The Vigornian December 1890

man. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL CHRONICLE. "TO. /xev SiSaKTtt /jLavvavw, TOL KtvptTu. CI?TU>, TO. 8'evKTa irafta. 6ewv rjr

No. 18. VOL. II.

DECEMBER, 1890.

dtcmtents. Editorial The Summer Examinations Up and Down a Mountain in Japan Aeonokrisis Atalantos in Oxford Brasses and Brass Rubbing Football Debating Society Speech Day .. .. .. Entertainment The Maurice Day Memorial School News King's Scholarship Examination .. School Officers Correspondence

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PAGE 2 93 294 295 298 301 3o J 3°4 306 306 310 3 11 3" 312 312 312 315

(Euitoml. £HEN we last wrote our hands shook, and, in Homeric parlance, our glorious limbs were loosened under us, in fear of the approaching certificate examination. Now we can afford to look back and wonder what there was in it after all to inspire us with such terrible awe. As the results have been fully discussed elsewhere, we shalHdo nothing more here than offer the representatives of the School our congratulations on coming so well through the ordeal.

PRICE 6d.

An event of importance to the School was the announcement of the decision arrived at by the Charity Commissioners, who gave it as their opinion that the Schools had better remain as they have been in times past. This response, however, did not please some people, and amongst them, mirabile dictu, Mr. Labouchere, who criticised it in Parliament. Receiving but little support there, he afterwards, in his organ "Truth," attacked the action of the Commissioners, in a somewhat virulent and entirely uncalled for manner. At present, we believe the " Schools question " is about to be laid before the Town Council. We should like to remind the School that, owing to the formation of a carpentering class, the cases for the Museum may shortly be commenced. As cases without contents will not be of much use, we hope that boys who have any particular hobby will set about making collections of objects to put in the Museum, when it is ready. It is with great regret that we observe in some parts of the School a lamentable lack of esprit de corps. We should like to ask those individuals

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who care only for their own pleasures, whether they know that they are members of a School which, in 1891, will be three hundred and fifty years old, and if so, whether they think their selfish conduct worthy of its traditions or calculated to promote its interests. On some, we know, all reproaches will be wasted, but there may be others who, not being so far gone, may yet recognize that the School has a right to demand some service from them, even though it causes them inconvenience to render it.

of disgraceful. In days when the King's Scholars received less from the School they did more for her. Now their more pampered successors are unable to meet the slight return required at their hands.

Summer (Examinations.

our usual custom after missing a year, we again sent in the Vlth Form as candidates for the "Higher," and the Vth for the "Lower" Certificates. We had very small hopes of The present term has witnessed a doublerepeating the great success of 1888, when the barrelled reply to the stale calumnies that we " Lower " candidates obtained the first position never attempt to keep apace with the times. Of for distinctions in England with 36 First Classes course we allude, in the first place, to the special among 1 1 boys, but as the result proved, we just chemistry class formed in connection with the managed to hold our proud position. Our 13 Victoria Institute classes. The other novelty is candidates obtained 24 first classes, giving an the establishment of a carpenter's shop in the average of 2 '6 1, which just beat the next best. top room of the old house. Into the latter task On the other hand the Vlth showed a great Mr. Jordan threw himself with his accustomed advance. In 1888 there was one failure and one energy. The funds were considerably increased " distinction." This year there was no failure, by a successful entertainment held about a and we had four "distinctions." Chamberlain month ago. There is no reason why the new project, so auspiciously launched, should not have for the " Lower " and Conacher for the " Higher" did the School excellent service. Conacher's a useful career before it. mark for Latin unseen (90) was not beaten by any Since our last issue the venerable Bishop of candidate. We can thus look back upon 1890 the Diocese has retired from the administration with great satisfaction, and we hope the comof it. Thus the School loses an old friend, petitors in 1892 will - make up their minds to whose official connection with us as " visitor " is keep up the record. After the strange comat an end. With the name of his successor, plaints which we have seen in the papers that we Dr. Perowne, our Cambridge Greek Testaments neglected " English " subjects for " Classical," have made us familiar. Quite recently, too, we it was gratifying to find that our honours were have heard that we are going to lose one of chiefly in the former subjects. A critic must be our governors, Canon Creighton, who has hard to please who is not satisfied with 10 first accepted the vacant canonry at Windsor. His class papers out of 13. We wish that it was the place is to be taken by the Rev. T. Teignmouth custom to print the report of the Oxford and Shore, a well-known London clergyman and Cambridge Board in full. It was very pleasant reading, as can be judged by the extracts read preacher. by the Dean on Speech Day, though there were Slackness invading. Yes, the slacking other still more satisfactory passages. We must bacillus seems to be making terrible inroads congratulate both forms on the result of their upon our constitution. The attendance of work, because it seems to have been work, more King's Scholars at morning service and the than special ability, that was conspicuous. As School at catechising has been nothing short the Dean pointed out it is a great feature to

THE VIGORNIAN. have had no failure in either class. The results and also the report of the Rev. LI. M. Bebb, M.A., Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, who examined the rest of the school, will be found in the report of the proceedings on Speech Da}-.

anb boton a ^fttountain in Japan. j|UJIYAMA, or Fujisan, the peerless mountain of the Land of the Rising Sun, is one of the most perfect cones in the world. It rises from an immense plain, and attains to the height of nearly 13,000 feet. The symmetry of its outline is only broken in one place, where about one hundred and fifty years ago the last eruption made a huge lump and scar on the North-east side of the mountain. In the summer months Fuji is almost always wreathed in clouds, and it is only the early riser that catches a glimpse of the snow-crowned summit, glowing with a delicate pink as it is touched by the rays of the morning sun, for, When the atmosphere gets warm, the vapours gather with incredible rapidity, till the whole mountain is enveloped in mists. While you are looking you may see a cloud " no bigger than a man's hand" near the summit, or half way down; in a moment it has grown to a gigantic size, and before long Fuji has completely hidden itself, perhaps for the whole day, or even for a great many days. When I was in Japan in 1888 I waited several weeks for a chance to ascend, but rain, mists and clouds shrouded the mountain even to the base ; indeed, I lodged for a night in a village at the foot of the path by which the ascent begins, but so thick was the fog, that the huge mountain towering above might not have existed at all for all we could see of it. It is in the winter months that the real beauty of Fujisan is seen, when the sky is cloudless for weeks together, the air cold and crisp, and the atmosphere quite clear. Then the peerless mountain has put on its cloak of snow, and from the Summit nearly to the base is one huge mass of white, which, as the sun rises, reflects a delicate pink shade, and as it sets, is surrounded with a

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soft purple haze, beautiful beyond description. As the artist or lover of the beautiful sits at the top of the Otometoge Pass (about fifteen miles from the mountain, and where the best view is obtainable), and gazes on this spectacle, he can easily let his imagination run away with him so that he fancies himself in another world. It was my good fortune to reach the summit in August, 1889, and still greater good fortune to have a week of glorious weather to do it in. A friend (Colonel S.) and myself started from Yokohama by the 10.30 a.m. train to reach the village of Gotenba, about eleven miles from the base, at 1.30. We had no guide, as coolies know the way just as well, and are much less expensive. Reaching Gotenba at the time specified in the time-tables, we took rickshas and two coolies each to Subashiri, whence the ascent is made. The ricksha is a little vehicle like a small dogcart, on two wheels, and having a pair of shafts. One coolie runs between the shafts, the other ties a rope to them and runs in front ; in this way they cover from thirty to forty miles a day on a good road. The distance between the villages is about six miles along a very bad road, the dust in some places being nearly up to the axles of the ricksha wheels. This dust, the result of former eruptions, is very fine, and penetrates the pores of the skin in a very unpleasant way, especially on a burning hot day such as was August 15th, 1889. We arrived at Subashiri at 3.30, and, after obtaining carrying coolies, made a start at 4 p.m., hoping to get well up the mountain before dark. Leaving the Tea House the road, at first broad, and lined with trees, rises gradually till it becomes narrower, and the first rest-house, or rather turn about house as it is called, is reached. This resthouse is simply half-a-dozen mat-roofed sheds where you sit and rest, while the people bring you ice cold water or little cups of tea and other small commodities that the weary pilgrim may care to refresh himself with. After waiting a few minutes we proceeded up some steps and passed under a Tora, or wooden archway, which

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is a sacred symbol, always erected at the entrance to any temple or holy ground, and entered on the path, now no longer a road, being about two feet in width and depth, the latter owing to the rush of water in the rains. As the sun set we began to feel a sensible difference in the temperature, and were glad to add our flannel coats to the light attire we had started in. The mountain in this part is densely wooded, the boughs overhead interlacing so closely that it is quite dusk long before the sun goes down. As the traveller sits to rest on the root of some tree he is particularly struck by the utter absence of all living things. Not a sound is heard except sometimes the noise of a rotten branch falling, perhaps, a mile away; even our own voices seemed strange and weird in the dead silence that reigned around. At about seven o'clock we reached the next rest-house, where we decided to put up for the night, as we had ascended about 6000 feet, and were very tired. After changing into dry flannels we made some tea and chocolate, ate a supper of biscuits and sardines, and then prepared for a good night's rest. This rest-house is a long low shed with a wooden floor covered with mats ; it is closed on three sides and open on the other, which, however, is also closed at night with shutters. After being supplied with thick padded Japanese rugs, which are very dirty and full of fleas, we went to sleep without any rocking. During the night we were semiconscious of dozens of pilgrims passing down the mountain, with their little bells tinkling in the night air. While talking of pilgrims it may be as well to mention that thousands of men and women are always walking about Japan, climbing the most inaccessible places and the highest mountains, as on the summit of these spots there is always a rude temple or altar, where they offer up a prayer and then descend. They are dressed all in white as a rule, have straw sandals on their feet, and at their side a little bronze hand-bell dangling, which tinkles as they walk. In order that we might not miss seeing the sun rise, we were called at half-past three in the morning by

our coolies, and partook of a frugal breakfast of cocoa, biscuits and preserved meat, after which we made a start. The path led to a flight of steps, made from trunks of trees, and on ascending these we found ouselves in a rude temple, where were several priests and a huge idol, not representing Buddha, but a god of the mountain or guardian of the East Gate, for this, we afterwards found, was the name of the temple. Here the priests present each pilgrim with a long light staff, on which they brand " a chop " or stamp. Both on our entrance and at our departure they struck a large gong, which gave out a deep boom, sounding most weird in the still morning air. Leaving the temple by a door on the right side we tramped steadily on,and after about an hour's walking the vegetation began to grow thinner, and here and there patches of snow were encountered. Right up above us towered the grand peak of Fujiyama, and, as the rising sun touched it it glowed like a furnace. This effect is produced by the lava and scoria? which are found when approached to be of a deep red colour, and the mountain looks as if the molten streams were once more running down its side. Climbing now became hard work, our feet sinking in the ashes above the ankles, and we found out the utility of the staves which the priests of the East Gate had given us. We passed successively five more rest-houses, built of blocks of lava, and occupied in the season by privileged individuals, who gain a few dollars by supplying pilgrims with drinking water, eggs, and other Japanese delicacies, the price of which becomes greater with the height of the mountain. Eggs, for instance, cost one cent each at the foot, at the summit the price is six cents. The vendors however richly deserve the money, for everything has to be carried up, drinking water being conveyed in small tubs on the backs of coolies. It was now about nine o'clock, and we decided to halt at the eighth rest-house and have some refreshment, which we very much needed, as we had been climbing for nearly five hours, and the sun was now blazing down from a cloudless sky.

THE VIGORNIAN. A magnificent view met our gaze, miles of land and sea, but as we had determined not to "enthuse " (as our American cousins say) till we reached the summit, we pushed on. The last 1,500 feet being almost like the side of a house, and covered with blocks of lava, required the use of hands, sometimes of hands and knees. I now began to experience what is known as mountain sickness, the chief feature of which is a dull aching pain in the head and a sensation similar to sea sickness. All, however, was forgotten in the excitement of reaching the summit, which we did at about half-past ten o'clock. On the east side of the crater, which is about four miles in circumference, is a flat plateau, on which are built six or seven huts. The first is occupied by the priest on duty, who stamps the clothes, skin or papers of the pilgrim with the characters of the mountain and of the god Fuji; these marks are a certain sign that the bearer has been to the summit. Another hut was occupied by a very clever and pleasant Japanese gentleman, who had been educated at Munich, and was the Government astronomer. He had been on the summit about a fortnight snaking meteorological observations, and was fiquipped with a camera for taking cloud effects, and with many other instruments. After leaving our traps at one of the huts we proceeded to look round on a scene which it is impossible to adequately describe. Mountain range on mountain range in the distance, with here and there a peakof snow shooting out; lakes, valleys and cities lying beneath like pieces of patch-work. Lake Hakow-a, about fifteen miles off, looked like a lady's handkerchief among the hills surrounding it. As the day wore on continual changes were taking place in the atmosphere. About noon the light haze below us was replaced by thin fleecy clouds, which seemed to come from nowhere and settle on the side of the mountain. By three in the afternoon these had increased to such an extent that beneath us lay a sea of snowwhite clouds, which, to compare great things with small, resembled the finest cotton wool. From

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the blue unspotted firmament above, the sun shone down on these with dazzling effect Anyone sitting on the top in perfect silence and solitude, and gazing on the white mass below, might imagine himself to be the last man in a frozen world. After beholding this incomparable scene for a considerable length of time we walked round the crater, a performance attended with some risk, but which we accomplished without mishap. One incident deserves mention: I went down into the crater, leaving my friends on the edge, and after going about a mile away was able to converse with them without any special effort or raising of the voice. This was rendered possible by the rarified condition of the air and the peculiar formation of the crater. As the sun began to get low we heard a sudden beating of gongs and blowing of horns, which we found, on enquiry, was the signal for the pilgrims to assemble and worship. While this was going on we were favoured with a spectacle not often seen, for, many miles away, there appeared in the air a reflection of the mountain on which we were standing, in all respects similar save that the peak was rather sharper, and was encircled with a bright halo. Everyone stood spellbound in silent admiration of the beautiful sight till, with the sinking of the sun, it vanished away. It had now become bitterly cold, and after enjoying a supper of fried eggs, preserved meat and cocoa, we prepared to spend the night on the summit. This we had to do in a hut, in which a boy of ten might stand upright, without any windows, and adapted to hold about six persons ; as a matter of fact there were between twenty and thirty, and as there was no ventilation the result can be imagined. When about three in the morning the owners of the hut started a wood fire, and did nothing to let the smoke escape save removing a block of lava from the roof, we could stand it no longer, and went outside till it was time for breakfast. After refreshing ourselves, we stood and watched the sun rise and tinge the mountain with shades of pink, crimson and orange in succession. Then

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began our rapid descent, straight down the side, to account at the bar of those that follow us. which is so steep that running becomes a necessity. Although the task is by no means so easy as it In three and a quarter hours we arrived at will be when it is dead and buried, and the Subashiri, whence we made for Unyanoshita, the reviewers are at work on its carcase, still shall celebrated hot springs, where the beauty and we anticipate their function ! What movements, fashion of Yokohama recruit their health. then, have marked the age in which we live? Precisely at a quarter-past four in the afternoon One thinks at once of the consummation of the two dirty, travel-stained pilgrims walked into work whose earlier stages were reached during Fujiya's Hotel, Unyanoshita, and called for a earlier periods. In the thirteenth century the quart of champagne and plenty of ice, and nobility asserted its claim to have its pleasure enjoyed themselves as they had never done listened to by the King ; in the fifteenth this before. Needless to say those pilgrims were | same aristocracy now waxed overbearing and Colonel S. and myself. We were soon surrounded | insolent, was, to hasten its end and make way by people and questioned and stared at, for, even j for the next beneath, split into two rival camps, now, anyone just come from the top of Fujiyama and so shared the doom of every house divided is a somebody. Several guides who were staying against itself. In the seventeenth the great lawthere, after hearing our experiences, informed us abiding commercial middle class, which Matthew that we had been most fortunate, especially in Arnold means to be understood when he seeing the holy shadow, which, they said, a man discourses on Philistines, successfully urged its might go up fifty times and never see. After a claims to be listened to, as the nobility had good dinner we were glad to go to bed, well done. In our own day this spirit of claiming satisfied with the good luck that attended us in one's rights has worked downwards till, having soaked through the lowest classes, further it the ascent of the peerless Fujiyama. cannot go. But there is this difference between the latest phase of the struggle and the earlier >jjHE large-hearted rule Demortuis nil nisi ones. Whereas the aristocracy and commons bonum holds good only of individuals : marched to their prize through much bloodshed it breaks down in the case of peoples and gunpowder, this latest upheaval of the and ages, the last \vord in the maxim then masses has been a much tamer and more giving place to verum. We may speak as freely peaceful affair, leading to little slaughter, and as we please of a bygone century, for no senti- that chiefly of window panes and offensive ment of merciful charity will step in to interfere palings. This great awakening of the populace with candour, no surviving relative will be at and its frantic clamorous strife to dispossess hand to avenge insult offered to the solitary those earlier comers of their gains, has left a great mark on the century, and so deserves to defunct. Hence the voice of posterity has passed be noticed by everyone reckoning up its tendency, unchallenged judgment upon the main drift of but we have mentioned it here chiefly for its the 1 6th and iSth centuries. While it has bearing upon the next point. The dominant worker in every great movenodded approvingly on the great Reformation work of the former, which checked the over- ment, every great creative act that the world whelming flow of reborn Paganism, it has has ever witnessed, has been that subtle leaven frowned with unmistakeable meaning upon the which we call " enthusiasm," or sometimes freezing current of callous indifference which " fire," speaking of it under a natural metapho^ carried all before it during the latter. In a short akin to the old Stoic idea of the " craftsman time the present century will likewise be called fire," or creative element. Now there are two

THE VIGORNIAN. sides to this enthusiasm, or rather two kinds of it. One man may stand dumb before the west front of Lincoln Cathedral, another may be moved by the awful grandeur of Cheddar cliffs (in fact, few could laugh scornfully at their influence), a third may be lost in unspeakable and unspeaking admiration before some beautiful picture, keenly resenting the discordant sighs and jarring inanities of the commonplace female Philistine on his left. In all these cases the effect may soon vanish and leave the enthusiast not a whit higher than before. Quite otherwise is it with him who is possessed by one idea and gives his life to its fulfilment, whether he be an Elijah, a St. Francis, a Bacon, a Xavier, or one of the countless forgotten host of silent toilers. The one kind is the apple's bloom, the other its sweetness. Because the former, which seems to be more or less vague and dreamy, has usurped the name which belongs equally to the latter, therefore practical men, without undergoing the alien process of thinking, have come to scoff at the name of " enthusiasm " as little removed from the affliction of the Gadarene possessed. They look upon it with mistrust and suspicion as the hysterical shrieking of unhealthy young men, who wear bleached faces and rarely visit their barber. Little as this powerful factor deserves such treatment, still it is gradually wasting away; the simple enthusiasm of old time that asked no questions has given way to a heckling spirit of critical enquiry. The truth of the change that has stolen over us is only too apparent if we take some such test as this. Let us suppose Peter the Hermit come back to this life and preaching a crusade in the streets of London. What sort of a welcome would he meet with ? Would the Lord Mayor open a fund at the Mansion House ? Far from it. Hustled by the crowd, surrounded by a jeering company of hooting idlers, moved on by one policeman, locked up by another, he would soon meditate on the falling off in mankind and its changed ways. To follow out the bitter contrast to the end, in the next day's paper some such paragraph as this would appear :—

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Yesterday, an elderly foreigner, known as " Peter the Hermit," was brought up at the Bow-street Police Court, charged with blocking up the thoroughfare and obstructing traffic by holding an illegal public meeting; further, using seditious language against a friendly power, to wit, the Sultan of Turkey. Prisoner, who refused to give his surname, presented a very disreputable and uncared-for appearance. The Magistrates dismissed him on this occasion, and in view of his evidently neglected condition, awarded him 255. out of the poor-box.

Then are we not justified in looking upon all enthusiasm as dying, or even now dead. This we say in spite of General Booth, who is no fair argument since he has won his way to fame and is at the head of a huge organisation. Money such as he wants is not such an enormous sacrifice to the richest nation in the world. Men are divided generally into the Safe-keepers or Preservers, a daily dwindling minority, and the Pullers-down. But the Builders-up have either vanished or else we may look for what is left of them among the ranks of the Safe-Keepers. These are the stubborn defenders of the citadels that our fathers built up in happier days; between them and their adversaries war goes on unending. So long have the din of battle and the shouts of those that strive for mastery beaten on our ears, that we are now conscious of little but a confused, dull, and ever-present roar. If this spirit of unsparing criticism had been kept within reasonable limits, we might have blessed it as a useful tool for clearing off whatsoever was unreal and useless. But dissatisfied with its proper place as a means, it has forced itself into the fatal position of a great end. Let us take some instances. For centuries the Church of England went on teaching a form of eschatology that was more or less dark and narrow perhaps, yet solid, and the safest for the mass of men v/ithal. In our own day, Kingsley, Maurice, and Farrar have been at great pains to expose its faultiness ; yet, besides shaking our faith, what good have they done with all their discourses on ceonian and aidian. Apparently aghast at their own task of destruction, they shrink from committing themselves to anything new. With the weakness of the age, they are ready to pull down the old fortresses, plough up the old paths, but quite unable to make fresh

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ones. Meanwhile the hungry sheep look up and are not fed. Again, the striking want of some architectural style fitted to the times in which we live forces itself on us whenever we look up at that red brick sham Gothic church on our left, which is only matched by the mammoth shapeless pile in debased Renaissance on our right. Everywhere, too, the jerry-builder is in possession of the field. We want nobody to tell us what we can all see for ourselves ; yet all those who should be giving their time to devise something better, dirty their hands by throwing mud at the one or strain their wit in labelling with grotesque epithets the other. In the realm of education the same spirit of contentious unrest has won its way to the fore : no one now is satisfied by the somewhat narrow but yet thorough discipline of our fathers. The old curriculum, maltreated and jeered at by an uncouth mob of upstarts, will think itself indeed lucky if it escapes from their clutches with only half its raiment torn from its back. But the battle rages hottest where the defenders of the Christian, faith face the masterless clan, the sons of science. By the greatness of the interests at stake, by the calibre of the combatants, this strife dwarfs every other. The assailants are not ashamed to have recourse to ancient weapons, for one of their leading dogmas is as old as Lucretius, and four hundred years older. However, from our own day no one can wrest the glory of our marvellous researches into the domain of physical science. But they, thinking that their new-found testimony of the rocks defies and gives the lie to the older voice of authority, and in a rash moment making up their minds that authority has misled the children of men these centuries with falsehood, have now cast in their lot with the side of the Down-pullers ; nor do the Preservers count, in all the ranks of their foes, a bitterer band. Neither side would be the worse for a deeper knowledge of the others' weapons, and to their present ignorance we may set down the numbers of blows now wasted on the air. Thus a man

prone to be led away into the unbelief of science, might well begin by studying the Epistle to the Colossians and the i6th Essay of Bacon ; after which he might well go on with the former: nor could he end better than by reading once again the Epistle to the Colossians. To what, then, do we owe this widespread influence of the spirit of lago ? Doubtless to two causes ; one ready to hand, the other more fanciful. This century, so far, has busied itself with emancipating the slave and yielding to the demands of the proletariate, without first educating either. It is manifest that the boundless increase of masterless men in the world has weakened the prestige and influence of established authority and caused men to freely criticise its hitherto unchallenged title. The other motive cause is not so near the surface. In " Essays and Reviews," a book that 25 years ago was quite us much a high-water mark of current belief as " Lux Mundi" is to-day, the present Bishop of London wrote an exceedingly subtle essay on the education of the world. Therein he drew with much care and liveliness of detail a parallel between the life of a man and the life of the world. He has shown that in the early generations of its history, like a child, it was under a strict schoolmaster, the Law. At the time when Christ came it was a youth, and led by the force of personal example, which appeals most strongly to youth. Now we live in the days of the world's maturity, and are ruled by principle. Having, then, arrived at the state of manhood, with all a man's advantages, it labours under a man's defects For the adult has been saddened and sobered by the experience of much evil and many failures ; he has seen so little perfection, so few men living anywhere near their ideals, that he has long since abandoned the hopeful, aspiring, active enthusiasm of youth. The youth is caught by the attractiveness of a plan, and hastens to carry it out; but his senior checks him with the words, "Tarry a little, that I may find its faults." This correspondence between the individual and the world lightens

THE VIGORNIAN. our way, then, to discover the other reason for this spirit of criticism. Thus far we have studied the working and the cause of this great feature of modern life. Now to sum up. Is this tendency the highest the nineteenth century can reach ? Is it the best that it can produce for its claim to greatness ? For a man ought to expect a great deal from this age, not, as many do, because it has enjoyed the honour of giving him birth, which is rather a reason for thinking the opposite in most cases, but because it started from a vantage ground, because it followed a long series of its kin and embodies their experience. To us it seems that this spirit is by no means such a convincing claim to greatness. The art of destruction is so far from being difficult of acquirement and of first-rate value, that even children, in dealing with their toys, have been known to show a marked proficiency in it. Then if the nineteenth century only has this to fall back upon, it will go hard with it in the day of reckoning. It will be beaten out of sight by the sixteenth and attain merely to the proud distinction of having vanquished its immediate predecessor. H. M. C.

is in (Dxfotb. E F O R E the beginning of years There rose for the torment of manRome, for our fates and fears ; Greece, for our bale and ban ; " Thick-sides," with Grote for leaven ; " Tully," and Tacitus fell ; Plato, fallen from heaven, The Stagyrite, risen from hell ; Spencer (on Pleasure and Pain), Green (on the Freedom of Will), Maine (on the Status of Cain), And Bain (on the Status of Mill). And the high dons take in hand Ink, and the feathers of crows, And a packet of foolscap, and Blue pencils from Slatter and Rose :

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And they search their shelves with glee For the lectures they give to Fools, And they write out Papers to be In the Final Classical Schools : They write them with glee and laughter, Revise them with lingering love, With the name of the School put after, And the day of the month above, To be sent to the printer's to-morrow, And turned out spick and span For the travail and heavy sorrow Of the weary 'Varsity man. From the North and the West and the South They will come to the deadly strife : They will " viva " me mouth to mouth, They will plague with conundrums my life: They will probe for my knowledge of Kant— ( That knowledge they'll have to assume)— With a time for the Ethics of Grant, A time for the Essays of Hume : They will ply me with questions on Maine, On the Logic of Bacon and Mill, On Punishment, Pleasure, and Pain, And Will and the Freedom of Will: So, I sit by the glimmering fire And think of my broken vows : In my heart is a blind desire, In my eyes foreknowledge of Ploughs : I write, and am read with derision, Sow, and I shall not reap : My life is a watch or a vision Between a sleep and a sleep, C. D. L.

|Xote0 on Brasses ani) $rass flubbing. |HERE are probably very few who do not know what is meant when a " brass " is spoken of, so few, in fact, that to give a definition of the term here would be quite superfluous. But as the meaning of "brass-rubbing" seems by no means so well understood, it will not be altogether useless to give a brief explanation. " Brass-rubbing," then, is the art of taking on paper, or some

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similar substance, correct and durable impressions of figures on monumental brasses. Although despised by some people, for what reason it is hard to see, it is one which affords much amusement, and that by no means of an unprofitable kind. It is often important, and always interesting, to understand the way in which men and women of former times dressed themselves, a knowledge of which can only be gained from two sources, contemporary records and monumental figures. Now, while stone effigies can only be sketched or photographed, with more or less accuracy, those engraved in brass can be reproduced in every detail with the utmost fidelity, by the process about to be described, which needs no special skill, but only a little care and practice, to perform successfully. The materials required are very simple ; a few lumps of the substance known as " heelball," to be obtained at a currier's, and a roll of the paper technically termed "lining paper," of a fairly tough quality, which must be procured from a paperhanger, form the equipment of the brass-rubber. Armed with these, he sets out to a church, where he knows that brasses are to be found, and sets to work. And here a word as to the mode of obtaining access to churches, especially those in rural villages. For some occult reason, the care of them is usually entrusted to an elderly female, though occasionally the custodian is of the opposite sex, whose knowledge of the fabric is generally vague, and who prefers to spend her eloquence in describing her own family calamities rather than the interesting features of the place. The visitor should therefore inform this functionary that he will on no account trouble her to accompany him to the church, but will be much obliged if she will lend him the keys ; otherwise he will be exasperated, while rubbing brasses, by the presence of an astonished female, who will stand over him and utter every few seconds such ejaculations as " Well, now; to be sure!" " Who'd ever ha' thought it!" and other like sublime observations.

When a brass has been found, the paper should be laid evenly over it, and firmly secured in its place with hassocks or wafers ; if this precaution is not taken the paper will probably slip during the operation, and the whole process will have to be begun over again. The heelball must be rubbed firmly over the paper till a good black impression of the brass is obtained. Here, however, a caution is necessary : if one portion only of the heelball is used it will become hot, stick to the paper, and tear it. To prevent this it must be frequently turned round, so that all parts are used, and excessive friction on one surface avoided. If the brass is fixed to the wall, instead of being laid in the floor, wafers must be used to secure the paper while the rubbing is being taken ; otherwise the operator will have to hold the paper with one hand and rub with the other, an exceedingly difficult and wearisome task. After the impressions have been taken home they should be carefully cut out and pasted on a clean sheet of paper or calico, on which should be written the name of the person represented, with the date of his or her death, and the church where the brass is to be found. Appended are a few particulars as to brasses which are within easy reach of Worcester :— While our Cathedral possesses, I believe, only one pair of old brasses, representing a knight and his wife, that of Hereford is very rich in them. The best, which is reputed to be one of the finest in the country, represents Bishop Trilleck, who died in 1360. He is pourtrayed wearing Eucharistic vestments and holding a beautiful pastoral staff in his left hand, the right being uplifted in blessing. The staff seems to have been intended for practical use, as it is supplied with an iron point and ferrule. The whole is in such 'excellent preservation that a blind person might pass his hand over it and think it had been but recently graved. Next in merit to this brass is one representing a priest in a richly-embroidered cope and a somewhat peculiar head-dress. A portion of the inscrip-

THE VIGORNIAN. tion is left, running thus—Orate pro and viri venerabilis Magr. Edmundi. The chief feature, however, is the magnificent canopy over his head, which is full of delicate work, containing among other things the three crowns which were the arms of Bishop Cantelupe, whose tomb is close by. Near, too, are the brasses of Richard Delamare and Isabella his wife. The lady is dressed in a fur mantle and has at her feet a pair of animals that might do for anything from a lion's cub to a sucking pig, but which are said to be meant for lap-dogs. Another knight, Richard de Labere, who died in 1514, is accompanied by his two wives and sixteen children. The extraordinary likeness between the costumes of the two ladies would lead one to suppose that the knight was of an economical turn, and made his first wife's wardrobe serve for her successor also. Some of the Hereford brasses, of which there are many more besides those mentioned, have had a chequered history. They were removed from the Cathedral, and for a long while remained in a curiosity shop, where a gentleman saw them and bought them for his private collection. His heir was prevailed upon to restore them to their proper place, where they now are, some having suffered rather in their travels. To come from Hereford to Ledbury (no very great distance), there are, in the fine parish church of the latter town, three good brasses. One of them represents a cleric kneeling, with hands uplifted in prayer. The inscription is almost pathetic in its brevity— " Sey pat. nost. for sere Willia Salwe, that loued wel god and alle halwe," the last word being for hallow, meaning saints, and perhaps intended to rhyme with the surname in the line before. At Strensham Church, near Eckington, are several brasses of different members of the Russell family, one of whom, Sir John Russell, was Master of the Horse to King Richard II. On the east wall of the chancel is a memorial to another Sir John, and Dame Edethe, his wife, who died in 1562, leaving one son, who is also shown kneeling behind his father. Both knight

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and lady bear their arms emblazoned on their robes, and near the knees of the former a pair of gauntlets lies on the floor. Unfortunately, there seems to be very little appreciation 6f the treasures contained in this church, for some of the brasses have been decapitated and propped up against the vestry wall, their heads being placed on the mantelpiece. This ignoble fate has overtaken the fate of Elizabeth Russell, who is portrayed wearing very wide cuffs and a leather belt fastened by a buckle not unlike those in use at the present time. This poor lady is said to have been torn from the slab, in which she was embedded, by a former rector, who wished to use it to convey to posterity some account of the virtues of his own deceased spouse. Leaving Strensham, and going a mile or two down the Avon, the parish church of Bredon is reached. Here there were formerly many brasses, but now only one remains, that of Bishop Prideaux. On it are engraved a handsome mitre, the Bishop's arms, and a Latin inscription setting forth the chief events in his life. From the latter we learn that he was born in Devonshire, became Fellow and Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, and Regius Professor of Divinity and Vice-Chancellor of the University, being finally raised to the see of Worcester in 1641. After the fall of the King he was deprived of his bishopric, and retired to Bredon, where, after cheerfully enduring great poverty, he died in 1650. Some ingenious handler of words obtained the date of the prelate's death from his name, by writing it thus, forming what is known as a chronogram :— JOHANNES PRIDEAVXVS EpIsCorVs VVlGORNL« MORTVVS EST.

The capital letters being properly arranged (MDCXVVVVVVVIIIII) give the required year. At Fladbury Church there are to be found some very good brasses, notably those of Sir William Throckmorton and Alianora his wife, which are on a raised tomb at the west end. The knight is in a complete suit of plate armour,

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and his left arm is strongly defended, to compensate for the loss of the shield, which in his time was little used. A long heavy sword hangs at his left side, and a small dagger, called a misericorde, at his right. By him lies Alianora his wife, dressed in widow's weeds ; a long veil covers her face, and her dress falls in stiff folds to her feet. At the east end is the brass of Thomas Mordon, sometime rector of Fladbury, and Treasurer of St. Paul's Cathedral. He is arrayed in a gorgeous cope, which, curiously enough, has his initials worked on it, T on one side and M on the other. Now-a-days we should be rather astonished to see a clergyman come into church with his initials emblazoned on some of his vestments, but in those times it does not appear to have excited comment. Next to, or at any rate not long after Mordon, the living was held by William Plewme, whose brass, representing him in Eucharistic vestments, is very similar to one at Hereford. While his predecessor rejoiced in the high-sounding title of " utriusque juris bacularius" and was quite a " great gun " in his way, Plewme, who had not proceeded farther than the usual M.A., was a humbler individual, and therefore content with a much smaller memorial. Lest any be inclined to doubt the literal accuracy of the last statement, it may be as well to explain that men often sat for their brass, much as they sit for their portrait now, and thereby gained two advantages : a faithful likeness was obtained, and there was no chance of the deceased being allowed to sink into oblivion through the unwillingness of his heir to pay for a memorial to him. Modern monumental brasses have not been touched upon in these notes, as they are confessedly inferior to the ancient ones and present few features of interest. Of the latter, too, there are many more within reach of Worcester than have been mentioned, as an account of all would have taken too much space. In conclusion it may be said that his hobby will take the brass-rubber to places he might never otherwise

have visited, and to many a beautiful old church not to be regarded merely as an architectural antiquity, but rather as an ever-present token of the devotion of former ages. Let him carefully inspect every one he enters, and he will find that his trouble has not been spent in vain. C. T. D.

Jootball. |E can hardly be said to have kept the ground that we gained last year. It seems better to confess it outright than to waste time in gazing back wistfully on the departed excellence of former years in the hope of diverting attention from our present lowestate. We plunged into football immediately after we came back, and hoped by the assistance of the fine weather to get a great deal of practice. Recognising the inadequacy of two games a week to improve us, we played regularly after afternoon school as long as the energy of the majority was equal to such a dreadful strain put upon it, i.e., for rather more than three weeks. There seemed to be a general feeling abroad that to attend at these late practices was a most creditable piece of self-denial, and no small disappointment because the seniors were not so grateful as they ought to have been to those who made this hard sacrifice. No doubt the seniors ought to apologise for their dulness in not seeing the matter in this light. In a healthy state of things, no boy would think that he had done his duty unless he had attended at twothirds of these games. The normal practices on half-holidays remained as they had done in times past, or rather, were slightly more discreditable, even if we leave a margin for absence from illness or disablement. It is quite impossible to play properly without the full number on each side. The games of which this could be said might be counted on the fingers of one hand, and they were eked out by old boys—a pitiful confession for any school to have to make. It is high time that the loafers—when I say loafers, I mean the

THE VIGORNIAN. greater part of the School—awake to a right view of their plain, positive duties, and no longer beguile themselves with any outrageous fancy that they are conferring a great favour upon that exorbitant individual the C. F. by now and then obeying his behests. Certainly we must compliment these gentlemen upon their praiseworthy ingenuity in wresting even the most unpromising material intoquasi-excellentexcuses for neglecting football; how they ever came to regard any process worthy of so much trouble, we can hardly understand. Some found study for the King's Scholarship so arduous as to take away all their football time. The mechanics discovered that the greater part of the afternoon must be given up to a carpenters' class that began at 4.30. Some few, it is asserted—and glad as we should be to assure our readers that public school boys could not be guilty of such selfishness, we have not sufficient grounds for doing so—spent their time at the fives courts. We need say no word respecting this ; but let us remind them that when the courts were built, the Head Master made a very strict rule against their use during time devoted to the school games. To the enthusiasts, between whom and the dissidents the gulf has been wider than ever this year, praise is due, not because they have attended at practices, for we must be logical, but because they have worked so hard to infect others with their spirit and overthrow idleness in its strongholds. We have assumed idleness to be blameworthy for the defection ; no one would think of breathing the darker suspicion of cowardice. But writing a football article is happily not yet synonymous with preaching a sermon on loafing, especially as the slackers would think reading the " Vigornian " the very last use which it is intended to be put to. Crippled as we have been, we could not look for any great results. Further, the inter-school matches,which in previous years evoked animated interest, have been impracticable this year, as they would have been so one-sided. Previously the School House had been strong enough to

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run the School very close, but this year it was beaten out of sight. The King's Scholars, too, found no one to stand against them. Then we have made another mistake this year in giving up the junior game ; herein we followed the bad example of the cricketers. It is absurd to expect youngsters to affect any interest in running about at the heels of their seniors, and occasionally getting a nasty knock as well. Now, to descend to minuter criticism. Our forwards are certainly our strongest part ; in the Bromsgrove match they played especially well, only they were put out by the superior kicking of our opponents. Kicking is an art in which most of us are very backward, and we do not show too much inclination to get rid of our imperfection. The halves are not alert enough ; before they can get hold of the ball to pass it to the three-quarters the rush of the enemy's forwards has overwhelmed them. In the matches the three-quarters have had very few opportunities of shewing what they can do ; on those rare occasions when the forwards do get hold of the ball, they are extremely reluctant to pass it behind. No one will blame our back for nervousness, but we wish to remind him that coolness carried too far is occasionally mistaken for indifference. In the above we may seem to have been too one-sided in our criticisms, and much too pessimistic in our views. But there is, after all a pleasure, when you have somewhat overstated a bad case, to awake and find it not so bad as it seemed. We append some account of our matches :— On October 4th we met a team of Old Boys gathered by Mr. H. Littlebury, on our own ground. Although we did not win, thus reversing last year's verdict, still the game was fairly even. Score : A goal and two tries to two tries. On October 22nd we journed to Birmingham and met a strong team from Queen's College at the Reddings, Moseley. The afternoon was raw and damp, the ground (and therefore the football) slippery. The guardian of our interests was strange to the use of a whistle, but, to do

THE VIGORNIAN. our adversaries justice, they took no mean advantage of this ignorance. They spent most of the afternoon in making bad shots at our goal post. Out of all their tries, and we soon grew tired of counting them, only three were converted. On the whole, however, they seemed fairly satisfied, and retired victors by 27 points to nil. On November 22nd we met Bromsgrove (Reserve) on our own ground, and when we say that we were beaten by two goals and a try to nil, that is not nearly so bad as it looks. Our forwards kept the Bromsgrove men in hand the greater part of the afternoon, and in their play used their heads quite as much as their legs and hands. We did make some dangerous rushes towards their goal several times, though our efforts were never actually crowned with success ; still the match was a long way the most hopeful sign of the whole season. H. M. C.

Debating Society. October i8th, Quilter I. moved, "That, in the opinion of this House, the time has come for the abolition of the present system of trial by jury." Rowland seconded the motion, which was supported by Dimont, and opposed by Conacher and Hill. It was carried by a majority of four. On Nov. 22nd, a discussion on the " Ideal in Education " was held, in which Conacher, Hill, and Fuller took part. There was no division. On December 6th, Rowland moved, " That in the opinion of this House, the claims of H. M. Stanley to be regarded as a philanthropist and benefactor of mankind are groundless." The motion, which was seconded by Bolland II., and opposed by Conacher and Dimont, was passed by a majority of three votes. It is impossible to disguise the fact that this last meeting was a most wretched affair. Of the Sixth only three attended, and of the Fifth only one. It is to be presumed that the absentees consider their minds so well stored, and their

flow of words so ready, that they can make no improvement in either by coming to the debates. Perhaps, to those living in such a fool's paradise, it will be a surprise to learn that their lethargy, instead of being a sign of superiority, merely shows that they are utterly incapable of taking any interest or expending any thought on topics which everyone who aspires to be called educated ought to know something about. Thus they continue glorying in their ignorance and refusing to give any support to an institution which, in a school such as ours, should need no recommendation to make it a thorough success. For such as these, who bow themselves in the house of Self, and offer all their devotion to that one divinity, a little meditation on the following may not be unprofitable. They will easily recollect the appellation given by the Greeks to one who took no part in public life, that public life which, in a school, finds its counterpart in the games, institutions, and societies ; further, they will be tolerably familiar with the fact that the word " idiot" is derived from that old Greek term. Remembering this, they are advised to think whether, by leading the selfish life of one who bore the classical designation, they will not soon land themselves in the state described by the present meaning of its English derivative.

C. T. D.

ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. The following is from the Worcestershire Echo of October 7, 1890 :— The annual " speeches " and distribution of prizes in connection with the Worcester Cathedral Grammar School took place on Monday. On the invitation of the head master (the Rev. W. E. Bolland), many of the parents and friends of the scholars assembled in the fine old school, and were very interested spectators of the proceedings. Amongst those present were the Dean of Worcester (Dr. Gott), the Chairman of the Governors of the School, and Mrs. Gott, Canon and Mrs. Creighton, Canon and Mrs. Claughton, Canon Cattley, the Rev. J. P. Hastings, the Rev. II. H. Woodward (Precentor) Mrs. Bolland, the Rev. 1.1. J. M. Bebb (the examiner), the Rev. E.

THE VIGORNIAN. Vine Hall, the Rev. F. H. Richings, the Rev. D. Evans, the Rev. J. H. Waugh, the Rev. J. Martin, Mr. J. H. Hooper, Mr. G. Clarke, Mrs. Corbett, Mrs. Ernest Day, Mr. and Mrs. Bird, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Button, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Walsh, the Misses Greene, Mrs. Browne, Mrs. George, Mrs. Davies, Mr. Alexander Higgins, &c. The proceedings throughout were exceedingly pleasant and interesting, and the whole passed off successfully. The " speeches " formed the first part of the morning's programme. The boys exhibited very considerable elocutionary power, and their efforts were rewarded by frequent signs of approbation. To the first scene of Sheridan's inimitable comedy additional diversion was lent by the exhibition of a number of drawings representing the ancestors which Charles Surface so ruthlessly disposed of. The drawings were representations of individuals described in the play, and Mr. C. Counsel!, a former scholar at the school, has displayed great humour as well as ability in their production. The singing of the boys offered a pleasant diversion to the " speeches," and it was evidently much enjoyed. Dr. Wareing played the accompaniments. The programme was as follows :— School Song—" Where Severn winds '' A. Caldicott r, .... :, ., . „ f llerakles .... Ouilter i Eur,p,des-" Alcest.s j Admei,,s_ _ _ . Conacher Terence—" Eunuchus," Act IV., ii Hill „. , ,,,,. - , , , , . TT • (Hubert..Ouilter i Shakespeare-" King John, Act \\ ., i . •\Arikur_ . Jbavies ; Part Song—" The Island "

Dibdin Sir Oliver Surface. .Conacher Hill Sheridan—' School for Scandal' Charles Surface Careless Chamberlain First Scene. Moses Dutton Duds—" Hamlet" Dutton i Characters as before, also— Sheridan—' School for Scandal' f Joseph Surface Dimont Rowland Second Scene. \ Rowley E. V. Hall School Song—" Floreat Schola Vigorniensis " The Part Songs were sung by the members of the School Singing Class. At the conclusion of the speeches the Head Master, with the Dean, Canon Melville, Canon Creighton, and Canon Claughton (governors of the school), and the Examiner ascended the platform, the Dean taking the chair. The Head Master, who was received with applause, first gave an address, dealing with the progress of the school during the past year. He said it always gave him pleasure to welcome them and thank them for coming there on Speech Day. He knew very well that it was very inconvenient for many of their friends to come in the mornings, but if they had not had that meeting in the morning they would have had to go without the presence of their Chairman and the Examiner, and he thought they would agree with him that that would never have done. (Applause.) And so he was all the more grateful to them for coming at that time of the day. He also thanked the givers of prizes. Many of their friends had given prizes, but he would fike that day to particularly mention one prize giver, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, who for the last time they had pnt down as a prize giver in his capacity as Bishop of the Diocese. (Applause.) It was more than 12 years since the school first received a prize for the study of the

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Greek Testament from Dr. Philpott, and the prize had been highly valued, and had given effect to great perseverance amongst the boys ; year after year the examination passed by the boys in the subject had been highly praised by the examiner, and this year the school had for the first time gained two distinctions. (Applause.) The school therefore owed great gratitude to the Bishop for encouraging that one particular subject, and he felt that they could not but express their regret that he was going away; and was leaving the neighbourhood. (Applause.) He only hoped that in the Bishop's successor they would find as true a friend as Dr. Philpott. (Applause.) Like all other years, the past year had been one of light and shade, but they could look back upon the past 12 months with greater thankfulness than perhaps they could upon any year since he had known the school. (Applause.) He would speak first of the dark side. A very dark shadow had passed over the school during the past year. He alluded to the death of his predecessor, that good and true friend of the school, the Rev. Maurice Day. (Applause.) He could not, however, speak with any personal knowledge of Mr. Day's work in the school, but he could judge its value by the results of it apparent when he became master of the school. Many could speak more personally of Mr. Day's work than he could, and the affection in which he was regarded was clearly marked by the spontaneous way in which the old boys came forward to join in providing a memorial to his memory. (Applause.) But what he (the speaker) could personally speak of was the Rev. Maurice Day's interest in the school. He was always interested in anything they did, he was the person to go to for advice, and sympathy ; and he was always pleased to hear of any success of the school, whether it was in a cricket match or anything else that was for the good of the school. (Applause.) After he left the school he still seemed to think it was a personal attack upon him if anything detrimental to it was said, and he was always ready to approve any small change in the school that he (Mr. Bolland) might have suggested to him. In the Rev. Maurice Day's character there was a total absence of narrow-mindedness. He was a thorough Christian gentleman, and the pupils who followed his example would be very worthy members of the city. (Applause.) He was thankful to say Mr. Day's memory had not been allowed to remain unforgotten in connection with the school, for the Memorial Committee had decided to invest a sum of money to enable them to have always a Maurice Day Memorial prize. (Applause.) What Mr. Day was noted for was his elegance of scholarship, and therefore it was decided to make pure scholarship the subject for the prize. The boy who had won the prize for the first time was Conacher, and he trusted he and the whole school would follow in the footsteps of their old master. They could not do better. (Applause.) Twelve months ago the school passed through a period of great indecision. They did not know what to hope for or what was to be done. Parents naturally became anxious and began to think whether they should take their boys away. But as the winter went on confidence appeared to be restored, the number of boys increasing to such an extent that the school was larger than ever. At the time many misstatements were made respecting the school, but instead of doing it harm they did it good. An opportunity was thus given for answering erroneous notions that existed, and the result was that their friends were now more numerous, and they backed them up more truly than they did before. (Applause.) They had also double the number of foundations

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now that they had two years ago, and the income from fees, was a very high average, nearly every boy getting more than the safest source of income, had increased by ^100 each year half marks. Of the classical work the Latin Grammar was best during the last four years. (Applause.) Therefore there did done, only two boys falling below half marks. The sentences to not seem to be a dangerous lookout for the school in the future, be translated into Latin were not so well done. The Greek as some appeared to think. (Hear, hear.) That they did not Grammar was fairly done by Finch ii. ; if the marks in this paper devote all the time to classical subjects to the disadvantage of are low it must be remembered that it is a subject which is begun the modern was shown by the results of the examination, which in this form. The work of the II. Form it is hard to estimate rather pointed to the fact that it was a little too much neglected, accurately, because of the difficulty young boys have in expresstheir successes this year having been almost entirely in modern ing their knowledge on paper, while the time available for vivd subjects. He hardly wished, however, that it should be so, voce examination was too limited to allow of this method of because he very much valued classical education, and, therefore, examination being used with much effect. The general evenness lie hoped it would improve in the school. (Applause.) He of the work in the Latin Grammar seems to show it has been thanked his colleagues for the great assistance they had given carefully taught. The same may be said of the English him in his work, and to Mr. Clarke for having shown them the Grammar, in which there was hardly any failure. Of the way to the mathematical distinctions. (Applause.) He Mathematical work the arithmetic was the best done. Of the welcomed their old musical conductor, the Rev. E. Vine Hall, ! excellent work in the Lower Certificate Examination it does not amongst them, and he acknowledged the kindness shown by Dr. fall to me to speak, though I cannot suffer it to pass unnoticed. Wareing in taking Mr. Vine Hall's position, and in offering a In the IV. Form four or five boys did a paper of the Lower prize to encourage the boys in singing. (Applause.) In con- Certificate standard very well, and several others did satisclusion the Head Master read out the list of honours gained factorily. In the III. Form, Bolland iii. and Bird did excellent during the year by old boys at Universities and other examina- papers. The Algebra was not so well done, as it was inaccurate, tions, which were very numerous, and which have already been but many of the papers were done by comparative beginners, published. for whom the subject always presents great difficulties. The The Examiner then read his report, which was as follows :-— Euclid paper was taken by boys in different stages of advanceThe V. and VI. Forms were taking the higher and lower ment, and so the remarks cover a wide range. A very good certificate examination, and therefore I had little inspection of paper was done in the IV. by Clarke, and Fuller ii. and Clarke their work. I may be allowed, however, to say that it fell to ii. also did well. In the III. Form Bird, Davies ii., Laurie and my lot to examine for the Oxford and Cambridge Board part of Bolland iii. did very good papers in this subject. From the the Worcester Higher Certificate Divinity, and also of several results of the two certificate examinations it is clear that the other schools which are pretty well known. I was in this way teaching in the two highest forms has been very successful during able to compare the Worcester work with that of other schools the past year, combining great excellence in some individual on this particular paper. The result was extremely favourable cases with a high average throughout the forms. Some at any to Worcester, for two of the papers from this school were the rate of the papers in the lower forms, which I have looked over, best I looked over among more than 100, and there was no point to the same characteristics of the teaching there, and give failure, while the general average at Worcester was more than ground for the hope that the school will do as well in the 60 per cent. I need hardly point out the value of such a test by certificate examinations of future years as it has done this year. an external standard. Of the rest of the work of these two —LL. J. MONTFORT BEBB, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of forms I can only judge by the evidence which the number of Brasenose College, Oxford. certificates given affords. It is very satisfactory to see that there The report was received with applause. were no failures either in the higher or in the lower examinaThe Dean said that as Chairman of the Governors he should tions. The lower forms of the school I examined on paper and like to say a few words. He wished to draw their attention viva voce. In the IV. Form good work was done by five of the particularly to the examination for certificates, because there boys, and their papers were decidedly promising. The rest of they had an examination of quite a different kind to that conthe form did only indifferently in their classical work. In the ducted by Mr. Bebb. In an ordinary examination there was an modern subjects much higher marks were obtained than in the inclination to shut half an eye to the defects and open it wide to classical subjects. The Divinity and English Grammar were the merits. The examiner who came down usually treated the perhaps the best papers. In the latter paper five boys got 110 errors, if there were any at all, with a kindly spirit. But in the marks or more out of 120, while only two got less than half examination conducted by the Oxford and Cambridge marks. Pember obtained very nearly full marks. The Divinity Universities it was different. The examiner was not seen ; he paper showed signs of good teaching, and an accurate knowledge was a remote force, he was a strictly disinterested person and of the work. In English history Fuller ii. did an excellent compared together all the schools in England. One would not paper. In the classical subjects the papers which deserve special very willingly, he thought, submit oneself to the test, yet these mention are those of Steward in the prepared books, which was boys of the upper school had all come forward. Each subject very good indeed ; Dutton ii. in Latin and Greek Grammar ; was worked through by one examiner, who took the papers of and Bennett and Steward in the Latin unprepared. The trans- the boys presented for examination from the schools of England, lation of English into Latin was the weakest part, and requires thus bringing together pretty well all the common forces of attention. The work of the III. Form showed great evenness, English school education. And how had they stood that test ? and seemed to point to good teaching. Here, too, the English The Cathedral School had passed all—cent, per cent. (Applause.) subjects were best done, both the Divinity and English Grammar He believed he was right in stating that no other school had producing very good papers. Bolland iii. in Divinity, and Bird succeeded so well as that. (Applause.) They stood alone in English Grammar did excellently, and in these subjects there there. In passing every boy they presented, they passed the

THE VIGORNIAN. whole of the upper school, for the boys were not picked out one here and another there—they were the whole. (Applause.) He also drew attention to the importance of the subject of Latin prose. He impressed upon them the importance of that subject, for they would find that Latin was the best form in which they could get education pure into the minds of their boys. Not only was Latin the parent of most modern languages in Europe, but, being a finished and perfect language—they might call it a dead language if they wished, but it was not—it was able to be taught as no other language could be. It had been said, and he thought very truly, that a boy who knew Latin prose was sure to succeed in life, and therefore they should require that it should form part of the training for the boys. He did not believe any other subject could be found to equal it as a means of educating the mind of youth. (Applause.) Then, again, he did not think there was a way of cultivating the brain equal to the study of that old book, the Bible, and it was satisfactory to read in the report that three boys had done well, and that there were no failures, and also that in all the papers there was evidence of careful training both in the Old Testament and New. Therefore they might satisfy themselves that the work of the school in this respect was carefully carried out. (Hear, hear.) French showed weakness, and was below the average, but that, perhaps, was to be accounted for by the fact that during the past year it was the only subject in which the teaching staff was reduced. The governing body, however, was not blind to the merits of the subject, and he had no doubt that an improvement would be effected next year. (Hear, hear.) The arithmetic had been highly satisfactory, three boys had obtained 99, 98 and 98 respectively, only failing to gain full marks through having made slips. Only one boy failed to get 70 per cent of the marks given for this subject. (Applause.) There were other matters in which equally good and careful training and teaching power had been shown. (Applause.) Out of the 34 first classes which the school had obtained in the Universities' Examination 26 were on the modern side, and this would show them that the work carried on in the school was preparing the minds of boys for whatever walk in life their parents might choose for them. (Applause.) He, however, agreed with the Head Master in thinking that the classical side of the education should not be neglected, and he would perhaps have liked to have seen more honours gained in classical subjects. The result of the test of the school by the most able testers in England was shown in what had been stated, and he thought the parents of Worcester would be satisfied that there was a first rate school in Worcester, and would feel gratification that their boys were pupils of it. (Applause.) He thanked the masters who had done their work so well, and the boys, too, who had worked shoulder to shoulder with the masters. They had been as it were partners in the work, and he congratulated both masters and boys upon having done so well. He also congratulated the parents upon having boys of that character. (Applause.) The Dean then distributed the prizes and certificates, giving a smile and a few words of encouragement to each recipient. Form Prizes.—VI Form, awarded to Conacher, *Dimont ; V, Chamberlain, *Hargraves ; IV, Bennett, *Steward, *Pember ; III, Bolland iii, *Bird, *Finch ii; IIlB, Skilbeck, *Goldring ; II, Chaplin ii, *Bates. Greek Testament (open), Dimont, *Conacher, "'Hill. Maurice Day Memorial, Conacher, *Dimont. English Essay (open), Dimont. Divinity and History—V, Davis i, ^Chamberlain, *Osborne (History); IV, Pember, *Bennett (Scripture), '"'Fuller ii (History) ; III,

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Bolland iii, *Rogers, *Bird (History); II, Chaplin ii, *Purton. Mathematics (open), Hill, *Conacher ; Lower A Division, Chamberlain, *Hargraves, *Osborne, *West; B, Clarke i, Fuller ii, *Clarke ii, *Steward ; C, Bolland iii, *Bird, *Baily ii ; D, Dutton iii, Tomlinson, *Purton, *Liddell. Modern Languages—V, Dutton i, *Chamberlain ; IV, Pember, *Steward ; III, Bird, Bollaud iii, *Powell; II, Jones, *Spark. Holiday Collection, *Higgins. Drawing - Model, Dutton i, *Bennett, *Chamberlain; Shaded, from Nature, Dutton i, *Hadley; Under 15, Nicol; Freehand, Fuller ii. Singing, Fuller ii, Shield, Bolland ii, and Bird zeq. Those marked thus * received "honourable mention " only. Prizes were given by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Worcester (Greek Testament), the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, the Very Rev. the Dean of Worcester, Rev. Canon Canon Melville, Rev. Canon Knox-Little, Rev. Creighton, Rev. Canon Claughton, Rev. Canon Cattley, the Head Master, the Mayor of Worcester, S. T. Dutton, Esq., J. H. Hooper, Esq., Dr. Wareing. RESULTS OF CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS 1890. (OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE SCHOOLS EXAMINATION BOARD). Higher. —VI. Form. Six candidates. All succeeded. Bolland, H. W., a f i k Conacher, H. M., A b f I j K Dimont, C. T . , a b f I j k Hill, W. H., a b f gki Quilter, H. H., a b f i j k Rowland, G. E., ab f i k a—Latin i—Scripture Knowledge b—Greek j—English f—Mathematics, elementery k—Roman History g— „ advanced (Four subjects necessary. A capital letter denotes distinction.) There were 1,350 candidates; 941 passed; per centage about 70. Worcester sent 6 candidates ; 6 passed ; per centage 100. Average of distinctions, Worcester '66, other schools '44. Lower.—V. Form. 13 candidates. All succeeded. Chamberlain, J. T., A B c F G I J K L Davies, F. T., Ab fg I J K Dutton, F. H . , a b C F g i J k Finch, W. W., A b c F g i k Fuller, G. K. C., a d F g i j k Hadley, F. J., a b c F g i j Hargraves, H. J., A c F G i j k L Higgins, F. H. P., a b f i j K 1 Osborne, E., a Fgi J K L Purser, H., a c f g i j k Thomas, F. R., a F i j 1 Thomas, H., a b F g i k L WestJ. H., A F Gij k l a—Latin b—Greek c—French d—German f—Arithmetic (Five subjects necessary.

g—Euclid and Algebra i—Scripture Knowledge j—English k—English History 1—Geography A capital letter denotes a First Class.; First Classes.—Latin, 5 ; Greek, I ; French, I ; Arithmetic,

3io

THE VIGORNIAN.

10 ; Euclid and Algebra, 3 ; Scripture, 2 ; English, 4 ; English History, 4 ; Geography, 4; total, 34. All candidates, 628; succeeded, 398 ; per centage, 63^35 Worcester 13 „ 13 „ 100 Average number of first classes, all candidates (about) I '4 „ ,, „ Worcester „ 2'6i This average was the highest obtained, the next being 2.55 Canon Creighton proposed a vote of thanks to the examiner for his report. He said in addition to thanking Mr. Bebb for his report they should also express their indebtedness to him for coming to Worcester at considerable inconvenience to himself to tell them the result of his examination. (Applause.) It was by no means part of his obligation as examiner to be present there that day—all an examiner was required to do after the examination was to send in his report to the Governors. (Applause.) Mr. Bebb, however, promised he would come, and they were, he was sure, very glad he had done so, because examiners' reports were very complicated matters at times, and were much better understood when the examiners themselves read them. (Hear, hear.) Canon Creighton went on to say that he had had in his possession the examiners' report of the Oxford and Cambridge examination that part of the school had undergone. With the help of a friend, who happened to be one of the examiners, he managed to master some of the details of the report. The result of the investigation showed that the school was in a most excellent condition. (Applause.) That the boys supplied most excellent material, and the teaching given throughout was most admirable in its kind. (Applause.) This was put beyond all dispute, and the parents of boys might have, therefore, every trust and confidence in the school. (Applause.) He would have them consider, too, the large range of subjects covered by the school during the past year. Neither the classical nor the modern subjects had been neglected, and scholarships had been gained in classical subjects, mathematics, and natural science ; in fact, the education provided by the school covered all the requirements for a commercial or professional education, and fitted a boy to fill any walk in life. (Applause.) He wished those facts to be widely known. The only thing now wanted was more material for their school to which its excellent educational powers could be applied. (Applause.) Canon Melville seconded the motion, and said he thought it would be prudent at that time of the day, when most people generally pursued another kind of proceeding, to follow the example of that interesting character who appeared before them in one of the speeches with her head covered, and make no speech. But he would like to enforce what the examiner had put before them respecting the great value of external and independent tests. It was the necessity for those which moved many years ago the leading men in University training throughout the country to provide independent examinations to expose the inefficiency of the more private schools. The children at those schools were given books to take home with them and these were the only test that was presented to the parents of the work of the schools. All that fortunately had been swept away, and it was left to gentlemen like Mr. Bebb to come with perfect independence to show what the schools were. (Applause.) The motion was carried amidst applause. The Rev. LI. J. M. Bebb said in having to come to Worcester twice he had nothing to complain of. He thanked them for the hearty reception they had given him. Examiners, he believed, were a necessary evil, and yet he thought that a great deal might

be made out of the necessary evil in the way of teaching, in the first place, the boys themselves and then those who taught. Examinations, he thought, prevented the recurrence of the same mistakes, and taught boys two very necessary things—to see what they were asked and to answer what they were asked and nothing more. (Hear, hear.) Examinations also taught precision and method, which were very useful. He had something to do with the report referred to by Canon Creighton, having been an examiner in one of the subjects. There was no doubt at all that the school had done exceedingly well in the subject which he had to examine upon. The school had not only individual excellence, but it had a high average throughout. That pointed to the fact that none of the boys were neglected. Individual boys likely to do well were made to do as well as they could, whilst on the other hand the teaching of none of the boys was overlooked in the slightest degree. The school in all respects was an excellent one. (Applause.) The Dean then asked for a whole holiday for the boys, they having done so well in the examinations. The Head Master at once acceded to the request, and the proceedings were brought to a close. The old hall then re-echoed with the hearty cheers of the boys, which were given for the Dean and the Governors, and the Masters.

(Entertainment The following is from the Worcestershire Echo of Nov. 19, 1890 :— Last night a most successful entertainment was given in the Cathedral School, the large room being nearly filled by a very appreciative audience. The Dean of Worcester gave a most excellent reading of Tennyson's poem, " Romney's Remorse," and the Rev. Canon Claughton was heartily applauded for two violin solos, one of which was that delightful composition of Gounod's " Hymne a Saint Cecile." Mr. Holloway was a very efficient accompanist. Mr. Albert Webb contributed two songs, both of which were greatly admired—especially the latter, " I attempt from love's sickness to fly." Dr. Marriott Cooke supplied an equal contribution to the programme, his 'songs being " When the tide comes in " (Barnby) and "The Rills" (Michael Watson), Both were heartily appreciated, and the latter song was encored. Master W. Hughes, of the Cathedral Choir, sang two songs splendidly. His first (" Whittier ") was loudly encored and his second effort, " Three jolly sailor boys," was scarcely less successful. W. IT. Hill opened the programme by creditably reciting Carroll's " Jabberwocky." Dr. Wareing's pianoforte solos were amongst the most enjoyable items of the programme. His clever execution and delicacy of expression are always admired, and last night not a whit less than usual. He played a " Nocturne in G Minor " of his own composition, and an "Impromptu," both of which drew forth hearty applause. Scenes I and 2 of the School for Scandal concluded the first and opened the second portion of the programme. The boys who took part in it were Conacher, Hill, Quilter, Chamberlain, Dimont, and Rowland. The characters were exceedingly well represented. The recitations were given in a far better style than on Speech Day, the boys having received valuable suggestions from Mr. H. J. Urwick. The picture scene was especially good, the pictures

THE VIGORNIAN. by his ability on one occasion when in the Channel Islands to preach in the French tongue, and he (the speaker) knew, from his own personal knowledge, of his exact knowledge of German literature. He might speak also of his knowledge of men and manners, drawn from the courses of history, and of that culture which he possessed from a knowledge of literature, ancient and modern. Indeed, his culture was no one-sided culture. He was in several senses a many-sided man. There was one point he could not pass over, his artistic power. Anyone who had 4¥laurae Haij ever seen the masterly way in which he trained the boys in their drawing, must have seen that he possessed the power of an UNVEILING OF A TABLET. artist. After his retirement from Worcester, he (the speaker), The following is from BerroiJs Worcester was astonished to find that he was able to take simple and masterly sketches, showing real artistic ability. Again there Journal of Nov. 22, 1890 : was that which but a few of his friends knew, his ability to For some time a movement has been on foot for the purpose express himself in graceful verse. But on an occasion like that what one wished especially to point out of him, was that which of perpetuating the memory of the late Rev. Maurice Day, gave a delicacy and grace to his whole character, his Vicar of Wichenford, who was for some years previous to 1879 Head Master of the Cathedral School. A subscription has been i characteristic trusting and retiring nature. He shrank from any raised amongst the old boys of the Cathedral School and the ! recognition of those powers which his closest friends knew he friends of Mr. Day, and about ^300 has been collected. The i possessed. He was, in truth, as humble as a little child, with memorial takes the form of a brass tablet erected in the Lady- ! all his powers of mind. Standing in that place one felt one Chapel at the Cathedral, and the foundation of a classical prize must try to draw some lessons from his life. The lessons he at the Cathedral School, the remainder of the subscriptions would especially draw from the life of Mr. Day, were diligence and humility. He never knew a man who so depreciated himbeing handed to Mrs. Day. self as Maurice Day did. He looked for no reward for his work ; On Tuesday a short but impressive service was held in the but none of those who ever knew him could doubt that at that Cathedral, at which the brass tablet was unveiled. The clergy great day, of which the approachiug season of Advent reminded who took part in the service were the Dean, Canon Melville, them, that great, good soldier of Christ would meet with the Rev. W. E. Bolland, Rev. H. D. VV. Sampson, and the Rev. words of glad but solemn welcome, " Well done, thou good and H. H. Woodward. There \vere also present—Mrs. and the faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Misses Day and Mrs. Nash, Canon Cattley, Revs. Jerram Hunt, The Dean then drew the veil from the tablet. Rodney Fowler, Eustace Robinson, H. Tilley, Mr. B. Tilley, The choir sang the Benedicite, and the Dean concluded the Mr. D'Arcy Cattley, Mr. H. Clarke, Mr. Jordan, and other friends of the deceased gentleman. The boys of the Cathedral service by pronouncing the benediction. School were also present. The tablet bore this inscription : — * Hanc tabulam The Dean opened the service with prayer, and the hymn Amici quidam discipulique posuerunt " O heavenly Jerusalem " was sung. In rnemoriam Mauritii Day, M.A. , Qui, summis apud Academiam praemiis acquisitis, The Rev. H. D. W. Sampson (who was formerly associated Grammatica? Scholic Cathedrali prafectus est. with the Rev. Maurice Day on the teaching staff at the Hanc cum antiquis turn hodiernis litteris Cathedral School) said he had been asked to speak a few words Suavitate inciolis, constantia morum, of him in whose honour they were that clay assembled, as being Accurata et eleganti doctrina, Per viginti annos one to whom he was well known. He felt wholly unworthy to Instruxit. ornavit, auxit. perform that duty adequately ; but he had been told that older Obiit Martii xxviii., MDCCCXC, friends were unable to undertake it. His personal acquaintance Aetat. LXIII. with Mr. Maurice Day commenced nearly 15 years ago when he was appointed by the Dean and Chapter to help him in the school as second master. Of his management of the school he need say little ; but he might say he believed he raised it from We regret to announce the death of WILLIAM very small beginnings to a position of importance and made it a large educational centre. He could say from his own personal EDWARD JONES, which took place in Australia. knowledge that within the walls of that school there was not He gained a King's Scholarship in 1878, and one boy who did not love and venerate Mr. Day. Coming as took the Lower Certificate in 1883, leaving soon he did as a mere tyro in educational work, he could never forget the great consideration and kindness which Mr. Day always after. He went twice to Australia for the showed, his indulgent regard for one's first attempts and failures, benefit of his health, but on his second visit nor his unvarying Christian courtesy. Perhaps that was hardly was seized by an illness which terminated fatally. the place to speak of Mr. Day's varied attainments ; but he might remind them of the brilliant classical scholarship which he The Head Master was one of those who possessed, of his accurate and careful knowledge of more than played in a recent chess tournament at Binningone foreign language. His knowledge of French was instanced creating much amusement. The proceeds of the concert will be devoted to the funds of the new Carpentering Class that has been established in connection with the school. The class bids fair to be very successful, many boys having joined. Any gifts of tools not required by the owners would be very acceptable, and would be gratefully acknowledged by the Head Master.

School

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THE VIGORNIAN.

The Editors wish to apologise to all those ham. He played two games, losing one and who had to pay excess postage on receiving the winning the other. On October gth C. T. DIMONT was elected to last number of the Vigornian. Many copies had an open Exhibition of ^30 per annum at St. been sent off before it was discovered that they were above 2oz. in weight. The error was John's College, Oxford. rectified as soon as it was found out, and Editors On Tuesday, December 2nd, the school of contemporaries and others are assured that attended the service of Intercession for Missions the omission to pay the full postage arose wholly An address was delivered byCanon CLAUGHTON. from inadvertence and not from intention. Among those who passed the Final Examination, held in November last, of the Incorporated ing's Scholarship €xamtnation:. Law Society, admitting them to practice as Solicitors, was Mr. CHARLES THOMAS ERLIN HE following is the order in which the, CLARKE (O.V.) Candidates were placed by the Examiner, the Rev. C. Jerram Hunt, M.A. :— The Old Vigornian's Dinner this year will be Fuller, F. C. . . Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. held on December 3<Dth at the Bell Hotel, (Elected to a. House Scholarship. )_ Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. Worcester. H. G. BUDD, Esq., will take the 2 Peniston, J. E. 3 Bird, E. E. Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. chair on the occasion. It is hoped that there 4 Fuller, C. C. Cumberland House School. H. M. Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. will be a large attendance of Old Boys. Tickets ^ /t Chaplin, Powell, H. E. Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. I Bolland, A. P. Worcester Cathedral Grammar School. S/- each can be obtained of the Hon. Secretaries, 7 \ Pickin, F. H. St. Peter's School, Weston-super-Mare. School House, Worcester. Up to the time of going to press the Governors W. A. HIGGINS (O.V.) has taken a first class have not confirmed the election of the above, in the Zoology (Special) Examination for the and therefore this list must not be taken as degree of B.A. at Cambridge. final. G. H. W. BIRD has joined St. Thomas's Hospital. School A carpentering class was formed in the beginning of November consisting of twentythree boys and a Parent. They occupy four rooms at the top of the Class Room House, the gas being laid on in every room, and also on the staircase. The benches at present accommodate ten carpenters, but next term there will be room for sixteen. A good supply of tools has been obtained from Mr. Harrison, and the class possesses a most excellent and painstaking instructor in Mr. Reynolds. The Editors beg to tender their thanks for the following contemporaries :—Portcullis (3), Ulula (3), Sheffield Royal Grammar School Magazine, Stratford-on-Avon Trinity College Magazine (3), Felstedian (2), Hurst Johnian, Camcrosshurstian, Denstonian, Oswestrian, Raven, Ipswichian, Cantuarian, and School.

Captain of the School Chairman of Vlth Form Meetings ... Captain of Football... Secretary of Football Captain of Cricket... Captain of Boats Librarian Secretary of Chess Club

C. T. DIMONT

C. T. DIMONT H. H. QUILTER W. H. HILL H. W. HOLLAND H. H. QUILTER C. T. DIMONT H. M. CONACHER C. T. DIMONT Editors of T/ie Vigornian...\ H. M. CONACHER

Covresponben.ee. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions of their Correspondents. All letters intended for insertion in these columns must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as evidence of good faith. Every facility will be afforded for the discussion of matters of

THE VIGORNIAN. interest to the School, but a rigid compliance with this rule will be enforced.

CRICKET AND ROWING. To THE EDITORS OF THE "VIGORNIAN."

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be thrown on this statement, I have only to refer you to the first number of your valuable paper which contains a copy of the Athletic Sports Accounts for 1878. You will find that in that year, out of a total amount (collected by subscription) of .£58 153. 8d., no less than £S3 6s. 8d. was expended on the Athletic Sports, the balance of £5 95. being handed over to the Rowing Club. Compare with these facts your statement that " the subscriptions were originally collected for the Athletic Sports, the surplus to be devoted to cricket!' So far from this being the case, there was not even a Cricket Club to which the surplus could be devoted.

Dear Sirs,—Be assured that I should be the last to indite an epistle—long or short—on the above subject,which bidsfairto rival the notorious " Anser" in " improbitas," or the equally celebrated Laas in Anaideia—if I had no purpose in view beyond that of still further obliterating with inky fluid the horizon of the battle plain. Only the faint hope that the issue may possibly be accelerated thereby induces me to re-enter the lists. I read with much interest In the fourth issue of the " Vigornian" we and some amusement "H. H. Q.'s " letter in your last number, and the note which you appended learn that a Cricket Club had been started, thereto. Will you pardon me if I suggest that but " was not such a success as we could have a more careful study of the facts of the case wished, owing to most of our seniors being might have resulted in a somewhat fairer and members of the Rowing Club." This is written more satisfactory criticism on your part ? It of the season of 1880. From the fact that there appears to me that your note was based on several is no record whatever of the season of 1881, I misconceptions as to the nature of the relations gather that the new Cricket Club did not meet which exist between the Rowing and Cricket with much support this year. There is nothing Clubs. As an O. V. who was unfortunate enough surprising in this. A School which had for years to hold the captaincy of the boats in 1886 and devoted itself to the river was not likely to take the three following years, it is possible that I up a comparatively new game with any great may be able to supply you and your readers degree of enthusiasm. But coming now within with such information as will help you to arrive range of my own recollection, I may say that in at a just conclusion. Let us hear the beginning 1882, thanks to the energetic efforts of the of the whole matter. If you will refer to the present Head Master, a very fair proportion of third number of the " Vigornian," published in the School was induced to attend cricket practice, December, 1879, you will find in the Editorial but very few matches were played. In this year column the following remarkable paragraph :— for the first time the Sports Fund contributed to " When the cricket season comes round, we hope the cricket expenses, a sum of £14 is. being a Club may be started, as it seems a great pity that handed over for that purpose. It is not to be in a School of the size of ours that manly and wondered at that, with the increasing popularity national game should be so neglected." Incredible of cricket, there was a corresponding decline in as it may appear, there was, at that time, actually the attendance at the boats. The cricket season no recognized School Cricket Club receiving aid of 1883 was distinctly successful. There was from the School Sports Fund. For some years a large and regular attendance at practices ; five The past the Rowing Club had been in a flourishing matches were played, and three won. condition ; and whatever surplus remained from Rowing Club only numbered about a dozen the Sports Fund after all the expenses connected members, and received the sum of £2 from the with the Athletic Sports had been defrayed, was Sports Fund, as against £11 IDS. 96. handed handed over to the Rowing Club. If any doubt over to cricket.

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THE VIGORNIAN.

The season of 1884 was one of the most " experiment of rowing in the Summer term was brilliant we ever had. Only one match was lost recently tried" That is surely rather misleading, out of eight played. " At the same time," says when in fact the Rowing Club has from time the " Vigornian," " the Boating Club showed immemorial used the river in the Summer term. great vitality. An arrangement was made But if, in the early days of the Cricket Club, the which enabled cricketers to boat ; and interests interests of the Rowing Club had found a previously antagonistic were thus united." So it champion, might it not have been fairly said that was thought ; but the mere mention of the the " experiment" of playing cricket in the Boating, not the Rowing Club, affords an Summer term was (from a rowing point of view) interesting testimony to the degeneracy of the so unsuccessful as to justify its extinction ? Club. Experience soon showed that it was It was thought that by the new arrangement impossible to serve two masters. Cricket practice both Clubs would profit. The Rowing Club in the early part of the afternoon effectually certainly did profit. Nearly half the School spoiled any subsequent work on the river, and came down to the boats in 1888. But in the vice versa. So in 1885 things went back very Summer term there was no perceptible increase much to the old position : cricket was distinctly in the attendance at cricket, which had in fact popular, the season was successful, and the been steadily falling off for two years past. It members of the Rowing Club began to be was evident that cricket failed to attract in regarded as a sort of outcasts. The feeling anything like the degree that it had in 1883, 1884 against the Club was so strong that in 1886 only and 1885 ; and from " H. H. Q.'s " letter it is about half-a-dozen fellows appeared at the boats evident that matters have gone from bad to ever}" afternoon. But the members of the Club, worse. But while the attendance has been if few, were enthusiastic, and in the following diminishing year by year, and the Rowing Club year the four went out several times in the growing very rapidly, it is surely distinctly unfair Easter term, with the intention of entering for that the Cricket Club should absorb about £20 the Maiden Plate at the Town Regatta. The a year of the surplus, whilst the Rowing Club is members again numbered about a dozen. I apparently expected to exist—for it certainly You, sirs, will remember the disastrous could not flourish—on its own subscriptions. commencement of the cricket season of that You remark in your note that " the cricket team year, which resulted in a condemnation of the do not have their expenses paid, except the Rowing Club, on the ground that it crippled the charge of drags for short distances." But as this resources of the cricket captain. It might have method of conveyance is adopted for at least been said with equal truth that cricket had four out of the five or six out-matches, it is clear crippled the resources of the Rowing Club. But that the expenses of a member of the eleven are cricket could only be played in the Summer term; very largely defrayed by the Sports Fund. The whereas the Rowing Club had already shewn football team, as " H. H. O." remarks, always that it could get some of its best work done, as defrays itsown expenses. And the Rowing Club has the Universities do, in the Easter term. Accord- never (except in 1887, when we rowed at the City ingly, in the course of an interview which I had I Regatta) received from the Sports Fund anything at the time with the Head Master, it was arranged beyond what was required to pay for the hire of that the rowing season should correspond with boats. I trust I have shown that the " facts" the Easter term, and that the Club should not which you " thought were generally known," and again put its boats on during the summer. of which your correspondent " exhibited such These facts do not, I think, accord very well strange ignorance," were very far from containing with the wording of your note. You say that the " the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

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truth." I do not share " H. H. Q.'s" opinion before morning school might be read. I can that the shirking of cricket by a large propor- speak from experience how much easier it is to tion of the School affords an argument for a make the voice heard when a lectern is used than reversion to the old system. I believe that the when the Bible has to be held in the hands and interests of the School will be best served by the the reader has to bend his head over, thereby existing arrangement. But cricket can only considerably impeding his utterance. At present become the game of the School by becoming those in the body of the hall have sometimes to more popular ; till then, it is simply a very complain that the lesson is partially inaudible. expensive amusement, and indulged in by a No very elaborate structure would be required, very small proportion of fellows, who do not and it would not take long to make. Hoping bring much credit on the School by their this suggestion will bear fruit, performances. I remain, yours truly, I remain, Sirs, yours faithfully, LECTOR. W. HAROLD WEBB. 01 h e s s. [We are much obliged to our correspondent for Problem 24. Composed for the " Vigornian" by \V. K. U. his researches in the histories of the Rowing BLACK. and Cricket Clubs. We only notice one omission. In old times collections were made for funds for the Athletic Sports alone. Occasionally, as Mr. Webb says, a small surplus went to the rowers. But about 1882 or 1883 (we forget the exact date) it was resolved to waste less of the funds on Athletics and at the same time to appeal in future for help to the Cricket Club. The notices at the beginning of the old collecting books will show this. It was to this later arrangement that we referred in our last WHITE. note.] W'hite to play and mate in 2 moves. [We have also received a letter on this subject Problem 25. Composed for the "Vigornian" by W. E. B. from" Jonah." But his language is so violent BLACK. and his bias against cricket has so evidently overruled his better judgment that his remarks are not worth insertion. At the same time his letter is fully answered by Mr. Webb's, which we recommend to him for careful perusal. We must decline to print any further correspondence on this subject, as our correspondents seem unable to control their tempers and tongues.—EDS. To THE EDITORS OF THE " VIGORNIAX." Dear Sirs,—Now that a Carpentering Class has been formed, I should like to suggest that make a small lectern, from which the lesson

WHITE. White to play and mate in 2 moves. Printed by Deighton and Co., 53, High Street, Worcester.