No 44.
June, 1908.
EDITORIAL
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PRIZE COMPETITION :ALFRED IN THE PEASANT'S HUT • BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON "EACII AND ITS OTHER" HEREAFTER
737 737
JUNE THOUGHTS
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OXFORD STUDENTS' DEBATING SOCIETY .
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OXFORD STUDENTS' LAWN TENNIS CLUB • 747 OXFORD STUDENTS' FABIAN 747 SOCIETY . . LADY MARGARET HALL ,
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SomEREILLE COLLEGE . 748 ST. HUGH'S HALL . ST. rt-IILDA'S HALL
• 749 749 SOCIETY OF OXFORD HOME. STUDENTS 750
PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS RV JAMES PARKER lir Co, CROWN YARD.
EbitOr : MiSS
GIFFORD,
Lady Margaret Hall.
treasurer Miss
TALBOT,
• Miss Miss Miss
St. Hugh's Hall.
Committee
Lady Margaret Hall. BLAKE, Somerville College. GORDON, St. Hugh's Hall. Miss WEAVER, St. Hilda's Hall. Miss WATKrNs, Oxford Home-Students. DREW,
No. 44. Ebitorial.
A PRIZE has been awarded to Miss M. M. Crump (S. H. H.), for her Alfred in the Peasant's Hut. No synopsis of sufficient merit to gain a prize has been received. The competitions for next term are : A syllabus of the ideal school, and a verse translation, not to exceed twenty-five lines in length. A copy of the original poem must be enclosed with the translation, and competitors are asked to notify the Editor as early in the term as possible if they intend to translate from any language other than Greek, Latin, French, German or Italian. By announcing the competitions this term, the Committee hope to obtain better entries than they have been receiving. The Long Vacation should give everyone time to contribute. They feel very strongly that something should be done to improve the Fritillary, and would welcome any suggestions on the matter. The Editor would be glad to receive and publish correspondence on this topic, or on any other of general interest. It is earnestly hoped that this appeal will meet with some response. We feel sure that the Fritillary is an institution in which past and present students alike are interested, and which they would wish to see flourishing. And we would also point out that unless more contributions are received the standard must inevitably be lowered, or the _Fritillary abolished altogether. We call upon all our readers to help us. •
I
1908.
UNE.
Vri3e Competition. Elfreb in tree 'Peasant's tut. So am I safe awhile ; awhile may rest, And take fresh counsel for the land I love, That like a ship is tossed on stormy seas, Nor finds a harbour from the bloody Dane. My hand is on the helm ; but what am I? A pilot helpless 'mid the threat'ning waves— A king all powerless to withstand the storm. Oh better, better far to be as these That shelter me, who, knowing nought of power, Live out their life and die in quietness. To them at least no nation cries aloud For succour ; as to me who cannot give, Why should I strive when all things seem as lost ? Could I not live and die unknown as they ? And yet—it may be—something tells my heart England may yet be free, and stand as queen Of many nations. Why then, let me fight, Fight on and die, if need be, for her sake. What matter if I fall,. so England rise, And wear her crown in ages yet to be ? M. M. CRUMP (S.H.H.).
toswell's life- of Johnson. MACAULAY, in his definite manner, assigns to the prince of imbeciles an exact place in English literature. " Shakspere," ,he-says, " is not more decidedly the first of dramatists than Boswell is the first of biographers." This is a pertinent expression of a universal opinion. The " Life of Johnson " is indisputably allowed to be the best
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thing of its kind that has ever been produced.. The exact reasons for its success belong to theory and to speculation rather than to fact. Probably no author of a biography before or since has been such a contrast to his subject as was Boswell to Johnson. Some of the charm we ordinary Gullivers find in the " Life " is that we are about midway between the giant-genius of the great man and the Lilliputian idiocy of the parasite. If we must look up to the one for unusual gifts, we can look down on the other for unusual deficiencies. Yet Boswell had many traits which fitted him for his task. Reflected in the mirror of his own work, we see him shallow, vain, silly, and hopelessly failing in proper pride. But he was a -minute observer of men and manners, shrewd in his way—and he worshipped Johnson. He loved him so greatly that no rebuff alienated him, no tongue-lashing deterred him. Self-seeking was not for Boswell ; he lived a life in and for the creature of his adoration alone. His wife's annoyance we can conjecture, but at least her sufferings went to build an infinite pleasure for posterity. A proof of his exceeding love and reverence for his master lies in the mere fact that he could display his idol's faults and foibles in that garrulously candid manner, and yet leave us with an impression of respect and admiration - for Dr. Johnson. The pompous curiosities of literature which the latter saw fit to bestow upon the world might or might not have ensured the halo of greatness which now surrounds their author. The " Life " leaves us in no doubt. Any man who could come practically unscathed through Boswell's ordeal by strong electric light must have been unique amongst men. Johnson loved his biographer, one imagines, much in the same way that a woman loves her lap-dog, except that he bestowed more kicks and less sugar than commonly. For this reason he gave Boswell admirable opportunity for seizing his true character. Human beings are ordinarily perfectly natural and unaffected in the presence of those they despise. Boswell, unlike most depreciated people, was capable and desirous of painting his depreciator's very self in exact.. form and colour. Love urged him on, ,
completing a combination of the most favourable conditions that any biographer could want. Moreover, Boswell criticized his friend as a father and not as a brother, from afar off upon his knees rather than side by side. He was assailed, therefore, by no temptations to jealousy, that great deterrent to faithful contemporary portrayal. Having discussed the connection between the author and his subject in the marvellous " Life," let us turn to Boswell's treatment of the work and the result of his efforts. Mr. Mather in his Life of Ruskin," has said that the chief requisites of style are truth, individualism and life. Boswell attained, or more accurately ebulliently manifested, the first and the last in an unusual degree—the second he omitted altogether. Perhaps this is the heart of the secret of success for biographers. He literally merged his own individualism ; he existed only as an echo of Johnson. Many biographers have contrived to keep themselves out of their books far more than Boswell did, but they have done it by withdrawing rather than by merging their originality. In spite of ourselves, we are drawn to Boswell when we remember that such a little mind could attain to heights of unselfishness and admiration, which have foiled far greater spirits. His descriptions were light in touch, racy and vivid, and that goes far towards attraction. He discerned that what he had to say would always carry interest, and he knew how to say it. The consequence is that all posterity has been admitted to an intimate knowledge of the highest literary circles in the second half of the i8th century. We have referred to his method as portraiture; more truly it might be described as an excellent exhibition of a series of animated photographs. Every set contains Johnson, and again Johnson, but incidentally we are introduced also to his contemporaries and to his age. It is not at all likely that Johnson's friends always grouped themselves in graceful attitudes of hero-worship, or that Johnson himself never lapsed into the worthless platitudes of common men. But Boswell, with true genius, maintained his central idea. Johnson lives for ever as an absolute monarch.
THE FRITILLARY.'
Hark -1 the plash of.Charon's oar Ferrying-o'er. the niournfnl-S ty-i„ On whose drear and dreadful shdre Cerberus his six chops --
Vacb MO Its Otbdr." (With apologies to Professor James' seventh lecture.)
A
Then, a little-Now, And some of false, and some of true, A little knowledge of the world And that is You. LITTLE
-
A little light, a little shade, A little margin tangibly Perceived (the rest is undefined)— And that is hie.
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Lo ! a goodly band he leads, Marshalling in sad array Shadows, whose depressing weeds_ Mark them surely-as our prey. Enter .Charon and Shadows. Minos.—Ha! these are they who form oiwyearly
meed, Who for the past three years—or even Have sported it ,in academic halls, Gladdening the - hours of Youth with -toil and .L.' books ; Though haply not unmixed with lighter:joys : The balm of friendly-converse, healthful garnes, Debate and Practice Sharp, and, best of "all, The cheerful Sociable, where each displays Her varied talent. . . . Or ineptitude. Eacus.— Minos.—Their leissure hours they glad with discourse deep, With harmleSs prattle. . . Or. -with endless.meals. Eacus.— Minos.—And all night long on down' and springy beds Enjoy the welcome time .when restful sleep " Is aery light, -of pure digestion bred." RhadaManthus.—But curb at length thy -rennin iscent vein ; The'shades approach. -See, Cerberus.appeased With tasty sop, and Charon duly fee'd. Our hour is come—and so I hope is theirs. From dreadful doom I trow they'll not esCaPe„ Nor pass from here till to each luckless wight Relentless judgment bath been meted out. brother, brother ! do not be so harsh, For though 'tis true that judged they must be We may acquit them yet. And since they once Were students at that justly famous Hall To Lady Margaret Beaufort dedicate, 'Tis in accordance with our changeless laws That she be summoned here, that she may speak.
A little talk, a few lost words, A reference to the Co-Conscious, A lazy central postulate— And that is Us.
lbereafter, Dramatis Persona. RHADAMANTHUS. MINOS. EACUS. CHARON. CARAKAX. BREKEKEX.
}demons.
CERBERUS.
SPIRIT OF LANGUAGE. SPIRIT OF VIVA. SPIRIT. OF ESSAY-WRITING. SHADES OF THOSE GO-
ING
dOWN.
LADY MARGARET BEAU-
SPIRIT OF POETRY. SPIRIT OF CRITICISM.
FORT.
.
SCENE.—HADES.
Rhadamanthus, Minos Eacus, Carakax, Brekekex, Cerberus. ,
Chorus.—See the day of judgment here !
We, the dread and awful three, Wait for shadows to appear Wond'ring what their fate will be From the gay and laughing earth, To this grey and gruesome grove, From the haunts of joy and mirth Where erstwhile in joy they throve. 2
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•
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On their behalf. Go therefore, Carakax, And bid the Lady Margaret hasten here, T' attend the trial of her votaries. Rhad.—'Tis well, it must be so. But we at least Will summon spirits of another sort. Go therefore, Brekekex, and hither bring Malignant-minded sprites, who shall accuse These maidens, and shall thus ensure their doom. Exeunt Carakax and Brekekex. Chorus of Shadows.
Weary, woeful shades are we ; From the realms of earth we come, Shivering in our misery, Stand before our judges glum. After Schools were over we Thought our agonies were done, But compared with this we see Papers, viva, were good fun. Maidens of the English School, We have studied lierature We have mastered each rule, Till we talk in Gothic pure. Enter Lady Margaret, Carakax, Spirits of Poetry, Criticism, Language, Viva and Essay-writing, Brekekex. Lady M.—Gladly I've travelled from Elysian fields
At your behest, inexorable three, To help my children and protect the right. Eacus.--Come forward, ye who arrogantly boast Your knowledge. Let us hear what others say About this self-same knowledge. We shall see If those who dwelt around you all concur In estimation of its vast extent. (To spirits.) Behold your victims. Ye may now avenge The slights, scorns, insults ye have long endured, Which in their thoughtless hours they joyed to heap On your defenceless heads. Or if perchance Minos.— Not harm but good you lay to their account, Say on, and freely speak your true intent. (Spirits all shout at once.) Rhad.—Peace, prating spirits ! do ye not perceive
That amongst those ye would accuse there stands
One who from presidential chair was wont to quell, With awe-inspiring tintinabulator, The deafening roar of tumult loud which rose When she, in accents calm and clear, declared The motion open to discussion public. An ye thus wrangle 'mongst yourselves, I trow She will assert her sometime power and quench Your fiery zeal, e'en as she oft repressed Poor luckless mortals, who in vain assayed To give their inspiration utterance meet. So one by one voice now your discontent. Spirit of Poetry.—If one alone may speak, let it be I. Am not I chief of all ? for since that I Am of emotion deep the overflow Spontaneous, my pre-eminence is sure. Eacus.—Weary not thus our ears with thy selfpraise, But bring thine accusation speedily. Poetry.—Lo ! that same one that thou dost say will quell us, That very one it is I would attack. Many there be who take my name in vain, Who write odes, ballads, sonnets, for the Frit., Who scribble plays in meaningless, dull lines, And call it poetry because it scans. But she has put me to yet baser use, Thrusting upon me an unwelcome part, Using my sacred numbers to attack The O.S.D.S. Such a task defames My glory, and perverts my usage just. Criticism.—Surely Poetry has already sufficiently exhibited her incapacity for argument. Let me beg that you command her to desist from these sentimental platitudes on her just scope —a subject which has ever perplexed the judgment of her devotees. Carakax.—Listen to Criticism : how he hates Poor Poetry, and always says she prates. Criticism.—I have far better ground for complaint than she, for I, Criticism, have been most infamously defamed by one of the accused. She so far exceeded my legitimate use by the trenchant acrimony of her attacks on her set books, her scathing remarks on Chaucer and her merciless condemnation of the Scandi-
THE FRITILLARY. navian epic writers that my fair name has been brought into disrepute. Language.—For my part, I cannot see that Poetry and Criticism have so much to complain about. It may not be very pleasant to have your aims misunderstood, but I can tell you it hurts far more to have everyone continually breading one's very simplest rules. Minos.—Spirit of Language, do not be so harsh. They would not willingly have hurt you so, Nor aggravated you in any way. Language.—Oh, for goodness' sake, don't say that. I am always being made to suffer by the misuse of that wretched word "aggravated." Even in ordinary conversation I go through agonies, but when it comes to a special study of my growth and development, I never have a moment's peace. To begin with, hardly anyone really likes me, and they will not even try to remember my little ways. I don't wish to be personal, but there are some here . . . . Viva.—Now perhaps I may be allowed to at last say somethingLanguage.—Oh ! oh ! oh ! a split infinitive ! (Faints, and is brought round by demons.) Viva.—Viva always come last, even in Modern
Languages now, but I will have my say. It is very rare for me to find anyone it is a real pleasure to talk to ; for they either sit glum and tongue-tied when they come to me, or else babble incessantly, and make no effort to avoid irrelevant matter. And they will come in their best hats, because they think I like it. One of these shades came to me the other day, and shocked me more than anyone I can remember. Her appearance was modest and maidenly, but her answers were pert, lamentably pert. And really, to see her playing the harmonium, no one would ever have thought it of her. Eacus —Depart now, shadows. Ye have heard what these, Your just accusers, bring against you here. Go then. Your doom shall be pronounced anon, For other shadows now must take your place, Exeunt shadows, wailing. Who yonder wait.
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Enter five other shadows, led by Charon. Chorus of shadows, judges, demons and spirits.
Now the other Schools draw near ; tour sad and downcast mien. Mark their We
They
now filled with dread and fear
Shrink from t
our accusers keen. their
History, two, and only two, Most surprising to relate; Rarely have there been so few, What, oh ! what shall be/our fate ? their Then the two French students come, One of them seems quite " distraite." Finally, there's one Lit. Hum., That is all for 1908. Brekekex.—But soft ! five only come ; there
should be six. What does this mean ? is someone playing tricks ? Rhad—The other comes not here, because that she Studied theology, and thus is not Within our jurisdiction, but has gone Straight to another place. But see, here stand The victims. Do ye now your worst again, Accusing spirits I Essay-writing.—This will never do ! When we consider the manifold and salutary influences at work upon the budding mind of the youthful essayist in Oxford, we cannot fail to be impressed, and painfully impressed, by the lamentable paucity of the resulting material. Criticism.—Mark the preamble ! Essay-writing.—To descend from the general to the particular. Firstly, I would lay stress upon the imperative necessity of a carefully constructed skeleton, to which the writer should closely adhere. Carakax.—Did she say skeleton ? I thought that these Were shadows—yet, so eager we to please, They sure shall not escape us, never fear, For to their side we closely will adhere.
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Essay writing.—Are you all leagued to destroy
Poetry.—Those of the French School now would
the forceful arguments of my exordium ? Twice already have I been interrupted, when as yet I have only reached subdivision I of point- a.—To resume. Secondly, I would point out the beneficial effect of a perusal of -eVery- published work with any bearing, however slight, on the subject in hand, in order.effectually to prevent the possible, though improbable, intrusion of any original idea. And thirdly, I would condemn the regretably prevalent practice, alike detrimental to the value of the essay, and injurious -to. the health of the individual, of leaving its completion until the small hours of the very morning appointed for its delivery; either -by word of mouth, or by the hand of that valuable and reliable institution,•he messenger boy.
I indict. The rules of prosody last year they learnt, And into verses more or less inspired Translated In Memoriam week by week. Which doing, they offended 'gainst my laws, Rhymed singular with plural, put e mute In places where e mute should never be ; In short, they mangled me, and though 'tis so, Year after year, I suffer anguish still, As each succeeding year is taught_my rules. Language.—Their Old French strong perfects . . Rhad.—One other yet remains to be denounced; Does-none accuse ? She studied Liter2 Humaniores, vulgarly called Greats. Eacus.--Hast thou forgotten, brother, that she came Before us once ere now, for this is not Her first offence. She has come up for trial From London University, whereof She was a student and is now B.A. All these then did their worst, and all in vain. Spirits.—Then sentence, judgment, let the doom be spoke ! Lady M.—These were my children and they loved me well, And thus unjustly they shall not be doomed. In silence have I listened to this trial, If trial ye can call it, where are none Called on to witness, save they be adverse. Could ye not then have summoned to your court Spirits who should uphold these shadows all, And speak on their behalf? Why have ye not Called on their fellow-students for their witness ? (Turns to audience.) From these stern judges I appeal to you, To you, who know them all, that ye may say Whether they should be sentenced or acquitted. If ye would have them spared; then join with us In this our chorus, ere we say good-night.
-
,
Eacus.-70f priceless worth though these remarks
may be Yet is the court not met to hear thee prate. Bring forth thine accusations now, or'hold Thy peace, and let some other speak. Essay-writing.—To sum up, therefore, let it suffice for me to_say that, having carefully considered the _benefits accruing from the frequent and systematic concoction of essays, and lightly touched upon the various and deplorable practices which obtain at present, I consider the whole conduct of essay-writing to be in need of drastic reform. ,
.
,
.
•
.
.
.
•the•point, to the point. You have brought .no accusation. Speak out and say what-you have against these shadows. Essay-writing.—Indeed I shall do no such thing. My remarks have beginning, middle and end, and so lOng as an essay has that, what possible need can there befor a point? And I cannot add anything, however necessary, after my peroration. If what I have said in nowise concerns any here, then have I no accusation to bring if there be any who feel they have offended in the respects I mention, their downcast mien will be their best accuser. (Spirits groan and hang their' heads.) •
• •
•
;
•
(Chorus, in which all join.)
For they are jolly good fellows, &c, E. DREW. H. GIFFORD.
THE FRITILLARY. 3une tbougbto. BY AN ENVIOUS ONE. IN the midnight, when your next-door neighbour Plays at marbles just beside the wall, When the one above selects with labour Different spots to let her coalbox fall ; When with shrieks the friends who rake the ember Call each other different kinds of fools, Then there comes the moment to remember How they'll whisper when you're in the Schools. When the scout you know is quite neglecting Truth, declares it's twenty after seven ; Or your eyes, their functions recollecting, Gaze into the glaring face of heaven ; When your door is shaken down with pounding, When your hairpins all behave like mules, Think how till the latest gong is sounding All will leave you when you're in the Schools. When a lecture calls a man a poet Whose remarks are feebler than the birds', When they seem to think you do not know it Just because it won't go into words ; When the gem and crown of all your proses Breaks a hundred non-existent rules, Sit and think, among the falling roses, How they'll cheer you when you're in the Schools. When your scout sends looks of hatred at you, When the simplest of remarks offends, When it slowly dawns upon you that you Chose a table filled with bosom friends ; When your tutor's form by inches freezes, When the friends you trusted turn to ghouls, Then there comes a whisper on the breezes, How they'll love you when you're in the Schools.
Orforb ZttiOents' Zebating Zocietp. May, 1908. President—Miss BELL (L. M. H. ). Secretary—Miss BICKMORE Junior Treasurer—Miss DAVIES - COLLEY
(L.M.H.). THE First Meeting took place on May 5th.
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The motion before the House was :—" That this House condemns the boarding-school system for girls." Mover—Miss RYLE (S.C.). Opposer—Miss BRAMELD (S. FT H Ex-Sec.) 3rd Speaker—Miss SINCLAIR(L.M.H., Ex-Jun.Treas.). 4th Speaker—Miss LINDSAY (S.H.H.).
The Hon. Mover felt herself in a difficult position since she had been herself only a day girl at a large boarclingschool, and was addressing so many who had had actual experience of boarding-school life. Her objections were those of principle only. Of course boarding-schools were in some cases necessary, but she condemned the present increasing tendency to send girls to boarding-schools. Most of her objections applied to boys also. They were the loss of home-life, the unnatural and unhealthy monasticism of boarding-school life; and the loss of parental responsibility. The physical, intellectual and moral development of the child, during the critical period from 13 to 18, is entrusted to teachers whose many duties make individual care impossible, at least in the larger schools. The constant companions of the child are teachers of whom the parents know little, and schoolfellows of whom they know nothing. There is a loss of touch with the outer world ; political and social questions are seldom discussed. The " Public Spirit " said to be developed in boarding-schools, though no less possible at day-schools, is apt to degenerate into a mere athletic spirit. The silliness which is checked at home often flourishes in boardingschools. The difficulties of working at home, often made an objection against day-schools, are inconsiderable and may be surmounted, Miss BRAMELD, the Hon. Opposer, shuddered to think that the Hon. Mover wished to abolish all boys' boarding-schools which have worked so well for years. She objected to the motion as reactionary, after the struggle of the pioneers of women's education. In old days, girls were prepared for borne-life : now they must go out to earn their living : therefore they must learn
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THE FRITILLARY.
independence. School-life fits a girl for the real world, and gives her a sense of responsibility and gradually and insensibly widens her views. In the matter of work it is far better surely that everything should be arranged, and the temptation to shirk avoided. The baby brother at home is not a good companion in work-hours. Loss of parental responsibility is the catch-word of the day. But how can one say that responsibility is lost when the parent pays the fees and chooses the school ? If really irresponsible parents exist, it is obviously better that the child should be away at school. A truly responsible parent should teach the child also. Teachers prefer to see the parents at intervals and not continually. The child's health is far better when she is made to do things and not molly-coddled. In France and Germany there are few boarding-schools and the girls have a poor time. English girls are of a better type now than formerly, and this is mainly due to boarding-schools. Miss SINCLAIR, in speaking third, laid stress on the independence of day-school girls as contrasted with boarding-school girls, and on the quickness learnt by the girl who has to fit her work in. She enlarged upon the Hon. Mover's remarks concerning the companions of schoolgirls. The parents can watch over the friendships of children at home, but not when they are away at a boarding-school. The loss of homelife is irrevocable : the boarding-school girl has no proper experience of home when she is a child ; she misses the day-girl's duties and privileges at home, and only comes home for her holidays ; when she is grown up she very likely has no more such opportunities. The Fourth Speaker had wide experience of both sides. She said that the boarding-school girl had opportunities of forming deeper friendships than the day-school girl ; that in large schools the home-life was preserved by the life in School Houses : that touch with home was in a manner kept up by letter-writing, and that touch with the world was kept up in most schools by a keen interest in politics. The boarding-school girl learns the value of being a membef of a
community and is better fitted as a member of the State in after-life. The motion not being open to public discussion, Miss MACRAE (L.M.H.) pointed out to the Hon. Opposer her erroneous views with regard to High Schools. Girls have a better chance of making friends at day-schools, which are bigger and contain more types. Miss RooKE (L.M.H., Ex-President) had always felt a great failure, considering her very nice school : to-night she had learnt that the cause was the immoral monastic life. The short morning's work, the solid piece of play in the middle of the day, the early bed-time, were all advantages of boarding-school life. At a certain age, children are a worry at home : they do not realise till they go away what home is. Mrs. SIVEWRIGHT (L M.H.) said she believed she was the only member present who spoke as the mother of a girl at a boarding-school. She supported boarding-schools as beneficial to the child and certainly to the parent. Miss SNOW (S.C.) supported the motion. Miss DOBBS (S.H.H.) asked whether boardingschool life fitted a girl for life at home later. Miss ROOKE (L.M.H., Ex-Pres.) made another remark. Miss SKRINE (L.M.H.) answered Miss Dobbs' question in the negative. She said that at boarding-schools public spirit was a necessity to avoid dulness. Miss PETO (L.M.H., Ex-Pres.) spoke of the chances the lonely girl has of making friends with others of her species in the boarding-school. Miss DENEKE (S.H.H.) said that there were many boarding-schools in. Germany. Miss BRAMELD (S.Hil.H., Ex - Sec.) apologised for misinformation from an untrustworthy friend. Miss CLACY (L.M.H.) said that from the point of view of general education, the art of governing and of subordination to authority were better learnt in boarding-schools. Miss BICKMORE (S.H.H , Sec.) applauded boarding-schools as a refuge from garden parties. Mrs. Sivewright (L.M.H.) supported her point. There also spoke, Miss TANQUERAY (L.M.H. )
THE FRITILLARY. Miss DAVIS (S.H.H.), Miss DONCASTER (S.Hil.H.), Miss WINGFIELD (L.M.H.).
The Hon. Mover having summed up, the House proceeded to a Division. The Motion was lost by r9 votes (20-39).
THE second meeting took place on May r9th, when a very full House assembled to welcome our distinguished visitor, Mrs. Creighton, who very kindly came down to speak to us. The motion before the House was : " That the want of enterprise among women is at present the chief obstacle to their progress." Mover—Miss PAXTON (O. H.S.). Opposer—Miss HEATH (L. M.H., Ex.Jun. Treas.). Third Speaker—Mrs. CREIGHTON. Fourth Speaker—Miss BRAMELD (S.Hil.H., Ex-Secretary). The Hon. Mover defined the progress referred to as progress towards a state of rational freedom for women, of equality instead of subjection. Since 1869 there had been great progress, but, until citizenship was opened to women, it was incomplete. The only plausible objection to this was women's lack of interest. The lack of enterprise among women themselves is a barrier to their progress. It shows itself in many ways : few are sufficiently eager for political liberty to combine to obtain it : daughters are not fitted by their education for well-paid employments : women take the first occupation that offers, and do not pause to choose one which is congenial and well paid ; the mediocre woman, who might be busy and useful, is content to be a poor-spirited, unskilled worker ; hence, the markets are over-stocked. Enterprise with sound judgment and co-operation would make us hear less of the wasted lives of unattached women. The Hon. Opposer congratulated herself on agreeing with her opponent as regards the definition of progress. She contended that the obstacle was not want of energy—the Englishwoman's Year Book was a sufficient proof to the contrary— but was a want of proper and ordered knowledge.
745
The subject of woman's physical capabilities was not carefully dealt with; women did not realise the history of their progress or make enough of their present position ; stress was not laid upon domestic science. Every woman ought to learn how to mitigate the horror of Family Dinner. Amid great applause the Third Speaker rose and gave a striking address. The knowledge which the Hon. Opposer said was lacking would exhibit our lack of enterprise as compared with that of the women who made our present position. The present militant fighters are the only body of women now who show that zeal and personal pushing forward which was formerly concentrated in a very small group of people at the right moment and gave us this position. It makes us ashamed to see how easily we use this heritage. Progress means, not power to do as one likes, but a greater opportunity for every individual to realize the best in themselves. The progress we must look for is that men and women should be fellow-workers, and that women's claims to share in the work should be acknowledged. That must be the progress of the coming " Women's Century." To that, lack of enterprise is a hindrance. Most women do not trouble to find out their powers, but drift and enjoy themselves. The natural human being is a pleasureloving animal. But whereas the man is made to work, and is launched out into the world, the woman is kept at home in hopes that "something " will turn up. Girls cannot face unknown circumstances : they love their lair and stay there. English and American women have too good a time : they have not yet shown they can endure hardships with courage ; the women of backward Russia, on the contrary, have from the very first taken their work and risks side by side with the men, as fellow-workers in trying to win the freedom of their country. The fact that there are more women than men in England points to the lack of enterprise of the. former : the men go out into the colonies, but the women stay in England. South Africa is often called "a man's country." Women cannot face the difficulties of a colonising life : they try to live
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an English life and fail : they do not get the joy of the new country and its sense of freedom and they lose a great opportunity. The colonising life is said to be " dull for a woman "—the man has hard work, the woman drudgery. But it is a splendid opportunity for making a circle of light in a distant land. Colonisation should be urged on girls. Again, the Indian life is looked upon as one of pleasure. The woman who goes out to India to be married has no thought of her duties as an Indian citizen. Nearer home, there is much work to be done. The woman with independent means does not see that her position is given her for the purpose of service. One of the few sad results of increased education is the herding together of women : so far there is a greater separation between men and women than before this movement. Women desire too much liberty and independence for the fulfilment of their own wishes : they forget the burdens and responsibilities of liberty. Why should a woman not be a martyr as well as a man ? A woman should not clamour for protection. Women must leave behind their fear and timidity, their traditions and hindering conventions, and must courageously face difficulties and have enterprise. The Fourth Speaker felt it a privilege to be able to thank Mrs. Creighton for her stirring speech on an absorbing subject. The principle was the same on both sides : we seek to find out the chief cause for hindering woman's work so that we may work in the future. We cannot stand still, or the pioneer's work will need to be repeated. Women have enterprise, but it is latent in them : men work, because tradition tells them they must, not because they are enterprising. Women must be educated to do the same : they waste enterprise on petty clubs, &c. They have not learnt the need of co-operation. It is not lack of enterprise but of education that bars their progress. Miss HADOW (L.M.H., Ex-Pres.) heartily agreed with the Third Speaker, but opposed the motion. A more serious obstacle than lack of enterprise now, was the unfortunate inclination to lay stress
on the difference between the sexes and their imaginary opposition and antagonism. Women tried to act as half-developed men. Imitation was waste of time. This antagonism hinders many women. Miss BLAKE (S.H.H.) compared women's progress with the Young Italy movement. A period of rest and adaptation follows naturally on the impetus of the opening movement. Our age is one of patient experiment. Miss BICKMORE (S.H.H., Sec.) said the last speaker had made lack of enterprise synonymous with slowness. Lack of enterprise is not the vital thing, but education. High School education has failed, in that it has not engendered thought. Want of thought is the obstacle. Miss SKRINE (L.M.H.) said that thought and self-criticism among women was too great. Miss DOBBS (S.H.H.) said the last speaker referred to brooding. Real thought was energetic, and came under the head of Enterprise. Miss WORDSWORTH (L.M.H.) rose, amid prolonged cheers, to make a small contribution to the discussion. She said that the real obstacle to women's progress was their lack of ideals. All the great women of the world, such as Isabella of Spain, Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, and S. Teresa, had looked away from themselves, and had worked for some noble end. Women do not look far enough round or deep enough down (applause). Miss JAmisoN (L.M.H., Ex-Sec.) objected to the sharp antithesis between women who go out into the world and those who stay at home. Women do not stay at home for amusement only. There is much necessary work at hOme, and it is neither unworthy nor uninteresting to do everything as well as possible at home, and to add to the beauty and the well-being of the home. Such work is not sufficiently recognized and systematized. It may be just as self-sacrificing as the more obviously applauded professions. MISS DENEKE (S.H.H.) said that the reproach of want of enterprise fell most severely on the trained professional woman : but domestic and economic reasons formed plausible hindrances to her enterprise:
THE FRITILLARY. Miss STOCKS (L.M.H.) spoke for the motion. There also spoke Miss SEGAR (O.H.S.), and Miss SNOW (S.C.). The motion was gained by 7 votes (38-30.
Oxford Students' %awn tennis Club. Captain—Miss WOLFERSTAN (S.C.). Secretary—Miss DREW (L.M.H.). Treasurer—Miss TREE (S.H. H.). MEETINGS have been held at L.M.H. every Friday, and at S.C. every Wednesday this term. Two selection meetings have been held. A match was played at L.M.H. against Oxfordshire on May loth, which resulted in a victory for the visitors. Matches are also being arranged with the London and Cambridge Clubs.
Orforb Students' fabiati Society. President—Miss DESSIN (S.C.). Secretary—Miss ANSON (S.C.). Treasurer—Miss LUSH (S.C.). IT is now a year since, after a lapse of some time, Women Students again joined the Oxford University Fabian Society. The women members have formed themselves into an Inter-collegiate Group, So far one meeting of the O.U.F.S. has been held in Somerville during each term, the speakers including Sydney Webb and H. G. Wells. The Women's Group has planned a course of theoretical study of Socialism for next term, and is .willing to suggest practical work for those who are able to undertake it. M. A. ANSON, Hon. Sec. Women's Group.
747
laby flbargaret TENNIS CLUB (Captain, M. E. 0. BARTLETT ; Secretary, E. A. DREW).—That we have regained the cup we may regard as an indication of decided improvement in the tennis. And it is gratifying to think that the two representatives in the cup-ties are Second Year, and that for another season at least they will be with us. But perhaps our greatest cause for satisfaction is in the increased keenness displayed by players, especially by the First Year, whose task it will soon be to strive to retain the cup we have been lucky enough to win this year. But this keen-. ness must be distinguished from public spirit, which, judging from the scanty attendance at matches, is as absent as it is essential to our future success. We must remember that the Captain has, in spite of her Schools, taken considerable pains to insure that the management of the tennis should not suffer thereby. We deeply regret the temporary loss of Miss Drew, but hope to see her back again next term. All thanks to her and to Miss Austin for their consistently steady, not to say brilliant play. Apart from the cup-ties we have played two matches, losing to Miss Rendall's VI., and winning against Cherwell Hall. The pairs were as follows :—Misses Austin and Stocks, Bartlett and Wingfield, Jobson and Godwin. Miss Stocks is steady and plays a good attacking game. Miss Wingfield has improved greatly during the last season, and with practice should make an excellent player. Miss Jobson sometimes plays an extremely good game, but previous ill-health and the exigencies of her work make her somewhat erratic. Miss Godwin has justified her choice to fill the place left vacant by Miss Drew's absence.
SWIMMING CLUB (Secretary, 0. W. SINCLAIR). —During the favourable weather there has been a good deal of individual practice, and praiseworthy energy has been shown in the early mornings, but members still seem to suffer from inability to meet on any occasion for the purpose of practising. We hope to have two matches :7–
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Saturday, June r3th, v. Rhea Swimming Club in the Rhea, at 2.3o, and Thursday, June 25th, v. Baker Street High School in the Marylebone Baths, at 3.3o.
Somerville College. TENNIS CLUB
Secretary, MISS
SHARP
PRACTICE
(President, H. S.
DAVIES-
House has shown its approval of the Licensing Bill and of our changeable climate, its disapproval of the cap and gown for members of the A.E.W. (by a majority of r), and of Mrs. Pankhurst's policy ; and, at a debate in which several Senior Members took part, its conviction that civilization is not the multiplication of wants. By the kind invitation of Somerville College, a Joint Parliament was held instead of our second Political Meeting. A Town-Planning Bill for Manchester was brought in. COLLEY).—The
ESSAY CLUB (President, D. BoND).—At the four meetings of the above Society held this term, the subjects have been taken from the distant realms of Poetry and Ideals, in which general discussion has somehow failed to move with ease. The remarks of some members have unfortunately been so subdued as to fail to be available to the general public. Papers have been read by Miss Rooke on " The Mutual Influence of Wordsworth and Coleridge," by Miss Davies-Colley on "A Tenth Century Idealist," and by Miss Drew on " Lady Winchelsea : a Woman-Writer of the Eighteenth Century." At the last meeting Miss Wordsworth very kindly read up a paper on the subject of " The Church and Social Progress."
(Captain, H. GIFFORD ;
ViceSummer Term is not favourable for morning practices, as there are so many other inducements to early rising. We have, however, had one alarm ; some members are still far too slow in dressing. - There has also been a chute practice this term. Here the brigade made good time, going down at the rate of thirteen to the minute. FIRE BRIGADE
Captain, K.
TANQUERAY).—The
(President, Miss H. PELHAM PEARSON ;
WALTON ;
Treasurer,
Miss FLETCHER).—The first year students have shown a good deal of keenness, and there are some promising players among them. Miss Renold and Miss Fletcher have been elected members of the Central.
Champions: Miss Wolferstan, Miss Renold. 2nd Couple Miss H. Walton, Miss Fletcher. Matches. v. Reading, 1st couple (v. 1st couple)
setts o. (v. znd couple) z setts o. znd couple (v. 2nd couple) o setts 2. (v. -Est couple) I setts 2. v. Alexandra Tennis Club, Ist couple (v. 1st couple) o setts 2. (v. znd couple) o setts 2. znd couple (v. znd couple) I setts 2. (v. 1st couple) o setts 2. 2
v. Westfield. Not yet played.
(Prime Minister, H. M. ECKHARD Leader of the Opposition, F. MACRAE).—
PARLIAMENT (S.C.) ;
A joint Parliament of Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall was held on May 12th at Somerville. A Manchester Corporation Bill, which contained proposals for a town-planning scheme, payment of municipal officers, and a more thorough system of inspection, was introduced by the Liberal Government. The Bill passed the second reading, but was hotly debated in committee, and most of the clauses were emended or rejected. The experiment of a joint Parliament proved a great success.
ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY JACKSON ;
Secretary,
(President, Miss Treasurer,
Miss GULLIVER ;
Term the Society has made a detailed study of Norman Architecture, and expeditions have been made to examples in the Miss UPCOTT).—This
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750
Tournament, in, which the Principal offered prizes to the best couple. The winners were Miss Doncaster and Miss Cooke.
BOAT CLUB (Captain, J. DAVIDSON).—The snow
and floods robbed us of a fortnight on the river. Since then we have been out on the upper Cherwell in the boat, and on the lower river in the punt and canoe. Several mornings lately a ' four ' has been out for practice on the Isis. First-year people have been working hard in view of becoming half-captains and captains. H. Doncaster has qualified as half-captain of the boat, F. Brain and M. Buck as half-captains of the punt, M. Odeh, F. Brain and G. Ben as canoe-captains. Several others will probably qualify before the end of the term. FIRE BRIGADE.—(Captain,
M.
S. GRICE ;
Lieu-
practices have been held. The Brigade has reason to congratulate itself upon the new lieutenant, exCaptain of the Fire Brigade at St. Hilda's College, Cheltenham.
tenant, G.
M. WEAVER).—Regular
ART CLUB (Secretary, G. E. EASTON).—As is usual during the Trinity Term, the meetings of the Art Club have been reduced to four, and there has been no open lecture. The artists studied during this term's course have been Millet, Rosa Bonheur, Landseer, Holman Hunt and Ford Madox Brown; and we are looking forward with much pleasure to a paper by Miss Burrows on Millais and Rosetti. The tendency has been lately slightly to shorten the papers and to show fewer pictures, a plan which makes the weekly meetings even more enjoyable than hitherto, by enabling the audience better to remember what they have heard and seen. The work for next Term is still unsettled, but we are hoping for an open lecture by Mr. Whitworth Wallis of the Birmingham Art Gallery.
DEBATING SOCIETY (President, A.
BLAKE;
Vice-
President, I. BRAmELD Secretary, B. COOKE Committee Member, N. NAoRon).—Two Sharp
Practices have been held this term. At the first the motion before the House was that : " The cause of temperance is furthered by the man who drinks temperately rather than by the man who does not drink at all." The cause of total abstinence found the greatest number of supporters. At the second practice, after a good many deep and philosophical speeches, the House decided, "Better strife and wrong-doing than a torpid life."
Soctetv of Oxfort) 'borne Ztubents. HOCKEY CLUB.—At a meeting held in the Common Room on June 1st, Miss M. E. Tyndale was elected Captain, Miss F. Maclean will support her as Vice-Captain, Miss. B. Gray as Secretary. To our great satisfaction, Lady Margaret Hall has very kindly promised us one practice a week with them, which will no doubt improve the powers of combination of our team. A few special practices with the Etceteras will also, if possible, be arranged in the course of the term. It is to be hoped that many new and zealous members will join the club.
TENNIS CLUB
(Captain,
C. CRUTTWELL).—The
Tennis Court this term has been much used, in spite of the counter attractions of the river. Members play usually in the early afternoon. O.H.-S. members have taken their part in playing for the cup-ties, &c. There have also been one or two members not belonging to the O.H.S. The ground is in very good condition.
SHARP PRACTICE.—Only two meetings of this Society were to be held this term. The first has already been held in the garden of Holywell Vicarage, when eleven members were present. The respective advantages of older and younger
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751
members of a family was the subject under discussion, and the debate was well maintained, and in somewhat unusual fashion kept steadily to the point. The last meeting will be held on June isth, to which all Home-Students are invited. It is to be hoped that some new members will show themselves ready to support the Society in the coming term. Miss Segar, Miss Watkins, Miss Paxton, and Miss Swinburne have already held the positions of President and Secretary.
second. Great courage was displayed in the first choice (Ibsen's " Pretenders "), considering the scanty number of copies possessed by the members, and the terror with which Norwegian names seem to inspire some of them. Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man" received a more sympathetic rendering, and revealed unexpected " Shawian " characteristics in some of the persons present
DRAMATIC SOCIETY (President, Miss PLUNKET). —Two successful meetings have been held, Miss Tyndale and Miss Maclean acting as hostesses on the first occasion, and Miss Moseley on the
New Students. Margaret Gertrude Ella Bailey, St. Cuthbert's School, Southbourne. Charlotte Alner Simpson, private tuition,
• —.sr
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