THE

PH;TERITE.- Vol, . VII. MARCH, 1885. No. 50.

HUMANUM EST ERRARE.

Do not be alarmed . This is not a moral essay on the frailty

of human nature ; it is merely a compilation of literary " howlers "—only one of the many bye-paths down which mankind straysfrom the narrow way of truth . The instances collected come

from many sources and cover a wide area—from the times ofMoses and Homer, to the latest geographical explorers (certainly

the truth of some of the discoveries mentioned here are not yetrecognised by the world at large)—perpetrated in National Schooland University alike—by every age, from a cherub-faced chorister

to a clod-hopping Yorkshire farmer. Quite unworthy though theybe of the grand philosophic platitude that lends weight and dignity

to their frivolous levity, their varied source may still serve in somedegree to point out its truth in every age and place.

But, as was said above, this is not their object . They areintended to afford some amusement by commemorating the mis-takes of fellow creatures . And since they are compiled for a

school magazine, they are mainly such as will appeal to a schoolboyas he struggles over his work—be it classical, mathematical, or anyother " ical " whatsoever . It is to be hoped that when he ever

conies a " howler" himself, the memory of these may comforthim, by reminding him that there are others, in school and out ofschool, younger and older, who were as bad or perhaps even worse.

Probably the commonest classical error is the everlasting " col

bone?" of the newspapers . But the slight mistake between"what's the good ? ' and " for whose good ?' is far below the

ordinary schoolboy . He takes an insane delight in confusing acommon word with an uncommon one—all because he abhors

2

HUMANUM EST ERRARE.

dictionaries, and trusts to the light of nature . To judge by the

unnatural meanings tortured out by this process many hours mustbe spent in elaborating his work that would be saved, if he could

bring himself to reverence those books a little less, and be not soreligiously scrupulous about keeping their pages clean . It is a goodhabit, but has its proper limits . The following is a fair speci-

men :—" At rubicunda Ceres media succidilur aeslu " becomes " The

ruddy Chinee sinks into the middle of the tide ." To speak of no

other mistakes it contains, the confusion here Is remarkable—Sererconfounded with Ceres, and that goddess in turn with some faint

recollection of Venus Anadyomene the wrong way round . Classicsis undoubtedly his favourite sphere . A mistake in history or

geography is a different affair . Nec pluleum caediI nec demorsos sap ./ungues . In other words it is generally a case of bald ignorance,

unadorned by any ingenious desperation . A few instances willmake this clear :

The isthmus of Panama divides Europe and Asia.

The Alps are the principal mountains between England andScotland.

The Amazon rises in the Saskatchewan valley, and flowsthrough the plain of Thibet.

The Acts of the Apostles were written A .D. 22,

and this last, after profound thought.But nature will always assert herself ; even in history the

old muddleheadedness must sometimes come to the front in itshappiest form . It ought to have been enough to have located

Pontius Pilate' s ghost on Monte Pilato in Switzerland, withoutany schoolboy embellishments . But no ; historical remembrancesof the same country must crop up and result in a gigantic

anachronism, and heaven knows what beside . This mountainwas " the place where Pontius Pilate shot the apple off WilliamTell's head ."

Mathematical blunders are only a slight improvement ; therigidity of the subject as a rule cramps all ingenuity . The mistakesarise in most cases from a juvenile incapacity for clearness ofexpression. Definitions, etc., afford ample scope for such :—e.g.

Postulates are things asked for that cannot be proved ; axiomsare things proved without being asked for .

HUMANUM EST ERRARE .

3

Definitions are given to perform the work ; axioms are too

true to be looked into.Axioms are common sense.

Instances of confused thought, where they do occur, have not thehigh flavour of their classical brethren ; they are more akin to the

geographical, and are rather relapses into simple ignorance .

_A circle is a straight line enclosing a space.

Problems are done directly ; theorems directly or indirectly,sometimes even both.

Or again, when one unhappy examinee referred his torturer to" divination 29 ." Occasionally, however, we rise above the hard

and fast laws of geometry. A scholar of a Cambridge college,

whose mathematical abilities were not equal to his classical, whenasked at school such questions as " Can two straight lines enclose a

space ? " " Are the angles of a triangle equal to two right angles ?"always warily replied, " Not necessarily so ." This was distinctly

ingenious. But then he was classical.To turn to science, the following anecdote told to me by the

late Editor of Punch, though hardly a genuine " howler," is toogood to be lost . Buckmaster, while lecturing in one of thesouthern counties on agricultural chemistry, stated that oxides

were brought to the surface by ploughing. When returning home

afterwards, a farmer observed to his companion, " Weal ! A'ev bina farmer forty year an' A'ev ploowed shallow an ' ploowed deep,

but nivver turned up a ox- ' ide yit . " " Mebbe," replied the other,"the gentleman come fro' the fen country ; A'ev 'card as how

they sometimes turn up 'orns an ' 'oofs theiire, an' mebbe if yeploow deep enow yell turn up 'ides too ." This reminds me ofanother country tale, the truth of which I can personally vouch for.

A farmer by his love of grandiloquence had won himself a renownfor vast learning, and was looked upon as the wise man of the

parts . He had a liking for quotations, and probably used them toimpress his neighbours by the weight thus added to his conversa-tion . However that may be, when called in to prescribe for a sick

cow, he pondered deeply, and at last sententiously remarked thathe never " acted rash, but allays hefoore gi'ing aught to a sickbeast loiked to maake a post mortis examinaiition ."

Classics is, however, the grand preserve for good speci-

4

HUMANUM EST ERRARE.

mens. Such trivial things as rum for the accusative of rus orsolecisms like bonissintns, though that has been perpetrated as highas the fifth form, may be passed over at once . Only one of thiskind need detain us for a moment . A master of the first form askedwhat difference was to be noticed between 7Ifidpa and µoUQa

obviously referring to the variety of declension. After one or twoattempts that nearly hit the truth, all gave up except one fellow

down at the bottom who was seen leaning forward in a tremor ofexcitement, with his arm frantically outstretched to attract atten-

tion, lest the question should be answered by someone else, and heshould lose the credit for his profound knowledge . The master,

observing this dumb appeal, hurried down the form and askedhim, " Well l What is it ? " " Please, sir," replied the boy" uouva means a mouse "—a distinctly ridiculus gnus after what hadgone before . The real classical mistake has something more in itthan this . Its beauty may sometimes be that a translation, strictlycorrect in itself or only slightly wrong, sounds ludicrous fromassociations it may call up . For example, in speaking of Scylla,when (aTm) TE Tr€Xwp KaKOV is rendered " now she herself was anawful beast," or HpoTCvs . .,ae\atvil 95pcl Ka\vc5Oets "Proteus clothed

in black hair " (a confusion with Tpixt), where we insensibly connectthe venerable old sea god with Darwin ' s primitive man. Again,simplex munditris when translated "neat but not gaudy " forciblycalls to mind another monkey who is traditionally reported to havemade that remark on painting his tail sky-blue.

The following may be quoted as a splendid instance of theingenuity of despair . An unhappy wretch struggling with a piece

of prose wanted the Latin for stick . He knew that candelabrumwas " candlestick," and candela was " candle ." Hence he resortedto the remaining part " bruin " for " stick ." It reminds one some-what of Ennius' tours de force, when he split up an awkward wordand produced such things as " saxo core—comminuil—brunt ." Thisexpedient cannot be too strongly recommended to young versifiers as

a certain way to secure correct scanscion . It is a sure method offilling up corners and has good authority . A few pieces of trans-lation, pure and simple, are too happy to be passed over . It is

difficult to know whether to admire most the go-ahead dash of" He was left shot " (TOVITg4 iX ;] OO,~) or the unassailable literalness

HUMANUM EST ERRARE .

5

of " lying in state ; " (splendkle menda.r) . You can't get roundthis last ; " mendax " is " lying " and " splendide " is " in state ;it is simply impregnable . Then there is the old stager—Raraavis in tern's nigroque sirriillinia cygno " a rare grandmother in the

lands and very like a black sign . " Then the ingenuity spent onsubjiciunt veribus prunas el viscera torrent, instead of resorting to a

dictionary, is amazing :(r) They place coals under in the springs and burn their

entrails.(z) They prefer plums to truth and burn their insides.

(3) They launch the hulls in spring, and their hearts are hotwithin them.

But all pale before the astounding attempt to translate the linesbeginning Barbara Celarent Darfi Ferioque prioris, so well known to

students of logic . One energetic worker could not understandthat they were mere jargon, nothing more than memorial lines to

assist in remembering the moods of the syllogism. He loyally

tried to extract a meaning from the Latin ; unfortunately he could

not get beyond the first line ; the absence of verbs in the remainderbaffled him . Still what he did evolve was better than nothing.

" If the Darians would conceal their barbarous acts, Istruck the leaders ."

What a splendid example of Latin idiom—construction by parataxis

—vivid conditional—historic present—all in one ! Truly a marvel

of ingenuity !Studies of the New Testament are often productive of good

things . I quote two, both remarkable in their way, and both the

work of the same person . He once stumbled across pi) erxiawµco

&\\ \axwPco (Let us not rend it but cast lots) in a divinity paper.

Neither of the words seemed familiar . vXlvwnev certainly had a

look of " schism " about it, but Xaxwµcv was a mystery . He argued

" it must be a mistake ; there isn't such a word ; probably a misprint

for Aa/3wpco . " The end of it all was "Let us not dispute but receive

him. The second was in connection with the grain of wheat,

of which it is said N y 7rc h .7 .A . — rnless it falls into the

ground and dieth it produceth no fruit . Not being acquainted

with the economy of this plant he imagined that the meaning must

be "if it do not die," and consequently conjectured an ellipse ofthe negative from the first half, and put a note to that effect .

6

HUMANUM EST ERRARE.

Repetition next calls for attention . It is, no doubt, valuable,

but, if taught by ear alone, has its dangers . Hymns learnt innational schools when reduced to writing sometimes look rather

queer. A few examples with the correct version appended may be

worth mentioning.

IHawthorns compose so rich a crown.

Or thorns compose so rich a crown.He gave some brass bfire he burst.The gates of brass before him burst.

Has stole our father ' s leadHast all our fathers lead.

Ere he bidHis tender lass farewell.His tender last farewell.

Of the same kind are the following misquotations ;—" Ourfathers .did eat mamma (manna) in the desert ; " " His right handwas roasted (restored) whole ; " " I knew that thou Wert an oyster

(austere) man ." Again, a child when asked for the most mercifulman replied, " Og, King of Bashan ; for his mercy endureth for

ever." Another described the Magi as " horizontal (oriental)kings ." Though this is, to a certain degree, pardonable in a

village child, what is to be said 'of a grown-up man in a church

choir, who twice a day firmly declared his belief in the " collusion

of saints " ? or the mistake so commonly made in the marriageservice, " with all my goods I thee and thou (thee endow) . " An

Oxford undergraduate was almost as bad, when he concluded theparable of the Good Samaritan with `if there be anything more,when I come again I will repay thee . ' This he said knowing heshould see his face no more .' "

Undoubtedly viva voce is the most miserable ceremony for theexaminee in existence ; he is so completely at the tormentor'smercy. Consequently it is welcome to hear of a " score off" theexaminers, and two cases, though not mistakes, may be mentioned.

One undergraduate, sitting at a table opposite to four dons, wasrequested to quote a passage from the New Testament . He

promptly replied, " And round about the throne were four beasts ."Another, when asked if he knew a saying of Elisha, settled theexaminer with " Yea, I know it ; hold ye your peace . "

OXFORD LETTER .

7

Finally, let nie conclude with a mistranslation that bears alesson to school b )ys with it . An unfortunate, when translatingthe lament over Ajax in Sophocles, saw the terrible wordsivoTpd7cX0s "Alas looming ahead . Not having the vaguest idea ofthe meaning, he managed to communicate his distress to hisneighbour . The other scribbled back the correct translation,

"stubborn," but owing to the hurry in which he wrote it, thatword presented a different appearance . The effect of such an

expression as " stillborn Ajax " in a passage like that can be betterunderstood than expressed . The moral of this is obvious ; see thatyou . profit by it .

OXFORD LETTER.

THE "Varsity" have at last been defeated at football ! It isthree years this February, if my recollection serves me right,

since they were beaten by the Edinbro' University (when, by-the-bye, it was an old Peterite, G . F. Chadwick, who won the game

for them), which, with a beating from the same Club onMonday, February q, makes the second defeat in four years . For

the last three years there have been men playing—Rotherham forone, Wade for another—who have never played on the losing side

in any first-rate match—saving this with Edinbro' University andthe "Varsities" z' . London last November . '

It was pure generalship that won the match for Edinburgh.

They knew that our weak point—or less strong point rather—wasour forwards ; behind there are few teams in England or Scotlandthat could hope to stand against us—certainly Price-Jenkins,

Bolton, and Stoddart could not ; so knowing their strength for-

ward they played a game which seemed mean to many partisans ofthe "Varsity," whose partiality outran their judgment . It has

been said in a newspaper—I would not like to say it—that Oxfordwould have beaten if they had had to play Edinburgh Universityalone, and not Edinburgh University—its umpire . Personally I

could not find much fault with him . Kensington played us on

Saturday, February l .i., and we managed to beat them by a dropped

goal to nil . They played much the same game as Edinburgh .

8

OXFORD LETTER.

E. D . Court having obtained his International Cap, there only

remains one of Vassall ' s team who has not done so . All the otherfourteen have played for their respective countries.

Matters do not look so hopeful on the river . We have takento a heavy stroke--Girdlestone, of Magdalen, who is over 1 z stone

in weight . Rowing, he is a good stroke ; paddling, he is hardlyall that might be desired . Still, if the boat were made up as it

promised to be at the beginning of term, circumstances mightjustify investment on the chances of Oxford for winning the race.But it is not so made up, and there lies the rub . Walrond, of

Exeter, who, of all the new men in the boat, seemed surest of .his

place . is turned out to make way for a fresher of this term (though

nominally for Taylor last year 's No. 3), who did not even row inthe trials, whose name is McLean, and who is an Etonian, and the

brother of the President . He rowed well at Henley for Eton lastyear, but is hardly at home in a boat behind an Oxford stroke.

Then, again, another Etonian, Fothergill, is to row. No. z, whowas an egregious failure in the New College four last year, and in

his brief career as stroke of the New College Torpids, whence hehas been promoted to the " Varsity " eight, showed up as not quiteso good as the gentleman who occupies that distinguished position

now, and behind whom his boat will not improbably descend.

G. C. Bourne is reserve man, I hear . The boat is not officially

made up ; but I have every reason to believe it will remain withthe blemishes I have named, and another I have not named, viz .,

Carter, who was far away the worst man last year . Fothergill,

H. Maclean, D . H . Maclean, G . C. Bourne are all of New College.

The Torpids begin on February 19 . Corpus Christi, I believe, willremain head of the river ; Exeter will go up, and so will Pembroke,

if they can last . The rest of the boats are, if anything, below

the average . There are twenty-seven boats on.

We have had at one time three theatres open in Oxford this Term,if you can dignify the Town Hall, the Victoria, and the Queen's with

the name of theatre . The scheme for building a real theatre is fallendead. Attempts are being made, however, to revive it . With

much music, a dynamitard 's threat, a few mission services by

C. T. Studd, S. P. Smith, and S. Beauchamp, the two former ofwhom are about to start as missionaries for China, term has been

SCHOOL LETTER .

9

pretty lively . Revival (socialistic) meetings by William Morris

and E . D . Aveling are also announced . William Morris is alwayspopular here ; but I hesitate to say what Aveling's reception may

be, after I witnessed Henry George's reception, which he mightwell characterise as " the most disgraceful lie had ever met with ."

BEBI.

SCHOOL LETTER.A wet Shrove Tuesday! Great was the disappointment ; but

notwithstanding the rain most managed to spend a very enjoyable

day. Boating has now been started in earnest . The Day-boys,Junior, was the first crew seen on the river, and they will certainly

need a great deal of practice before they get into anything like

form . The School-House, junior, goes very creditably, consider-

ing the time it has had for practice, and should turn out a veryfair crew. Mr. Clarke 's House, Junior, has not yet been seen,but we hope it will make its appearance shortly . With regard to

the seniors, the Day-boys will not meet with nearly as muchopposition from Mr . Clarke ' s House as they did last year, althoughthe School-House may give them a little more trouble . Another

good race may be expected between the Civil and Sixth . Theboating prizes this year will again be restricted to a moderate

price, as money is still needed to pay off the debts for the boat-house and the two new boats, which will in all probability beexchanged, as it has been found that they do not quite suit.

Football has continued for the first fortnight of the term, but theattendance at the pick-ups was so small, and no matches had been

arranged for either the first or second fifteens, that it proved rathera failure.

The Debating Society, which was re-started last year, seemsunfortunately to have fallen through ; it might possibly be con-

tinued, but I have heard no rumour of it.Mr. Clarke has been presented with the living of St . Martin-le-

Grand, York, vacant by the death of Rev . \V. Bresher, and a newmaster has not yet been appointed to succeed him .

10

CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

Far be it from inc to ape originality enough to break throughexisting conventionalities, and so to my preface . A Cambridgeletter, as some of your readers doubtless know to their cost, is nomean task under any circumstances ; but when a few hours is allthat editors allow their unfortunate victim for collecting andarranging his mater ials, surely he deserves the pity rather than the

criticism of your readers, if his task be but indifferently performed.The burning topic of the day is the great " Blue " question.

A meeting, open to all the "Varsity," was held last night in theUnion, when a motion, censuring the action of the Footballauthorities, was lost by a large majority . The general feeling inthe " Varsity " seems to be that the Football men deserve their

full "Blue," but that the action of the Football authorities inassuming it contrary to the wishes and decision of the three clubswhose rightful possession it is, is a gross breach of etiquette, and a

dangerous precedent to establish.It is still too early to speculate with any safety on the result of

the coming Boat race . The odds are at present in our favour, andI believe with good reason . Pitman is rowing in better form than

ever, and, as far as can be seen at present, there is no weak pointin the crew. 7 was the hardest place to fill satisfactorily ; but the

present occupant of that responsible position is almost certain togive ultimate satisfaction, as he is a most painstaking and conse-quently an improving oar.

Fausset, handicapped though he is by lack of weight, has proved

himself no unworthy representative of the school on the Cam. IIerowed bow in the Corpus 2nd boat, which succeeded in gaining aplace on the river, against very great' competition . His style wasquite an object of admiration to many on the tow-path ; though onthe first night of the races, he was somewhat hampe r ed about theknees, owing to mismanagement of his nether garments . Another0. P. has been figuring in a new capacity lately, which seems tosuit him admirably.

"'Tis easier to teach the art of rowing than to learn," thoughthis cannot boast of classic antiquity ; it is nevertheless a truism,which one O . P. at least will endorse . Crawshaw is to be con-gratulated on rowing in a boat which went up, though not as fast

FOOTBALL .

11

as it deserved . The only other Peterite representative on the river

would have a veil drawn over his achievements . Suffice it to saythat it is, to say the least of it, mortifying to find yourself landed

high and dry ashore, within 50 yards of your starting post, owingto a broken rudder string.

"Such is the fate which clogs the feet of some ."—Shakspeare (?)

We have to mourn the loss this term of one whose form wasfamiliar in all the various fields of athletics . It is a thousand

pities he could not see his way to accepting the Secretaryship of theC. U . B . C ., which was offered him last year . IIad Eyre beenavailable for the boat this year, the great difficulty as to who

should fill the place vacated by Moore might have found an easy

solution.We are highly favoured this term in the musical world . Neruda

paid us a visit a few weeks ago, and next week your correspondent

hopes to lay himself at the feet of that king of instrumentalists,

Joachim, and there passive to have his soul charmed out of itsmortal case, by the mystic power of horse-hair, sheep's guts, andresin .

Yours truly,

CLAVIGEP.

FOOTBALL.The Football season of r 88I. has bran most successful . Only

twice has the team been defeated, and on both occasions by theOld Boys . On the first, the School's opponents, with the assistance

of two Cambridge Blues, only managed to beat them by two triesto one . On the second, the School played without Lord, Rhodes,

Wilson, Rose, and Wade, and so could hardly be expected to win.Leeds and Thorparch each went away defeated, although againstThorparch two of the School three-quarters were away . Thecombined play and passing are the principal points on which theteam can congratulate themselves, and had it not been for this,

there is little doubt that the number of victories would have beensmaller. The weak point is the collaring . With two or threeexceptions, the members of the team persist in trying to collartheir opponents by the shoulders, and the forwards, though on the

12

FOOTBALL.

whole they play well together and follow up well, leave a great

deal too much to be done by the backs . Taken as a whole,however, the team is the best the School has had for some years.

The number of matches played was 11, of which 8 were won, I

drawn, and z Lost.

% P. E . LORD (188z-83-84) .—Good three-quarter back, collarswell, and a good place kick . His drop kicking has been ofgreat use to the team . (r I st . 3 lb .)

% H . W. RHODES (1882-83-84) .—Good half-back, where he playedat the beginning of the season . Played three-quarters in mostmatches, but was not so useful as at half ; fair drop kick.(ro st . I lb .)

% F . R . BRANDT (1882-83-84) —A splendid full back, one of thebest the School has ever had . Collared and punted verywell . A sure and certain place kick . (1 z st . 'lb .)

% W. G. WILSON (1883-84) .-Splendid half-back, dodges grandly,but should pass more. (ro st . 71b).

% C. B . CLARKE (1883-84) .—Decidedly the leader of the forwards.is fairly fast, dribbles, and follows up well, and makes gooduse of his weight . (Io st . 12 lb .)

%R. C . D. ROSE (1883-84) .—Fast three-quarter back, in somematches ran and dodged very well . (ro st . 6 lb .)

R . CROSfHWAITE (1883-84) .—Good forward, made some gooddribbles, but should go through the scrimmage instead ofround it . (9 st . I2 lb .)

%A . WADE (1883-84) .—Heavy forward, working hard in the pack,collars fairly .

(ro st . I lb .)%E . NOBLE (1883-8+) .-Disappointing three-quarter back, rather

inclined to be lazy. Collared fairly at the beginning of theseason ; fair place kick . (II st . 1 lb .)

J . WILSON (1884) .—Good forward, dribbles and follows up verywell . (9 St . 4 lb .)

%A . MARRIOTT (1884) .—Very good forward, dribbles splendidly,and always on the ball . (9 St . 12 lb .)

W. S. GoFTON (1884) .-Fair forward, works hard in tke pack, butshould dribble more . (i 1 st . 7 lb .)

T. H . LITTLE (1884) .—Fair forward, should keep cool.(II st . I I lb .)

J . E. GoFTON (1884) .--Fair forward, collars well . (Io st . 6 lb .)% W . MURRAY (1884) .—Good forward, working hard, and generally

following up well . (9 st . 6 lb .)R . CRAWSHAW (1884) .-Played in most matches at half back,

where he passed well, and played a plucky game (9 st . I lb .)

Will have left before next year.

CORRESPONDENCE .

13

LIST OF MATCHES PLAYED.

OPPONENTS . Result .School Score.

' Goals .

Tries.

Old Boys lost O

!

I

York Wanderers won 3

0

York Wanderers won I

IO

St. John's College won 1 3

T . Walker ' s Team won 0 2

Durham Grammar School draw O

Beverley won 2

Leeds Grammar School won 6 3

Thorparch won 9

Old Boys

Old Boys

lost

won

z

3

28

15

4

8

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editors of the Peterite.

As the School Boat Races will soon be taking place, I shouldlike to refer the captains of the three divisions of the School to anexcellent letter by " Cantab " in the number of this magazine forJuly, 1882. That letter contained most valuable advice andinstruction ; but, like most of those which appear in The Pete/rite,

has received little or no attention . It would be well for the Schoolto study it carefully, and, as far as is possible, to act up to thesuggestions made in it . For the benefit of those who have not a

copy of the number referred to, I will repeat the gist of portionsof it . The first proposition is that the older members of the BoatClub should take out the younger members every half holiday for

about twenty minutes in tub pail's, and keeping them to a slow

Opponents 'Score.

Goals . 1 Tries.

zO

00

O

00

00

O

O

0 0

00

32

I

14

CORRESPONDENCE.

stroke, instruct them in the proper style of rowing . The oldermembers would, of course, have first to learn themselves." Cantab ' s "'letter would teach them much . The next suggestionI will repeat in the original words—" Again, when the House foursfirst begin going out, would it not be far better for them if they

were kept for the first fortnight or so to a slow stroke, which wouldhelp the crew to get the true uniformity of swing and catch, sonecessary for the attainment of pace . No crew can row a faststroke effectively without first having learnt to row a slow one ."This, again, is a most sensible piece of advice, and was advocated

by a member of the School not many years ago . His colleagues,however, did not approve of his radical opinions . The aboveproposition of " Cantabs 's " would equally apply to the RegattaBoat.

St . Peter ' s has, I know, a certain reputation at the Universities,or, at any rate, at Cambridge, for being a good boating school,

and this reputation is, to a great extent, justified by the numberof University oars which it has turned out in proportion to itssize. But what would its admirers think if they could take a walkon the banks of the Ouse and see the respective crews preparingfor the School races ?

Some time ago a man at one of the Universities said to me, " Idon' t believe in ` Varsity ' style ." No, poor fellow, and no wonder,for he had learnt such an unnatural way of rowing at the schoolwhere he was educated, that he found it almost impossible toacquire the proper art.

Lastly, I would suggest that more use should be made of O . P ' sresident in York, especially of those (if there are any) who havebeen or are at the Universities .

I remain,Yours truly,

USTL.P.S.—I hope this letter will receive more attentian than is

usually paid to letters which appear in The Peterite.

SIR,It may not be known to many of your readers that the

Boating Club is carrying on its operations under great difficulties.Since the time money prizes were abolished the number of entries

NOTES AND -ITEMS

10

has been gradually growing smaller, and the interest taken in the

races less . Now boats have been, indeed, ptarcliased, but are a

severe tax on the resources of the Club ; further, a debt of some£19 remains on the boat house . This being the case, the com-mittee find it extremely (iiiiicuit to offer suitable prizes . Theconsequence is, as I have said above, that there are fewer entriesand less interest taken inn the races . Of course the School shouldbe content to race for honour ; but honour, especially to juvenileswho find themselves out of pocket by their practising, is but a

word . (rood prizes are given at the Athletic Sports, and thewinners of boat races justly claim similar prizes . These, of course,the committee are unable to give unaided . If, however, bene-

factors would offer prizes for at least one or two of the races, as theyso generously do for the Athletic Sports, they would both aid thecommittee and give a special interest to those races they grace with

their names . For instance, the chief prizes given at the MidsummerExamination carry with them a special honour from the names oftheir donors, and so with the Sport ' s prizes.

It is to be hoped that this suggestion will be taken up, andtaken up this year .

VERBER.

REVIEWV.THE SCRIBBLER'S lONTILLY, Vol . I ., 1883 ; Vol . II.,

1884 . If. Ward Carroll, Hon Sec ., Chislehurst, Kent.

Now that, through the kindness of Mr . Carroll, copies of thetwo volumes of The Seribbler's Monthly have been deposited in theSchool Library, it seems fitting to pass a final verdict on the

literary venture which has just been brought to a close . Some ofthe earlier numbers have already been noticed in The Peterite . Thefirst volume contained a novelette by Mr . E. P. Allanson (O . P .)The second volume contains two shorter serials, both of which willbe found very interesting . There are also a large number of ably-written stories, grave and gay, and all manner of essays andpoems . Such papers as the essays on " Rossetti and G . F. Watts,by E . S . R . ; or Mr . F . S . Boas's essays on Matthew Arnold ;" orDr . Lindsay 's articles on " Education," would do credit to anymagazine . Peterites will be specially interested in the neat essays,

16

EDITORIAL.

"Four Squares without a Flaw," contributed by the Rev . W.

Routh to the first volume . The second volume has had its interestenhanced by illustrations—a daring experiment for amateurs

to make. The magazine has now been discontinued, not becauseof any sort of failure, but because the Secretary can no longer

spare the time necessary to conduct it successfully . The Secretaryis to be congratulated on the talented circle of contributors whom

he has gathered round him (one of them, by the way, has justbeen appointed editor of Time) ; and, on the other hand, thecontributors are certainly to be congratulated on the geniality and

energy of the Secretary, pleasant memories of which will remainwith them long after the decease of the Scribbler ' s Monthly.

J. H. F.

NOTES AND ITEMS.W. J. P. KAYE, of Queen's College, Oxford, was 4th out of 12

successful candidates for University Cadetships at Sandhurst.H. H . SPINB: has passed the Final Examination of the Incorporated

Law Society.CANON T. P. HUDSON has been appointed an Examiner for the

Mus. Bac. Degree at Cambridge.

W. BARBER, Q .C., of the Chancery Bar, has been elected a Bendier

of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, in place of the

late Mr. Overend, Q.C. Mr. Barber was called to the Bar at

Lincoln 's Inn in 1862, and was made a Q.C. in 1882 .—Times.

J . DEWIIURST passed the preliminary examination of the Chartered

Accountants.IT may interest some of the readers of the Peterite to know that

there exists in the School a branch of the Public Schools'Bible Union, which is open to any member of the School who

may wish to join for the new year . Cards of membershipmay be obtained from C . B. Clarke.

EDITORIAL.The Editors beg to remind Subscribers that their subscriptions

are due for 1885.

The Editors beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of thefollowing magazines :—" The Leodiensian," " The Lorettonian,"

" The Alleynian," " The Barrovian," " ° The Lily," " The SuttonValence."