The Fritillary, March 1906

No. 37.

March, 1906.

PRIZE STORY COMPETITION, 601 • . .

CHUBBY IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN . 602 PRIZE POEM COMPETITION. 605 .

RONDEAU BALLADE OF SHAKE. 605 .

SPEARE'S FOOLS BALLADE OF VERSE FORMS 605 A PLEA FOR THE LEISURELY . 606 LIFE • 607 THE THREE COURTS WAIT PATIENTLY, YE DOUBT• 609 • FUL "HE WHO MEETS AND SHUNS 609 THE FRAY," &C. .

611 THE POET'S VOCATION 61i .

A FRIEND OXFORD STUDENTS' DEBAT. ING SOCIETY 612 OXFORD UNITED HOCKEY TEAM 619 LADY MARGARET HALL • 620 SOMERVILLE COLLEGE . 621 623 ST. HUGH'S HALL .

• 624.

ST, HILDA'S HALL • 625 HOME STUDENTS .

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS BY JAMES PARKER & CO., CROWN YARD.

Editor Miss M. M. C. POLLARD, Oxford Home Student.

treasurer : Miss M. BAKER, St. Hugh's Hall.

Committee Miss E. PAYNE, Lady Margaret Hall.

HICKS, Somerville College.

Miss

Miss LARDELIJ, St. Hugh's Hall.

LEESON, St. Hilda's Hall, Miss PLUNKET, Oxford Hand- Student.

Miss

MARCH.

No. 37.

11 rt3e %tort,Competition.

1906.

him, and he felt terribly remorseful, and by-andby this little dialogue would be heard.

Very softly, " Nurse No reply. More piteously, " Nursey " " Well, Master Oswald ? " " When may Chubby come out ?" " Is Chubby a good boy now ? " A short pause, then confidently" Yes, Chubby's wery good now." " Is Chubby sorry he was such a naughty bad boy ?"

A sniff. " Yes, Chubby's twuly sowwy " " Then Chubby, dear, you may come out of the corner." A triumphant caper of two little legs, and there was peace and sunshine again in the nursery. Chubby was good again.

Chubby lived in a very big house; and besides him there lived there Chubby's father and mother.

That is what they were called in the neighbourhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Vavasour were once walking down the High Street, when they met a demure small pair of maidens, just released from the High School Kindergarten class, which Chubby also attended. " Well," said Mr. Vavasour with a smile, " who are you, little girls ? Ella Brown and Molly Brown—eh ? Well, you don't know who we are—do you now ? " The larger of the two small maidens regarded him gravely. " Oh yes, .we know you quite well," she said. " Of course, you're Chubby's father and Chubby's mother 1" But I must come back to Chubby, and tell you what happened to him once when he was very young—only six years old. It was really very sad. It was in the library of Holmdene, and Chubby was crying softly to himself. On the !

THE best Story sent in for the Competition, The Three Courts, having nearer 1,5oo than i,000 words, was held to be disqualified, and the prize has therefore been awarded to Miss D. K. G. Watkins (L.M.H.), for her charming little tale of Chubby. Miss Howard (O.H.S.) is congratulated on her story, It might have been.

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Cbubbr.

His real name was Oswald Cholmondley Vavasour, but that is such a long name, and its possessor was such a very small person. And the small person had particularly fat red cheeks, and a particularly round red mouth, and so he was always called Chubby,—nearly always, that is to say. There had been sometimes awful days, when everything seemed to go wrong, and the sun hid itself, and the rain came pouring in gusts against the nursery window-panes, and inside the nursery there was a sad little storm. And then it was that Nurse used to say in her sternest tones, "Go into that corner at once, and don't come out till teatime. You're past all aggravation, Master Oswald Cholmondley Vavasour ! " And then the small person's heart would grow very very cold, and .he would march proudly into the corner, and stand there with his face to the wall, very upright, and his small hands clenched behind him, for a very long time,—it must have been for five minutes, I should think. But then the enormity of his crime would always begin to grow upon

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floor was an untidy little heap of torn bits of paper, and opposite to them was Chubby's own special pet terrier Punch. This was what had happened. Chubby had come running into the library to find his father, and had found instead —Punch chewing up a sheet of manuscript on the hearthrug, and Chubby knew his father had been working at it all the morning, and . . . . It wasn't like a man to cry. But Chubby really couldn't help it. " 0 Punch darling," he sobbed, " Father'll be so angry; and 0 Punch, he'll get his big stick out of the hall, and he'll beat you, and I—I can't bear it ! " Punch cocked one ear, and then there was silence in the room except for the loud ticking of the big grandfather's clock.

A loud step was heard outside. The door opened, and in came Chubby's father. As he came in Punch crawled out by his legs. " Hullo ! " said Mr. Vavasour gaily. " So you've come to ask father about that . . . ." and then he suddenly stopped short. " Oswald," he said very gravely, " what is the meaning of this ? " and he pointed to the guilty little heap on the hearthrug. " I—I don't quite know," stammered Chubby. " Don't prevaricate, Sir," said his father, " and don't howl like a baby. How long have you been in here ?" " It—it sturuck two when I corned in," sobbed Chubby. " And has anyone else been in here except you ?" Chubby raised his blue eyes to his father's face. " No," he whispered. Anyone,—that must be a person, and Punch was only a dog. " Then, Oswald, am I to understand that it was you who mischievously destroyed my whole morning's work ?" No answer. " Oswald, I am determined. to have an answer." Still not a word. " Very well—and let me tell you that I am thoroughly ashamed of you—do you understand me ? I didn't think that a son of mine would have had so little sense of honour and uprightness. Fetch me that stick." And it was a bad two minutes that followed for Chubby.

But I didn't cry, Punch dear," he explained afterwards. " No, I thought of you, and I was glad it wasn't you, Punch darling!"

When Chubby had left the library in sore disgrace, his father took up the bits of paper

to throw them into the fire. Then one of them attracted his notice. Five minutes later Mrs. Vavasour went into the library and found him sitting in front of the fire with a very thoughtful expression. " Are you busy, dear ?" she asked. " No," he replied, " come and sit down, Mary.

Just look here !" and he told her all about Chubby. " Obviously this has been done by a dog," he went on ; " look at the jagged edge and the mark of its teeth. I'm'positive Chubby was trying to screen Punch. And and, Mary, I flogged him—and pretty hard too—and I told him he was telling a lie—and he never said one word ! Mary, shall I send for him and make it up ?" Mrs. Vavasour gazed into the fire. " No, dear. I think that would spoil it," she said at last. " I should just leave it alone. But I'm glad, very glad. Our Chubby is a brave little boy." " He will be a brave man some day," said Mr. Vavasour.

Would you know, gentle reader, if this prophecy came true? I will tell you. Far away on the African veldt there stands a rough wooden cross, and on it are cut the simple words : In Memory of Oswald Cholmondley Vavasour, Aetat. 212 Who was shot in the attempt to save a fellowsoldier.

Faithful unto Death.

And in England Chubby's father and mother are desolate.

St Abiobt bare liken. " No," said Elinor, meditatively, " it was not exactly love, but it might have been, if—" " If?" asked Isabel, eagerly. " If only—he hadn't worn red ties, and plaid socks."

THE FRITILLARY. " I hate your ways !" exclaimed Isabel, bitterly disappointed. "How can you be so flippant, Elinor ? " " It is difficult to make romance and epigram combine harmoniously."

"I hope his feelings were not hurt ? He isn't heroic, and it might make him rather revengeful." " What do I care ?" exclaimed Elinor, irritably. " Nothing at all, of course," agreed Isabel : " but you are hard-hearted--the tie doesn't make the man, and I fail to see the lack of principle involved even in plaid—" " Read Sartor," interrupted Elinor. " Robert Morgan is a Philistine !". " Really ? I always thought his love of colour and gorgeous apparel was a sign of the artistic temperament. I'm sure I've heard that he writes on art for one or two of the papers." " Nonsense," declared Elinor, positively. " You see the light behind that row of elms ?"

They were " stepping westward," over a rough field-path on the side of a hill, and before them a line of trees loomed black in the twilight, with a red-gold glare of sunset beyond. " It was just such an evening as this, and he walked back with me, after tennis at Mrs. Thorne's.

I said something about rivers of gold twixt crimson banks '—and he looked up casually, and remarked that it would make a jolly frieze for a wall-paper?' " " It would never have done—you are much too much alike," sighed Isabel. " I should think not !"

"And yet you would have been dreadfully happy together—even when you were fighting !"

I've said no, and that's the end, my friend." " Why are you so angry about it, Elinor ?" " Because"—she flushed, and walked on quickly, with her hands in the pockets of her old tweed coat—" he was smoking a cigarette all the time !" " How awful for you !" " Goliath !" said Elinor, vindictively, " I never felt so enraged ! " " Were you very scathing ?" " I believe iI was." She paused, and then continued hurriedly; " Can't think why he ever asked me—certainly he hated me when we parted."

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" He is very intense, really. I am sure that flippancy is superficial—mere affectation." " No, he is a Philistine, Isabel. His apparent intellectuality disguises him a little, but those ties betray him. What would he have thought of my object in life? " Elinor took out her latchkey, and Opened the door of her little Elizabethan cottage. Isabel followed her into a long, low room, and looked around, pondering deeply.

There were paintings everywhere—quaint illustrations of medieval legends, pictures suggesting fairy tales which have never yet been told, and weird sketches that seemed like reminiscences of beautiful or horrible dreams. It was a revelation of a child-soul, united with a fantastic imagination which only escaped morbidity by its joy in the merely grotesque.

Elinor lit the lamp, and a gentle smile crept over her keen, pale face. She glanced at a commonplace cabinet photograph of an elderly gentleman with bushy whiskers. " He was too modest to take his chance—if it ever came to him." " I thought that genius, like murder, would out," said Isabel, wondering why the gargoyleheaded monster twined around a natural arch glared so malevolently at a white-robed woman in a swan-drawn shallop. " Genius will out, next week," replied Elinor, "when the exhibition begins, and my book appears. The other Pre-Raphaelites have paved the way, and prepared the mind of the British public for the greatest poet-artist of them all !" She laughed at her own earnestness. " You know my grandfather was everything to me for years. Now he has left me his home and lifework, and the only thing I can do is to make the world recognise what it missed in ignoring him."

"He should have been a mediaeval monk," said Isabel. " How could he imagine such glorious dragons in the nineteenth century ?" " Ah, but his colouring — and the mystical spirit—isn't that Merlin wonderful ? " So you never told Robert Morgan about him?" " No, certainly not !"

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Isabel watched her friend setting out tea-cups. " Is it worth while, Elinor? This work and worry is wearing you to a shadow." " Worth what ?" " You are sacrificing yourself. Instead of writing a poem—a novel—anything, to express your own individuality, you are only giving the world a sympathetic interpretation of another personality." " He was a genius—I am not." " He was not acknowledged as such, living.

If he is now, it will be for the sake of your book, not the exhibition," persisted Isabel. " I love his work, because you have made me see it with your eyes, and you love the spirit and the ideas of the man who conceived the pictures.

But did he realise his imaginations—except in your mind ? I'm afraid "—she rose, and tried to examine the paintings critically "Yes, the glamour comes from you, Elinor, and everything depends on your book. But that can't fail—it is brilliant." " It has cost me a great deal—time, money, health, and strength. Not that I grudge it, for him." " I wonder," mused Isabel, " whether you would have been kinder to the Philistine, if you had not felt tired and worried ? " " Don't " " You have such a partiality for queer people— and he might have grown quite nice under your influence." " Nonsense 1" replied Elinor, making tea. " Oh, I hope the critics will be kind !" :

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"Absolutely. How could it contradict the leading art journals' judgments ?" " Elinor, I have just met the Philistine, and we were talking about this." " Most unnecessarily 1" " He wrote that review in the Athenian ' 1" " Impossible !" " He wants to explain—" The garden-gate slammed, and a minute later the Philistine himself stood diffidently at the open door, beginning incoherent apologies. " I had no idea that it was your book, or that you had any interest in the pictures, I " It was not revenge, of course ?" asked Isabel, sarcastically. " No, indeed ! " He answered Isabel, but spoke to Elinor : " Just then a personal matter made me feel antagonistic towards women's books—especially in that brilliant epigrammatic style—and I had no sympathy with Pre-Raphaelitism, because you liked it."

"Then it was spite—not revenge ?" remarked Elinor. " Yes—perhaps so."

He quailed before her look of disgust. " You meant some other woman to suffer vicariously for my sins ? I abominate meanness " " I am very sorry—when the second edition—" " Oh, go away before I hate you !" cried Elinor, You have spoilt everything for passionately. me " She turned, and rushed upstairs to her own room. Isabel dismissed the Philistine summarily, and followed her.

"This is the result of flippant smartness," sighed Isabel " if only--" " If only it had been revenge !" said Elinor, " I could have forgiven him, then 1But the worst is that I am disillusioned—I agree with his review myself !" M. F. H. !

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Some weeks later, Elinor was sitting alone, weary and sad, with a pile of newspapers and art journals, when Isabel entered. " More horrid reviews," said Elinor, smiling wanly. " It is a game of Follow my Leader The Athenian' critic began it, with opiumdreams,"delirious fancies of a nervous child,' and nursery- rhyme wall-paper designs.' The other papers echo its denunciations, so I have failed utterly."

"And the British public is still blind ?" !

1,ri3e poem Competition.

THE prize has been awarded to Miss Ramsay (S.C.) for her Rona'eau of Red Roses. Miss James

THE FRITILLARY. (St. Hilda's Hall) is commended for her Ballade of Shakespeare's Fools, and Miss Pollard (O.H.S.) for her Ballade of Verse Forms.

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Autolycus, thou pedlar dear, A rogue of rogues, who steals—In May, A dog-rose stuck behind his ear.

Motley's the only wear, I say !

'Illottbeatt.

Though thou be not poetical, Trip Audrey. Touchstone lords it near, Pronouncing saws rhetorical.

Come, smile your smile—or drop your tear, This is the Fool that loved King Lear Of late, he has much pined away . . . .

Good merry gentles, give you cheer— Motley's the only wear, I say ;

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15(58a, ifio866o-cav execs xaptv . .

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roses blow beside your garden door, Rose-petals strew your arbour's mossy floor, Their scent is heavy on the idle wind That scarcely stirs your tresses rose-entwined ;— But where's the rose-wreath yesterday you wore ?

Can aught from summer's golden chalice pour Anew the fragrance that was spilled before, Or make, beyond the space the gods assigned, Red roses blow ?

RED

Too soon, too soon June's rose-clad grace is o'er ; What one day takes no morrow shall restore.

Red rose amid the roses ! ah, be kind, While yet the hurrying days leave love behind, While yet for one short moon and then no more Red roses blow.

Vattabe of Sbaltespeare's foots.

(Ballade a double refrain.)

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ENVOY, Lady, the world's a toy—though drear . . .

Come, smile your smile—or drop your tear.

Where gay is grave, and grave is gay— Motley's the only wear, I say !

Eattabe of Were forms.

I STRIVE with forms of verse severe, Loved by the French long years ago, And now they charm the modern ear, For fashions ebb and fashions flow, And with the tide I fain would row ; But launch the boat I scarcely may, Since in my brain develop slow Ballade, rondel and virelai.

WILT come to Folly's festival ?

Baubles and bells are plenty here.

Glad, sad and mad and whimsical— Come, smile your smile—or drop your tear.

Now Lance and Crab, his dog, appear ; What, Master Slender ! Sir, Good-day.

So sweet Anne Page is coy, I fear.

Motley's the only wear, I say !

Now anxiously my course I steer, And timid glances round me throw, For shipwreck may be very near, The rime scheme gets entangled so, And words like billows high and low Rage fiercely by me all the day ; Yet will I publish, this I know, Ballade, rondel or virelai.

Feste carols his madrigal " Oh Mistress mine ... then stay and hear."

A plaintive note and musical ; Come, smile your smile—or drop your tear.

But still the prospect looms more drear, As louder yet the storm-winds blow ; Strong currents drive me from the pier, My strength and rimes exhausted grow.

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How can the poet's mind, aglow, With forms so hard triumphant play ?

I hate you, like a mortal foe, Ballade, rondel and virelai.

One last and bitter mental throe, And I have landed in the bay ; Henceforth I swear I will write na Ballade, rondel, nor virelai.

Zt Vial for the ZeisureIv %He. " We should be able not only to work well, but to use leisure well . . . . the first principle of all action is leisure."

I KNOW that what I want to say will not meet with general approval, and that I shall be instantly condemned as not possessing the "right spirit :" I know, too, that I only represent a small, though a very earnest and sincere minority, but we think that our cause is really important. What we feel is this :—there are some of us who came to Oxford for " work " and " work alone, and because their future depends upon their " class " they must give all their time to work ; but there are others of us—and I think these form the larger part—who came here for the "life," and it is about this "life" and these people that I wish to speak. In the first place it may mean for us just as much or as little as we please : it may mean work, or games, or friends, or all three, and as much more as we care to blend with them. But above all, if our days here are to be a true success, that success must be writ large in ourselves when we leave Oxford : the whole movement in favour of the " higher education of women is still on trial, and if we want it to succeed (as we all do), we must remember that the fate and future of the experiment depend upon what the world thinks of us now. We have been given liberty such as no other generation of women ever possessed, and now we are being given our "chance :" let us make the most of it, and not lightly fling away a prize whose worth we cannot yet even faintly measure. "

"

We all know that at present we are experiments, and only partially successful experiments certain though we may be of our own good qualities, we must not be content with self-satisfaction alone.

The point I wish to make is this by " moderation " only can we really succeed the home has no use for the girl who wishes to work ten hours a day and never rests till she has played hockey four times in the week—for the girl who must always be "doing something" (often, small matter what), snatches her meals, is always in a perpetual whirl, and usually untidy.

It is, of course, perfectly true that our life up here need not be typical of the rest of our days— but it must be all-powerful in moulding our futures.

We all know the feverish girl who works like a galley slave till lunch, changes into her hockey clothes, plays a desperate set at tennis, dashes off—late—to the hockey field ; then " grinds " again till dinner, and after dinner till " bed."

If you remonstrate with her she proudly says, " I shall only be here three years, and I do so want to make the most of my time."

In speaking of our general ways of life, I heard someone say the other day, " Ye Powers ! How we hurry !" and so we do. The result is that by the sixth week of term we are most of us cross and some of us ill. " Why is it," may I ask, that two or three girls to my certain knowledge broke down before Mods. last year ?" " Why is it that during the June Schools the examinees rolled over like nine-pins ?" May I further ask, " What is the use of our attempting to educate women unless we can first tame them and teach them to be reasonable ?"

It is not that I wish to do away with anything— the fault is not in books, or boats, or hockey sticks, but in ourselves. Why cannot we learn to take things sensibly? Why must we fill up every crevice and cranny in the day? Why can we never be content to be—(I will say it)— lazy ? Why get up in fifteen minutes and go to bed in twenty ? Why, above all, forget that we have come from civilized homes and shall return to civilized homes, where more will be thought of our " character " than of our " class " ? Of :

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THE FRITILLARY. what avail is a " 1st " if it brings with it restlessness and discontent ?

I should like to make an appeal to every girlstudent in Oxford to remember one thing, and, bearing it always in her mind, to do all in her individual power to make a stand against the existing mode of life which spells certain destruction for the future. The thing I should wish her to remember is this: the girls and women of to-day have come in for a goodly heritage— they have a share of liberty never before granted to women—they have the chance of a fuller, larger life ; but if they desert their highest functions they will lose this new gift which has been entrusted to them, and I claim that amongst these functions not the least is a spirit of rest and tranquillity.

The architect who designed the grey spire of St. Mary's did not mean it to rise above a throng of restless, feverish men and women, but above a beautiful and peaceful City of thought. `El 2X0Alr.

Ube Ubree Courts.

DENIS RIGGS threw his bag on the sofa and looked round his lodging. It was sufficiently depressing—a wall-paper suggesting brushwork, with the outline of one petal gently cut out so as to follow the outline of the next a quarter of an inch away ; a carpet of tulips trying, and failing, to be tiger-lilies ; cabinet photographs of the landlady's nine brothers and sisters ; three black, respectable, gilt lettered books on the shelf over the mantelpiece ; and a singularly unpromising fire. It was his bedroom for three weeks, but not his home. He had come to town to stay with friends, whose beds happened to be full.

The lodgings were at some distance, but Denis did not mind. He knew London practically by heart, for he was a flourishing detective. His reputation had been made at one bound seven years before, in the great Crossley jewel case. He

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had had his eye on the thiet from the first, though he was only just in time to save the other man— the man rather, for the thief was a woman. He was rather nervous when he went to arrest her, but she neither cried, declaimed, or fainted. She looked straight into his eyes, said " I think you're a gentleman," and followed him quietly. He wondered grimly what he looked like with a young and lovely lady on his arm, hailing a hansom.

She did not speak again, and he was thankful.

In fact he had no particular wish for her compliment. His other cases had been numerous, but none so big. None the less, he was not above relaxation, and looked forward to the promised attractions of his visit. There were several delightful people it appeared, and also a new governess-companion, for whom the impulsive Mrs. Forsyth had taken a sudden furore. " Such a lady," she had written, " and so young, and so pretty, and brilliant. That is, she isn't very young, you know—about twenty-seven. She dreads speaking of what has gone before, but I am sure she has had a very hard time. I simply took to her the first minute I saw her. She had been two months with Mrs. Smythe, and even she couldn't help speaking well of her, but I saw the poor girl couldn't live there much longer.

You will fall in love with her at first sight, Denis. You can't think what glorious eyes she has."

So he came up, and strolled over to the Forsyths'. The introduction came off at once. " Mr. Riggs—Miss Gray."

Such glorious eyes ! Yes, glorious, and unforgettable. Fall in love? That may be, Mrs. Forsyth, but not at first sight, for it is not his first sight of her. As she went in to dinner on his arm he knew that she remembered when she had taken his arm before. From her manner she apparently still considered him a gentleman.

He said nothing that night. In fact he debated whether to say anything at all. If Mrs. Forsyth liked to engage people without sufficient references it was her own affair. He supposed the girl must have something to eat, and anyway he hardly felt it square to give her away until he had spoken to her alone.

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But the opportunity for speaking to her alone did not come. Why ? Because he would not let it come. Why ? He would not answer. " Isn't she lovely ?" asked Mrs. Forsyth for the twentieth time.

"Yes," said Denis savagely. " It is so nice to be able to leave the children with her. You see Jenny is at school till the end of July, and I can't stay all that time. But now Jack and I will go into the country next week and leave her and the rest of the children to Miss Gray—oh, it will be a relief ! I won't do one of my duties—not one. I'll leave her a blank cheque, and let her pay every single bill."

He jumped to his feet. It was only polite, as a visitor was just coming in. Little Jim Humphreys, the chap who had been suspected in the Crossley case. He had seen her too, by the way. Well, his memory wasn't particularly good, and she had altered. Humphreys had never looked at her eyes. Still, he felt afraid— oh Lord, afraid of what ? Did he want to shield the woman ?

She came in, and they were introduced. He did not jump, but he looked at her. " Do you know, I seem to remember your face," tJ he drawled. " My double perhaps," she said coldly. " I could swear I'd seen you before," he said. " Ages ago, you know ; six or seven years." " Perhaps you'll remember where it was later," said Mrs. Forsyth.

Jim Humphreys gave a gentle, slow smile. "Perhaps," he said, " I'll look in to-morrow morning if I may, Mrs. Forsyth ; I want to talk to you privately."

Denis forced himself to look at the girl, a thing he always dreaded. She was shaking from head to foot. He flung himself out of the house.

To-morrow morning, and it was night. He thought of it by the firelight. Thought ! He raved. " First, does he know ? Second, if he does, will he speak ? Third, if not, shall I, or let Mrs. Forsyth take her chance ? If I do, will it be all right ? If it is, doesn't she deserve to be chucked out, anyway ?

" And I thought I knew a thing or two By Jove, if anybody came up to me now and told roe a thing to do, I'd get up and do it " He cast his eye round the pitiless walls. The dying fire leaped up and showed out the gilt letters against the black, " P. V. Maronis Opera."

He took it out, tossed it up, and put his thumb on a line. Heu nihil invitis fas quemquam fidere divis " Oh Lord what does it mean ? " I mustn't trust her. But she isn't a god, and if she was she isn't unwilling. Perhaps I mustn't trust Jim not to speak. But it might be I mustn't trust him to speak. Or Mrs. Forsyth mustn't trust me to take care of her. But I don't care to say I'm unwilling for my friends to trust me.—I know I mustn't trust the fates for advice, because they won't give it me."

He put it back on the shelf. Then a thought struck him, and he took the second book. " I've known people to tell fortunes out of Shakespeare too," he murmured as he put his finger in.

"You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy.' That's plain enough !" he shouted. " I'll tell Mrs. Forsyth at once " It was nearly morning, but he didn't care. He had to get it done. He stumbled about the dark room, getting his things and banking up the fire. He lifted the coals with his hands—the only safe way in the middle of the night. He was tormented by an instinct telling him to look at the third book. But he steadily resisted it, having got what he wanted already. He went out at the door at last. Then an irresistible power turned him back. He thrust his thumb in the third book, read, and flung it open on the table. As he went out he spoke aloud, " And that's the plainest of all."

On his way he came to a bridge of the river.

A tall woman was standing in the dim dawn, looking over it with glorious eyes into an open watch.

He raised his hat. !

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Mrs. Forsyth's beloved companion gave her warning before breakfast. She had evidently been crying for hours. She refused a reason, but at last gave way in a flood.

'FHE FRITILLARY. " I'm going to be married," she howled. " Where?"

"In the backwoods," she sobbed. " At least he's going to take me there, and we're always going to be quiet—oh, we shall be so happy ! " At this point Denis arrived. " Has Edith told you our news, Mrs. Forsyth ? ' " Oh, it's you Oh Denis, I always knew you would marry her." " I fell in love at first sight," said Denis.

Then they were left alone. He kissed her gently. " What were you doing with that watch ?" he said. " I wanted to see when lighting-up time came— 1 mean the opposite, putting lamps out. I was going over the rail then."

"Fancy waiting till the last minute ! " " 1 knew you'd come ! Yes, Denis, when I'd made up my mind to die, I still trusted you to save me somehow. But I thought very likely it was no good, if you didn't want to be trusted." " Here's a note from Jim Humphreys," said Mrs. Forsyth. " He's dying—motor-car."

Denis opened it, and read aloud :"Dear Riggs, It may interest you and won't hurt me, to know that I bagged the Crossley jewels. Apropos, that Miss Gray is the image of the girl you detected. I should have said the same, if it hadn't been obvious that you were sweet on her. I was always jolly grateful to you for that do—the best turn you ever did me, and have therefore remembered you in my will."

"Goodbye," said Denis, but she flung her arms about him, and kept him. " I see," he said, "it was I who should not dare to talk of mercy." " But I dare," she said, and they stayed in each other's arms.

While they were there his landlady was complaining volubly. " Such a mess I never see ! Everything other` way on ! As if my books was meant to be read " She paused before dusting it to read the 3

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sentence on which the mark of a thumb was imprinted in coal-dust. " And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.", M. S.

Watt patiently, ye Moubtful.

WAIT patiently, ye doubtful, with merry hearts, and strong, From out the west, on billows' crest, Your galleon bounds along : Upon the water's shining breast, your galleon bounds along.

Wait patiently, ye doubtful, beneath the morning star, The masthead bright with silver light Comes twinkling from afar, Bearing your hope from out the night it twinkles there afar.

Wait patiently, ye doubtful; within her speeding hold Are treasures rare beyond compare As the rainbow's pot of gold ;— Fancies come true are doubly fair as the rainbow's pot of gold.

Then raise a prayer, ye doubtful, since prayer doth thanks become ; For your fondest dream of its treasures' gleam Will be shamed when it anchors at home— And your doubt shall seem like a passing dream, when at last your ship comes home.

W. M.

ibe wbo Meets anb %buns the fray, " He who meets and shuns the fray, Fears to meet some other way."

VISITORS were expected to lunch, and at the

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last moment it was discovered that there was no red-currant jelly to relieve the brown monotony of the roast mutton. So I, fulfilling the hapless fate of a younger daughter, was dispatched with all possible speed to purchase the smallest pot obtainable (for we never indulge in currant jelly "en famille "). Threepence half-penny was pressed into my gloveless hand, and I sped, breathless, to the nearest grocer in the Corn.' Arrived at the shop, a pathetic spectacle presented itself. In the middle of the sanded desert of the floor stood my dear and life-long friend the Professor.' He wore the old brown suit which I loved almost as well as himself, having known it quite as long, and his brown cloven hat was crushed between his two hands, the soft felt yielding its shape to every writhing movement of his nervous fingers. His unhappy embarrassment was also revealed by the blushing summit of his dear bare head which was bald, save for a few hairs which still valiantly maintained their position and spread themselves out (for I could never believe the Professor himself guilty of such a deed of artifice), as though to try to make up for the desertion of their neighbours. What the Professor was really Professor of, I never could quite make out. But he was a man of science, and apparently spent his entire day exclusively in the company of the eggs of sea-urchins. Indeed I always felt a kind of jealous envy of these eggs, for to them alone he revealed the true charm of a personality which the rest of the world saw, but darkly through the 'medium of his nervous shyness.

He was now gazing up in helpless and beseeching futility at a tall and very definite-looking grocer.

This person, girded with a gleaming apron, every fold of which betokened capability, evidently felt a profound contempt for my unfortunate friend, who, backed up on all sides by oranges and tomatoes, looked so thoroughly out of his milieu.

At my approach the Professor greeted me with a hunted expression in his blue eyes, while his lips tried to smile ; and I laughed to think I had detected him in some more than usually craven deed. For that he had fled into this embarrassing region of self-possessed cheeses and complacent fruits, only in order to escape some still greater

embarrassment outside, I knew only too well. " How do you do, my dear Miss Dorothy ?" " How do you do, Professor, in this shop ? " I asked. " Oh, er—yes," he answered with his usual delightful irrelevance. "What are you buying, Professor ?" I continued. His eyes grew filmy with misery. " I think figs," he answered ; then, quickly, with a nervous contraction of his eyebrows, " No, no, I think oranges." " Can you tell me what this gentleman really is buying ? " I inquired of the salesman who was crushing a bag of large bulging circles into the Professorial arms. " Apples, Miss," was the answer. " Have them sent," I commanded my friend; " why carry such an enormous parcel ? " " Oh—er, no," he replied with agitation. " I see," I answered as we left the shop, " you don't wish to have them sent up because your wife would then know that one of England's greatest scientists has been taking craven refuge in a grocer's shop." " My dear Miss Dorothy," he said apologetically, with, what with him counted as a smile, " I really could not meet them : it came on me suddenly with a rush that I really could not face them ; I saw them such a long way off, you know, and they saw me." "Who were they ? " I whispered consolingly. " Were they some of your lady students ?"

"Yes, yes," he answered, " the two you met at my house the other day." " But they are nice, Professor." "Yes, yes, my dear, it's not that."

"What is it then ?" I cruelly asked, but I received no answer : indeed he never heard, for he was now reaping the full fruits of his cowardice (in addition to the literal fruits of it, with which his arms were burdened). The two students from whom he had fled in a panic were now seen advancing to meet us, having come round this way at the end of their walk.. Beads of perspiration stood on the forehead of my friend—his breath came short—his eyes were glazed. I spoke again—in vain—the Professor was almost unconscious from fear, and when the actual moment of passing arrived, which happened outside his own front door, his clammy hands could scarcely lift his hat. He raised his eyes, when, suddenly, what a transformation of expression—these were not his students after all, neither this time or

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THE FRITILLARY. the first, while at the same moment of realization a terrible vision flashed upon each of us. His wife was at the window, gazing with amazement at the bag of apples, while I beheld my next oldest sister running like a being possessed to the same grocer's shop for the unremembered jelly.

A. J., S Hilda's Hall.

tbe Voet's Vocation.

NOT by the beaten path Of tradition, authority, rule ; Not by the time-honoured track Of convention and custom effete !

Not by the broad easy way Shall the poet advance to his goal.

He shall press forward alone Thro' the dangerous jungle of thought, Where none before him has trod, Tho' many shall follow secure.

Into a region of gloom, Darkness, depression, despair, He unwitting shall pass, In his beautiful, vigorous prime, Mind and senses aglow With the joy and passion of life.

Either the faith of his youth Or his friend shall fail him at need, Or Death the Destroyer shall come Parting the soul from its love.

Then with the wreck of his joy His poet's vocation is given.

He shall find comfort within, Strength, serenity, peace In the deep abysm of mind.

Nothing on trust will he take, But proving all things, attain To a firmer grip Of the good.

Then shall he lift up his voice And proclaim the truth to mankind.

M. M. C. P.

jrrienb.

OH he is all right. Of course he is charming —that is just it, he is too charming. I hate that sort of person. They have always got something to say on every conceivable subject, and the worst of it is, that what they say is so right and proper and fitting. He is too articulate !" The speaker was talking petulantly, but now, as if wearied with her tirade, she left off pulling the cord of the window-blind, and going to the fire where an older woman was sitting, flung herself into an arm-chair. As her friend remained silent, Kate began again. " I like your dumb men and women best. They only say half they mean, and they express that half badly ! I should love to hear him stammer. That is what is wrong—he is too articulate, as I said before." There was another silence. " Well, don't sit there like a Sphinx ! Won't you speak ?"

The elder woman looked at the girl with a smile of slight amusement. " My dear Kate, I thought you liked dumb women best ? " Kate shook herself like an impatient dog. " Don't be silly," she said, " you know what I mean, and the question is do you agree with me ? " Miss Mary Smith (for there is no need to hide the second lady's name from the reader) smiled again, and then in tones as emphatic as her drawling voice would allow, she said : " If you want to know, I think that you are young, and crude, and that your judgment is harsh." " I did not ask you to play the candid friend ; I asked you what you thought of James Ridley ; but it's all right now, you need not bother to answer. I am going out for a walk," and Kate left the room abruptly.

Left to herself, Mary mused on. Kate had once said that she would like to write " Prune thou thy words, thy thoughts control," on a card, and send it to Mr. Ridley.

Mary had partly agreed with the sentiment though she strongly dissented from the girl's conclusion that such lack of restraint argued a shallow character. Personally she believed in Ridley, and would gladly have trusted to him "

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the girl to whom she was playing a mother's part. That only a little persuasion would be needed to make Kate consent she felt sure.

One thing puzzled her, however, why did the man hold back ? He seemed in a position to marry, he was not shy, he evidently cared for Kate, why did he not say so ? She was yet more puzzled when a month later he accepted a post in an office in Yorkshire.

Four years later Kate married. Ridley, as friend of both bridegroom and bride, came to the wedding, and said all the proper things. " He is as glib as ever," she said, " and even more charming." More years passed, and Kate became a joyful mother of children. By this time Ridley had left Yorkshire, and had taken up his quarters near his old friends. He was invaluable to Kate. He would always take the place of the lacking guest ; would dance with the girls she chaperoned, and in short was ready at five minutes' notice to do any odd or disagreeable job that fate might suggest. Most of all was he the children's friend. He took them to the Pantomime, brought them sweets, and told them stories. From the first moment he and the children were friends. A day or two later Kitty surprised her mother by addressing him as James," but when Kate rebuked her, Ridley interrupted : " I like it ; " adding whimsically a quotation from Charles Lamb, " So Christians should call one another." His fondness for Lamb was noticeable, and one day Kate remarked on it. "'I have a fellow-feeling for him," was his reply ; but when she innocently enough asked why, for once he looked confused, and answered evasively that he supposed they were both London lovers.

After her marriage Kate had taken up a motherly attitude towards him. " You ought to marry," she said frequently ; but he always had some excellent reasons to prove that she was mistaken. Though he did not follow her advice on this matter he thought highly of her opinion, and often consulted her about his private affairs, and laid bare his thoughts to her. "It is very nice of James to be so confidential," Kate used to say to her husband, "and I am very fond of

him, but I do wish he had more reserve." Her feelings were the same as of yore, though her method of expressing them was less impetuous.

Several years of delightful social intercourse between the friends passed, and insensibly the whole family came to rely more and more upon the bachelor. At last a day came when he failed to fulfil an appointment. Later a message came to say he was ill. Shortly afterwards he died. The doctor said that Ridley had been ill and under his care for months. Kate reproached herself for not having noticed it. " He must have been hiding it all the time to spare us," she said, and down in her heart she acknowledged that she had wronged him in thinking that he could keep nothing to himself.

A greater shock was in store for her. Many friends came to the funeral, and among them was an old man who had known Ridley from boyhood.

He talked to Kate for a long time about their dead friend, and told her many things she had never guessed. "There was insanity in the family, you know, that's why he never married." Then Kate knew that his life was one long reserve.

HILDA M. MORRIS, L. M. H .

Oxford %tubents' Vebating %octet, President— Miss LARDELLI (S.H.H.).

Secretary—Miss CUTHBERT (L. M. H.).

Junior Treasurer—Miss ESCREET (S. C. ).

December 5th.

" That this House would welcome the extension of the system of Co-education in England."

Proposer—Miss CORBETT (S. C ).

Opposer—Miss Mowm, (S.H.H.).

The Hon. Proposer began by saying that she was about to support the cause of true wholehearted Co-education. She could find indeed very few arguments on the opposite side, but such as she had been able to find she hoped she would be able to refute. She then proceeded to indict

THE FRITILLARY. strongly the existing public schools System for boys and girls. She quoted Dr. Arnold and Mr. Mosely to prove that the public schools fail to give an intellectual and moral education combined with a business training. With regard to girls the failure was even more apparent. The average high-school girl leaves school vain, superficial, narrow-minded, unfitted for any serious walk in life. She has had no chance of developing her wide patriotic side : no training for her future duties as a wife and mother : she is not a citizen, nor is she fitted to become one.

For those evils Co-education would provide a remedy : indeed it only adopted the remedy Nature has already provided in the family. Men and women would thus grow more used to one another, and common-sense friendships based on mutual respect would have a chance to arise.

The practical results, as proved by existing experiments, she maintained, had been eminently satisfactory : none of the expected disadvantages had occurred. Sex acting on sex brought out the best and not the worst. Discipline indeed is easier to maintain.

As to learning, the teacher's task might be increased in difficulty, but that was an open question. The characters of both sexes were trained next to one another, and the success of the arrangement was shown by the absolute happiness of the children in school. The family life went on.

The practical results depended on five points'. Care in the choice of teachers : they must have the cause really at heart.

2. Co-education must be regarded as a cause not as an economic convenience.

3. The tone of the school must be kept high and no one must realise the supervision that goes on.

4. An equal standard of morality for boys and girls must be kept up.

5. There must be equality of numbers of sexes, both of teachers and pupils.

The Hon. Opposer said that far from being able to find no arguments against the motion, 4

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she had found many, and only found it difficult to choose from among them.

She began by asking the House to recall to their minds the products of Co-education. For her own part she had not been as fortunate in those she had met, as the Hon. Proposer. The girls were unwomanly and rough, and the boys were mere freaks. With regard to the indictment of the public schools system : was it then a failure ? If it did not give boys a business education, it at least fitted them to become public servants. Indeed, no country in the world had such men. As to the high schools, the Hon. Opposer absolutely disagreed with the Hon. Proposer : in her opinion the English girl of to-day was broader-minded and more intellectual than her predecessor ; she was also more interested in the affairs of life.

The Hon. Proposer had described boys as cruel and rough, girls as superficial and vain : then why mix them ?

However equal boys and girls may be mentally, they are not so physically. The man and woman may ultimately possess the same amount of brains, but the development is different. The Hon. Opposer said she was surprised to hear her hon. friend describe girls as slower than boys.

She considered that the girl was quicker than the boy, and that this would lead to the boy's ambition being dulled, and to the girl's becoming conceited.

Again it is the inevitable tendency of human nature for the woman to admire the man, and the conceited boy will always have his admiring ring of little girls.

The question of punishment seemed a difficult one : how would it be arranged. If corporal were assumed to be necessary for boys, it must either be inflicted on girls also, or that quality of condition, urged by the Hon. Proposer, must be foregone. With regard to friendships, hon. members must think of the violence with which girls take these up : would this state of things be desirable ?

In conclusion, they must remember that in supporting this motion they were condemning the public schools of England, and also the very high schools from which they themselves have come.

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Public Discussion.

President—Miss

strongly supported partial Co. education. With regard to total Co-education, it had been found impossible to arrange a curriculum which should suit both sexes : Co-education had been abolished in many cases on the Continent because it did not fulfil its expectations.

Miss SNOW (S.C.) said that if Co-education were the ordinary thing, the last remark of the last speaker would have carried weight : but Coeducation was an experiment, and therefore arguments could not yet be drawn from its results.

Miss BAKER (S.H.H.) said that the system was good in theory but difficult in practice. The public-school boy looked down on the boy who is the product of Co-education, and in a lesser degree the same disadvantage was experienced in the case of girls.

Miss PETO (L.M.H.) said that experience would prove that the girls and boys of 15 would not go together. The girls would be either with the boys of 18 or with the girls of their own age.

Miss JOURDAIN (S.H.H.) noticed that the Hon. Proposer had given as her ' sine qua non' for the teacher—enthusiasm. Experience had not been mentioned. Anyone who had to deal with boys and girls between 15 and 19, the age when emotions are keen but judgment is not ripe, must have this.

There also spoke Miss CORNISH (S.H.H.), Miss WEST (S.H.H.), Miss E. JACKSON (S.C.), Miss SKRINE (L.M.H.), Miss SHAW (S.C.), Miss POLLARD (O.H.S.), Miss OTTLEY (S.H.H.).

The Hon. Proposer having summed up, there voted for the motion 2o, against, 25.

The motion was therefore lost.

Public discussion at this debate was good and to the point : the Hon. Proposer had prepared her subject well and made a good speech. Her summing-up must specially be mentioned for its thoroughness. The Hon. Opposer answered her adversary well, and worked cleverly up to each point : her defence of the existing system was good, but she might with advantage have dwelt longer on the difficulties of the proposed arrangement.

Secretary—Miss MowLL (S.H.H.).

Miss COMMIN (S.C.)

CUTHBERT

Junior Teeasurer—Miss

(L. M. H.).

OTTLEY (S.H.H.).

IT is gratifying to record the undoubted progress achieved by the Society this Term, in spite of the opposition of the elements. Rain, snow, and hail have done their best to diminish the attendance at the meetings, and yet our ardour remained undamped, — our zeal uncooled. An unwonted vivacity has marked the public discussion, and it would perhaps be unreasonable to regret that while arguments were invariably sound speakers were usually few.

The first meeting was held on Jan. 3rst.

The motion before the House was : "That this House would deplore the abolition of the House of Lords." The Proposer, Miss PETO (L.M.H.), first gave two main reasons for regretting the abolition : the first was the result of the constitutional position of the House of Lords, which identified it with former conservativism, to which principle, she maintained, we were now reverting.

The second great reason for upholding the motion was the stability given by the House of Lords to the constitution, as preserving, in spite of changes, the same ideas and practical forms of government.

The active usefulness of the House of Lords was shewn in questions such as those touching foreign affairs, in which the Lords act as a counterfoil to the Labour Members, by suggesting a policy actuated by motives other than commercial.

The negative argument in favour of the motion —the harmlessness of the House of Lords—rested on the fact of its having lost the right of veto, leaving as the ultimate resource the appeal to popular power, and therefore preventing the Upper House from becoming very dangerous !

The Hon. Proposer held that the English public was aristocratic in sympathy and in practice : if the aristocratic element were to be eliminated from the popular press, what would take its place? The House of Lords was an extravagance which England could well afford : it had, moreover, a " fine historical flavour about it."

In conclusion, the Hon. Proposer urged very strongly that if we were to knock down one part

THE FRITILLARY. of the constitution, it would be difficult to know where to stop.

Miss Peto's speech was characterised by her remarkable facility of expression, but it is to be regretted that the matter of her speech fell so far short of its form. We understand that Miss Peto was hampered by ill-health and short notice, and this must be remembered while we deplore her tendency to lose in strength as she gains in fluency.

Miss CARTMEL - ROBINSON (S.H.) opened her remarks by an appeal to the House not to be carried away by " cheap sentiment." The House of Lords was a complete anomaly. Its motto, like that of the Norman baronage, was " learn nothing and forget nothing," and this implied characteristic of the Norman baronage did not warrant an imitation. The House of Lords had power without responsibility, and it was impossible that under the existing social order this could exist. The Hon. Opposer then turned her attention to the methods of treating Bills employed by the Lords, evasion, mutilation, and rejection, quoting forcible illustrations from the action of the Lords in regard to the Employers' Liabilities Act and the Jews' Inability Act. With regard to the Irish question, only the landed interest of Ireland was represented in the House of Lords, e.g. the rejection of the Bill which resulted from the Denham Commission. The attitude of the House of Lords towards the Nonconformists was both unsympathetic and inconsistent : it excluded them from the Universities and jeered at them for their lack of culture. Further illustration of the pernicious influence of the House of Lords was to be found in its opposition to the extension of the Factory Acts to children working in mines, and its action with regard to the Army Purchase Bill. The House of Lords contained a Conservative majority of 90 per cent., and was therefore not representative. The slackness of the Lords in attending debates and their political inexperience further disqualified them for a share in the government. If a second chamber was desirable, it should rather be composed of representatives chosen for their efficiency in other pro-

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fessions. To take away the right of veto was not sufficiently drastic. The Hon. Opposer concluded with a telling quotation from Mr. Morley.

Miss Cartmell-Robinson pleaded her cause skilfully and exhaustively. She probably lost ground by somewhat over-stating her case, but on the other hand her enthusiasm was convincing and her delivery bold.

Miss CORNISH (S.H.H.) drew attention to the strangeness of the attribute ascribed by the Hon. Opposer to the Lords, " power without responsibility."

Miss JACKSON (S.C.) emphasized the power of veto as one of the greatest assets of the House of Lords.

Miss LEVETT (L.M.H.) said that the case for or against the House of Lords does not rest on particular cases. There is little justice in the rule of the majority, and the House of Lords gives an opportunity for the minority to be heard it also counteracts the fluctuation of public opinion.

Miss CORBETT (S.C.) pointed out that the cumbrous and antiquated machinery of the House of Lords would not afford the required check.

Public discussion was animated and well sustained. The motion was lost by 20 votes. :

Feb. r3th.—The motion before the House was " That true Art is enhanced by having a moral purpose."

The Proposer, Miss MILLER (H.S.), pleaded that it was difficult to speak of Art with a moral purpose when the Age insisted on talking of Art for Art's sake. However, the motion before the House contained a great truth, which fact it was her pleasurable duty to prove.

Who could maintain that lyrical poets had no moral purpose ? Browning's thrush had a purpose when it repeated its song, why should not that purpose have been a moral one? Poems in Pilgrim's Progress contained moral purposes which were so apparent that they could be recognised by all.

The extreme beauty in Greek Art strikes all

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who study it, yet Venus of Milo was good before she was beautiful ; in fact it was impossible to attain what was beautiful without first acquiring what was good.

From Greek Art the Hon. Proposer turned to English Literature. Every person would acknowledge that there was a moral purpose running through a life, even through that of an agnostic.

If it is thus agreed that a moral purpose underlies a man's life, surely it must be acknowledged that it underlies Art, the work of man ? It is impossible to imagine that the Poet does not see what all the world sees, and still more that the artist does not see even more than the world, into the region of morality. The best of mankind recognise that the Poet should have a moral purpose, and a conscious moral purpose, in his work.

He is indeed reproached if he does not make it sufficiently apparent. The severest criticism offered against English poets is that they reflect an age instead of directing it.

The Hon. Proposer claimed Shakespeare as her ally, although she acknowledged that on this occasion he was dangerous in that capacity, but she did not believe that there was an Hon. Member present who could say that Shakespeare had no clue to morality.

In conclusion, the Hon. Proposer claimed that Art was beautiful in as far as it had a moral purpose.

The House much appreciated the privilege of hearing Miss Miller, and warmly applauded her excellent speech.

The Hon. Opposer, Miss OTTLEY (S.H.H.), Junior Treasurer, began by an attempt to enlist the favour of the House by showing it to be her " sordid duty " to espouse the cause of commonsense as opposed to morality. It was her task to prove that Art was an end in itself, obedient to no laws but its own, and defiant of every effort to control it. Art is Truth, and Beauty is Goodness under the wsthetic and emotional aspect, therefore a moral purpose is unnecessary even if not injurious. Art is not deliberately moral because it is inherently true, because it is the reflection of that which lies behind all morality. The Opposer borrowed the illustration of the Venus

of Milo from her opponent, asserting that her influence on mankind would be less profound if her author had intended her to be their instructress. Art and morality were shewn to be two aspects of the same great truth, the one conventional and earthbound, the other transcendental and divine. The failure thus to distinguish between Art and morality was the reason why the moralist fails to be convincing when he speaks to us through Art, and why " the lumberrooms of Art are lined with moral purposes."

From Aristotle to Beethoven, from Homer to Browning, from Phidias to Whistler, true Art had waged a long and weary warfare against the destroying angels of the didactic School, and still was the Hon. Proposer loth to distinguish between a non- moral purpose and an immoral effect. The Hon. Opposer then illustrated her point, claiming in particular the support of Homer, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Greek Sculpture and Italian Art of the Renaissance ; Fra Angelico's ideal was not to paint more morally, but more beautifully, and so to teach his brethren higher truths. The Hon. Opposer finally appealed to the House not to be led away by dangerous moral sympathies (laughter), and concluded by a quotation from Keats.

The Hon. Opposer made a speech notable in the annals of the O.S.D.S. on account of its eloquence. Her points were good, though an honourable member subsequently pointed out, it was a curious piece of logic to say that Art had no moral purpose in order to have a moral effect. Except for this logical inaccuracy the speech was excellent, both from a point of view of language and delivery.

Miss KEELING (S.H.H.) suggested that some Art, such as music, was never designed for an audience, and although it had a moral effect, it could have no conscious moral purpose. Miss Keeling should make a good speaker.

Miss BALL (S.C.) advocated that if it was true that the Artist saw more than his fellow - men, physically, it should be true that he saw further than they, both mentally and morally.

Miss BELL (L.M.H.) said that Greek Authors before the perfect period in Greek Literature had

THE FRITILLARY. a moral purpose. But in the perfect age a moral purpose was absent.

Miss Bell made a good point, as also did Miss SKRINE (L.M.H.), who spoke on the same subject. We hope to hear them both again.

There also spoke—Miss PETO (L.M.H.), Miss LEVETT (L M.H.).

On a division there voted :For the motion, 19.

Against the motion, 6.

The motion was therefore carried by 13 votes.

On Feb. 27th, the House met to propose a vote of want of confidence in His Majesty's Government.

The Hon. Proposer, Miss SPURLING (H.S.), after an expression of diffidence at being called upon to commit a " work of supererogation," led up to her attack on the Government by an enquiry into its past history. It did not come with a clean slate; it had already undergone a term of probation. Our confidence in the present government must be largely determined by its behaviour in its last post. The Hon. Proposer proceeded to summarize the work of the last Liberal Government, deducing the following total :I Act. 15 Peers. 2 Derbys. Promises innumerable (laughter). The recent Liberal triumph was the triumph of the working classes : the Liberals had swept the country ; in fact it might be said that they had won by the sweepings of the country (cheers). The election had constituted an appeal to ignorance and credulity, as was evidenced by the methods with which they had carried it through : e.g. " No Slavery " cries.

Gibbets of horse-flesh exhibited to teach the consequences of fiscal reform. Repeated declarations that the Unionists would tax pork, peas, &c.

The question of Old Age Pensions is just as much a Conservative as a Liberal measure, as is seen by a comparison between Mr. Chamberlain's and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's efforts to procure it.

Home Rule threatens to produce a deadlock : Campbell-Bannerman has declared that Ireland shall have it,—MacDonnell that he can't mean it.

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In Education, the Liberals have promised us the millenium, but they cannot possibly fulfil their promises. Moreover, the Liberal party is already at sixes and sevens. The Labour party, interested solely in social and economic questions, has already seen Old Age Pensions shelved. The `Irish are strongly opposed to Sir Edward Grey : eighty eloquent Irishmen are not likely to do nothing. There is also a party of honest radicals, who cannot see why Chinese Labour should be shelved. When Winston Churchill replies that it is a burden inherited from the late government he is guilty of a logical inexactitude. If Chinese labour is slavery, and slavery is felony, is it right to compound with it or to trade on it ? As for the foreign policy adopted by the present government, it is professedly a continuation of the conservative policy, which was a success after the Liberal failure. With regard to the Army, Mr. Haldane has promised to keep it ready for instant action, while Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman has said that he will do all that is necessary. The question is, will they agree, and if not, can a Government so divided inspire confidence ? In dealing with S. Africa, the Hon. Proposer mentioned Lord Milner's speech.

The present Government has already done harm, and has shaken to its foundations the restored prosperity of the country. Shares had already gone down since Sir H. C.-B.'s speech.

With regard to self-government, Lord Milner has declared that it would be a most disastrous possession, and the project is quite unprecedented in imperial history. Our loyalty to the dead, and to the loyal Boers now living, should forbid our adherence to so perilous a policy. In conclusion, the Hon. Proposer referred to the conduct of certain members of the Government during the late Boer War as a reason for withholding our confidence in the present.

It is impossible for the reporter to do justice to the speech by which Miss Spurling held the House enthralled in an intensity of interest seldom evoked by the orations of a debating society.

Her lightness of touch was atmospheric, and combined with her earnestness of purpose, produced an impression on her audience which at once

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THE FRITILLARY.

kindled their enthusiasm and electrified the debate. Miss Spurling's popularity in the House is the well-merited reward of her unfailing zeal in the cause of the O.S.D.S., and the keen sense of humour which she brings to bear upon the debates.

The cause of Liberalism was upheld by Miss ADY (S.H.H.). She opened her defence by expressing her sympathy for the Hon. Proposer, who seemed to think that the Empire was in imminent peril of dissolution, and England reduced to a state of chaos. She was also sorry for the Hon. Proposer as the champion of a lost cause, giving expression to the dying wails of the Reaction.

The House was at this moment invited to join forces with the wave of New Liberalism, now overspreading the country. The Hon. Proposer had grounded her attack on the assumption that as it was in the past so it will be in the future.

But no government was ever so completely without a past as the existing ministry. During the last few months we had twice been shamed out of our want of confidence in the existing government, and we had learnt that the failings of past Liberal Governments do not affect the present. The Proposer had made great capital out of the methods of Liberals during the election, which were as much to be regretted as in every election.

But the Conservatives themselves were not altogether blameless, e.g. the Maidstone Election and the Freer Trade cries. The " free-food " nickname had been invented by the political opponents of the present government, and therefore could not be laid at its door. Moreover, many of these accusations were fraught with misrepresentation and exaggeration.

More important than the methods by which the Liberals came to power were the principles for which they fought. The Hon. Opposer first dealt with Free Trade, as aiming not at increasing wealth, but at effecting a sounder distribution.

But it was the Liberal policy with regard to S. Africa which had been most severely criticised by the Hon. Proposer. On the question of Chinese Labour, she had made it appear that the Liberals were on the horns of a dilemma—either it was slavery or else it need not be interfered

with. But this was absurd, and the action of the Government could be shewn to be both consistent and prompted by the spirit of true Liberalism.

It was opposed to Chinese Labour on the grounds that it was introduced under servile conditions, and on the other hand, Liberalism could not refuse to S. Africa the right to decide its own affairs, while it was our duty to see that it was not introduced under conditions unworthy of the Empire. With regard to the project of granting Responsible Government to S. Africa, the Conservatives could be accused of inconsistency.

They blamed us for granting it,—they also blamed us for not granting it sooner, while they sought to deprive us of the credit of introducing it.

The Hon. Proposer then turned to the question of social reform, declaring that it was the heart of the Empire which had most to hope from the Liberal Government. The King's Speech promised twelve good measures, which had long seemed out of reach of practical politics. Three of these measures the Hon. Opposer dwelt on, as a proof of their necessity and their value,—the Trade Disputes Bill, with the repeal of the Taff Vale decision ; the equalisation of rates—" Mayfair to pay for Poplar "—which should lead on to the question of Land Values ; the extension of co-operative Small Holdings, on the system so successfully worked by Lord Carrington. The Liberal Government inspired confidence, not only because of its zeal in passing measures of social reform, but because it would be aided by those who know about the subject from experience, e.g. John Burns.

After a forcible appreciation of the personnelle of the new Ministry, the Hon. Opposer concluded with an appeal to the O.S.D.S. not to allow itself to be branded as belonging to the reaction, but to show its confidence in the government which has pledged itself " to consider the condition of the People," and has embarked on an attempt to lay a few more stones in the New Jerusalem which we long to see established in " England's green and pleasant land."

It is doubtful whether a Demosthenes could convince the O.S.D.S. on a question of such vital significance and radical importance as that

THE FRITILLARY. under discussion, and the House invariably maintains its a priori conservative leanings. Miss Ady, however, throughout her defence united her political opponents and her supporters in an absorbing interest which it was no effort to sustain. Her wide appreciation of the Liberal position, and especially her zealous championship of social reform, delighted her adherents, while the Conservative portion of the House could not fail to be impressed by the scientific balance of judgment which added so much weight to her arguments. Miss Ady's attractive manner of speaking is an asset in her favour which cannot be ignored, and it would be difficult to over-estimate the constructive value of her speech.

The public discussion which followed marked— we hope—an epoch-making stage in the life of the Society. The House displayed an eagerness for the fray which has no parallel within the memory of the reporter.

The PRESIDENT first spoke, and was enthusiastically received by the House. In an able speech, she touched on the Irish question, the problem of S. African government, Chinese labour, and social reform, attacking with energy the speech of the Hon. Opposer.

Miss SHAW (S.C.) supported, with perhaps a little too much vehemence, the action of the government with regard to S. Africa, but an occasional breach of Parliamentary discipline perhaps enhances the vivacity of discussion.

Miss Bow EN-COLTHURST (S. H.H.) attacked with some vigour the Liberal policy towards Ireland.

Miss COWIE (S.H.H.) made some interesting remarks in support of Chinese labour, based upon personal observation.

Miss JACKSON (S.C.) keenly defended the Liberal cause, bringing to its support a fund of sound political information.

Miss Mowm, (S.H.H.), Secretary, pointed out that good intentions often pave the way to undesirable destinations.

Miss CORBETT (S.C.), with some eloquence and considerable knowledge of facts, defended the Liberal Government. We cannot but wish that other members of the O.S.D.S. would cultivate the art of extempore speaking, and so help to

619

raise the standard of public discussion as effectually as Miss Corbett.

MISS WILLS-SANDFORD (O.H.S.) then spoke ardently in favour of the motion, attacking with vehemence the speech of the Hon. Opposer.

•

Ogforb Unite) lbocket• team.

Captain—C. MOORHOUSE (L.M.H.); Hon. Secretary—Z. WALFORD (S C.).

Though the weather has been unfavourable for hockey this term, there have been some very good practices.

Gloucestershire gave the team a splendid game on January 3rst, and won by one goal. Both elevens played well and showed considerable pace.

It is a pity that the United team has not been able to play some more matches. Rain prevented the match against Chiswick, but it is hoped that Northamptonshire will come some time during the last week of term. United has sustained a great loss in Miss Peters, the centre-half of the last two seasons. Miss F. Maclean has taken her place, and plays a very reliable and effective game.

The forward line is fast, and combines better than it did last term, but there is still room for improvement. The three inners should try to be quicker on the ball in the circle ; they often lose opportunities for shots by this fault. Miss Walford and Miss Jobson on the wings have both played well. The halves are very steady and hardworking, and back up their forwards untiringly.

Miss Clayton, as left-back, has much improved since last season, and clears hard and with judgment. Miss Poulton is very reliable, and with Miss Little in goal, the defence though not brilliant is quite good.

The Oxford and Cambridge Match will be played on March zoth on the Surbiton Cricket Ground.

The following team has been selected to play :Forwards: Misses Walford (S.C.), Rogers

THE FRITILLARY.

620

(L.M.H.), Moorhouse (L.M.H.), Jackson (S.C.), Jobson (L.M.H.).

ness, but the wing has not yet learned to evade the opposing halves very successfully. Miss Jobson is fast, but often loses the ball by being unable to stop and turn quickly. Miss Rogers and Miss Andrews play an effective game and shoot clean and hard.

For the halves Miss Hannah works hard and passes well and accurately, though in a crisis her play is apt to deteriorate. Miss Western tackles well and is indefatigable. Miss Sinclair marks her wing most effectively, but must try to increase her pace. The backs, Miss Morton and Miss Stocker, individually, play a very good game, but are inclined to muddle one another in the circle. Miss Little in goal has played well.

Half-Backs: 1VIisses Western (L.M.H.), F. Maclean (H.S.), Hannah (L.M.H.).

Backs : Misses Clayton (S.C.), H. Poulton,

(H.S.).

Goal: Miss Little (L.M.H.).

Reserves—Forward: Miss Andrews (L.M.H.).

Half-Back : Miss Payne (S.C.).

Back : Miss M. Mack (S.H.H.).

Forwards : Misses Jobson, Rogers, Moorhouse, Andrews, Fletcher.

Halfbacks : Misses Western, Hannah, Sinclair.

ILabv Margaret ball.

HOCKEY

CLUB (Captain, C. MOORHOUSE;

H012.

Backs : Misses Morton, Stocker.

Secretary, G. T. ROGERS).—It has been very difficult to keep the Elevens in practice this term, as so many games and matches have had to be scratched. On the whole, however, the season has proved fairly successful, and Lady Margaret has won the new inter-collegiate challenge cup kindly presented by an " Old Blue," who wishes to remain anonymous.

The results of the matches are as follows :-

Goal: Miss Little.

1st XI. v. Somerville, won 4—I. v. Old Students, draw 3-3• v. St. Hugh's won 6-3. v. Etceteras I., lost 0-3. v. Wycombe Abbey, not yet played. znd XI. v. St. Hilda's, scratched. v. Oxford Home Students, lost o—i. v. Etceteras II., won 6-1. v. Somerville II., not yet played. v. High School, 71 3rd XI. v. Etceteras III., lost 1-3. v. Somerville III., won 3—r.

The 1st XI. remains nearly the same as last term with the exception of the left half. Miss Freer having decided to abandon her place in the Eleven, Miss Sinclair has received her colours as right half. The forwards show pace and neat-

-

The 2nd XI. has been very unfortunate in having four of its matches postponed until late in the term, but it is hoped that most of them will be played in spite of this. The Eleven has improved since last term, and contains some promising players. Of the forwards, Miss Hollings takes the ball up the field well, but needs to centre more vigorously. Miss Payne, Miss Branfoot, and Miss Bartlett combine well, but should beware of passing too much when in the circle.

Miss Heath on the right wing is fast and shows promise. Miss Smithwick as centre-half plays a steady game, but is inclined to turn round on the ball before passing, which wastes time. Miss Freer plays keenly and passes well. Miss Henderson is good on the right. Miss Pickford and Miss Warner combine well, and with Miss Barnard in goal make a good defence.

Forwards: Misses Hollings, Payne, Branfoot, Bartlett, Heath.

Half-backs: Misses Freer, Smithwick, Hen-

derson.

Backs : Misses Warner, Pickford.

Goal: Miss Barnard.

THE FRITILLARY. The 3rd XI. has suffered from lack of practice, but the majority are keen players and have improved. Of the forward line, Miss Williams and Miss Middlemore play well together. Miss Rooke makes an energetic centre-half. Miss Skrine marks her wing well. Miss Cuthbert and Miss R. Warner have played well. Miss Davies-Colley in goal is very reliable and clears hard.

Forwards : Misses Levett, 0. Lodge, Brown,

Middlemore, Williams.

621

BELL, A. M. FLETCHER) Miss Thicknesse, Head of the Settlement during Miss Pearson's absence, kindly gave us an interesting talk about workers and work at the Settlement, and told us of their need of more help. With a view to interesting a wider circle in the Settlement, the Council are holding a drawing-room meeting on March 13 in London, at which Canon Scott Holland will be one of the speakers ; we hope it will be a great success.

—

Half-backs : Misses Skrine, Rooke, D. Lodge.

Backs : Misses Cuthbert, R. Warner.

Goal: Miss Davies-Colley.

Somerville College.

SHARP PRACTICE (President, EVELYN M. BROWN).—This Society has been attempting to discover hidden talent this term. We have listened to many maiden speeches with varying degrees of satisfaction. A curiously materialistic spirit has pervaded the discussion), which made debates on food tabloids and vegetarianism perhaps the most animated. Some of the new speakers show promise of considerable rhetorical power—those who had least to say cloaking their deficiency under an impressive style. It was seldom that both manner and matter were at fault, and many of them will be eagerly sought after by future presidents. At the same time the pillars of the House have not deserted us, and we have listened with delight to the eloquence of ex-Presidents and Officers of Houses more ambitious than our own.

AN Essay Club has been started this term to furnish an opportunity for the discussion of subjects of general interest. There have been two meetings, at which Miss Clay presided. The first paper was read by Miss Morris on Socialism. At the second meeting Miss W. H. Moberly maintained that the extension of the Franchise to Women was a necessary social reform.

ViceHOCKEY CLUB (Captain, S. L. PETERS Captain, Z. WALFORD).—As far as the results of ;

the matches go, the hockey of the term has not been very satisfactory. This may perhaps partly be accounted for by the loss of two or three of last term's best pla) ers, though the lack of combination no doubt accounts for a great deal of the failure.

The practise games which have been played when weather permitted have almost always been energetic and good, which, at a time so near the end of the hockey season, is very satisfactory.

The various members of the 3rd XI. have shown their keenness by starting a voluntary training league. The combination of the 3rd XI. is much improved, but they need to be much quicker on the ball. The znd XI. should also aim at playing a faster game—the ball often wanders down the field without anyone approaching it. The 1st XI. needs above everything to combine more ; there is not enough passing in the forward line, and the shooting in the circle is decidedly weak.

First Eleven.

Forwards: Misses Bolton, Terry, E. Jackson,

Ellis, Walford.

Ralf - backs : Misses Payne, Morgan - Brown,

Shaw.

L.M.H. SETTLEMENT (Representatives, R. E.

Backs: Misses Noakes, Clayton.

Goal : Miss Thompson.

THE FRITILLARY.

622 Second Eleven.

Misses Barrett, Myers, Lyall, Bruce, Dewhurst.

Half-backs : Misses Spicer, Longman, Milward.

Backs Misses Mercier, Klengenstein.

Goal : Miss Lenwood.

Forwards

Third Eleven.

Forwards : Misses Mackie, Jephson, Hansel],

de Zouche, Binney.

Half-backs : Misses Simpson, Harrison, Walker.

Backs : Misses Watson, Johnson.

Goal : Miss Commin.

Matches.

1st XI. v. St. Hugh's, won 2—o.

v. Wycombe Abbey, lost 0-14. v. Lady Margaret Hall, lost 1-4. v. Etceteras, not played. znd XI. v. North Oxford Ladies, lost o—r 0. v. Etceteras znd, lost 1-3. v. Lady Margaret Hall znd, not played. v. St. Hilda's Hall, not played.

3rd XI. v. Etceteras 3rd, won 6-2. v. Lady Margaret Hall 3rd, lost 1-4.

TENNIS CLUB (Secretary, M. SCOTT).—Miss Overend and Miss Wolferstan have been accepted as members of the Central Club.

SHARP PRACTICE (Secretary, D. WOLFERSTAN).

—This term the debates have been good. Great capacity for wit was shown on the motion, " Kissing is a relic of barbarism and should be abolished ; " and for more serious discussion on the motions :—" That it is better to fail in aiming at a million than to succeed in winning a hundred ; " " That the man of letters must be considered our most important modern person ; " and " That the practice of reading postcards addressed to others is reprehensible and dishonourable."

Owing to a certain lack of interest in the Society which was shown in the earlier part of the term by the ist year students, the debates have tended to become too short. An attempt

to remedy this defect has resulted in some slight alterations in the constitution of the Society, In connection with this a motion was brought forward on Friday, the 2nd of March, to the effect " That the silent members of this House do not justify their membership," which caused some of the " silent members " to lift up their voices. The Proposer of this motion, in a few clearly-worded sentences, showed the intention with which the Society was formed, and the practical use which might be made of it.

A fine flow of sarcasm was elicited from the Opposer, who maintained that the silence of certain members was a sign that they " thought the more."

On the whole, the speeches have been thoughtful and to the point.

ARCH/EOLOGICAL SOCIETY

(Secretary,

MARGARET

C. BERRY).—The Society this term has been exceptionally active. The various styles of architecture as illustrated by the churches and buildings in and around Oxford have been studied and afterwards discussed at the weekly meetings.

On February 21st, Miss Jackson opened a discussion on St. Giles' Church, and Miss Harrison spoke about the Bocardo cells which still exist under a shop in the Corn.

On Feb. 28th, Miss JohnstOne read a paper on St. Peter's-in-the-East, and Miss Scott-Thomson on Iffley Church, with special reference to the architectural features.

Christ Church Cathedral and the Ashmolean have also been visited, and early in the term an expedition was made by large numbers of students to Magdalen College.

FIRE BRIGADE.—The principal event in the history of the Fire Brigade this term was the inspection by Captain Symonds, in which both corps acquitted themselves creditably, and from which much was learnt.

The practices this term have been regular, and on the whole well attended. A joint false alarm for both corps was arranged, but unfortunately

THE FRITILLARY. had to be postponed, and has not yet taken place, although it is expected before the end of the term.

Two new students, Miss Williams and Mdlle.

Camicas, have entered the College this term.

623

sion ; and we congratulate Lady Margaret on winning the Cup. The chief feature about our match against the Old Students was the brilliant play of D. Ludwig for them in goal.

The first XI. consists of :Goal: L. Todd.

DURING the course of the term Miss Griffith kindly delivered a most interesting lecture on Ancient Egyptian Art. The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides.

THE kindness of Miss Pattie Upton, Miss Rose Yule, and Miss Alexandra von Herder in giving a recital in aid of the Library Building Fund was also much appreciated.

St. Intgb's bail.

HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, W. WEST ; ViceCaptain, G. HOUGH ; Secretary, L. TODD).— We have played five first eleven matches so far this term, and have lost three and won the rest. v. Etceteras, lost s—a. v. St. Hilda's, won 5—o. v. Old Students, won 3—o. v. Somerville, lost 0-2. v. L.M.H., lost 3-5.

The matches against the Etceteras and Somerville were close and very exciting, both being decided within the last ten minutes of the game.

Against the Etceteras, indeed, we were leading by one goal to nil until the last five minutes, when they scored twice ; against Somerville the game was very fast and even throughout.

We played Lady Margaret Hall in the final round for the Challenge Cup on March 1st. At first we held our own well, and were leading by two goals to one at half-time, but after that the L.M.H. forwards scored several times in succes-

Backs : (right) G. Watson, (left) M. Mack.

Half-backs: (right) G. Hough, (centre) L. Bickmore, (left) E. Duggan.

Forwards: (right) M. Roechling, D. Hammonds, (centre) P. Bowen-Colthurst, (left) B. Scott, W. West.

Reserves : M. Tudor (forward), M. Keeling (half), M. Moberly (back).

Our second XI. is not properly organised, and has only played one match this term, losing that by two goals to one.

The strength of the first XI. lies in its defence ; the forward line is still lamentably weak.

Individually the left back and the left half-back are two of the most useful members of the team, the left back especially playing a brilliant game.

The other halves are also good, while the goal can be safely relied upon in emergencies.

Of the forwards, the centre has not had time to study that place effectively, since " left back " is her proper sphere ; the inners have many faults, principally ineffectiveness in the circle, but the right inner works hard and plays a most useful game, though she should study her place more.

The left inner is at times most disappointing, but combines well with her wing ; she should learn the art of dribbling, and dribbling quickly and sharply. The right wing has improved this term, but is still rather slow and lacking in initiative ; she has learned to pass very well, and is useful in shooting, but her dribbling also needs much improvement.

Fortunately we are leaving our defence unimpaired for next year, with the exception of our goal, so that we may hope to do well in the future. We can look back on this season with some satisfaction, as witnessing a marked improvement in the hockey club.

624

THE FRITILLARY.

The keenness of all members of the club leaves nothing to be desired, and the practices have been good and well attended throughout the term.

(President, L. F. TODD).— This Society has devoted the term to some of Browning's shorter poems. After the first few meetings, which were occupied by Balaustion's Adventure, we embarked on the poems of Special Pleading, from among which we have striven, so far, with Bishop Blougrarn's Apology, and Mr. Sludge the Medium.

Our most enjoyable meeting this term was that which occurred during our Old Students' annual visit to the Hall, when we were delighted to welcome among us a leading member of last year's Browning Society.

BROWNING SOCIETY

SOCIABLES (Secretaries, M. OTTLEY, M. TUDOR).

—Our three sociables this term have maintained their usual vivacity, and we congratulate the Hall on the zeal with which it has supported the lighter side bf life. The muse of dancing still holds our allegiance, owing no doubt very largely to the excellence of our dining-room floor.

New Students.

M. Mack, Brighton High School.

L. G. Bickmore, Bedales School, Petersfield.

SHARP PRACTICE (President, M. CORNISH).— We have had some interesting discussions this term—the first was perhaps the best—" That the novel is ruined as a work of art by having a strong moral purpose." Other motions have dealt with such topics as the Iniquities of the Existing Poor Law, the Disadvantages of Early Rising, and the pressing need for the immediate burial in oblivion of all Dead Languages. On Saturday, February 24th, we had the great pleasure of listening to the eloquence of three Old Students, who gave us the benefit of their experience as a help to decide whether " a little knowledge " is, or is not, " a dangerous thing."

(President, M. L. LARa brief space of time the Society has turned its thoughts from the work-a-day world to contemplate the happy carelessness of the Forest of Arden. The rendering of Orlando was extremely good, " Rosalind " won our sympathy by her realization of the part, and " Jaques " struck the note of melancholy with a truly artistic touch.

The meetings have been well attended on the whole, but now and again we have had to deplore the absence of certain members whom we could ill afford to lose.

SHAKESPEARE . SOCIETY

DELLI).—For

(Captain, P. DE B, F. BOWENboats have not been used much this term owing to so many other attractions.

But in spite of this there are, I think, several members of the Boat Club ready to be 'looked at' for qualification, and we look forward to the summer term to add to our number of qualified members.

We congratulate the new member of our boating club on having mastered the art of swimming, at least the required length of 5o feet, in so short a time as a term and a half, and who is now able to enjoy the unalloyed pleasures of our boat club for the remainder of her time at Oxford.

We hope that other members of the Hall who have not already done their test will follow her example.

BOAT CLUB

COLTHURST).—The

St. lbilba's DEBATING SOCIETY (President, Miss RICHMOND Vice-President, Miss JACQUIER ; Secretary, Miss HAUTRY ; Committee Member, Miss CARTMELLROBINSON).—There have so far been two debates this Term. The first, held on Feb. 6th, was to uphold the motion, That we should return to the simple life. It was proposed by Miss Leeson, and opposed by Miss Jones. The motion was

THE FRITILLARY. won by one vote only, the numbers being 7 to 6.

The " Sharp Practice," which usually forms the middle debate of. the term, was extraordinarily brilliant for that type of debate. Possibly the motion, " That this House regrets the increasing tendency of women to adopt men's professions," appealed in a peculiar way to the Hall, though we were glad to feel that the motion was won by 3 votes.

FIRE BRIGADE (Captain, E. CHAMIES Lieutenant, J. DAVIDSON).—Weekly practices still continue with unabated energy. The new members are gradually becoming quite proficient. ;

625

The match against the Etceteras was not finished owing to a drenching shower of rain.

The results were :v. Etceteras 2nd XI. (match not played out), 2-3.

Challenge Cup Match v. St. Hugh's, 0-5.

LIBRARY.—Several welcome gifts of books have been received since last June, including some from Mr. F. L. Armitage, Mr. Maude, Miss A. E. Webb, Mr. Wells, the Principal, Miss H. Wright, the Vice-Principal, and from Students who went down last year.

Miss M. O'Malley has generously given much time and thought in making a Subject-Catalogue for us, which is very nearly ready for use.

Omitted last Number.

CONGRATULATIONS to E. G. Moore on her first in Literature, and A. M. Chambers on her first, and E. Finlay on her second in History.

have this term been enjoying the first-fruits of our newly-organised Art Club, which has been started with the object of studying in turn the greatest schools of European painting.

The Club has already met six times, and several interesting papers have been read on the Florentine part of the Renaissance. Mr. Armstrong of Queen's College has kindly promised to finish the first course with a lecture on " Italian History of the Fifteenth Century, illustrated by its Art." We are also indebted to several kind friends for the generous number of engravings and photographs which have been lent to illustrate the various papers.

ART CLUB.—We

HOCKEY CLUB (Captain, E. B. DODWELL Captain, E. B. DENKE ; Secretary, K. A. RICHARD).—We have played hockey this term as usual with St. Hugh's at Summertown. There have been only two matches, as the others had to be scratched on account of the weather.

borne ..45tube n ts.

HOCKEY CLUB. Nov. 15th. v. Somerville College II., won 4-0.

Dec. 4th. v. Lady Margaret Hall II., won 3—o.

Dec. 6th. v. High School I., draw i—r.

Jan. 25th. v. St. Hugh's Hall, lost 1-2.

Feb. 28th. v. Lady Margaret Hall II., not yet played.

March 9th. v. High School I., not yet played.

Our record this season began very well, for last term we were unbeaten Our success was very largely due to the addition of Miss Mayhew and Miss Maclean to our playing members.

This term we have lost a most valuable back in Miss Mack, who has joined St. Hugh's Hall, and so was one of our opponents in the first match which we lost.

We are never fortunate enough to have the same eleven in two consecutive matches, but the most regular players so far have been :— !

•

626

THE FRITILLARY.

Forwards : Misses Thatcher, Moseley, Mayhew, Butler, M. Bowditch.

Halfbacks: Misses Maclean, Charles.

Backs : Misses Poulton, Apthorpe ; but Misses Plunket, Merivale, L. Bowditch, T. Harrison, Cornish, and Mack have played in various matches.

Miss Mayhew is as invaluable in the forward line as Miss' Maclean is among the half-backs.

Miss Butler, too, is quite indispensable, for she plays equally well forward, half-back, or back.

Miss Thatcher and Miss Cornish are beginners this season, and have both made considerable progress.

Miss Poulton and Miss Maclean have been playing in the United matches, and Miss Moseley in the United practices.

TENNIS (Hon. Sec., A. V. A PTHORP).—Owing to the superior attractions of hockey at this time of year the Oxford Home Students have rather neglected tennis ; but we have had some outside members to make up the numbers, and the Club is quite a flourishing concern. The Lady Margaret Courts have an unfortunate tendency to become unfit for use just when one most wants to play, but we hope this is only a temporary defect !

ROOM (Hon. Secretary, Miss MAYof any importance has taken place at the Common Room this term. Students have found it, or to speak more accurately, the passage, very convenient as a "garage" for their bicycles while they attend lectures at the Schools.

I wish the number of students at the socials equalled that of the bicycles which are found there every Tuesday and Thursday morning between the hours of r r o'clock and 12 o'clock !

So far there has been only one social, which every member, with the exception of the Honorary Librarian and the Honorary Treasurer, chose to ignore.

But this is not the place to give vent to complaints; another social has still to take place, which is to be unrivalled in its success.

COMMON

HEW).—Nothing

READING SOCIETY (President, MISS CHARLES).— The Society has acquired six new members this term.

Owing to the torpids and other distractions, meetings have not been so well attended as might have been hoped, but those which have already taken place afforded much pleasure to the members present.

The Society is this term engaged upon ' the Tempest.'

POETICAL SOCIETY

(President, Miss M. M.

C.

POLLARD).—The Society has doubled its numbers this term, and evidence of its great future is not lacking. Several foreign students have been admitted, and it has therefore been decided that it shall henceforth be called The Society for the Improvement of International Verse.

A goodly quantity of verse has been read, and the writer of a Psychic Epic, which gave great delight to all members, has been elected comic laureate. Some German, French, and American poems also met with applause. But all is not peace among the poetesses. Jealousies arise in every literary coterie, and ours is not the exception. A Pulcriad and a _Hymn to Sophia or Heavenly Wisdom, written in the manner and metre of the Dunciad, were read at the last meeting of the Society, and testified to the rivalry that exists among us in the race for fame. The wit and venom of these poems were equally great, and needless to say they were much appreciated.

The Society has come to the conclusion that the Fritillary does not provide scope enough for such prolific writers, and has therefore determined to issue a publication called The Unfit, in which all poems that by reason of their magnitude or excessive humour are unfit for the Fritillary may make their appearance.

111Semortant MARY ELFRIDA TYNDALE. "Thou thine earthly task hast done, Home hast gone and ta'en thy wages."

ON

Thursday, February r 5th, we assembled

THE FRITILLARY. and laid her to rest in Holywell, with the sun shining and the birds singing, and we knew that her " earthly task " had been faithfully done from beginning to end. We wondered why we all and the world too, crying out for workers, should be allowed so short a time of her help, strong and unselfish and good as she *as, and excellently equipped in mind and character for good work.

From 1901 to 1904 she was a student, and, always loved by her companions, she took an active part in the social schemes which help to draw our scattered Home Students together. In the summer of 1904, a good Second Class in the Honour Modern History School testified to her ability and work, but her presence at home was so valuable that she did not seek a post away, as she might have done, but took temporary teaching work in Oxford, and was secretary to her friend, Mrs. H. A. L. Fisher, and the Home Students still had the benefit of her help and companionship. Only last January did she leave home to take an interesting teaching post in London, and we heard that already she was greatly enjoying the work.

Then the call came.

B. J. J.

Printed by

627 Recent Appointments.

Miss Crapper, Assistant Mistress, High School, Blackburn.

Miss Garrett, Assistant Mistress, William Gibbs' School, Faversham.

Miss Carver has a private post with a Russian family in the S. of France.

New Students.

Rachel Grant Duff Ainslie, Home Education.

Margaret Poole, Oxford High School and Home Education.

Gretchen Osgood Warren (Mrs.), Home Education.

MAUDE MACK has been transferred to St. Hugh's Hall, and Margaret V. Williams to Somerville College.

JAMES PARKER & CO.,

Crown Yard, Oxford.