Issuu

Che Ukjoriiian. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE, " r« ftiv ctSaKTu fiai'Oaroi, ra o tvptra 4>;r<., ra o' ivkra wapci Oeiii' ;/r»/(Td/iij>'."

No. 116.

VOL. IX.

Contents. Editorial School Calendar ... School Notes Canon Wilson Athletic Sports School Concert Speech Day and O.V. Re-union Cricket Rowing Notes Fives Notes Chess Notes O.T.C. Notes Swimming O.V. News Obituary The General Knowledge Paper 1926 The Library " Modern English Usage " Life Sonnet Aatdo Hymn to Hecate ... A Dreadful Mediaeval Story ... This Freedom Tyburn Nature's Revenge School Officers Valete Salvete The Oxford Letter Correspondence Contemporaries

JULY, Page 461 462 462 463 463 464 464 468 479 480 481 481 483 483 485 485 485 486 486 486 487 487

489 490 490 490 49° 490 492 493

PRICE is.

1926.

editorial. We regret to announce that the plan set forward in our last number has failed. We asked all our readers to criticize The Vigornian, and we hoped to make some drastic alterations on the basis of those criticisms. But we have met with little support. Only a fraction of those who read The Vigornian has responded, and even the letters of these few have cancelled out each other. At any rate, we wish to thank those who have written for their letters, and would assure them that their advice, if not followed, has been carefully considered. One of our correspondents is disappointed at its lack of seriousness. Another pines for the latest School jokes and crossword puzzles. One of our critics takes exception to the Oxford and Cambridge letters; another calls them " quite refreshing." Quot homines, tot sententice. One thing that struck us is that The Vigornian does not cater sufficiently for old Vigornians. We are conscious of this defect, and only wish that we could have more contributions for the O.V. Column. We cannot make bricks without straw. There seems also to be a desire for articles by O.V. and by people connected with the School. On this point we are rather reluctant to adopt our correspondents' proposals. We feel that instead of invigorating The Vigornian it wttl cause it to rely more and more on " outsiders," and consequently grow less of a School magazine. Not that w£ think that we are perfect in our self-sufficiency, but we

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think the majority of our readers prefer something that comes directly from the School itself. We are very much in sympathy with those who look for a more serious note in The Vigornian. But we unfortunate editors are bound to consider what our younger readers think, and even now we are halting between two opinions. We cannot please both sides, and so incur the wrath of both. To the one party we urge that " Terrae filius " will have his day and will not be denied his rights, to the other we would point out that froth and bubble are poor things out of which to make a magazine, and that though we do not pretend to be writing a y.Tr;[xa EC dsi, we are not, so we hope, merely producing an aYUVtafxa EC TO

Sat., Sat., Mon., Fri.,

Sat.,

Mon., Mon.,

irapayprita. This quotation, somewhat hackfieyed, we confess, will not please that correspondent who complained that our " disgustingly dry chronicle " starts with- a Greek sen(In connection with this School motto, we wonder how many of the School, even of the Staff, could say who wrote it or what it means. This would be a good question for the General Knowledge Paper !) On the question of signing articles, we have no doubt that the knowledge of who wrote what would be material for the cynics and critics who never write themselves and laugh at contributors, but we prefer that The Vigornian should be looked upon as the production of the School, and not of various individual members. The past term appears to have been fairly uneventful. We were all back in time before the General Strike, and the only inconvenience suffered was the lack of newspapers and the temporary loss of our rifles. The Daily Herald now appears daily in the Reading Room. The cricket season has been an average one, but our eyes have not yet grown used to the sight of grey flannels instead of white for the lower games. There was something very attractive about the white ! The rowers came back from Marlow defeated, but not disgraced, and the results of the 2nd IV and 3rd IV at Oxford were gratifying. We might tell of the doings of the Field Club, of the swimming, of the Field Day and other events, but we sympathise and cry with our readers, " Ohe, iam satis est, ohe, libelle."

Scbool Calendar. Mon., May 3. Tues., 4. Sun., 9. Thurs., ,, 13Fri., June 4

Boarders Return. School begins. School Service 9.15 a.m. School Celebration 8.45 a.m. Ascension Day. O.T.C. Field Day with Bromsgrove School at Bringsty Common.

Fri., Sat.,

» 12- Half Term. „ 19- ist IV at Marlowe Regatta. „ 28. O.T.C. Section Competition. July 9- 3 p.m. Distribution of Prizes by Archdeacon Peile. 5 p.m. ist VIII v. O.V.'s. 8 p.m. School Concert and Entertainment. ,, 10. O.T.C. Annual Inspection. 2.15 O.V. Cricket Matches and Reunion. „ 12. Certificate Exams, begin. O.T.C. go into camp „ 26. Exeunt Omnes. at Tidworth Park. Sept. 17. Boarders Return. ,, 18. School begins.

*•

Scbool Dotes. The School, during the Summer Term, may be likened to a flock of wild goats who after having trodden down the pastures energetically for many golden weeks, are recalled to the fold or are dismissed (with contemptuous flick of stumpy tails) to the barren rocks by the approaching Certificate examinations. At any rate it is certain that for approximately the first half of the term Cricket and Rowing are of primary importance to the majority. For the Eleven has then most of its matches to play, and Marlow is as yet hidden in a pleasantly uncertain future. A who is a cricketer, B who is a rower, then spend such portions of their time as are not occupied in work, in absorbing the mystery of cricket, and the Chinese puzzle of the oar. From mild creatures fairly amenable to reason they become furious partisans of their respective sports. " Who but a lunatic," says B, " would waste whole afternoons attempting to hit a funny little ball? . . ." " At any rate," answers A bitterly, " we do some work. Now I heard someone say that his boat was going to row for three minutes! ! And you call that exercise? " He treats with courteous unbelief B's exposition of the horrors of a hard half-course. Towards the beginning of July the presence of the Certificate exams lends a certain seriousness to that melancholy figure in motley, Work. It is tacitly understood that for the present, though the Jester's red and blue souls may not " Set up a noise like crickets, A chattering noise so sweet," the wise and the idle must dance to their singing. Only a few dust-clouds indicate the swift beating of a score or so of untractable stubborn goat-feet towards the barren and distant rocks. Militarism, too, expands its chest and thrusts forward its wooden, trench polished face. The Summer Field Day,

THE VIGORNIAN. usually held on Ascension Day, forms the overture to the serious work of the O.T.C., and though from its nature this year one ought to have expected comic opera to follow, the Section Competition and the Inspection have shown that the standard of work has, if anything, improved. Lest too much study should indeed prove a weariness to the flesh the three last weeks of the term are helped forward by the O.V. Reunion. A week-end of speeches, cricket-matches, rowing, concerts and rich feasting leaves a dazed but cheerful school with the feeling that it has been scientifically kicked downstairs. The dead centre (if we may mix the metaphor) has been passed, and one rushes through the pen-and-inky period of exams to the return to the state of noble savagery which is Camp. Thus ends the Summer Term. Perhaps the supreme test of its worth is that it provokes violent dispute between the members of two conflicting schools of thought. The one declares that full as it is, the term might still offer more things to do. The other, dreaming wearily of slumber beneath damson trees or unprobably green lawns, cries wearily " Give us a little peace! " The echoes come sighing down "a—little . . . peace."

Canon Ulilson. We cannot allow to pass unnoticed the retirement of Canon Wilson from his Canonry of Worcester, which was announced in May. He is now living at Steep, near Petersfield, with one of his sons, and near to other members of his family. We deeply regret the bereavement he has suffered by the loss of Mrs. Wilson, who died on July 4th. This is not the occasion to speak at length of Canon Wilson's many services to the King's School and his unfailing interest in it. Many successive generations of Vigornians have grateful memories of the kindness shown to them by Canon and Mrs. Wilson, and College Green does not seem to us the same place without them. Apart from this close and constant connexion with the School and with all that went on in it, we especially recall Canon Wilson's Headmastership of the School during Canon Chappel's illness in 1908, his successful efforts to secure additional endowment from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1912, and his work in converting the old Canons' stables into the Sixth Room Form. Canon Wilson's name stands high on the list of benefactors of the King's School, and the memory of him, of what they have learnt from him in sermons and in lectures, of kindness and hospitality received from him and Mrs. Wilson, remains to all who have been at the King's School during the past 20 years an ineffaceable part of the heritage of their school days.

463

flthlctic Sports* The Sports took place on April 3rd and 5th in weather which outraged custom by remaining fine. There were many visitors, including a good number of Old Vigornians. In many ways the Sports were remarkable. In the first place R. E. Thomas, running in beautiful style, lowered the School Mile record from 5min. 6secs. to 4mins. 52secs. —an admirable performance. Secondly, R. E. Thomas and C. L. Garnett tied in the competition for Senior Victor—an occurrence quite without precedent. On Monday, although the regular distribution of prizes had been abolished, Mrs. Southall very kindly presented the Challenge Cups and the House Shield, which was won easily by Castle House. Mr. Southall then recalled the days when he used to compete—though not always as a winner. The following were the officials: Judges, Rev. C. Creighton and T. E. Rammell, Esq. ; Starter, F. B. Thomas, Esq. ; Timekeeper, R. J. Castley, Esq. ; Stewards, Rev. R. J. Whitaker, A. Taylor, Esq., S. D. Strong, Esq., and the School Monitors; Hon. Sees., C. J. C. Molony, L. W. Shorting. The results of the principal events were as follows :— Throwing the Cricket Ball (Open).—i C. E. Porter, 2 B. E. Verdier. 93 yards. Quarter Mile (Open).—i C. J. C. Molony, 2 C. L. Garnett. 57 3-5secs. Molony led from the Pavilion and won by seven yards. Mile (Open).—i R. E. Thomas, 2 C. L. Garnett, 3 J. S. Colombi. 4min. 52secs. Thomas ran a magnificent race and won easily. 100 Yards (Open).—i C. J. C. Molony, 2 C. L. Garnett. 10 3~5secs. A good race. Won by three feet. Half Mile (Open).—i R. E. Thomas, 2 C. L. Garnctt. 2inin. I5secs. A good race. High Jump (Open).—i C. J. C. Molony, 2 W. J. Mayhew. 4ft. njins. Long Jump (Open).—i J. Palmer, 2 R. I. Graham. 17 feet. Throwing Cricket Ball (Under 15).—! N. K. G. Pike, 2 F. Cale. Mile (Under 15).—! F. Calc, 2 R. H. Rowland, 3 D, A. B. Hopkin. An excellent race. Half Mile (Under 15).—! F. Cale, 2 D. A. B. Hopkin. 24 3-5secs. 100 Yards (Under 15).—i D. A. B. Hopkin, 2 F. Cale. 11 i-5secs. A very good time. High Jump (Under 15).—! D. A. B. Hopkin, 2 B. W. A. Molony. 4ft. 5ins. Long Jump (Under 15).—i D. A. B. Hopkin, 2 J. Balch. I4ft. Sins. Relay Race.—Senior : i Castle House, 2 School House. Junior : i Castle House, 3 Day Boys.

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Ketch Run.—Senior : R. E. Thomas. Junior : D. W. A. Molony. House Shield.—Castle House. Senior Victor Ludorum.—R. E. Thomas and C. L. Garnett. Junior Victor Ludorum.—D. A. B. Hopkin. Day Cup (Ketch).—R. E. Thomas. Warren Cup (Ketch).—Castle House.

School concert. On Tuesday, April the 6th, the School Choir gave a rendering of selections from Handel's Messiah. For the past five years Mr. Day has been steadily leading them on to attempt greater and greater things. Each year's and each term's objective has proved more ambitious than the last and has each time been successfully executed. In last term's concert the Choir may well claim to have reached a memorable landmark in their history, for which all honour is due to Mr. Day. All voices sang well and their united effect was brilliant. All the selections were indeed surprisingly well rendered, but perhaps the best singing was in " He was despised and rejected of men " and in " Since by man came death." R. C. P. Bagnall, the soloist, if a little shaky at first, came out at his best all through the later part of the concert, and accomplished his lengthy and formidable part very creditably. Mr. Day well deserved the congratulations expressed by the Dean on behalf of the audience, and we can only wish him and his choir an equally brilliant success in their next sally in lighter vein this term. The Messiah was very popular among the Choir during the months of preparation, as the voiceless members of the School well know, and the enthusiasm and keen work that Mr. Day especially put into preparation and performance, deserved and obtained an ample reward in appreciation.

Dap and O.V. Re-union PRIZE-GIVING. The annual prize distribution was held in College Hall on Friday afternoon. The Dean (Dr. Moore Ede) presided, and Archdeacon Peile gave away the prizes. Beside them on the platform were : Canon Cronshaw, the Mayor (Aid. W. J. Hill), Mr. S. Southall and the Headmaster (the Rev. C. Creighton). Others present included the High Sheriff and Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. W. Moore Ede, Mrs. Southall and Mrs. Ernest Day. The Dean welcomed Archdeacon Peile, who, he said, was no novelty, but whom they were glad to welcome in a new character. He had not yet been installed as a Canon of the Cathedral but was Canon designate. The Dean said he could not speak of the new Canon without reference to

the old one. They could not forget all they owed to Canon Wilson. (Applause.) He was a very great man. By his writings he helped thousands who were perplexed by the changing ideas which were taking place in his generation. Few had qver done so much to help others in that direction. He (the Dean) wondered sometimes whether Worcester people realised what a great man he was, and how high was his reputation at the university and learned circles in the country. He was a great friend to the School. (Hear, hear.) When Canon Chappel broke down in health, Canon and Mrs. Wilson went into the School House and took over the position of headmaster and mistress, and carried on the School, so enabling Canon Chappel to get a real restoration. During that time an epidemic broke out in the School and they turned their own house into a sanatorium for the invalids. Then again it was to Canon Wilson, more than to any other individual, that they owed the persuasion of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to increase the income of the School by additional endowment. Canon Wilson loved the School, he loved the boys, he loved talking to the boys about astronomy or any of the many subjects of which he was master, and Mrs. Wilson's interest in the School was hardly less than his own. Now she had passed away, and he" was sure that the sympathy of everyone would go out to the aged Canon, now in his ninetieth year, bereft of her who for so many years was his true helpmate, and in his latter days had been to him both eyes and ears. Though very deaf and half blind he still held himself erect, still continued his interest in life. As he could not see to read for very long he worked with his hands making nets, for he never would be idle, and while he worked he thought over and pondered the subject matter of another great essay he was planning to write. He was indeed an example of true heroism, one who used the powers given him for the service of his fellow men. (Applause.) HEADMASTER'S REPORT : RECORD SUCCESSES. The Headmaster (the Rev. C. Creighton) said that he was fortunate in being able to present a list of successes which beat all previous records. They had gained six higher certificates (in three different subjects), compared with five last year. The School certificates numbered 29 this year against 14 last year—(applause)—and lower certificates numbered 32, compared with 26 last year. The list of scholarships gained was very remarkable. He had not had printed a list of the successes gained by past members of the School, but there was one which deserved to be mentioned. J. L. Longland was announced, a few weeks ago, as having won a first division in the first class of the Historical Tripos at Cambridge, and had found time in the intervals of working to win a blue for pole jumping. He %vanted to say a word on the vexed questions of examinations, and to put in a good word for them. They had heard them decried—and they had certain obvious disadvantages—but from his experience he considered them a most valuable incentive to the boys who were working for them. They provided just the necessary spur to achieve some definite result. It was by no means necessary that the

THE VIGORNIAN. whole work of a school should be in any way dominated by examinations. Though they achieved good results, his staff would agree with him when he said that they did not feel themselves burdened all the year round by the thought of examinations, nor were they hampered in dealing freely with any subject which might turn up. APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER ADVANCED COURSE. He had made application to the Board of Education for a further advanced course—in modern subjects—and he was given to understand that the application would be favourably considered. He appealed to the parents to keep their boys at school until they reached the age of 18, so that they might take advantage of the two most fruitful years of their school life. Besides the benefit the boy received from taking advanced courses, he was able to assume some responsibility or other in connection with the School's activities, which formed a most valuable part of his education. The new quadrangle was a very useful addition to the School buildings, and the classrooms were ideal for teaching purposes. The reading room was in constant use, and the boys had shown that they appreciated it. The room was completely paid for, but he continued to receive subscriptions for the furnishing and equipment fund, which was still open. He thanked Capt. Whitaker for his long service in command of the School O.T.C. Archdeacon Peile then distributed the prizes. THE " AGE OF TALK." In his address, the Archdeacon said he thought there need be no controversy about the label of the age in which we lived. We lived in the Age of Talk. (Laughter.) It was into a maelstrom of talk that his younger hearers would be launched when they left school. Parliament, the pulpit, and the platform they had always with them as perfect founts of talk. And then there was the Press. He would be very careful, but let him ask them to consider what he himself, in his life-time, had seen—the rise of that singular phenomenon colloquial journalism which one associated with the names of So and So and So and So—they could fill in the blanks themselves. (Laughter.) Let them consider the morbid development of the newspaper interview— how really eminent" persons of all sorts, from Cabinet Ministers to murderers, told them about it in the Sunday papers. (Laughter.) He gathered from that day's papers that there were some Labour members who would tell them that these two classes were not extremes but identical, and when they had named one they had included the other. He could not agree with them, but let him pass to less dangerous ground. The men of science were busy devising and improving machines for the indefinite repetition and multiplication of the human voice. Their homes were to be equipped with an apparatus for emitting noises, which in his opinion the house was particularly built to exclude. (Laughter.) The ether vibrated with the cries of " strong silent men " telling the men the virtues of silence and in a little while they might have the privilege of hearing politicians of all parties talking simultaneously.

465

Two KINDS OF " DOPE." The trouble about all this talk was that it was either interested or disinterested. A great deal of it, he believed, was interested. It was what he understood vulgar people called " dope "—insidious suggestion meant to produce an atmosphere favourable to the designs of the talker or the person who had hired the talker. Then there was the large mass which was disinterested. Talk for talk's sake, something which had no definite thought behind it and no definite purpose or action in view. And that kind was a kind of dope. Its effect, and in some degree its purpose, was to detach the mind from the realities of life—to keep it amused with the least effort. So, if it became a habit, it was fatal to all continuous and concentrated thought. He need not tell them that concentration was the thing because the wireless and other prophets were telling them that ad nauseam and then assisted them to concentrate with a breezy chat upon Tutankhamen or Mr. Hobbs. (Laughter.) But he did tell them without any of those frills and extras, to concentrate and be really interested, not in external things like collecting foreign stamps or politics, but in themselves. That remark was not cynical because it was homely commonsense. If they were not interested in themselves, they would find that no one else was particularly interested in them, and, in the effective degree, nobody could deliver his brother. It was not irreligious, because their self was the little bit of God's Creation especially given them to look after and make the best of. It was not immoral because the kind of interest of which he was speaking had nothing to do with what was called self-interest, self-indulgence or conceit. CRITICAL SELF-INTEREST. It was more like the kind of interest which a really competent and conscientious coach took in the crew of which he was in charge. He was not particularly altruistic. He wanted his own men to win. He was extremely exacting. He did not encourage either self-indulgence or an unduly favourable estimate of one's attainments in the rowers he was training. He was, moreover, exceedingly and painfully plain-spoken. (Laughter.) Those were the things that went to make up a proper kind of being interested in themselves. First of all, there was sincerity. It was a very disagreeable thing indeed to see themselves as others saw them, a gift which, in spite of the Scots bard, most of them would very gladly dispense with. They must curb so far as they could that almost tropical growth of selfexcuse which sprang up in the heart of everyone, young and old, and made them see their meanest and silliest actions as something certainly excusable and probably creditable. Then there was a third thing, and here, he thought, he was in danger of controversy. They must not be too altruistic. A great deal of the religion and philanthropy of their day was far too un-self-regarding. It seemed to him a great many people were so busy running after movements for making other people better that they had no time for making themselves better, which after all was the only way one could really help or serve other people. The great factor in education was that boys should

466

THE VIGORNIAN.

learn while at school, and after they had felt their own limitations and their own powers, should make up their minds to make the best of what he was afraid in the case of most human beings turned out to be very imperfect material. To that end, let them learn in a talking world to be, so far as they could, one of the minority of doers and not one of the great dominant noisy articulate majority of talkers. A vote of thanks was proposed to the Archdeacon, on the proposition of the Mayor, seconded by Mr, Southall. Bishop of Worcester's Divinity Prize : VI, G. Every. Rev. N. K. McNeile's Divinity Prize : Upper V, J. J. Darby. George Nash's Divinity Prize: Lower V : R. H. N. Wood. Maurice Day Classical Prize : VI, K. N. Ross ; Junior Upper V, G. D. S. Boole. James Nash Classical Prize: Lower V, E. W. Parsons. School Latin Prose Prize (Canon Lacey) : A. G. Bain. School Mathematical Prize (Canon Wilson) : C. J. O. Blackall. School French Prize (Mrs. Ernest Day) : J. J. Painting. School French Prize School Certificate (Mr. S. W. Whitehouse) : F. J. W. Mansfield. School German Prize : J. J. Darby. School German Prize, Lower Certificate : R. A. W. Langfield. School Science Prize (S. Southall, Esq.) : T. E. D. Beavan. Archdeacon James' Accidence Prizes—VI, Latin : K. N. Ross; Greek, G. E. Churchill; Upper V, Latin : E. F. Stanton; Greek: C. P. Longland; Middle V, Latin : F. H. Yarnold ; Lower V, Latin : B. A. Sewell; Greek : VV. E. A. Brown; Remove: S. M. Bate; Upper I V : H. Baylis. General Knowledge (the Dean of Worcester) : VI, C. J. C. Molony ; Upper V, J. N. Nicholls ; Middle V, R. S. Eckersley; Lower V, J. A. W. Nott; Remove : S. M. Bate; Upper IV, J. A. Crofts; Lower IV, T. S. Broadhurst. Archdeacon Spooner's Recitation Prizes: Upper School, G. D. S. Boole ; Middle School, R. E. Tull. Music Prize (Sir Ivor Atkins) : Piano, B. S. Verdier; Choir, C. L. Garnett. Mrs. Henry Wood Essay Prizes : i H. G. A. Maund, 2 F. H. Yarnold, 3 S. M. Bate. Drawing Prize : M. S. Taylor. Special Prize for the best School Certificate (in memory of F. T. E. and E. R. H. Lewis, O.V.) : J. C. Palmer. Honours won by members of the School since last Prize Day.—K. N. Ross, Classical Postmastership, Merton College, Oxford; C. J. C. Molony, History Exhibition, Queen's College, Oxford; M. R. Craze, Classical Exhibition, Hertford College, Oxford; P. H. Graves-Morris, Prize Cadetship, Sandhurst. Winners of Certificates of the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board, 1925 : Higher Certificates in Classics: A. G. Bain, M. R. Craze, K. N. Ross, with distinction in History and Literature. In Modern Studies: C. J. C. Molony, J. J. Painting. In Science : T. E. D. Beavan. School Certificates : M. R. A. Ainslie, G. L. Bishop, G. D. S. Boole, B. H. Carter, C. E. N. Davies, J. J. Darby, J. B. Edwards, C. L. Garnett, H. C. Gettings, P. H. Graves-Morris, O. Greenfield, J. S. Hurford, R. A. VV. Langfield, C. P. Lorrgland, J. H. Nicholls, J. C. Palmer, E. W. Parsons, J. H. C. Phelips, D. K. Peters,

D. H. Preston, L. W. Shorting, M. J. C. Stanley, E. F. Stanton, C. C. Steward, M. S. Taylor, R. E. Thomas, J. Wilding, P. H. P. Woodhouse, J. R. Wingfield-Digby. Lower Certificates: D. M. Birkmyre, W. R. Chignell, C. Clutton, R. S. Eckersley, C. E. H. Finch, C. D. Garrett, J. D. Gerrard, G. B. Greenfield, H. L. Hargraves, D. A. B. Hopkin, J. S. Hurford, J. L. King, G. J. Knight, R. A. W. Langfield, T. O'D. Lumley, E. McDonaugh, J. H. Marker, W. J. Mayhew, D. VV. A. Molony, E. W. Parsons, J. H. C. Phelips, E. A. Rieu, J. A. W. Rogers, D. W. Rowe, R. H. Rowland, W. J. L. Severn, H. S. Spong, E. F. Stanton, R. E. Thomas, B. S. Verdier, J. R. Wingfield-Digby, W. H. O. Woodrow. London Matriculation : G. F. Blandford. Certificate A won by members of the O.T.C. during the past year : D. G. W. Brown, M. R. A. Ainslie, C. E. Coverdale, R. I. Graham, K. N. Ross, D. E. B. Williams, H. F. Langstaff, J. J. Painting, R. E. Thomas, M. S. Taylor, C. E. N. Davies, R. H. N. Wood. The Mayor of Worcester, after the Prize-giving, wrote that he would be glad to give an additional prize. This has been awarded to the Proxime Accessit in the K.S. Examination, for which G. H. Carrel and F. H. Yarnold were equal. We wish to express to the Mayor our thanks for his generosity. * * * Tea was then taken in the School Quadrangle, after which the Boat Race between the School and the O.V. took place. This race was rowed over the usual up-stream course from the First Locks to the Deanery. Both boats got away well and for a minute were almost level. Then the School began to draw away slightly and secured a lead which they maintained to the end of a very sporting race. The order of rowing in both crews was as follows :•— THE SCHOOL. Bow. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Stroke. Cox. Bow. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Stroke. Cox.

E. F. Stanton ... ... M. J. C. Stanley ... D. A. B. Hopkin ... D. K. Peters ... ... H. C. Gettings C. J. C. Molony D. G. W. Brown ... H. S. Spong ... ... D. W. A. Molony ... THE OLD VIGORNIANS. R. W. Porter. W. McC. Graves-Morris. E. L. Rees. G. H. Webb. W. B. Evans. E. L. Fisher. J. B. Cavenagh. B, H. Carter. R. S. Carter.

st.

Ibs.

9 10 10 10 13 n 10 9 7

12 4 10 10 o 5 6 n 0

THE VIGORNIAN. We should like to take the opportunity of thanking Mr. Brown, who again very kindly lent the boats, and who also acted as starter. # * # CONCERT. At eight o'clock a Concert and Entertainment was held in College Hall. Unfortunately, shortly before eight, a heavy shower of rain fell, which may have deterred some from coining. However, the attendance was very good and a number of O.V. were to be seen in the audience. The first part consisted in selections from German's " Merrie England," by the School Choir. The various pieces were all sung very well indeed, and reflect great credit on Mr. Day and the singers. Being of a light character, it probably appealed to even more than had the pieces undertaken at previous concerts. The soloists, R. P. C. Bagnall, W. Hornblower, W. J. L. Severn, Mr. S. D. Strong and Mr. G. K. Tattersall, were very distinct, and it would be ungracious to choose between them. A Quartet, sung by Mr. H. E. Nicholls, Mr. S. D. Strong, Mr. A. D. Franklin, and Mr. G. K. Tattersall, was especially appreciated and encored. It is not too much to say (as indeed seems to be said of each concert as it comes) that it surpassed all the previous achievements of the Choir. Mr. C. Brown, O.V., accompanied, and the faithfulness with which he continues his rather thankless task is apt to be overlooked. Soon after the interval the electric lights went out. It was discovered that the Corporation fuses were at fault, and after a period of semi-darkness, the lights were restored, owing to the efforts of an O.V., B. H. Carter, who succeeded in setting matters right. In the meantime, Mr. Herbert J. Ceilings had begun his entertainment. Could we but remember half the jokes he made! They were neither antiquated nor feeble, and were appreciated by all members of the audience. Then, when light was restored, he began some marvellous conjuring tricks. Under his influence, silk-worms manufactured yards of silk handkerchiefs, etc., while he showed uncanny powers of discovering what playing-cards members of the audience had chosen. He borrowed a glove, and after successively changing its size and colour, restored it intact. But these marvels culminated in an exhibition of extraordinary dexterity with soup-plates and a bowl. He whirled several soup-plates about a table at the same time, making them revolve rapidly and perform curious antics, without ceasing his " patter," which was really very clever. He was loudly applauded at the end, and evervone congratulated everyone else on the great success of the evening. O.T.C. INSPECTION. The annual general inspection was held on Saturday morning by Col. Lord Henry Seymour, D.S.O., who was accompanied by Lieut. Bryant, Worcestershire Regiment. After the general salute and inspection, the corps marched past the Inspecting Officer at the saluting base. At his request, the band then gave an exhibition of marching and

467

playing. Movements in Company Drill, Platoon Drill, and Section Drill then followed, both close and open order, and sections were tested in knowledge of musketry. The Corps was then formed up and addressed by the Inspecting Officer. He congratulated all ranks on their equipment and on their knowledge of the movements they had been called upon to perform. In particular he congratulated the band on their excellent display of marching and playing. In conclusion, he asked the Headmaster for a half-holiday, which was given on the following Monday. The Inspecting Officer then visited the Miniature Range, Armoury, and Sand Table, and expressed his satisfaction at what he saw. His official report will be received in due course and published later. * * * CRICKET MATCH. In the afternoon the Old Boys succeeded in winning the toss and set out to bat on an easy wicket, under an overcast sky. The opening pair soon settled down and played good cricket, putting on a hundred for the first wicket, when Davies was bowled while attempting to punish a straight ball. He claimed seventy of these runs through playing masterly cricket, scoring freely all round the wicket. W. L. Shorting, of whom great things were expected, gave no trouble, in that he badly mis-timed a leg ball from Hodgson, giving an easy catch to slip. Then came a collapse, five wickets falling for a further 20 runs. The only remaining batsmen to show anv signs of their old School form were Daniel and Webb ; the former being dismissed by a good catch by Arbuckle in the deep field. The successful School bowlers were Porter five wickets, Hodgson three, and Arbuckle two. Rain fell steadily during the tea interval, but had stopped at the resumption, and the opening pair for the School started confidently to the bowling of Warren and Davies. Runs came rapidly, and on Garnett's dismissal there were 44 runs scored for the first wicket. The second fell at 94, of which W. J. Mayhew claimed 68. He gave a delightful display of batting during his stay of a little more than threequarters of an hour ; his hits included eight fours. Later, Graham and Coverdale put on 30 for the fifth wicket; the former showed little respect for the bowling in that he hit two lofty sixes in succession before being leg before in attempting another. By this time rain was falling heavily, but through good sportsmanship the Old Boys stayed in the field while the required number of runs were obtained. The match, which would have been enjoyed very much more by everyone had the weather only been more favourable, ended in a four wicket victory for the School. Craze was their most successful bowler, taking three for 28. OLD VIGORNIANS. E A. Davies b Porter ... ... R. Daniel c Arbuckle b Porter ... ... W. L. Shorting c Porter b Hodgson ... D. Webb not out ... ... ... ... A. Bolland c and b Porter ... ... W. A. Fillmore c and b Hodgson ...

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

70 32 8 2o i 0

THE VIGORNIAN.

468 H Blanchard b Porter

...

R. W. Chignell c Longland b Porter Extras ... ... ... ...

...

BOWLING. o. m. Hodgson ... 15 ... 2 ... Porter ... 14 ... 2 ... Royle ... 5 ... o ... Graham ... 7 ... 2 ... Arbuckle ... 3 ... i ... Porter bowled one wide.

r. 32 53 43 18 6

...

9 10

w. 3 5 o o 2

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

...

The City then proceeded to bat, and passed the School total with the loss of two wickets. On reaching a hundred for five wickets the City declared in order to give the School a second innings, and at the close the School had made 50 for one wicket. S. P. Collier batted well for the City in making 47. The fielding on both sides was good, but the School bowling was weak. SCHOOL. IST INNINGS. C. E. Porter c Osbourne b Rabjohns

KING'S SCHOOL.

R. I. Graham Ibw b Warren

offered some resistance, remaining in partnership for twenty-five minutes, when Ainslic was dismissed by a catch in the deep off Rabjohns. Boole followed two overs later, by which time the score had risen to 30. The remaining batsmen met with no success and the innings closed for 41 runs.

...

R. I. Graham Ibw b Rabjohns ... ... M. R. A. Ainslie c Boulter b Rabjohns C. E. Coverdale b Rabjohns ... ... G. D. S. Boole c and b Rabjohns ... C. V. Hodgson b Harber M. D. B. Royle b Rabjohns A D. Arbuckle b Harber ... ...

...

... ...

...

o 15 o 9 o 5 3

Extras

...

C. P. Longland j Total Total (for 7 wickets)

...

BOWLING. o. in. Warren ... 1 1 .5 ... o ... Davies ... 5 ... o ... Shorting ... 6 ... o ... Holland ... 2 ... o ... Craze ... 6 ... 2 ... Sherwood ... 4 ... o ... School won by four wickets.

...

171

2ND INNINGS. C. E. Porter c Osbourne b Warren

r. 49 16 22 24 28 10

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

w. 2 i o o 3 o

Cricket. SCHOOL v. WORCESTER CITY. Played on the County Ground, May 22nd. Having won the toss, Porter and Garnett opened the School innings on an excellent wicket. Disaster soon overtook them, and four wickets fell in rapid succession with only five runs un the board. Ainslie and Boole, however,

BOWLING.

Rabjohns Harber

Warren Boulter Clark Rabjohns

... ...

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

o. 14 13.3

1st Innings. m. ... 7 ... ... 7 ...

r. 21 14

... ...

w. 6 4

o. n 4 2 4

2nd Innings. in. ... 4 ... ... 2 ... ... i ... ... o ...

r. 26 2 2 8

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

w. i o o o

THE VIGORNIAN.

469

WORCESTER CITY. S P Collier c Haynes b Royle A. J. Boulter c Coverdale b Royle

... ...

W Roberts b Ainslie C. D G Smith not out ... L. Warren i J. Clark [ D.d J. Harber / T>. Rabjohns )

...

Total (5 wickets, declared)

...

... ...

47 o

...

109

Graham Royle Porter

o. ... 16 ... 6 .12

Ainslie Hodgson

... ...

4 4

BOWLING, m. ... i ... ... i ... ... 5 ... ... ...

o i

... ...

SCHOOL. W. J. Mayhew c Dickinson b Elwood ... C. L. Garnett st Smith b Elwood C. E. Porter c Sandbach b Sutton G D S Boole run out

r. 37 18 22

... ... ...

w. i o. o

14 10

... ...

i o

...

6 15 11 5

... ..

.. ... ...

... ... ...

o 3 o

...

—

BOWLING. o. m. r. ... 9 ... 2 ... 28 ... n ... 4 ... 30 ... 7 ... i ... 34 ... 2 ... o ... 9 ,.. 2 ... o ... 6 School lost by 8 wickets. » » *

Porter Graham Royle Hodgson Ainslie

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

w. o 2 2 o i

SCHOOL v. K.E.S. BIRMINGHAM. Played on the New Road Ground. May 24th. The visitors batted first on a rather soft wicket, and found very little difficulty with the School bowling, the opening pair adding 57 runs before Cohen was dismissed by a well-judged catch in the deep field by Porter. His partner Sandbach continued his innings until he was smartly stumped by Coverdale. With 125 runs on the board the visitors declared their innings and left the School 75 minutes to get the runs. They soon met with difficulties, losing three wickets for 30 runs. Wickets continued to fall rapidly, and with the last pair in and with 62 runs obtained, stumps were drawn. Garnett and Porter were the only two School batsmen to get into double figures. An excellent game thus ended in a draw which was greatly in favour of the visitors. K.E.S. BIRMINGHAM. W. E. Sandbach st Coverdale b Graham

D. E. Raine O. R. Dudley R. Dickinson A. Smith A. D. Sutton A. C. Long E. Middleton.

Did not bat.

Total (2 wickets, declared)

M D B Royle c and b Elwood C V Hodgson not out ... ... A D Arbuckle b Raine . . ... Extras

Cohen Raine Elwood Sutton Dickinson

...

o. ... 6 ... 13 ... 13 ... 3 ... 3

...

BOWLING. m. ... 2 ... 8 ... 3 ... i ... 2

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

r. 14 9 17 7 9

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

w. o 2 3 i 2

Match Drawn. *

* *

K.S. WORCESTER v. HEREFORD C.S. Played on the New Road Ground, on 26th May. Rain having fallen heavily during the morning, the wicket was very dead, so, on winning the toss, the School proceeded to bat. In a very short time Garnett was ilin out through a piece of bad judgment, but from then onwards runs came at a fairly quick pace. Graham, on giving two chances in quick succession, continued to play a useful innings before being bowled by Davey. Coverdale and Arbuckle then proceeded to score rapidly, the latter being undefeated at the close of the innings. The opening pair for Hereford very soon met with disaster, Garnett dismissing Goodwin by an excellent catch at fine-leg, and Jones was bowled. None of the incoming batsmen showed any signs of confidence in the batting

...

... 125

had the distinction of performing the " hat trick " during the course of the visitors' innings, which came to a close with a mere 21 runs on the board.

THE VIGORNIAN.

470

for 20. The home team opened promisingly before the bowling of Porter and Graham and had put on 20 whon Hacking was run out in attempting an impossible run. Clark and Tandy were the only batsmen to show any confidence and on their dismissal wickets fell frequently. With the last pair at the wicket and still requiring 44 runs for victory, stumps were drawn, thus leaving a most enjoyable game a draw, all in favour of the visitors. Porter was the School's most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 31-

SCHOOL. W. J. Mayhew b Davey C. L. Garnett run out C. E. Porter c E. Brown b Davey M. R. A. Ainslie c Jones b Davey R. I. Graham b Davey C V. Hodgson b Tanner C. E. Coverdale b Tanner M. D. B. Royle b Tanner A D. Arbuckle not out R. H. Rowland b Goodwin N. K. G. Pike c E. Brown b Tanner Extras

.. ..

Total

ii o ii 7 24 4 18 14 17 i o 4 — in —

K.S. WORCESTER. W. J. Mayhew b Booker ... C. L. Garnett c Clark b Burnett C. E. Porter b Burnett M. R. A. Ainslie b Burnett G. D. S. Boole c Harrison b Rishworth R. I. Graham Ibw b Hacking ... C. E. Coverdale c Hacking b Burnett ... C. V. Hodgson c and b Rishworth A. D. Arbuckle c and b Rishworth R. R. Haynes not out H. F. Langstaff b Hacking Extras

BOWLING. Davey Goodwin Tanner C. Brown

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

o. 15 12 8 2

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

m. 4 5 o o

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

r. 43 23 29 12

w. 4 i 4 o

••• ...

34 15 o 8 7 i ii o 8 4 7 20

...

115 —

HEREFORD C.S. Goodwin c Garnett b Graham Jones b Porter Davey b Graham Smith b Porter Tanner c Royle b Porter ... E. Brown b Porter Carter b Graham Brooks b Graham Garton not out Rowlands b Graham C. Brown b Graham Extras

Total

3 2

BOWLING.

4 o o o o 6

Booker Rishworth Burnett Copson Hacking

o o 3 —

Total

K.S.

WORCESTER v. K.S.

r. 6 12

4 6

WARWICK

Played at Warwick on May 29th. The visitors won the toss and proceeded to bat upon a hard wicket. Mayhew and Garnett opened the innings, and through steady play put on 44 runs for the first wicket, before Garnett was taken behind the wicket by Clark. Mayhew continued to play soundly until he was bowled by a ball which he meant to put away to leg, after making 34. Wickets then began to fall more rapidly, and with the exception of Coverdale (n) no one else reached double figures, and the innings closed for 115. Burnett was the most successful bowler in the home team, in capturing four wickets

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

2 c /7 2 2

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

24 14 20 9 7

0 2

K.S. WARWICK.

BOWLING. ... ...

12 iq 14t 5 7.1

Hacking run out Clark c Garnett b Graham Lang c Mayhew b Porter ... Tandy b Hodgson ... Booker b Porter Bingham b Hodgson Burnett c Boole b Porter Rishworth b Porter Harrison b Graham Berry not out Copson not out Extras

o. m. Porter ... 7 ... 4 Graham ... 6.1 ... 2 School won by 90 runs. * * *

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

...

8 15 9 13 2 I

6 7 0

3 3 4

Total (9 wickets)

...

BOWLING. I

Porter ... Graham ... Hodgson ... Match drawn.

o. 15 10 5

... ,.. ...

m. 5 o i

» *

... ... ...

r. 31 26 10

w. 4 3 2

THE VIGORNIAN. ...

Cannon st Coverdale b Arbuckle Extras

K.S. WORCESTER v. DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL. Played at Cheltenham on June 3rd. The visitors being again lucky with the ( t i n , Mayhew and Garnett opened the innings on a rather wet wicket. Runs came at a fair pace and there were soon 40 runs on the board, when Garnett was dismissed by a good length ball, having made n. Ainslie and Boole did not stay long; in the meantime Mayhew had raised his score to 29 before being caught. Porter, after giving a chance in his first over, continued to make 16. At the same time wickets fell rapidly and the innings came to an end with a score of 76, Sears taking four wickets for 27. On going in to bat the home team soon met with a reverse, Rhodes being caught by Mayhew with only five runs scored. Hodgson bowled an excellent length and three more wickets fell for 20 runs. On the arrival of Kerr and Carpenter the rate of scoring was raised, the latter giving a dashing display of batting for 20 minutes. His 40 included eight boundaries. By this time the visitors total had been passed and the remaining batsmen treated the tired bowling without respect, and their innings closed for 170. Porter bowled steadily for the School, taking 5 wickets for 34 runs. SCHOOL. W. J. Mayhew c Rhodes b Cannon C L. Garnett b Cannon ... M. R. A. Ainslie Ibw b Sears G. D. S. Boole c Kerr b Rhodes C. E. Porter c Rhodes b Sears ... R. I. Graham c Wood b Rhodes N. K. G. Pike b Sears C. E. Coverdale Ibw b Sears C. V. Hodgson c Lamb b Rhodes A. D. Arbuckle not out C. P. Longland run out Extras

47'

29 ii 5 i 16

27 14

Total

1 7O

BOWLING. r. 34 75 42 4

m. o. 4 Porter 18 Hodgsonn 4 18 o Graham 6 Arbuckle te i .6 ... o K.S. Worcester lost by 94 runs. * * *

K.S. WORCESTER

S 3 o 2

MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS 1ST

XI.

Played at Malvern on J u n e 5th. On batting first the. School lost Mayhew in the first over, but Garnett and Ainslie improved matters considerably. Then Boole joined the latter and continued to make runs more quickly. Ainslie, after giving a chance early on, batted very soundly from there onwards, and finding some useful partners in Pike and Coverdale, was able to complete his 50 before the innings came to a close, at which time he was still undefeated. Graham bowled well for the Colts, getting five wickets for 30 runs. Malvern on coming in to bat did not find runs hard to obtain and had compiled 50 runs at the fall of the second wicket. Graham bowled with success, taking in all five wickets for 45 runs. The partnership that won the match for Malvern was that between Stainton and Walker, who each succeeded in making over fifty and put on a hundred for the sixth wicket. The last four batsmen put up little resistance, and the innings ended with a total of 206. SCHOOL.

W. J. Mayhew c Thistleton-Smith b Graham ...

•,(,

Total

M. R. A. Ainslie not out ... ... .. G. D. S. Boole c Bradshaw b Graham ... C. E. Porter c Pullan b Graham R. I. Graham c Collins b Pullan A. D. Arbuckle c Pullan b Graham N. K. G. Pike run out C. E. Coverdale c Pullan b Illingworth C. V. Hodgson b Illingworth H. F. Langstaff b Illingworth ... Extras

BOWLING, Sears Rhodes Shaw Cannon

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

o. 16 14.5 5 6

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

m.5 =; o 3

r. 27 25 15 3

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

4 3 o 2

DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL. H. S. Adams Ibw b Hodgson S. D. Rhodes c Mayhew b Porter M. J. Wood c and b Porter A. C. Sears Ibw b Hodgson ... R. C. Thomas b Porter W. D. Kerr c Mayhew b Arbuckle J. B. Harrison c Coverdale b Porter S. M. Carpenter b Porter R. J. Shaw b Hodgson T. N. Lamb not out

6 i 6 ...

... ...

i 2

... 14

Total BOWLING.

...

6 26 6

Graham Pullan • Collins

... ... ...

14 ii 2

... ... ...

3 4 o

... ...

30 19 35

S I

Illingworth

...

<; . i

..,

...

THE VIGORNIAN.

472

MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS IST XI. C.Q.M.S. Singleton run out Pte. Izon b Graham ... Illingworth c Arbuckle b Graham

...

... ...

15 Total

Roberts b Porter

Total

...

... 206

BOWLING. o. m. * Porter ... 16.3 ... 7 ... Hodgson ... 18.6 ... 5 ... Graham ... 14 ... 4 ... Arbuckle ... 6 ... i ... School lost by 84 runs. * * »

r. 44 76 45 19

w. 2 z 5 o

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

K.S. WORCESTER v. NORTON BARRACKS. Played on the New Road Ground on June gth. Losing the toss for the first time this season, the School were forced to take the field. Lieut. Bryant and Sergt. James opened the innings for the visitors somewhat shakily. The former had an escape from being run out in the first over, the wicket-keeper fumbling the throw-in. After that he proceeded to treat the bowlers with contempt and had scored 84 when he was dismissed by an excellent catch in the deep field by Mayhew. His hits included three sixes and eleven fours. His partner was bowled by a good ball from Hodgson after making 29, having put on 122 runs for the first wicket. With the exception of a sound innings by Lieut. Ford (22), no other batsman offered much resistance, and the final score was 186 ; Graham capturing four wickets for 39 runs. The School opened disastrously, losing Mayhew and Garnctt with only ten runs scored. A partnership between Porter (17) and Pike (n) improved matters considerably, but at the fall of the seventh wicket rain fell heavily and the match had to be abandoned as a draw, greatly in favour of the visitors, who would otherwise have gained an easy victory. NORTON BARRACKS. Lieut. Bryant c Mayhew b Porter ... ... ... 84 Sergt James b Hodgson ... ... ... ... 29 Capt Knight b Hodgson . . ... 7 Mr. Cooper c Hodgson b Porter ... L/Cpl Walters b Porter ... ... Sergt. Johnson c Mayhew b Graham Lieut. Usher b Graham ... ...

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

... . ... „.

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

o o

3 13 13 i

Porter Hodgson Graham Arbuckle Royle

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

186 BOWLING. o. m. 15 ... i ... ii ... 3 ... 6.3 .... i ... i ... o ... 2 ... o ...

SCHOOL. W. J. Mayhew c James b Walters C. L. Garnett Ibw b Walters ... M. R. A. Ainslie run out ... ... G. D. S. Boole b Walters C. E. Porter c Bryant b Walters R. I. Graham c Bryant b Walters N. K. G. Pike c Knight b Izon ... M. D. B. Royle not out C. E. Coverdale not out ... ... C. V. Hodgson I „. , , 6 I Did not bat. A. D. Arbuckle ) Extras ... ... ...

Walters ... Izon ... Match drawn.

o. 6 6

BOWLING. m. ... 3 ... ... i ... *

r. 48 46 39 21 18

w. 3 2 4 o o

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

... ... ...

... ... ..

... ... .

... ...

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

...

o o 4 5 17 o n o i

...

r. 18 20

... ...

w. 5 i

* *

K.S. WORCESTER v. CATHEDRAL GUILD. Played at Diglis on June I2th. Batting first, on the Guild ground, the School made the highest score of the season (212). This was mainly due to three useful partnerships. The first was between Mayhew and Garnett, who put on 30 for the second wicket, finding little difficulty with the bowling. The second was a long partnership' between Ainslie and Porter which yielded over 90 runs. The scoring was distinctly fast, and except for a similar mistake made by each batsman neither gave a real chance until their dismissal. The former reached the boundary ten times in making 69 and the latter ten times in making 52. The third partnership was between Coverdale and Hodgson, who added 35 runs for the eighth wicket. Whitcombe bowled well for the Guild, having five wickets for 71. H. Gough (31) and Baddeley (45) gave the liuild an excellent start and Whitcombe (35) later on helped to prevent a rot which had set in among the remaining batsmen and

THE VIGORNIAN. thus saved his side from defeat. When stumps were drawn they still needed 50 runs with only two wickets t o fall. Arbuckle bowled very well for the School takin » four wickets for 18. SCHOOL. C. L. Garnett c E. Gough b H. Cough

M. R. A. Ainslie c Baddeley b H. Gough G. D. S. Boole c Warman b H. Gough C. E. Porter c Drew b Whitcombe N K G Pike b Whitcombe

••

7 ii 20 69 o S2 c

C V Hodgson b Whitcombe M D B Royle not out A. D. Arbuckle Ibw b Whitcombe

Total

Whitcombe Baddeley H. Gough Warman Allbutt

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

212

o. 22.8 6 7 10 2

BOWLING. m. ... 2 ... o ... 2 ... i ... o

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

r. 71 28 33 47 ii

CATHEDRAL GUILD. H. Gough c Hodgson b Arbuckle

leg in front of a straight ball from Hodgson. Then followed a good partnership between Clark, their captain, and Tandy. The former played an excellent innings of 29 before being bowled by a good ball from Graham, his cuts through the covers being very spectacular. His partner was smartly run out through an accurate throw by Mayhew. The remaining batsmen were never comfortable and the remaining wickets fell with the addition of very few runs. Porter and Hodgson bowled well for the School, taking four wickets each quite cheaply. The School opened their innings shakily and appeared to find the slow break bowling of Clark very puzzling. Mayseven runs scored. It was not until Graham came in that the bowling was treated as it should have been. He made several lofty hits into the outfield but was eventually bowled. Coverdale and Pike had a nice partnership for the seventh wicket, during which they added 30 runs. Arbuckle scored ten off his first three balls before being leg before ; the innings closing for a moderate total. K.S. WARWICK.

s I 3 i o

••

M G B Clark b Graham

3i 5 if.

" 29

...

J. E. Bingham c Mayhew b Hodgson ...

...

G. C. Burnett b Hodgson ... A. Rish worth b Porter ... H. W. E. Peggs not out ... Extras

... ... ...

o i _| S

Total

...

71 —

H Allbutt b Arbuckle

R. Drew did not bat. 8

Total (8 wickets)

Porter ... Hodgson ... Graham ... Pike ... Arbuckle ... Match drawn.

W. P. Andrews c Ainslie b Porter

P. Whitcombe c Garnctt b Porter

473

BOWLING. o. m. 17 ... 6 9 ... 2 7 ... o 3 ... o n ... 4 *

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

r. 42 42 35 14 18

w. 2 I I 0

* *

K.S. WORCESTER v. K.S. WARWICK. Played on the New Road Ground on June i6th. Winning the toss the visitors elected to bat on a firm wicket, and with only three runs obtained Hacking got his

Porter Hodgson Graham

... ... ...

BOWLING. o. m. 12.6 ... 4 ... 10 ... 4 ... 3 ... o ...

r. 22 29 12

w. 4 4 i

... ... ...

K.S. WORCESTER. W7. J. Mayhew c Booker b Clark

M. R. A. Ainslie c Rishworth b Clark C D S Boole Ibw b Clark . C. E. Porter c Bingham b Clark R. I. Graham b Burnett ... ... ... C. E. Coverdale run out ... ... ... N. K. G. Pike Ibw b Burnett C. V. Hodgson not out ... ... . M. D. B. Royle b Booker A. D. Arbuckle Ibw b Booker ... ... Extras ... ... ... ...

-j \6 8 14 25 iO o o 10 16

Total

... ...

...

112

THE VIGORNIAN.

474 BOWLING o. m. Rishvvorth ... 12 ... 5 ... Clark ... 18 ... 7 ... Burnett ... 8 ... 3 ... Booker ... 2 ... o ... School won by 5 wickets. * * *

r. 21 33 22 20

... .;. ... ...

A C Sears Ibw b Royle .. ... W. D. Kerr c Arbuckle b Royle R. C. Thomas J. A. Carpenter R. J. Shaw Did not bat. W. L. M. Johnson T. F. Cannon

w. o 5 2 2

Total (for 5 wickets)

...

7 i

...

K.S. WORCESTER v. DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL. Played on the New Road Ground, on June 22nd. Batting first on a firm wicket, the King's School started badly, losing five wickets for thirty runs. This was mainly due to the accurate bowling of Sears, the visiting captain, who took in all six wickets for less than five runs each. Then, however, a bright innings of 40 by Graham, which included two sixes, saved the situation. While he and Hodgson were in partnership forty runs were added for the sixth wicket. The innings closed with a very moderate score of 96. Dean Close, on coming in to bat, did not find much difficulty in obtaining the runs and had, at one time, 84 runs on the board with eight wickets in hand. However, at this point, Royle somewhat changed the situation in taking three wickets for ten runs, thus preventing the visitors from winning by a larger margin than five wickets. Rhodes, taking advantage of two chances at the beginning of his innings, carried his bat for a well-deserved forty-five. K.S. WORCESTER.

BOWLING. o. m. Hodgson ... ii ... 4 Porter ... n ... 2 Graham ... 9 ... 2 Arbuckle ... 4 ... i Royle ... 2.8 ... o K.S. lost by 5 wickets.

C. L. Garnett st Carpenter b Rhodes ...

added another thirty runs for the seventh wicket, when

...

C E Coverdale b Rhodes

M D B Royle b Sears C. P. Longland b Sears ...

Knodes Sears Johnson Cannon

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

r. 21 25 18 12 10

w. o o 2 o 3

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

* * *

SCHOOL v. MASTERS AND 2ND XI. Played on New Road Ground, June 25th. Batting first, the School lost a wicket during the first over without a run being scored, but after this the batsmen appeared to find little difficulty with the bowling. At the fall of the third wicket, there came an excellent partnership between Mayhew and Porter which yielded a hundred and thirty runs, both batsmen scoring freely. Mayhew carried on his innings to 98, when he was dismissed by a smart catch in the slips, thus bringing his

...

Total

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

BOWLING. o. m. 14 ... 5 16.5 ... 5 5 ... o a ... o

...

i i

...

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

r. 24 27 23 10

DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL. H. S. Adams b Graham ... ... . S. D. Rhodes not out ... ... ... ... J. E. Hemans Ibw b Graham ... ... ... T. N. Lamb c Garnett b Royle ... ... .„

w, 2 6 2 o

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

... ... ...

15 4.c 5 i-i

SCHOOL W. J. Mayhew c Tattersall b Craze C. L. Garnett Ibw b Tattersall ... ... M. R. A. Ainslie c J. Whitaker b Tattersall G. D. S. Boole run out ... ... ... ... C. E. Porter c Langstaff b Craze ... ... R I. Graham b R. J. Whitaker C. V. Hodgson not out .. . C E. Coverdale b Castley ... ... ... A. D. Arbuckle 1 M. D. B. Royle ' Did not bat. N. K. G. Pike Extras ... ... ... ... .

Inninfis declared.

... ...

...

98 o 10 15 73 o 16 21

THE VIGORNIAN.

Tattersall Craze Castley Whitaker Taylor

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

o. 12 13 6.6 g i

BOWLING, m. ... 3 ... o ... o ... o ... o

r. 64 62 25 66 16

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

Hodgson and Porter were the successful bowlers on the School side.

w. 2 2 i I o

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

KING'S SCHOOL, WORCESTER. W. J. Mayhew c Rowland b Warren ...

MASTERS. G. K. Tattersall, Esq., c Hodgson b Royle ...

...

A D. Franklin, Esq., b Hodgson ... R. J. Castley, Esq., c Garnett b Porter R J Whitaker Esq b Royle S. D. Strong, Esq., Ibw b Arbuckle ...

...

o 3 n 15

H. F. Langstaff b Arbuckle

...

475

...

117

6 o

M. R. A. Ainslie c Rammell b Craze ... G. D. S. Boole c Fillmore b Duggan ... C. E. Porter st Rammell b Duggan C. E. Coverdale b Mylne N. K. G. Pike b Spreckley C V. Hodgson run out ... M D B Royle not out A. D. Arbuckle b Duggan Extras

9 47

Total

...

BOWLING. o. m. Porter Hodgson Royle Graham Arbuckle

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

12.6 9 5 4 5

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

o i o o 3

r. ... ... ... ... ...

37 30 20 10 7

w. ... ... ... ... ...

5 i 2 o 2

6 26

.. 0

Total M. S. Taylor c Graham b Porter

.. 206

BOWLING. o. m. Spreckley ... 12 ... 2 Ainslie ... 8 ... o Warren ... 8 ... 2 Craze ... 7 ... i Duggan ... 10 ... 2 Tattersall ... 3 ... o Mylne ... .1 ... o Craze bowled 2 " no-balls."

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

r. 40 31 19 40 33 13 o

2 0 2 I

3 o i

School won by 130 runs. *

T. E. RAMMELL, ESQ.'S XI.

SCHOOL v. T. E. RAMMELL'S XI. Played on the New Road Ground, June 26th. This popular match was played under the very best weather conditions possible. Mayhew and Garnett opened the School innings. The former, after a lucky escape from being stumped from the first ball of the match, proceeded to score freely all round the wicket. Seventy runs were scored in a very short time, when the first wicket fell. A collapse set in on Mayhew 's dismissal, which was brought about by a very excellent catch at mid-wicket by Rowland. A total collapse was prevented by a long partnership by Coverdale and Hodgson, which yielded 65 runs ; both batsmen played good cricket and scored freely. The most successful bowler of the opponents was N. Duggan, who took three wickets for 33. The visitors, on coming in to bat, showed no signs of being at their ease with the School bowling, as may be seen from the fact that there were only six runs on the board when the fifth wicket fell. Warren and Fillmore endeavoured to improve matters, but never looked like staying for long ; the innings closed for a very disappointing total of 46.

C. J. Ainslie c Ainslie b Hodgson H W Wood b Porter M. R. Craze b Porter

W. A. Fillmore c and b Hodgson G K Tattersall not out

Total

BOWLING. Hodgson Porter Royle

... ... ...

o. ii 10 .8

... ... ...

m. 4 3 o

School won by 160 runs. *

« *

... ... ...

r. 25 19 o

w. S 4 I

THE VIGORNIAN.

476

BOWLING.

KING'S SCHOOL v. NORTON BARRACKS. Played at Norton Barracks on June 3Oth. The Barracks batted first on a very hard, true wicket. Bryant scored the first 18 runs before being caught in the deep. Then came a sudden collapse, six wickets falling for 47 runs. At this point Rose prevented this from continuing for a w h i l e ; then Hall added a much-desired 14 before the whole side were dismissed for 78. Porter took four wickets for 29 runs. The School soon put on 28 runs before the first wicket fell, of which Mayhew claimed 20. Then wickets began to fall rapidly, five being down for 37. At this stage Graham, receiving some useful assistance from Arbuckle and Hodgson, played a bright innings of 31, before being dismissed by a smart catch in the deep. The innings finally closed for 99. Considering the perfect state of the wicket, the scores on both sides were surprisingly low. For the Barracks, Bryant took three for 19 and Rose three for 22. NORTON BARRACKS. Lieut. G. H. Bryant c Mayhew b Hodgson Sgt. James c Arbuckle b Porter ... Lieut. H. S. Ford Ibw b Porter L/Cpl. Walters c Garnett b Porter Sgt. Johnson c Porter b Hodgson Capt. A. W. Knight not out Mr. Cooper c Hodgson b Royle ... Mr. Rose b Graham Lieut. G. L. Usher c Ainslie b Porter ... Cpl. Pearce b Royle Pte Hall c Royle b Graham Extras

18 o

...

4 8 o I

13 2

Total

o. 10 7 5-3

r. 29

Porter Hodgson Graham 2 Royle Porter bowled one " no-ball."

4 2

23 ii

KING'S SCHOOL, WORCESTER. W. J. Mayhew b Bryant ... ... C. L. Garnett c Cooper b Rose M. R. A. Ainslie c Usher b Bryant G. D. S. Boole b Bryant C. E. Porter b Rose C. E. Coverdale b Rose R. I. Graham c Johnson b Cooper C. V. Hodgson c and b Cooper ... A. D. Arbuckle st Knight b James M. D. B. Royle c Rose b James ... C. P. Longland not out Extras

...

20 6 o

3 3 o

KING'S SCHOOL, WORCESTER, v. MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS IST XL Played at Worcester on July 3rd. The visitors batted first on a firm wicket, and fared none too well at the outset, losing two wickets for ten runs, both of which were claimed by Hodgson, who should have had a third immediately afterwards, had there not been a bad mistake in the slips, which gave Pullan a life before scoring. If the School fielding had been of a higher standard and all the chances accepted, the visitors' total would have been somewhat reduced. Soon after tea the innings was declared closed when the score stood at 153 for eight wickets. The School were* left 90 minutes in which to get the required runs, but it soon became obvious that this would bf. an impossibility. The first three batsmen were out for eight, and continued to fall steadily to the finish. Graham and Hodgson were the only two to reach double figures. The good bowling and accurate fielding of the Colts soon proved too much for the School; the innings closing with a mere 44 runs on the board. Pullan and Stainton took three for 12 and three for 23 respectively.

BOWLING.

Total

o. 8 Bryant 8 Rose 2 Walters Cooper ... 5 James ... 3.5 ... Bryant bowled 3 no-balls. School won by 21 runs.

MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS. O. R. Frost b Royle G H. Horrocks b Hodgson ... ... R. G. Stainton b Hodgson C. D. Pullan b Graham R. H. Bradshaw c Porter b Royle C. M. Collins c Langstaff b Arbuckle ... G. L. Walker c Ainslie b Porter J. C. Thistleton-Smith not out ... ... E. W. Hunt b Graham E. H. Moss not out ... ... ... R. P. Phillips did not bat. Extras ... ... ... ...

...

17 2 o 17 6 20 24 39 6 7

...

Total (for 8 wickets)

4 o

Innings declared closed.

BOWLING.

S I 9 99

'53

Hodgson Porter Graham Royle Arbuckle

13 15 10 9 3

r. 32 49 26 22

THE VIGORNIAN. KING'S SCHOOL. W. J. Mayhew b Pullan M. R. A. Ainslie c Hunt b Stainton C. E. Porter run out ...... C. E. Coverdale c Stainton b Pullan R. I. Graham c Walker b Pullan C. L. Garnett run out ... ... . N. K. G. Pike run out C V. Hodgson not out ... ... . A D. Arbuckle c Pullan b Stainton M. D. B. Royle c Moss b Stainton H. F. Langstaff c Pullan b Walker Extras ...... Total

...

BOWLING. m Pullan ... ... 3 ... Stainton ... ... 4 ... Walker ... .8 ... o ... School lost by 109 runs. * * * °10 11

Played

15.

RESULTS. Won 6. Lost 5-

...

r. 12 23 3

w. 3 3 i

... ... ...

Drawn

BATTING AVERAGES. No. Most Times No. of in not of Name. Inns. Inns. out. Runs. W. J. Mayhew ... 15 98 o 363 M. R. A. Ainslie ... 15 69 i 211 C. E. Porter ... 15 73 o 210 C. E. Coverdale ... 15 47 i 185 R. I. Graham ... 15 40 o 164 C. V. Hodgson ... 14 26 5 96 C. L. Garnett ... 15 15 o 107 G. D. S. Boole ... 13 16 i 85 A. D. Arbuckle ... 13 17 3 68 N. K. G. Pike ... 8 15 o 51 M. D. B. Royle ... 10 14 3 34

o 8 o i 10 3 -j 10 3 o o 6 — &.& —

lack of confidence, which showed itself in feeble batting and fielding, and was responsible for some depressing defeats. Perhaps the chief fault —out of several—was the faulty judgment in running between the wickets. The sum total of wickets needlessly and foolishly sacrificed in this way throughout the season would, we think, surprise the team itself. This is a matter that calls for careful attention. At the same time, it is only fair to say that despite discouragements—the chief of which were inability to make a start for the first fortnight owing to weather and the fact that only nine members of last year's two elevens remained at school—they persevered and produced a result which was really creditable and quite as satisfactory as most of us expected—6 matches won, 5 lost, and 4 drawn. All will admit that the chief eredit for this is due to the Captain, who has been most business-like with Upper and Lower games alike, and whose team, inspired by his cheery and sensible way of dealing with them, has felt every confidence in him and worked together keenly and harmoniously. We append a few remarks on the individual members. IST XI CHARACTERS. C. E. PORTER (Capt.). His batting is disappointing. Just as he promises well, comes the cross-shot with fatal results. His bowling has been destructive more than once, though his length is uncertain, and he soon tires. Possibly the duties of captaincy—which he has discharged in a particularly effective manner have weighed too heavily.

Aver. 242 IS.o7 14.00 13.2 10.9 10.6 7^.1 7.08 6.8 6.3 4.8

R. I. GRAHAM (Sec.). Has the merit, in so far as it is a ' of fearlessness. Has a good eye and good hitting powers, which on several occasions have saved the situation, but lacks discretion and defence. Erratic bowler, but has taken a good many wickets. W. J. MAYHEW. A batsman with plenty of initiative, being especially strong on short-pitched balls, but poor defence. Perhaps the most consistent man in the field, he covers much ground and has a good throw-in. M. R. A. AINSLIE. Except on one or two occasions has not fulfilled promise. Has some good scoring strokes, but chiefly from lack of confidence cannot get going. A good field : has latterly returned, with some success, to his old post of wicket-keeper. C. L. GARNETT. A very keen and painstaking cricketer. Useful in keeping up his wicket, but has a cramped style and few scoring strokes, and a fatal tendency to drag straight balls round to leg. Good and energetic in the field. C. V. HODGSON. Most promising. Began as a " sticky " bat, but has developed good strokes all round the wicket, and plays with a nice straight bat. Has done good service in bowling, with an off break and an improv-

merit

BOWLING AVERAGES. Name. Overs. Maidens. Runs. Wickets. Aver. A. D. Arbuckle ... 36.6 10 no n 10.00 C. E. Porter ... 194.5 5° 4^7 43 "-3 R. I. Graham ... 114.7 19 362 28 12.9 M. D. B. Royle ... 39.3 3 173 12 14.4 C. V. Hodgson ... 143.6 36 460 27 17-03 The following also bowled : N. K. G. Pike ... 3 o 14 o — M. R. A. Ainslie ... 3 o 6 i 6 % * # Inconsistency, more marked than usual, has been the characteristic of this year's cricket season. In some matches—chiefly, unfortunately, those which mattered least —the team showed they were capable of good things, and achieved creditable victories. Others were conspicuous for

477

mg len

S th A. D. ARBUCKLE. His style in batting has improved considerably : should make a lot of runs next season. Useful change bowler with puzzling swerve. Fields and throws well at third man.

THE VIGORNIAN.

478

much to learn. Both batting and bowling are promising C. E. COVERDALE. Bats with pluck and determination : and should improve with experience. Not nearly sufficiently has a tolerably straight bat and some pretty strokes on alert in the field. the off. As wicket-keeper only moderate, not taking the * # * ball cleanly. Slow in the field. In conclusion, our warmest thanks are due to Mr. M. D. B. ROYLE. Has been rather off colour for most Rammell, who has once more shown an untiring interest of the season. Looks a promising bat, but seems unable in our School cricket in general. His advice and help is to get going. Our only left-hand bowler, he has an easy always appreciated by everyone. action, and might with advantage have been more utilized, We are also very grateful to Mr. Whitaker and Mr. if only for the sake of the change. Thorne for their much appreciated services as umpires; G. D. S. BOOLE. A difficult batsman to dislodge : plays also to Mr. Tattersall, who has taken an enthusiastic inwith a fairly straight bat, but should develop more scorterest in the School cricket and has been of invaluable help ing strokes. Very slow and uncertain in the field. to the general standard of play in the second game. N. K. G. PIKE. Shapes like a cricketer, but still has * * * C.E.P. FIXTURE LIST. 1ST

Date.

XI.

Ground. Result.

Opponents.

Sat., May 22.—Worcester City C.C. ... Mon., ,, 24.—K.E.S. Birmingham ... Wed., „ 26.—Hereford C.S. Sat., „ 29.—Warwick School Thurs., June 3.—Dean Close School Sat., „ 5.—Malvern College Colts... Wed., ,, 9.—Norton Barracks Sat., „ 12.—Cathedral Guild C.C— Wed., „ 16.—Warwick School Tues., ,, 22.—Dean Close School Sat., „ 26.—Mr. T. E. Rammell's XI Wed., ,, 30.—Norton Barracks Sat., July 3.—Malvern College Colts... Sat., „ 10.—Old Vigornians

County Lost Home Drawn Home Won Away Drawn Away Lost Away Lost Home Drawn Away Drawn Home Won Home Lost Home Won Home Lost Away Won Home Won Runs.

2ND XI.

Sat.,

May 22.—Cathedral Guild C.C. 2nd XI Away Lost Wed., „ 26.—Hereford C.S. and XI. Away Won Sat., ,, 29.—Warwick Sch. 2nd XI. Home Lost Thurs., June 3.—Dean Close School 2nd XI Home Lost Sat., ,, 5.—Malvern College Colts 2nd XI. ... ... Home Lost Sat., ,, 12.—Hanbury C.C. ... Away Won Wed., „ 16.—Warwick Sch. 2nd XI. Away Lost Sat., ,, 19.—Cathedral Guild C.C. 2nd XI. ... ... Home Lost Tues., ,, 22.—Dean Close School 2nd XI Away Won Sat., July 3.—Malvern College Colts 2nd XI. ... ... Away Lost Sat., „ 10.—Old Vigornians 2nd XI. Home Won 3 RD XL June 19.—Hanley Castle Grammar School Away Lost July 3.—Hanley Castle Grammar School Home Won

For. 91 64 for 6 90

Against. ...

101 39 94

68 77 80

69 for i 75 89

64 102 for 5

'37 46

82 80

87 46

138 for 6 165 38

4TH XI.

May 19.—Choir School June 16.—Tredennyke School „ 30.—Choir School July 3.—Tredennyke School

Lost Lost Lost Won

3 31 '43

THE VIGORNIAN.

Rowing Rotes. THE IST IV. It was some considerable time this year before the order of rowing in the ist IV was settled ; in fact, it has never happened that as late as a week before entering for the Public Schools' Cup at Marlow the final selection for the crew had not been settled definitely. It was quite clear after the Hereford race, which took place ten days before Marlow, that the crew was unsatisfactory, that there was weight in the boat which was not being pulled, and that the rowing lacked life. The 2nd IV race against Monmouth on the following Saturday held up any immediate change in the crew.

It was decided eventually that Spong, who has been coming on steadily as a reliable stroke and who stroked the 2nd IV well in their race against Monmouth, should stroke the ist IV at Marlow, so that Molony, who was rowing the most powerful and effective blade in the boat, could move to the middle of the boat, where his power and experience would be more advantageous ; this change made it possible also to move Peters from " 2 " to " bow," for which position his build and swing were much more suited. These changes, although rather risky at such a late period in the training, proved to be quite successful, and the crew improved rapidly each day. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS' CUP. The School met Monmouth and Borlase in the first heat, and were drawn on the Berks side, with Monmouth in the centre station. The School defeated Borlase by a good two lengths, but just failed in a great effort at the finish to gain a victory over Monmouth who won the heat by three quarters of a length. The School rowed a good race, and Gettings, who is the heaviest weight who has ever rowed for the School, showed himself to be fitter and much more effective than he had in the Hereford race. Spong kept his head, and in spite of inexperience of racing with the ist crew, stroked very creditably. CHARACTERS. Bow. D. K. PETERS (lost iolbs.). Still has several minor faults, and is very inclined to row his blade deep, but has proved himself to be a very genuine worker and stays well, and his lack of polish is by no means through lack of keenness. " 2." C. J. C. MOLONY (list slbs.). Easily the most stylish oar in the boat. He gets a very hard beginning and his finish is good. Has been a very keen Captain of Boats and has taken great pains in helping on the junior rowing. " 3." H. C. GETTINGS (1351). Is a big weight, and never quite realized until the last few days of training

479

what a great deal of work was expected of him to justify his place in the boat. Has a very fair style, but is inclined to finish much too low. STROKE. H. S. SPONG (gst nibs.). A stroke who has improved rapidly ever since he stroked the 3rd IV to victory last year. Sets a very fair rhythm, and in spite of the fact that he was rushed into the crew at the last minute, has filled an important position admirably. Cox. D. W. A. MOLONY (yst 61bs.). Has always been inclined to become too excited and steer erratically in a race, although this is his third year as cox of the ist IV. He is very good, however, at keeping his crew together, and his last race at Marlow this year was easily the best he has ever steered. * * • IST IV v. HEREFORD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL IST IV. On Wednesday, June yth, the School boat rowed its first full-course trial with Hereford Cathedral School. The course was from slightly above the mile post to the Grand Stand, and owing to the kindness of Mr. Brown, headmaster of the Blind College, who lent a pair of sister boats, the difficulty caused by the slight inequality between the School ist and 2nd boats was avoided. At the start Hereford, who were a light, smart crew at the top of their form, went away, and at the Dog and Duck led by a length. The School, who were not together and who were by no means in the best condition, could make no impression upon the lead, but stuck to it with more determination than skill. Finally Hereford won by three lengths. * * * 2ND IV v. MONMOUTH G.S. 2ND IV. This race was rowed on Saturday, June i2th, over the usual six furlong course from the Dog and Duck to the Railway Bridge. The School, who had the Pitchcroft Station, went off smartly at 44, and in a minute were half a length ahead. At the Rowing Club Monmouth, who had settled down, drew up slightly, but Spong gradually worked up the stroke, and being very well supported by his crew, the School went ahead to win by just over threequarters of a length. Time, 4 minutes 40 seconds. » » * 2ND IV v. ST. EDWARD'S SCHOOL, OXFORD 2ND IV. This race was rowed at Oxford on Saturday, June 26th. Both boats started well, but St. Edward's secured a slight lead on the first bend. After this both crews settled down, until the middle of the course, when Stanley spurted and took his crew, who were rowing with length and very fair life, up a length. After this St. Edward's, who were a heavy crew, gradually drew up, but could not get ahead. The race was given a dead heat. A feature of this race was the excellent way in which Carter steered a difficult course. * * # 2ND IV CHARACTERS. D. G. W. BROWN. A very hard-working and effective oar. He is sometimes inclined to finish too low and con-

480

THE VIGORNIAN.

sequently to be slow with his hands. At 3 he rowed a very good length and backed up his stroke well. D. A. B. HOPKIN. At present apt to be erratic, but all his fundamental ideas of rowing are orthodox, and with more experience he should make a good oar. He has one great asset : he knows how to row himself out. E. F. STANTON. Rows a very fair blade, but needs to control his swing forward, which is at times uneven. A useful bow. G. E. CHURCHILL. Strong and effective, but at times very clumsy at the finish. Rows himself out well. M. J. C. STANLEY. Has some idea of rhythm and keeps a good length. His chief faults are that he is inclined to pull with his inside hand and sometimes does not recover his body quickly enough. Has shown that he can hold his crew together in a race. As a crew the 2nd IV rowed better than they paddled. They were very well together, and though sometimes inclined to be short, rowed with good rhythm and life. In both their races their spurting was excellent. * * * 3RD IV v. ST. EDWARD'S SCHOOL, OXFORD, 3 R D IV. The race was rowed at Oxford on Saturday, June 26th. The School made a poor and nervous start, and in consequence lost threequarters of a length. They soon settled down however, and rowing well together and with great determination, drew level. Shortly afterwards Burnett, who rowed a well-judged race, spurted, and the School crew won by a length. » * » 3RD IV CHARACTERS. Bow. B. L. MATHESON (8st jalbs.), Captain. Rows a very good blade, and gets a very smart finish. Needs to control his oar more with the outside hand, when coming forward. He should make a good oar. "2." J. S. COLOMBI (lost). A clumsy but hard-working and effective oar. At present is inclined to swing short and finish too low, but with more confidence and care should do well. "3." P. C. W. MONAHAN (list 7lbs.). A heavy man, who never quite realized what effective leg-work means. He is inclined also to be slow with his hands and sometimes misses beginning. A hard worker. STROKE. M. N. BURNETT (gst). Does not get the finish quite right, but has a good swing and a fair sense of rhythm. Has shown that he can keep his head, and take his boat up, after a poor start, with determination and dash. Cox. MAYHEW (6st 3lbs.). A cox who has got much to learn, but who has a cool head, and the determination to lose nothing at a start or during a race. * * # JUNIOR ROWING. As usual this term, besides the first three boats, there have been four crews rowing in tub fours, under the coach-

ing of several members of the ist and 2nd fours. Unfortunately it was impossible to divide these junior boats according to Houses, but a series of " What Not " races proved that there is good material for future years. * * * We wish to express our heartiest thanks to the Headmaster for the interest he has taken in Rowing this term, and to Mr. Strong and Mr. O'Neill for their untiring keenness and invaluable coaching of the ist IV. We would also thank Mr. Bentley, who has so successfully trained the znd IV. Finally, we are grateful to P. H. B. Woodhouse, who has done a great deal of work for the 2nd and 3rd IV's, and to all who have taken an interest in rowing this term. C. J. C. MOLONY, Capt. of Boats. D. K. PETERS, Secretary. » * * HOUSE RACES. Friday, July 2nd. SCHOOL HOUSE v. CASTLE HOUSE. The race was held over the usual course from the Dog and Duck to the Grand Stand. School House won the toss and chose the Hallow side. Both boats got away well, and Castle House soon began to lead, taking half a length in the first minute. School House then began a spurt, and were going up slightly when a crab, caught by number 2, caused them to drop far behind. From this point Castle House went well away and %von by 2 j lengths.

flws Rotes. There were seventy-five regular players last term, nine of whom were Day Boys. This is an improvement, and it is to be hoped that still more will play next year. Many of the large number of beginners showed good promise, and should develop quickly next term. The formation of a second and third four was a new and very successful innovation. Unfortunately the second four match arranged with Bromsgrove had to be scratched owing to illness, so they had no chance of testing their strength against other schools. Next year, however, it is to be hoped that several matches will be arranged for the second four, and possibly one or two for the third. As it was, both fours showed improvement, though not of a very marked nature. The second four, consisting of C. V. Hodgson, R. I. Graham, J. P. Mayhew, and M. R. A. Ainslie, were rather erratic and inclined too much towards the hard-hitting game, whereas the third four, W. J. Mayhew, C. P. Longland, H. F. Langstaff, and G. H. Carrel, approached the opposite extreme. In both these fours, as in the first four and throughout the School, the weakest part is the play in the front of the Court. * * * The first four played and won two matches against Worcester College, Oxford, and the Cathedral School, Hereford. The former match was a new fixture, and proved to be entirely successful. After a most excellent

THE VIGORNIAN. and close game, which was described more fully in the last Vigornian, the School managed to win the match by the doubles, 15—-7, 15—10, and one single, 9—15, 18—15, 15— 9, losing the other single 13—15, 15—3, 8—15. Our opponents were T. E. B. Hall and T. E. G. Rowland. Against Hereford, away, we had a very easy win, as the score indicates: 90 points to 13. The first pair, C. L. Garnett and L. W. Shorting won 15—o, 15—4, 15—o; and the second pair, C. E. Porter and M. D. B. Royle, 15—3, '5—2, I5—4* * * The match with Bromsgrove had to be scratched, as has been stated above, owing to illness. Shorting was by far the steadiest of the four, and was much superior in the front play. Porter showed vast improvement, and at times played brilliantly. Royle is still young, but is steadily improving, and, when he has developed his front play, will become most useful. * * * The Competitions were in full swing before half-term. There were practically no surprise results although some very close and exciting games were witnessed. In the handicap doubles, Porter and Carrel looked like winning from the very start. There is usually some big mistake in the handicapping each year, and this time, undoubtedly, the prowess of the latter player was badly under-estimated. The winning pair, starting at —12, came nearest to defeat at the hands of Ainslie and Stanton, in the semi-final round. After winning the first game while their opponents were still in the " minus " quantity, the latter pair, starting at +5, were leading 11—3 in the second game. However, from this point, Porter and Carrel never looked back, winning this game 15—13, and the final game 15— 7. In the final round, they defeated Shorting and Hughes, starting at —5, quite comfortably. The Open Singles resulted, deservedly, in a win for Shorting, who defeated Garnett in the final, 15—7, 15—7. The " Under 15 " Singles proved to be a more exciting contest. Unfortunately the two strongest players met in an early round, when Carrel beat Molony ii, after a great struggle, by 18—15, 15—2. After this match, Carrel had not the slightest difficulty in winning the Competition. * * * The House Fives Cup was retained by the Hostel, who defeated Castle House in the final 15—4, 15—12. DAY BOYS \ (Arbuckle and i Taylor) | ^ NATLAND NATLAND ; (Langstaff and 1 CASTLE HOUSE Churchill) .' CASTLE HOUSE (Garnett and Royle) HOSTEL , HOSTEL (Shorting and 1 Porter) ( HOSTEL SCHOOL HOUSE I (Hodgson and £ongland) / *

481

Finally, I should like to thank Mr. Rammell for the time he has spent and the trouble he has taken in coaching the first four and all the others. C.L.G.

Chess notes. The last match last season was played with Worcester City II. at the Victoria Institute, on Thursday, March 25th. The City team was not quite at full strength, and the result was a decisive win for the School by 5 games to i. The games were played as follows :— W.C.K.S. Rev. R. J. Whitaker K. N . Ross C. L. Garnett L. W. Shorting G. E. Churchill O. R. Craze -

W.C.C.C. II. i i i i J %

Mr. L. Sharpe M r . P . Lane Mr. J. H. L. Bozward Mr. J. King Mr. H. G. Perkins Mr. R. B. Dyer -

o o o o J J

* *

The season proved to be a moderately successful one. Matches played. Won. 6 ... 2 Points f o r .

...

Lost. Drawn. 2 ... 2 Points against.

There were twenty-eight entrants for the Chess Cup. C. L. Garnett had the misfortune to lose in an early round, and the semi-finalists were K. N. Ross and T. O'D. Lumley, and J, P. Mayhew and E. Rieu. The former won in each case, and K. N. Ross won the final in twentyeight moves. The Cup returns to the Day Boys, who have now won it three times in the last four years.

O.C.C. ROkS. With no Cert. A exam this term more time has been given to work of a general nature. Section, Platoon and Company drill have been carried out, and in the two former a high degree of proficiency has been reached. Section drill has improved and Platoon Commanders have worked hard with their platoons, with excellent results, both in arms drill and close order drill. The Sectit/n Competition was held on June 28th and was judged by an O.V., Captain E. H. Newcomb, M.C., who is now Adjutant of the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. In addressing the Sections after the competition, he spoke highly of the efficiency of all sections, and particularly complimented No. 6 Section, commanded by L/Cpl. C. Porter, on the high standard of their drill and the ex-

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cellency of their " turn-out." They were the best, though not far behind were the Section from No. 3 Platoon and Nos. 3 and 4 Sections, between which it was difficult to judge. The Headmaster, in thanking Captain Newcomb, expressed his pleasure at being able to welcome an O.V. to judge the competition. c

The Shooting V I I I have worked hard and have done better this year than they have for some time. In the Chichester Cup they were beaten only by Malvern, beating both Bromsgrove and the Royal Grammar School. This is all the more creditable owing to the fact that they were able to have very little practice with ball cartridge. * * * The Worcestershire County Rifle Association instituted a match between the schools which compete in the Chichester Cup. This was to be fired under Ashburton Shield conditions on an open range. It was only possible to arrange two practices on an open range for the VIII ; and for this purpose they went by bus to Defford. The match took place on June loth on the ranges near Kidderminster, and again we were just beaten by Malvern. * * * The General Inspection this year took place on July loth. The Inspecting Officer was Col. Lord Henry C. Seymour, D.S.O., Commanding 1441!] Infantry Brigade. The account of it will be found elsewhere. * * » The following promotions and appointments were made this term :— Cpl. Ainslie to be Sergeant. L/Cpl. Graham to be Corporal. L/Cpl. Longland to be Corporal. Cadet Verdier to be L/Corporal. Cadet Mayhew i to be L/Corporal. * * * Sergt. Ainslie to be Band Sergeant. * * * L/Cpl. Painting to command No. 10 Section L/Cpl. Mayhew to command No. 12 Section. L/Cpl. Verdier to command No. 7 Section. Cpl. Graham to command No. 5 Section. At the examination held last term, Cadet C. H. N. Wood was awarded Certificate A. The following left at the end of last term :— Sergt. Shorting. Cpl. Williams. L/Cpl. Thomas. * * <tThe following recruits were enrolled this term :— Cadets Townshend, Embling, Jeff, Taylor, Cowles, Daniels, Hartwright, Weight, Beaumont i, Beaumont ii, Robinson.

Camp this year was originally fixed for Mychet Farm, Aldershot, but, owing to difficulties of transport, this has been altered to Tidworth Park. The contingent will proceed, probably by motor-bus, to Tidworth on Monday, July 26th. The date of dispersal from Camp is Wednesday, August 4th. * * * A team has been entered this year for the Physical Training Competition, which is held in Camp. Cadet Officer C. L. Garnett has been training this team, who have worked hard and should do well. * * * The Band have also worked hard and are again entering for the Competition in Camp. The drummers are good and the buglers much improved. * » » Cpl. Longland, L/Cpl. Mayhew, and Cadet Halton have been selected to attend the Physical Training Course held at the Army School of Physical Training, Aldershot, in August. * » * FIELD DAY. On June 4th, excellent weather favoured field operations, which were on a somewhat larger scale than usual. The Corps was conveyed by bus to Bringsty Common, and from there marched as an advanced guard to Bromyard Downs, where they expected to get in touch with the enemy. A marauding column, represented by Bromsgrove School O.T.C., was advancing in a southerly 7 direction on Bromyard. It was the object of the defending force, under the command of Cadet Officer C. J. C. Molony, to divert this column from Bromyard and cause it to pursue in an easterly direction, delaying decisive action until a given time, when reinforcements would have arrived in Bromyard. Zero hour was timed for 1.30 p.m., but Bromsgrove were somewhat late in arriving and operations did not begin until after 2 p.m. The defending force held a strong initial position on Bromyard Downs and could have held out against the attacking force much longer. Time was, however, short, and they were ordered to retire to Bringsty Common. The withdrawal was carried out in excellent manner and no time was lost in taking up previously arranged positions on the Common. Bromsgrove re-formed and pursued to Bringsty Common, where they again came under fire and were compelled to deploy. They immediately began an attack on the defending force, but, as Bromsgrove were compelled to leave early and time was short, the attack had hardly advanced further than its initial stages when the "Cease Fire " was sounded. The unfortunate lack of time caused operations to be curtailed considerably, but in what was done a good knowledge of general principles was shown. The successive defensive positions were well chosen and the withdrawal carried out with skill and expedition.

THE VIGORNIAN. SHOOTING.

483

O.V. RCUJS.

The strike deprived us of our rifles at the very beginning of the term, so no one had any practice for the Chichester Cup, which took place on May 2oth. When we actually did get some of our rifles for this match some had not been used before and turned out to be inaccurate ; however, after sharing round the various parts which would work fairly freely and after half of us had used the same rifle, which got almost too hot to touch, our result was found ti have been rather better than in former years. This was perhaps due to the element of surprise which pervaded everything and made the match even more interesting. The order was as follows :—Malvern College, King's School Worcester, Worcester Royal Grammar School, and Bromsgrove School, Malvern winning by 70 points.

V. P. Howells was ordained priest in Brecon Cathedral last December. At present he is senior curate at St. Gabriel's, Swansea.

A new fixture this year was an open range match at Kidderminster, with the same entry as for the Chichester Cup. By kind permission we were able to use the Territorials' open range and managed to get in two practices. At Kidderminster, on June loth, we were again second, with Malvern College top by about 30 points, while the Royal Grammar School were fourth. We are looking forward very much to this match next year and many thanks are due to Mr. Whitaker for making arrangements for it this year and for coaching the VIII for it and for the Chichester Cup.

H. Daniels is articled with Mr. Eustace Roberts, solicitor, Worcester. K. E. H. Lett is working with Messrs. Wood, Campbell and Co., Ltd., wine merchants, London.

Swimming. There has been rather a poor season, because the cold weather during the first part of the term did not allow us to start till much later than usual. One result of this is that the beginners have not had time to reach the standard necessary for passing the tests. Only ii have passed the River Test so far. Though we may expect more during the remainder of the term, last year's number (26) is not likely to be reached, partly on account of the late start, and partly because of the large number in '24 and '25, which left quite a small proportion of people who had still to pass this year. The Swimming Sports were held on Monday and Tuesday, July 5th an d 6th. The entries were poor in comparison with those of last year, and on Tuesday, the day for the Finals, we had a wretched drizzling afternoon. The results were as follows :— 1. Castle House 2. School House 3. Natland 4. Day Boys 5. Hostel

64 points. 28 „ 13 .. 2

„

B. St. J. Howells was gazetted 2/Lieut. and posted to the 1st Bn. the King's Regiment with 2J years antedate last October. He is expecting promotion to full rank any time now. He will be going out to Malta with his Battalion after doing a Machine Gun Course at Netheravon in July and August. Mr. J. B. Matthews, K.C., has been distinguishing himself in a Picture action of a very difficult kind. The judge (Mr. Justice McCardie) said he had never known a counsel conquer such embarrassments with such skill.

J. N. B. Lander is now in Birmingham as a pupil in the office of Messrs. Grimley and Son, surveyors, estate agents, of Birmingham and Leamington. J. Cale is working at the Eastern Telegraph Company Station at Carcavellos, Portugal. N. V. Stephens writes from British North Borneo:— " If any O.V. are looking for a job, there is nothing more interesting than tobacco planting here or in Sumatra. The pay is very good, living is cheap. But it is very hard work. I am often working up till eight o'clock in the evening, and I have to call the roll at 5.30 every morning by lamp-light. One gets as much shooting of all kinds as anyone can want." T. H. Horsfield was ordained deacon in Worcester Cathedral on Trinity Sunday. He is now curate at St. Thomas, Stourbridge. T. H. Chappel writes from Haighton, Banket, S. Rhodesia : " I am very busy. I now have 3,000 acres of my own and grow Virginian tobacco. I usually keep about 50 natives and one white man. If any boys are thinking of coming out this way, please give them my address (above) : it is a great thing for a newcomer to have an introduction to someone in the country. Also I am open to take a decent young fellow such as the King's School produces, as pupil." S. G. Fowler has obtained a post in Kent with the firm of Walter Tibbits, F.A.I., auctioneer and valuer, Tonbridge. J. F. Howman is on " H.M.S. Worcester." R. E. Thomas is in a bank at Monmouth. L. W. Shorting is in a branch of Lloyds' Bank at Birmingham. D. Bethune-Williams has taken up architecture, T. A. Davey is articled to his father as a solicitor in Pontypridd.

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THE VIGORNIAN.

W. K. Davey writes from Gisborne, New Zealand, where he is farming. He says New Zealand is a great country and he did wisely in leaving England. For recreation he has pig hunting, and rides ten miles each way for a football match on Saturdays. He adds : " I have just received my Vigornian and am eagerly devouring its contents." He broke his leg in two places above the ankle during a strenuous game of football. He is getting on well in Hospital and is visited by many friends he has made since going out. Of the other O.V. who went to New Zealand at the same time, F. H. Burden is now in a book-selling firm, and J. G. Downes in motor works. R. K. Hooper is in Vancouver, B.C., and has gone into the Bank of Montreal as a preparation for entering business. A. P. Bolland (1886-1896) has just retired from the Sudan Government Service after 21 years service in the Sudan and Egypt. Most of his time has been spent at the Sudan Agency in Cairo. Before he left Cairo he was the recipient of an address and testimonial from the Cairo Church Council (of which he had been Hon. Secretary for 17 years) and British Community, the presentation being made by the Acting High Commissioner. F. M. H. Stephens is still hard at work at the Camborne School of Mines, where he seems to be getting a reputation for himself. He has sent to one of us a description of his activities as a labourer, for a week, in the rock drill works of Messrs. Holmans. " Every morning," he says, " I signed on at the works at 8 a.m. sharp. Half an hour later half a dozen of us went up in a motor lorry to test rock drilling machines before they were sent out to different parts of the world. My firm Holmans is the premier rock-drill firm in the world ; it holds all the important records at home and abroad. We tested the machines in a quarry out on the moors three miles away. There I was to be seen clad in greasy overalls, face and hands thick in brown oil, boring holes in rocks, or screwing up swinging bolts, tye-bolts, etc., or clearing a load of waste stone out of the quarry. The compressed air drills make a " fiendish row." Imagine fifty giant dentist drills heard through a microphone and you have some idea of the inferno of Strennach quarry ! Once a drill's steel bit got jammed in a hole, eight feet deep, and we beat it with sledge hammers until our arms were nearly dropping off. We had to abandon the drill and start another hole. Each machine should be capable of drilling about sixteen inches in ninety seconds.

E. Y. Robinson and O. M. Smith, articled clerks to Mr. F. J. Hemming and Mr. H. R. Johnston, have passed the Trust Account and Book-keeping portion of the Solicitors' Intermediate Examination. They had previously succeeded in passing the legal part of the examination. C. V. Hancock is on the staff of The Birmingham Post as an assistant editor. J. P. Mayhew is engaged in farming. J. C. Gurnhill has become a bank clerk. Heartiest congratulations are due to J. L. Longland, Jesus College, Cambridge, on winning a first-class in the first division of the Historical Tripos. It will be recalled that he gafned a second-class in the Classical Tripos last year and that he has gained his " Blue "—a remarkably good record. We are all proud of him.

We are asked to bring to the attention of our readers the formation of a British Public Schools Club in British Columbia at the following address: 637, Fort Street, Victoria. The Secretary writes :— " The objects of the Club are purely social, i.e., for the purpose of bringing together men trained in similar ideas and ideals and further to promote the interests of and good fellowship between ex-members of British Public Schools and Universities as well as to assist in all ways, except financially, before and after arrival in Canada, Old Boys who on leaving British Public Schools or Universities, desire to make their home in British Columbia. " I may say that the Club appears to be filling a longfelt want, as, though we have only been in existence since the commencement of February, we now have 166 members, of whom our Lieut.-Governor is one. " Our subscription is purely nominal, one pound being charged to entrance fee and 3/- a month for a City Member, while if one hails from the Country (this being defined as the District that lies ten miles, or over, from the General Post Office here) he will find that i/- for the same period will be all that he will be expected to pay."

MARRIAGE. CAVES—CONSTANCE.—On June 9 th, at Claines Church, Worcester, by the Rev. A. O. Moore, Gladys Doreen, daughter of the late Alderman and Mrs. A. H. Constance, to J. A. J. Caves (O.V.).

They paid me fifteen shillings for my week's work." He has also become an active woodcutter and he remains a keen geologist.

DEATH.

H. W. Burdett has been appointed Secretary to the Birmingham University Dramatic Society.

D. J. LLOYD.—On Easter Sunday, whilst flying at Arawali. King's School 1911-1913.

W. J. H. Bankes is still trying to finish the Little-go.

THE VIGORNIAN.

Obituaro. DAVID JOHN LLOYD. Son of Lewis Thomas Lloyd, of Alfrick, Worcester, and also of Dolgelley, North Wales. Born on the third of September, 1896. At King's School, Sept. 1911—July 1913. After leaving school he studied analytical chemistry, but in 1915 enlisted as a Private in the London Irish Rifles. He was wounded whilst making a raid on a German trench at Vimy Ridge in 1916 and was invalided home. For a considerable time he lost the use of his right arm and shoulder; he was, unfortunately, never free from the effects of this wound. Whilst in England he was given a commission in the 4th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, in which he served until 1918, when he was transferred to the Royal Air Force. He obtained his pilot's certificate and served in Egypt. After the war he rejoined his Regiment in Dublin, taking part in the Rebellion. He rejoined the Royal Air Force in 1923, regraduated as a pilot, and after serving in Egypt went out to India in 1925. He was on Detachment Duty in the Kurran Valley on the North West Frontier of India this year and was killed on Easter Sunday whilst flying at Arawali, a small post on the Afghan and Tribal Border. He lies buried in the Cemetery of Kohat.

Che ecmral Knowledge Paper, On reviewing the statistics of the yearly horror, we find that two things are of special importance to present " Vigornians " : those are eating and motoring. Our deductions are made from the fact that only four boys did not know that Cheddar produced cheese and only nineteen had not heard that Devonshire produced cream, while fifteen pedestrians were puzzled as to the meaning of 10 m.p.h. One solitary person (Who is he? " We could an if we would! ") knew the meaning of Dementi and enough Italian to finish the phrase " E pur " correctly. Incunabula and Baroque were beyond all but two. Only a cultured few were aware who was responsible for the Campanile at Florence and the Birth of Venus and of the uses of Florigene. We fear that knowledge of the Bible has given place to classical knowledge, for more knew what it was " dulce et

485

decorum " to do than where one was not to tell it in. And while our Bible is open at that page, let us select a very apt quotation. " How are the mighty fallen." For the Sixth Form-er receives a rude shock when he finds that one hitherto beneath his notice has been placed above his august self. That is why, for weeks before the paper, everyone browsed over Whitaker *s Almanac and studied the name of the First Lord of the Admiralty and the size of the earth and moon. Another dreadful tendency we have detected is the immense love of cinema. Rudolph Valentino was the most popular of the public personages, though it is gratifying and surprising to note that Sargent's name was known to over twice as many as Einstein's. But there is yet worse : though many knew what Los Angeles is noted for, more knew all about Aintree. But we are saved from these dismal thoughts by observing that still more knew something about Locarno. We were surprised that " In Memoriam " was better known than " The Ancient Mariner." But for every one who knew who wrote " Lord Jim " and " Hudibras," there were fifteen who had heard of " The Tempest." It is strange that forty more knew what i8ct. on a watch meant than C.O.D. on a parcel, while eighty were unable to say what R.I.P. meant. One brilliant suggestion was " Rise If Possible." It is a sign of modernity that the gloomy Dean should be better known than the father of history, and that Aspirin should be more popular than Hypo. It is sad to see that forty-one could not have measured out a cricket pitch and that thirty-two could design a tennis-court. The Pentateuch presented more difficulties than the difference between Customs and Excise, a very hard nut, and it would seem must we rejoice or lament?—that /Eschylus is preferred to Dickens, for Prometheus was better known than Mr. Micawber. To end on a sad note (for we too were bitten here), over a hundred of us libelled Abel's character badly, when we said he killed Cain.

Che Ctbrarp. The following books have been added to the Library this term :— Through the Looking Glass L. Carroll -.. J. Conrad Victory ,, Typhoon Nostromo „ Lord Jim ,, Chance ,, Moon of Israel R. Haggard Odtaa J. Masefield The Wonders of Salvage D. Masters The Day's Play A. A. Milne The Man in Ratcatcher " Sapper "

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Jorrock's Jaunts A. S. Surtees The Cuckoo in the Nest B. Travers Sanders E. Wallace E. Wallace Bones in London The Heart of a Goof P. G. Wodehouse The Indiscretions of Archie P. G. Wodehouse Beau Geste Wren * * * It is an amazing fact that well over a quarter of the School never goes near the Library from one year to another. We know that it is not all it might be, but we suggest that it would be to the advantage of these people to begin to make use of it. » * » May we once more ask those who are leaving at the end of this term to present a volume to the School Library? * # » The following books have been added to the Reading Room :— Athletics H. M. Abrahams On England S. Baldwin Staunton's Chess Player's Handbook Bermingham Dictionary of Modern English Usage Fowler We gratefully acknowledge the Headmaster's gift of " The More Compleat Cricketer," by D. J. Knight.

In market-places; home is full of cares : Toil country-life, and fear the Ocean bears. In foreign clime the wealthy have no rest; Those who lack wealth are wretched and unblest. The married man will never have repose ; Through life the bachelor ever lonely goes. Children are plagues : the childless life is maim : Youth is but folly : age is weak and tame. Take then thy choice ; or never see the light, Or, being born in this world, die outright. POSIDIPPUS. Tread every path of life : the market-place Do dealings fair and pleasant honours grace. At home is rest : by country-life attain The joys of nature and by Ocean, gain. In foreign clime the wealthy get renown, Those who lack wealth keep their poor plight unknown. A happy home the married man acquires : The bachelor a lighter burden tires. Children are pets : the childless life is free; Though youth is strong, yet age knows piety. Take then no choice never to see the light Or die forthwith ; all life is sheer delight. METRODORUS.

"modern €nflllsb Usage."

Sonnet.

Elsewhere in this number will be found a brief announcement to the effect that Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English LLsage has been added to the Reading Room Library. Beneath this official calm, there is a very real tempest. For had we but known what was to be the result of that purchase, the book would never have found its way to the shelves.

Where, where are how the mountain-shaking strains Of old Lucilius or Aquinum's child, Or fearsome Swift's impetuous outbursts wild Which shed a searchlight on ill-gotten gains? Who in bold accents so to-day complains Of ill-gained wealth on wealth securely piled? The priest to magnates speaks in phrases mild And in their homes the brimming wine-glass drains. Now, as in Rome, all haste to draw the dole And foreigners begin to crowd the strand As then the vicious is accounted droll And riches now oust birth on every hand ; Yet none pours forth his earnest, fervid soul To purge the evils from this fevered land. * * * All in the dazzle of a summer sun I gazed upon the smiling playing fields And musing, wondered : " He who bravely wields The lightning cricket-bat, has he begun To ponder on life's changing fantasies? Has he yet felt the bitter, maddening stings Of weary doubts and ruthless questionings, Or rests he still awhile in fleeting ease? " The player turned : I saw his face, and then I felt he still enjoyed youth's heritage, That pleasure quite denied to sickly age ; He had not entered yet the lions' den Whose victims are the poor frail minds of men Whose trust is shipwrecked in that cursed cage.

To open one's mouth in public is now torment : every ear is quick to catch a split infinitive or avoidance of a supposed one, no one passes over a mispronunciation, to say nothing of Latinisms or journalese. All unsuspecting the members of the Staff go about their daily round, not noticing the shudder that thrills the room when often or laboratory is heard. But these silent rebukes will assume sound ere long and a public refutation will take place, unless they mend their ways. Woe betide those who let escape the hedge of their teeth "meticulous," "commence," " comestibles," or " serviette." We prophesv that a jeer will meet those who attempt to hand on the story that " scissors " is derived from the Latin " scindo," or that " equerry " has any connection with " equus." But hours might be spent in talking of this pernicious book. We urge that this destroyer of blissful ignorance be removed from the Reading Room. " ILLITERATI."

are. FROM THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY. What are the many paths of life for man? On dealings hard and strife there is no ban

THE VIGORNIAN.

flatdo. " Throughout the length and breadth of the land, yea, even from Tidworth Pennings unto the College Green, there went forth the cry : " Wanted; contributors to or for the Yigornian." Whereupon I replied: " Here am I : publish me." " The vision of the seer Blotto which he saw in the land of Vigornia after the tea-interval on the day of the O.V. matches : " And behold, I was sitting in an easy chair. And as I sat there appeared to me a damsel fair, whom I knew not, but was probably my wife, in a chair by my side; there was also a gentleman in a brown lounge suit. And it came to pass that in my dream I opened my mouth and spoke saying; " (The above is part of a fragment lately found, but as it is difficult to understand, we have translated the rest for the benefit of the young. Its tenor is as follows.) " Then for my ^2o's worth of goods, all you want is twopence down and 5/- per week." " That will suit us admirably, Mr. Everyman," replied the lounge suit. " Moreover, if you die there is no need for you to worry yourself over any further payments, and the furniture is delivered in plain vans labelled " The Universal Milk Supply Co. Ltd."

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balloon tyres, insured for a year and all for £170. Buy British and be proud of it." By this time he was exhausted, and I had to drive. Gee it was some hogbus. 80 m.p.h. by the what d'ye call it speedometer, and hands off too. Then we met a bobby. On went the brakes and we stopped just in time. " I shall have to summon you for furious driving, sir, and an inefficient silencer on your brakes. Your name and address, please." Then I had a brain wave. " York," I said. " What, Pork? " " No, plain Mr. York of York, Yorks." And as I drove away I heard the bobby chuckle to himself and say: " This ought to be a good case. I've seen that bloke's name in the papers somewhere."

Any firms wishing to advertise their goods in the above way please apply to BM/BLOTTO London W.C.I. If there are enough applications there will be another revelation in the next number of the Vigornian. [We wonder !— EDS. Vio.]

ftpmn to fkcarc. Chorus of Witches.

1 was just plucking up courage to ask this universal provider if he could let me have a ton of coal when he faded away, and his place was taken by a gentleman in a trilby hat (in addition to his other clothes, of course). He at once broke into a flow of words : " I'm plain Mr. York of York, Yorks. One shilling the half pound cake. Just the right size for your waistcoat pocket. Easily broken up into tablets that just fit your mouth and a bit left outside. You can eat quite a lot without increasing your thirst. Take a shilling cake on your next field day."

Around and along the shores of the world the dark Sunchildren came. In the days before the beginning of things, when no land had a name, And wandering tribes all over the earth just gathered their daily pod, A berry, a fox's carcase, or a hedgebird's piping brood, With never a thought of corn or wine or the things that we deem good.

I began to suspect these people of pulling an advertising stunt over me. Nor was I wrong. A moment later there arose the excruciating din of a motor horn outside. I went out to see what was the matter. An old man of about 80 with only two teeth left was engaged in playing leap frog over the bonnet of a car, and tooting the horn after each leap and before each frog. So I naturally said : " What the blazes do you reckon you are doing? " He replied: " What's the matter with you to-day, old man? " " I don't know. Everything seems to be getting on my nerves." " Oho \ I know. Who's been missing his Kruschen? " " Well, the bottle was finished, and I didn't think one day would make any difference." " Oh yes it does. It's the daily dose that does it. But here's my friend Mr. Morris Cowley. He'll take you a ride in his car and soon put you right."

From Egypt came the sons of the Sun ; their race was the race of Ra, The Kings of the arts and of wisdom of the house of Thot and Ptah; And they gathered wealth, leaving wisdom, from the pillars of Hercules To the shore where the pinetrees shine in the sun by blazing Indian seas, From the fires of Afric moon-mountains to where the oceans freeze.

So in I got, and Mr. Morris Cowley drove me off, talking the while. " Yes, this is called the British Ford. Four wheel brakes, a something or other calorimeter, thingamejig rebound snubbers and Dunlop wired on

They brought us corn, brought it over earth, the green corn yielding bread, They brought us wisdom and arts and crafts, our cults for the quick and dead, Their father the life-giving sun, their mother the brimming moon, The queen of love, the mother of corn ; we hymn her in mystic none, We who must pass to her realms beneath in days that are passing soon.

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THE VIGORNIAN.

Demeter, I sis, Hecate, whoso'ever thou art, whate'er, Hearken, we pray thee, we are cast out, give heed to our curse, to our prayer. The seed that thy seed, the Sun Children taught have forgotten the debt they owe, To the cult and the holy rite they learned in the ages long ago. Hear thou, avenge us and cover thy rebels with unending woe. They have followed an eastern prophet with a pale, unearthly face, A man that despised the wealth of the world, the art and the beauty, the grace. He won men to worship his spirit god, to forget the cult of kings, To declare that not in earth's holy fruits can be found the end of things, But in a heaven, unknown, apart where Cherubim flap their wings. Past is the age and past the time of thy priestesses' sway. Long centuries roll in the distant past since thy shrines were swept away. The palaces thy children built are crumbled to dust, which is found, By diggers of this strange Christian cult far under the vineclad ground ; And they stand amazed at the craft they see, the dancing floor around. The tribes the Sun Children taught arose and slew; wild chieftains came To sack the palace and burn the shrines of thy everliving name. 'Neath the succour of peace had thy children lived, but to see wisdom galls, And barbarians taught by them to war cut them down by unguarded walls. Then came strange gods of the hunt and bow to be worshipped in the halls. Dark was the day. The Empire of thy Children fled, and was gone. The night came down on thy worship, a night with never a dawn. Yet thy mysteries lived and were honoured yet when thy children lost their home. Thou wert the Queen of Eleusis, the mother of mighty Rome, And thy cult the Romans bore again to the edge of the ocean's foam. From the Christians we suffer, barbaric ones who care not for Nature's claim. They have robbed us, smitten us, tortured us. They have taken away our name. They have brought a new religion to man, to free him and not to bind. They make him blaspheme against the world. We alone its wonders find. We alone can open the darkness of death to his uncertain mind.

Oh, if men come not to us, let them be accursed still. Hecate, thou our lady, be that thine awful will. Men live, but someday die, and share thy realms. Oh thou who standest by the nightide elms, Oh thou who guided the Sun Children's helms Over the waters in the distant past, Oh reign supreme o'er man, o'er earth, at last. G.F.E.

ft Dreadful Mediaeval Storp. Prologue. A witch, being burnt at the stake, speaks to the on-gazing Queen : " Thy lord unwittingly shall cause thy death." » * » The Queen dismissed her servant, bidding him find her trusty knight and deliver the secret message which bade him be by the round tower at midnight. Then, hearing sounds below, she called one of her women and asked who was there. " Oh, 'tis Capablasker, your majesty, craving an interview with the King." Some minutes passed. The name was unfamiliar to the Queen : her suspicions were roused : had he come to betray her? She decided to listen to their conversation, and, pressing a lever on the wall, passed out through a secret doorway. When half-way there, she heard a voice say : " Impossible, the bishop is on guard by the castle." She started back in terror. Had Bishop Poiveau indeed heard of her proposed escapade? She went forward, straining her ears lest she should lose anything. Then a harsh voice came : " But sire, the Queen and the Knight." " Oh yes, curse her! What shall I do? " Again a pause. Then, " I see the plan entirely. I'll have her yet for certain." This was too terrible. The Queen snatched up a dagger and plunged it into her bosom. She fell heavily into the room. " What's this? " cried the King. " My wife! Dead? " Then, " What can have been her reason? " He flung himself to the ground and remained there weeping for some minutes. The other sat motionless, watching the clock on the table. Suddenly he leapt to his feet and cried : " You have exceeded the time-limit with all this lamentation : I claim the game and the championship." They had only been playing chess, and knew nothing of the Queen's plans. How strangely inscrutable are the workings of Retribution !

Chis Freedom. The recluse of Beacon Wood walked among the fir trees looking at the heather on the moor beyond with that fixed look of his. His face was thin and furrowed with lines above his eyes. His forehead was high, but his eyes and their lashes were sunken and he never looked man

THE VIGORNIAN. or woman full in the face. His hair hung far down his neck and it was matted with grass and leaves from the fields where he lay in the summer afternoons, but he was not sordidly dirty as is the average tramp. He paid rent for his lonely tumble down cottage, he grew roses in the garden behind (people said that those roses were the most human things about him). He bathed sometimes in the very early morning in a stream of clear water on the hill above Fourclosc Farm. He made his few purchases after dark on Saturday nights when the streets of the market town were crowded and he passed by alone, unnoticed, save when the light from a shop window fell on his sunken checks and long hair. But in the woods he was not alone, and in the fields and on the moors. Sometimes he took a battered flute out of his pocket and piped a broken, disjointed tune to the wild creatures, bird and beast, who came to eat out of his hand. One day two strangers climbed the lane, a man, clean shaven and well-dressed, with a pipe in his mouth and a set determined look in his face, and an older woman. The woman was still handsome, and though her hair was grey it still showed a wisp of dark brown here and there, signs of the dark beauty she once had had. She was dressed well but plainly. She was not " old fashioned." Yet there was a hard look on her face, a look of set determination, like her companion's look. They came upon him sitting on a bank with a squirrel nibbling nuts beside him. They looked at him from a gap in the hedge that hid him from the waggoners in the lane. The squirrel scuttled away, and he rose and moved off as it did so. It raced up a beech tree to the lowest branch and sat there chattering. He stood below vainly trying to coax it down again. Next day he was arrested. They found him watching a blackbird on her nest. He had just thrown his shoe at a stealthy, lean cat from the farm, who had tried to approach her at a distance. He wheeled round and faced the constable when he tapped him on the shoulder. He looked angry at this invasion of his haunts and habits, but only for a moment. He would have fled. He admitted his name ; when he heard it a look of unutterable pain passed his face. He pulled himself together and tried to think. Then he looked up with a dry forced smile and glanced back at the nest. The blackbird was gone. " I suppose j-ou're all right, constable," he said; "anyway I'll go with you." The Judge completed his summing up. All the evidence agreed with the prisoner's own statement that he had committed, five years before, a dastardly and a cowardlv crime. No one then questioned his sanity, but his subsequent conduct had given rise to an idea that he jnight have been insane at the time. He (the Judge) was convinced that the prisoner was not now insane and had never been insane. He was now quite rational and able to defend himself, but for the past five years he had deliberately and successfully

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posed as a harmless lunatic in order to elude the police. There was weighty support for this view in the evidence. If they accepted it, they must see in it a grave reason for considering his previous conduct not rash and hasty but cruel and deliberate. The prisoner was not a lunatic now. He was not a lunatic a week before the crime. Had he ever been a lunatic, and if so, when? The plaintiff, who had suffered so cruelly . The jury considered their verdict. It was " guilty "— the sentence : seven years imprisonment. He escaped. A man who had lived for five years in the woods could not be caged behind a few iron bars and a wall that a cat could climb, and if a cat, why not a man? He felt in his soul a call that drove him back to the helpless creatures who trusted him, to the only purpose he recognized in life. Years ago he had decided that since he was no longer a man he would serve the animals as an animal and make that his object while he still breathed. Men he could not serve ; he was an outcast who had disgraced his humanity. He crept back through the night to Beacon Wood and reached it at early dawn. He would lie in the bracken all day and fetch some treasures from his house. Then he would flee by night to another part of the country. As he came up the lane in the early morning dew, when the sun rose in his glory, he saw two farm lads skulking in the wood. He reached the blackbird's nest. The bird was gone—only one egg was left. He sped after them with murder in his heart. Beneath his coat was an iron bar he had wrenched from the window of his cell. By the nest, where the bird had come back to sit on her last egg, the policeman found him, two hours later, worn out and broken down. He had arrived too late to save, only in time to avenge and to gain freedom. In the lane by the farm, two hundred yards away, a young labouring lad lay dead, by him a blood-stained bar, in his pocket four crushed eggs. The recluse of Beacon Wood paid the penalty on the gallows, and in the task he had taken on himself he found freedom. G.F.E.

Cpburn. The shadows had come and were falling around. The sun was a ball, golden, mellow, supreme. No scrub was there here, not a bush here abounds, Apollo was homing with glorious team. The hillock was black 'gainst the cloud-dappled sky, The heaven, a wealth of blue, yellow and black, Shewed a gallows, and . . . slow turning on high A limp-hanging corpse swinging forward and back. A lonely raven sat up there, so sadly, Upon the crossbeam, which did creak with the strain Of that sorry load that there danced so madly— Backward and forward on the breeze that did wane. C.A.B.

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nature's Revenge. " How beautiful the country about here seemed from the aeroplane," exclaimed the stranger. " There has been a simply glorious sunset. But tell me, I was amazed at the apparent desolation everywhere : often I would look down and find not one house anywhere. And here—you say this is Whittington. I suppose it was once a prosperous village, but yours seems the only house here." " Ah ! " cried the host. " Did you but know what it once was " " Tell me how this diminution occurred," he interrupted. " The night is still young, and I should be glad to have this strange phenomenon explained." " Nowadays," began the other with a sigh, " villages are almost extinct : the very towns are growing smaller. This is the case all over the country. Workmen are busv pulling down buildings of all kinds, even ancient churches. The past is nothing to them : they pull down a cathedral with as little reverence as they would a pigstye. ' " But what motive have these iconoclasts? " " Some ten years ago, there were one or two more or less defunct societies for the preservation of the country side. Something or other happened, and immediately everyone began to worship the very thought of Nature; Wordsworth was a canonized" saint, and, indeed, is, to many people. All who had any money bought up land and presented it to the nation : someone, for instance, actually bought up Bewdlcy, destroyed every building in it, and restored it to its wild state. To-day you would not find a trace of what was once the happy home of many. First the Lake District was depopulated : next came the turn of Devon and Cornwall. So far has this gone that now over half of England is in the hands of the Preservation of the Countryside Society. The overcrowding in our big towns is really dreadful, emigration is constant, but the pious work of pulling down houses and planting daffodils and lesser celandines still goes on. By using such men as tools, Nature is slowly regaining control of her lost dominion."

School Officers. Captain of School Captain of Cricket Secretary of Cricket Captain of Boats Secretary of Boats Captain of Shooting Secretary of Shooting

K N. Ross C. E. Porter. R. I. Graham. C. J. C. Molony. D. K. Peters. D G. W. Brown. G. E. Churchill.

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

C. J. C. Molony. C. L. Garnett. K. N. Ross. C. E. Porter. G. E. Churchill.

School Monito. K. N. Ross, C. J. C. Molony, G. E. Churchill, C. L. Garnett, W. J. Mayhew, C. E. Porter.

Editors of the Vigornian—K. N. Ross, C. J. C. Molony, G. Every. Librarians—K. N. Ross, C. J. C. Molony, C. E. Coverdale, G. F. Blandford, D. A. B. Hopkin.

Valete.

VI. Bethune-Williams, D. (1923-6), Castle House. 2nd XV Football 1924-25, 2nd IV Rowing 1925, Corporal O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1925. Upper V. Shorting, L. W. (1918-26), Hostel. 2nd XI Cricket 1922, ist XI 1923-5, Sec. of Cricket 1925, 2nd XV Football 1924-5, Fives IV 1923-6, Shooting V I I I 1923-6, Chess VI 1923-6, School Monitor, Captain of the Hostel 1925, Sergeant O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1924. Thomas, R. E. (1922-6), Castle House. 2nd XV Football 1925, Lance-Corporal O.T.C., Cert. " A " 1925. Lower V. Gurnhill, J. C. (1923-6), School House. ball 1925, Cadet O.T.C. Remove. Mayhew, J. P. (1919-26), Castle House. Senter, C. E. A. (1920-26), Day Boy.

2nd XV Foot-

Cadet O.T.C.

Upper IV. Morris, L. G. W. (1922-6), Day Boy. Middle IV. Howman, J. F. (1924-6), School House. Cadet O.T.C. Lett, K. E. H. (1921-6), School House. Cadet O.T.C. Bourdin, R. (1923-6). Day Boy. II. Sargeant, R. A. (1925-6), Day Boy.

Salvete.

Remove. Cowles, F. B., Castle House. Daniels, L. S., Castle House.

Middle IV. Robinson, F. E., School House.

II. Cullcn, M. H., Day Boy. Lumley, E. J. O'D., Day Boy. Badams, M., Day Boy.

Che Oxford Cetter. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Your appeal for this letter arrived inopportunely enough in the company of three bills and an intimation that " the Principal wished to see " your correspondent. The inter-, view came to a satisfactory conclusion and the bills found

THE VIGORNIAN. their way into the inevitable resting-place of all bills, so now we sit endeavouring to satisfy your demands and pen this our last epistle. A happy thought! Much though we appreciate the honour you pay us by your importunities, we shall welcome a successor with a little more imagination than ours. Like all Gaul, sirs, the past term has been divided into three parts, ante-strike, strike, and post-strike. The first • part we spent learning to punt, a process which generally involves premature bathing. For the benefit of anybody who does not fully comprehend the dirty tricks a punt-pole can play with a novice, we would point out two distinct dangers to be avoided. In the first place the pole is apt to stick in the mud at the bottom of the river, giving one approximately half a second in which to decide whether to let go of the pole and stay in the punt, or to hang on to the pole and from this peculiar position watch the punt sail on its course down stream. The other danger lies in the tendency to forget that a pole 18 feet in length and an overhanging bough less than nine feet off the water will, if not properly manipulated, come into forcible collision, in which case you are not even allowed to decide your own fate, but into the murky depths you go. Some day there will be lessons in " How to Punt " by Pelmanism, till then experience is the only means of learning. Still, if you must fall in, do it just opposite the Somerville barge ! ! Part II—the Strike. We have no doubt that your noble magazine will be already overcharged with the strike, so will say little where we might say much. Comrades Schofield and Ainsworth will have little to tell their grandchildren, Mr. Benton-Evans was docking in London, Mr. Craze drove a pretty tram at Hull. Mr. Preston was docking at Hull, where we also saw Mr. J. L. Longland of the lighter shade of blue. We liked his style. On the whole we think Hull was the better 'ole : apart from the undoubted pleasure to be derived from the disintegration of Corporation Trams and from the flinging of passengers on to the f-loor by the entirely unnecessary application of the emergency brake, there was an excellent Palais de Danse, to say nothing of minor excitements which hectic journalists reported with large sub-titles of " Remarkable Ragging," and " Undergraduates' Jamboree." The superfluity of statues afforded ample opportunity for decoration ; memories of Julius Csesar in a butterfly collar and bowler hat pall before the apparition of Wilberforce with a beer bottle in his left hand, smoking a corncob and hung about with various pieces of china ware in the best late Perpendicular style. However a nos moutons : this is the Oxford and not the 'ull letter. Part III—Post-strike. This period was spent in getting over the reaction and curbing the disciplinary activities of special constables. Throw in the Australians match and Eights Week, with Schools for some and rain for all, and there you have it in a nutshell. As regards the cricket match, we put up quite a good show. The Australians hope to win the toss at Lords, but are dis-

49 i

tinctly glad at the moment that Hobbs and Sandham are not playing for Cambridge. Eights Week we enjoyed immensely, despite its curtailment to only four days. With this happy thought in our minds, we will proceed to our " dramatis personal " : I. F. W. SCHOFIELD (Hertford) has at last come to the end of his career at Oxford. What we shall do without him we sriudder to think. We offer him our best wishes for the future and may Nigeria benefit to the full from his presence. For the rest, we must get a new scapegoat for next term's letter. H. A. AINSWORTH (Keble) has spent the major part of the term qualifying as an actor for the Keble Dramatic Society. Has a good speaking voice, and drawing on his extensive vocabulary (he gets it all from his Dean) he procured Keble another bump-supper. On the analogy of replacing divots, wishes to know whether it is necessary to mend the net at tennis at the end of his service. W. BENTON-EVANS (Queen's). Apart from the general excitements of the term, he appears to have come of age and to have had German Measles, which prevented him from rowing in Eights. It has always been said that the best view of Oxford is just opposite All Souls, but even this is improved when there is the additional feature of Benton, already late for a lecture, trying to make his motor-bike function. M. R. CRAZE (Hertford). Performs in the College Cricket XI : batting average at its usual height. Plays tennis and punts. Has at last realised the necessity of having a red label on a bike that is devoid of bell or brakes. Found that the habit formed in Hull of waving to ex-passengers(!) was rather unfortunate when it came to greeting his Principal's wife in the same way. D. H. PRESTON (Worcester) has formed a complex for tree-climbing. Also has a theory that it is possible to sing under water : so far his experiments in this direction have had unfortunate results. Plays tennis and cricket, but gave latter up in disgust owing to the number of catches missed off his bowling. Does more work than most of us. Now, sirs, our task completed, we stretch out our arms in welcome to all who are coming up next term. Oxford, unlike the other place, speaks for itself. With best wishes to the School in all efforts to smack Examiners' faces. Yours, from the banks of the

* * *

Isis.

We have received no " Cambridge Letter," and but for J. L. Longland's distinction in getting a " First," we should have presumed the " colony " to have died out.

THE VIGORNIAN.

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Correspondence. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, In your last issue I complained of the lack of a complete Ijistory of the King's School. I have since read the article by Canon Wilson, which you recommended. It certainly gives 3 very brief sketch of the School's history, but it falls far short of a more ambitious work which I would like to see. At the present time a history is being compiled of another famous public school, the sale of which is being guaranteed beforehand by those interested purchasing copies in advance. Surely some such scheme could be adopted here? Recently, when I visited Harrow, I noticed that my guide—a member of that school—was well versed in the school's history and the lives of its famous scholars. What a pity it is that past and present members, and friends of the King's School, are not given an equal opportunity to learn something of this ancient place of learning. With the usual apologies, Yours, etc., O.V. » * * To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Why is it, that after 7 p.m., the townspeople are allowed to pour on to our cricket-ground and play their own games of cricket and rounders? I have often seen the cricket-field covered with more people than there are cricketers in the School. I feel certain that the trampling of such a multitude over our ist XI pitch does not improve it. Yours, etc., CHESESTROKS. fWe question the correctness of our correspondent's statement.—EDS. Vic.] * * * To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sir, One short question provoked by your Editorial. Who wishes to read full accounts of every Cricket match played by the School down to the bowling analysis of the visiting side? Does not the score sheet tell its own tale with occasionally a brief word of comment ? My object is simply to ask the question and leave the answer to your readers. Yours faithfully, "X." * * * To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, The Field Club has no desire to become a formal society. The President, the Secretary with his minute book, are an abomination to them. Least of all do they desire the

appearance of a record of their doings in your magazine penned by the harassed hand of an earnest secretary, who will record : ' and so the expedition ended, and it was the fourth expedition held during the term when I had to write this fearful minute book, and glad indeed I am that there are no more to come? ' Nevertheless, certain members of the Club regret that its proceedings should be wholly passed over and the work that Mr. Franklin is so kindly doing for Architectural and Field interests in the School should therefore go without some mark of appreciation. He has taken an unflagging interest in getting up expeditions to suit new members and old, and in making them successful yet enjoyable, and he has kept them from the atmosphere of the regular lecture. This term we have been to Pirton and Stoulton, to Cotheridge, Leigh, and Powick, and to Holt, Grimley and Hallow. Pouring rain after lunch threatened the first expedition with postponement, and the idea of including Besford had to be abandoned when we started late at a quarter to three. However, the weather cleared up and became propitious enough for some of our members to take quite good photographs of the black and white tower of Pirton. At Pirton this black and white tower and an ancient wall staircase, are the chief features. The rest of the church is simple, plain, and without aisles. At Stoulton we found a very striking Norman chancel arch, Twelfth Century b-ittresses with some remarkable arcading, and remnants of . medieval cope. Some of us also puzzled over some ratf,jr obscure Seventeenth Century carving on the pulpit, apparently denoting hell in the same house as the Annunciation. Our next expedition, to Cotheridge and Leigh, brought us in touch with some very fine Twelfth Century and Thirteenth Century work. Cotheridge church is an odd little building, plastered over, with a boarded wood tower and a general effect suggesting Italy or Switzerland rather than England. But within is a magnificent Twelfth Century chancel arch with rope and ball mouldings and some very remarkable encaustic tiles. Two mutilated examples of the executor tile, so useful to charities before a collection, still remain there. The perfect example warning the charitable man of the dangers of a selfish executor if he waits until his death to give, disappeared some five years ago. At Leigh and Powick are very beautiful Thirteenth Century chancels, and at Leigh a remarkable fine nave arcade as well, of about 1200. There is also a wooden rooted porch before the tower with a devilish holy water stoup intact, and on the north wall a Twelfth Century statue of Christ in the act of blessing remains in its original niche. At Powick everything is interesting down to the bench ends. We found yet more attractions at Holt, where is Urso d'Abit6t's Norman church built hard by his castle. There are two magnificent doorways with carvings, including one of the fabled fox and stork at their barrel, a fine Norman chancel arch, and yet more striking pseudo-Norman work,

THE VIGORNIAN. pulpit, reading desk and lychgate, carved in the last century by a former vicar's wife. Not only are there these, but also a grotesque font of yet earlier workmanship and some very fine Fourteenth Century glass in very good preservation. Almost equally good glass in better preservation was found at Grimley, in a comparatively uninteresting church. But these are only a few of the glories of Holt. On the way back we made a little incursion into modern architecture at Hallow. Of course we have laggers in our Club, but we have some very keen members, photographers, archaeologists and naturalists. (The last have had bad luck this year.) And the very joy and exercise of bicycling redeems our activities from being deemed slack or musty. Each expedition so far has worked in perfect harmony, thanks very greatly to Mr. Franklin, to whom we would all wish to express again our thanks for the very great trouble he has taken. We hope that next year the Field Club, which is not a " rag " in any sense of the word, but not a dry as dust society, will have greater support yet and start off with a whirr of many bicycle wheels on its race through the green fields. All cyclists who take an interest in architecture should come sometimes on an expedition, if they can spare the time. After all expeditions are not frequent. Let me emphasize again the fact that only three have been organized this season at the time of writing. Last season, I believe, there were four. Thanking you for the space you have been able to allot to this very lengthy letter, Yours sincerely, IN AGRIS VERSATUS.

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Contemporaries. We beg to acknowledge the following contemporaries, and apologize for any accidental omissions :—Bromsgrovian (2), Cantuarian, Decanian, Felstedian (2), Herefordian, King Edward's School Chronicle, Monktonian, Monmothian, Petribrugian, Portcullis, St. Andrew's College Review (of Toronto), St. Edward's School Chronicle (2), St. Michael's Chronicle (of Natal), Tonbridgian, Wulfrunian.