Che Uiiiornian. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE, ei' 2i3a(cra fiavBavitt, ra SJ tuptra ra ftei £»;r<£, ra 3' ti/ura rrapa Otuv >p-ij<ra/ii;i'.'
No. 99.
VOL. IX.
Contents. Editorial School Notes O.V. News Speech Day School Calendar ... Whewell Professor of International Law Chess Notes O.T.C. Notes Camp My Classical Library A Cinema Play ... Cricket Infant Welfare : A Nursery Rhyme ... Swimming Notes Coxing
O.V. Dinner ... Football Notes The Sea Hag Shakespeare Translated The Lecture Society Correspondence Oxford Letter Cambridge Letter Valete Salvete
DECEMBER, 1920.
editorial.
Page
'S3 '54 iS4 155 '57 '58 158 158 158 J59 160 160 163 163 163 J64 164 164 i6S 165 166 166 167 168 168
PRICE is.
Once more the Winter Term draws to a finish; once more we are able to look back on a term full of success, on the football field, on the parade ground, and in the form room. Very soon (alas !) we shall have returned to the season of parties, dances, indigestible food, and other festivities which mark the approach of Yuletide. If at the end of this term the editors are still in existence, they will probably succeed in handing out to you a copy of the " Vigornian." Have compassion, gentle reader, and do not peruse it with an over-critical eye ; an editor's lot is not a happy one, his is a thankless existence.
Accept, therefore, our humble
efforts; we have fulfilled our tasks to the best of our ability, and in spite of it all we wish our readers a very happy Christmas.
THE VIGORNIAN.
J54
Scbool Rotes. Mr. Birch-Jones, who left us last term, is now working in the Home Civil Service. The good wishes of the School go with him and we hope that he will have good luck in his new profession. We should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Birch-Jones for all his services in the School, in the O.T.C., and in connection with swimming. * * * We welcome Mr. Strong, O.V., in the place of Mr. Birch-Jones. His rowing experience will be useful next term ; and we hope he will find his new life as a schoolmaster congenial. # » # Prize Day was a great success this year, and a large number of the friends of the School were present. Canon Temple gave away the prizes, and his excellent speech was enjoyed by everybody. An account of the proceedings is given in this number. # * * The new School buildings, which were only in their infancy when the last number of the " Vigornian " appeared, are now almost complete. The pavilion, which we owe to the munificence of Mr. Rammell, is practically finished ; it is an extremely fine building, and will always be an excellent and worthy war memorial. The new buildings for the use of the Day Boys are also nearly completed. We do hope the Day Boys will feel at home there, and that the smaller ones will not get lost in the vastness of their new changing rooms. * * * The annual display of " physical jerks " will take place at the end of this term, when the cup which is awarded for the competition will be carried away by the victorious House team. # * * Football has been going on apace this term under the able management of Tonking (captain) and Powell (secretary). Although the team is almost entirely different to that of last year owing to the loss of so many old colours, yet it has acquitted itself well, as the results of the various matches will show. * * * It is probable that very few of our readers know the meaning of the Greek motto on the title page of the "Vigornian." Somewhat freely translated the meaning is as follows :— " All that my masters teach I learn, All that my searching can find I seek, All that my prayers might gain for me I have asked as a gift from Heaven."
The annual Christmas Concert will be held on December 17th, and we hope that it will have its usual success. Very little is at present known about the School Concert, but under the capable management of Mr. Smith, O.V., we hope to have a very pleasant evening.
During the earlier part of the term we had a successful Field Day against Malvern College O.T.C. The Old Hills were the scene of battle, and though considerably outnumbered we had a very enjoyable day.
O.V. Rev. H. A. Lewis has returned from the West Coast of Africa and is now Organising Secretary for the S.P.G. in the Oxford Diocese. S. F. Davenport is now at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, preparing for Ordination. N. W. Gowing has passed the Northern University's Matriculation Examination and is studying for the first M-B. with a view to entering the London School of Medicine. Captain S. Minnifie Hawkins has been ordained Deacon at Buenos Aires, and is working under the Mission for Seamen. A. L. Dunnill has passed out of Sandhurst and obtained a Commission in the Bedford Regiment and is now serving in Donegal. P. W. Bingham having been demobilised from the Air Force has obtained an appointment in an Oil Company after passing the required exam. C. Bingham has a post in the Ministry of Food. E. H. Coombs has obtained a post in Barclay's Bank, Birmingham. The Rev. A. L. F. Williams, recently curate of Christ Church, Harrogate, has been appointed to the Vicariate of North Stainley, Ripon, and also to the office of Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Ripon. Many O.V.'s will be interested and pleased to hear of the success which has attended the headmastership of Rev. J. Duncan Day, O.V., at Stamford Grammar School. Quadrupled numbers, a remarkable record of seven Higher Certificates, and thirteen School Certificates, and many marked developments, were recorded at the recent prize-day, when the prizes were distributed by our late Headmaster, the Sub-Dean of Coventry, under whom Mr. Day was one of his first pupils at the King's School,
THE VIGORNIAN. T. C. Bowstead (Sub-Lieutenant) is now stationed at Venice with his ship H.M.S. Sepoy. J. Bowstead has been appointed to the Province of Bihar and Orissa. N. W. Gowing has passed the Northern Universities Matriculation Examination and has been entered at Guy's Hospital Medical School (London University) for October, 1921. A. J. Gowing is doing well in Barclay's Bank at Rhyl. J. G. Anton has been selected to play hockey for the County. D. R. Bradley is an articled pupil to the County Surveyor. R. H. Coombs has entered Barclay's Bank, Worcester. C. B. Lewis has been on leave in England and has now returned to India to rejoin his regiment. E. R. Nesfield is articled to Lord Carnarvon's estate agent at Dulverton.
Speech Dap. (Reprinted from the " Worcestershire Echo.")
ADDRESS BY CANON TEMPLE. The annual prize day in connection with the Cathedral King's School took' place on Thursday. The Dean of Worcester presided and was supported by the Bishop of Worcester (Dr. Pearce), Canon W. Temple (Westminster), Canon Wilson, Canon Southwell, Canon Lacey, and the Headmaster (the Rev. C. Creighton). The Dean cordially welcomed the Bishop, announced that the Governors were carrying out improvements in connection with the School, and one of them was nearly completed. He referred to the erection of a changing room for the day boys, saying that the work had been executed in an efficient manner under the direction of Mr. Smith, the Clerk of the Works. He (the Dean) would not be happy until they had succeeded in erecting additional class rooms in the neighbourhood of the present gymnasium. If they did that there would be no difficulty in having an increased number of scholars. HEADMASTER'S REVIEW.
L. Warren has entered Birmingham University. T. B. Young is in the Imperial Bank of Persia. B. Adlington is at King's College Hospital, and has passed his first year medical exam. E. Adlington is an articled pupil to the County Surveyor of Somerset. A. Adlington is Senior Assistant to the Urban Council at Grays. H. H. Blanchard is working temporarily in his father's office at Evesham. MARRIAGES. On July 28th, 1920, Capt. B. H. Chappel was married to Irene Mabel Maltby, of St. Peter's, Bedford, by Canon Chappel, Sub-Dean of Coventry, and has rejoined his Regiment in India. On September 16, 1920, at St. Martin's, London Road, by Rev. Canon Southwell, William Farmer, O.V., only son of the late V. H. Farmer, Esq., Winterton, Hockley Park, to Phyllis, elder daughter of E. Tompkins, Esq., Newbury. BIRTHS. SIEVERS.—On November 6th, at 39, Foregate Street, Worcester, the wife of R. F. Sievers, L.D.S.Eng.—a son. MAYO.—On November gth, at " Boscobel," Malvern Wells, to Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Mayo—a son.
The Headmaster in giving his account of the life of the School during the year, said that a most important step had been taken by the Governors in qualifying for and receiving grants from the Board of Education. For some years the matter had been under consideration, because of the increasing need of further financial resources to carry on the school in these difficult times. As long as the conditions imposed by the Board for the receipt of grants involved any alteration in the character of the School as a Church of England School, the Governors felt, and rightly felt, that it was impossible, and would be the greatest injury to the School and to the cause of education to take that step. Last year, owing to the broadmindedness of Mr. Fisher, modifications in the conditions under which the grants were made, were introduced, and the Governors were able, without sacrificing the essential and traditional character of the School, to fulfil the requirements for recognition for grants. The result had been that the School, together with other ancient foundations of a like character, had found relief from what was becoming an almost impossible financial situation, and therefore the School was now permitted to take its place in the state system of education. After a year's experience, he heartily welcomed both the responsibility and privileges which the School had acquired in consequence of that position. (Hear, hear.) Among the responsibilities which he welcomed .was the admission from the elementary schools in the City and County of Worcester, of a number of free scholars who were already doing well, and were, he hoped, destined to play a very important part in the future life of the School. (Applause.) A further consequence was that the Board had recognised an advanced course in classics in the School, which carried with it a further grant. Such an advanced course had, of course, been a feature of the School for a number of years, but it had only now been
156
THE VIGORNIAN.
possible to obtain recognition of the course. It was obvious that these were very important developments, and had been sufficient to occupy him during the year to the exclusion of many other plans for the future. An important feature of the change was that it opened out possibilities of further growth and development in the years to come. The School was not standing still, and he did not intend that it should stand still, and he hoped by next year he should have further developments to announce. By a benefaction of the late Mrs. Wheeley Lea, and through the kindness of the Bishop of Coventry, four Amy Lee Scholarships had been established for the sons of clergy in the Dioceses of Worcester and Coventry, who were in need of assistance to send their sons as boarders to the School. One would be offered every year, and the first was going to be filled in November next at the Scholarship examination. MR. RAMMELL'S GENEROUS GIFT. Mr. Creighton said, beside the new building to which the Dean had referred, the new cricket pavilion, which they owed to the munificence of Mr. Rammell, was being added to the School. (Applause.) The School had no more devoted friend than Mr. Rammell. (Hear, hear.) When his (the speaker's) predecessor launched the School War Memorial scheme, Mr. Rammell asked to be allowed to undertake, as his personal contribution, the new pavilion, and he offered a sum of £s°° towards building it. At that time that sum would have sufficed to build a worthy pavilion. But before the pavilion was finished it would cost Mr. Rammell more than twice the sum originally suggested. But he was determined that it should be a worthy memorial of those who, the inscription would tell, " having played the game on these fields, played it also in the Great War." (Applause.) The other parts of the war memorial were the erection of a stained glass window in the Cloisters (which was shortly going to be placed in), the establishment of a scholarship for the sons of O.V.'s (which had already been filled by a son of the late Captain Royle), and the erection of new fives courts. The last-named part had not yet been put into execution, and did not seem likely to be at present. He invited those who had not subscribed to it to do so. If the new changing room for day boys proved to be the means of enabling the day boys to enter more fully in the life of the School generally than they did at present, it would fulfil a most valuable purpose. At the present moment the day boys did not take part in the games or the general life of the School as they had done in the past, or as, he hoped, they would do in the future. He thought one of the reasons for this was that the day boys left School at an earlier age than the boarders. He appealed to parents to make the sacrifice to do justice to their sons individually, and to the welfare of the day boys collectively by keeping their sons at the School until the age of at least 18. One very gratifying feature in the life of the School was the very flourishing condition of the O.T.C. It had had a wonderfully successful record, and had fully maintained its efficiency. A large contingent attended camp. It won the band competition, and was prominent in athletics. Perhaps the most significant thing
|
was that when a company was required to demonstrate drill before the rest, it was selected from the School contingent. (Applause.) That position was due to the devoted work of Captain Whitaker—(applause)—to whom credit was due, also for the way in which he had made use, in the training of the O.T.C., of the services of the N.C.O.'s. SUCCESSES OF STUDENTS. He was thankful to say that there had been few changes in the staff during the year. Mr. Birch Jones, who was with them only a year, left at the end of last term, and an O.V., Mr. S. D. Strong, had taken his place. (Applause.) They welcomed back Mr. Thomas, the Science Master, on his return after a year's absence. A review of the School life would be incomplete without reference to the successful season of the School cricket eleven, who were unbeaten in any match; and to the surprisingly good health of the School during the last two years. There had been no infectious disease or epidemic in the School during the two years. Referring to the honours won by the School during the year, he said the first place was readily filled by M. E. Webb. (Applause.) He had. distinguished himself equally in work and in athletics, and had been for two years a most valuable and helpful captain of the School, and they were very much indebted to him and wished him well at Oxford. With the Meeke Scholarship, which he had obtained, went the Worfield Scholarship. The list .of certificates was very creditable. The fact that no higher certificate was gained was due to the fact that the present Upper Sixth were Very young. The present higher course was for two years, and there was no pupil in his second year. In the School certificates, J. L. Longland had done exceedingly well. In the Lower Certificates 13 first classes were won, A. G. Bain gaining a first class in every subject but one. (Applause.) Among the O.V. honours, one of the most distinguished was that of Dr. A. Pearce Higgins, who had been appointed Whewell Professor in International Law at Cambridge. The Headmaster said that he had special pleasure in calling attention to' it, because he knew Dr. Higgins when he (the speaker) was at Worcester as a small boy, and Dr. Pearce had stated in an article that it was owing largely to the interest his (the speaker's) father took in him that he first went to Cambridge and took the first step in the very distinguished career he had since had. (Applause.) Canon Temple then distributed the prizes. School Prizes.—Bishop of Worcester's Divinity Prize, Via., G. B. Coombs. Rev. N. F. McNeile Divinity Prize : VIb., J. L. Longland. George Nash Divinity Prize: V., V. H. Sarland. Maurice Day Classical Prize : Senior, Via., M. E. Webb; Junior VIb., C. I. Record. James Nash Classical Prize : Va., A. G. Bain. School Latin Prose Prize (Canon Lacey): W. Wickersham. School Maths. (Canon Wilson): G. R. B. Hopkin. Canon James' Accidence Prizes: Via., Greek and Latin, M. E. Webb; VIb., Greek, G. D. Homer; Latin, J. L. Longland; Va., Greek and Latin, A. G. Bain; Remove, Greek, K. N. Ross; Latin, J. L. R. Croft; IV., Latin, R. E. B. Robinson. Prize Poem (Canon Southwell): A. J. C. B. Gill. French Prize (Mrs, Ernest Day) : I. F. W. Schofield.
THE VlGORNlAN. Form and Set Prizes.—VI., Science, R. E. Hulse. Va., Form and French : A. G. Bain ; Science, H. C. Fillmore. Vb., Form, French, and Science: R. V. Farr. Rem., Form, French and Science : R. N. Ross. IVa., Form and Science: M. E. Kitton; French, R. F. P. Cobb. IVb., Form and French: R. W. Hinchliffe; Science, C. H. Brown. III., Form, G. E. Churchill. Ila., Form, J. J. Painting. lib., Form, J. Cale. I., Form : L. W. Pullin. Mathematics: Aa, A. H. Adams; A3, H. C. Fillmore; Bi, J. L. R. Croft; 82, R. Amor; 83, J. W. Taylor; 84, A. R. Davies; Ci, G. E. Churchill; €2, D. S. F. H. Hanan; C3, L. W. Pullin; €4, J. P. Mayhew. German: A, R. L. Sedgwick; B, E. W. Lavender; C, F. H. Burden ; D, A. R. Davies. Extra Subjects.—Archdeacon Spooner's Recitation Prizes : G. Rice-Jones and R. L. Sedgwick. Holiday Reading : VI., V. C. Powell ; Va., H. C. Fillmore; Vb., G. RiceJones ; Rem., E. Rice-Jones; IVa., R. F. P. Cobb ; IVb., L. W. Shorting; III., L. Amor; Ila., J. C. Palmer; lib., J. Pennington ; I., R. I. Stone. General Knowledge: Via., I. F. W. Schofield; VIb., J. L. Longland; Va., V. H. Sarland ; Vb., H. D. Tonking ; Rem., V. E. M. C. Stanley; IVa., D. M. Forrest; Lower School, J. N. B. Lander. Mr. W. P. Seabright's Writing Prize (Lower School): J. J. Painting i, J. Cale 2. Drawing: G. West and J. Cale. Carpentry Prize : C. A. C. Patton. Holiday Drawing.—Upper School : W. C. Edwards. Lower School : J. Hillyard. Holiday Collections.—Botany : J. E. Seabright i, A. F. Darke 2. Lower School : J. A. A. Maund. Entamology: J. L. Longland. Architecture : W. McC. Graves-Morris. Canon Rivington's Prize for Cathedral Catechising: Senior, D. M. Forrest; Junior, D. S. F. Hanan. Proxime Accessit in K.S. Exam. : H. A. Ainsworth. Mrs. Henry Wood Essay Prizes : Senior, V. H. Sarland i, G. D. Homer and F. W. Schofield 2 ; Junior, R. Wynne-Woolley i, H. A. Ainsworth 2. Honours won by School during the year.—M. E. Webb : Meeke Scholarship, Hertford College, Oxford; Worfield Scholarship; London Matriculation, ist Class. P. NWhite : R.M.C., Sandhurst. R. V. Farr : London University Matriculation. A. H. Adams : Previous Examination, Cambridge. Oxford and Cambridge Certificates.—School Certificates : A. H. Adams, with credit for Essay, Maths. ; R. M. Beavan, with credit for Maths. ; E. L. Fisher, with credit for GreeK, Maths. ; J. R. B. Hopkin, with credit for English, History, French, Maths. ; J. D. Homer, with credit for English, Latin, Greek, Maths. ; J. L. Longland, with credit for Scripture, Essay, English, Latin, Greek, French, Maths. ; C. I. Record, with credit for English, Latin, Greek, French, Maths. Lower Certificates : A. G. Bain, with First Class in Latin, Greek, French, Arithmetic, Add., Math., English; R. A. K. Bowstead; H. S. Coverdale; A. E. Davies; H. C. Fillmore, with First Class in English; V. H. Sarland, with First Class in Latin, English; R. E. Coomber; R. V. Farr, with First Class in French, Add., Maths., Physics, and Chemistry. School Leaving Exhibitions: M. E. Webb, Hertford College, Oxford; A. H. Adams, Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
157
CANON TEMPLE AND IDEAL EDUCATION. Addressing the assembly afterwards, Canon Temple emphasised the Headmaster's appeal to parents of day boys to keep them at the School. He said Dr. Percival's view was that the best kind of education was that which a boy, from a good home, got as a day boy at a public school, if he entered fully into the school life. Canon Temple said that it was so because it contributed towards the sort of ideal education which we specially needed at the present time, namely, the cultivation, side by side, of independence of mind with fellowship of spirit. It was not easy to getr that combination. It was perfectly easy to get a very strong feeling where nobody was thinking, and it was fairly easy to think independently away from the general life going on around one, and to become a sort of intellectual recluse, but it was not very easy to combine real independence of mind with real fellowship of spirit. These were the two things we had got to get. The great strength of public school system was that it did create corporate feeling. Our Colonial administration was quite unparallelled in previous history and he attributed it largely to the fact that in some instinctive way, for nobody deliberately planned it, we had evolved the public schools system. We had not been markedly strong in the cultivation of independent minds, and we had now to graft on lo the public school system, without spoiling its great moral qualities, the faculty for independence of thought. He put in a plea for the peculiar value of the old classics, first, because the great problems of politics and philosophy had been set out in them, and secondly because they offered us the enormous advantage of seeing the whole course of the history of the ancient civilisation. With choice diction and, with much wit and eloquence, Canon Temple elaborated this argument, and at the close he was cordially thanked by the Bishop, who amused the audience with a reminiscence of his first acquaintance with Canon Temple. After the speaking, cheers were given for those who had taken a leading part in the day's proceedings and the company were then entertained to tea by the Headmaster and Mrs. Creighton.
School Calendar. Sept. 15. „ 16. ,, 19. Oct. 14. ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,
16. 23. 25. 27. 30.
TERM 111—1920. Boarders Return. School Opens. School Service 9.15 a.m. The Headmaster. School Celebration, 8.45 a.m., Lady Chapel. Prize Day. Distribution of Prizes by Canon W. Temple. ist and 2nd XI. v. Malvern Colts. ist XL v. Martley Rangers. Cert. A. Practical Exam. ist and 2nd XI. v. Hereford. Half Term.
THE VIGORNIAN. Nov.
5. Lecture by Dr. F. Ward. Animal World from under Water. ,, 6. ist and 2nd XI. v. Dean Close. ,, 8. Cert. A. Written Exam. ,, 10. Lecture by Mr. F. C. Morgan. Stratford-onAvon and Neighbourhood. ,, i i . O.T.C. Field Day. ,, 13. ist XI. v. Cinderella. 2nd XI. v. Fownes. ,, 17. ist and 2nd XI. v. Hereford. ,, 20. Lecture by the Headmaster. A Holiday in Italy. ,, 27. Lecture by Mr. B. Brotherton. Early Man in Wales. ,, 29-30. K.S. Exam. Dec. i. ist and 2nd XI. v. Dean Close. ,, 2. School Service, 3 p.m. ,, 4. Lecture by Capt. Knight. Wild Life in the Tree-tops. ist and 2nd XI. v. Malvern Colts. ,, 8. Lecture by the Rev. E. Courtenay West, of the S.P.G. ,, 9. School Service, 3 p.m. Rev. E. Courtenay West. ,, 16. School Service, 3 p.m. The Headmaster. ,, 17. Concert. ,, 18. Exeunt Omnes. Boarders return Wednesday, Jan. igth, 1921. School meets Thursday, Jan. 2oth, 9 a.m.
professor or international Cau> • The following facts concerning Professor A. Pearce Higgins, C.B.E., one of our most distinguished O.V.'s, will be of interest to our readers. Professor Higgins entered the School in 1876, at the age of n, and left in 1882. On leaving school he was articled to a firm of solicitors, but having given proof of intellectual powers worthy of a wider sphere, he was urged by the late Bishop Creighton, then Canon of Worcester, to proceed to Cambridge University. There he was elected to a Scholarship at Downing College, and in 1891 took the degree of LL.B., and won the Winchester Reading Prize. He remained at Cambridge, where he has had a distinguished career as a teacher, lecturer and examiner, and as the author of numerous works on legal subjects, particularly on the Law of Nations. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was appointed by the Government to be their expert Advisor in International Law and Prize Law. His public services during the war were acknowledged in 1917 by his appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1920 he was elected Whewell Professor of International Law in the University of Cambridge, an office, especially in those days, of national, or rather cosmopolitan, importance. His old School begs to offer him congratulations and best wishes for his continued success.
CDCSS Dotes. j j
On Thursday, October 2ist, a match was arranged with the Worcester Blind College, and resulted in a draw, each side scoring three points. Owing to the absence of Shorting, the team was not at its strongest. The result was as fallows : KING'S SCHOOL. BLIND COLLEGE. Bowstead o FitzGibbon ... i Evans iii. ... ... i Hargreaves ... o Fisher ... ... o Cold well ... i Powell i. i Hunt ... o Davies iii. ... ... o Colts ... i Ross ... ... i Martin ... o
O.C.C. Rote*. The Section Competition was held on July 13. The judge was Major H. St. J. Jefferies, D.S.O., Worcestershire Regiment, and after a close contest, in which the drill of the two leading sections reached a very high standard, he declared Corporal Winterton's Section to be the winners, with Sergt. Howell's Section a good second. After the competition, Major Jefferies complimented the contingent on the standard of their drill, and urged them not to fall into the rather common modern error of regarding drill as of small importance, mentioning that in the war the best drilled units—as for example, the Guards Division—were the most reliable in action. He had been prevented from seeing as much of the contingent's work as he would have liked, but hoped to see more in the future.
Camp. The contingent went into Camp on July 24th, at Strensall, near York. We left Worcester—most of us—at eight o'clock, leaving some unfortunate people to finish examinations and come on by later trains. We got to York without mishap, and then had some hours to wait, so we took the opportunity to go round the city, look at the Minster, and generally taste the first flavour of the holidays. By the time we went on to Strensall, most of the laggards had turned up, and we marched into the Camp at about six o'clock, fell to work at getting boards and bedding into our tents—which afterwards turned :>ut to be someone elses—and generally making ourselves at home. Although it was none too warm, it was luckily fine, so that we got to bed dry—except the Guard, who didn't get to bed much. Long after bed-time the last consignment of miserable examinees turned up in taxis, one of the taxis having lost its way. But the N.A.C.B.
THE authorities most thoughtfully waited up till 12.30 to feed the weary wayfarers, and eventually we all got into bed— 76 of us—the largest detachment we have yet sent to a Camp. The next day—Sunday—we held a service in one of the Mess-tents, and being the only contingent in Camp, made ourselves comfortable in the Recreation Tent, and learned the geography of the Camp. On Sunday evening at five it began to rain, and went on all night, and some tents leaked, and a lake appeared in the lines, and we were generally somewhat displeased with the appearance of things, but on Monday, we found that, as we had expected, we were in the wrong tents, and skilfully avoiding all other fatigues, we made our new ones thoroughly comfortable, and found that by a combination of good luck and sound judgment (or as some would say, low cunning) our new tents didn't leak. In the afternoon we rested, and watched a few other contingents come into Camp, gloated over their struggles with tent-boards, and gave ourselves airs as the oldest inhabitants. On Tuesday some of us went to the Brigade-Major, to learn an unfamiliar but exciting kind of drill, with the intention of demonstrating to the rest of the Brigade at some future date how easy it was (or, at all events, how well we could do it). This we did subsequently, with great success. The rest either did fatigues or went for what we facetiously described as a route march. In the afternoon the vulgar herd (i.e., the majority of the Brigade) began to roll up, and we found ourselves forming the two rear platoons of No. 3 Company of No. 3 Battalion—Whitgift being the other contingent in our Company. We decided that no other Contingent, Company, or Battalion in the Brigade was a patch on ours, and so that was all right. We proved it later. On Wednesday we were to have had a big inspection in the morning, but it rained, so some of us listened to the G.O.C. Northern Command, who lectured us on the spirit of the Happy Team—which, he said, was what beat the Germans—while others tried to get comfortable in their tents. After that we settled down to work. Our work at first seemed to be a combination of bogs, lectures, demonstration, bogs, bogs, and bogs. We decided that the training areas round Strensall must be the original " Soft Spots " mentioned so frequently in " Platoon Training," and impressed on us with so much insistence by the authorities. You remember the Russians wrm passed through England in 1914 on their way to (deleted by Censor). Well, do you know where they went ? We do. They went to Strensall Camp. Captain Penn was there. One morning he said " Behind me—File," and then he went out along the causeway into C. area. After a while he said, " On my Right and Left to two—Paces." Then he went back to lunch. One Russian, who was deaf, went mad trying to form two deep all by himself. We know where the rest are. On the Saturday we had Brigade Sports and the Battalion carried off all the events but one We accounted for three out of six, including the Band Competition, so we felt happy. The rest of the time was taken up with Field
159 Days, great and small, exploiting the Soft Spot, and making tender inquiries about the whereabouts of the Barrage. On Thursday we left, wet but well, after a camp, that in spite of the weather, was a great success (more power to N.A.C.B.).
IUp Classical Clbrarp. How Caesar, beneath Fast Tiber, his teeth Once happened to lose. How Cicero spoke To erudite folk I love to peruse. How old daddy Zeus Once used vile abuse 'Gainst Neptune and crew, For splashing his feet. (He sat on his seat Admiring the view.) How " 'Neas the pi " Got done in the eye By Juno and Co. How Venus, his ma, Begged Jove, his papa, " To please let him go." How strong Hercules Once strangled young fleas Or urged them to strife. How Cyrus the great At home very late Was rowed by his wife. How Nero made feast Ten courses at least Say nothing of wine. He'd " guzzle " his fill Retire feeling ill. (It must have been fine !) How Remus, " the cub," Remained at the pub Till closing of doors. Then out he would shoot Propelled by a boot And land on all fours. How Ovid is said From Rome to have fled For misguided wit. And Homer's young song Ten thousand lines long You'll find them in "it." What's it? you will say, I'll show you some day If anxious to see. For if I may tell I'm a classical swell With a smart library. " QUARTO NOTEBOOK.
THE VIGORNIAN.
i6o
J\ Cinema Flap, " Henry," I said, " we must move with the times! " He looked at me in silent wonder. I went on, " We must write a Cinema play." " Is that all?—a most desirable thing to do; what about a plot? " " There's no need for a plot. All you want is sensation, backed by a succession of the remoter improbabilities." "Of course, I don't quite know what that means, but it sounds delightful." " For characters, I think we will have a girl and a couple of cowboys; that will do to begin with." "You must have some horses too." "Oh, no. I hate horses. They look so stupid when you are safe on the ground, and you look so stupid when you are on their backs." " Nonsense, the cowboys must have something to ride." "Very well. They shall have a brace of horses between them." " Now, George, give me half an hour, and you shall have a splendid, soul-stirring drama." " Here's your play, a perfect masterpiece of the dramatic art." Cinema Play, entitled REVENGE, OR THE COWBOY'S DELIGHT. (The episodes are numbered.) 1. ist cowboy on ist horse, galloping; falls off, and is joined by girl, who ties him together. 2. 2nd cowboy on 2nd horse, galloping, swings up girl into saddle by hair, gallops away; ist cowboy gnashes teeth. 3. Girl behind counter in dry-goods store, Louisville, Pa. ; earthquake. 4. Cowboys, disguised as ex-German Emperor and Shah of Persia enter in succession amid wreckage of shop and solicit girl's hand in marriage, both refused. 5. 2nd horse, galloping; has thorn removed from cff front foot; girl gallops away. 6. Ex-Emp. and Shah, latter's moustache falls off, identity discovered, boards express train standing handy in next field. 7. Ex-Emp. whistles up ist horse, gallops away. 8. Ex-Emp. overtakes train, empties several revolvers, ist horse jumps on to train roof, gallops along carriages to engine, raises safety-valve with teeth, stops train. 9. Ex-Emp., reloaded, about to execute ist cowboy ; girl gallops up on 2nd horse, places herself between ist cowboy and revolver. 10. Affecting declaration of love, girl and ist cowboy fall on each others' necks; ex-Emp. strips off disguise, snarls, gallops away on both horses, n. Gigantic heads of girl, ist and 2nd cowboys, ist and 2nd horses, apparently about five feet from audience. " Henry, you're a genius. All you need do now is to go to the nearest Movie King and remark, in your best accent, ' Say, boss, here's the dinkiest little stunt for the movies that vou'll run across ever. Gee, I guess it'll boost your show some," and he'll say, ' Waal, kid, 100,000 dollars for the goods,' and you'll say, 'Sure thing,' and he'll say, ' Shake,' and you'll " " All right, George, let's go for a walk, then, and look for him."
Cricket. Matches played 10, won 8, lost o, drawn 2. Undefeated ! The word has an unwonted, but most refreshing sound. The team has indeed quitted itself well, far better than most prophets would have ventured to predict. Nor were they without reasons for misgiving—no great batting wealth, a dearth of bowlers, and an almost entire lack of adequate coaching since 1914. Added to this, no practice was possible at beginning of term for more than a fortnight owing to floods. In face of these disadvantages the eleven are to be heartily congratulated on the grit and determination they displayed. Our two bowlers invariably rose to the occasion, and (perhaps unfortunately with a view to experience for the future) our reserves were seldom called on. Runs were always forthcoming when wanted, as is testified by the much improved table of averages, though to the critical eye the batting was by no means sound or convincing. But we think the chief factor in our success was the harmony and singleness of purpose which enabled the team to co-operate with smoothness and mutual confidence; and for this we have to thank our Captain, Webb, who, as last year, not only set a splendid example of fielding which was worthily followed, but also had the happy knack of keeping his team together without friction and in the best of tempers". One point we should like to criticize, viz., the running between wickets. Sound judgment in this only comes from alertness and experience. But at any rate before next season unhesitating and audible calling should be insisted on, and precautions should be taken against the disastrous spectacle, which we witnessed more than once during the past season, of a man whose call it is, first starting, then hesitating, then asking "Will y o u ? " M. E. Webb (Capt.) Much improved as a batsman, scoring freely on "occasion, but without sound defence, especially on the leg. Splendid field, saving many runs at cover-point. Captained the team with excellent judgment. C. I. Record. Though he made some good scores and has some attractive strokes, he cannot keep his bat straight, especially when driving. Was, as a rule, in very fair form at the wicket. W. L. Shortigg. A very fine all-round cricketer, and the mainstay of the team, being top of the batting and bowling averages. A powerful hitter and driver, if he can learn to manage his legs aright, should be first-rate. N. A. Snowball. A good fast' bowler, with more control and better length than last year, with a useful slow ball. Came out as a batsman of the aggressive type in several matches. H. S. Thomas. Again did not fulfil expectations with the bat, never mustering sufficient confidence to make his strokes. Fair change bowler. S. Nash. A bad starter, with poor defence. Might do better by going in later. Had few chances of displaying his bowling prowess.
THE VlGORNtAN. A. E. Davies. A constant run-getter, though he never looks like staying; has poor style, and must develop his leg-play. Good field, and safe catch. F. H. C. Shorting. Has a promising style, playing with as straight a bat as anyone, but has no punishing powers. Keen and alert in the field. C. A. C. Patton. A useful wicket-keeper, but had practically no opportunities. Did good work in the field, but was quite out of form with the bat. L. P. Snowball. Has a taking style, but lacks confidence, and lets the ball hit the bat. Should come on next year. Excellent field, especially in the country. H. H. Blanchard. Has no pretensions as a batsman, but is a good trier. Does his best wherever he is.
161 HOSTEL.
F. H .C. Shorting not out I. F. W. Schofield b Wadams W. L. Shorting not out ... ... C. T. Winterton \ H. T. Fell G. J. Shaw G. H. Eden Did not bat. G. B. Coombs L. W. Shorting S. G. Fowler R. Amor
...
...
...
45 16 114
Extras Total (for i wicket)
"'75
* Innings declared closed. HOUSE MATCHES. SCHOOL HOUSE v. CASTLE HOUSE. HOSTEL v. NATLAND.
Result: Castle House won by 14 runs.
Result : Hostel won by an innings and 130 runs. CASTLE HOUSE—ist Innings. NATLAND—ist Innings. Wadams b K. H. C. Shorting R. Wynne Woolley c Schofield b W. L. Shorting , O. Collett b F. H. C. Shorting J. W. Price c W. L. Shorting b F. H. C. Shorting . J. R. Brown c Eden b F. H. C. Shorting R. E. B. Robinson c and b W. L. Shorting ... E. R. Palmer b W. L. Shorting C. W. Standfast b W. L Shorting D. D. Williams b F. H. C. Shorting G. E. Churchill not out ... C. E. Hamilton b W. L. Shorting Extras Total
NATLAND—2nd Innings. Wadams c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting R. Wynne Woolley c Winterton b F. H. C. Shorting O. Collett c Fell b W. L. Shorting J. W. Price c and b W. L. Shorting J. R. Brown c and b F. H. C. Shorting R. E. B. Robinson b F. H. C. Shorting E. R. Palmer c Shaw b F. H. C. Shorting J C. W. Standfast c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting ... D. D. Williams b W. L. Shorting G. E. Churchill c and b F. H. C. Shorting C. E. Hamilton not out Extras Total
16 4 o o o o o o o o 2
N. A. Snowball c Daniel b Farr ... R. M. Beavan c Farr b Nash C. I. Record c Daniel b Farr M. E. Webb b Daniel L. P. Snowball b Farr G. H. Webb b Thomas H. D. Tonking b Thomas E. L. Fisher c Nash b Thomas ... G. Rice Jones b Thomas E. Rice Jones b Thomas ... ... J. H. Chandler not ouf Extras
'9 1 o
39 i 7 o o {) I o
...
Total S
CASTLE HOUSE—and Innings. N. A. Snowball b Farr ... ... R. M. Beavan c Davies b Farr C. I. Record b Thomas ... ... M. E. Webb run out L. P. Snowball c Davies b Farr G. H. Webb b Farr H. D. Tonking b Nash E. L. Fisher b Nash G. Rice Jones b Farr E. Rice Jones not out J. H. Chandler st Record b Farr Extras Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
o 8 19 o 22 II I
7 o o 3 2
THE VIGORNIAN.
162
• SCHOOL HOUSE—ist Innings. H. S. Thomas b M. E. Webb S. Nash b N. A. Snowball V. C. Powell c Record b N. A. Snowball A. E. Davies run out C. A. C. Patton b M. E. Webb W. H. K. Davey l.b.w. b M. E. Webb R. V. Farr b M. E. Webb F. M. Graham c Record b M. E. Webb F. M. Jones b N. A. Snowball ... B. A. I. Arthure b N. A. Snowball R. Daniel not out Extras Total
36 o o o 10
7 o
3 i o o 3 60
SCHOOL HOUSE—2nd Innings. H. S. Thomas l.b.w. b M. E. Webb S. Nash st. Record b N. A. Snowball V. C. Powell c G. H. Webb b N. A. Snowball A. E. Davies not out C. A. C. Patton c Record b N. A. Snowball ... W. H. K. Davey c Record b N. A. Snowball ... R. V. Farr b N. A. Snowball F. M. Graham b N. A. Snowball F. M. Jones b N. A. Snowball B. A. I. Arthure l.b.w. b M. E. Webb R. Daniel c Beavan b M. E. Webb Extras Total
S 6
i 46
i o o 6 o o
69
D. Webb b F. H. C. Shorting L. E. Tyrrell b C. T. Winterton R. A. Constance b C. T. Winterton C. E. V. Baker b W. L. Shorting R. E. Coomber b W. L. Shorting M. E. Kitton c Schofield b W. L. Shorting C. T. Palmer not out W. B. Evans c Shaw b Winterton Extras Total
3 9 o 3 5 o i S o
42
HOSTEL—ist Innings. F. H. C. Shorting b Blanchard I. F. W. Schofield c Baker b Blanchard W. L. Shorting c and b Fillmore C. T. Winterton c Webb b Fillmore ... H. T. Fell c Palmer b Fillmore G. B. Coombs not out G. J. Shaw i G. H. Eden ) L. W. Shorting ' Did not bat. S. G. Fowler R. Amor Extras
16 8 6 62 34 9
Total (for 5 wickets)
"'39
4
* Innings declared closed. FINAL MATCH. CASTLE HOUSE v. HOSTEL. Result: Hostel won by an innings and 112 runs.
HOSTEL v. DAY BOYS. Result: Hostel won by an innings and 66 runs.
CASTLE HOUSE—ist Innings.
o o
R. M. Beavan run out N. A. Snowball c Eden b W. L. Shorting ... C. I. Record b W. L. Shorting M. E. Webb l.b.w. b F. H. C. Shorting L. P. Snowball b W. L. Shorting G. H. Webb b F. H. C. Shorting H. D. Tonking c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting E. L. Fisher c Coombs b F. H. C. Shorting ... H. E. Chandler c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting G. Rice Jones b W. L. Shorting E. Rice Jones not out Extras
4 4
Total
DAY BOYS—ist Innings. H. C. Fillmore c Winterton b W. L. Shorting H. S. Coverdale b W. L. Shorting H. H. Blanchard b W. L. Shorting D. Webb c Fowler b F. H. C. Shorting L. E. Tyrrell b F. H. C. Shorting R. A. Constance b W. L. Shorting C. E. V. Baker b W. L. Shorting R. E. Coomber c and b F. H. C. Shorting ... M. E. Kitton b F. H. C. Shorting C. T. Palmer not out W. B. Evans b W. L. Shorting Extras Total
I o 12 O 0
o o IO
'3 6
»4 8 3 ii i 8 o i o 3 68
3'
CASTLE HOUSE—2nd Innings. DAY BOYS—2nd Innings. H. C. Fillmore b W. L. Shorting H. S. Coverdale b F. H. C. Shorting ... H. H. Blanchard b W. L. Shorting ...
o .o
16
R. M. Beavan not out N. A. Snowball b W. L. Shorting C. I. Record b W. L. Shorting M. E. Webb c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting L. P. Snowball c Schofield b F. H. C. Shorting
21 '4
3 9 o
THE VIGORNlAN. G. H. Webb c Schofield b W. L. Shorting H. D. Tonking b W. L. Shorting E. L. Fisher run out ... ... ... ... H. E. Chandler run out G. Rice Jones b W. L. Shorting E. Rice Jones c Coombs b F. H. C. Shorting Extras ... ... ... ...
i o 4 o o i o
•••
... •••
Total HOSTEL. W. L. Shorting not out H. T. Fell b M. E. Webb F. H. C. Shorting b N. A. Snowball C. T. Winterton b N. A. Snowball I. F. W. Schofield b M. E. Webb G. J. Shaw c Beavan b N. A. Snowball ... G. B. Coombs b M. E. Webb G. H. Eden c N. A. Snowball b M. E. Webb L. W. Shorting b M. E. Webb S. G. Fowler b M. E. Webb R. Amor b N. A. Snowball Extras ... ... ... ... Total
S3
153 7 20 2 n .... 13 3 ... i i 4 i ••• 17 233
infant Welfare: a itarserp Rftpme. The Pope was riding his rocking horse ; A Cardinal played on the stairs ; The King had indulged in Blind Man's Buff And the Queen in Musical Chairs. A Lord High Chamberlain sat on the floor, Telling tales about pigs on his toes ; Th' Archbishop of York reclined in his chair With his bonnet strings under his nose. Members of Parliament lay in their cribbs, And the Speaker came in in his pram ; Their bottles were served at half-past twelve And their powders with strawberry jam. Infants of three drank afternoon tea At Gunter's or Corner House Strand ; They danced day and night with varied delight To the tune of an infantile band. * * * * * * And all was right that should be wrong, And wrong that should be right, And Infant Welfare was the cause Of such a grown-up plight. So Pelmanism is out-penned By these precocious children, And so I say to one and all, "Let's join the Bachelor's Union." " CASABIANCA.
163
Swimming Rotes. Thanks to the energetic efforts of Mr. Birch-Jones and Sergeant-Major Handley plenty of opportunity was given for bathing in the summer term. Unfortunately there were few really first-class swimmers, but judging by the number of lessons given there should be no lack of these next season. The annual swimming sports were held during the last week of the term, the weather being, as usual, unfavourable. Owing to the Certificate Exams, and other annoyances the entries were unusually small. The two most important races were the " long race," from the bridge to the barge, and the House Team race. There was also a diving competition. The " long race " showed an exciting finish, Thomas beating Horsfield by two lengths. The winners of the Team Race were School House; " Natlands " were second. The swimming trophy was therefore awarded to School House.
Coxing. The Rowing season is drawing near, and it is hoped that these notes will be useful for prospective coxes. How to sit and hold the lines. Good steering is impossible if the cox is so insecurely seated in his place that he slips forward on the polished seat, or can only prevent himself from doing so by a strained and rigid position of the legs and arms. A wooden stop on the floor of the boat is useful to set the upper of the crossed feet against, but I much prefer a rough pad on the seat and a strip of wood nailed along the front edge to raise it. The cox can then fit in an easy attitude and help by balance from the hips to I rim the boat. His hands and arms are also free for steering. He should rest his thumbs inside the gunwale and a little in front of the back of his seat, and the pegs of the lines should lie across the inside of his fingers and not be held in the fist. This is the only way to get really fine steering, for the thumb in the gunwale gives the necessary purchase, and the boat's deviations from the straight can be corrected by heavier work from the elbows and shoulders. Even on considerable corners a light racing craft should first be coaxed into an initia'l swing with finger-grips imperceptibly put on before the stronger pull of the arms is brought into play. In bringing a light eight round the sharp grassy corner on the Cambridge course I always felt the head of the boat, so to speak, in this way for a length before seriously bringing her round. Steering in the straight. Some coxes steer by definite landmarks in each reach ; personally I have always steered by looking ahead at the general scenery. I believe the latter is actually the more accurate method, for the eye is all the time taking a number of bearings simultaneously. Whichever method is adopted the secret of fine steering consists in instant correction by finger pressure of the least deviation from the straight. This is only perfect when it becomes as instinctive as the balance of a cyclist.
THE VIGORNIAN.
164
Steering in a wind. A cross wind drifts the boat bodily to the leeward bank but it also catches the stern more than the bows, because there is more surface exposed aft of the centre of gravity of the boat than in front of it; consequently the boat twists about its centre of gravity and pushes its nose into the wind. Allow it to do so to an extent varying with the force of the wind, and then put on rudder away from the wind to prevent any further twist; the boat will now be under complete control. During the time of each" stroke two forces act on it; the wind drifts it towards the bank, and at the same time the propulsion of the oars carries it away, since the nose of the boat is kept pointed a little off shore. The combined effect is to carry the boat along its true course, but all the time lying slightly across it like a terrier running. Semi-coaching duties. A cox has to correct some faults which are most easily detected from the stern, such as being late at the beginning of the stroke, failure to keep the button up, digging with its very probable cause in an unturned blade. He should also watch the time of the finish, listen for the single sound of the buttons turning all together in the rowlocks, and detect the clipped finish bv ear as well as by sight. Washing out at the finish and dropping the hands over the stretcher may also be dealt with by the cox. As a cox gains experience, and especially if he learns to row himself, as every steersman should do, he will often be able to discover the deeper faults of which the ones I have mentioned are only- symptoms. As a rule, however, he will be wise to leave such msfUers to tire coach on the bank. I have not included among faults that of looking out of the boat, because this is rather a crime than a fault and must of course be promptly and unsparingly denounced.
O.V. Dinner. The O.V. Dinner has been fixed for Tuesday, Jan. 18. It is hoped that many will make a special effort to attend this, the first Winter Dinner since 1914. Communications should be sent to the Hon. Sec., H. B. Downes, Esq., Cornwall Lawn, Worcester.
football Dotes. With only three old colours left at the beginning of the season we were rather dismal when we contemplated the outlook. However our alarm has been proved unjustifiable. The " new blood " that has been introduced into the team mas made itself very much felt and we have had a most successful season. We have played 8 matches, lost 3, drawn i, and won 4. As regards the 2nd XI., they are, with all politeness, most variable. At times they manipulate the ball with astonishing skill and at others—well they do not. They have played 7 matches, lost 5, and won 2. Detailed accounts of the matches will appear in the next number of the " Vigornian."
Before closing may we thank all those masters who so kindly control the games, and may we be allowed especially to thank Mr. Thomas for refereeing so splendidly in the matches. H. D. TONKING, Captain of Football. V. C. POWELL, Secretary of Football.
€l)e Sea Bag. The distant roaring of the sea Was all the sound that came to me, Save sudden pattering as of rain Which beats against my window pane : As wave dashed headlong on to rock, The former, broken by the shock, Into the salt sea air was hurled, And ere it's previous playmates curled To poise, and end the last mad race, Beat echoing tattoo on the face Of tow'ring cliff and threat'ning crag. * * * * * Grim and silent stood the Hag (A rock, a few miles off the Cape.) Men called her this because in shape Both Time and sea had played a part In fcshioning her with cunning art, Like to the witch of ancient lore, Into her mouth, a cave, did pour The ever-rolling crested waves Which hollow out the tiny caves That are the witches' toothless gums. And Heaven help the ship that comes When darkness broodeth o'er the sea. Once there she never lets them free. * * * * * A knot of fishermen on the strand (Their ships were drawn high on the sand) Gravely talked of storms of old, And old adventures once more told. The weather filled old Joe Harless The coastguard, with uneasiness. *
*
*
*
*
That night the storm rose high and shrill, All ships were at the wild wind's will. The distant breakers madly pounding— Bore thro' the night a roar resounding— As each one fiercer than the rest Strove to moisten old Hag's breast. When the tempest reached its height For one brief second in the night, A red spot in the sky appeared, And this was what old Harless feared.
THE VIGORNIAN. Once thro' the Stygian night was heard A wailing cry. Some said a bird. (For none had seen the reddish glow) All were asleep and none did know What old Hag feasted on while they Slumbered from a weary day.
And when another day is born— Early in the cold grey dawn— A broken mast alone reveals The latest of the Sea Hag's meals.
The distant roaring of the sea Was all the sound that came to me, Save sudden pattering as of rain Of Ghosts upon my window pane. 1
UNGENANNTER VERFASSER.
Sftakesptart translated. 1.
First Bell 7.15 a.m. " What the mistress. That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the House? " Macbeth.
2. A Monitor. " His worthiness doth challenge much respect." Othello. 3. Monitor " in action." " Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? " Macbeth. 4. Monitor "after action." " I have done the deed. Didst not thou hear a noise? " Macbeth. 5.
Exeat. " Let him depart, his passport shall be made." Henry V.
6.
Impositions. " If it were done when 'tis done then 'twere well it were done quickly." Macbeth.
7.
Classroom. " Be not afraid, this isle is full of noises." The Tempest. " ISAAC WALTON."
'65
Cbe Ctcture Societp. The Lecture Society is a new and important institution by means of which first class lectures are given to the school. The expenses of these lectures are defrayed by a subscription levied on the boys and on the parents who desire to attend. A list of lectures for this term is given below. The Animal World seen from Under Water. On November 5th Dr. Francis Ward gave us a very fine lecture on the above subject. His account of the lives of fish, otters, seals, etc., were excellently illustrated by slides taken from real nature. It was the first time Mr. Ward had shown this particular set of slides this season, and everyone felt that they were a great success. The Headmaster thanked Dr. Ward in the name of everyone present for his extremely interesting and instructive lecture. Stratford-on-Avon. A lecture on Stratford and the neighbourhood was given by Mr. F. C. Morgan on November loth. The lecturer's knowledge of his subject and the masterful way in which he handled it, was appreciated by all. The slides that illustrated this lecture were very good and calculated to give to a stranger a very fair knowledge of Stratford. The Headmaster thanked Mr. Morgan in warm tones for the trouble he had taken in giving us such an excellent lecture. A Holiday in Italy. The Headmaster's lecture took place on Saturday, November zoth. It was very interesting and part of it took the form of a " Travelogue," describing the places through which the lecturer had passed on a walking tour. The slides were excellent and had been prepared by the Headmaster himself. The lecture was very much appreciated by all; and we look forward eagerly to another one on the same subject. LECTURES, TERM I I I , 1920. Friday, November 5th, at 5 p.m.—Dr. Francis Ward. " The Animal World seen from under Water." Wednesday, November loth, at 5 p.m.—Mr. F. C. Morgan. "Stratford-on-Avon and Neighbourhood." Saturday, November 2oth, at 7 p.m.—The Headmaster. " A Holiday in Italy." Saturday, November 27th, at 7 p.m.—Mr. B. Brotherton. " Early Man in Wales." Saturday, December 4th, at 5 p.m.—Capt. C. W. R. Knight, M.C. "Wild Life in the Tree-tops." Wednesday, December 8th, at 5 p.m.—Rev. E. Courtenay West, of the S.P.G. " Mission Work in South Africa." N.B.—All the lectures are illustrated by lantern slides. The subscription to the Lecture Society, which gives admission to all the above, is 2/6 for an individual ticket, or 5/- for a family ticket; obtainable from the Headmaster.
THE VIGORNIAN.
166
Correspondence. (N.B.—The Editors do not undertake responsibility l i the opinions of their contributors.—EDS.) To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, I hear that the School Dramatic Society is in great danger of being abolished. If this is true, may I take the liberty of asking the reason why? We all are told that our days at school are the best time of our life, and why should those who are unable to add to the joys of school life in other ways be robbed of the one way in which they might bring pleasure to the rest? If it is education for one to read plays for Literature surely it is education to see those very plays acted? That the rehearsals affect the school work is one of the objections. Do they? I think the masters would say that the standard of work was no lower in consequence than it is now. I sincerely hope that the threatening storm will pass away'. With customary apologies for using your valuable space, I remain, Yours sincerely, " A MEMBER."
To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, There appeared in your issue of July, 1920, an interesting article, signed F.S.S., entitled " The Beginning of Rowing," which an O.V., who was a friend of mine, showed me. The writer states that to his knowledge the existence of a lo-oar can only be paralleled in modern rowing by one which represented Trinity at Cambridge in 1829 ; and I thought that he might be interested to know that there is still in existence a lo-oar called "The Monarch," at Eton, which turns out yearly to lead the Procession of Boats. Yours, etc., OLD ETONIAN.
To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, As the " Vigornian " is not the "Daily Telegraph " or an offspring of the Northcliffe Press, might I suggest that it should assume a more handy shape? At present it is strangely unwieldy. I think I may say that all Ihe magazines that we receive from other schools are of a more suitable shape than ours. Why should not the "Vigornian" follow their pattern? Yours, etc., PERIPATETICUS.
To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, I want to call the attention of the School in these columns to the " Field Club." Unfortunately this excellent Society has ceased to exist. If only one of the masters would come forward to our help, much might be done to stimulate the interest in Natural History which has arisen through the lectures we have heard this term. Enough already has been said concerning the Dramatic Society, but I should like to deliver an appeal for the Debating Society. Through the indifference of the School to this most excellent opportunity of education and selfimprovement the members of the Committee have been unable to carry out any of their ambitious plans for the improvement of the Society. Will no one come forward and help, or are the institutions of the School to be left in the hands of a small minority? Yours, etc., " EQUUS ACER." To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Everyone agrees that the hymns we sing in hall are appalling ! Personally I admire the taste of the School in not singing the selection of hymns that are put before them. When one has sung the same hymns for about five years they are apt to become uninteresting. Are there no other well known hymns in Ancient and Modern besides the ones we sing so regularly? Yours, etc., OEVES.
Oxford Cetter. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, As is generally the case with the Oxford Letter, it is the burden of an unfortunate freshman to make an attempt (alas ! how vain !) to write a short discourse on 'Varsity life in general and on the O.V. colony in particular ; hence it is that many a young life is blighted at the outset! There was a popular theory that Oxford life was so fascinating and enjoyable because of the absence of responsibility, but the man who put this forward was not acquainted with the whole of his subject—he had never been asked to write the " Oxford Letter." Enough of this prevarication The main topic of interest (with the exception, of course, of the League Football results!) is the influx of women* students into the University. Given so apt a name by an Oxford paper—the Black and Tans—all day long squadrons mounted on bicycles dash up and down the main streets, and it stands to reason that their numbers will be continually increasing; for it is only natural that women should prefer to be undergraduates at a University where they have the right of academical costume and the possible glory of a graduette's hood and gown. What will be the result of
THE V1GORNIAN. this? Since they have already broken through the outer shell of tradition, they will outnumber the poor unfortunate men, who will perforce go to Cambridge—horrid thought! But let us look at the athletic achievements of the 'Varsity and banish pessimism from our midst! The XV has been victorious on five out of seven occasions, the Soccer Team has a similar reputation, and the Hockey Team has yet to be beaten. The Iffley Road Track accommodates a large number nearly every afternoon for Seniors' or Freshmen's Sports, and now will presumably be still more crowded owing to the competition for the Inter-College Athletic Cup. On the river the Coxless Fours aroused great interest in spite of the comparatively small number of entries ; practice for the Trial Eights, together with the coaching of beginners, packs both river and towpath every day. For those who cannot take part in such exalted spheres of action, there remain many and varied amusements, ranging from Union Debates and Oxford House meetings to a quiet game of draughts (a form of exercise suitable for invalids) with one's Scout. It is this variety of pleasure which constitutes the charm of the life. Some interesting boxing was seen between the "Varsity and Guy's Hospital, and it was gratifying to note that J. D. S. Thomas, O.V., was the Guy's representative in the " Feathers." —The O.V. colony up here numbers ten, and a few individual remarks are added below :— A. S. Maund (St. Edmund Hall). Lives in far distant regions, and is therefore difficult of access. Is reading for a Diploma in Education, and is on view in College only between the hours of 9 and 12 p.m. G. H. Sharpe (St. Edmund Hall). Reads Theology with his finals looming before him at the end of term. At present is laid up with a twisted knee from Soccer, which is an additional reason why he is so rarely seen. J. G. S. Thomas (Hertford). Still mainly occupied in reading Medicine, but divides the rest of his time between Soccer, Cross-country Running and Boxing, where he has risen to the exalted heights of Secretary to the University Boxing Club. Is at present on the sick-list with a broken rib, but is progressing favourably. H. T. P. Haines (Queen's). Spends his mornings drinking coffee at the " Cadena," and his evenings in music and song. Great authority on dancing and history (with which he fills up his spare time). G. N. T. Widdrington (St. Edmund Hall). A man cf diverse energies and occupations. Plays soccer and hockey, runs and rows for his College, and never finds a spare afternoon. Can be seen any evening at the Masonic Hall, and is the recognised authority on modes of exit in event of a " Prog " raid. Incidentally reads history, and devotes his time to bringing his tutor to an early grave. B. C. McKenzie (Keble). Reads English Literature for Honour Schools. Bicycles over the country for exercise and recreation. V. G. S. Stuart-Shepherd (Keble). Finds the present life far different from that in '16. Is reading Theological Group for Pass Schools.
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D. V. Beckingham (Keble). Reads Final School of Theology, and rows occasionally. Rarely seen. E. B. Bridger (Keble). His time is at present fully occupied with " Divvers " and Pass Mods. Has as yet no entertaining vices. Rows spasmodically. M. E. Webb (Hertford). Has discovered what a large amount of work is necessary for Hon. Mods., but up till now has successfully evaded a great deal of it. Played in Freshmen's Soccer Trials and also for his College, but is another " crock " probably till end of term on account of a twisted knee. With all the usual wishes for the School's success. Yours, etc., OXON.
Cambridge totter. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, There is always a great deal of talk about the " Cambridge Letter," but I'm afraid everybody fights shy of writing it. Our first duty is to wish D. D. Warren, of Corpus Christi, the best of luck in his future career. Much to Ihe grief of his College, he has just sailed to India to take up his duties in the I.C.S. Then we must welcome the arrival of three Freshers, who are settling down to College life very rapidly. Our total number is now nine, but as we are all scattered over Cambridge we see very little of each other. Cambridge is still as crowded as ever, the number cf undergraduates is estimated at 5,000, and we do not think that is much wrong. However, taking us altogether, we think it is an extremely happy little party. Now for some of the individual news. S. F. Davenport, B.A. (St. Catharine's and Ridley Hall). The most learned of our members, having accounted for three "trips," as they are commonly called. His philosophy is marvellous, being always ready to prove that we do not exist. When he starts we dare not offer any resistance, for I'm afraid we are all too careful of our shadows to risk a blow. A. Macdonald (Corpus Christi). Has been reading Italian with success, but has now changed to modern languages in anticipation of a post at the Foreign Office. We all wondered why he can be found in his rooms soon after 8 p.m. so frequently : we think it must be owing to a little incident with a bicycle. Why will they make these new rules? Is busily occupied by the local newsagents, being on the committee of the " New Cambridge " and the " Cambridge Review." We all hope he will obtain an appointment at the Foreign Office. P. N. W. Strong (Selwyn). Is chiefly remarkable for his speeches at the Union ; his dress on these occasions always looking as though he had put it on in a hurry, which is probably true, seeing that he lives in a perpetual state of
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hurry-hurry-hurry. However, he is always given a warm reception and does not disappoint, for he speaks very fluently and his arguments are of the best. A. G. Coombs (Selwyn). Was seen on November 5th pouring paraffin on a bonfire, and now spends his evenings at home.- Runs, rows, works, smokes, eats, and sleeps with the greatest of vigour. Reads Theology in his spare time. J. Bowstead (Corpus Christi). Is a worthy member of society, always spending his evenings out—we wonder where he goes. As he is always out he is seldom seen, and consequently we are at a loss as to how to improve his character. H. S. Denton (Sidney Sussex). We have heard of him but have not seen him. We believe he is a choral exhibitioner, but as to this point we are not certain. Why does he live so far away? V. P. Ho wells (Queen's). After much deliberation has discovered that a " history special " is easier than a " Mechanical Engineering Tripos." Can be seen on the river every day and frequently " in." B. S. J. Howells (Queen's). Lives in constant dread of the Previous exam—we wish him luck when he takes it in December—for which he has a " season ticket." Rows with success. A. T. Adams (Emmanuel). We congratulate him on winning a Choral Exhibition. Reads History when not otherwise employed. Wishing the School every success. Hoping for a good supply of " Freshers " next October. Yours, CANTAB.
Upper Sixth.
Vakk.
M. E. Webb (1915-1920), Head of School, School Monitor, 2nd XI Cricket 1916, ist XI. 1917-1918, Captain 1919-1920, 2nd XI. Football 1916, ist XI. 1917-1918, Captain 1919, ist IV. Rowing 1919, Captain 1920, Shooting V I I I . 1916-1920, Captain 1918 and 1920, Bisley 1919, Editor of "Vigornian," Librarian, Cadet Officer O.T.C. R. Owen Smith (1917-1920), Lance-Corporal O.T.C. Lower Sixth. C. I. Record (1918-1920), School Monitor ist XI. Cricket 1918, Secretary 1919-1920, 2nd XI. Football 1918, ist XI. 1919, ist IV. Fives 1919, Shooting VIII. 1919-1920, Sergt. O.T.C. A. H. Adams (1917-1920), School Monitor, 2nd XI. Football 1918, ist XI. 1919, Secretary of Boats 1919, Captain 1920, Librarian, C.S.M. O.T.C. G. D. Horner (1918-1920), Pte. O.T.C. H. S. Thomas (1914-1920), School Monitor, ist IV. Cox 1914-1918, 2nd IV. Rowing 1919, 2nd XI. Cricket 19171918, ist XI. 1919-1920, 2nd XI. Football 1918, ist XI. 1919, Fives IV. 1919, Captain 1920, Shooting VIII. 19191920, Capt. of Gymnasium, Sergt. O.T.C.
H. H. Blanchard (1919-1920), School Monitor, 2nd XI. Cricket 1919, ist XI. 1920, ist XI. Football 1919, Shooting VIII. 1920, Sergt. O.T.C. R. E. Hulse, Curator of Museum, Pte. O.T.C. VA.
B. St. J. Howells (1917-1920), 2nd IV. Rowing 1918, ist XI. 1919, Secretary 1920, Secretary of the Orchestra, Sergt. O.T.C. N. A. Snowball (1919-1920), ist XI. Cricket 1919-1920, Pte. O.T.C. R. A. Constance (1917-1920), Pte. O.T.C. VB. R. V. Farr (1917-1920), 2nd XI. Cricket 1919-1920, 2nd XI. Football 1918, ist XI. 1919, Lance-Corporal O.T.C. R. E. Coomber (1914-1920), Pte. O.T.C. F. E. W. Lanning (1915-1920), Corporal O.T.C. F. H. C. Shorting (1916-1920), 2nd XI. Cricket 19181919, ist XI. 1920, 2nd XI. Football 1919, Pte. O.T.C. O. Collett (1918-1920), Pte. O.T.C. H. T. Fell, 2nd XI. Cricket 1920, 2nd XI. Football 1919, Shooting VIII. 1920, Pte. O.T.C. L. E. Tyrrell (1916-1920), Lance-Corporal O.T.C. T. Andrews (1918-1920) Private O.T.C.
Remove. G. A. West (1916-1920), Pte. O.T.C. C. E. V. Baker (1917-1920), Pte. O.T.C. IVA.
E. L. Seager (1919-1920), Pte. O.T.C. A. H. E. England (1916-1920). IVB.
E. de C. Tillett (1919-1920), Pte. O.T.C. E. D. Jones (1919-1920). 111!.
E. E. Crane (1920).
VB. Nercessian i. H.
Saluctc.
IVA. Goddard L. E. H., Nercessian ii. A. IVs. Phelips i." A. S., Wright W. III. Garratt A. L. 11 A. Mayhew W. J. HE. Graeme L. E. G., Hodgkins C. G. M., James E. G., Langfield R. A. W., Lee R. E., Leverton L. C., Linton A. F., Senter C. E. A., Steward C. C., Phelips J. H. C. I.
Andrews W. E., Brighouse R. M., Jackson J. M- N.