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No. 28.
June, 1901.
Contents. PRIMARY EDUCATION IN AN 365
ITALIAN TOWNSHIP .
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By LETHE'S STREAM
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BILLY GOES A'COORTIN'.
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Oxfordshire Idyll . AsciniLus . CORRESPONDENCE. NETTLESEIIP LIBRARY
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THE' OXFORD STUDENTS" DEBATING SOCIETY
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LAWN .
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LADY MARGARET IIALL
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SOMERVILLE COLLEGE. .
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ST. HUGH'S HALL .
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ST, HILDA'S HALL
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HOME STUDENTS .
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NOTICE
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FOR THE
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TENNIS CLUB
Oxford) PROPRIETORS BY JAMES
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THE X CLUE
HOCKEY •
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An
PARKER & CO., CROWN YARD,
EMtor : Miss M. M.
CRICK, St.
Hugh's Hall.
treasurer : Miss ERICA STORR, Somerville . College.
Committee Miss 13. GAYER, Lady Margaret Hall. Miss KILBY, /1 /7 Miss Du CANE, Somerville College. Miss HAMILTON, St. Hugh's Hall. Miss TAYLOR, St. Hilda's Hall. , Miss I. DRUMMOND, Home Students, 18 Rawlinson Road.
No. 23.
UNE.
Vrimarr Education in an 3tattan trownsbip. IT was NiccolO who first induced us to visit the schools. Niccolel was the waiter at our little hotel overlooking the bay of Salerno. One morning, at breakfast, our conversation had drifted idly on to the subject of primary education. Our conjectures were probably very incorrect, and Nicco we afterwards discovered, was one-third of the educational board that sat forr• the district. No wonder he felt that the etiquette of the waiter must give way to the duties of a citizen. He fidgeted about the room for some time, neglected the requests for coffee, and finally interrupted our conversation with a flow of eloquence that lasted for thirty-five minutes. He told us of the inefficiency of his colleagues, the corruption of the " Sindaco," the impossibility of appeal ; andthe tears stood • in his eyes while those of us already provided with coffee gave him a sympathetic hearing. It ended in his taking us to visit the schools one grey February morning, and we felt that his pessimism was amply justified, as far as the municipal schools were concerned. In the boys' school the master was missing. In the girls' school every subject was said to be taught, "Not just now, but in the summer afternoons." " Well," said our guide, with a sigh, as we turned away, with the melody of some very unmelodious singing still ringing in our ears, " Well, there is still Paolillo to visit." There was no need to ask, " Who is Paolillo ? " for his name had already become familiar to us, and the little information we had collected was varied enough to rouse our curiosity. " Paolillo e'l maestro."
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1901.
"Paolillo e poeta." " Paolillo e pazzo." " Paolillo e it diavolo." These discordant views were amplified and explained for us by our guide as we stumbled along the slippery stairs that form the highways of the • town. " Paolillo is taking away all the children from our municipal schools. They get their education for nothing at the schools ; to Paolillo they must pay one 'sold° a day. Yet they all come to Paolillo. He has only been teaching three months, but even the school at Scala has been losing its pupils, and that is two miles away." " He must be an excellent teacher." " Teacher, no The boys waste all their time learning his poetry. He does not teach the children, he bewitches them. They cry if they may not go to school in the morning. He gives them cakes and treats, that is why they are fond of him." " Then Paolillo is richer than other Italian schoolmasters ? " " Paolillo has nothing but the few soldi that his pupils bring him, and with these he must pay for his school-house." " At least, then, this Paolillo must be a clever man ?" " Clever, no He was quite rich, and he was studying law at the Naples University, and he spent all his money giving feasts to his com• panions. That is why he has had to come and live here in the country. He gives everything away. He is imbecile." This, then, was the indictment against Paolillo ; before many minutes had passed we were making the acquaintance of the gentle spendthrift. !
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A plunge into the darkness of crumbling courtyards, which six centuries ago had been magnificent palaces, now shewed us the usual Italian squalor, light-hearted and picturesque. Passing through these into a small olive-garden, we climbed a flight of outside stairs and found ourselves on the threshold of Paolillo's schoolroom. Through the olives the steep mountain-side could be seen, carrying its stiff terraces like so many steps of some giant's staircase reaching to the clouds. At its foot, audible but invisible, the Mediterranean lay, breathing heavily ; while, far away in the distance, the rocky slopes of higher mountain ranges shone with prismatic colours. This, then, was the view from Paolillo's threshold, but we had not long to enjoy it ; for, as his schoolroom does not boast of windows, the door has to be kept open in all weathers, and no sooner had we knocked than Paolillo stood before us — poet, madman, and devil. In outward aspect he was sufficiently mild. A lean and hungry man, with pathetic eyes and the downy Italian beard that seems too meek to grow, but too hopeful to die ; a cooing voice that turned elaborate compliments with an ease that suggested the performance of a part already much rehearsed ; a profusion of bows and the hand-to-heart gesticulations of a popular orator ; a nervous mouth, that only lost its expression of self-consciousness when his eyes lighted on his scholars ; this was the combination of affectation and affection that made the much-hated, much-loved Paolillo. In the little room behind him some thirty boys, varying in age from four to fourteen, were ranged on benches round the walls. There was no sort of division into classes. The biggest scholar of the lot sat next a pink - flannel infant who had half fallen asleep across his knees. In the middle of the benches was the schoolmaster's bare table, and beside it a black-board. There were also about half-a-dozen reading primers handed about among the boys. The black-board and the primers are Paolillo's only aid to teaching. The information which he gives his scholars must all come straight from the stores in his own brain, while copies are done on the black-board. It is hard sometimes for the little brown fingers to wrestle with the un,
wieldy chalk, but one mite of five covered himself with glory in our eyes by writing at Paolillo's dictation the sentence, " La madre e l'essere la pia cara." Every letter was beautifully formed, every word correctly spelt and accented, and yet this small prodigy was, as it were, writing in a foreign language, for until they come to school the peasants are only familiar with the dialect, and to speak Italian they must learn a whole new vocabulary. After this performance an older boy distinguished himself by a recital of the dates and doings of the kings of Rome. Geography was rather shaky ; but grammar called forth a strange exhibition of memory. Paolillo asked for rules dealing with the noun ; the child who replied fixed his eyes upon the master's face, and in a high, monotonous voice, began repeating what seemed like a page of a grammar-book. Common nouns were dealt with carefully ; proper nouns were soon despatched, rules for the formation of the plural were given in detail. Then the pace increased and the exceptions came along, as it were, at a hand gallop ; but still the recital went on. Paolillo's expression, which at first had been one of gentle complacency, now changed to a look of anxiety. I could not help comparing him to the owner of a clock whose alarum has not only successfully roused him at the proper hour, but shews signs of keeping up the alarm till dinner - time. However, there is a limit to human knowledge of the noun, and, at this rapid pace, we felt sure the end must soon be reached. What, therefore, was our dismay when we discovered that the flow of language had rapidly passed from the noun to the verb ; and had not Paolillo somewhat abruptly checked the astounding display it seems likely that we might have had to listen to the whole contents of a grammar primer. After this we contented ourselves with more general questions, and to some of these we received answers that shewed not only intelligence, but eloquence. Remembering the begging habits of the boys in the town, I asked one little scholar if he ever asked for soldi from the foreigner. " He who does such a deed," replied the child,
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THE FRITILLARY. " shews himself forgetful of the honour of Italy and the dignity of man." Feeling that after this flourish any other answer must seem an anti-climax we allowed it to close the visit, but Paolillo would not let us depart until, with much ceremony, he had thrown open the door of the little inner apartment and introduced, us to " my bedroom." Why he should have been so proud of a bare wooden 'attic, with no furniture in it but the bed, we were puzzled to understand, but on reflection I remember the black Sunday suit with brass buttons resting gloriously upon the counterpane, and I have no doubt this was what we were really intended to admire. Two days later we saw Paolillo in this same suit coming up one of the steep rocky roads through the olive woods. A schoolmaster by necessity in the week, he was, apparently, a nursery-maid by choice on Sundays, for while one hand was tightly held by the pink flannel infant, the other was given to a sweet monkeyfaced child. In size this one was not much larger than the pink flannel, but he had already assumed the airs of a man, together with some elder brother's trousers which reached from ankle to armpits, and were tied over the shoulders with string. With these, his two youngest scholars, Paolillo was setting off to spend his Sunday in the hills. Of our further encounters with the gentle schoolmaster, of the poems that he gave us, of the drill which the scholars performed when they met us in their crocodile walk, of the one sad day when thirty small boys were commanded to kiss our hands (alas, for the " honour of Italy and the dignity of man !" ), of our ignominious flight from the ordeal, and of Paolillo's pained surprise : of all these things there is no need to write. The reader who embarked upon this article hoping from its title to meet with real information, is already sufficiently disappointed. Besides, to enlarge on Paolillo's harmless vanities, which, perhaps, became more apparent in the following days, would not give the truest picture of the man. It was in his professional aspect that the little master shone, and it is in his 2
professional aspect that I prefer to remember him. There are many depressing facts to be met with in the Italy of to-day, but now when I hear of municipal mismanagement, of the ignorance of the common people and the backward state of the schools, though I shake my head with the rest, still in the back of my mind I allow a hope to linger that matters are not so bad as the official returns would shew, and that in many quiet towns many quiet Paolillos are bribing their pupils with cakes and treats along the dusty highways of good education. E. S. HODGKIN.
13y2 letbe's %tream. By Lethe's stream, at toil-time close, No memory can break repose, No soul be stirred by vain regret, Of all who drink that rivulet, No dreams still slumber discompose. There the oblivious lotus grows, There happy he who nothing knows, And therefore least has to forget, By Lethe's stream. There lethal poppy-blossom blows Upon the marge, where friends and foes, Forgetting and forgot, are met. Day dies, night falls, suns rise and set, Unfelt and unperceived of those, By Lethe's stream. L. N.
VIII? goes a'Coortitf. An Oxfordshire Idyll.
" Plaze, sur, will 'ee give I 'alf 'oliday ? " The farmer paused for a moment in his work of throwing the fragrant clover on to the high-piled wagon, and looked down at the speaker. The Five-acre Close was alive with busy workers,
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striving with might and main to save' the clover before nightfall. Everything spoke of coming rain, though the sky overhead was still blue and smiling. Towards the west there were a few fleecy white clouds, the advance-guard of a great grey host which was just appearing above the horizon. The cattle lowed uneasily in the waterside pastures, the swallows which skimmed over the field scarcely cleared the taller bonnets ' in their flight, and in the road beyond the hedge a long procession of dust-ghosts filed past, condemned to wander till the rain should lay them. Moreover, weatherwise Tommy had foretold, some days past, " a smartish drop o' rain afore the week's out." Only a few hours more sunshine, and much valuable clover to be saved ; and here was Billy asking for a half-holiday ! The farmer was half inclined to refuse it ; but remembering that on other occasions Billy had reckoned the refusal no bar to taking the holiday, he resigned himself to the inevitable with a good grace. "Want a holiday, Bill?" he asked, "what's that for?" "Plaze, sur, ah be gwine a'coortin'," replied Billy, solemnly. "Oh that's it, is it ?" said his master, smiling as he looked at the misshapen little figure before him. " Who's the young woman, Bill ?" " Plaze, sur, ah do'ant know her na-ame, but she comes from nigh Leigh." " Don't know her name, Billy ! How's that ?" "Ah baint gwine to tell it to all they fools," said Bill, nodding fiercely towards the little crowd of listeners. The farmer saw that little work would be done till the half-holiday was granted. " Be off, then," he said, taking up his pitchfork ; and Bill, gratefully pulling his forelock, shambled off the field. It was a very hot day, and a linen working jacket was far cooler than Sunday broadcloth, but nobody goes courting except in best clothes, and Billy was not inclined to be an exception to the rule. Accordingly, he issued from his mother's little cottage, arrayed in a suit which had once • fitted his master's broad shoulders, and now hung like a drapery on Billy's shrunken frame. A bright
tartan tie, and a red geranium in his button-hole, gave the necessary festive touch to his appearance. "Be'est gwine a'coortin', Bill?" shouted an irreverent youngster, as Bill shuffled past him up the dusty village street. A lane between steep banks crowned with high hedges led to the low stone bridge where Billy kept his tryst with the wench from Leigh. Not a human being was in sight as he looked up and down the long valley through which the stream flowed lazily. " Her baint come yet," he murmured, " her's generly late." He filled a short clay pipe and leaned over the bridge. The glancing water looked deliciously clean, and Billy began to weigh in his mind the respective merits of scales and broadcloth for a summer costume as he watched the silvery dace darting by. Thus an hour slipped by, and still no trace of the wench, though Billy strolled towards Leigh to meet her. _ Presently he shuffled back and threw himself on the cool, green grass by the waterside, and began to talk softly to—to whom ? Not to himself, though he was alone. " Good arternoon, my dear," he said, " ah've been 'specting 'ee a smairtish bit. P'raps ah were a bit early. Never mind ! 'Ere we are, both on us. Master give I 'alf-'oliday zoon as ah told 'un what 'twere for. Gwine a'coortin' ? ' says 'e ; wish ah was." Yes, sur,' says I, but ah 'spects her'd sooner 'ave I ; ' and then all on 'em laughs, and ah corned along down 'ere. Now would 'ee tell a chap your name, my dear ? It's orkard not to know when any on 'em arsts. Doan't 'ee want to spake ? Never mind, 'taint no odds to I. What a pretty gownd 'ee've got on 'ee Ah likes them reddy yallery things, like a spring carrot a'most. 'Ow do 'ee like thiccy coat now ? Master guv it to I ; and mother, she cut 'un about to make 'un fit." Billy rose and proudly walked up and down, but the "wench " was silent. Still unbaffled, he tried again. " Do 'ee like to 'ear my boots squake, my dear ? Passon come into church last Zunday
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THE FRITILLARY. wick, a'squakin' like a nest o' young spadgers, and ah went 'long to Jackie Smith, and ah says to 'im, Jackie,' ah says, ''ee make my new boots squake like Passon's, can 'ee ? Ah'll try, Bill,' says 'e. "Ow'll 'ee do it, mister ?' says I. Put a bit o' wax and zome glue in the soles on 'em,' says 'e. And then they corned home and never squaked no more'n a blackbeetle. Ah be allus an unlucky chap, ah be " Billy heaved a deep sigh, but the " wench " offered no sympathy. " 'Ee doan't talk much, my dear, not to call talkin'. P'raps 'ee's deaf and dumb Never thought o' arstin' ee that, naither, afore. Never mind, ah doan't keer if 'ee be, if 'ee'll just listen to I a bit. Ah be a smairtish chap these days, an' ah be nigh as tall as master. 'E says to I, t'other day, 'rhee's a fine growin' chap, Bill ; why doan't 'ee 'list, zame as other chaps ? Zo ah says, Sur,' says I, ah be coortin' now p'raps when that job's off, ah'll think o' soldiering.' But ah'll tell 'ee a sacret, my dear. Last Zaturday wick ah went to barracks along o' Will an' Ted, an' the gent says to I, Can 'ee write ? An' ah said, Ah can write if zome on 'em holds the pen for I.' An' the gent says, Sorry I can't do that for 'ee.' Zo ah says, Well, if 'ee can't do it, sur, blessed if ah can, so there's a pair on us ; an' then all the chaps laughed, an' I corned away. They be allus laughing at I Doan't 'ee tell nobody, will 'ee ? But 'ee doesn't zeem to spake much. Ah've been coortin' of 'ee, on an' off, a year, an 'ee 'aven't spoken once. Ah be as dry as dry—coortin's a deal drier work than hayin'." Billy paused, looking wistful, then resumed his monotonous nasal drawl. " Ah be earnin' a smairtish lot o' money these days — your an' sixpence a'wick,, an' never no turnin' off. Master, 'e says to I, one day, Billy,' says 'e, "taint no good on't comin' a Monday, there baint no work for 'ee.' Never mind, sur,' says I, if there baint the work there's allus the wages, zo 'ee needn't talk o' zending I off.' An ah'll be thirty year old come Lammas. Won't 'ee 'ave I, my dear ? " There was no answer, and Billy grew impatient. " Ah think ah'll take a turn an' smoke a pipe, my '
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dear," he said " p'raps 'ee'll think o' zummat to say afore ah comes back." He pulled himself up wearily from the grass, and putting his hands in his pockets and his hat a shade more on the side of his head, he strolled on to the bridge, whistling softly. The sun was fast going down behind the bank of purple clouds which were slowly creeping up the sky. The rooks sailed to their nests in the topmost boughs of the elms, where the sunlight still lingered while the valley below was wrapped in shadow. Billy shivered a little as he leaned against the low stone parapet of the bridge, for -a cool breeze was rustling through the grass, and the mist rose from the meadows by the stream. " Ah s'pose ah must go back and bid the gurl goodnight—Her be a dull 'un 'though," he muttered'. " Do 'ee think 'ee'll 'ave I ? " he asked wistfully, as he seated himself on a big stone. " Ah know ah baint as big a chap as Master, but then a young chap like I 'adn't ought to expect it. If 'ee'll take I, ah'd go on growing long as ever ah could. Do 'ee just say one word, my dear. Just zummat as a chap could tell they fools yonder, when they comes a'larkin' round, and arstin' what 'er said." A long expectant pause, but no answer. Two big tears rolled slowly down Billy's furrowed cheeks. " Ah wouldn't coort 'ee, if any o' they gurls up street would 'ave I, but they laughs at a chap zummat cruel if 'e spakes to un ; though there ain't naught to laugh at as ah can see. Ah baint gwine to be the only led as doesn't go a'coortin' ! zo ah puts up wi"ee, though 'ee baint much to look at, nor to spake to naither, Ah baint as strong as zom on 'em, but ah does my work all zame. Gets up vive o'clock Zundays and gets my work done, and then Passon zometimes lets I carry round the bag. Think o' that now ! " Billy smiled through his tears of disappointment and vexation at the thought, but the smile faded quickly, leaving his face sadder than before. " Well, 'tis gettin' late," he said, "an' mother ;
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'11 be 'specting I 'ome for zupper. When '11 'ee come again ? .P'raps next time 'ee'd like to bring another' gurl long wi"ee. Two on 'em generly spakes together. Be 'ee gwine now ? Won't 'ee just spake one word just ? Not one ? . . . . Well, goodnight, wench, if 'ee must go. Ah'll meet 'ee zame place Zunday. Mind 'ee baint late thank 'ee kindly for comin'." The sun had slipped behind the clouds, and the elms were wrapped in deep shadow. The wind, sighing down the long valley, brought the first great drops of rain as Billy hurried into the steep lane which led to the village. " S'pose ah must tell 'em zummat," he muttered, as he trudged along; " but if all coortin's like that, 'taint much on't."
nescbvIus. O 'moo' whom Zeus endowed with giant might And will to use it well, a better dower, Interpreter of Zeus' unaltering power ; Who faced, undazzled, truths' perpetual light, And heard the thunderer's voice without affright, Erect, exalted like some lofty tower Set motionless in still and stormy hour, Its roots in earth, its head in heaven's height ; Great teacher of eternal verity, How few alone the mystic path shall tread, ' How many err in wisdom's winding way ; Wherefore the gods with immortality Endowed thee,—their poet is not dead, But lives and leads and will not let us stray. T. C.
Corresponbence. To the Editor of the Fritillary. DEAR MADAM, Several times lately I have heard the beggarly suggestion made that the Fritillary should be dropped because it is so dull. But what could be more disastrous than to attend to this cowardly advice ? To drop the Fritillary would be a sad
confession of the quality of intelligent enterprise in our Halls. The same suggestion was often made some years ago with regard to the O.S.D.S., but we stuck to that society, which now, I think, may fairly claim to have been worth sticking to. Letting alone the fact that in every number of the Frit. there are at least one or two articles worth reading, consider what a wealth of future literary power we might be rejecting ; for if the Frit. were to cease to be, it would be very hard to start a new magazine in the teeth of the memory of past failure. So that in justice to our successors we ought to leave them the chance of doing better than ourselves. But as there are several ways of keeping up anything, why should not the Fritillary be kept thoroughly up to the mark? Why should our one voluntary literary effort be the snubbed, colourless, self-conscious production that it is ? Could no practical reforms be made ? If, madam, you will pardon the impertinence of an outsider making suggestions, I should like to ask, firstly, if the Hall Notices might not be curtailed ? Does one Hall take a keen interest in the fact that Miss Dash charmed the students of another Hall by her rendering of a May Morning, or that the bicycle club of another Hall have bought a new pump ? These doings are estimable, but scarcely worthy of record. On the other hand, if the captains of the various clubs would write longer reports of the matches, commenting on the play of their teams, there would be some point in it. The members of the tennis and hockey clubs of different Halls take a keen interest in each other's play, and every one wants to read a decent account of the matches. There have been some accounts of the Oxford, why not also of the Hall matches ? Then again, the average reports of Debates are simply short notes, without comment, of the speeches. The object of this is to avoid personalities. But surely the feelings of any one who would take offence at unmalicious criticism are beneath the consideration of the Fritillary, which might do a real service to the O.S.D.S. by protesting against the inaudible extracts from papers with which the
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THE FRITILLARY. " speakers " sometimes content themselves and discontent their " audience." There is a very strong opinion on the subject of speaking versus reading, and our magazine is of very little use if it dare not express what opinions we have. One further suggestion I would make, and that is that old students should be asked to contribute. The depressing thing about being asked for contributions while one is up at Oxford is that one never has any idea what to write about. Present students see so much of each other, and are all doing so much the same thing, that it is all we can do to find enough interchangeable ideas to keep up the conversation at meals. But it might be worth while for the Frit. representatives to find out from their Principals anything of interest which old students are doing. I know, for instance, of different students who have been exploring in Arabia, working in Montreal and injTokio. They might refuse to write, but they might be asked. But the most deadly enemy of the Fritillary is not its own dulness, but the lazy criticism and condemnation passed on it by those who never do anything to help it on. The contributors and committee work with the depressing consciousness that it is the fashion among the majority of students to pay no attention to the magazine other than to say that it is as dull as ever. Conscience doth make such egoists of many students that they think they have done all that is required of them by public spirit when they have lifted their heads from their books to say : " Why is the Frit. so dull ?" and "Why do we never have good motions for debates ?" These people do not realise that every one in the Halls (contributors of rejected articles excepted) is equally responsible for the character of the Frit. and the 0.S.D.S., and that, in condemning these, which do represent the aggregate intelligence of the Halls, so far as it has spirit to wish to be represented, they condemn rather their own egoism and slackness than the failure of those who have done their part in speaking, writing, or organising. Anthony Hope says that women are not chivalrous towards each other. Cheap criticism no doubt ; but to refute it, we shall at least
have to be chivalrous enough to play up to each other in our common undertakings. Wishing courage and good luck to the Fritillary, in poor times as in lively times, and apologising for the length and presumption of my letter, I am, Madam, Yours respectfully, ELEANOR CROPPER. [We cordially invite discussion on the suggestions made by our correspondent.—En.]
Slettiesbip librarv. Committee of the Nettleship Library venture to call the attention of Home Students and others who are leaVirig Oxford, to a practice which prevails at the Halls in regard to their Libraries, and which it would be pleasant to institute for the Nettleship Library. Not a few students on going down present some volume to their Hall Library as a recognition of the service it has been to them, and in this way, not only assist to make the collection of books more complete, but also give to it a personal interest which is of real value. It is sometimes possible in this way to add books which the Librarian would not feel justified in buying out of the funds provided. The Nettleship Library Committee feel that some of the students may be ready to recognise the claims of the Nettleship Library in some such way, and can assure them that any addition to the books will be most gratefully welcomed by the Committee. THE
tin Ogforb 5tubent5' Vebating Zocietp. President. Miss ASH. Secretary. Miss DENING. Treasurer. Miss TAYLOR. THE last debate last term was held in the High School, on Tuesday, March 1 2th, Miss ASH (St. Hugh's Hall) in the chair.
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The motion before the House was :"That this House deplores the abolition of the sumptuary laws." Miss GUEST (H.S., Hon. Proposer) made out a fair case in favour of her version of sumptuary laws, which she took as only touching on dress ; we should have been much interested to hear how she proposed to work out an " Academy of Dress." She first defended the principle on the score of antiquity. Anything so old and longlived must have had a germ of good, and good never dies, but should be encouraged and not crushed. If the sumptuary laws had been allowed to develope naturally we should not be now suffering from such patent and glaring abuses. Here the Hon. Proposer paid a compliment to present fashions of dress, but held out no hope of their reasonableness being permanent ; she then dwelt on the bad taste of the average man or woman in the choice of colours, as exemplified in the gaudy hats laden with artificial flowers to be seen on Sundays, and fold us how the evil influence of a tie had for many years proved an obstacle in the way of a historic friendship. Besides the fact that fashion was often hideous in itself and always so in the hands of its untrained exponents, she alleged that it caused a great deal of unnecessary discomfort, since it recognised no laws and modified the shape of everything to its own fancy. When we had all done our best to become in figure like an hour-glass, it decreed that we should resemble cylinders. All this shewed clearly that some modification of the sumptuary laws was one of the crying needs of the day, and she proceeded to sketch that modification which, if the good in laws had been allowed to develope, would have grown out of them, as in France the French Academy had grown out of the censorship of the press. This Academy of Dress would educate and elevate the taste of all, and restrain 'Arriet's love of flowergarden hats while it curbed Ruskin's taste in ties. Miss HADOW (S.C., Hon. Opposer) made a brilliant maiden speech. The Society hopes for many opportunities of hearing her. She said that
when asked to speak against the motion, she had been reluctant not only from the natural feeling of diffidence common to all, but because before she had considered the question she had thought she approved of sumptuary laws which came to us disguised as magnanimous, self-denying ordinances, and imparted a glow of satisfaction as we considered the desirability of regulating the taste of our neighbour. She then shewed the Hon. Proposer that if, as she said, good would always exist, the sumptuary laws were not beneficial since they were hopelessly dead. In her opinion sumptuary laws were useless, impracticable, and immoral. Useless, because it was impossible to distinguish between luxuries and refinements, instancing that boots in Ireland were unnecessary luxuries, and that, according to Herbert Spencer, an African tribe had passed a sumptuary law prohibiting the use of mosquito nets except by persons of the blood royal. Impracticable, because they never have been, and never could be,`enforced. In Rome it was decreed that no one was to have more than three guests to dinner, to spend more than 7s. 6d. on the whole meal, or to give more than two dinner-parties a month. Alonzo the Wise decreed that all Moors were to part their hair in the middle. The penalty on the third offence was death ; but, nevertheless, it could not be carried out. In 1756 there had been serious riots .in Madrid, and several people were killed because the width of hat brims was regulated by law. Immoral, because virtue enforced by Act of Parliament ceased to be virtue. Who could " praise a fugitive cloistered virtue, unexercised, unbreathed, that never sallies forth and meets his enemy ? " Was not all the present confusion of colour infinitely to be preferred to the danger of making friends with a man who was only restrained by law from wearing a purple tie with yellow spots ? There also spoke Miss HOPE WALLACE (S.C.) and Miss BATCHELOR (S.H.H.), who wished to know more about the constitution of the Academy of Dress, and how it would escape the evils of all constitutional bodies. Miss WILLis (S.C.), who, taking sumptuary laws
THE FRITILLARY. as laws regulating expenditure, said that all difficulties arose from the fact that every one had control of their own property, and proposed as a solution that all property should be taken care of by the nation, and every one should be only allowed pocket-money, so to say. Although this idea commended itself to the House, it did not seem to solve the difficulties. • Miss GUEST then briefly summed up, but still left us ignorant of the safeguards of her remedy. The motion was lost by a large majority.
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close of the meeting we were able to examine the apparatus used, and ask questions about it. At our last meeting Miss Kirkaldy read a paper on " The Manner of Evolution." This was followed by a discussion. The following is the Committee for next year :President, Miss Howell (S.C.) ; Secretary, Miss Peacey (S.C.) ; Treasurer, Miss May (Lady Margaret Hall).
eigforb Stubents' %awn tennis Club. lbochep.
Captain : M. E.
OXFORD V. CAMBRIDGE.
Captain, A. W.
TAYLOR.
match v. Cambridge was a disappointment with regard both to weather and play. The weakness of the latter may have been due to the undersized balls which the ground-man at Blackheath provided. These balls probably prevented either side from displaying really first-class form. In the Oxford team the forwards did not combine with their usual certainty ; the wing-halves were demoralised by finding that the centre was not up to doing more than her own work ; and the backs seemed, on occasion, to be paralysed by nervousness. The right inner was perhaps more on her game than any one else, even after what might have been a very nasty accident to her eye. The match resulted in a draw of 3 goals all. THE
the
NOTLEY.
have been meetings every week this term, with American tournaments, which have been a greater success than the ordinary meetings hitherto held. The following new members have been elected :—Miss Moor (S.C.), Miss Stiff (S. Hilda's Hall), Miss Higginbotham (S. Hilda's Hall), Miss Hirst, Miss Price, Miss Clarence, Miss Trench (L. M. H. ). The team chosen to play against Cambridge is as follows :— 1st pair : Miss Notley (L. M. H.) and Miss Wynne Willson (S.C.). and pair : Miss Belcher (L.M.H.) and Miss Hirst (L.M.H.). 3rd pair : Miss Millar (S.C.) and Miss Sheepshanks (L.M.H.). THERE
With the exception of Miss Hirst, the team is the same as that of last year, and, if the pairs can get enough practice together, should prove strong.
Club.
President, Miss E. D. DAVIES, Treasurer, Miss EwBANK, (L.M.H.) Hon. Sec., M. E. HOWELL, (S.C.).
Two meetings of the Club have been held this term. At the first, Mr. Nagel very kindly gave us a paper, illustrated by experiments, on " The Passage of Electricity through Gases." At the
labp tibargaret (Re2tYe March, Miss Bartlett was unanimously re-elected as the Representative on the W.U.S. Committee of the resident and non-resident L.M.H. members. WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT
sentative, R. E.
BOSANQUET).—In
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THE FRITILLARY.
Very hearty thanks have been received for the flowers sent to the Settlement. The cowslips gave special pleasure, SETTLEMENT.—A meeting was held this term at the Hall to discuss the new plans for the Settlement. Miss Langridge addressed the meeting, and explained the need of a new house for the Settlement workers. It is greatly hoped that the students of Lady Margaret Hall will do all in their power to enable the Settlement to obtain possession of the adjoining house, which is shortly to be empty. Miss Mary Alder also spoke, and amused her audience by the description of her experiences.
(Secretary, E. M. BELCHER).—The courts are in excellent order this term, and are being well used almost every afternoon. The Hall champions are M. E. Notley and E. M. Belcher. The Singles Cup was won by M. E. Notley. Two matches have already been played :v. St. Hilda's Hall, won by 2 setts to o. v. St. Hugh's Hall, won by 2 setts to o. The matches still to be played are— June 4th, v. the High School. June loth, v. Somerville College. June 27th, v. Royal Holloway College. LAWN TENNIS CLUB
BOAT CLUB (Secretary, E. YOUNG). — Owing probably to the perfect weather, great energy has been shewn ,on the river this term. There have been several fresh qualifications for canoeing, and, judging from the keenness shewn by the Hall generally in punting and learning to punt, there ought soon to be a good many more qualified in this also.
this term have been fairly regular, but not exciting. We hope soon, however, to be entertained by a dramatic performance provided by the histrionic talent of the Hall. We are extremely grateful to the ladies who are so constantly called upon to give their services owing SOCIABLE.—Sociables
to the scarcity of musical talent. Our thanks are specially due this term to Misses Hannam, Clarence, Davies, Clay, Wilmot, Hirst, Wilson, Trench, and Notley.
%omerville College. in the term flowers were sent to the Lant Street Board School, and were very much appreciated by the children, some of whom wrote to thank us for them. On Saturday, June 1st, we had the pleasure of entertaining a party of Board School teachers from Birmingham. The College has heard with great pleasure the announcement that the Wardenship of the Settlement has been accepted by Miss Helen Gladstone. WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT.—Early
TENNIS CLUB (President, MISS MILLAR).—No Tournament has been played this term but Club Days have been held instead, which have been found to answer very well. Our Champions this year are Miss Millar and Miss Wynne-Wilson. In the match against St. Hugh's, Miss Wynne-Wilson was unfortunately unable to play, but her place was taken by Miss A. W. Taylor. The result of the match was 6—o, 6-3 in our favour. The matches arranged for this term are as follows : June 6th, v. St. Hilda's. June roth, v. L. M. H. June 11th, v. High School. June 17th, v. Holloway. June 22nd, v. Westfield. We are glad to be able to say that Miss Millar and Miss Wynne-Wilson are going to play again this year in the United Team against Cambridge.
(President, L. DAVEY ; Secretary, M. WEDDERBURN; Treasurer, M. E. FAIR-
BOAT CLUB B.
THE FRITILLARY. BAIRNS).—The following members have been promoted :To the rank of Captain :--A. J. Beveridge, E. Lewis. To the rank of Half-Captain :—B. Bradfield, D. Horsfall, G. Ritchie, F. Ross, M. Sims.
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were fixed for this term to Dorchester, Kidlington, Stanton Harcourt, and Stanton St. John, but the distractions of the summer term and Schools have proved too much, and we have had to postpone Dorchester no less than three times. (President, G. HAMMSociety is still as flourishing as ever. "As You Like It" is our play for this term, and though we have been reading tragedy for two terms, our readers' powers for comedy do not seem to be at all impaired. SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY
TON).—This
St. lbugb's TENNIS CLUB ((Secretary, G. CUNYNGHAME). —There was a good deal of tennis at the beginning of term, and much enthusiasm was excited by an American Tournament, which was a great success. (Latterly the river has proved a counter attraction.) Our Hall Champions this year are M. Wyld and E. Lidbetter.
Matches. May io. v. St. Hilda's, 7-5, 6-3, lost.
„ v. L.M.H., 6-2, 6-1, „ 17. v. Somerville, 6—o, 6-2, 2 , We much regret that the proposed Old Students' Match has had to be abandoned owing to the impossibility of finding a suitable date. 71 ,,
(Captain, L. CoomBEs).— The boats have been in daily use throughout the term. Our best thanks are due to Mr. Townshend for his constant kindness in coaching us. The river, however, has lately assumed the aspect of a regatta, and therefore, owing to Mr. Townshend's suggestion and energy, various members of the Boat Club have been found keen enough to be ready and waiting for him at 7 a.m. BOAT CLUB
BROWNING SOCIETY
(President, W .
BUXTON).—
The Browning Society has met on Sunday afternoons in the garden, and has read "In a Balcony," and begun " King Victor and King Charles." (President, W. BUXSecretary, M. Catcx).—Four expeditions
ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY TON ;
SOCIABLES (Secretaries, E. VAUX and K. M. JARvis).—The many attractions of the Summer Term render Sociables almost unnecessary. We have, however, already had two, and hope to end the term with the customary Fancy Dress. SHARP PRACTICE (President, G. HAMILTON).— Our meetings have been held as usual on Saturday evenings. In consideration of the fact that this is "Schools" term, the motions have not been of a very abstruse nature, and the House has been much interested in such question as " the necessity of every man's minding his own business," and the "growing critical spirit of the age."
St. lbitba's LAWN TENNIS CLUB
(Secretary,
Miss MAR-
Champions this year again are Miss Pym and Miss Marshall, and two of the three Hall Matches have already been played :v. St Hugh's Hall, won, 7-5, 6-3. v. Lady Margaret Hall, lost 2-6, 3-6. The match with Somerville is fixed for June 6th. Our court has profited greatly by being lengthened in the Vacation, and the members of the Club have increased. An American Tournament is at present being played and excites SHALL).—Our
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THE FRITILLARY.
much interest, and we are glad to say there is already marked improvement in the play of the new members. SOCIETY (President, Miss HIGGINSecretary, Miss DoNArDsoN).—The first debate of the Trinity Term, 1901, was held on May 3rd, the motion that " the recent Budget is not based on sound economic principles " being proposed by Miss Madeley, and opposed by Miss Pym. The Hon. Proposer, whose speech was avowedly an attack on Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, deplored the cowardly attitude of those who are responsible for the Budget in shirking their responsibilities and damaging trade. In a clear and vigorous speech she pronounced the Budget unsound politically, morally, and economically. The Hon. Opposer stated that though the Budget was not faultless, yet in the main it was sound. She argued in an able and convincing manner what a great advantage posterity would reap, and took a sanguine view as to the good results of the present measures both economically and politically. The discussion which followed was characterized chiefly by a lack of coherence, which was compensated for, however, by considerable energy on the part of the disputants, ode member producing written testimony. The motion was finally lost by 7 votes. The second debate of term is to take place at no very distant date. DEBATING
BOTHAM;
river has been more popular than ever this summer, and the canoe which was secured last autumn has proved a very welcome addition to the resources of the Club. Several members have had regular coachings in sculling, which they have found of great use. BOAT CLUB.—The
Printed by
JAMES PARKER
'borne Stubents. WE are sorry to have to correct a couple of misprints and an error in the last issue, Hilary Term. Amongst the new students should be Miss H. B. Cossar (not Cossal) Miss N. Steen (not Stern). Miss M. Sidgwick registered October Term, not last Term. ;
1Vew Students, Easter and Trinity Term. Miss Ethel M. Armistead, Perse School, Cambridge. Miss Cherry M. Burnett, Oxford High School. •
COMMON Room (E. C. COUSINS, Hon. Sec.). —The Common Room has passed an uneventful term. It has been open for the usual hours for the use of members, and the usual social meetings, have been held. We hope that next year may bring a large accession of new members.
SOCIETY (Hon. Secretary, M. E. MATHESON).—The Reading Society has held the even tenour of its way, but has resolved itself for the time being into a Shakespeare Society. The attendances have been better. The " Winter's Tale " has been read with much enjoyment. READING
•
ll4otice. O READING PARTIES. Lake District. Miss Castree, Drummermire, Troutbeck, near Windermere. Cottage, with accommodation for a party of four or five near Lake Windermere. Good centre for excursions, coaching, and mountain climbing. Inclusive terms, Z.r Jos. a week ; ,4.2 during August and September.
T
:
& Co., Crown Yard, Oxford.