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Che Uigorman. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE, " ra fifv

StSaKTa /^avBaria, ra o' tvptTU irapa

No. 97.

VOL. IX.

Contents. Editorial and School Notes School Calendar K.S. Results O.V. News Lectures Debating Society A Voice from the East A Haunt of the Chakma Baboon Ketch Run Fives London Letter Oxford Letter Cambridge Letter Football Characters Gymnasium Notes Chess Notes O.T.C. Notes O.V. Secretary Correspondence School Officers Library Accounts Games Account Rowing Salvete and Valete -

Ofu»

MARCH, 1920.

PRICE is.

editorial. Page "S 126 127 127 128 128 129 129 I31 131 132 132 132 '33 '33 134 '34 '35 I3S '35 135 136 136 136

Readers, pray make an attempt to visualise this scene : the wretched but uncomplaining editor who sits at his study table making vain efforts to put something down, something to fill up space if nothing else. Once every term he arrives at the same state of dreaded despondency when face to face with the same problem, unless Fortune smiles upon him and he has managed to place his burden upon the shoulders of a more hopelessly inefficient junior editor. This year, no luck; his well-known ruse is " Ichabod," and, albeit stricken at heart, he proceeds with the hated task. Reader, let us discourse together awhile.

School After herculean eflorts, a squad managed to extract the Barge from the Diglis Basin, where she had been housed for the winter. Mr. Bradley, of Lock House, with the " Dawn," was kind enough to tow her up to the old moorings ; but since then she has been conveyed across the river and now floats in her glory under the Deanery wall. It is a great convenience, as all future Captains of Boats will realise in their years of office.

126

THE VIGORNIAN. I.

The Fives courts are now always in request, and the average standard of play has been considerably raised. The competitions are in full swing, and have already aroused intense enthusiasm, partially owing to the keenness of masters, five in number, who have entered for the Senior Doubles.

Our usual friends, the Floods, have again paid us two visits, but Hockey at last has started, and seems to be quite a success. Matches will probably be arranged frequently.

It is necessary to mention that the Boat Club has acquired a considerable amount of new material this term. A new tub-pair was purchased from Rough, Oxford, and Mr. Salisbury has very generously presented another pair, for which we are very grateful. This now gives us plenty of material to work upon. Our own old tubs seem to have got rather " tired " at the end of last season, and these new additions are very welcome.

We take this opportunity of welcoming Mr. Ryder, who takes the place of Mr. Williams as Science Master.

O.V.'s will be glad to learn that the Green is at last quite green.

The O.T.C. is at last equipped with short rifles, which has been the desire of every man's heart for many moons.

The new Secretary of the Debating Society has already organised one very well-contested debate, where the noticeable fact was the number of members who spoke from the house. This keenness bodes good for the future success of the Society.

. At this point the editor, still uncomplaining, sinks to the ground in an untidy heap. Let us leave him there. . . .

A race has been arranged with Hereford Cathedral School. An account will be found elsewhere.

The following must be congratulated on passing Certificate A last November: Cdt.-Off. Webb, C.S.M. White, Sgt. Adams, Cpl. Record, Cpl. Smith, Lce-Cpl. Le Huray, Lce-Cpl. Webb, Cdt. Farr. This is the greatest numbe" of successful candidates for many years. This is due to the careful coaching of the O.C. and Capt. Birch-Jones, who gave up so much time to lectures. Our thanks are due to Major Kerans, who came down from Norton to take the candidates in the practical part of the exam.

A welcome addition to the " Vigornian " this term is a " London Letter," which tells us something of the doings of O.V. 's in the Metropolis. We sincerely hope this will be continued in the future, side by side with the Oxford and Cambridge letters.

The Secretary of Chess must be congratulated on arousing such enthusiasm in the School Chess Club with his weekly meetings. We hope the standard of play will be raised, and that we- shall be able to keep the shield which we won last year from our old friends and opponents, the members of the College for the Blind, and for which they have issued a challenge this year.

School Calendar. FIRST TERM 1920. Wed., Jan. 21. Boarders return. Thurs., ,, 22. School meets 9.0 a.m. School service in the Lady Chapel. Sun., ,, 25. School Celebration in the Lady Chapel 8.45 a.m. Wed.,

Feb. 18. Ash-Wednesday. School service in Lady Chapel 12.o noon. The Headmaster.

Thurs.,

„

26. School Lenten Service 3.0 p.m. Rev. O. Larr, O.V., Succentor of Coventry Cathedral.

Sat.,

„

28. Entertainment in College Hall. Mr. A. Capper. 7.0 p.m.

Mon.,

Mar.

i. Ketch Run.

Thurs.,

„

4. School Lenten Service 3.0 p.m. Rev. C. M. Horley, Vicar of Kempsey.

Wed.,

10. A. Cert. Examination (written).

Thurs., ,, Wed., Thurs.,

ii. School Lenten Service 3.0 p.m. Canon S. R. James. 17. Boat Race v. Hereford. Home. 18. School Lenten Service 3.0 p.m. Precentor.

The

THE VIGORNIAN. Mon., Mar. 22. Sports Preliminary Heats. 23. Boxing Competition. Tues., 25. Sports. Half-holiday. Thurs., 26. Confirmation by Bishop of Worcester. Fri., 12.o noon. Sports. 27. Regatta. School Dramatic Sociely, The Critic. 28. Holy Week begins. Sun., 31. School service 2.0 p.m. Lists. Wed., Exeunt Omnes. Thurs., Apr.

K.S. Results* We must congratulate the following on being successful in the examination held last term for King's Scholarships : 1. A. G. Bain. Mr. Hoste, St. John's, Dinas Powys, Glamorgan. 2. V. H. Sarland. Mr. Fernie, Yarlet Hall, Stafford. 3. M. R. Craze. Cathedral King's School. 4. J. I.. R. Croft. Cathedral Choir School. 5. A. J. C. B. Gill. Cathedral King's School. 6. H. S. Coverdale. Cathedral King's School. 7. D. Webb. Mr. Gairdner, Tredennykc.

O.V. L. E. COWING is on the honour school of Theology, Keble College, Oxford. N. W. GOWING is studying for the Matriculation, with a view to taking a course of medicine in one of the Universities ; and not in a bank as incorrectly announced last term. H. W. C. BENNETT has returned to his ship, " The Resolution." J. B. P. ANGWIN is posted to the Reserve Mounted Depflt at Aldershot. Rev. E. W. BOLLAND, Vicar of Dawdon, has been preferred by the Dean and Chapter Of Durham to the Rectory of Southwick. R. P. SIEVERS, L.D.S., R.C.S., who was recently awarded the M.C., is now house surgeon at the Royal Dental Hospital, London. Lieut. R. D. WILLIS (acting Major), formerly in the Indian Cavalry, and now demobbed, was personally decorated by the King on Friday with the Order of the British Empire (Military Division). He is at present visiting his father at the Old Bank House, and will shortly be returning to India as manager of a tea plantation. V. P. HOWELLS is now reading with a private tutor

127

in Somerset with a view to entering for the Engineering Tripos at Cambridge later in the year. GORDON GRIFFITHS has been accepted by the Royal Institute of British Architects. W. D. BATTERSHILL has been appointed to the Ceylon Civil Service and has sailed for the Easl. C. E. PEARSON is now at the Agricultural College, Newport, Shropshire, studying for the National Diploma in Agriculture. H. L. BROCKLEHURST, after taking his Cambridge degree, is now studying at Wells Theological College. A. E. MAL'ND is taking a poste graduate Course at Oxford for the Teaching Diploma of Oxford University. R. JACKSON has been accepted for admission to the School of Forestry at Hereford. C. V. HANCOCK has taken his degree at All Souls, Oxford, and has entered Salisbury Theological College. Lieut. A. T. B. LITTLEBURY is serving with the 23rd Sikh Pioneers, stationed in India. He took part in the Afghanistan fighting from the commencement, and was recently home on four months' leave prior to returning to India. H. W. NOYLE served in India in 1917, and was later attached to the 2/22 Punjabs, with whom, in 1918, he did excellent work at Gufer recruiting for his Division. Has now been demobilised, and has returned to Ceylon tea planting. Rev. W. P. WORSTER has been acting as Chaplain to the Forces for two years, latterly in North Russia. G. D. FINCH was recently demobilised and has entered his father's business in Worcester. C. E. GEDGE, having left the Branch of the National Provincial Bank at Worcester, is now in business with his father at Malvern. M. A. LE HURAY has passed his preliminary chartered accountants exam. He is however entering the cotton business in Liverpool. P. N. WHITE has been nominated to the Military College at Sandhurst. L. K. RUSSELL has entered the London City and Midland Bank at Malvern. * * * It is perhaps as well to record here the result of the General Meeting of the Club, which took place on January igth, at the King's School. The attendance was by no means large, and one would certainly have wished to have seen a bigger gathering, more especially as the business under • discussion was doubtless an important one in the history of the Club. The first meeting was connected with the " War Memorial Fund." It will be received with the greatest satisfaction by all O.V.'s that Canon Chappel was unanimously elected President of the Club, and it need hardly be said, that to

THE VIGORNlAN.

128

find a more suitable president would be no easy matter. It was further decided to invest a sum of money in the War Savings Certificates, which has been carried into effect. The following O.V.'s have been enrolled as Life Members of the Club : Sir George Greville, K.C.M.G., Messrs. A. P. Holland, E. J. Bigwood, A. A. Bailey, E. E. Bird, L. P. Cooke, A. C. Darling, A. J. Dash, C. V. Hancock, S. M. Hawkins, E. C. Hurford, P. H. P. Hayes, T. B. Kennan, H. 11. Ouilter, S. Southwell, A. P. G. Smith, A. Webb, F. W. \Vatkins, and E. A. White. D. J. J. * * * BIRTHS. SMITH—On October ist, 1919, at 88, Marlborough Avenue, Hull, to Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Gordon Smith— a daughter. DEATH. TILLEY, B. I?., at Cromartie, Edgbaston, Birmingham, on January i6th, 1920, after a long illness.

lecture on Russia. A vcrv interesting lecture was delivered in the College Hall by Mr. Walton on the subject of Russia. Mr. Walton was for eight years an assistant master at Floroff's Grammar School, Moscow, and escaped through Finland in 1917. The lecturer stated that the Russians were really two nations, the educated Western nation and the uneducated Eastern nation. With svmpathy and feeling he described the life of the peasants, the political views of the soldiers and the means and methods by which the Bolshevists seized power. A touching account of the terrible sufferings in Russia caused by the war and Bolshevism was given. He touched on the treachery of the classes who deliberately aggravated the food shortage, and spoke of the bad statesmanship of Kerensky ; but he described the anarchy as a result of ignorance. Mr. Walton said he believed that miserable as the state of Russia now is, she will one day be a prosperous republic ready to take her part with other nations in the commercial world. The lecture was illustrated by 40 slides, giving beautiful views of the monuments and historic buildings. Indeed the lecture was a great success and Mr. Walton was enthusiastically applauded.

Cecturcs. On Saturday, November 2gth, we had the pleasure of once again listening to Paget Bowman, Esq., who came down from London to give us a lecture on Shakespeare's " Merchant of Venice." As usual, he was much appreciated, and he was very successful in bringing before the

eyes of each one of us the actual scene as he narrated it. His impersonation of different parts in rapid succession was really wonderful, and we hope next Winter Term to have the opportunity of listening to him again, if he can spare the time to come to Worcester. * * * On Saturday, December jth, Mr. Birch Jones gave us a thrilling lecture on " The War," with a varied and fascinating assortment of lantern slides. He showed some dealing with the British Army in France, Belgium and Russia. In narrating experiences of France he held the audience keyed up to the highest pitch of suspense; in some instances the statistics which he gave was astounding. We look forward with great pleasure to the opportunity of listening to him again in the near future, although he modestly declares that he does not feel competent to give a lecture on any other subject. * * * On Saturday, February 28th, we had the opportunity of attending an entertainment in College Hall by Mr. Capper. His programme was a varied one, beginning with some most mysterious knot-tying, and finishing up with what is commonly known as thought-reading (to quote his own words). His introductory speech dealt with other famous exponents of the same gifts, who had in the end been exposed as charlatans. We were all astounded by the way in which he wriggled out of his bonds in the first item, but when he got on to the second part of the programme, we were even more enthralled. Several members of the School were called upon to lend their assistance on the platform, and also several of the visitors. The entertainment was a great success, and our thanks are due to the Headmaster for bringing Mr. Capper down to Worcester.

Debating Soclefp. A meeting of the Society took place on Wednesday, February i8th, when the chair was taken by the Rev. C. Creighton, the motion being " That in the opinion of this house doctors should be allowed to shorten life when they know cure is impossible." Mr. Sarland brought forward the above motion when the minutes of the last meeting had been read, and opened his speech by reminding the house of the serious nature of the subject. He then touched shortly on the terrors of death, and the fear in which people regarded it, and went on to point • out that pain is infectious and the deadly germ of sickness is a danger to the community. He then suggested that injections can be used, as we were taught in the Bible to alleviate human pain as far as lies in our power. After having pointed out that only one doctor out of a hundred was dishonest, Mr. Sarland suggested a scheme to satisfy the public, viz., that there should be an Institution in London consisting of a staff of disease specialists—the first men on the subject in the country. These should travel

THE VIGORNIAN. throughout the country examining cases and giving their verdicts, so dealing with the question in an original way. In conclusion, Mr. Sarland said that he intended to leave the Ethics to the Hon. Opposers, and though he had striven to maintain the scientific points in view, he fully realised that religion was against him. Mr. Horsfield then rose to oppose the motion. He began by apologies to the Hon. Proposer for reminding him that Christian morals were not quite dead. Even the most simple of people realise that to " murder " in this way would be entirely against all Christian teachings and morals. He was unable to find that we are enabled to kill patients in the Bible. He then emphasised the fact that our lives are not our own, and to fail in with the motion would be to thwart Providence, and so science must be placed in the background. In conclusion, he stated that by bearing pain we could be helping mankind; even as R. L. Stevenson did though suffering from consumption. Finally he appealed to the house to oppose the motion in the name of humanity. Miss Baker, in seconding the motion, showed us that the main suffering from cancer is not only a trial to the patient but to those around him. He longs for death, and if he were quietly " put out of the way " his friends would say "a merciful end." She also pointed out that the patient's permission would of course be sought and the power of killing or shortening of life would only be used in a few cases. In seconding the Hon. Opposer, Mr. Powell pointed out that before the existence of doctors suffering was much greater than it is now, and if in those days men had been allowed to be put to death there would be no men living now. He then told the house to remember that there was only one judge of life and death, and he was God. In concluding, he said that Providence was working out a purpose for each one of us, and if we interfere we are doing wrong. He summed it up in the sentence " Religion is the highest form of science." The motion being then thrown open to the house, after a little while Mr. Schofield plucked up enough courage to speak in favour of the motion. He said that the objectionable points of the scheme would be avoided if a central medical board of great surgeons and physicians were set up to decide for each case. He was succeeded by Mr. Webb who, after having explained the wonderful progress and possibilities of medical research, choosing for examples Radium and the X Ray, opposed the motion strongly from a religious and moral point of view. Several excellent speeches marked the conclusion of the debate, the speakers being Messrs. Gill, Patton, Snowball, Coverdale, and Forrest. The Headmaster then spoke shortly encouraging members to " break the ice " and try to speak whenever opportunity offered. He then drew Ihe house's attention in summing up to the fact that religious questions must be excluded altogether as being entirely unsuitable for a School debate. The house then divided, and the motion was lost by 29—13.

129

fl Voice from tbe €ast. 'The heart of the rulers is sick."—Swinburne. Some years ago there were in England certain alarmists, who persisted in startling the public with forecasts of Chinese aggression to come. But although at that time such forecasts seemed dim speculations as to the remote future, to-day we are faced with that same peril in a far more serious form than anybody could have ever anticipated. Since the collapse of Admiral Koltchack's Siberian army, a few months ago, the Russian Communist forces have been pressing steadily through Eastern Siberia to the Chinese frontier. With them they carry the revolutionarv doctrines of liberty. The average citizen probably received with complete apathy the news that the Bolshevist forces had reached the Chinese frontier. To him Manchuria seems as far away as Mars. He does not realise that the envoys of Lenin, with their ubiquitous gold, have now a free access to the whole of China. The Chinese nation numbers about 500,000,000. The whole country is at present under the heel of a slovenly Beaurorracy. Pekin is in the truest sense a " city for sale." Nothing would be easier than for the Bolshevist agents, by judicious propaganda to kindle a universal political conflagration. What would be the end of a gigantic alliance stretching from (he Baltic to the Yellow Sea and from Archangel to Tibet? We cannot afford to neglect such a contingency. If China as well as Russia were set ablaze, who can tell what the effect would be on India? The Bombay and Amrilzar riots are themselves significant. Again, China and Russia together would be impossible to blockade. And with Labour in its present attitude it would be impossible to take serious military measures against any Democratic organization. If Britain wishes to maintain her power and prestige, she must keep a firm diplomatic hold on the far East, and must be ready, if necessary, to support it by a displav of force. We cannot leave the whole matter in the hands of a corrupt second-rate power like Japan. Asia has been dismembered, and what is left to us needs confirming and reassuring. PUSSY FOOT.

fl fiaunt or the Chakma Baboon. Alicedale as a centre of population is a small township of only some three hundred white people, thirty-five miles west of Grahamstown, but as a railway junction it resounds at all sorts of nocturnal hours with the snort of engines and the clank of buffers. On several occasions I have endured at Alicedale one of those long waits which are apt to make travelling so wearisome by some South African routes, but once I spent a few days there with a

J30

THE VIGORNIAN.

naturalist friend, and it was then that I made my first close acquaintance with the Chakma Baboon. It was a warm Saturday morning at the beginning of December, and shut in by the hills as we were on the flat made by the confluence of the Sunday and the Bushman's rivers, we seemed to be in for a grilling day. On the stoep after breakfast we discussed the best way to dodge the worst of the sun's heat. Along the south-west stretched the line of the Zuurburg Range, pierced by the Buhsman's River just below Alicedale through a precipitous gorge, and carved by the heads of torrents into a succession of deep wooded kloofs. Up in one of these there might chance even at this dry season to be a little water, and there would certainly be shade. So we selected one which would take us rather less than an hour to reach, and with some fruit and sandwiches in our pockets and a stout stick apiece we set out. The morning was already warm enough as we dipped down to cross a loop of the Bushman's River, which at this point kept still a long reach of water, choked with aquatic vegetation, though for hundreds of yards above the railway bridge its whole breadth was a bare expanse of baked and sun-cracked mud, and below Alicedale in the gorge or Poort a succession of detached rock-pools. But it was baking hot as we turned off to the right beyond the crossing and over a swell of ground covered with an open bush of thorn trees. Our course now lay as directly as we could go towards the mouth of the kloof. The bush grew denser as we advanced, and presently we struck the shallow sluit which in rainy weather drains down the kloof bed. Though there was no visible water on the surface there was evidently plenty down below. Keeping more or less to the line of the sluit we passed a nearly dry vlei where some cattle were lying, and then came suddenly upon the first indications that there were other large animals in the neighbourhood besides the domestic cow. On the rising ground bounding on our left hand the kloof mouth which we were on the point of entering, some bare rocks projected in one spot out of a dense clump of bushes. On the top of this rock was perched a large creature, the details of which we could not make out, for the sun was somewhat behind it and the silhouette stood out black. It was too slim for a stray cow, and the way in which, after apparently a prolonged inspection of us, it dived into the bush at its feet, finally disposed of that explanation. " Could it," I asked my friend, " have been a baboon?" These animals, the Baviaan of the South African Dutch, are known to move about in troops of fifty to a hundred, haunting the rocky kopjes and hillsides and resting in the heat of the day in wooded kloofs. On such occasions, or when watching a favourable opportunity to raid a farmer's maize-crop, thev put out a sentry, just as rooks do when feeding in a stubble field. But then we heard no warning cry from him. He dived into the thicket of bushes without a sound that reached us, and if he was not a solitary animal he must have communicated with the rest of the troop in some other way.

So we went on up into the kloof, sometimes following a narrow buckpath, by which perhaps the bush-buck made their way to water when the torrent was not dry ; sometimes compelled by the density of the thorny bushes to creep along the stony bed of the watercourse itself. Except for the crack of a dry twig we stepped on by mischance, or the sound of our boots on the water-worn boulders, not a sound disturbed the silence of the kloof; but we were well enough versed in the uncanny silence of the bush to know that, for all that we could see, the stillness might be full of a hundred listening ears, and the shadows peopled with a hundred peering eyes. We had reached the very heart of the kloof when a grassy glade a yard or two in width and parallel with the watercourse enabled us to leave the tangle. We found ourselves • walled in by precipitous declivities that dropped several hundred feet down from the ridges on either hand, and stood some sixty yards or less apart. Except in the glade where we were the whole bed of the kloof was choked with a varied vegetation, seldom averaging more than fifteen feet in height, unless where the cabbage tree expanded its tufts of eccentric foliage, or a wide-headed fig stretched out its stout branches hung near their bases with ropes of fruit. The red stems and thick fleshy leaves of the elephant's food, or spekboom, exposed their shining surfaces to the fierce glare of the African sun without losing a drop to speak of from the dozens of gallons of water each tree contained. A great locust rose from a low bush on our right and sped with a feverish whirr of wings to another a score of yards further on ; a rustle on the left was a lizard or perhaps a snake. Suddenly from this side, as we still advanced along the glade came a loud grandfatherly shout, a shout, a yell, and a bark rolled into one, and delivered through a megaphone. The owner of this formidable voice which echoed in the high rocks, was hardly five yards distant, but completely hidden by the dense greenery in which he lurked. There was no doubt about i t ; it was an old man baboon ; and the animal on the rock at the kloof-mouth must have been the baboon sentry. If we had been in a pessimistic mood we might have recalled the fierceness of these animals in the breeding season, and the way they will turn at bay and rend the dogs that hunt them, grasping a limb with one hand and ripping them open with the other. As a matter of fact, what we did do was to make a funnel of our hands and and yell bark again. Immediately the branches of a cabbage tree close by where the baboon stood were violently agiiated, and the animal made off straight for the wall of the kloof, the energetic swaying of the tops of the bushes alone marking the line of his path and the extent of his dismay. Arrived at the foot of the precipice he began to climb it hastily, and then, for the first time, we caught sight of a brown, hairy old man emerging above the level of the bank and clutching with his hands alternately to right and left at the stems that grew from the steep cliff face. Not until he had safely settled himself in an inaccessible position did the. old man baviaan again give tongue; and

THE VIGORNIAN. then he was promptly answertd from four distant points all round us. Though we could not translate what he said we could appreciate the vigour of his language, and imagine the mother buviaans telling the baboon children to put their fingers in their cars while grandfather talked. 1 have described the voice of these animals as a shout, a yell, and a bark rolled into one. Those who have tried to put into words thj songs of different birds, or read the attempted versions of others, know how difficult it is to express on paper the inarticulate sounds made by what we facetiously describe as the dumb animals. In an authoritative work published before the war, Professor Mosely, who observed these animals near Simonstown, compares the deep hoarse bark of the baboon to a German " lioch " much prolonged ; but to me, as I heard it in this Alicedale kloof, it did not seem to be greatly lengthened out, and I might almost have fancied myself listening to the authentic cheers of Teutonic super-men. One other point, already alluded to, struck me as worthy of note in this experience of ours among the Chakma baboons : it \vas the extraordinary faculty of self-efface^ ment which wild animals possess. We saw two baboons only, and we heard perhaps five or six at most, yet from the well known habits of these animals it was probable that, comparatively short and narrow though the kloof was in which we were resting, we were surrounded not by half a dozen only, but by several dozen, or even scores of these gregarious animals. F. S. S.

Ketcb Run. The annual Ketch Run took place on Monday, March ist. There was a slight alteration in the " running " of the race; points counted for the House Team Cup, the Individual Cup (i.e., winner of the Open Run), the Sports Shield, and the Senior and junior Victor Ludorum. To enable these points to be equally distributed the race was split up into "Open," " Under 15," and " Under 13." There was a record entry of 120, and about no ran. The result of this large entrv was a very keen race. The weather was ideal for running a " long distance " race, but the towing path was not at all popular, and all persons who obtained places preferred the road. The " Under 13 " started one minute before the " Under 15 " and a minute and a half after the " Under 15 " the " Open " started. Thomas i., Farr and Evans iii. set a fine pace from the very start of the " Open " race, and at the Ketch they had overtaken all but six or seven. On the return journey Thomas i. kept his pace well; however he experienced great difficulty in passing Palmer i., who was well ahead with Harrison i., in the " Under 15." However, when once passed by Thomas i., Farr also succeeded in overtaking him. Farr was unable to get ahead of Thomas i., in spite of a fine effort about a quarter of a mile from home. Thomas won by about fifteen seconds, completing the course in 21 minutes 16 3-5 seconds; Farr was second,

followed by Palmer i., Harrison i., Evans iii., and Jones ii. The results were :—• 1. 2. 3. 4.

" Open."

" Under 15."

Thomas i. Farr Evans iii. Shorting ii.

Palmer i. Harrison i. Jones ii. Shaw

" Under 13." Arbuckle Woodhouse Sully Hooper

The Team Cup was won by School House with 47 points, the Day Boys came next with 66 points; the Hostel had 85 points, Natland 175 points, and Castle House 224. Thomas i. gained the Individual Cup. The points for the House Sports Shield are :— School House 34 Day Boys 20 Hostel Hos 7 and for the Senior Victor and Junior Victor :— Thomas Farr Evans iii. Shorting" ii.

10 points Palmer i. 8 ,, Harrison i. 6 ,, Jones ii. 4 „ Shaw

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

8 points 6 „ 4 „ 2 ,,

Floes. Fives has been very popular this term and more people play than can be comfortably provided for. Both courts are in constant use from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and yet many applicants have to be refused daily. This particularly exemplifies the need for the new court, which we hope will be up by next season. The standard of play has improved and is improving. This is especially noticeable among the juniors, who are very keen and show great promise for the future. One fault is very noticeable, however, and this, is the inability of boys to get out of their opponents' way. Steps are being taken to eradicate this "offence," thanks to the excellent advice of Mr. Rammell, who has helped us very much this year, and who we hope will continue to do so. The new doors are a great improvement to the courts. On Monday, March 8th, a match was played against the Masters' Four. Mr. Rammell and Mr. Castley, who formed the first pair, proved themselves superior to Thomas and Record, who both seemed to be off form. With the Headmaster and Rev. Whitaker against Shorting and Landale this was exactly the opposite and the latter was won fairly easily. The results were :— School. H. S. Thomas ... 14+0 C. I. Record ... 5

Masters. H+3 Mr. Rammell Mr. Castley

W. L. Shorting ... 15 — 4 Rev. Creighton W. Landale ... i; — 6 Rev. Whitaker We play Hereford away on March i3th and at home on March i7th. In both these matches we are looking forward to better results.

THE VIGORNIAN.

132.

HOUSE MATCHES. In the first round Castle House played Day Boys, and Hostel played School House. Castle House won easily 15—o, 15—o. Hostel beat School House 15—6, 15—9. In the final, after two hotly contested games, the Hostel won. First Round— Day Boys.

Castle House. C. I. Record \V. Landale

o o

H. H. Blanchard H. S. Coverdale

Hostel. School House. 6 F. M. Graham W. L. Shorting... 15 — 9 S. Nash. K. H. C. Shorting 15 — Final— Hostel. Castle House. W. I.. Shorting... 15 — 12 C. I. Record F. H. C. Shorting 13 + 5 13 + 3 W. Landale

J. D. S. Thomas (Guy's). Unlike the other students of Guy's Hospital he never allows himself to forget the examination room that ever looms before him. We understand, however, that the same examination is usually looming behind him too. A. E. Watkins (Guy's). She is making real progress and can now take her own temperature (I have seen her do it). Recreations—Snap with landlady's children. N. Macdonald (Stock Exchange). Works a sixteen-hour day. Reads Bernard Shaw in his spare time. Bingham Bros. We know they live in London, but where ? The Rest of the Metropolitan O.V.'s. Waiting in a queue for the Bakerloo. Yours, etc., METRO.

Oxford Ceiter. Owing to an unfortunate mistake, the Oxford Letter is not yot to hand.—Eds. Vig.

Condon £elt«r.

Cambridge Ceitcr.

To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, It has occurred to us that there is no conceivable reason why the Metropolis should not adopt the precedent of the Universities and periodically send to mother " Vigornia " a report on the positions and progress of her sons. For, in the present state of affairs, many must be the eccentricities of her children that continue wholly unknown to her. Let us hope, then, that this brief report upon a few of her children may serve to remind her of the existence of many more, and that others, too (and how many there must be !), that lie obscurely buried in the London crowd, may by communicating through " The Vigornian " with whomsoever you may elect as- your London correspondent, take the opportunity of sending home to their parent those small items of news concerning themselves which are really of such grave import—a few examples of which are appended immediately below. J. B. P. Angwin (Woolwich). Declines to see anyone or to answer any correspondence whatsoever. S. V. Strong (Guy's). Periodically catches the 12.30 (midnight) train from London Bridge; but on these occasions he never fails to inform his prospective fellowtravellers on the platform in a loud voice that " this is the first night he has taken off this term," etc., etc. Well, any way, he has passed London Matriculation, and we congratulate him. A. L. Dunnill (Sandhurst). Finds considerable difficulty in compromising official discipline with his sense of personal vanity in respect of the correct colour for copper hat badges.

To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, It is easy to notice that Old Vigornians are taking a prominent part in Cambridge University life. We are sorry that a Cambridge Letter did not appear in the " Vigornian " of last term, and we are not prepared to slate to whose carelessness that omission was due. The following remarks may be interesting :— W". S. Thompson (Queen's and Westcott House) is, we understand, reading theology. He has been seen riding along the tow path, talking through a megaphone. Mis position as Father of the Worcester Colony is indisputable. S. F. Davenport (St. Catherine's) reads, talks, and thinks Moral Science. When freed from his philosophy (if that cart be said to happen) he plays Hockey with skill. J. L. Hamilton (King's) plays Rugby football for his college. He still features in the musical world. J. B. Caswell (Trinity) is, we are glad to hear, in better health. He divides his time between dancing, tea, and law. P. N*. W. Strong (Selwyn) has been seen on two occasions wearing a bowler hat and a cope respectively. His naive eloquence and unsophisticated humour cause much pleasure at the Union. H. S. P. Warren (Queen's) reads theologv. He rowed with great distinction in one of the Lent boats. G. F. D. Perrott (Sclwyn) leads, we are informed, a very gay life. He has not yet been discovered in his rooms. A. Macdonald (Corpus) has become a prominent University journalist. His drawings, too, have appeared with

THE VIGORNIAN. great success in magazines and a volume entitled " Gladstone Bags and Marmalade." J. Bovvstead (Corpus) rowed in the college second boat. He reads Mathematics and the " Morning Post." D. D. Warren (Corpus) is in the I.C.S., and works accordingly. He has become a member of the Church of Rome. A. G. Coombs (Selwyn) takes a great interest in sport, and has started rowing. Wishing the School everv success, I remain, Sirs, CANTAB.

Characters or tbe football Ccam. M. E. WEBB (Capt., inside left). A capable and bustling forward. Shoots well, and without hesitation. As Captain, does not use his voice enough. H. D. TONKI.NG (Sec., right back). . A very safe back. Kicks well, and tackles vigorously. Has good judgment, and keeps cool. P. \. WHITE (inside right). A fasi and tricky forward, and at times a dangerous shot. C. I. RECORD (left back). bined well with Tonking.

Did good work and com-

C. A. C. PATTON (left half). With more weight and experience should do well. Has some idea of backing up his forwards. H. S. THOMAS (centre forward). Very tricky, and clever with his feet, but apt to dally about in front of goal till too late. Should learn to go straight for goal. Uncertain shot. R. V. FARR (outside right). Fast, and centres well. Gave his insides many chances which were not taken. A. H. ADAMS (right half). An honest trier, but without much judgment, and very slow. V. C. POWELL (goal). Difficult to get past, but has the common fault of fisting or throwing out when there is plenty of time to punt. Should practise punting from difficult positions, and learn to do it quickly. H. H. BLANCHARD (centre half). Improved very much, but was always a little weak for this important position. Should learn to move more quickly, cultivate the art of knowing where the ball is going to be the next second, and acquire the quality of being there as soon or sooner than the ball. These are the A.B.C. of the centre half's duties. R. O. EVANS (outside left). Showed promise, but lacked weight and bustle. Centred well. HOUSE MATCHES. The draw for the House Matches was as follows :— Castle House v. Day Bovs. School House v. Hostel and Natland. The first match, from the start, was very uneven, since

133

Castle House had the two School backs and a fairly strong attack, against a rather scratch team, which was held together by Blanchard at centre half. The ball was in the Day Boys' half nearly all the time, and but for somewhat erratic shooting and some line saves bv Winstone in goal, the score might have been considerably increased. At halftime the score was 3—a for Castle House. The second half was similar to the first, except that once the Day Boys broke away, and a long shot beat the goalee. Two more goals were added for Castle House, and when the whistle blew for full time the score was 5—i. The Day Boys must be congratulated on putting up such a plucky fight. The match between School House and the Hostel was of the same type, the former being much the heavier and faster combination. The School House forwards continually broke through the opposing defence, and put in shots which were enough to beat the Hostel goalee. The Hostel attack was successful on one occasion, but the side was outplayed by a more experienced combination. Final score : 9—i for School House. A severe tustle was expected by everyone in the final, and certainly expectations were satisfied. The game was fast from start to finish, and the enthusiasm of spectators on the touch lines was most encouraging. The play at the opening of the game was fairly even, Castle House defence quite successfully holding in check the opposing attack, which was not yet quite together. A break through by the Castle House forwards resulted in a goal from Webb, and soon afterwards a surprise shot bv Fisher from the right wing put them two ahead. However a fine bit of combination resulted in a goal for the School House by Farr, which was soon capped by another goal, shot by the Castle House inside left. The sides crossed over with the score at 3—r. The second half saw the weight of the School House beginning to tell, and their opponents gradually went to pieces under a sustained attack. The play was still fairly even, but the School House forwards lost no opportunities, and at the finish of the game the score was 5—3 for School House, who thus retained the cup. School House—Powell ; Nash, Davics ; Horsfield, Pattern, Adams; Le Huray, Jones, Thomas, White, Farr. Castle House—Rice-Jones; Record, Tonking ; Chandler i., Beavan, W;ebb (G.); Brazier, Evans, Webb (M. E.), Snowball i., Fisher.

Gymnasium Dotes. The annual gymnasium competition was held on Wednesday, December i f t h , in College Hall, at 2.30 p.m. All five Houses sent in teams, and Major Kerans from Norton, with a P.T. instructor, kindly consented to act as judge. Mr. Whitaker drilled the squad from the gallery, where the spectators were also gathered. The competition was a fairly long one, and Major Kerans remarked afterwards that the standard was exceptionally high. He awarded the palm to the. School House team for what was undoubtedly a fine piece of work. Next came Castle House and the Hostel with equal marks, and then followed the Day Boys

THE VIGORNIAN.

o.c.c. notes.

and Natland, who must be congratulated on their effort in raising a team from their small numbers. The keenness in practice for several weeks before the actual competition was noticeable, and the performance given on the day was a creditable one. Our thanks are due to Mr. Whitaker for the time and trouble he took, in coaching the teams, and also to the visitors who found .the time to be present. After (he competition was over, while the judges wore adding up the marks, there was a short boxing display, two-minute rounds being fought between H. S. Thomas and M. E. Webb, and then between W. L. Shorting and R. G. Smith.

The results of the written examination for Certificate A, held in November, arrived this term. The following cadcls passed :— Cadet Officer M. E. Webb. C.S.M. P. N. White. Sgt. (now C.S.M.) A. H. Adams. Cpl. (now Sgt.) C. I. Record. Cpl. R. G. Smith. L/Cpl. G. H. Webb. L/Cpl. M. A. Le Huray. Cadet (now L/Cpl.) R. V. Farr. The following promotions have been made :— 21.1.20. Sergeant Adams to be Company Sergeant Major. 24.1.10. Corporal Record to be Sergeant. Corporal Thomas to be Sergeant. I.ance-Corporal (Band Corporal) Howells to be Corporal and Band Sergeant. Lance-Corporal Blanchard to be Corporal. Cadet Nash to be Lance-Corporal. Cadet Tvrrell to be Lance-Corporal. 7.2.20. Lance-Corporal Webb to be Corporal. Cadet Farr to be Lancc-Corporal. 15.2.20. Cadet Fisher to bo Lance-Corpora! (for Muskctrv Duties).

Chess Rotes. The School Chess Club, which seems to have dropped out of existence for some time past, has been revived again this term. This has had a very good result and a distinct increase of keenness is noticeable all through the School. The competition for the Chess Cup is now in full swing and promises to be very exciting. Last year this trophy was won by Bowstead (School House) and it will soon be decided whether he is going to retain it this year. On March 12th we played a match against the Blind College in response to a challenge for the Wrorcestershire Public Schools Chess Championship Shield, which wo won last year for the first time. Six boards were played and the result was a win for the School by 3-J points to 2^. It was a very exciting match and remained undecided right up to the end. The School started badly, the first two results being against us. Shorting i., however, managed to gain rather a lucky " mate " against Coklwell, and this was followed shortly afterwards by a draw between Shorting ii. and Hargreaves. Bowstead then gained a decision against Fitzgibbon and thus brought the'score to 2g all. Everything now depended on the last board, which was by no means a sure thing for either side. But Evans just managed to win after a long game of 3^ hours. Thus the shield again returns to its place in the College Hall. The games were as follows :— i o I 0 1 o

Grimshaw Fitzgibbon Hargreaves Coldwell Hunt Coates

0 Record 1 Bowstead | Shorting ii. i Shorting i. 0 Landale 1 Evans

The weather this term has prevented us getting down to the School field for Company Drill as often as was desirable, but we have had two simple tactical schemes on Wednesday afternoons—one an Advanced Guard Scheme, in which the Junior Squad acted as small raiding parties, and were mostly mopped up by the Advanced Party, but one small detachment under Cadet Hare, concealed themselves so effectively that they were able to open fire on the Main Guard as it came up in Column of Route, doing much damage, and causing great delay—the other an Outpost Scheme on the Golf Links, where we had the advantage of the advice and criticism of Captain Edwards, Worcestershire Regiment, who demonstrated to us how very important it is to maintain communications, both laterally and from front to rear. He complimented Corporal Webb on the way in which he carried out his instructions as commander of the covering party.

Major Kerans carried out the practical part of Certificate A examination on Tuesday, March 2. The following were successful :— Sgt. Thomas. Sgt. Howells. Lance-Corporals Powell, Winlerlon, Palmer, Patton, Lanning, Nash. Cadets Tonking, Graham. The Written Examination took place on March 10, but the result will probably not be known till next term.

THE VIGORNIAN.

O.V. Secretarp. Owing to an appointment in Birmingham, Mr. D. J. Hugh Jones has unfortunately been compelled to resign the Secretaryship, after a very short term of office. We have been fortunate in securing the services, for.the time at any rate, of Mr. H. B. Downes, Cornwall Lawn, Worcester, to whom all communications should now be addressed.

Correspondence. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, May 1 suggest that the morning hymns in the College Hall should be sung with more life and vigour than at present? Could not anything be done to increase the singing powers of the School, especially among the younger members? The sixth form serve as an admirable choir; therefore, could not their gallant efforts be supported by the remainder of the School? 1 allude chiefly to the junior boys. Hoping my suggestion will take root, and apologising for the use of your valuable space, I remain, AUDITOR.

To the Editors of the "Vigornian." Sirs, No doubt we all realise that rumours are inevitable in a School. This term has ushered in many rumours concerning the foundation of numerous societies. Might I point out that all schools have to undergo such trials, which are really nothing more than crazes? A religious society tends to create a morbid atmosphere amongst boys who are not old enough to realise the effect of such a society upon the mind. With apologies for wasting your valuable space, I remain, AN " OBJECTOR."

Scbool Officers. Head of the School - M. E. Webb. M. E. Webb. Captain of Boats Secretary of Boats - A. H. Adams. Captain of Hockey - S. Nash. W. L. Shorting. Secretary of Hockey M. E. Webb. Captain of Shooting E. L. Fisher. Secretary of Shooting H. S. Thomas. Captain of Boxing H. S. Thomas. Captain of Fives Secretaiy of Chess - C. I. Record. Secretary of the Debating Society - R. L. Sedgwick. V. C. Powell. Secretary of Dramatic Society Secretary of Glee Club - B. S. J. Howells.

135

School Monitors—M. E. Webb, A. H. Adams, C. I. Record, T. H. Horsfield, H. H. Blanchard. Librarians—M. E. Webb (Vlth Form Room), A. H. Adams, C. A. C. Patton, V. C. Powell, W. Wickersham, W. H. K. Davey. Games Committee—The Headmaster (President), T. E. Rammell, Esq. (Treasurer), Rev. R. J. Whitaker, F. S. Salisbury, Esq., M. E. Webb, A. H. Adams, C. I. Record, H. S. Thomas, H. D. Tonking, S. Nash, W. L. Shorting, E. L. Fisher. Library Committee—The Headmaster (President), R. J. Castley, Esq. (Treasurer), R. M. M. Beach-Hicks, Esq., M. E. Webb, A. H. Adams, C. C. Patton, V. C. Powell, W. Wickersham, W. H. K. Davey. Editors of the " Vigornian "—M. E. Webb, T. H. Horsfield, I. F. W. Schofield.

Clbrarp accounts. 2ND AND 3RD TERMS

IQIQ.

RECEIPTS. Balance Oct. ii. Per Headmaster Nov. O.V. Club (" Vigornians ") Jan. 29. Per Headmaster 198 Vigornians at i/9 18 o 198 Library Subs. ... 14 7 o Sale of Books ... 6 12 9 O.V. Club (" Vigornians ") Pound

£ s. d. 4 14 20 4 15 19 3i 7

13 10 o 0 5 7 o

EXPENDITURE. Oct. ii. Large (Papers) Whiteman (Papers) Phillips Dec. 9. Moss (Carbide) ... Carriage „ Dec. Stamps Mr. Walton (Lecture Slides) Baylis (" Vigornians ") Jan. 17. Whiteman (Papers) Jan. 18. Phillips (Papers) Feb. 6. Large (Papers) Baylis (" Vigornians ") Santonna (Lecture) Balance

s. d.

3 6 10 i i 9 3 6 6 o 16 6 0 0 7 o i 6 0 8 '9 3i 7 o ' 6 5 1

3 ii o

25 19 6 o 15 o 12

C. CREIGHTON. 22/2/2O.

o o o 9

THE VIGORNIAN.

136

race. The crew was never quite together after that, owing to a change of places which became necessary. However, we can only say that Hereford, with the same crew as last year, had a powerful and fast boat.

6amcs account. RECEIPTS. Balance in hand ... ... ... ... Fownes Bros, (rent of field in summer) Boys' Subscriptions ... ... ...

... ... ...

£.' s. d. 43 3 11 6 10 o 59 8 o i ii

EXPENDITURE. Nov. Malvern (Master) Telegram (Cheltenham) Board in Pavilion Goal Posts Fives Courts Repaired Pavilion Repairs Nov. 2 4- Ward (Footballs and Gear) . Dec. 9- Income Tax '5- Pavilion Insurance IS- Ward (Footballs) 18. Income Tax 1920. Jan. 24- Cooper (Sports Prizes) Poor Rate i 9 3 District Rate o 6 ii o 10 o Water Rate

Feb.

8. Rough (Tub Pair) 10. Wilmott (Harbour dues) 13. Hunt (Wages) Balance

Saluck.

Va. A. G. Bain, V. H. Sarland.

s. d. o

Remove. H. A. Ainsworth, J. L. R. Croft, D. Webb iii.

o 17 6 17 3 i.i o 14 12

'3 8

j i

IV a. M. E. Kitton, R. E. B. Robinson, R. Wynne Woolley.

| i \ \ j

7/o. O. Greenfield i., C. J. O. Blackall. lib. H. F. Bryant, D. B. Carleton ii., C. Harris, J. Painting, J. C. Palmer iv., D. A. Rogers.

J. G. Edwards iii., G. B. Greenfield II., J. L. Walker.

6 2 o o

T. E. RAMMELL, , Hon. Treasurer. C. CREIGHTON, Headmaster.

Rowing. The annual race against Hereford C.S. was rowed at Worcester on March i7th. The current was strong, and a cross wind was somewhat disconcerting. Webb had the misfortune to lose the toss, and Hereford chose the St. John's station, which was considerably sheltered. Both crews were up at the starting-point—Diglis Locks—quite punctually at 3.0 p.m., and Mr. Salisbury succeeded in getting them level without many wearisome preliminaries. Hereford went right away at the start, and by making good use of their station gradually increased the distance. After about half the course was completed, Worcester pulled up a little, and at the Ferry ' stroke ' called for a spurt, to which the crew responded. However Hereford won quite comfortably by four lengths. It is quite easy to make excuses after a defeat, but we certainly were unfortunate in losing " Bow " only ten days before the

Valete.

Via. M. A. Le Huray. School Monitor, Editor of " Vigornian,"2nd XI. Football (1918-1919), 2nd XI. Cricket (19181919), Sec. of Chess, L/Cpl. O.T.C. VIb. P. N. White. School Monitor, 2nd XI. Football (1917), ist XI. (1918-1919), 2nd XI. Cricket (1919), ist XI. Hockey (1918-1919), Capt. (1919), Capt. of Gym. (1919), Bisley VIII. (1919), Coy. Sgt.-Major O.T.C. W. A. Winstone. 2nd XI. Football (1919), L/Cpl. O.T.C. Va. R. O. Evans iv. ist XI. Cricket (1919), ist XI. Football (1919), Pte. O.T.C. F. Burrow. M. V. Stephens. Pte. O.T.C. Vb. R. G. Smith i. School Monitor, Shooting VIII. (19171919), Capt. (1919), Cpl. O.T.C. H. Branch.

lib. R. J. Allen i. P. O. Allen ii.