. FIDDES,
HEAD OFFICE-
ACTUARY.
19 UNION TERRACE, ABERDEEN. BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY A
JOHN N. DUNN'
D COUNTY.
BOOTS AND SHOES FOR SCHOOL BOYS
'
That's the "Stuff" to give them! BECAUSE
they are made on lasts that are stylish as well as comfortable, and the wide selection of leathers and styles ensure complete satisfaction. ALSO • PARENTS APPRECIATE THEIR
LASTING
PROPENSITIES
Repairs done with Leather, Rubber, or "USKIDE:'
Boys' and Youths' Box-calf Boots vieth either Leather or Uskide Soles. Sivs and half-sizes Irons 10/6 upwards.
JOHN A. DUNN 46 UNION STREET
•
ABERDEEN
'Phone 158 PRINTED AT THE EOSENOUNT YRESS, ARREDIEN.