March, 1904.
No. 31.
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EDITORIAL . THE RETURN OF THE ROOKS " FRITILLARY " PRIZE COMPETITION .
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AN EVENING AT A WORKING
A FRAGMENT OF ARISTOTLE THE PENULTIMATE TERM OXFORD STUDENTS' DEBATING SOCIETY -
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SOMERVILLE COLLEGE .
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LADY MARGARET 1-TAIL
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ST. HILDA'S HALL
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ST. HUGH'S HALL .
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HOME STUDENTS •
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REVIEWS .
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OxforD PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS EY JAMES PARSER
& Co;,
CROWN YARD•
.1Eitor : Miss HAy
ES, Lady Margaret Hall.
treasurer : Miss CRICK, St. Hugh's Hall.
Committee : Miss GWYER, Lady Margaret Hall.
Miss Scorr, Somerville College. Miss HALES, St. Hugh's Hall. Miss SOWELS, St. Hilda's Hall. Miss WILLS-SANDFORD, Horne Students, 40 S. Giles'.
MARCH.
No. 31.
ENtoriat. LITTLE has occurred during the term which calls for remark : it has been for the most part spent under those climatic conditions to which we are becoming accustomed, and athletics have suffered in consequence. A few gleams of sunshine during the last week have been welcomed with touching joy. We should like to call attention to some reviews of books, by old Students, which appear in this number of the Fritillary. We hope it will become a recognized thing that any work written by an Oxford woman is criticised in our pages.
1904.
As if amid the glitter of a ball, There came a banded throng of funeral mutes, With slow grave footsteps pacing up the hall, All clad in mournful pomp and sable suits.
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And yet, I know full well, that if you fled, You old black croakers ! from your airy seats, The life of Spring, so richly round us shed, Would seem forsaken, maimed, and incomplete. For the living flowers have not such life as yours ; The song-birds, and the butterflies so fair, They lack that almost human touch that lures The watchful eye to mark you building there. So strong, so wise, so strenuous in your strife, You need no charm of colour or of song ; The soldier, sailor, statesman, sees his life Anticipated 'mid your active throng. Somewhat of Conscience, Reason, Will, awakes. Where your aerial Polity is seen ; Man feels his fellowship with you, that makes More fair this April world of budding green.
Zbe 1Return of the 1Roofts.
E. WORDSWORTH.
WHEN the gloomy veil of winter is withdrawn, And the almond-tree is blushing, pink and white, And the daffodils are dancing on the lawn, And the sky is sunny-blue with gladsome light, Then the rooks come cawing, cawing to the old elm-trees, And dig and tear the turf with eager beak, And weave the supple twigs in the gusty breeze, And wrangle till you almost hear them speak. With their black and shiny plumes, and their lumbering flight, And their shy disdainful airs, what do they here In this world of beauteous colour, sound, and light, When the Spring is leading up the gladsome year ?
"fritillarp" Vri3e Competition. THE Prize in this competition has been divided between Miss Routh (L.M.H.), for her sketch, An Evening at a Working Girls' Club,' and Miss Knox (L.M.H.), for her story, The Dobbley Man.' We should like to thank Mrs. Toynbee, who has kindly judged the papers sent in, for the trouble she has taken.
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THE FRITILLARY.
In ]Evening at a Working C3tris' Club. A LARGE, brightly-lighted room with a great many pictures on the walls, and a strong smell of fried fish coming in through the windows —these are your first impressions. Two or three girls, just come from a rope-_ walk,' are talking by the fire ; some more, from a match-box factory, are sewing. The lady superintendant,' Miss A., takes the names of the girls as they come in. Another lady is at the piano playing The Bailiff's Daughter,' while the girls sing, breaking off at intervals to talk at the tops of their voices, and taking up the song again at any point it may have reached when they have done. Presently a shrill whistle is heard outside. " Alright, Bill, I'm a comin'," shouts a girl with glorious Irish eyes, and—strange anomaly—the most pronounced London twang' in the Club. " Thet's my chap," she remarks to the room in general. " What, that one you 'aven't got, Poll? " says another girl. " Won't you sing something, Polly ? " you ask hastily, as you see that the laughter which greets this witticism has sent her to the window to prove the truth of her assertion by an appeal to Bill himself. ' " You do sing, don't you ? " "Ow, I lets aht sometimes," she answers, "an' then I brikes the coke; but Miss A. she ses she's got enough fer the fire ternight." She is, however, persuaded to break the coke' with a truly powerful voice, in a song about a senserbul girl,' who never forgits she's a lidy.' Then you are given a curious pink flannelette, object, with a request to "tack and fix this, please," which—having ascertained what sort of garment it is meant to become—you proceed to do. "Sal's chap's 'ad a naccident," remarks one girl to another, as they sit sewing beside you. " 'E 'ad a naccident orf 'is 'orse; 'es a corp'ral, you know." " What's that ? " enquires the other. " Ow its a—a corp'ral,you know," replies No. 1. " 'E's all over stripes, an' e's a relition of Mrs. Cookson's. 'E's Mrs. Cookson's brother-in-law's
wife's cousin—Mrs. Cookson's 'usban's brother's wife's cousin—an' a corp'ral." "What's a corp'ral ? " asks No. 2 again. " Ow, it's like—like—, well, like a lieutenant . in the army," explains No. r ; " an' e went to the Front, so o' course she took up with another chap — ow she wrowte an' towld 'im (this fact evidently quite excuses "er' conduct in the speaker's opinion); but lars' month 'e come back, an' e'd sent 'er a scarf—all silk—an' the other d'y she seen 'im in ar road, so she ses to 'im—Ow if I 'aven't bin an' put the lice on this leg wrong side aht I" she breaks off suddenly, and while the lace is being unpicked you are called to the other end of the room to " cut aht my ipron, please Miss," and the rest of the romance is lost in the deafening chorus : She's a senserbul girl—not up to dite I confess, Some d'y, she m'y, share my nime an' address.' "'Ave you seen the distorti-on mirrors' in the 'Igh Street, Miss ? " asks the owner of the apron later on. " They mikes you look all any'ow —you never see sech a sight as you'd look— an' they gives you your money back if you comes aht withaht larfin'. But they knows you can't 'elp larfin', they can 'ear you scream." " They cud 'ear you scream 'arf over London, Liz," remarks a tall, rather aggressive looking girl known as Jine,' who has just strolled in. " Oo are you a gittin' at ?" retorts Liz fiercely ; " I'll 'ave somethin' ter s'y ter you in a minute." Jine' and Liz are great friends, but their affection finds expression chiefly in squabbles and scuffles, punctuated by loud shrieks. " Look aht, Liz, you'll brike 'er back," calls a voice; above the uproar that follows the last remark. " Ow my, I should larf ter see Jine come in 'arf," responds Liz cheerfully, renewing her efforts as she speaks. While Miss A. is restoring order, another girl informs you that " I was just as bad as 'er when first I come to the Club, but I'm quite deformed now." Then one of the lidies is ' called to the piano to make a diversion—" Got any marches or polkas or skertsies, Miss ?" she is asked.
THE FRITILLARY. " There's another of the lidies what comes 'ere that pl'ys beautiful," the deformed ' girl tells you. " Miss —, you don't know 'er, do you, Miss ? But I don't like 'er, she's too nossy for me." Nossy ' is a word of many meanings ; in this case it appears to stand for 'patronising.' At half-past nine hymn-books are passed round, work is folded up, and after a hymn and a very short prayer, the girls say good night,' and troop noisily downstairs. " Thank you so much," says the Superintendant ; " I'm afraid we've worked you like a sewing-machine and a pianola." And you too go downstairs, to be followed up the road by an overpowering whiff of fried fish and a friendly " Good night, Miss, thank you for doin' my petticut !" E. R.
tbe VobbIer !Dan. " INFANTS," said Lady Jane with a sniff, "are, I- consider, quite out of place at the hymeneal altar." " Waz dat ?" demanded the Infant in question, looking up suddenly from an arm-chair in which he had been burrowing for two minutes, under the firm conviction that he had found a good hiding-place from his mother. "Why, there he is ! There's my little Birdie !" cried the searcher in the ecstatic voice orthodox on such occasions. Then in a minor, key she added : " Yes, he is to be page, Aunt Jane. We think he will look perfectly sweet in white to match the bridesmaids. And now I think I've really told you all we have arranged. I'm sure that everything will go off all right." " Yes, Caroline," and Lady Jane sniffed again : " you have indeed settled everything. It is a little painful for me to hear all this in the house where I have arranged everything for so long. Had the doctor only allowed me to return earlier the wedding would doubtless have been a success. As it is, your indecent haste has only driven 2
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your father into needless expense and made you usurp your position. I will say no more. I really can say no more. Edith will be married somehow I suppose, and I wash my hands of the whole ceremony. Japanese silk would have done just as well as crepe de chine for the bridesmaids, and Johnson could have run it up at home for May. But do as you please. Spend as much money as you like and ruin your father. I only wish I had come back earlier." Lina smiled to herself as she got up from the floor where her infant had been climbing up her, and with placid dignity smoothed back her hair. She had never feared her Aunt Jane as her sisters and her father did, and now four years of married life had given her all a young matron's importance and condescension. It was she who had arranged her sister's wedding, so that Lady Jane, who had been obliged to winter at Bournemouth, and so temporarily resign her rule over her brother's house, should, with her pet economies, be absent during the preparations. It was she indeed, who had watched the whole engagement from Philip Masterton's first visit to Norton Hall, and who had played propriety while the two fell in love and duly informed each other of the fact. It was, finally, she whom her sisters had deputed to disclose the details of the wedding arrangements to Lady Jane on her return, just a fortnight before the happy day. Lady Jane's speech, which would have reduced May, her youngest sister, to tears and submission, moved her not at all. " It would have been a pity to risk the east winds here too soon," she said, politely f "and really everything has gone very well so far." " This little Birdie," announced the Baby suddenly, "is a puff puff," and flinging himself on his hands and knees, he began to grunt vigorously. This habit was, by the way, extended indiscriminately to every one of the Bird's numerous roles, from that of a steanengine to a blue-bottle. " You'se a puff-puff," he added, imperiously, tugging at Lady Jane's dress. " You come down 'ere." " Oh no, Birdie," interposed his mother, " he isn't a puff now. Do you know what I believe
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THE FRITILLARY.
he is ? I believe he's a little weeny birdie flying with the mamma birdie to the window, and ---" " Lemme down," shrilled the Bird hastily ; " there's the Dobbley man and Aunta May. This little Birdie will go to them. Aunta May Aunta May !" And calling loudly the Bird, with proud though uncertain steps, rushed through the French window to join the two figures on the soft daffodilstarred lawn. Meanwhile Lady. Jane, beaten, but still ready for the fight, gathered up her forces for a last attack and sniffed ominously. " Mr. D'Aubrey is the best man I understand ? " she questioned. "Yes," answered Lina ; " we like him so much, and he is so sweet to Birdie, and never minds being called the Dobbley man. I believe he's really very clever, and going to get something very good in the Foreign Office." " And May is the chief bridesmaid ? I see your idea quite well, and any child could see what that young man means. But pray understand, once and for all, that I should never let your father countenance him for a moment. My authority is not altogether lost, Caroline, and I mean what I say." Lady Jane marched away majestically. She spent the morning in superintending the introduction of a purple silk front into her last year's summer dress for the wedding. " Yes," said Lina to Edith that night, " we've won, but she's going to be nasty about May. Do you think she really cares for the Dobbley man—I mean Mr. D'Aubrey?" " I don't know," said Edith, combing her pretty golden hair meditatively. " I'm quite sure that he's interested in her, but I don't think they'll find out much before the wedding. You can never tell though about a girl under the circumstances, can you ?" " You aren't a matron yet, remember, Edith dear. Don't certain very recent events, in the conservatory—or was it the kitchen garden—tell you if she feels as you felt a month ago ?" " She might," said Edith, blushing at herself in the glass. " It was the conservatory, my dear girl not among the cabbages, though May and !
the Dobbley man did seem rather happy there this morning. But what shall we do if Aunt Jane is a pig? May has absolutely no strength of mind, and she'd never go against her. And then Aunt Jane will be rude to him, and he'll be proud and go away, and poor May will be alone without us or him, and he miserable." Edith was almost crying, but Lina cheered her "It will be all right," she said, confidently, "if only he will ask her before we go. We must be able to make Aunt Jane consent somehow all of us. May shall have a good fair chance anyhow, and, my dear, my dear, it would be the second match I should have made in a month !"
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The wedding was really a great success. The spring sun shone through the flickering green of budding trees upon the grey Norman Church in the Park. It shone, too, through the stained glass in the chancel upon the wedding group. Everything was very pretty and young, and every one was charmed. Even Lady Jane was gracious, for her gloves had cost two shillings less than she usually gave and looked quite good. Also she had kept off a crisis between May and Mr. D'Aubrey during the last fortnight, and hoped to-day to find some opportunity to get rid of the detrimental finally. To the Bird the ceremony was a trifle boring. He did not wish to cry as Aunta May did, or even to get red in the face and stare at Aunta May, as did the Dobbley man Nor did he approve of Aunta Edith's veil and bouquet, or the general atmosphere of new clothes ; his great support was in his own new coat with real pockets. These almost atoned for the tears during the ceremony, and the kisses in the vestry afterwards. He was patient and he knew he was good. Only when they had driven past the last cedar in the avenue, and reached the hall with its air of open doors and general festivity, did he give a sigh of relief. " Now," he said, " wur'll take wur hat and coat off and have wur tea." And he suited the action to the word, and was soon happily seated in a commanding position among the cake dishes. His mother was occupied with the guests, and he had a glorious and crowded hour of life.
THE FRITILLARY. Eventually even sugar began to pall, the room grew hot, and he grew tired of murmured congratulations above his head and fulsome admiration for his costume. He decided on a retreat to his nursery with some of those lovely brown sticky sweets in white crinkled paper to serve for further need. With some dozen marron-glaces in his frock he easily made his way towards his nursery. In the large bow-window on the staircase he saw the Dobbley man and hailed him joyfully. But the Dobbley man was frowning as he talked to Lady Jane, and did not come at once. Lady Jane had in fact found her opportunity, and in very plain language, emphasised by nods from her alarming bonnet, had informed Mr. D'Aubrey that he was persecuting her niece May with his intentions, that he was merely engaged in a pursuit of her fortune, and that his plain duty was to leave her without any word to disturb her peace. " Good-bye," he said, very shortly, as the Bird came up ; " I shall be off at once. Good-bye, and—and thank you." "This Birdie doesn't say sank-you like dat," said the Bird, as the Dobbley man followed him mechanically to the nursery, " Or Nana would be as shocked as shocked." " Aunt Jane is as shocked as shocked," said the Dobbley man, with a queer laugh. " I say I must go, little fellow." " Come 'ere," said the didactic Babe, bursting into the nursery, " an' play at puff-puffs." But the nursery was not empty. The dim twilight showed a figure by the nursery fender, and as the fire shot up suddenly the Bird saw his Aunta May in her pretty white frock. He also noticed that she was crying. He had not time to pursue investigation, as he was forced to turn his attention towards placing his hot and stickey marron-glaces in his crib. Neither the Dobbley man nor Aunta May seemed to notice him. When he looked up he was pleased, but by no means surprised, to see Aunta May in the arms of the Dobbley man. Down in the Hall the bridegroom was waiting, and the bride was on the stairs. The guests were
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all looking expectant, and the butler was murmuring that the two would miss the train.. " Where is May ?" the tearful bride was saying. " I must, I must say good-bye to May." Maids were running to look, and in the Hall there was that hush of expectation which always precedes the bride's departure, when the Bird suddenly rushed down the passage with his usual businesslike air. " Birdie, do you know where Aunta May is ? " said his mother, seizing him in her arms at the head of the stairs. The Bird tossed back his curls, smiled in a gleeful and inviting manner to the listening stairs and Hall, then loudly explained: "Aunta Jane was shocked as shocked with the Dobbley man, and so Aunta May is kissing him in this little Birdie's nursellery " That was the climax of the situation, and the Bird's unconscious triumph for his friend the Dobbley man. Nearly everyone heard the somewhat premature announcement, and those who had told those who had not. People were whispering congratulations to Lina and her father before they left, and it was impossible even for Lady Jane to behave as if nothing had happened. You cannot dismiss a man without a word, when all the world knows that your daughter loves him, and when his only disqualification is an absence of excessive wealth. The Foreign Office was exceptionally kind, and in another year the Bird was again performing the functions of page behind his. Aunta May and the Dobbley man. He was quite unconscious of his important assistance to his friends, and never understood why he had been kissed so much. by his mother and his aunta after his exploit. One unsolved problem too was left. His grandfather declared him a confirmed matchmaker. As he had been strictly told not to meddle with matches, he never could understand the sentence. I am sure that he would be grateful for any explanation. !
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Et fragment of Bristotle. Now from what has been admitted it is clear that the aim of a college is not mere life, but good life. But it ought incidentally to promote mere life, because it is not possible for that which does not live to live well, so that bodily well-being ought to be considered by one who is inquiring how intellectual excellence may best be secured. And this is especially the case with food, as Homer said: " When he had satiated his desire for meat and drink, then first the old man began to weave the web of counsel." Again, the rulers of such a society ought to consider how to secure safety in case of sudden dangers. But this raises a difficulty. For since that college is the best which has many members, and if the members are many, it is necessary that their dwelling should be large, and of many storeys ; and among sudden dangers we must especially consider that of fire, and this is most to be feared where there are many storeys ; it would therefore seem that a college is in special danger in respect of the life of its members, and the best college most in danger. But we said it must aim at preserving their life ; and this is absurd. Now the solution of the difficulty will become plain if we consider that in some colleges it is the custom for the members to be trained not only in music but also in certain gymnastic exercises, by which they are able to suddenly descend from the top window to the lawn, and yet suffer no harm, but rather good ; for some find pleasure in the exercise, and others become better after it in respect of virtue, inasmuch as for the sake of the common good they courageously perform the task which seems to them to be full of danger, but is in truth free from risk. For first they hang a rope from a high window ; and clinging to this they are able to leap safely from the window and descend to the ground, so that they do not fall but clamber ; as Homer said of Odysseus : " There would all his bones have been broken, but that the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, put a
thought in his heart ; for he clung on with all his might." Others practice an exercise which is easier, but more formidable. For they make a long tube of canvas, like a flute, but without holes, and in this they put the inmates in turn, first placing " Purple blankets and coverlets above," so that wrapped in these they fall to the ground but are not injured, for by a wise arrangement of their bodies they fall slowly, so as to escape. These then are the methods. which different colleges practice, some one and some another, while some even have both. These may justly be said to be useful and desirable, being a mean between the housetop and the lawn, for the good is always a mean. Now to practice these arts is difficult, but noble, and fitting to a member of a college ; for it is good to remember what Plato said, that everything worth doing is difficult. Again, it must be remembered that the exercise we have described is not good absolutely, but only relatively to persons. For goodness for us is concerned with the particular, and of this kind is all human action. Therefore it is necessary that the exercise should be at the right time (as, for instance, not at such a time as to interfere with study ; for this is an essential part of good living) ; and for the right persons (as those who have before entered their names on a list); and in the right way (as, for instance, inside the tube and not outside it for to descend thus would justly be considered rash, and not courageous, and the same might be said of descending head-foremost ; for both these ways are in excess, but courage is a mean). But the majority tend to act wrongly on account of the other extreme, namely cowardice ; and for this reason it is that many need to be helped with encouraging words, as it is said in Homer ;
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" Far worse thou hast endured ; " and again " Be brave, my friends, remember gallant might." :
And here it may be questioned whether these sayings are most useful when uttered by a fireman, or a member of the Council, or a tutor, or
THE FRITILLARY. even a fellow-student. To some the words of the member of the Council might seem insufficient, because he utters them from above, but does not himself descend the tube ; some, on the other hand, think rather that this is a method becoming venerable years, as Nestor, wishing to encourage the Greeks, said : " Would I were young again, as when I fought against Lycurgus' son, and Athene gave me glory," but did not himself go against the Trojans. The same might be said of the fireman's words, with this exception, that he encourages the gymnasts from below. And, indeed, with regard to him we should remember the saying that not the maker, but the user of anything is the best judge of it, as, for instance, the householder and the banqueter, not the builder and the cook. But with the tutor and the other whom we mentioned, this is not the case ; for both try to make others courageous, being in truth courageous themselves.. And this all know, and therefore to them they give more heed, remembering the words of Theognis, " Virtue shalt thou learn from the virtuous." And again, it may be questioned which is more courageous, the one who finds pleasure, as perceiving no danger, or the one who fears the danger, but nevertheless endures it because he perceives that the end is good; for the end is his motive to action, and action in the face of danger, but directed towards a good end, all would call courageous. Some one might object that the end is not always a motive to action, but the reverse ; as he found, who having already descended and expecting to come out, found the end of the tube too small for him to be able to reach the ground, at least without great difficulty. This question, however, is treated elsewhere in our more popular works. The question we have mentioned as to courage presents a difficulty ; for it might seem that the courage of the first is only that experience which some wrongly think constitutes courage, as Socrates thought that courage was knowledge, for it would seem that a veteran soldier is more courageous than a recruit, as knowing better how to avoid the dangers. And yet we should be right in observing that the others cannot be courageous in any complete sense, for they are ig-
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norant of the true state of the case, and those who are ignorant cannot be virtuous ; but courage is a part of virtue. And if we consider the matter from a different point of view, we shall come to the same conclusion. For no one would call him courageous, who, when suddenly commanded from below to let down his tube, and having also, when commanded, thrown down his money-bag, attempted himself to descend but was not able; for the other who had roused him from below took away the money-bag, but by making a knot in the tube, prevented the one above descending so as to pursue him ; this man, then, was not courageous in the strict sense, for he ought not to have been persuaded; and Socrates would seem to have been right in saying that courage without wisdom is not profitable, but the contrary. These things having been defined, it remains to consider whether this exercise is worthy of the best members of a college, as being noble, or whether it is not fit for them, but only for mechanics, as, for instance, freshers, or even slaves. Now clearly it is not merely fit for mechanics, for it does not aim at gain ; not but that freshers take part in it, and eagerly take part, but only in so far as they are already in some sense par takers of noble living. And again, it is not servile because not done under compulsion. For some refuse the exercise, either as preferring above it some other exercise, or as being addicted to no exercise at all. And some think it should be done to these as it was done to Melanthius :" Do ye cast him into the chamber and close the doors after him, and make fast to him a twisted rope." Others, however, say they should not be thus handled, as being freemen, though not in the full sense. For, as we have said elsewhere, those who are freemen in the strict sense have least power to do what they please, but slaves have more, as having little or no duty to the Society. On this subject, however . . . [The fragment here ends abruptly; but another small fragment was found lying near the above, which evidently has some connection with it.] . . . dangerous to the life of those who live in
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colleges, in virtue of their position, is not that of fire, but one might call it the contrary. For being placed near rivers, and in a moist and rainy climate, they are often surrounded by water, so that the inhabitants, such at least as live in the lower parts, are in danger of drowning. Against this danger too . . . . A. M.
CLAY.
the (penultimate term. A DIRGE. I
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PUT back the clock, or stop its hands, Arrest the hateful march of time ! Hateful to me as March of Men of Harlech, Intoned by ruthless German bands, Or—(do you see the daring rhyme ?) Hateful as to the true-born Briton, garlic. 2.
The term is gone as soon as come, And every day goes by too quick The very errand-boys do not remain, But Gilbert yields his place to Tom, And Tom makes way for Frederick Ere you can wink, the Long is here again. :
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3. It is not terror of the Schools That makes me groan, for Fate is Fate, The worst of ordeals is sometime past. But like the rest of human fools, I cling to the penultimate The last but one is very near the last. :
[TEARS.]
Ogforb Ztubents' )3)ebating .Society. President. Miss HALES, S.H.H. Secretary. Miss GORDON, L.M.H. Treasurer. Miss EPPSTEIN, S. H .H. THE last meeting of last term was held on December 8th.
The motion before the House was that " This House supports the proposed policy of Preferential Tariffs." The Hon. Proposer (Miss JOHNSTON, S.H.H.) regretted that it was impossible to do adequate justice to such a motion. She proposed, therefore, to content herself with looking at the principal arguments in favour of it. In the first place, whereas our exports are not diminishing, our great industries are going down considerably—the definite amount the Proposer was able to tell us in figures. The best way of meeting this alarming fact, which she considered to be due to dumping, seemed to her to lie in the proposal of Preferential Tariffs. One great argument in favour of this was that Canada would be willing to fall in with our proposals. The Proposer grew eloquent as she expatiated on this Canada, the country of the future, which many people (doubtless, several in her audience) imagine to be a land of perpetual skating, whereas, in the western part, it is so hot that fruit may actually be found growing in the open air. A duty on corn might make it a good investment to start farming in Canada. This might increase emigration, and so solve the problem of over-crowding. Miss Johnston closed by regretting the tendency of the English to congratulate themselves on the greatness of their country, which leads them to say, " Let us stay as we are." Conditions have completely changed during the last half century, and if we persist in thinking we have reached finality in this matter of Preferential Tariffs " we shall suffer, not a catastrophe, but—what is worse —a prolonged and painful decay." The Hon. Opposer (Miss RICHARDSON-EVANS, S.H.) rose to plead on behalf of a prosperous people, a limited Empire, and an uncorrupt and incorruptible Government. She then went on to prove the Proposer's gloomy picture of the condition of our industry and commerce to be an untrue one. As to the decline of the greater trades, why should not small ones take their place, and, as to dumphobia, there is something ridiculous in saying " anathema " to this—in re-
THE FRITILLARY. fusing goods because they are offered on exceptionally favourable terms. She threw cold water over the Proposer's glowing prospect of future life in Canada, by the suggestion that the proposed tax would not be sufficiently large to bring it about. On the subject of the Protectionists' plea of unity of Empire as their motive, she asked with sarcasm, " Are we so to justify the taunt of a nation of shopkeepers as to admit that fiscal ties alone will prevail ?" Having dealt with the prosperous people and the limited Empire, the Opposer passed on to the third heading—our " uncorrupt Government" —to compare it with the fatal results of protection on political life across the Channel. Some public discussion followed, but the debate was not on the whole a very animated one, owing, doubtless, to the weariness and exhaustion which invariably attend the last week of term. It must at least be said, however, that in knowledge of facts and figures it would not be easy to compete with the two principal speakers.
THE first meeting of the Society this term was held at the High School on February 2nd, Miss HALES (S.H.H.) in the chair. Miss HAYNES (L.M.H.) proposed the motion, " That this house would welcome a censorship of the press." In an interesting speech of a decidedly reactionary character, the Hon. Proposer deplored the prevalent ideas of liberty, which led people to discard the laws of others and be a law to themselves. The only true liberty was perfect law. Narrowing her remarks to the subject in hand, the Proposer acknowledged that the press was not legally free in England, but declared that it might practically be considered so. She then proceeded to divide literature into three classes—the literature which it is a privilege to read, the literature which, though useful to the few, is harmful to the general public, and the literature which is entirely injurious. With regard to the second division, Miss Haynes made the interesting suggestion, that the public would be safeguarded if Latin were the language employed. Apparently most of her objections were directed against the third division, though she seemed disposed to employ her censor in regulating rather the class of readers than the books. She called attention to the immense danger the mass of literature was to the public, and maintained, with refreshing fearlessness, that it was better that the uneducated classes should read nothing, than that they should read " trash." She appealed feelingly to her hearers to endorse the saying of the wise man, that much study was a weariness to the flesh, and considered that since a large section of the community must be occupied in manual labour, it was en.
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tirely unnecessary to add intellectual burdens to the load they had already to bear. Miss SPENCER (H.S.) declared the motion to be another manifeAation of the arch-foe protection, and suggested that such a reactionary policy would lead to a return of the methods of the Star Chamber. She agreed with the Hon. Proposer in deploring the present evils of the press, but maintained that her remedies did not go far enough. Literature is only a representation of life, and it is to reform the life, rather than the literature, that our aims must be directed. Social reform of every kind is the crying need of the day. The Hon. Opposer, who was throughout clear in argument and enunciation, then gave various convincing proofs of the desirability of a free press, urging in particular, that it was a safetyvalve for political feeling, and certainly cheaper than a periodical assassination of our rulers. Public discussion, which was more animated than usual, turned chiefly on what the Hon. Proposer had taken as the second of her three divisions of literature. On this Miss SANDERS (L.M.H.), Miss JOHNSTON (S.H H.), and Miss FREIRE MARRECCO (L.M.H.), all spoke. Miss Haynes, in summing up, met the attacks made upon her with great equanimity. She professed that she would far rather see the Star Chamber restored than the morals of the public contaminated, and declared that the assassination of rulers was one of the results of the cheap culture which had come in with the Renaissance. AT the second meeting on February 9th, the House had the pleasure of listening to two visitors. The motion, " That the effort to seek pleasure and avoid pain is our sole motive to action," was proposed by Mrs. VELEY (S.C.). The Hon. Proposer considered that all life was dominated by selfishness, passive or active. She maintained that the first was generally prevalent among men, and the second among women. She proposed, therefore, to deal exclusiVely with active selfishness. She then proceeded to give many amusing illustrations of selfishness in every-day life, in choice of clothes, in the discharge of social duties, and in church. Finally she dwelt on the peculiar forms of selfishness in student-life, and in the life of a married woman, who is apt to enslave her unmarried sister under the pretence that she enjoys such treatment. Miss CARTER STURGE (formerly student of Newnham College, Cambridge), opposed the motion. She acknowledged selfishness to be the prevailing motive of life, and indeed so universal as to have led to the foundation of a particular school of philosophy. She then proceeded to examine the claims of the chief leaders of this school, and showed how untenable was the position of the earlier exponents,
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who regarded man as entirely ruled by sensations, thus entirely neglecting his reasoning powers. Bentham, Mill and Butler's vain attempts to explain the action of sympathy on such a hypothesis was shewn to have led to later writers abandoning their extreme position. The Hon. Opposer then reviewed the motion briefly from different standpoints. Spencer's theory that pleasure was the result of a due performance of function she proved meant a disregard of the fact that functions most perfectly performed were performed unconsciously, and therefore caused no sensation of pleasure. Again, to consider that happiness conduces to life, and pain tends toward death, is impossible when we remember that countless people pursue pleasures which lead away from life. Further the fact that we consider some pleasures higher than others, and that the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake is always accompanied with failure, prove the falsity of the motion. Miss Carter Sturge maintained that a careful examination of our motives always left us with a residuum, which we could not explain on the pleasure and pain hypothesis. Beyond all this there remains some unexplained spiritual force. The House in public discussion showed at first a not unknown 'tendency to wander somewhat wide of the mark, and interested itself in the fate of the enslaved single sister described by the Hon. Proposer. Miss SANDERS (L.M.H.) said that the attitude taken so far was to regard man as a purely natural being. In the struggle between his higher and lower nature he was seeking the pleasure of the higher. The Hon. Proposer, in answer to this, said that the enunciators of the theory were concerned only with the natural man. If his spiritual nature were admitted, the discussion would centre rather round the word happiness than the word pleasure. Miss FRY (S.C.) protested against the monstrosity of drawing a distinction between the natural and the unnatural man. The motion was gained by a majority of two votes, but there is some reason for supposing that some members, probably in accordance with Baines' theory of fixed ideas, voted against their convictions, owing to the fact that the motion was not put in the form previously announced. An outsider might have supposed the speeches of the Hon. Visitors would have made such a mistake impossible, but the outsider would be unacquainted with the capacities of the House. AT the third meeting on March 1st the motion before the House was :—" That the House considers that Tolstoi's ideas of liberty are conducive to progress." Miss FRY (S.C.), in proposing the motion, did not disguise the diffi culty of her task. In consideration of the fact that Tolstoi was an author
more famous than familiar, she began by summarising the chief characteristics of his mind, as revealed in his works. She emphasised particularly his curiously equal interest in every aspect of human life—an interest which led him to an extraordinary hatred of all forms of violence as stupid and wasteful of life. This accounted for his antagonism to government, not merely the despotic government of his own land, but the free governments of other countries. Miss Fry did not hesitate to call him an anarchist, though one whose method was passive resistance. Further, Tolstoi's solution was a religious one. Unlike other anarchists he had realised the necessity of some forces for welding people together. He substituted a law working from within, for the law imposed from without. Having briefly referred to many reforms now accomplished, which had once been considered unpracticable, the Hon. Proposer went on to consider the influence such ideals as Tolstoi's were likely to exert. She asserted that the dangers which threatened progress had lately considerably changed shape. What we now dreaded was the tyranny of a majority which tended to produce a dead level, physical; mental, and moral. Tolstoi's ideal made for individual freedom—it was a spiritual ideal, and disowned coercion in any form. Miss FRY'S extremely fair-minded and forcible statement of Tolstoi's position made an evident impression on the House. Miss SPRULES (S.H.H.) urged in reply that Tolstoi had suggested no adequate means for attaining his ideal. She proceeded to show that if it were realised there would be a decline in literature and art, since the author and the artist would be engaged in building their own houses or making their own clothes. Tolstoi's inveterate hatred of division of labour she considered implied a belief that some kinds of work were degrading. Indeed he ignored the highest ideal of labour—the spending of self in the service of others. It was a pity, especially considering the serious character of the proposing speech, that Miss Sprules did not develope this point, but being apparently afraid of enlarging on a subject on which she felt at all strongly, she passed on to a graphic description of the probable fate of a community founded on Tolstoi's principles. She concluded by drawing attention to the inconsistency of Tolstoi's practice in devoting the profits of one of his books to the use of the soldiers now engaged in what he had stigmatised as " legalised murder." Miss FRY objected to the last remark, urging that the money obtained was merely expended in comforts for the soldiers, and not in the maintenance of the war, In summing up she pointed out that there were two ideas of a perfect community. One was based on a perfect government for perfect people. The other—Tolstoi's involved the elimination of all external law. It was •
—
THE FRITILLARY. on these conflicting ideals the House was called to vote. The motion was then carried by a large majority.
Zomerrille College. LITERARY SOCIETY.—At a meeting of this Society on February r8th, a paper on Burns was read by Miss Ross. In accordance with the alteration agreed on last term, the paper was shorter than has formerly been the case—allowing more time for general discussion afterwards. This plan seems to promise well, though, in this particular case, members felt somewhat diffident in discussing an author whom only a few could aspire to quote with impunity ; the meeting therefore, with one accord, besought Miss Ross to read some of his best-known poems, which she very kindly did, to the great delight of all. The Society is reading Maeterlinck for the next meeting. J. M. L. BOAT CLUB. —(President, F. E. Ross ; Secretary, E. S. LORIMER ; Treasurer, H. GREGORY).— Owing to the floods which have continued with such persistency, practically no boats have been going out, but with the slight improvement in weather it is to be hoped that during what remains of the term, boating may once more be possible as a form of exercise.
ARCHIEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—This large and flourishing society has continued to display the most varied activities during this term. Its first meeting took the form of a Conversazione, open to the College, at which were shown the products of vacation work, the exhibits representing every department of archmology, and varying in size from the brass-rubbing of Sir John Daubernon (who covered twelve square feet of wall) to the smallest Kodak photographs. The general plan of the term's work was to trace the evolution of offensive and defensive armour ; and this programme was initiated by a most valuable and interesting lecture from Mr. Myres, in which he carried his audience from the times of Palaeolithic man down to those of historic Greece. Unforeseen contingencies have prevented the plan from being fully carried out, but after an interlude of " Domestic Architecture " (Miss Williams), and " Styles of Architecture at Cambridge" (Miss Sidgwick), the original subject was resumed in two discourses by Miss Fleming and Miss Garstang on " Roman Defences " and "Roman Armour ;" and it is hoped that before the end of term the Society may be enabled to complete its study of the subject under the auspices of Miss Jameson and Miss Cooper.
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On Friday, February 26th, Canon Thompson showed 24 members of the Society over the Cathedral ; and his clear exposition of the historical development of the present building, his valuable hints as to what to notice, and his unwearied kindness to each individual sightseer will be remembered by all with gratitude. SHARP PRACTICE (Secretary, M. C UDWORTH).— The Meetings of this Society have been held weekly throughout the term, and have been well attended by first years. The attendance of second and third years has rather diminished, and they have been missed in the debates. We have had some lively discussions, and a good deal of amusing private business. Some of the best debates this term have been on the following subjects :" That it is better to be wiser than you look than to look wiser than you are." " That women should take a part among the military forces of this country." "That a scientific education is more useful than a literary one."
HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, R. OVERTON).—The Somerville team is one I find some difficulty in writing an account of, for it varies from week to week, so that one is continually surprised, either by its feebleness and lack of skill, or by an exceptional display of brilliant play in attack or defence. The very obvious weak point is that the forwards are wanting in originality, and seldom make a rush, which should be very effective. Up the field the play is good, but when in the striking circle confusion, wild shooting or useless passing is the rule more often than the exception. If this can be remedied, we may hope for greater success in the future. The play in some respects has improved this term. Miss Walford has increased in speed on the wing, centring well, and if she does not always pass correctly at the critical moment, fights her opponent persistently, or relies upon her speed to get past the back. Miss Mullins shoots more than she used, and has improved considerably up the field. The halves—Miss Robertson, Miss Peters, and Miss Clayton—are each individually good. Miss Peters, as sure and effective as last year, is a strong support to the forwards, and Miss Clayton has the making of a very reliable player. Our defence has been somewhat varied this term. Miss Noakes, Miss Greg, and others have substituted most creditably, and combined with Miss Moor with some success, while the latter has rarely failed to defend the goal, and feed the rest of the field even in times of difficulty and danger. The Club has recently introduced " colours " to be giVen according to merit in the 1st XI. This takes the form of a hockey-stick brooch with S.C.
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and a ball upon it. Six members have already won theirs. Matches :—
First Eleven. Etceteras, won 5-4. Games Clu b, draw 3-3. St. Hugh's Hall, draw 3-3. Lady Margaret Hall (not yet played). Second Eleven. v. St. Hilda's Hall, won 4—I. v. Oxford Graduates, lost 6-4. (not yet played). v. Etceteras 7'. Games Club /7 v. Lady Margaret Hall 9) Third Eleven. Lady Margaret Hall, won 5—o. v.
v. v. v. v.
Lab Margaret ball. L. 0. PARKER).—We have so far had a very successful term as regards the Hockey, though practises have suffered much from the weather. A change has been made in the colours of the 1st XI. For the future the uniform of the team is to be, striped tie of navy, sky blue, and green, and a badge of sky blue and green, bearing a monogram of the letters L.M.H. in navy blue. There is also a hat ribbon, designed in the same three colours, to be worn by members of the 1st XI. only. A London tour has been arranged for the week after term, beginning March 21st, and a fairly strong XI. is going up to town to represent Lady Margaret Hall against several of the leading clubs. The following are the result of the Matches :HOCKEY CLUB ( Captain,
First Eleven. Sat., 2oth Feb. v. Dons and Graduates, won 9—o. Tues., 23rd Feb. v. Leicester, won 3—o. Wed., 24th Feb. v. Oxford High School, won
Third Eleven. Wed., 3rd Feb. v. Somerville III., lost 6-1. Thurs., r8th. Feb. v. Etceteras III., won 7-2. London Fixtures. March 2rst. v. St. Quintin's. „ 22nd. v. Rathgowry, Eastbourne. „ 23rd. v. Columbines. 24th. v. Chiswick.
,,
L.M.H. SETTLEMENT, 129 Kennington Road, S.E. (Representatives, C. JAMISON, R. GREENE).— At the end of last term Miss Wordsworth's play The Druid's Stone,' after two performances in Oxford, was acted three times to a London audience. The cast was practically the same as at L.M.H., except that, to the extreme regret of every one, Miss Hodson, who had coached the actors most indefatigably and who had won much applause as the Countess, was unable to be with us. Her place in the play was most ably supplied by Miss Kelly. Our first audience, which was composed of Miss Octavia Hill's tenants, was evidently of the class which thinks laughing vulgar, but we are told that their appreciation was real if undemonstrative. The second night was the gayest of the three. The room was crowded with family parties, who at times indulged in giddy hilarity. A number of boys, who posted themselves at points of vantage, shewed a laudable attention to the words of the play and much encouraged the actors by their pertinent remarks a very successful evening was brought to a pleasant close by the kindness of the Vicar (Rev. Canon Bromfield), who after the performance entertained the weary actors with refreshments. The concluding night was, if less lively, equally successful. Everyone's efforts seem to have been appreciated: the beauty and grace of the elves gave great pleasure, while the grotesque miners were for different reasons equally popular every actor was warmly applauded, and it would be invidious to particularize further except to say that perhaps the most popular character of all was the black baby '
;
;
!
2-1.
Sat., 27th Feb. v. Old Students, draw 5-5. Wed., 2nd March. v. Worcester, won 3-2. Somerville has yet to be played. Second Eleven. Fri., 8th Feb. v. St. Mary's Coll., Paddington, W011 4-3. Fri., 12th Feb. v. Etceteras II., won 4-2. Tues., r6th Feb. v. St. Hugh's Hall, won 5-2. Fri., 26th Feb. v. Home Students, lost 4-5. Tues., ist March. v. St. Hilda's Hall, won 6-1. Somerville II. has yet to be played.
SOCIABLE (Secretary, B. A. BARSTOW) —The " Sociables " this term have been well attended ; it is, perhaps, to he regretted that there are not more original productions. The few we have are so much appreciated, that we wonder more of our number are not inspired by example. On February 13th there was a fancy-dress dance, at which the display of originality was certainly most encouraging. The prizes, adjudged by Miss Wordsworth, Miss Rogers and Miss A rgles, were awarded to E. Sturrock as a Fire-pump, and to R. Harrison as a Red Indian.
THE FRITILLARY. READING SOCIETY
(Secretary, H.
LEJUENE).
— This term the Reading -Society has turned its attention to certain r9th-century novel, by way of change from the plays of Shakespere, Goldsmith and Sheridan. The choice and rendering of the extracts seem to have given general pleasure.
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masculine characters, it was a distinct success. Grateful thanks are due to Miss Burrows for her valuable help. both with costumes and at the rehearsals. and to the untiring energy of the President. The music between the scenes was very kindly supplied by Miss Richardson Evans and Miss Jones. CURRENT EVENTS CLUB (President, Miss RICHARDSON EVANS ; Secretary, MISS HEDLEY).—
%t. HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, G. SOWELS ; ViceCaptain, E. STIFF; Secretary, G. JoNEs).—The Hockey this term has shown marked improvement, in spite of many drawbacks, especially the difficulty of securing a regular team. Owing to the frequent absence of the Captain, the forward line has been somewhat unsettled : the passing has certainly improved, but some of the forwards show a tendency to lag behind, which impairs their efficiency ; they should also be quicker on the ball. Good work has been done by M. Yates on the right wing, and E. Dodwell and G. Leeson as backs. The Team has practised at Summertown with St. Hugh's, weekly. The results of the matches already played are as follows :-
v. St. Mary's College, Paddington, won 6-1. v. The Training Students, won 6-3. v. Somerville znd XI., lost 1-4. v. Lady Margaret Hall 2nd XI , lost 1-5. Matches against St. Hugh's Hall and the Etcetera's znd XI. are still to be played. DEBATING SOCIETY (President, Miss RICHARDSON EVANS ; Vice-President, Miss E. G. MOORE; Secretary, Miss 0. M. SLEIGH).—Two Debates
have taken place this term. The House has decided that the abolition of capital punishment is not desirable, and that vivisection is not a pernicious practice. A third Debate is impending, on the desirability of sacrificing the individual to the state. The attendence at the Debates has been regular, and much wit has been exhibited in private business. SOCIALS (President, MISS WILLIAMS). — The Social was held on Saturday, February 13th. The entertainment took the form of acting. The " Rivals " was the somewhat ambitious choice of the performers, but considering the difficulties attendant upon the representation, by wholly feminine players, of a play which contains so many
The Club continues to hold weekly meetings and the attendance of members has been fairly regular. The chief burden has of late fallen upon the member for the Far East (Miss Richard), who has kept us well informed as to the course of events. The Club is glad to welcome Mrs. Burrows among its number, as an honorary member. THE FIRE BRIGADE
(Captain, MISS 'WILLIAMS).
—At the beginning of the term we did not have many Fire Brigade practices, but during the last two weeks we have made up for lost time. Members are enthusiastic, smart, and businesslike. A general practice was held on Friday evening this week under the direction of Superintendent Symonds and Fireman Bateman, who further instructed us in the science of knot-making, and the art of raising and carrying the human, and Oft solid, body. Superintendent Symonds said that the brigade had made excellent progress, and, he thinks, is now really efficient. He expressed a wish to see us descending and ascending on ropes, and we hope to be able to do both before the end of the week. THE FRESHERS' GLEE SOCIETY (President, Miss WILLIAMS).—The Freshers' Glee Society is now
in its fifth term of existence, though no previous notice of it has appeared ; it still thrives, and still retains its old name. This term we have sung chiefly Old English and national songs, and last Saturday inspired —if not others—at least ourselves, by the strains of the Marseillaise. New Students in October Term. OMITTED from the last number :K. Barlow, Manchester High School. E. Dodwell, Cheltenham Ladies' College. K, Richard, Beresford House School, Ealing. J. Richmond, Cheltenham Ladies' College. M. Yates, 17
CONGRATULATIONS to M.
the Margaret Evans' Prize.
Chambers
on
gaining
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498 St. 'Mob's ball.
HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, H. C. HUNTER ; ViceTEW ; Secretary, P. BOWEN-COLTHURST).—Relying on our laurels of last term, we
Captain, M. J.
have ventured for the first time to challenge the first Elevens of Somerville and the Etceteras. The result of the matches has been very encouraging. Practices have been fairly regularly attended in spite of many adverse circumstances, the newer members of the Club especially showing great improvement, so that we may hope for a good Eleven next year. We have at last made a much desired change in our colours, which are now the two Lincoln greens—the true Hall colours—instead of the old green and red. The Eleven consists of :Goal: D. Ludwig. Backs : D. Shuttleworth, P. Bowen-Colthurst. Halves: W. Goddard, C. Hunter, D. Dodwell. Forwards : I. Dawson, M. Fox, M. Tew, E. Snowdon, W. West. Twelfth Man : R. Gordon. The results of our matches are :-Winchester High School, lost 1-3. Lady Margaret Hall and, lost 2-5. Somerville 1st, drawn 3-3. St. Hilda's Hall, won 5-2. Etceteras 1st., not yet played. SOCIABLES (Secretaries, D. DODWELL and M. Fox.)—The three Sociables already held this term have been very successful. The third, a musical, was much appreciated, the chief success of the evening being a vocal quartette, " Old King Cole." We hope to have a fancy-dress sociable on the last Saturday of term.
BOAT CLUB (Captain, I. D. Lunwio). — The weather has been sadly unfavourable to river exercise this term. This is particularly to be regretted, as several members of the Boat Club would have stood a very good chance of being qualified had we been able to take the boats out regularly.
SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY (President, J. D. LUDWIG).—It was suggested by some members of the
Society that we should read one of Ibsen's plays by way of a change this term. It was however decided by the votes of the Hall that the consent of two-thirds of the Society should be obtained before making such a change. The motion was put to the vote, and was lost. Considerable dramatic talent has been shewn by several " Freshers " as well as by older members of the Society in rendering " Much ado about nothing." BROWNING SOCIETY (President, J. A. JOHNSTON).—A facetious proposal that this Society
should give its temporary attention to the study of Shelley was defeated by two votes only. It was therefore decided to read " Pauline," as well as " Christmas Eve and Easter Day," and " A Soul's Tragedy." Unlike many Browning Societies, this one does not make the big mistake of always taking Browning seriously. SHARP PRACTICE (President, J. A. JOHNSTON). —Discussions have been exceedingly brisk. The House debated with some anxiety as to whether " A worried look is a certain indication of a small mind," and on another occasion came to the comforting conclusion that " Insanity is not a form of selfishness." It was largely owing to some new speakers' convincing arguments from personal experience that the House carried the motion that " The sentimental mood is only becoming to those who possess a strong feeling for style." The Society soon after the half-term protested that its intelligence was unable.to grapple with the motions put up for discussion, but on the intellectual standard being lowered for their benefit they refused to discuss the simple statement " Birds are nice," though the science people at least ought to have known something about the subject. The House having throughout the term manifested an opinion that the purpose of the Society was the general education and moral discipline of the President, the latter was asked to give her definition of its raison d'être. Her submissive endorsement of their opinion sufficiently proves their methods to have been successful.
tome ZtuOents. New Students.
M. P. Potter, Leeds High School. L. F. Todd, Ladies' College, Tiverton.
COMMON ROOM (Secretary, C. V. BUTLER).— The history of the Common Room has been as uneventful as that of the term itself. It now
THE FRITILLARY. includes all but some half-dozen Home Students ; it has held three socials ; it has been joined by a few members of Norham Hall, who, by the way, entertained some of us at a very enjoyable party— this sums up its momentous existence. LIBRARY (Librarian, C.BALLARD).—The Library increases in popularity, and the members are to be congratulated for the punctuality (sometimes this is even anticipatory) with which they return their novels and come for more. The lighter the novel the more popular it seems.
BROWNING SOCIETY (Secretary, Miss K. BROWN). —This Society continues to hold its meetings once a week at the houses of the different members. The poems studied have been chiefly the shorter pieces ; the members have, however, displayed much interest in them, and the subjects have at times been productive of good discussion. We are pleased to be able to say that two new members have joined this term. The poems read are as follows :—Rabbi ben Ezra, A Death in the Desert, Andrea del Sarto, and Paracelsus.
SHARP PRACTICE (Secretary, N. McMuNN).— The Sharp Practice Society has been carried on with a good deal of vigour, but we should like to see rather more regular attendances at the meetings. The question whether all the liberal professions should be open to women naturally excited the most interest among Home Students, and evoked very strong feeling on the liberal side.
HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, R. F. BUTLER). — With much difficulty the eleven has at last got into shape, and is showing much improvement in combination. To this is probably due our first victory, v. L.M.H. 2nd XI., on February 25. The transference of Miss V. Butler from half to forward has made up a fairly strong forward line, where Miss Plunkett's individual play is as conspicuous as that of Miss Poulton at half back. In goal Miss Shaw-Phillips maintains a good defence, aided' by a combination of" steadiness and agility" in the two backs (to quote the sporting papers). Matches against the Dons and O.H.S. 2nd XI. have still to be played. Miss Plunkett has played for the United v. Leicestershire, The Eleven is composed as follows :Goal: Miss Shaw-Phillips. Backs: Misses Tyndale, Vidal. _Halves : Misses Merivale, Poulton, Bowditch. Forwards: Misses V. Butler, R. Butler, Plunket, Perks, Moseley.
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TENNIS CLUB (Secretary, L. LowE).—Seven or eight members of this Club have played as regularly during the term as the weather would allow. This is encouraging, and it is hoped that next term, with increased opportunities for practice, there may be a decided improvement in the quality of the play.
BOAT CLUB (Secretary, J. WILLIAMS). — The boat has at present been left in undisturbed tranquility at home owing to the impossibility of the Club's approaching the boat-house, and the flooded condition of the river's banks. Members are eagerly looking forward to more favourable weather.
New Students. Alice M. Waugh, B.A. Barnard College, and M.A. Columbia University. Clara K. Weber (from Somerville College), Berlin. Karen Moller, Copenhagen. Dorothy P. McCreary, St. Catherine's School, Bramley. Mary Hanson, Student Member, late of Girton College, has returned, and is working for the London University Natural Science Examination. GONGRATULATIONS to Rose Sidgwick OH her Oxford Teachers' Training Diploma,
AN old Home Student has generously sent £5 0 to the Council of the Association for the Education of Women, in token of gratitude for the advantages of an Oxford University education, and wishes the money to be devoted to a Scholarship for an Oxford Home Student in need of such assistance towards the expense of her Oxford career. The Scholarship will be competed for in March, 1905.
1Reriews. Translations of the Odes of Horace. Collected and arranged by M. JOURDAIN (late Scholar of Lady Margaret Hall). (J. M. Dent and Co., 1903.) MISS JOURDAIN gives us an interesting collection of translations, ranging in date from the sixteenth century to the present time. The more
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THE FRITILLARY.
modern pieces include some dozen and a-half contributed by the Editor herself, most of which are new translations, while a few are adapted from old English poets. The Editor is to be especially congratulated upon the older versions she has collected. Several gems of faithful translation and real poetry have been brought to light, which before have not been easily accessible to ordinary readers. Especially charming is Sir Thomas Beaumont's (1582-1627) rendering of the twenty-ninth ode of the third book. In the lines :" With mindfull temper present houres compose, The rest are like a river, which with ease, Sometimes within his channell flowes Into Etrurian seas Oft stones, trees, flocks and houses it devoures, With echoes from the hills, and neighb'ring woods, Where some fierce deluge, rais'd by showers, Turns quiet brookes to floods,"
we seem to come as near to a satisfactory repro-
duction of Horace as English is capable of. On the whole, the older translations are more pleasing than the modern, chiefly because the
modern translators seem to have lost the power of using lyric metres, or else have deliberately abandoned them. And we find it difficult to see what is gained by the attempt the Editor has made in several cases to re-write versions such as Milton's of I. 5, or Ben Jonson's of IV. 1. Many of her original versions, as well as these adaptations, are in Iambic couplets, some even in Sonnet form, and both these forms appear to us unsuitable to the lyrics of Horace. On the rare occasions when, as in I. 24 and III. 26, she attempts lyric metres the result is rather happier. She is at her best in the more mournful odes, and is most successful in her handling of the beautiful ode to Valagius (II. 9). Her rhythm is not unfrequently at fault, as, for instance, in the lines :" Best part of me Shall ever live young, destined to renew And to be praised of ages yet to be, . Loud Aufidus' son shall Fame describe." .
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But when all has been said, there is much in the book to please both lovers of Horace, and those interested in English literature, and we thoroughly welcome its appearance. The book is daintily got up and printed, being one of the " Temple " Series. A. M. C.
The Bonnet Conspirators. By V. A. SIMPSON, S.H.H. THE conspiracy, like Lady Hepzibah's bonnet, is all of lace and quite, quite original,' but it makes an extremely good and readable story and
is very ingeniously worked out. It concerns Napoleon the Great, is laid in 1815, during the few days that immediately follow the battle of Waterloo, and hinges entirely on a piece of cipher lace that was smuggled into a little Sussex village, and appeared on the bonnet of Lady Hepzibah, the most honourable and respected of Locleswell ladies, thus causing much bewilderment to the diplomatists who were trying to solve the situation. It is a case of diplomacy complicated by human relations, and gives scope for good impressionist characterization. The spirited twins, the stately Lady Hepzibah, the noble and self-contained Devignes, and the spluttering little Commandant are well drawn and cleverly contrasted to one another. A picturesque background arises naturally from the time and place chosen, whilst the troublous era and complex situation bring well conceived and varied scenes. Thus the opening scene of the trimming of the bonnet is a charming little vignette that stands by itself; the arrest of Jacques and the bonnet is striking, because pictorial and subtly humorous ; whilst there are several scenes of a good dramatic and sensational type, such as the sudden entry of Devignes upon Marie, who is defending the trap-door to ensure the escape of her brother's confederates. The threads of the story connect all these well, and the book, not pretending to be deep or to suggest problems, is throughout thoroughly bright and well balanced, and will keep its reader spellbound. L. C. D. Lives of the Troubadours. L.M.H.
By Ida FARNELL,
Miss FARNELL'S " Lives of the Troubadours " contains a scholarly translation of the " Lives," followed by versions of poems, or parts of poems, writtten by the Troubadours. Her translation of Provencal verse is felicitous and skilful, and shews a grasp of the metre and involved rhyme-systems of the orginals. Miss Farnell has prefaced her work by an introduction dealing with the short and glorious history of Provencal literature, and its influence on the Italian poets. She has also added a brief account of each troubadour, and a discussion of his merits and fame. One is tempted to wish that these additional and more critical " Lives" had been either put in the form of notes, or had formed part of the Introduction, as where they stand, they contrast sharply with the style of the translations, and detach the several parts of the original book. They contain, however, much that is graceful and suggestive. E. F. J.
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Printed by JAMES PARKER & Co., Crown Yard, Oxford.