The Vigornian December 1925

Cbc Uigornian. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE, " ro ftcv SiSaicra fiavOavia, ra S' fvptrd £rfru, TO. y ein.Ta irapa. 0«ii

No. 114.

VOL. IX.

Contents* Editorial School Calendar ... School Notes Football Cricket Retrospect O.T.C. Notes Chappel Memorial Reading Room The Library Literary and Debating Society ... Chess Notes Swimming Notes The Duke of York's Camp Lecture Society " Hamlet " Electra Revisited ... From Quartz Vein to Gold Bar in Nublia ... The Return The Hero Concerning Boxing A November Fantasy From the Greek Anthology O.V. News School Officers Valete Salvete The Oxford Letter Correspondence Contemporaries

PRICE is.

DECEMBER, 1925. Page 421 422 422 423 426 426 427 428 428 43° 43° 432 433 433 434 434 434 434 435 435 436 436 437 437 438 439

editorial. Again the task of writing the Editorial comes round, and this time the yoke is set upon a different and a weaker neck. Elijah has departed and his mantle has descended upon us like a wet blanket. For whenever our Muse essayed a flight in prose or verse, it was soon brought down to earth " madidis alis." Like an iron weight the unwritten Editorial hung upon us and until we had finished it our other literary activities were, perforce, suspended. Why should this have been so? Why, when faced with the Editorial task, did we not rush eagerly to it to embrace it, even as a child to his father's arms? The root of the matter, as is obvious, lies in our character. Unlike the editor of fiction, we are of a very retiring disposition, unwilling to refuse any contributions, and so we take umbrage at the thought of unveiling ourselves to the vulgar gaze, as is the Editor's duty in the Editorial. If we could choose, we would retire " far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife " to some fair retreat where we could cherish the tender flower of our undoubted genius. But it cannot be, and against our will, we are dragged into the common eddy from which we emerge much bruised and battered. Dazed we look for solace and we find it in—well, not the Editorial, at any rate. * * * We are constantly asked why the Vigornian does not come out at beginning of term or at half-term or somewhere in between. We are assured that any time would

THE VIGORNIAN.

422

be better than the present. We humbly put the following considerations before our readers. We are not paid for our work, and so feel disinclined to work in the holidays to produce a number at the beginning of term. We are not such prolific writers as to be able to fill a number of the Vigornian with suitable matter by half-term, and really it is not fair to suggest that the Football Season should be reviewed when it has scarcely begun. We therefore ask our readers to wait patiently throughout the term for the Vigornian.

School Calendar. Fri., Sat., Sun.,

Sept. 18.—Boarders Return. „ 19.—School Service in the Cathedral. 9 a.m. ,, 20.—School Celebration of the Holy Communion, 8.45 a.m. Wed., Oct. 2i.—Light Concert in College Hall, 4.30 p.m. Sat., „ 24.—Entertainment by the " London Hospital Three," 8.0 p.m. Mon., ,, 26.—Certificate " A " Practical Exam. Mon., Nov. 2.—Half Term. Lord Grey's holiday. Thurs., ,, 5.—O.T.C. Field Operations at Kempsey Common. 7.—Lecture by the Headmaster on " Some Sat., Places in Italy," 8.0 p.m. Mon., „ 9.—Certificate " A " Written Exam. Mon., ,, 16.—The War Film " Ypres " at the Silver Cinema. Tues., „ 17.—King's Scholarship Exam, begins. 21.—Lecture by Captain Greenstreet, "Two Sat., Years in the Antarctic," 8.0 p.m. 28.—Lecture by Mr. Paul Edmonds, " The Sat., Road to Endor," 8.0 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 3.—Advent Service in the Cathedral, 3 p.m. 9.—Lecture by the Rev. Clifford A. Martin, Wed., " The Church Missionary Society," 5 P- m Thurs., ,, 10.—Advent Service in the Cathedral, 3 p.m. Thurs., „ 17.—Advent Service in the Cathedral, 3 p.m. 18.—School Concert, 7.30 p.m. Fri., Sat., ,, 19.—Exeunt Omnes. Mon., Jan. 18.—-Boarders Return. 19.—School begins. Tues.,

school notes. School Notes, as well as conversations, may be introduced by a few general remarks about the weather, which really has a very great influence upon events during the term. This term we have had a very large share of excellent weather, and even now frost seems to be taking the place of rain. It is said that oxen in the neighbourhood of the Severn have had several uneasy moments. * * *

Football has flourished exceedingly and some excellent games have been seen on the School ground. * * * The Field Day which was held on Kempsey Common was universally admitted to have been the best of recent terms. This at least was the opinion of many of the soldiery. Official opinions may be found in another column. To the onlooker it seemed that the gallantry of the troops was only equalled by the low cunning displayed by the commanders ! * * # The results of the King's Scholarship examination were particularly satisfactory, in that all the successful candidates came from the School itself. We congratulate the new King's Scholars. * * * Early in the term an excellent concert was given by a high-efficient amateur jazz-band. The best tribute that can be paid to the performers is that their music aroused in one an almost uncontrollable desire to dance. One could almost hear whispers : " If we pushed back those desks there would be almost room. . . ." * * * Much excitement has been aroused by the removal of large areas of the surface of the Headmaster's tennis-lawn, the College Green and the Cricket Field, by men armed with strong and fascinating instruments shaped like monstrous cheese-cutters. Is there, we wonder, in progress an exchange of turf on the principle of Stephen Leacock's scheme for sending Indian missionaries to China, Chinese missionaries to America, and American missionaries to India? * * * We congratulate C. E. Porter on winning the Boys' Singles Tennis Championship at Malvern. * * * The Literary and Debating Society has been very active this term, though for the most part its meetings have been rather poorly attended. * * * Large as it is, the Chappel Reading-room is always quite filled with people brooding over the affairs of the world, or immersed in the latest Rugger results. We have observed, too, a small band of earnest students who pore upon the splendid set of Punch which the reading-room contains. No longer do we tell stories beginning " In last week's Punch . . ." » * * We heard with great regret at the beginning of the term that Captain Whitaker's period of Command of the O.T.C., which the War Office had already extended by special request from the normal four years to six years, has now come to an end. We need scarcely say how much we all owe to him, and it is typical of his interest that he has not severed all connection with it, but remains to assist Captain Bentley, who takes his place. * # *

THE VIGORNIAN. An innovation has been made in the abandonment of the usual Prize Giving in October. The ceremonies of last term in connection with the opening of the New Buildings suggested that the proper time for Prize Day and speeches was on the Friday preceding the Old Boys Reunion in the summer term. Prize Day has consequently been transferred to this date, which will probably be July gth. * * *

The Chess VI. did well to secure two wins against the Blind College, and their win against the Royal Grammar School was most gratifying. The competition next term should be most exciting. # # # OBITUARY. A. de B. Edye, the news of whose death in a motor cycle accident came as a great shock to us, was at School from 1918-1923. Many members of the School therefore will remember him as a keen, cheerful and loyal School-fellow, who was active in many departments of our School life. They mourn his loss and desire to express their deep sympathy with his relatives in his untimely death at the age of 21.

To prevent too long a delay in giving some of the Prizes there will be a subsidiary Prize Giving during the interval in the Christmas Concert, but the most important School Prizes will be given in the summer. * * *

football. The following was the fixture list this term :— 1ST XV.

Wed., Sat., Wed., Sat., Sat., Wed., Wed., Sat., Sat.,

Oct.

3.—Worcester City 2nd XV. 10.—Warwick School 14.—Hereford C.S 17.—Cheltenham College 2nd XV. ... 24.—Brecon College Nov. 4.—St. Edward's, Oxford, 2nd XV. 18.—Hereford C.S 28.—King's Norton R.F.C De 5.—Warwick School ...

26—3 iS—9 45—° 18—30

Home Away Home Home Home Home Away Home Home

Won Won Won Lost Lost Won Scratched

Home Away Away Home Away

Won Won Lost Won Scratched

33—3

Away Home Home Home Away

Won Scratched

i—3

Won Scratched

22—5

S—44 34—°

2ND XV.

Sat., Wed., Sat., Wed., Sat.,

Oct. „ „ Nov. Dec.

10.—Warwick School ... 14.—Hereford C.S 17.—King's Norton R.F.C 18.—-Hereford C.S 5.—Warwick School

Sat., Sat., Sat., Wed., Sat.,

Oct. 17.—Downs School, Colwall ,, 31.—Tredennyke School Nov. 14.—Hereford C.S. ... ,, 18.—Downs School, Colwall „ 28.—Tredennyke School

...

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

...

...

...

UNDER 14 XV. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... * * *

...

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

16— 21 63 —o

For the first time since the introduction of Rugger it may be said that the season's XV.'s have been built up from material supplied by the lower games. This fact seems to promise well for future years.

this fault decreased as the season developed and that the handling has usually been good. The forwards, though good all round, have been noticeably better in the loose than in the tight scrums.

Both ist and 2nd XV.'s have been stronger if anything forward than behind the scrum, for both threequarter lines have been marked by a certain disinclination to use every yard of their pace, a certain lack of determination in " going for " the line. It must be said, however, that

Our heartiest thanks are due to the Headmaster, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Tattersall, and Mr. Bentley for the invaluable coaching which they have given to the ist and 2nd XV.'s. * * *

424

THE VIGORNIAN.

Junior Football has prospered exceedingly this term, and owing to the untiring interest and excellent coaching of Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Strong, a very promising " Under 14 XV." has been developed. Thus the prospects for next term's Junior Football are very encouraging. Finally we would thank the Masters generally for the interest they have shown both in refereeing and in playing themselves. C.J.C.M., M.R.A.A. * * * KING'S SCHOOL v. WORCESTER CITY R.F.C. " A." This match was played on October 3rd and resulted in a win for the School by 20 points to 6. The club were much heavier than the School, arid in the early stages of the game attacked vigorously. The School defended well but did not settle down to work as a team. Individuals were good but there was not enough cohesion in the side. The forwards played a vigorous game, but, as was to be expected in their first match, did not combine well in the loose, while the movements of the backs broke down too soon. The standard of play improved in the second half and there is every prospect of a really good side, when they have played together a little longer. Tries were scored by Graves-Morris (2), Wallace, and Mayhew, and Hooper kicked four goals. Teams: King's School—C. L. Garnett, back; R. K. Hooper, C. J. C. Molony, P. H. Graves-Morris, W. J. Mayhew, threequarters; A. B. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton, halves; G. E. Churchill, D. K. Peters, B. S. Verdier, J. S. Hurford, H. C. Gettings, L. L. Wallace, J. S. Colombi, P. C. W. Monahan, forwards. * # » KING'S SCHOOL v. WARWICK SCHOOL. The School visited Warwick for their second match on October loth. In this match the School showed great improvement. They defended well and by close marking rendered ineffectual several offensive movements of the Warwick backs. The forwards then began to get their share of the ball and the backs showed they had power in attack. Their passes were delivered with more precision. Arbuckle got his backs in motion but occasionally hung on too long and movements broke down. The first try was due to a good combined movement between Arbuckle, Molony, and Graves-Morris, who on receiving the ball cleverly side-stepped the full back and scored between the posts. Hooper had no difficulty with the kick. Warwick retaliated with an unconverted try, but Graves-Morris further increased our lead with a try before half-time, which Hooper again converted. In the second half Graves-Morris was responsible for another try after a good individual effort and Hooper converted from a really difficult angle. Warwick now improved and pressed our line, which was many times in danger, but it was a mis-kick by one of pur backs which

eventually let them in. Their kick at goal failed but shortly afterwards they scored a penalty goal. There was no further scoring and a well-contested game ended in a victory for the School by 15 points to 9. Features of the game were the strong running of GravesMorris, the good kicking of Hooper, and the reliability of Garnett at full back. The latter made no mistake and saved his side on many occasions. But the whole side were playing better as a team and, when they can get a little more finish to their movements, will be difficult to beat. School—C. L. Garnett, back; R. K. Hooper, C. J. C. Molony, P. H. Graves-Morris, W. J. Mayhew, threequarters ; E. C. Halton, A. B. Arbuckle, halves; G. E. Churchill, B. S. Verdier, J. S. Colombi, J. S. Hurford, H. C. Gettings, L. L. Wallace, P. C. W. Monahan, D. A. B. Hopkin, forwards.

KING'S SCHOOL v. HEREFORD SCHOOL. In this match Hereford were outplayed from the outset. The School commenced to attack at once and soon discovered the weaknesses of their opponents, whose tackling was weak and whose backs kicked too much. Twenty-four points were scored in the first half and the final score was 6 goals and 5 tries (45 points) to nil. Tries were scored by Graves-Morris (4), Molony (2), Hooper (2), Mayhew, Halton and Monahan. In this match, although they were not really extended, the forwards showed what they could do.. They got their share of the ball, but it was in the loose that they excelled, every man backing up well. The backs, against weak tackling, were able to score frequently, and showed more combination than in previous games. They still need more precision in their passing, but Mayhew's try was the result of a really good movement. School—C. L. Garnett, back; R. K. Hooper, C. J. C. Molony, P. H. Graves-Morris, W. J. Mayhew, threequarters ; E. C. Halton, A. B. Arbucklc, halves; G. E. Churchill, B. S. Verdier, J. S. Colombi, J. S. Hurford, H. C. Gettings, P. C. W. Monahan, L. L. Wallace, D. A. B. Hopkin, forwards. KING'S SCHOOL v. CHELTENHAM COLLEGE 2ND

XV.

18 points—30 points. An excellent game was played at home on Saturday, Oct. i7th, against Cheltenham 2nd XV. At first the new ball and rather strong wind were responsible for a period of scrappy play. Later both sides settled down to really good football and a keen and vigorous game resulted. Both sides pressed in turn. Cheltenham scored first. The School were attacking and a try seemed probable, when Cheltenham, taking advantage of a mistake, came through on the blind side of the scrum and got right away to score in an easy position for the goal kick. Before half-time

THE VIGORNIAN. they added another goal and turned with a lead of 10 points. The School had played well in the first half, but in the second half they played much better. The forwards got the ball a good deal more in the scrum and gave the backs more opportunities. The backs attacked vigorously and soon scored. A good movement was checked near the Cheltenham line, but the forwards were up and quickly heeled again. Arbuckle passed to Molony, who scored, Hooper converting. Cheltenham retaliated with another goal, and then the School for a time controlled the game. They exerted continual pressure. Graves-Morris scored an excellent try after a clever run, Mayhew completed a good combined movement, and Hooper later scored far out after the ball had passed right along the line. Hooper converted all except the last try, his kick in this case falling just under the bar. Cheltenham had scored another goal, and the score was now 20 points to 18, each side having crossed the line four times. There were now only a few minutes left, but in that time Cheltenham scored two goals. The School were again attacking and a movement had been checked in the Cheltenham line. Their full-back gained possession, and instead of kicking passed to a waiting threequarter, who found an opening and ran the whole length of the field to score. A few minutes later a dropped pass was snapped up and the final goal scored. In this match the School played better than they had done this term, and this experience against Cheltenham, a really good side, will be invaluable to them in future matches. Team—(As for Hereford).

KING'S SCHOOL v. CHRIST'S COLLEGE, BRECON. In this match the School met a side who were faster and much more experienced than they. The School forwards played hard and well and, in the loose, held their own. But they were beaten for possession in the scrum and the School backs were almost constantly on the defensive. On the few occasions on which they were enabled to institute attacks, the close marking and keen tackling of their opponents caused these to break down before they had really developed. Brecon scored first after a good movement and converted. Soon afterwards the ball came across to Mayhew, who was tackled. The ball was played and Graves-Morris commenced a rush which was taken up and carried on by the forwards, who had backed up well, and resulted in a try which Hooper converted. From this point Brecon scored heavily and at half-time had a lead of 21 points to 5. The School continued to fight l u t were outplayed behind the scrum and Brecon won a hard and fast match by 44 points to 5. Team—C. L. Garnett, back; R. K. Hooper, C. J. C. Molony, P. H. Graves-Morris, W. J. Mayhew, threequarters ; E. C. Halton, A. B. Arbuckle, halves ; M. R. A. Ainslie, G. E. Churchill, J. S. Colombi, J. S. Hurford, H. C. Gettings, D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, L. L. Wallace, forwards. * * #

425

KING'S SCHOOL v. ST. EDWARD'S, OXFORD. In their match against St. Edward's School, Oxford, the School started badly and for at least 20 minutes of the first half were penned in their own half. Oxford ought to have scored on at least two occasions, but bad handling by their backs rendered their attacks ineffectual. Then the School woke up and played really hard and well. The forwards began to control the scrummages and in the loose were better than their opponents. The ball was taken up the field and heeled. The movement of the backs which followed almost ended in a try. Shortly afterwards the scoring was opened by Graves-Morris, who dropped a fine penalty goal from nearly half-way. From this time onward the School gave their opponents no quarter. A good movement from left to right of the line ended in Mayhew scoring an unconverted try. Shortly afterwards a similar movement produced the same result. Later the forwards were checked in a loose run and the ball came back to Molony, who scored a good try near the posts. This time Hooper converted and half-time came with the School leading by 14 points to nil. In the second half the pressure was kept up. St. Edward's continued to play hard but were beaten in the scrum and behind. Rain had fallen and the ball was now difficult to handle, but in spite of this several good movements were carried out. The forwards were now playing well together and from a good rush which carried the ball well up the field Hurford scored an unconverted try. Mayhew again crossed the line and shortly afterwards GravesMorris scored an excellent try after a brilliant run, in which his powerful hand-off was very much in evidence. He converted the try himself. Then Molony made a fine opening for Hooper, where speed carried him over. GravesMorris and Mayhew again scored unconverted tries, and the School won by 34 points to nil. A pleasing feature of the match was the improved play of Mayhew. He scored four tries and showed a great deal more determination in going for the line. Graham, who was substitute for Arbuckle, played very well, while Molony and Graves-Morris in the centre were as usual very sound both in attack and defence. The forwards, after settling down, played extremely well and it would be invidious to single out individuals from a pack where all played so well together. Teams :— King's School—C. L. Garnett, back; R. K. Hooper, C. J. C. Molony, P. H. Graves-Morris, W. J. Mayhew, threequarters; E. C. Halton, R. I. Graham, halves; M. R. A. Ainslie, G. E. Churchill, J. S. Colombi, J. S. Hurford, H. C. Gettings, L. L. Wallace, P. C. W. Monahan, B. S. Verdier, forwards. St. Edward's, Oxford—N. A. Peiry-Cox, back; L. C. R. Earle, T. E. Murray, P. H. Jackson, J. J. Coney, threequarters; P. O'Hagan, F. E. Hicks, halves; J. N. C. Holland, C. H. Thompson, A. C. E. Atkinson, H. Young, K. J. E. Toop, W. E. N. Green, V. R. A. Denne, and H. Spurway, forwards. * * *

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426

We have been asked to bring before the notice of our readers The Bournemouth Rugby Football Club which, though only formed four years ago, now runs two XV.'s and is in a flourishing condition. It will be glad to enrol as playing or non-playing members any who come to live in the district.

Cricket Retrospect.

The 2nd XI., although the material at our disposal at the beginning of the term did not seem very promising, acquitted themselves very well, losing only one match and winning five outright.

IST XI. Date.

Sat., May 23. . Home Sat., ,, 3°- • . . Away Wed., June 2. . .. Away Sat., „ 6. . Home Thurs., , „ i i . .. Away Sat., Away ,, 13- • Tues., „ 16. . Home Sat., County » 20. Wed., „ 24. . . . Away Sat., Home ,, 27. . Wed., July i. . Home Sat., 4- • . . Home Wed., „ 8. . Home Sat., ,, ii. Home

No notes of this kind would be complete without some appreciation of the untiring interest shown by Mr. Rammell, Mr. Whitaker, and other members of the Staff who have devoted much of their valuable time to coaching. * * * HOUSE MATCHES.

This season we may fairly claim to have regained the ground lost, due to the floods in 1924. After a disastrous defeat at the hands of Warwick School our prospects seemed low, but we redeemed ourselves at Norton Barracks by an excellent win after a race against time. After this match we never looked back, losing only to Worcester City, and finished up the season having won six matches, drawn four, and lost two.

Ground.

We'hope that the lower games, better organised than usual, will produce cricketers worthy to fill the places of those who have left us.

In the first round School House failed badly to Castle House, a vastly superior team ; for Castle House Ainslie made ninety and Sherwood took nine wickets for twentytwo runs in one innings. In the second round the Hostel, although they only just led Day Boys in the first innings, compiled a very large score in the second, and won by over two hundred runs ; meanwhile Natland succumbed to Castle House, who won by an innings and ninety-five runs. The final proved a disappointing game; Castle House with a lead of fifty-six, put together a large total in the second innings, mainly due to lack of bowlers on the part of the Hostel who, never despairing, finished up a hundred and ten runs behind, and so a well fought for cup passed to a deserving team.

MATCHES. Result.

Opponents. Malvern Colts ist XI. Warwick School Norton Barracks T. E. Rammell, Esq.'s XI — Dean Close School Malvern Colts ist XI. Dean Close School Worcester City C.C Hereford C.S. Cathedral Guild C.C. Norton Barracks Cathedral Guild C.C. Warwick School Old Vigornians

O.C.C. Dotes. The Contingent went into Camp at Tidworth Park, the total strength of the Camp Detachment being 75 of all ranks. We had a dismal start, as it rained nearly all the morning, and most of the way to Tidworth. However, we got into camp fairly dry, and managed to draw our equipment and bedding in fine intervals. On the next day we were occupied mainly in fatigues and in watching other people march in. Then we settled down to work in earnest.

For.

Against.

Won Lost

S 91

28

Won Draw Scratched. Draw Scratched. Lost Won Draw Draw Won Won Won

'47 for 6 209 for 7 (dec.) ...

142 '75 for 9

!S4 for 7

191 for S (dec.)

108 140 for 4

'47 27

202

1 66 for 4

for 8 172 for 7 171 for 6 J74 for 6 (dec.) ...

167 for 6 (dec.) 129 169 for 6 (dec.) 70

2

HS

Training was interrupted by wet weather once or twice, but nobody seemed to mind very much, and in spite of the wet—or perhaps because of it—it was a very healthy camp. Six sore feet and one digestive disarrangement being the extent of our casualties. One feature of the Camp was the number of long morning parades. We took out a somewhat meagre haversack ration, stayed out till three o'clock or so, and came back, having done a good day's work, with nothing more to do but to refresh ourselves and grumble.

THE VIGORNIAN. On the whole, this seemed a popular innovation. Another feature was the night operations. In these we were the attacking company on the extreme right, and were ordered to make a detour in the darkness, and attack the enemy on his left flank. This we did to our own great satisfaction, capturing two whole platoons of the enemy, and earning a certain amount of kudos from the Regular Staff for having carried out a difficult operation. Another achievement by which we were much uplifted was that we were mentioned in Brigade Orders on the Sunday as the smartest Guard in the Brigade on that day. Finally, on the last day, in the Brigade Field Operations, we were called on to make a counter-attack on a ridge which the enemy had captured. This we did with such success that the enemy was driven from all the positions he had captured. Another, but less pleasing feature, was the flying. Many of us had hoped to be taken up in aeroplanes, but owing to some misunderstanding, the motor transport came and went before we knew. Then there was the Tattoo. If that at Wembley was more impressive than the one we saw, it must have been marvellous. Illuminated aeroplanes, bluejackets, man-handling guns, tanks travelling as fast as a horse gallops, a musical ride, some amazing foot-drill, and the massed bands of seven Regiments giving it all a background. Altogether a successful and enjoyable Camp.

A Field Day was held on November 5th on Kempsey Common. An Eastland Force, consisting of No. I Platoon, under the command of Sergt. Molony, marched by way of Norton to Stonehall Common. They were there ordered to take up a defensive position as forming part of an outpost company. The disposition of this force was good. The commander showed a good knowledge of the principles of defence, and when attacked his withdrawal was properly carried out. The area he was given to defend was, however, too extensive for the small force under his command. The Westland Force, under the command of C.S.M. Graves-Morris, and consisting of Nos. 2 and 3 Platoons, with recruits, marched along the main Kempsey road to a point just south of the village. From that point they acted as Advance Guard to a force moving eastward over the Common. This movement was well carried out. They advanced until contact with the enemy was made. His forward posts were quickly driven in and the attacking commander made plans to take the main positions of the defence. An attack on the left was partially successful, but the main attack was developing well on the right when time put an end to operations. The exercise showed that N.C.O.'s had a good knowledge of the general principles involved. There is still a tendency to take up positions which afford cover from view only and a certain lack of communication was noticed.

427

Tea was enjoyed on Stonehall Commdrf and the return 1 to Worcester was made by motor-bus.

The Practical Examination for Certificate " A " took place on October 26th. Of the 21 candidates who entered 15 were successful and sat for the Theoretical Examination 1 on November 2nd, the results of which will be out at the' beginning of next term. Candidates successful in Practical Examination:—" M. R. A. Ainslie, D. G. W. Brown, C. E. Coverdale, J. J. Darby, C. E. N. Davies, H. C. Gettings, R. I. Graham, O. Greenfield, H. F. Langstaff, J. J. Painting, E. A. Rieu, K. N. Ross, S. Taylor, R. E. Thomas, D. M. Bethune Williams.

Cbappel memorial Reading Room. Since the printing of the final list of subscribers to the Building Fund, which was sent to all subscribers together with the last number of the Vigornian containing an account of the Opening, the following additional subscriptions have been received :—•

£ s. d. Lt.-Comm. H. G. Kirkby, R.N., O.V Mrs. Gettings J. Bowstead, O.V C . T. Ley, O . V Received from parents through School bills ...

i i S 2 17

i o i o S ° 2 0 7 o

I desire also to express my gratitude to a friend of the School, who wishes to remain anonymous, for offering to pay the expense of the printing and postage of the Vigornians sent to subscribers, which amounted to £4 135. 6d. The Building Fund is now closed, the whole cost of the building having been met by the subscriptions received up to July last, but the Furnishing and Equipment Fund will remain open until the Reading Room is fully equipped. A spendid start has been made and we must keep up to the standard with which we have started. Much remains to be done and I shall welcome further contributions for this purpose. The O.V. Club have made a noble gift of ^50, which has provided a very handsome oak newspaper-reading desk with panelling and the School arms and an inscription. Mrs. Chappel has presented a framed enlarged photograph of Canon Chappel, which hangs over the mantelpiece. Several parents are most kindly continuing their terminal subscriptions which they began to the Building Fund. To all these we offer our warmest thanks. The best acknowledgment they can have is to know how greatly the Reading Room is used and how much it is appreciated by

THE VIGORNIAN.

428

the School. We already wonder how we ever got on without it. It serves as a Club for the School, for quiet reading and recreation; it is controlled by themselves, and almost the only rules that I have thought it necessary to make that no ink-pots are allowed and that School work other than reading is banished. C. CREIGHTON.

Che Cibrarp. The following new books have been added to the Library this term :— John Macnab Paid With Thanks The Sword of Freedom Tales of the Long Bow The Forsyte Saga Torquemada The Green Archer Daphne Bruno Clubfoot the Avenger Mr. Greatheart The Last Count The Clicking of Cuthbert

J. Buchan. Ian Hay. C. Gilson. G. K. Chesterton. J. Galsworthy. R. Sabatini. E. Wallace. Ernest Raymond. V. Williams. J. Buchan. " Sapper." P. G. Wodehouse.

The following are to be found in the Reading Room :— When We Were Young A. A. Milne. M. A. Noble. Gilligan's Men Talks About Wireless Sir O. Lodge. The book " Abbeys " has been presented by the G.W.R. Company. * * * We should like to express our thanks to Dr. Mark Bates, O.V., for presenting " A Text-book of Oarsmanship," by G. C. Bourne; to the Rev. J. A. Sharrock for presenting his book entitled " South Lndian Missions," and in particular to the Headmaster for presenting an almost complete set of Punch, " The Monuments of Worcester Cathedral," Henley's " Boy's Book of Cricket," and " The Concise Oxford Dictionary."

Clterarp and Debating Society. President, C. J. C. Molony; Secretary, K. N. Ross; Committee, P. H. Graves-Morris, C. E. Coverdale, D. K. Peters, D. G. W. Brown, M. J. C. Stanley, P. H. B. Woodhouse, J. S. Hurford, J. R. Wingfield-Digby. The Session was opened by a debate on Tuesday, Oct. zoth, at 4.45 p.m., in College Hall. The attendance was

good. The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and signed nem. con. by the Chairman, Mr. P. H. B. Woodhouse. The motion before the House was: " That the effeminate tendency of men and the masculine tendency of women at present are not detrimental to the welfare of England." Mr. C. J. C. Molony proposed the motion. He flatly denied that men were effeminate and tried, somewhat inconclusively, to prove that because his opponents said that effeminacy in men was undesirable, they also thought it undesirable in women. He reminded the House that soldiers in the seventeenth century wore gorgeous clothes, but could not be called effeminate. He considered that what was called effeminacy was merely a new and desirable fashion. Mr. P. H. Graves-Morris opposed the motion and prophesied terrible results if the prevailing tendencies continued. He declared that Englishmen would have become like degraded Eastern potentates. He said that men in following the example of women would become as unscrupulous as women. He urged the House not to allow the Army to become so many milksops. In regard to women, he declared that men would marry foreign women if British women became masculine. Mr. D. K. Peters seconded the motion and proceeded to question some of the last speaker's statements. He contended that if women do the work of men, they should be entitled to wear men's dress. Mr. J. S. Hurford seconded the opposition. He deplored the fact that men were getting like women in the matter of gossiping. He considered that it would be exceedingly harmful if women got like men and men like women. The motion was then thrown open to the House and Messrs. Glutton, Wingfield-Digby, Hopkin and Ainslie supported the motion, while Messrs. Wallace, Boole and Stanley opposed it. The Hon. Opposer and Proposer then summed up, the former in a vigorous speech which carried many votes, and on the House dividing, the motion was found to be lost by 32 votes to 15. On Wednesday, October 28th, at 4.45 p.m., a meeting of the Society was held in College Hall, presided over by Mr. C. E. Coverdale. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed nem. con. The attendance was fair. After the President had apologised for being unable to read his paper, Mr. D. K. Peters began " a short discourse on ' Brevity is the soul of wit,' followed by a few remarks in defence of the man of wit." He suggested that at school one was perhaps best able to analyse different kinds of humour and stated that he himself had been well acquainted with " f u n n y men." He considered that it was much more difficult to repeat an anecdote than to bring off an original one, and said that one of the essen-

THE VlGORNiAN. tials of a good joke was pithiness. He thought that that small band of people who helped to amuse the troops during the Great War did far more than many charitable philanthropists. The objection that the life of the comedian was an easy one was, in his opinion, a fallacy. He alluded to the misery of the unhappy comedian who is forced to say funny things in order to make both ends meet. The real humourist is the man who can see humour in apparently adverse situations : he can laugh at himself instead of cursing other people. After telling the story of a certain shop-assistant, he concluded by saying that the duller the place one is in, the fuller it is of humour to the keen eye. After a short discussion, Mr. K. N. Ross began his paper entitled, "Queen Elizabeth was a man." He began by quoting a number of authorities to prove that Queen Elizabeth had some secret which she kept throughout her life, and showed how she exalted Mrs. Ashley and Sir Thomas Parry. He then related the tradition of Bisley in Gloucestershire, namely that Elizabeth when young was taken there by her governess and died and that in order to deceive Henry V I I I , who was about to pay her a visit, a boy was substituted for the dead child and that the deceit continued. After showing that such a thing was by no means impossible, he asked who could have had so strong a likeness to Elizabeth as to deceive everyone. The answer was to be found in the son of Henry Fitzroy, himself an illegitimate son of Henry VIII. In support of this theory, he spoke of the discovery which was made some years ago of a girl's body dressed in fine clothes found in a stone coffin there. Also he urged that the fact that Elizabeth was never married and that she would never see a doctor pointed to the same conclusion. Finally, to those who said that the story was impossible on the face of it, he mentioned the case of a person who had acted as housemaid and nurse in the same house for thirty years. On the supposed woman's death, it was found that she was a man ! An interesting discussion followed in which Mr. C. J. C. Molony took a prominent part, and the merits and defects of the theory were well brought out.

A highly successful debate was held in College Hall on Saturday, November yth, at 4.45 p.m. Mr. M. J. C. Stanley was in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were duly read and signed. Mr. K. N. Ross proposed "That cremation is better than burial." In a speech remarkable for its self-depreciation, flattery and frivolity, he ridiculed his opponents who came in staggering under the weight of reference books. He urged that germs breed in decaying bodies and infect other people. Cremation did away with the risk of being buried alive and was entirely sanitary. His speech ended, as did those of many others, with an entirely irrelevant plea for a new bicycle shed. Mr. C. E. Coverdale opposed, and in a maiden speech of considerable merit produced many arguments for burial.

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He urged that sentiment stood for a lot and was not to be disregarded. He entirely denied that burial was insanitary and quoted official reports. Mr. J. R. Wingfield-Digby seconded the motion, and after refuting some of the Hon. Opposer's arguments, proceeded to dwell on the religious aspect of the question. If cremation was irreligious, what of the early Christian martyrs who were burnt? Mr. D. G. W. Brown seconded the Opposition, and proceeded to extend the word " burial " to include burial at sea, which he considered best, and burial in quick-lime. After urging the House to refrain from unseemly interruptions, the Chairman threw the motion open for discussion by the House. A large number of gentlemen supported the motion, namely, Messrs. Graves-Morris, Peters, Clutton, Williams, Every, Woodhouse, and Matheson, while the Opposition was supported by Mr. C. J. C. Molony, who related what was done at a crematorium, and by Messrs. Langstaff and Ford. The Hon. Opposer then summed up, asking the House to disregard what the Hon. Proposer would say when there was no one to contradict him. The Hon. Proposer then stated the case for his side, and on the House dividing, the motion was found to be won by 22 votes to it.

A debate was held on Saturday, November I4th, in College Hall. It was after five o'clock before three of the speakers arrived, and a scanty House expressed its disapproval of their slowness by unanimously passing a vote of censure. Mr. P. H. Graves-Morris was unable to take the chair, and so the Secretary took his place. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and passed nem. con. the Chairman called upon Mr. J. S. Hurford to propose " that in the opinion of this House the entry of foreigners into England should be limited." He began by speaking of the bad effect of the yellow races on England and illustrated it by saying that the Chinese introduced drugs. Further, the Bolsheviks did untold harm, and he suggested that if foreigners were entirely excluded, information from spies in the next war would not leak out as it did in the Great War. Indeed, the Hon. Proposer's speech urged not merely limitation, but exclusion of foreigners. Mr. J. R. Wingfield-Digby opposed and spent much of his time refuting the Hon. Proposer's arguments for total exclusion. He asked the House to remember what good work the Romans and Normans had done for England. He thought the motion extremely narrow-minded. Mr. D. G. W. Brown seconded the motion, and in a speech punctuated by talk with the Hon. Proposer, said that the Normans had had a bad influence on England. He urged that foreigners in England were largely responsible for unemployment.

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Mr. M. J. C. Stanley seconded the Opposition, and in a really relevant speech showed the dangers of limitation. He suggested that if Bolsheviks were excluded people would become ignorant of their plots. The motion was then thrown open to the House. Messrs. Every and Coverdale supported the motion, while Mr. Haysman opposed it. The Chairman vacated the chair to support the motion. The Hon. Opposer then summed up, but time prevented the Hon. Proposer from doing so; however, when the House divided, the motion was found to be carried by 12 votes to 4.

On Wednesday, November 25th, at 4.45 p.m., a debate on a political subject was held as an experiment. The Chairman was Mr. M. J. C. Stanley, who, after the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and signed, called upon Mr. J. R. Wingfield-Digby to propose " that Trade Unions should be abolished." The Hon. Proposer began by suggesting that had Trade Unions been abolished before, the coal crisis would never have occurred. He declared that the movement was entirely against freedom ; workmen were merely dictated to by their unions. It was as tyrannical as the old capitalist system, and completely ruined employers of non-union men. Mr. P. H. B. Woodhouse opposed the motion, and declared that he did not intend to make a defence on behalf of present-day Trade Unions. However, he insisted that some protection was required by which workers could obtain protection and suggested that abolition was not needed so much as purification. Mr. D. G. W. Brown seconded the motion. He opposed Trade Unions because they do not stimulate the desire to work and because actually they lower the standard of work. He said that a new frame of mind in industry could do more than all unions. Mr. G. Every seconded the Opposition and told of the terrible consequences of having no Trade Unions. Some protection was required from the high-handed actions of soul-less limited liability companies. The motion was then thrown open to the House, and the only opposer of the motion was Mr. Strong, whose speech should have had considerable weight. The motion was supported by Messrs. Hopkin, Glutton, Ross, Molony, Stanton and Wallace. The Hon. Opposer and Proposer then hastily summed up, and, on the House dividing, the motion was found to be won by 26 votes to 6.

Cbess Rotes. The Chess Cup paid a surprise visit to Castle House last season, C. L. Garnett defeating K. N. Ross, who made a slip when he had victory within his grasp. » * *

Three chess sets have been put in the Reading Room, and considerable interest has been aroused in the game. They are in constant demand and the effect of them should soon be plain. * * * On Monday, November i6th, a match was played with the College for the Blind. Our team was at full strength, but the result was a win for our opponents by 4 games to 2. The games were played as follows : W.C.K.S. K. N. Ross C. L. Garnett ... L. W. Shorting ... L. S. K. Ford ... R. K. Hooper ... G. E. Churchill ...

i i o o o o

BLIND COLLEGE. A. Brace E. E. Davies ... ... R. Cross C. E. Threlfall ... R. Ash G. Miller

o o i i i i

On Thursday, November 26th, for the first time, a match was held at home with the Worcester Royal Grammar School. The result was a win for the School by five games to one. All of them were well fought out, especially that on the top board, which lasted three and a half hours. The games were played as follows : W.C.K.S. K. N. Ross ... C. L. Garnett L. W. Shorting L. S. K. Ford G. E. Churchill R. K. Hooper

W.R.G.S. R. C. Gaut ... K. Atwell T. Atwell C. M. Evans ... W. B. Whenman W. K. Leake

o o o o o 1

Swimming Rotes. 128 people were on the Swimming List this year, of whom 82 in all have passed the river test and 26 have passed it this year. * * » Though we were not interrupted, as we were in 1924, by the floods, the number to pass the river test this year was smaller than in 1924. The ambition to pass the test seems in a number of cases to be subordinated to a desire to spend all the time either in paddling aimlessly or in perfecting an elegant dive. Those who cannot swim are rarely seen attempting to swim, except when actually being instructed. There were only five entries for the Beginners' Race in the Sports. -:: * *

THE VIGORNIAN. Results in Swimming Sports :— Diving.—(i) Tull, (2) Carter, (3) Langstaff. Back Swimming.—(i) Hopkin, (2) Sherwood, (3) Preston. Relay Race.—(i) Castle House, (2) School House, (3) Natland. Sprint.—(i) Hooper, (2) Ainslie, (3) Langstaff, (4) Carter. Beginners' Race.—(i) Maund, (2) Ridley, (3) Sewell. Long Race.—(i) Tull, (2) Sherwood, (3) Williams, (4) Ainslie. Points.—Castle House, 68; School House, 14; Natland, 12; Day Boys, 6; Hostel, 2.

Duke or fork's Camp. The 400 of us who assembled for lunch in the Royal Mews on August ist were told that we were to spend the happiest week of our lives at New Romney, and there can be few of that number who would deny the truth of this bold prophecy. In accordance with the tradition which has sprung up in the Camp's life of five years, we assembled at the Mews, met our section-commanders and had the pleasure of seeing our Royal host at lunch. On arrival at the Camp we were introduced to the officials and celebrities who were to preside over our welfare. Readers of the Vigornian are already acquainted with the division of the Camp into sections for competition purposes. Let it suffice to say that on the strength of four years of experience this system was carried out with the most astounding efficiency. The times in which the most insignificant performers toiled over the 100 yards or staggered over bench-hurdles were clocked with the precision due to an Olympic athlete. The feats of those who did a steady 18 seconds in the former event were treasured away like world-records and helped to decide the section's fate in the final order of merit. The School's representatives again had the good fortune to find themselves in the winning section " G," which drew its representatives, both from school and factory, mainly from the north of England. The labours of the morning's games done, the rest of our day was devoted to bathing, long walks over the sands, or games of a more impromptu nature. After supper came a riotous sing-song before retiring to our palliasses. The whole day was one long outburst of cheeriness. The spontaneity with which everything was done was due to the fact that we had only one rule and to the nature of that rule " play the game." Everyone dashed around obeying his natural instinct to fall in with this rule and, in so doing, discovered what a good fellow everyone else was. But perhaps, paradoxical though it may seem, the studied care with which everything was carried out was the cause of the spontaneous joyfulness of all in the Camp. With everything going just right, it was easy to feel happy.

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Our only misfortune was in the sample of his wares which the Clerk of the Weather chose to present to us on the day when the Duke of York himself came down to see us. But the prevailing dampness remained superficial and the Duke was given a rousing reception in the recreationtent and later at tea. We finished up on Friday night, with an orgy of cheering, singing of " Auld Lang Syne," prancing round the bonfire on the sands, and pillow-fighting, before retiring at about i a.m. with a feeling that the world wasn't such a bad place after all.

Cecture Socictp. On October 24th, the School had the good fortune of a second visit from the London Hospital Three who so amused and fascinated some of us about three years ago. As before, the doors were thrown open to others beside the members of the Lecture Society, and we had a very fair sprinkling of visitors in College Hall to hear the songs of Miss Pickering and the indefatigable Miss Dunford, and the jokes and funny stories of Mr. Scott-Leslie (when they could distinguish what he was saying). He especially amused us in the person of a love-sick yokel of Zumerzet, with straw-coloured wig and the genuine drawl, and later on when he chose animals, birds and insects from the whole category of creation and proved them to be in some respects greater and more able than our politicians. But the lion of the evening was Miss Dunford's comic song, lamenting the unfortunate fact which prevents a guineapig from ever showing pleasure. The two sides of the hall roared out the refrain in competition (or one side did) and we feel sure that in some corners members of the School will be heard humming it till the end of term. After the silver collection Mr. Scott-Leslie gave us his finale, and impersonated, to the intense amusement of the audience, the unhappy victim of nerves who sees murder awaiting him in every quarter of the hall. Miss Dunford made a short but telling appeal to us to assist the hospital, and the collection realised £6. To this £5 was added from the Lecture Society's funds, and we feel sure that all who were there very much enjoyed the entertainment, and wish the trio luck in their good work.

On November jth, the Headmaster took us to Italy once more, and the slides that he showed us in his lecture were many of them views of places near the east coast which he had visited in the last Easter holidays. Again, as in February, he gave us a living description of the old Italian towns and countryside in word and on the screen, and thus we were able to catch the atmosphere of old world Italy far better than if we had been overpowered by a mass of views of the modernized tourist centres. Beginning at Vicenza, near Venice, where we saw some of the many palaces and halls of Palladio, he took us through the old towns of the east coast of Italy, after a short visit to the wonders of the city of the lagoons; and we finished

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up with a return visit to Rome and to that stern old mediaeval fortress in Tuscany that some of us remember. From one feature, apparently, no photograph taken by a stranger in Italy can be free, and that is the small boy who delights to perch himself on top of the very object to be photographed. But then he gives life to the slide, and marks the real difference between it and a dull, set photograph of a cathedral porch or font in glaringly firm lines such as one sometimes sees. Among other places described was the little Republic of San Marino, whose inhabitants seem to devote most of their energies to the manufacture of postage stamps for the collector. This lecture will give the School a pleasant memory to look back to, with the hope, perhaps, of another fascinating one some day. Italy is a very interesting place, although Latin did come from it !

the Germans from the coast, however far they advanced inland, and saved Calais and Britain. How much of the film was " faked " and how much was the real thing no one actually knew ; but for the time being (save in a few impossible moments) it was the real thing in all its mingled horror and heroism ; and something to be genuinely proud of. Each special instance of gallantry shown on the stage (and there were many) was loudly clapped, and the roar of the canon was sufficiently realistic to raise shrieks from nerve-racked spectators below. Of course the film had its ludicrous and jingoistic side. The Germans represented seemed deliberately unnatural and impossible, but the heroic and the horrible overshadowed all that.

" fiamlet." On October aist, an enterprising amateur orchestra gave the School an opportunity of listening to that form of light music popularily known as jazz. While Hooper accompanied on the piano, Ainslie performed mysterious evolutions with a drumstick and sometimes on a drum, Verdier was equally mysterious, although drumsticks formed part of his instrument, and in the centre the indefatigable Mr. Nicholls entertained us with instrument after instrument in succession. The author of this article lays no claim to musical knowledge, but he knows that out of these obscure and varied instruments, which included a sazzophone, a cornet, a musical submarine, and a violin, several rousing and entertaining tunes were produced. Graves-Morris acted as announcer. But before the orchestra began, the audience had the enjoyment of hearing two songs from Mr. Strong, " Geeup, Dobbin," and " 'Twas in the Merry Month of May." The orchestra then set to work and gave us the popular favourites, almost without exception. Instrument followed instrument in the hand and mouth of Mr. Nicholls, but they were replaced with inconceivable rapidity, and without any apparent hitch, except when a violin string broke or the cornet momentarily failed. Enthusiasm reached its height when the whole audience joined in the chorus of "Oh, how I love my darling," and cries of encore were rewarded with " Show me the way to go home." At an interval Mr. Strong again stirred our enthusiasm with a spirited rendering of " Devon, Glorious Devon." Thanks to the enthusiasm of its promoters, the School was able to enjoy a very enlivening hour.

On November, the 2ist, by the kind invitation of the proprietor of the Silver Cinema, the School joined contingents of the military from Norton Barracks and the Grammar School O.T.C., in seeing the first performance at Worcester of the great war film " Ypres." From half-past two until half-past four we watched breathlessly incident after incident in the story of the immortal salient which kept back

Birmingham Repertory Theatre. After mounting unending steps in silence, as various notices bade us, we arrived at our seats, which, it may be said, were a trial to people even with moderate-sized knees. But be that as it may, for such are the joys of a repertory theatre. Apart from us, the audience seemed composed of studious, horn-rimmed spectacled girls and of earnest young men of the high-brow variety. The play began with some nerve-shattering music, to create the atmosphere, we suppose, accompanied by a gradual dimming of the lights. When all was darkness everyone peered forward at the stage to make sure they were not missing anything : for it was difficult to tell when the curtain did go up. The guard was changed in a satisfactory fashion, and the ghost was very ghostly : we were glad he was not modernized into an ectoplasm. After our first sight of Hamlet, we were really surprised at the King's forbearance. For Hamlet was made to shout the rudest remarks, " A little more than kin, and less than kind," right into his ear, without his minding it at all. We realise that we ought to say what the Queen was dressed in, but we are not fashion experts : let it suffice to say that she looked charming. In Polonius we recognised an old acquaintance : how often we have heard him retailing his boring tales at the Club. We felt rather excited when Hamlet quite rightly murdered him : he is one of the people " who never would be missed." But our joy was tempered with regret when we found our Club bore still going strong when we got home. His daughter, Ophelia, is always disappointing: it is the fault of the play : but she was very good in her mad scenes, considering that she had to do without the conventional white linen and straw. Hamlet looked more attractive in his plus-fours than in his dress-suit, but was quite at ease in both. His voice was rather a trial at times : some vowel sounds he would lengthen out enormously, but it is easy to criticize. He was about as good as anyone else's Hamlet can be. The grave-diggers, obvious prototypes of the modern British workman, excited much laughter, and the

THE VIGORNIAN. modernized funeral struck one as being most effective. Indeed, the twentieth century dress in no case destroyed the illusion, and in some places, especially the Play scene and the Funeral scene, considerably heightened the effect. One felt, however, that the ice was rather thin when the modern Hamlet, who was not a professional murderer, said that he cared nothing for the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildernstern, who, after all, were quite good fellows. Also it requires some imagination to conceive a modern shingled girl going mad upon such small provocation as Ophelia. But it is graceless to criticize so bold and so successful an experiment. We should like to see one of the comedies, such as "Much Ado About Nothing," in modern dress, too.

eiectra Re Visited. Certain members of the Sixth Form went to Birmingham to see " Hamlet in Modern Dress " and were of the opinion that it was a success. If Sophocles' Electra were produced in this manner, not only the dress but certain of the speeches would need revision, and we should probably get this in place of the account of the chariot race : Orestes, coming to that famous course Called Brooklands, where the motor-cyclists speed For trophies, entered every single race In which the solo cyclists take a part. Wherein, by mighty skill I wot not of, A super-sparking plug and Castrol oil, He finished first in every race but one, Though every type of motor-bike he rode From Francis Barnett to the mighty Brough. . . . But last of all, mounted on X.Y.Z. He entered for the combination race With sidecar carrying heavy ballast bags. His rivals were, a Yorkshire man, astride A nimble Scott, with two Dunelts beside, And one bestriding Douglas, that renowned And famous three-speed horizontal twin, While Enfield entered too but did not start. The first six laps were finished neck and neck, Orestes last, but all but he and Scott Drew in for stock of fuel at the pits. Which noticing he swift trod on the gas To catch his rival up. Ah, hapless wretch ! For, taking the embankment at full speed, He hit a pothole full two inches deep, And, mounting up the bank at ninety-five, Hands off, to kingdom come was headlong hurled, His crash helmet availing him not aught Because he broke his neck. And now the firm That manufactures speedy X.Y.Z. Has safeguarded its riders now for ever By having steering-dampers standardized.

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We know that there are defects : for instance there is an unwarranted slight cast on that eminently worthy cycle the Enfield, but the tendency is to put in any name that will scan.

From Quartz Vein to Gold Bar in nubia. Down in the mine all day the tap of hammers had been heard ; at last the holes were drilled in face of the vein to take the dynamite sticks. At the fixed hour the native miners withdraw, the fuses are lit, and the charges fired in the various shafts. Back come the miners to clear away the quartz brought down by the explosions. Away through the candle-lit wood-propped passages the ore is borne in baskets till one of the main galleries is reached. Here the quartz is transferred to tip trucks, which run on light rails, and are pushed by hand to the base of the shaft. At the bottom of the shaft the ore is tipped into the lifts, which bear it from 200 to 1,000 feet to the surface. At the shaft head the lifts, which have been hoisted electrically, tip up and empty into huge bins, like inverted pyramids, which stand across the double light railway track. A line of trucks comes along pushed by natives. When these are underneath the bins, the traps at the bottom are opened and the quartz pours in till the trucks are filled. The trap is then shut and the trucks move away along the rails. If they come to a hill the trucks are hitched on to a steel cable running on rollers and hauled to the top by a puffing donkey engine. At length the ore reaches the crusher, a machine for reducing blocks the size of a large biscuit tin to chunks about twice the size of a cricket ball. On coming out of the crusher the ore falls on to a large revolving table, which is pushed round by small piccaninnies while slightly larger ones stand round and throw out any rock other than the gold-bearing quartz. The quartz continues round on the table till it meets a bar and is swept into more tip trucks. It is then run along and emptied in huge bins in the stamping mill. Here it works its way under huge electrically driven steel stamps. These stamps are huge steel plates working on to other steel plates, the upper ones being attached to huge iron shafts. The ore is now reduced to powder, and helped by water this extremely fine powder is carried over copper plates covered in mercury, which catches the gold, letting the rock dust through. From time to time the plates are scraped and the balls of gold and mercury thus obtained are placed in chamois leather and squeezed. A certain amount of the mercury oozes through the pores of the leather, thus removing some of the surplus mercury. The balls of gold and mercury are next heated in a furnace and almost all the remaining mercury is removed, leaving the balls with holes in them, hence its name " sponge gold."

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These balls are finally melted and cast into bars which are stamped with numbers, weighed and counted. Finally the bars are packed in special boxes, sealed, and sent away to the ship for England by the gold train. D. B.-.W

Cbt Return. Oh there is a land where the moorlands roll, Beneath a cloudless sky, And the heather blooms in a thousand shades And down in the valleys lie The green woods and the meadow lands, Where the streamlet trickles by. Oh there is a land where the red, red cliffs Break over the sounding sea And they are carved in a thousand shapes, Where the seagulls' nestings be. They're the bulwarks ocean's besieged for years, Yet ever he's had to flee. Oh there is a land where the long, long lanes Are sunk deep in the loam, And where they are fringed with a forest of green, The joy of all who roam, And their rocky sides are rich with moss And their streamlets flecked with foam. And oh I came back to that land again In the summer sun and fresh air, And to my heart there came like a rush What had long lain forgotten there, And I drank deep to remember for aye Its beauty beyond compare.

Cbe fiero. Panting wildly for breath, the Herculean figure raced on and on. Would this overpowering strain never end? Should he not stop for one brief moment to give respite to his weary limbs? No! the deed must be done, if not for his own sake, for the sake of those who depended on him. Now his enemies rush on him from every side with an exulting shout, but grimly he shakes them off, and bursts through them with that precious object, which meant so much to him, clasped tightly to him. If he could only gain shelter behind that narrow line of safety, so near and yet so far ! On he reeled with never a man to back him up, against the one enemy who now faced him, smiling sardonically. But with one last supreme effort he eluded him and hurled himself forward, while a great shout rent the air as he—scored the winning try in the season's greatest match.

Concerning Boxing. Many of you who are unfortunate enough to read these words of mine will undoubtedly enter your names for the Boxing Competition which takes place next term. If you fight and lose, consider yourselves fortunate. You who fight and win will have the agony to experience again, and so, I do not envy you. I have had my share of the Boxing Competition, and so I feel privileged to speak. Let us look the facts in the face ! From the very minute you see whom you have to box, a slight suspicion enters the mind that your condition is not all that could be desired, but you console yourself with the fact that if the worst comes to the worst the bout can but last five minutes. Yes, my friend, but five minutes of agony is very different from five minutes of peace. When the fateful day arrives, and the time has come to don a pair of boxing gloves, the resentment, even hatred which one feels for the coming event is unbelievable, except to those who have experienced it. Shaking at the knees, and with a palpitating heart, you enter the ring. You take a seat (at this stage the seat is taken on a chair, later it is taken on the floor), your seconds see to your gloves, and numerous friends whisper confused advice in your ear. Then the dreaded words are heard. " Get ready to box box." Slowly you advance to shake the hand of your opponent. Oh ! how mocking everything is ! He shakes you by the hand and the next second gives you a severe punch to the nose, before you realise what has happened he adds to your discomfort by tapping you gently but firmly in the wind. At this blow your blood is up, and perchance you hit him. This is an indiscretion, he feels hurt that you should dare to strike him, and shows his resentment by placing his glove in your eye. You are forced to take a well-deserved rest (on the floor), but after six seconds decide to get up. Painfully you stagger to your feet, but before you realise what has happened you find yourself again on the floor. This time a longer rest is advisable, say nine seconds. Now you are undecided whether to rise or no. You finally decide to be sporting and give your opponent another chance, and he takes it. He hits you but once, this time you fall to rise no more. L.L.W.

fl Rooembcr Fantasp. There had been a fog all day, and I was taking a walk on the towpath after school, or so it seemed to me. The white mist hid the opposite bank; there was white all around except where there was grey or yellow or brown. The whole world, indeed, seemed like a sheet, yes, for sure, a sheet, that was rather the worse for wear. The cathedral showed dimly in the gloom. I slackened my pace. I leant my arms on the railings and stood still. A minute ago to stand still in this biting cold would have been impossible, but I was becoming conscious that it was

THE VIGORNIAN. not so cold after all. The fog was certainly like a sheet, and what was more, it was taking to itself other qualities of a sheet besides colour. It had the softness of a sheet and strangely enough it seemed to have some of the warmth of a sheet. And then it was a sheet no longer. It began to break up, and to break into strange shapes and mists ; and behind it was darkness. The mists took strange forms like living creatures, and I felt an icy hand upon my shoulder. I looked around, and saw beside me a misty figure in black and white crayons, so it seemed, with a long thin face and a set appealing look of torture which suddenly softened into a smile. He lifted up his right hand, and I saw a great swelling in the middle of the third finger — on this point I am certain. " Who on earth are you? " I exclaimed, after recovering from a momentary feeling of surprise, " and how did your finger get like that? " Why the swelling should have surprised me I do not know, for the finger consisted entirely of water vapour, which may take any form. " Knocking at doors," he remarked " I'm a ghost, as it happens."

apologetically.

" And how did you come to be a ghost? once.

I inquired at

" I was imprisoned and er—tortured by a certain Urso d'Abit6t of Worcester Castle," he replied. " I was a Saxon, you see. That's why I knock at doors in some of the houses in College Green now— above my dungeon, where I used to knock at the roof. But it's uninteresting work and mine's an uninteresting story. Also no one ever troubled to add to it or subtract from it or even to record it at all. They only hear my knocking sometimes. It is very unfortunate. " Now over there," he remarked, " is a much more interesting gentleman." He indicated a hollow-eyed ascetic trying to walk or float up and down some misty stairs on the other side of the river. " He was one of the last priests of the Bone chapel outside the cathedral, and having had a lot to do with ghosts he wanted to be a ghost some time. So Henry VIII. very obligingly had him executed. I am not sure that there are not some more modern ghosts about. Let me see, let me see, let me see. There is Urso Gives who betrayed Worcester to Cromwell, and he sometimes haunts other places. I wish I could show you a few more you might know— but hullo- " The misty figures above the river suddenly seemed to be fading away. I heard as in a dream, yes, as in a dream, the black and white gentleman discussing the victims of Cromwell's sack of the city ; and then I realized that it was a dream. The mist gave place to darkness and the darkness to the dim light of a winter's morning, and I awoke. Outside the window was a " sheet " of thick white mist. " Hullo," I grunted, " fog again."

435

from the 6reck No one liveth long After hearing The night-raven's song. At your singing Demophilus wise, The night-raven dies !

I was naked at my birth, Naked go I 'neath the earth. Why should I to work attend Seeing naked is the end? MISUNDERSTANDING. A deaf man with a deaf man went to law, But deafer was the judge than both, much more : The one said " Five months' rent is mine by right. The other " But I ground my corn by night." " Why quarrel? " said the judge, " it is her due, She is your mother : keep her, both of you.''

" She dyes her hair." Oh shameful, false report! Her's is the best black hair that can be bought.

O.V.

RciDS.

R. L. Sedgwick has given up teaching and is devoting his time to journalism. * * * A. G. Bain has entered the firm of Messrs. E. T. and A. Robinsons, Ltd., paper merchants and printers of Bristol. * * A. Lane is settled in the printing trade and is liking his work. * * * A. E. Davies is with the Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries, Ltd., at Swansea. He plays cricket and hockey for Swansea and represented S. Wales in the latter pursuit last year. * » » W. L. Shorting played in the Worcestershire County Cricket Team last season and in 10 innings compiled 86 runs—a promising performance. Lieutenant Ernest Reginald Newcomb, M.C., Worcestershire Regiment, has been given the local rank of captain, while .employed as adjutant of the 8th Battalion, in succession to Captain S. A. Gabb.

THE VIGORNIAN.

436

The engagement is announced between Thomas Jocelyn Wilford, M.C., British South African Police, Southern Rhodesia, eldest son of Captain and Mrs. T. H. Wilford, i, Endsleigh Gardens, Surbiton, Surrey, and Mary Janet, only child of Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards, of Good Hope, Umvuma, Southern Rhodesia. MARRIAGES. LITTLEBURY—HODGSON.—On August 25th, at the United Congregational Church, Dewsbury, by the Rev. W. Pace, B.D., Arthur Theodore Baron Littlebury (O.V.) to Phyllis Margaret, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Hodgson, of " Eversleigh," Dewsbury. WALLIS—AUSTIN.—The marriage of Joseph Knowsley Pryor Wallis (O.V.) to Elsie Mona, only daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Austin, of Bournemouth, took place in Bournemouth on September I5th. * * * DEATHS. EDYE.—On November 2oth, at Basingstoke, the result of a motor accident, Angus de Baliol Edye, of Leonard Stanley, Glos., aged 21 years. Scholar at the King's School, 1918-23.

LITTLEBURY.—On September 15th, at Worcester, George Augustus Theodore Littlebury. Scholar at the King's School, 1875-83. STUART-SHEPHERD. — Ughtred Guy Stuart StuartShepherd, of Alfrick Vicarage, on September 3rd. Scholar at the King's School 1912-16.

There are still over 100 members who have not returned the O.V. Club Register form sent to them some time ago. The Secretary will be glad to receive these forms at once. * * # In response to enquiries as to the names of the present Officers and Committee of the O.V. Club, they are as follows :— President—Saml. Southall. Committee—T. Bates, J. B. Cavenagh, Hy. Coombs, H. B. Downes, W. B. Evans, B. Holloway, F. G. Jones, H. E. Oram, T. E. Rammell, Headmaster (Rev. C. Creighton). Hon. Sec. and- Treasurer—S. D. Strong, School House, King's School. Secretary—H. E. Nicholls, 9, College Green.

The Club Colours mentioned in the list below can be obtained from Messrs. Glenns, 70, Broad Street, Worcester, at the following prices :— Ties (Silk) Ties (Knitted) Silk Squares H a t Bands Sweaters Blazers Flannel for Blazers Postage extra.

4/11 5/6 16/6 - 3/6 - 25/9/6 per yard

School Officers. Captain of the School Captain of Football Secretary of Football Captain of Shooting Captain of Fives Captain of Gym. Secretary of Chess -

P. H. Graves-Morris. C. J. C. Molony. M. R. A. Ainslie. D. G. W. Brown. C. L. Garnett. C. L. Garnett. K. N. Ross.

Captains of Houses— School House Castle House Day Boys Hostel Natland

P H. Graves-Morris. C. L. Garnett. L. S. K. Ford. L. W. Shorting. G. E. Churchill.

School Monitors—P. H. Graves-Morris, C. J. C. Molony, G. E. Churchill, L. W. Shorting, K-. N. Ross, L. S. K. Ford, C. L. Garnett. Editors of the Vigornian—K. N. Ross, C. J. C. Molony, G. Every. Librarians—K. N. Ross, C. E. Coverdale, C. J. C. Molony, G. F. Blandford, D. A. B. Hopkin.

Valete.

Vlth. A. G. Bain (1920-5), School House. 2nd XI. Cricket 1921, ist XI. 1922, 2nd XV. Football 1922, ist XV. 1923, Secretary of Cricket 1923, Captain 1924, Captain of the School House and Head of the School 1923, Sergeant-Major O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1922, Editor of the Vigornian. M. R. Craze (1919-25), Day Boy. Hostel 1919-23. 2nd XI. Cricket 1922, ist XI. 1924, 2nd XV. Football 1922, ist XV. 1923, Chess VI. 1924, Captain of Hostel 1923, School Monitor 1923, Captain of Day Boys 1924, Corporal O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1922, Editor of the Vigornian. W. W. Hubble (1923-25), Castle House. Cadet O.T.C. A. H. Osmond (1922-5), School House. Cadet O.T.C. F. M. H. Stephens (1922-5), Natland. Cadet O.T.C.

THE VIGORNIAN. Upper Vth. B. H. Carter (1921-5), ist XV. Football 1922, 2nd IV. Rowing 1923, ist IV. 1924, Secretary of Football 1924 and of Rowing 1924, Captain of Rowing 1925, School Monitor 1923, Head of Castle House, Sergeant-Major O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1923. T. A. Davey (1923-5), School House, ist XV. Football 1923, ist XI. Cricket 1924, Lance-Corporal O.T.C. J. C. H. Greene (1922-5), School House, 2nd XV. Football 1924, Cadet O.T.C. D. H. Preston (1919-25), Castle House. 2nd XV. Football 1922, ist XV. 1923, 2nd XI. Cricket 1923, Sergeant O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1923. Lower Vth A. R. A. S. Looker (1918-25), Natland. 2nd XV. Football 1924, Lance-Corporal O.T.C. A. S. Phelips i. (1920-5), School House. Cadet O.T.C. T. M. L. Redmond (1922-5), Hostel. 2nd XI. Cricket 1922, ist XI. 1923, 2nd XV. Football 1923, ist XV. 1924, Cadet O.T.C. E. S. Sherwood (1919-25), Castle House. 2nd XI. Cricket 1922, ist XI. 1924, 2nd XV. Football 1923, LanceCorporal O.T.C. Lower Vth B. W. R. Chignell (1923-5), Day Boy. 2nd XL Cricket 1924, ist XL 1925, Cadet O.T.C. J. D. Gerard (1922-5), Hostel. Cadet O.T.C. J. W. S. Gilbert (1922-5). Hostel. G. J. Knight (1924-5), Hostel. Cadet O.T.C. J. A. W. Rogers (1923-5), Castle House, and IV. 1925, Cadet O.T.C. G. N. B. Sully (1917-25), School House. 2nd XI. Cricket 1924, Lance-Corporal O.T.C. Remove. F. W. P. Gregory (1918-25), School House. Cadet O.T.C. R. R. Marchant (1924-5), Natland. Cadet O.T.C. L. W. Pullin (1919-25), Day Boy. Upper IVth. H. P. Littlebury (1922-5), Day Boy. 2nd XL Cricket 1925. Cadet O.T.C. G. F. Turnbull (1923-5), Castle House. Cadet O.T.C. Ilnd. F. A. France (1924-5), Day Boy.

Saloeu.

Lower Vth. H. D. P. Raban—School House. W. E. A. Brown ii.—Schiol House.

437

Remove. G. H. Harrison—Castle House. G. W. Rowland—Castle House. H. E. Wood ii.—School House. U. IVth. J. Bate—School House. H. F. Blandford ii.—School House. M. IVth. M. J. Balch—Castle House. J. M. Belcher—School House. M. J. Haywood—Day Boys. R. C. Scoular—School House. L. IVth. W. H. Waylen—Castle House.

III. P. W. Liggins—Hostel. II. D. W. Drew—Day Boys. J. C. Long—Day Boys. G. H. Nicholls—Day Boys. A. Pratt—Day Boys. G. E. Rackstraw—Day Boys. J. A. C. F. Radcliffe—Day Boys. R. A. Sargeant—Day Boys. E. A. Summers—Day Boys. F. D. Swift—Day Boys. F. W. J. Whitehouse—Day Boys. R. G. Wilkins—Day Boys.

Cbc Oxford Cctter. Dear Sirs, In the course of our little life, we have undergone many shattering experiences, but we cannot remember ever having been reduced to such a complete state of pulp until now, faced with the truly Herculean task of writing the Oxford Letter. We have been sitting biting our finger-nails with vexation for twenty minutes or so, but at last out of the thick fog of despair—and Oxford fogs, sirs, are very thick —there has come a ray of hope. For we remember how often we were instructed, when writing essays of a Saturday night (or was it Wednesday morning?), that the great and vital principle of the art was first to take a small piece of paper and inscribe thereon the headings of what we were about to say. This we haye now done and we beg you to sympathise with us in the result. Quite recently, sirs, we went to a film called " Charley's Aunt," whose origin incidentally was " in Brazil where the nuts come from," and for which some bright and enterprising Americans were responsible. Though they had never been to Oxford, they had proceeded with commendable skill and ingenuity to reproduce life in Oxford. The result of their imagination was that we were all clad in scholars'

438

THE VIGORNIAN.

gowns and mortarboards, our College deans went gaitered and top-hatted for all the world like Cathedral deans, and our rooms were sumptuous to the extent of being in telephonic communication with the outer world. Now we fear that some of our erstwhile companions in study may have seen this film and have concluded that it was a true portrait of our habits and surroundings ; if this be so, it shall be the object of this letter to disillusion them. For few of us, as you have no doubt gathered from previous Oxford Letters, are scholars ; none of our deans are in the slightest degree ecclesiastical, and our rooms . . . we shake our harassed head as we look round upon the bulging, blatant wall-paper and the semi-shattered furniture. No, sirs, if you would conceive us in our true state, the following summary of the day will prove eminently adequate. Our day begins, nominally, when we are rudely awakened by a hoarse voice " Twenty to eight, sir, twenty to eight." We were in some doubt at first whether this was intended as a statement of the odds on the 'Varsity Rugger match, or as an intimation of the time. We can now state that it is neither : the former assumption has been contradicted by no less an authority than the Daily Mail, the latter by a glance at our watch. No, this is the Oxford Reveill^ and it usually means that it is five minutes past eight and that breakfast is at a quarter past ! The violent scramble necessitated by this discovery, as you may imagine, tends to put one in a bad temper for the rest of the day, as the morning is passed away with an endless succession of lectures, the afternoon with an interchange of blows and batterings at some violent sport, and the evening with heroic endeavours to work—until dinner, when our tempers are somewhat mollified—and after dinner . . . but we will draw a veil over our activities after dinner. We feel that we ought to preface the concluding sentence of this effusion with " Now to recapitulate," but on comparing what we have written with the headings on our small piece of paper, we find that this course is impossible; we therefore hasten to disclose our names and Colleges :—

W. BENTON-EVANS (Queen's) ran for his College in the relay races. After last season, it was not surprising to find him playing in the Senior Soccer Trials, though he did not do himself justice. Is secretary of his College Soccer and plays for the Centaurs. Keeps a museum of fixture-cards and wishes it to be known that he has scrapped his concertina. Also possesses an original device whereby a match can be struck (with a little luck) in thirty seconds. M. R. CRAZE (Hertford) has defied all precedents by not taking to Soccer, but is to be found in the ranks of his College XV. Has been seen at most of the "Varsity matches this term, on which occasions his vocal efforts have been much appreciated. A dashing cyclist, who distinguished himself by bowling over the constable on point duty at Iffley Road, while overtaking a car at a rapid pace and on the wrong side of the road. D. H. PRESTON (Worcester) has had an adventurous term. Started by playing in the Freshers' Rugger Trials and in his College XV. Then took to cross-country running and ran third for his College both in the heat and the final. Unfortunately, owing to a smash-up at Rugger, he had to have a finger amputated and his activities have since been confined to the Acland Home : he has our heartfelt sympathy. Now, sirs, our task is done and we close with good wishes to the School and to all scholarship-hunters. May their efforts be crowned with success ! Yours, etc., OXON.

The Cambridge Letter is not yet to hand. The atmosphere of Cambridge must be more enervating than that of Oxford. Or do they work more at Cambridge?

I. F. W. SCHOFIELD (Hertford) is by far the most aged member of our colony, though we must deny, regretfully perhaps, that his hair is turning grey. Has a high rank in the Cavalry and is enthusiastic in his search for recruits. Works very hard.

Dear Sirs,

A. J. C. B. GILL (Exeter) declines to send any information about himself, but we believe that he has joined in the movement for a Brighter Oxford and we suspect that he is working very hard.

From amongst the gems of knowledge, which from time to time emanate from the Lower School, the following extracts have come into my possession. I think perhaps they are worth recording for the amusement of others.

H. A. AINSWORTH (Keble) regrets that, owing to a serious illness in the Long Vacs., he is hardly himself. Has to take considerable precautions as to his health, and is unable to indulge in any of the more violent pastimes. He does however play golf, and usually complies with the demands of courtesy in the matter of replacing divots. At other times to be found in the Union.

Correspondence. To the Editors of the " Vigornian."

" Japan is a pritey covey and it is serey is sa pritey and Japan go livrey hoaes are little, they have they beds are nars Japan sterey are naro and they ar d vere long." " I n Africa there are lones and tier Eleffan snas chafes lepons and America horest, and sheep, snack, goest, In India there are all kjnos of snack and bofflows and mokeys,"

THE VIGORNIAN. " The Eskimo live in the Noth thre it is colled weather and there is sonw and ias and they live on fitsh wich they cash in the worter and home is lech a bein but it is from out of sown and the Eskimo cows shis fold on a bouning owley lamp and for buter he spild ovleyallowl and he eat it." " B."

439

To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Owing to the increasing popularity of wireless in this country and the fact that many amongst us are interested in this science, would it be presuming too much, to suggest that a Wireless Society might be formed, and that we follow the example set by other public schools?

[These quotations are quite authentic.—EDS. Vio.]

I am, yours very sincerely, " ARIEL."

To the Editors of the " Vigornian."

* * *

Dear Sirs, May I put before the Lecture Society, through your pages, that two very excellent lectures are advertised in the Railway Magazine, which appears in the Reading Room. Of these lectures one is on " London's Underground " and the other on " London's Motor Omnibuses." They are specially prepared for schools, etc., by the " Underground Electric Railway Company." One merely sends them a guinea, which sum is refunded on the safe return of the slides.

To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Since the Chappel Memorial Reading Room has been provided with chess men it is very interesting to note how greatly the popularity of the game has increased aind how many new players have taken up the game. Surely this will cause still greater interest in the Chess Competition than previously shown. Yours sincerely,

Full details are given in the aforementioned magazine. With apologies for taking up your valuable space. I remain, Yours hopefully, " LONDONER." [This suggestion should certainly be considered by those in authority.—EDS. VIG.] * * * To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, Last year a pitiful lament by the Bicycle Shed was published in your columns. So touching was it that it even moved the high authorities to authorize the Editors to publish that " A new and palatial bicycle shed was about to be built." This appears to be very " Future Vague," as now, after the lapse of a whole year, nothing has been done. Sirs ! The time for piteous prayer and humble begging is past. Now is the moment for cold facts and harsh demands. The average number of boys whose fathers pay 1/6 per term for the bicycle shed is (authoritatively) 37. A little easy multiplication ( 3 7 x 1 / 6 x 3 ) will show that rather over ;£8 per year is paid. As far back as 1908 complaints may be found in the Vigornian about the bicycle shed. This is 17 years ago. Taking however only 10 years—it has been established that the present bicycle shed was in existence at least 10 years ago—we find that the stupendous sum of £80 must be, or ought to be, stored up somewhere. Where is this money ? We demand to know ! Why is it not spent on a new bicycle shed? Members of the School, users of the so-called bicycle shed, I entreat your wholehearted support when, in imitation of our dear friend Cato, " Censeo novum velocipedibus tugurium statim aedificandum esse." Yours, etc. THE VOICE OF THE MANY.

" Two TYROS." [We agree, and think that the enthusiasm shown should be fostered.—EDS. VIG.] * * # To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, We feel sure we are expressing the opinion held by all the members of the School whan we say in your columns how extremely grateful we are to the Headmaster and the others who have so kindly interested themselves in the Chappel Memorial Reading Room on our behalf. Also it is scarcely necessary to mention how great a benefit this room is to the School. Yours sincerely, " THREE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE." [Hear, hear !—EDS. VIG.]

Contemporaries. We beg to acknowledge the following contemporaries, apologising for any accidental omissions :-—Alleynian, Bromsgrovian (2), Cantuarian, Decanian, Felstedian (2), Gunnersburian, King Edward's School Chronicle, Monktonian, Monmothian, Petribrugian, Portcullis, S. Edward's School Chronicle (2), Tonbridgian (2), Wyggestonian.