The Fritillary, March 1916 by Oxford Women's Colleges Hub

No. 67.

MARCH.

1916.

CONTENTS. PAGE EDITORIAL ... A REVIEW OF MODERN DRAMA A PROSE FANTASY

BALLADE THE VOYAGE OF SLEEP ... THE DEATH OF TINTAGILES NIGHT ... REPORTSO.S. D.S. ... O.S.U.H.C. 0.S.L.C.... THE HUNDRED MOOT

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OXFORD UNIVERSITY SOCIALIST SOCIETY

U.D.C.

HALL NOTICES:LADY MARGARET HALL

THE increase in the number of contributions received by the Fritillary this term was most encouraging. The general standard of the poems and articles submitted was higher than usual, and the larger number of entries for the competitions augurs, it is hoped, a decided growth of interest on the part of the readers of the magazine.

SOMERVILLE COLLEGE ST. HUGH'S COLLEGE ST. HILDA'S HALL OXFORD HOME STUDENTS

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particular trend. It is shallow criticism that has neither enthusiasm nor any guiding principle. No prize has been awarded for the review of the Death of Tintagiles, but it is published in this number as being a critical essay of a somewhat different type from those usually received by the Fritillary. It is a deliberately interpretive study, of an independent and suggestive nature, and the writer's intense interest in the subject is evident.

A NURSERY RHYME.

There was, unfortunately, only one entry in this class, and it did not satisfy the requirements of a nursery rhyme, so no prize has been awarded. It should be remembered that the final arbiters of excellence are, in this case, the denizens of the nursery. A nursery rhyme, like a ballad, defies definition, but its essential elements are seen in such favourites as Old King Cole,' and Hush-abye Baby on the Treetop,' and ' See Saw, Margery Daw.' It is an ancient but not a lost art. II.

...

SUFFRAGE SOCIETY

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lEbitoriat.

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(continued)— X CLUB

REPORTS

A REVIEW OF MODERN DRAMA. It appeared from the entries received that this title permitted of a double interpretation. Of the three reviews sent in, two chose to consider it in its widest sense, and one considered a particular modern play. The prize was awarded to Miss Byrne, Somerville College, for a review dealing with the folk-tragedy in modern drama, the conclusions drawn being very clearly and definitely put. The constructive power shown was considerable, and the illustrations were chosen with genuine discrimination. The other review, dealing with modern drama in the wide sense, was superficial in its attitude, and badly constructed. The writer showed no appreciation either of modern drama as a whole or of any

III.

A PROSE FANTASY. A fantasy is a term of no rigid definition, and this was very apparent from the diverse natures of the entries in this class. The prize was awarded to Miss Ellis-Fermor, Somerville College, for a finely-wrought piece of prose : it is neither strained nor bizarre, and the writer keeps the ideal of le mot juste always in mind. Of the remaining entries, one, The Lonely Inn, had no distinguishing merits, and an unfortunate predilection for bridging lacunae with dots ; while the other three, Freedom, Beech Trees and A Phantasy were all somewhat invertebrate and formless. The type of vagueness manifested in these three is not an attribute of the fantasy : Alice in Wonderland is a fantasy, and so is Sartor Resartus, and so is Childe Roland. The style in each case lacked concentration, while that of A Phantasy verged at times on the illiterate. Three prizes of io/- each are offered for the following competitions :I. A sequence of short poems ; The Apparition, by Stephen Phillips, gives a good idea of the approximate length required both in each individual poem and in the sequence. Sonnet sequences are not eligible, but no

THE FRITILLARY. restrictions as to metre, subject, or number of lines are placed upon competitors.

II.

A new Ingoldsby Legend entitled The Old West Road.

A Review. III. All entries for the above to be sent direct to the Editor on or before the second Monday of the Trinity Term, and to be signed with a nom-deplume only, the name of the competitor being enclosed in a sealed envelope. The Editor reserves the right to withdraw any or all of the prizes, or to divide them, or alter the amount. We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of The Girton College Magazine and The St. Leonards' School Gazette. Miss Ellis-Fermor, Somerville College, has been elected Editor for next year, and will act as Sub-Editor next term.

'Review of Mobern Mraina. How far it is legitimate to interpret the above title in the following way is certainly debatable ; taken literally it conjurs up for the mind's eye a varied panorama about which it is fascinatingly unsafe to generalize : taken literally again, but more narrowly, it invites the curious to speculate as to what is likely to prove the most enduring achievement of modern drama. This at once plunges writer and reader into an atmosphere of controversy and personal standpoints, but such debate about modern literature has its own obvious merits : hence the liberty—if liberty it actually is —that has been taken with the title, and such the question put. The achievements of modern drama in several departments are undoubtedly great : but it will probably not occasion much dispute to assert that the dramatic genius of the age is eminently tragic, speaking i0 cosmopolitan terms, or, as at present, with reference solely to the playwrights of the English and Irish theatres. They have surveyed all neighbourhoods, from Quality Street to Bye Street, and it will always be impossible to discount the value of the ' Wilde sparkle,' of idylls like The Travelling Man or Sweet Lavender, of the satire—and the other things—of The Playboy of the Western World, or of a fantasia like The Pigeon: but it is here contended that the most consummate, original, and enduring achievement of modern drama is its production of what one may most conveniently term the folk tragedy. The number of these plays is not large, but it is not proposed here to consider more than the three

which at present seem the best of the type, with especial concentration upon the most perfect of these three. The plays are Riders to the Sea by J. M. Synge, Birthright by Mr. T. C. Murray, and Nan by Mr. Masefield. Considered purely as drama any comparison of their relative merits can be based only on personal preference : considered in the particular, however, as folk tragedies, the victory is to the Irish writers, and primarily to J. M. Synge. That this is only natural a consideration of the nature of such tragedy will show, and therefore the most credit as an artist is due to Mr. Masefield, for the difficulties he had to encounter were incomparably greater. The Irish writers have the advantage in temperament, material and technique. To deal with the last point first, they are all three instinctive dramatists : what is more, they are also finished dramatists. Their actual technique is remarkable : the speech of these plays is the very perfection of modern dramatic language : it is the natural idiom, yet no forced dialect : it is nervous, subtle, musical, and extremely flexible, made up chiefly of short detached sentences as in the manner of most people's natural speech—a splendid medium for capable actors ; no one who has seen Nan acted can forget the vivid beauty and power of old Gaffer Pearce's description of the Bore in the Severn : For first there come a-wammerin' and a-wammerin'. Miles away that wammerin' be. In the sea. The shipmen do cross theirselves. And it come up. It come nearer. Wammerin' Warnmerin' ! 'Ush it says. 'Ush it says. And there come a girt wash of it over the rock. White, white. Like a bird. Like a swan a-gettin' up out of the pool.' Taking into consideration the necessities of dialect, and of character, this passage is a masterpiece, but to the Irish writers a coloured rhythmic prose is their natural heritage one has only to consult J. M. Synge's notebooks—in this case The Aran Islands—to realise the truth of this, and to see that the way his characters speak, the very ideas and sentiments they utter, are the speech and the things he heard daily. In his case the material was lying ready to hand, vivid and rhythmic already, hardly needing any transmutation ; this does not detract from its real beauty, but it helps to show the disadvantage under which any English dramatists must labour, for the English peasant dialects cannot compare in this respect with the Irish ; yet, in Nan, Mr. Masefield has triumphantly worsted his difficulties. One realises very clearly in reading these three plays that the folk tragedy is essentially the tragedy of fact, pure, crude fact that is how things are ; these writers have no underlying idea of reform—they know too well that the folk tragedy is instinctive, racial, inevitable. But here :

•

THE FRITILLARY. again the Irish mind starts at an advantage : being profoundly unsentimental it sees the peasants as they are ; the English mind, on the other hand, is too apt to call them the lower classes,' and to study them from a sentimental altitude. Mr. Masefield has again triumphed, for he neither debases nor idealises his peasantry : he can study their cruelty in the way Synge does in The Shadow

of the Glen. Finally, with regard to material the Irish writers have everything in their favour : the tragedy of the folk springs from the simple primal emotions, and the most elementary principles of being ; the spread of the towns in England has practically everywhere modified the conditions under which such tragedy arises, and has introduced an alien complexity of motive. It is significant that Mr. Masefied places his tragedy in the year 181o, and founds it upon an incident a century old. In Ireland, however, the dramatist can still get his material at first hand ; things still happen as they do in Birthright : men like Bat Morissey still wrestle a living from a cold, poor place, with more o' the rock, an' the briar, an' the sour weed than the sweet grass ' ; men who can cry like Bat An' maybe you'd tell me now again who drained the western field that was little better than a bogâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an' who built the strong fences an' planted the thorn on themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an' who made the land kind where the grass was that dry an' coarse you'd think 'twas the strings o' the lash on that whip I've been out in the darkness beyond before the dawn, an' remained stuck in the trench an' the furrow all day, till the black darkness came on me again, and the moon come up and the faintness on me that I couldn't walk into this house for staggering no better than a cripple or a man that would be drunk And above all in the Aran Islands, those outposts of an older civilization,' where Synge lived when he went back to Ireland, life is still the simple thing with the few essentials that it is in Riders to the Sea, which is founded on an incident that actually occurred, and came to his notice whilst living there, and which seemed to him to typify the life of those islands. There can be no doubt as to whether the English or Irish authors are working under the more favourable conditions, and it would be strange if the most perfect example of the folk tragedy had not been produced in Ireland. It is in the nature of a folk play that the background should figure to an extent that might be easily thought misplaced in another type of drama. In these three plays landscape painting is no mere dab of local colour : it is a strong, ever-present feeling that has wound itself into the life of the people, tinging all their thought, and showing itself continually in their speech, as it does, for example, in the above passage from Birthright, and the one from Nan. But in Riders to the Sea .

it is surpassing : the sense of the great sea is in every line of it : in the first few minutes of the action we feel its force. ' Is the sea bad by the white rocks, Nora?' Middling bad, God help us. There's a great roaring in the West, and it's worse it'll be getting when the tide's turned to the wind.' And then the strange wonderful inevitability of it all : It's the life of a young man to be going on the sea And old Maurya's cry : In the big world the old people do be leaving things after them for their sons and children, but in this place it is the young men do be leaving things behind for them that do be old.' The scene is localised to an extraordinary degree to that wet rock in the Atlantic,' Inismaan, the middle island of Aran ; but here is the triumph of the folk tragedy, and there is nothing narrow or localised in it : If it was a hundred horses or a thousand horses you had itself, what is the price of a thousand horses against a son where there is one son only?' The question of character in these plays is of great interest in relation to the consideration of them as folk tragedies. In all three the delineation is of the very best ; considered without reference to the nature of folk tragedy Mr. T. C. Murray would seem to excel. Bat and Maurya are wonderful creations, and Hugh and Shane, though not so elaborated, are touched in with the same firm, sure hand. Mr. Masefield, too, has carried out his conception of Nan herself with a beautiful precision, while the other figures in his play all stand out vividly as very distinct personalities. On the contrary, in Riders to the Sea no one person stands out more than another to demand the sympathies of the audience. This is not to say that they are not individualised : Synge is a past master in the art of character drawing, and he does it with an imaginative and artistic economy that is little short of the miraculous : but it is the tragedy of the folk he shows, not of the individual, and so he is true to the simple outlines of the thing, whereas both Mr. Masefield and Mr. Murray have permitted a complexity of motive and matter to enter that he carefully eschewed. The sympathy of the audience is all focussed on Nan herself : in Birthright Mr. Murray has won its sympathies for all his characters, and thus introduced the more subtle note of the tragedy of personality. There are numberless points of detail in connection with these plays that tempt one to linger indefinitely over their examination, and to explore the byepaths thus laid open. To fall into such temptation, however, would be to obscure the main issue, the consideration of them as folk tragedies. .

THE FRITILLARY. Most ages are famed in after days for some particular branch of dramatic art : the time of Dryden is the time of the heroic play : a later age boasts the comedy of manners. Unless to succeeding generation the present age should seem to rival that of the Elizabethans for versatility, and become remembered not for any particular type but for the drama itself, it may safely be assumed that out of the accumulation will be selected not the contributions to questions of the moment, but a type of play whose interest will be perennial. Plays like Widower's Houses—however important in their own day—are bound to become something in the nature of literary curios, if Mr. Shaw has written to any effect at all. But the folk tragedy will live, because it deals with the unalterable things : it is the tragedy of the simplest and most fundamental human relationships : it is the tragedy •of birthright, of the sons who go down to the sea ; it is the tragedy of the community. Social problems alter from day to day : but the folk remains, and its tragedy. M. S. BYRNE (Somerville College).

his steel feet, his step was heavy and firm. His eyes shone ; and so he passed out from the shrine.

. . . And then comes a puff of wind borne on wide wings across the freshening evening air ; from the net-work of a poplar tree against a sky dove-grey and golden ; from the slow mist stretching up from the earth ; from the windy spaces and scattered clouds in the sky there is borne something of the youth and the strangeness of evening. Mists of confusion half reveal forgotten things. It is borne from the open mysterious plains, it is the voice that calls out of the evening. It pants from the ruddy light in the east from the glow in the west ; it breathes out of the moving of those world-old clouds ; it whispers in the tracing of spring branches against the pale, liquid blue. It is the grip of things that have always been and that will go on for ever. *

The Church was very dim, for there was little light outside and only a few candles within. He came forward slowly without his armour, for cuisses, greaves, habergeon he had laid aside. His head was uncovered. His hair curled back from his forehead ; it was damp where the helmet had pressed it. He was hot, very earnest. In the gloom there was yet light enough to fall upon the outline of his chin and features. He quivered slightly and his hand grasped the sword hilt. There was a movement of his shoulders and back through the leather coat. His throat moved. He stood upon the upper step in the half light. Behold he was very human. He prayed and then moved back a step. His sword clanked against

Beyond lay the brown shoulder of open hillside. Intense heat hung upon the land except that a faint breeze blew in from the sea. A lark sang, continuously. Over the long, green edge of the close grass showed the sea, blue with heat. The waves beat slowly, out of sight, below. But for the lark's note and the sound of the creatures that sang among the bushes, this soft surging filled the air. And, in this South England May, Sir Galors lay upon the close, hot grass among the daisies, and the hot blue sky closed him round about and hung over him, so that he neither had the power to move nor wished it while he watch the soft, brown inland fields and heather. But when he turned and watched the blue sea moving and felt the cool breeze that blew up from it and saw the grey gulls, too lazy to fly, couched upon the turf upon the head of the cliff, then his heart stirred strangely in him at the message the great western ocean gave. So all of one day he lay there beneath the grey castle.

'Prose rantasv.

' What is the subject?' Oh,' to misquote my author, Vous le rencontrerez. . . . c'est partout. C'est, si vous voulez —le roman.' U. ELLIS-FERMOR (Somerville College).

iSallabe. I leaned my head upon my hand And closed the book at dusk of day, And all my thoughts, a gallant band, Got them to horse and rode away, By three and three, in brave array, To faery-land they all are gone ; This was the word the book did say : ' King Arthur sleeps in Avalon.' And when they came to the salt sea strand They found a little barge, that lay All rudderless upon the sand ; Then up they hoist the sails so gay ; Out of the east the breeze did play, Rosy the westering sunlight shone, Yea, Each whispered to the other : King Arthur sleeps in Avalon.' And when they came to the faery land They met the horseherd clothed in grey, And smote him with a magic brand Lest he should lead their feet astray ; Green was the hill as buds in May, Round as the world to look upon, There, by the carbuncle's red ray, King Arthur sleeps in Avalon.

THE FRITILLARY. He never dreams of war's dismay But of his court at Carlion, Watched over by the queen of fay, King Arthur sleeps in Avalon.

DOROTHY L. SAYERS.

7:Me Voyage of _Steep.

Quick! ere they know ! if they heard us breathing, how they would leap at us, swift and blind, Scream like parrots with baffled rage, or cunningly crouch and snuff the wind! Now, ere the Nightmare's on our trace, Away through the surf in a frenzied race, Till the Isles are lost in the mists of Space, and the sound of the dance grows faint behind.

I. The night draws in, the rain has come That hung all day above the hill ; Down the street with the noise of a drum, Rub-a-dub on the window-sill. The candle is my harbour light, My bed the boat where I embark, And on the middle tide of night I slip my moorings in the dark.

V. On where the night so blackly rolls That scarce the straining eye can see Where rocks of death, uncharted shoals Lurk close in murderous secrecy. Only the lantern at the mast Burned in that sea without a name, A lurid ring of witchfire, cast On inky whirlpools, flecked with flame.

II. And ah ! the dim delicious fear That mariners of midnight feel— The quick exultant thrill to hear Soft tides of blackness sweep the keel. The bars across the nursery grate— What wild adventures lurk between, In caves where old sea-serpents wait Whose lidless eyeballs glint with green.

VI. The utmost island dropped behind, Yet as the waters came between We heard a song that seemed to wind Drearily from some tower unseen. Each note re-echoed its complaint, Most pitiful, most musical, Like footsteps far away and faint, Pacing some long-deserted hall.

III. The cliffs grow far, the lights dip down, The flood is racing for the main ; The noises of the Bedtime Town Grow dull as sounds within the brain. Instead the beat o' the surge again, And the strange sea-birds' cries ; About my hair the rush of rain And night flung headlong in the eyes.

This was the Song : Return! you do amiss To hold yourself from me, Less constant to your faith in this Than you were wont to be.

IV. Where skyline and horizon fade My boat drives on, my boat draws near, Till, 'neath the ravelled fringe of shade The well-remembered shores appear. Reflections of their radiance stream To crest the waves with fainter fire,— A pathway for a drifting dream That seeks the Isles of Lost Desire.

Soon will the hour be Soon, soon, the taper spent. Thus to depart, and all undone Is false to your intent.

Over the shingle the prow ran up, and ground, nose-down, in the glist'ning stones, While the wind went by with a ghastly cry that dropped in wailing semitones ; And the light of the moon showed all things queerlyAh ! but was it the moonlight merely Made them gleam for a mile long, nearly the horrible Beach of Dead Men's Bones ! .

Up unsteadily jerk the skeletons, cut-throats all of the Pirate fleet, Dancing over the ribs of wrecks, while the sea fog drops like a winding-sheet, To the .rattle of chains, and the blood-red bangles' Clink, as the wind in them jars and jangles, Save where the lithe wet weed entangles shrivelling sinews, strengthless feet.

For you the wine is red, The slow-swung censers burn,— The dawn-star brightens overhead— Why will you not return?'

VII. As if the song had power to charm The fierce delirium of the sea, Its waters faded to a calm And flowed together silently.

THE FRITILLARY.

Silently too, on either side, Rose shapes of shadowy palaces, That scarce the boat was felt to glide 'Twixt walls as white as marble is.

VIII.

Ube Eeatb of Cintetottes. (M. MAURICE MAETERLINCK). The fame of M. Maeterlinck is, of course, firmly established in England here, as on the Continent, he is always spoken of as one of the greatest dramatists of the age. The basis of this fame, however, is, in this country, not perhaps as satisfactory as it might be the suspicion arises that, apart from the critic and the professed reader of drama, he is apt to be regarded as the author of that pretty play, The Blue Bird.' The Blue Bird does not trouble its average audience very much the children are slightly disappointed, and disturbingly conscious that more is meant than meets the eye : the parents are pleased with the pretty allegory,' and are conscious of a superior understanding. With his other plays this is hardly the case : they are not—' pretty ; they are strange—so strange, in fact, that it is exceedingly easy and tempting to make fun of them. They are apt to puzzle their admirers for a long time the average audience has neither time nor inclination to be puzzled, and so dismisses them a little condescendingly. This is hardly to be imputed to the audience as a fault ; it is very possible to enjoy The Blue Bird without having read a word of Swedenborg, or without being aware of the symbolist movement amongst a certain group of modern writers without knowing that M. Maeterlinck is one of this group, and bases much of his thought on Swedenborg's Science or Doctrine of Correspondences, or without knowing that the play is not an allegory, but the most finished and beautiful symbolist drama M. Maeterlinck has produced. It is also possible to enjoy The Death of Tintagiles or Alladine and Palomides without this knowledge, but it is hardly possible to enjoy them, and it is certainly impossible fully to appreciate them, unless the attempt to interpret them allegorically is cast aside ; M. Maeterlinck is a symbolist writer, and The Death of Tintagiles—said to be his favourite play—is essentially symbolic : it is a fact upon which too much insistence cannot be laid. There are two ways of regarding this play it is quite possible to take it at its face value, so to speak, and to understand it as just what it appears to be—the death of the child Tintagiles, under awesome and mysterious circumstances. This, at any rate, is preferable to taking it as an allegory of the soul and death—a theory apparently favoured by several modern critics. It is, however, hardly satisfying ; without any undue desire to read into the play a significance deeper than is meant by the author, it is only natural and legitimate to assume that in a play by M. Maeterlinck there will be symbolism, to a greater or less degree ; and it is a fair inference ;

Darkling we caught the mystic gleam Where trees luxuriant from their fold Dipped slender branches to the stream, Freighted with fruit of wondrous gold— Through gateways, wrought of twisted brass, What rapturous vistas might we trace ! But high above engraven was The name of that enchanted place. This was the Engraving Seek not to force, with rust-worn keys The Garden of Dead Years Wherein dwell bygone memories, Forgotten dreams and fears, Like drowsy swarms of velvet bees, Drenched deep with phantom tears. :

From faded flowers of yesterday They rise on twilit wing, With honey-dew of that decay And honeyed murmuring. But when the sweet is drained away How bitter sharp they sting !

/X.

Slowly the waters wound their ways Through silver-fountained colonades Yet these, too, melted from our gaze As elfin music fails and fades. We knew not when they ceased to flow, Diffusing imperceptibly, Nor where we entered, soft and slow, The infinite ocean of the sky. ;

X. Up, with the swinging of a rhyme, Sudden as light, more swift, more free, All thought of space, all sense of time Drowned in a tide of ecstasy— Across the foam of cloudy bars, Past Sirius and the magic Seven, To set white feet among the stars And touch the very ports of Heaven. XI. But see ! the Bird of Sunrise soon Trails his bright plumage in the East, And down we plunge, past sun and moon, A million million miles at least The candle is my harbour light, My boat rocks homeward from the main, The shadows scatter with the night, And morning fills the world again. D. H. R. .

THE FRITILLARY, —if one is not completely satisfied with the surface meaning, but has only a partial or subconscious apprehension of the graver things—that this obscurity is due to the symbolism ; we live within the shadow of a veil that no man's hand can lift. Some are born near it, as it were, and pass their lives striving to peer through its web, catching now and again visions of inexplicable things.' For the consideration, therefore, of those who are dissatisfied with any allegorical interpretation, yet cannot wholly accept The Death of Tintagiles at its surface value, the following hypothesis is put forward, though tentatively and in all humility, from a purely personal and entirely unauthoritative standpoint. After some twelve months' acquaintanceship with the play, and much re-reading, a chance phrase suddenly gave the clue. A child in the dark' : the words instantaneously took on an intense allusive significance, and, though in its crude state still merely allegorical, provided an explanation at least less forced than that of the soul-and-death theory, with the merit of being both more comprehensive and consistent. The more it is considered the more overpowering becomes the conviction that this little drama is representing the feelings of a child in the dark ; it explains, as no other theory does, the curious way in which the child Tintagiles is not, so to speak, en rapport with the older people in the play : it explains, too, their appalling inability to help. It would be useless to adduce quotations, as it were, in support of this idea : in such questions laboured proof can be of small avail, and no amount of argument will win a convert if sceptical. If this premise be admitted, however, the conclusion yet to be drawn will probably be admitted also. A child in the dark is obviclusly no mere arbitrary or accidental symbol : it is, as one would expect, a natural symbol, for M. Maeterlinck always uses natural symbols for his more vital ones : vital, that is, in so far as regards the interpretation of his work. Here it was that De Quincey supplied the final clue. Most readers of the Confessions of an English Opium Eater will remember the passage that runs : If in this world there is one misery having no relief, it is the pressure on the heart from the Incommunicable. And if another Sphinx should arise to propose another •enigma to man— saying, What burden is that which only is insupportable by human fortitude? I should answer at once, It is the burden of the Incommunicable.' And there is no more exquisitely just and beautiful symbol of this mystery and burden of the Incommunicable than a child in the dark. De Quincey himself, let it be noted, appears to hint at this very symbolism in the same paragraph.

It is, perhaps, almost easier to feel the symbolic significance of the play when it is read in the original. We possess a very excellent and happy translation, the work of Mr. Alfred Sutro : it gives the spirit of the French in a way that could not be bettered ; all the same, there is, as in all works of genius, a certain untranslatable something ' which can never be rendered quite adequately. It is very noticeable, for example, in the opening lines, which, one imagines, must have proved as recalcitrant as any : Ta premiere ?quit sera mauvaise, Tintagiles. La mer hurle déjà autour de nous ; et les arbres se plaignent. Il est tard. La lune est sur le point de coucher derriere les peupliers qui etouffent le palais . . . Nous voici seals, pent-titre, bien qu'ici it faille vivre sur ses gardes. It semble qu'on y guette l'approche du plus petit bonheur.' There is not quite the same mystery of apprehension in the English, gracefully literal as it is. That a child in the dark should symbolise the Incommunicable seems almost self-evident : it is, moreover, exceedingly likely that M. Maeterlinck should use such a symbol. People talk a little bitterly of the modern culte of the child ' : it is, however, a literary, if not a social fact ; and M. Maeterlinok is one of the most prominent of those writers who have dealt with child life and phenomena with true insight. In conclusion, it may be said that symbolism, unlike allegory, does not need to be entirely consistent : if, therefore, it should be objected to the above theory that it adduces no reasoned and logical proof, it may be stated at once in answer that the objector has entirely failed to grasp the true nature of the thing : one cannot prove symbolism. The individual can but test the truth of a thing by his own accumulated experience, which is only the assimilation of all previously tested truths : For nothing worthy proving can be proven, Nor yet disproven.' M. S. B.

latobt. Soon comes the night, and with the night comes Fear, With eyes of moonlight and grey hands of shade. The frescoes on the palace walls soon fade, The darkness clouds the crystals of the seer, The patterns of the Queen's web disappear, The garlands wither that her hands have made ; The poet ceases singing, half afraid The clang of closing temple gates to hear. Only the watchman on the citadel, Seeing of all things crouched beneath his eyes But empty roofs and banners now close-furled, Freed from the tangles of the city's spell, See Venus through the sunset glow arise Lucent with beauty from another world. J. E.

THE FRITILLARY.

1Reports. O. S. D. S. President—J. EVANS (S. H. C. ). Secretary—M. F. PERHAM (S.H.C.). Junior Treasurer—E. R. COLE BAKER (L. M. H. ).

It was not possible to hold a meeting of the Society till the sixth week of term, as Somerville and Lady Margaret Hall were in quarantine for German Measles. It was then found impossible to meet in the Hall of the High School without infringing the Lighting Regulations. The first meeting was therefore held on the Hall of St. Hugh's College on February 29th, when the motion before the house was : ' That women who are able to pursue a course of intellectual train ing are thus enabled to serve their country better than by undertaking war-work demanding no such training.' This was proposed by Miss Keble (S.H.C.) in a sound and fluent speech, ably expressing a common-sense view of the question. Miss Lawrence (L.M.H.) in her maiden speech, put her case extremely well to a house already too strongly prejudiced in favour of the motion to be swayed by her eloquence. Her speech might perhaps have been improved by a more balanced structure. Miss Moore (S.H.C.) spoke with point and humour, her remarks gaining in effect from the fact that they were delivered without notes. Miss Shufeldt's speech seemed to lack the conviction which she doubtless felt, but she made good use of any advantage which her opposer's speeches allowed her. Public discussion was animated, and the house was favoured with longer and more coherent speeches than is often the case. JOAN EVANS (President).

UNITED HOCKEY CLUB. Captain—I. D. BRYAN. Secretary—P. K. BOWES.

Owing to bad weather the match arranged for February 24th against Gloucester had to be scratched ; consequently the team has not yet played together and no estimate can be formed of its real strength or weakness. The forward line is undoubtedly the least satisfactory part of the team ; it shows very little dash and a decided inclination to loiter. The whole team must think and act more quickly. Miss Cox is unfortunately unable to coach us this term. She asked for notice to be given of a match to be played at Richmond, on March 25th, in aid of the Red Cross Fund, English Team 5915 v. International Reserves.

CENTRAL TENNIS. Captain—I. D. BRYAN. Secretary—J. FRY. Treasurer—M. OAKLEY HILL.

The play, on the whole, is still rather below the usual standard in every particular ; service and placing are distinctly poor. Both members and associates should aspire to do more with the ball than merely place it over the net. A test will be held in the last week of this term.

O. S. L. C. Captain—F. G. LUPTON (S.C. ). Secretary—M. UPJOHN (L. M. H. ). Treasurer—H. RYLAND (S. C.).

Only one match has been played this term, that against the Bedford Physical Training College, which was unfortunately lost by io-7; but in spite of this the team showed themselves much more able to withstand opponents somewhat stronger than themselves. The speed of all and the combination of the attacks was distinctly improved. The worst fault evident is a tendency on the part of the whole team to wait for the ball to come to them, and not to rush in and catch ;t before their opponents are able to intercept. A reminder is still necessary to the whole club to play with both hands on the crosse, and to pass at once when an opportunity appears, instead of keeping the ball till they allow themselves to be checked. HUNDRED MOOT. It was decided in the Michaelmas Term to try to get lectures this year on countries connected with the war. Pressure of work prevented our securing a lecture on Russia last term, as we had hoped to do. Miss Czaplicka has kindly offered to give a lecture on Poland, illustrated by lantern slides, before the end of the term. Mr. H. A. Toynbee has also promised to speak on Greece early next term.

X CLUB. President—D. ARNING (S. C.). Secretary—F. A. D. PETERSEN (O. H. S. ). Treasurer—G. VAUGHAN (S. H. C. ).

Owing to quarantine, no meetings of the Club were held at the beginning of the term. The following meetings were arranged :February 24th—Debate ' That evolution has

THE FRITILLARY. been brought about by fluctuations rather than by mutations.' Hon. Proposer—Miss Britton (O.H.S.). Hon. Opposer—Miss Spicer (S.H.C.). Third Speaker—Miss Webb (L.M.H.). Fourth Speaker—Miss Petersen (O. H. S. ). March and—Miss Cave (L.M.H.) on The Egg and its early growth.' March toth—Mr. D. D. Kirkaldy on The Evolution of the Sailing Ship.' '

SUFFRAGE SOCIETY. President—Miss VAUGHAN. Secretary—Miss BEAMES. Treasurer—J. SMITH. The terminal meeting of the 0.W.S.S.W.S. was held on February i9th, at St. Hugh's College. when Miss Annie Stirling, of the Polish Relief Committee, gave a most graphic account of the terrible conditions prevailing among the Polish refugees in Petrograd and other Russian towns, and appealed for funds to support the effort made by the National Union to provide shelters and hospitals for the children of the refugees. The collection for the fund amounted to OXFORD UNIVERSITY SOCIALIST SOCIETY. Sec., Women's Group—E. D. M. WINTERS (S.C.). Sec., Women's Research Group—G. V. PococK (S. H. H. ). In spite of difficulties of quarantine, the two groups of the Society have been able to meet, but the attendance was, in consequence, rather scanty. The first meeting of the Women's Group—which had been put off until quarantine was over—unluckily fell in the second quarantine of Somerville. It was therefore held in St. Hilda's Hall on March 24th, at 8.15. D. J. Collier spoke on ' The Greater Unionism.' The Women's Research Group held its first meeting on Tuesday, January 25th, in the J.C.R., St. Mary Hall. The subject for discussion was that of ' Women in Modern Industry.' E. D. M. Winters read an introductory paper, giving a historical sketch of the subject up to the Industrial Revolution. The second meeting—falling in quarantine, was held at Micklem Hall, in N. D. Richards' room, on Friday, February 11th. OnlySomervillians could be present. A paper was read by E. C. Webb on The Pre-War Position.' The third meeting was held in D. J. Collier's room, Cherwell Edge, on Wednesday, March 1st. A paper was read by D. J. Collier on ' The Displacement of Men by Women due to the War.' '

Somerville was absent. The last meeting was held on Tuesday, March i4th, when N. D. Richards read a paper on The Married Woman in Industry.' '

U. D. C. Han. Secretary—K. G. WOOD. The women's branch of the Union of Democratic Control in Oxford has been showing its activity this term in a Study Circle held in St. Mary Hall Quad. Unfortunately, there are not as many members as might be desired, but it is hoped that more will join next term. The Secretary will be glad to receive any names either of would-be members or associates. The women's group has been asked by the men's group to join with them in a joint committee. This our Society has decided to do. The men's group hold fortnightly meetings in the Cooperative buildings, High Street, at which tea is provided, and a member of the Union reads a short paper, after which the subject is open to discussion. It is hoped that as many members as possible will go to these meetings and take part in the discussion. The U.D.C. is not a pacifist society, though its objects is to try to prevent future war.

bail liloticm LADY MARGARET HALL. BOAT

CLUB.

The following members have qualified :—Sculling, K. Edwards and F. Spikes (half-captain); Canoeing, P. Buckle (half-captain) and K. Shepherd ; Punting, D. Smith. There has been a good deal of keenness, especially among the first year, and several more members would have ben able to qualify if they had not been handicapped by the floods. If the weather conditions improve, there will probably be a considerable increase in the number of captains by the end of term. I. McCoLL (Boat Sec.). HOCKEY

CLUB.

Captain—K. M. THOMAS. Secretary—J. FRY. During the first half of this term we practised with St. Hugh's College on Mondays and Wednesdays. Miss Bowes, Miss Cole-Baker, Miss Lawrence, Miss Thomas and Miss Upjohn have been playing in United practices ; and ' hockey for all' has been played with vigour when the ground was not needed for other games. The First Eleven has proved rather disappoint-

THE FRITILLARY.

ing. Owing to the weakness of the forward line, it usually plays on the defensive and fails to score. The defence, though not very fast, is good and plays well together. The Second Eleven has had few matches this term, but has shown distinct promise. Wednesday, February 16th.—First Eleven lost to Etceteras, 2-4. Monday, February 2 1st—First Eleven lost to St. Hilda's Hall, O-2 (Cup match.) First Eleven : Goal, *Miss Bowes ; backs, *Miss Parsons and *Miss Cole-Baker ; half-backs, *Miss Upjohn, *Miss Thomas and Miss Wood ; forwards, Miss Rowe, Miss Laufs, *Miss Fry, Miss John and *Miss Lawrence. Second Eleven : Goal, Miss Spikes ; backs, Miss Webb and Miss Bagshaw ; half-backs, Miss Gibbon, Miss Marshall (capt.) and Miss Cave ; forwards, Miss De Saumarez, Miss Drought, Miss Bishop, Miss Huckett and Miss Whitehead. * Colours.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, Miss N. Edwards proposed, and Miss Marshall opposed, the motion, ' That the appreciation of Comedy demands a higher level of civilization than does the appreciation of Tragedy.' The Hon. Proposer argued that comedy is a later development in the history of literature, and makes higher demands on the critical faculties of man—a position which the Hon. Opposer sought to controvert by examining the parallel developments of Tragedy and Comedy. Both speeches were well delivered, but would probably have been improved had the Proposer given some examples and the Opposer some wider conclusions. Speeches in Public Discussion tended to deal with wide questions of Tragedy and Comedy, without much reference to the motion before the House. Miss Clarke made the most effective contribution to the debate. The motion was carried unanimously on being put to the vote. Meetings have been well attended this term, and several of the First Year have shown distinct ability as debaters.

DEBATING SOCIETY. President—K. M. THOMAS. Secretary—M. V. NUGENT. The first meeting this term took the form of a Sharp Practice. That Instinct is a better guide than Reason' was a subject which aroused small interest, but the House discussed the next motion with much fervour, ' That a uniform dress should be adopted by Women Students.' Both motions were lost by large majorities. An impromptu debate was held a week later, since infection prevented 0.S.D.S. from meeting, on the motion ' That there is no necessity to read a dull book.' Both sides of the question found warm supporters, and the motion was finally lost by one vote. On Tuesday, February 18th, Miss Burrows proposed, and Miss Spikes opposed, the following motion : ' That the aims of Socialism are incompatible with Patriotism.' The Hon. Mover maintained that the weakness of the Socialist ideal lay in the vague width of its appeal, whilst nature needed a closer and more immediate object for its loyalty. She brought the main issues clearly before the House, and spoke in an attractive manner, with little reference to her notes. The Hon. Opposer declared that Socialism, far from being the antithesis of patriotism, sought to give it a wider and deeper expression. She gave an interesting and modest exposition of the Socialist standpoint. Public Discussion hung fire. The best speeches were made against the motion, and turned chiefly on the question whether the disappearance of patriotism was possible in any circumstances. On a division, however, the motion was lost by twenty-eight votes to twelve.

ESSAY CLUB. On Wednesday, February znd, Miss Clarke read an extremely interesting paper on ' Seventeenth Century Oxford,' and illustrated her description of life in the University by extracts from contemporary memoirs, letters and account books. The second meeting of the term has had to be postponed, as the usual date was engaged, but on Wednesday, March 1st, Miss Penoyre read a paper on ' Francis Thompson.' Miss Levett (S.H.H.) has kindly , promised to come for the last meeting. E. M. CHAMBERS (Pres.).

SOMERVILLE COLLEGE. COLLEGE REPORT. We have had some very interesting lectures this term in St. Mary Hall. Miss Freire Marreco kindly came to show us some lantern pictures of the Indians in New Mexico, and gave us a very amusing account of their fife. We also had a lecture from Miss Pope, who returned from France at the beginning of the term, and described to us some of her experiences, giving an account of the work being done by the Friends' War Victims' Relief Committee. She also showed us a number of photographs. Later in the term we hope to have the pleasure of hearing Miss Czaplicka lecture on Poland. Owing to Miss Hayes Robinson's absence from College, Miss O'Loughlin is in Somerville this term as history tutor. Miss Lorimer is away much at present as she spends four days a week working at the Admiralty.

THE FRITILLARY. A Military Supply Depot has been formed at Didcot, and students go over once a week to help in the work which is being done there. HOCKEY CLUB.

Captain—F. M. CAMPBELL. Secretary—M. PHILP. Treasurer—A. F. JONES. Vice-Captain—K. F. WATSON. The following matches have been played :First Eleven : v. Bedford (lost, I I-2), v. Reading, won (5-4), v. St. Hugh's (Cup match), won (7-3). Second Eleven : v. High School, won (8—o). The forward line this term has improved in combination, but it is decidedly weak at shooting. In the defence the marking has improved. Team : Goal, *Miss Jones ; backs, *Miss Campbell and Miss Watson ; half-backs, *Miss Hill, Miss Bever, and *Miss Philp ; forwards, Miss *Lyne, Miss. *Bryan, Miss Procter, Miss Priestman and Miss Field. * Colours_ BOAT CLUB.

President—G. HILL. Secretary—F. WHITE. Treasurer—M. BALL. The energies of the Boat Club have been somewhat checked of late by the weather, but the Club as a whole is in a prosperous condition. The results of the general keenness are seen in the tests ; two new captains have been made (N. J. Kessler and M. Ganz), and three new first-class half-captains. The First Year also is doing well. There is, of course, no punting this term, but when conditions have been favourable the canoes have been out frequently. PARLIAMENT.

Speaker—Miss JEBB. Prime Minister—D. WADHAM. Leader of Opposition—P. HODGSON. A National Ministry, including members of all parties, continues in power. At the first debate, on February 25th, a Bill was introduced for the Extension of Compulsory Military Service to Ireland. The Prime Minister, in bringing in the Bill, treated the matter chiefly from the point of view of doing justice to Great Britain. P. Hodgson also supporting the measure, laid stress on the fact that the tide of opinion in Ireland was wavering, and a strong measure now might be expected

to turn it once and for all towards unity and good feeling. K. M. Gardiner, for the Opposition, made an extremely eloquent, and at the same time wellreasoned speech, pleading for practical conduct rather than theoretical justice in the present crisis, and opposing the Bill mainly on the score of its inexpediency. K. G. Wood, who supported the Opposition, dealt with the question from Ireland's standpoint, giving a good idea of the hostile feeling with which the measure would be received, and pronouncing the Bill unfair as well as unwise. The debate which followed turned almost entirely on the principle rather than the practicability of the proposed measure. It was well defended by E. A. Willey, who considered it not only a just exercise of power on Great Britain's part, but one which would benefit Ireland for the future. These points were strenuously contested by S. McGregor, who claimed for Ireland the right to be considered in the position of a colony. The bearing of the Bill on the Home Rule question was inevitably brought into the discussion, though the disinternment of such an ancient bone of contention called forth a stern rebuke from the member for Cheltenham. A division was taken at the close of the debate, which resulted in the rejection of the Bill by two votes. The House then adjourned. TUB-THUMPERS.

President—E. D. M. WINTERS. Secretary—E. A. WILLEY. The Club this term will have held three meetings in all. The first was held on Tuesday, February 8th, in St. Mary Hall. Miss Willey opened the discussion on ' The Advantages of an International Tariff League.' The speaker dealt with the initial step of an entente Tariff Alliance, which should ultimately widen so as to embrace the whole of Europe. It was thought that by this means one would have a valuable means of preventing war. Discussion was active, and the prospect for the term was promising. The second meeting was held on Saturday, February 26th, when Miss Gardiner spoke on The Defects of the present English system of Education.' Discussion followed. The final meeting took place on Thursday, March gth. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

President—K. C. WOOD. Secretary—K. WATSON. This term, on Tuesday, February isth, the Society made an expedition to Iffley. Though we had most of us seen the church and realised some-

THE FRITILLARY.

thing of its beauties before, we were able to discover a great many new points of interest, under the kind guidance of the Vicar, the Rev. Owen Clarendon. It was particularly interesting to hear more about the history of the building and to have the most recent discoveries pointed out—such as the little window in the south wall, with the stairway which it lights—and we much enjoyed climbing up on to the tower, from which we obtained a most beautiful view of Oxford and the flooded river. Last term, on November 3oth, Miss Penrose very kindly gave us a lecture on Greek architecture she had a great many pictures to show us, among them some of her own sketches, and the lecture was very much appreciated. On December 7th a large party was taken round the Castle, and the usual features of interest, the mound once occupied by Stephen and the room from which Matilda escaped, were pointed out.

and stage-manager, and should be congratulated on the skill with which she fulfilled her offices.

W. U. S.

The hockey this term has been disappointing, in spite of the vigour and enthusiasm of individual members. The two elevens were fortunate in having a most helpful coaching from Miss de Putron (ex-captain) during the first week of term ; but the defence still fail to support the forwards, and the forwards lack individuality and steadiness. The passing and combination have improved, but there is still very little good stick-play, and opportunities are lost owing to want of quickness and precision. A silver cup has been presented to the College by the First Year, to be competed for annually by the Fourth and Third Years, the Second Year, and the First Year. We hope to play off the matches this term, but so far the weather has made this impossible . Misses Baker, Chappel, Holland, Hurry, Nicholas, Perham, Rhys Davids and Varley have played in the United practices ; and Misses Baker, Chappel and Hurry were included in the Oxford XI v. Gloucestershire. The following members played in the First XI Goal, Miss Davies-Colley ; backs, *Miss Baker and Miss Cox ; half-backs, Miss Hurry, *Miss Richards, and Miss Varley ; forwards, *Miss Nicholas, Miss Rhys Davids, *Miss Chappel, *Miss Holland and *Miss Perham. Colours have been awarded to Miss Baker ; and Misses Hurry, Varley, Chappel and Davies-Colley have been commended for good play. Results of matches First Eleven v. Etceteras First Eleven, won (8—s); Second Eleven v. Etceteras Second Eleven, lost (4-2); First Eleven v Somerville College (Cup), lost (7-3) First Eleven v. Reading University, lost (4-3). Matches have also been arranged with Oxford High School First and Second Elevens. * Colours.

Hon. Secretary—D.

SCOTT-STOKES.

On January 7th the Somerville Christmas Tree was held as usual, at the Orange Street Schools, in Blackfriars. Owing to the lighting regulations, the treat began an hour and a half earlier than usual, but this certainly had no ill effect on the children's enjoyment. At the beginning of this term, Miss Lorimer, our representative, took up Admiralty work, and for some days there was a fear of our losing her valuable help and advice. This difficulty has been avoided by the generosity of the Admiralty, who allow her time to attend the general meetings.

ST. HUGH'S COLLEGE. We were all very glad to come back to the real St. Hugh's at the beginning of term. The chapel, library and entrance hall are still unfurnished, but otherwise we have lived in comparative comfort. At the end of last term we had a bazaar in aid of the French Unit of the Scottish Women's Hospital. The idea originated with the Suffrage Society, but was taken up by the whole College with great enthusiasm. Owing to the generous assistance of members of the Council and other kind friends, we were able to raise £25, so now there is a St. Hugh's Bed in one of the French hospitals. The Second Year provided us with a great deal of amusement by acting a short play called The Importance of being Twenty-one.' The whole caste was very good, but Miss Moore especially distinguished herself. This last week we had a most exciting war-play entitled Mines.' Miss Perham was both author '

BOATING CLUB. President—Miss

THOMAS.

Captain—MISS BOYKETT. Secretary—Miss SAVORY.

The following members have qualified in the Michaelmas Term :—Sculling Captain, Miss Davies-Colley ; half-captains, Misses Draper and Dick. :

HOCKEY CLUB. Captain—Miss NICHOLAS. Vice-Captain—Miss HOLLAND. Secretary—Miss PERHAM.

;

THE FRITILLARY. DEBATING SOCIETY.

BROWNING SOCIETY.

President—Miss HOLLAND. Secretary—Miss BEAMES. Up and Down Girl—Miss FORREST.

President—Miss CLARK.

The four debates which have been held so far this term have shown a marked improvement in the debating powers •of the House, and we welcome the keenness displayed by the regular attendants ; but we should like to see this admirable characteristic extended to more members of the College. The attendance has, on the whole, been disappointing. The first debate, on the motion ' That a Jack of All Trades is better than a Master of One,' was well sustained throughout. The meeting on February 6th was devoted to modern politics, and was characterized by the excellent maiden speech of the Hon. Proposer, Miss Chappel, whom the House supported almost unanimously in favour of Compulsory Service. The next debate, as to whether ' England is the slave of Tradition,' was spoilt by the apparently irresistible claims of this University and its relations to women. The tendency to keep discussion too much in one channel has been a noticeable failing of the House on several occasions. At the halfterm the House was again occupied with a ' set ' debate, when the motion was ' That this House applauds Mill's statement that " If competition has its evils it prevents greater evils," ' ably proposed and opposed by Miss Keble and Miss Mackenzie respectively.

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. President—Miss BEAMES. Secretary—Miss ALLEN. This Society chose ' Some Problems of Philosophy,' by the Hon. Bertrand Russel, for the subject of its discussions this term. Wednesday has again proved an unlucky evening, with the result that there have been only two meetings as yet. However, on both occasions the discussion was animated.

The Browning Society has met every Sunday afternoon. We have been reading portions of ' The Ring and the Book,' with a short introduction from Mrs. Orr's ' Handbook to Robert Browning's Works.' There are nineteen members, who have shown keen interest and attended as regularly as outside •engagements would permit. The meetings have been enlivened by good reading and frequent discussion.

MODERN LANGUAGE SOCIETY. President—Miss SAVORY. The Modern Language Society has met this term as regularly as evening lectures and meetings have allowed, and the Deutsches Tageszeitung ' has been read and discussed. Much interest has been shown by members outside the Modern Language Schools. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. President—MISS ADV. Secretary—MISS RICHARDS. Treasurer—Miss E VANS. An Archaeological Society has been formed this term, Miss Ady kindly consenting to be President. At our first evening meeting we had the privilege of hearing Miss Burrows give an informal lecture on ' Early Oxford, its Origin and Architecture,' which was much appreciated by everyone, giving as it did an excellent historical background for our future expeditions. This term we are specializing chiefly on Norman Oxford, and our first expedition was to the Castle and St. Peter's-in-the-East. Next time we intend to trace out the circuit of the old City Wall, and investigate the Saxon and Norman parts of the Cathedral. So far, the Society seems a very keen one, and a most satisfactory number of members have joined.

SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY. President—MISS CARTER.

MUSICAL SOCIETY.

The Shakespeare Society has been fortunate in not having to give up any of the meetings this term, and in consequence has, in addition to reading Henry VIII,' devoted its attention to less serious drama, namely ' The Comedy of Errors.' The keenness of the members has been shown by the fact that both enthusiasm and good reading have prevailed uniformly throughout the term. There has been regular attendance and intelligent appreciation alike of comedy and tragedy.

President—MISS CLARK. Secretary—MISS PRATT. This Society has been newly formed with the object of rendering good music at concerts held once or twice a term. Our first performance will be in the eighth week of this term, and will include a selection from Barnett's ' Ancient Mariner,' with which Miss Jourdain is kindly helping us. This was begun independently of the Society, at

THE FRITILLARY.

a regular Sunday evening practice. Our other practice is at present individual, owing to the difficulty of finding any regular time to suit a large number of members. The programme will include vocal and instrumental solos and two part-songs.

much interrupted. The four has been our about three times a week. Several of the First and Second Year began rowing this term, and all of them have now been promoted to sliding seats, whilst one has rowed in the gig, and others will probably do so before the end of term. Qualified as Boat Captain : I. Ferguson.

NEW STUDENTS. Wood, H. M., Lawnside, Malvern. McNeill, M. A., Richmond Lodge, Belfast. EXAMINATION RESULTS. Science Preliminary (Zoology and Botany) : J. M. Smith. History Previous : W. Woolley. Certificate in Regional Geography : M. Levin. ST. HILDA'S HALL. St. Hilda's may be considered fortunate in keeping •out of quarantine this term, though the Summer Term is usually the one in which we succumb. On the whole we have had fewer evening meetings, but we had a fancy-dress ball in the C.U. finance week, at which some very picturesque ' creations ' appeared. Miss Bruce, of St. Hilda's East, very kindly came down from Town to tell us about the work done by the Settlement, and Miss Jennings (S.H.H)., who was up for the week-end, gave us a very amusing and interesting description of the Settlement itself and the work which she has been doing. Saturday evenings are still devoted to bandage rolling, and at cocoa-parties a ' dim, religious light ' is necessitated not only by the new lighting regulations, but by the brilliance of diversecoloured strips which proud knitters hope to send as blankets to Serbian babies. A small party composed of members both of the Senior and Junior Common Rooms goes each Monday to Didcot to do whatever may be required of them, the chief feature of the afternoon being the joy-ride back to the station in an army lorry. BOAT CLUB. President—Miss TODD. Captain—Miss BAUMGARTNER. Vice-Captain—Miss HAY. The bad weather has made punting and canoeing impossible during the greater part of the term, and in the very high floods after the snow two of the punts were for a time totally submerged in icy-cold water, but were soon rescued. Sculling also has been prevented on several occasions by the weather, but rowing has not been

HOCKEY CLUB. Captain—E. I. BISHOP. Vice-Captain—E. 0. PARRY. The weather, for a good part of this term, has certainly not been conducive to regular hockey practices, and an imposing list of fixtures has resulted in only four matches. Our team, therefore, has not had a real chance of improving. Nevertheless, we have had a fair amount of success, managing for the first time for many years to get into the Cup final. First Eleven : Goal, Hay ; backs, *Bishop and *Tutin ; half-backs, Gibberd, *Verini and *Howell ; forwards, *Crook, *Pocock, Jones, *Parry and *Hughes. Matches : Feb. znd, Magdalen College School, lost, 6-1 ; Feb. 9th, Etceteras, won, 7-3 ; Feb. i6th, (` A' Team) Magdalen College School (Juniors), drew, 5-5; Feb. 21st (Cup), Lady Margaret Hall, won, 2-0; Feb. 26th, Magdalen College School, lost, 5-3. * Colours.

DEBATING SOCIETY. President—MISS SHUFELDT. Vice-President—MISS MORGAN. Secretary—Mis s HAY. Hall Member—Miss DALGLISH. Two debates have been held this term. The first motion was ' That in the opinion of this House the Modern Novel does not reflect Contemporary Life.' Proposer, Miss Verini ; Opposer, Miss Adler. The Proposer, in a good speech, illustrated the prejudice and one-sidedness of modern novelists ; the Opposer weakened her case by an apparently deliberate misunderstanding of some of her opponent's points, and by taking a different standpoint, basing her case partly upon isolated instances from Continental literature rather than confining herself to a fuller treatment of the English novel, as the proposer did. Public Discussion in this, as in the following debate, tended to concentrate upon knotty points only remotely connected with the subject. The motion was lost by fifteen votes.

THE FRITILLARY. In the second debate the motion, ' That in the opinion of this House women's deficient sense of proportion is a bar to their success in Public Life,' aroused a protestation from certain members who objected to discussing Woman.' The proposer of the motion, Miss Hickey, who believed that women in public life are untrue to themselves, put her case well, but her oratorical delivery was too artificial to be effective. The Opposer, Miss Pocock, carried some of her arguments beyond reasonable limits, but she made an interesting speech. The motion was lost by one vote.

and Queens of England, from the Follies, which was received with much applause. The troupe, reinforced by the Misses Heather and Marion Angel, is going to repeat its programme at the Base Hospital on Thursday, March gth. It is feared that the wounded will get a slightly perverted view of the glories of English History from the last item of the repertoire !

BOAT

CLUB.

President—Miss BUTLER. Secretary—Miss JAMES.

LITERARY SOCIETY.

President—Miss HAY. Secretary—Miss NicHoLs.

This term the Society has once more been devoting its attentions to Professor Gilbert Murray's translations of Euripides. The Hippolytus ' and the Iphigenia ' have already been read, and ' The Bacch ' has been chosen for the last meeting.

Treasurer—MISS

WEBSTER.

Owing to the bad weather and floods there has unfortunately been very little boating this term. Several members are ready to be qualified, but all attempts to hold a sculling test have been frustrated by the weather. • LITERARY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

President—Miss LOMAX. ART CLUB.

President—E. M. GRANTHAM. Secretary—D. THORPE.

Miss Burrows has continued her lectures on Architecture this term, and the meetings have been well and enthusiastically attended. The architecture of the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries has been studied with special reference to Oxford. The first expedition of the term was taken by Miss Burrows, to the Cathedral, Merton College, and the Golden Cross Inn ; the next expedition was to New College, All Souls', and the Divinity Schools ; on March 2nd Mr. Whittuck very kindly took us over the church and tower of St. Mary-the-Virgin. The last expedition will be to Corpus and Lincoln.

Vice-President—Miss DOUIE. Secretary—Miss STOCK.

The meeting arranged for the end of the Michaelmas Term had unfortunately to be put off at the last moment owing to the state of the weather. We therefore read The Voysey Inheritance early this term. We have not so far held any further full meetings, as our time has been completely occupied with rehearsals for the entertainment which the Society provided on March 3rd for the Home Students' Social.' This proved very successful, in spite of the small numbers of the audience—due mainly to the bad weather and the difficulty of getting about after dark.

NEW STUDENTS.

OXFORD HOME STUDENTS. This term has produced no great excitement. There have been two afternoon socials ' in the Common Room, and on Friday, March 3rd, as usual in the Spring Term, the-Committee arranged a small entertainment, for which Cherwell Edge very kindly lent their dining hall. Miss Lewis gave a short but most interesting address on the work of the Friends in Belgian Refugee Camps in Holland, after which less serious items followed. The Dramatic Society acted two short plays, The Crystal Gazer and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, and the grand finale was Pelissier's Kings

A. M. Baines, educated in Germany and France (L'Examen de l'Alliance Francaise). Ingeborg A. P. Andersen, M.A., Copenhagen. Marcelle G. Mauge, Cours Dieterlen, Paris. Elsie G. Mills, Beaufont, Camberley. Rosalind L. B. Moss, Heathfield, Ascot.

EXAMINATIONS, MICHAELMA S TERM, I9 I 5,

F.P.E. : Holy Scripture.—C. Churchill. Science Prelim. : Zoology and Botany.—F. Petersen.

PARKER AND CO., OXFORD.