hold of me by the collar. Telling ... the first points in the Isis which strike one
accustomed to .... there are few pleasanter river experiences than that of the Isis
in.
THE
PETERITE VOL. I .
MARCH,
18 79 .
No. 3.
EDITORIAL.
THIS
THIS month, as will be seen on perusal of our pages, we the first list of Subscribers to the Peterite, and we have to thank them, one and all, for the cordial manner in which they have received our Magazine . Of course this list is not a complete one ; several names have been received since we sent it to the printer, and will have to wait until next month, while others, who have subscribed from the beginning, may have been accidentally omitted ; but as it will be supplemented from time to time, we hope, by new names, our thanks must not be confined simply to those whose names we print this month . To pass on to the Magazine itself, we should like to call attention to the danger that seems to exist at present of School contributions being outnumbered by those of old Peterites, and we would ask present Peterites to write more in it, remembering that its object is to promote interchange of thought between Past and Present, not only as regards things connected more closely with the School, but also subjects of more general interest . We have no need to complain of the number of correspondents, for besides the letters which have al ready been published, we have received many others from friends of the School, containing hints concerning the matter with which we should fill our pages, and for these we are most grateful ; but what we hope to see altered in time, is the fact that original articles from the School are sent to us from three or four sources only, instead of coming from every quarter of the School . One correspondent suggested to us that accounts of excursions round York would be interesting, and could easily be written with the help of a few notes taken by the way . This idea, we are glad to see, has been anticipated by " Angler, " c.
34
TWO DAYS ' JACK-FISHING.
whose article we publish this month, and there are many other subjects which might be pressed into service in the same way. Amongst other things, we hope that the discussion about the new Fives Courts will not be allowed to drop, but that some of our Oxford or Cambridge correspondents will give some of their ideas on the subject, either taken from their own experiences, or borrowed from their friends . The work is a most important one, and to be carried out in its entirety, requires much more money than has yet been subscribed, so we hope that old Peterites will respond to the silent appeal still being made to them, and help it on with their best endeavours . As regards the publication of the Magazine, it has been finally decided to bring it out eight times a year, viz ., in February, March, April, June, July, October, November, and December ; as it would be almost impossible to publish it during the holidays . We shall try, as far as possible, to publish it during the first week of each of these months, but as even editors are only mortals, we shall crave indulgence for any irregularities that may occur in this respect.
TWO DAYS' JACK-FISHING. ARLY one fine morning towards the end of March in the year—well, never mind the year,—you might have seen two enthusiastic lovers of the "gentle art " wending their way, rod in hand, and panier well stocked with the. day's victuals on back, towards the banks of a river, which flows into the Ouse, not a hundred miles from York, a river well-known as being the haunt of pike of all sizes, from the "jack" of a few ounces in weight, to the pike of twenty po'.inds, that are wont to lie in wait in deep pools behind a willow for the unwary gudgeon or dace swimming on in happy ignorance of the cannibal who lurks unseen, yet all-seeing. These two " Waltonians " were P . and myself, the former a fisherman with nearly half-a-century's experience, and the latter myself, whose only wish in matters piscatorial is, that I may rival, but not excel, my companion in skill and success. Having a three mile walk before us, we had to make an early breakfast and an early start for the scene of our operations,
E
35
TWO DAYS' JACK-FISHING .
where we arrived by half-past eight . We each had our rods jointed, line threaded, and a plump gudgeon on—dead, I may say, for never have either of us been guilty of live-bait fishing, but real honest trolling—in the shortest possible time, and we began to throw in our baits and draw them through the clear waters of the Dinn, with an energy which foretold success . But either the fish had anticipated us and made their breakfasts before we arrived, or it was a fast-day with them, for never a fish would rise. The day was bright, but not too bright, and the wind was S .W., and any one who knows the habits of master jack, would have betted long odds on our slaying several in the space of an hour or two . On and on did we fish, noon came, i o ' clock came , and no result . " I say," says P ., " this is dry work, let us have something to eat and drink ." I, nothing loth, cordially agreed, and we eat our lunch on a gate, not in the best of tempers, and every now and then muttering something about "the grand day " and "no fish ." " I say, don't cat all that, or there'll be nothing left," said P . ; after which sagacious remark we re-commenced, more desperate than hopeful . By-and-bye P . saw a gleam in the water, and felt a smart tug, which ended in a small jack of some two pounds weight being brought to grass . This was a decided improvement. Soon P . yelled out again, " Come here, I rose such a beauty, but he has gone away with bait, hooks, and a yard and-a-half of line ." He had " struck " with more energy than was necessary, and the fish was gone . However, I popped in my bait just over the willow bush, from whose shelter he had come, hardly expecting that he would rise again : but rise he did, seized the bait, shook it as a terrier does a rat, and bolted off back to his lair. But no, the hooks were now fast in his jaw, and he swirled round and rushed up stream, taking out yards of line . Soon he came down again, and then set off for the opposite bank. This went on for some few minutes until he began to shew signs of weakness, when I brought him gently to the side where P . was in waiting. But, not done yet, he made a last struggle, and pursued his old tactics . However, on being brought to the side a second time, P . put his finger and thumb into his eyes, and he was captured. He was a grand fish, in prime condition, and pulled down the "weigh " at seven and-a-half pounds . There was no mistake as C2
36
TWO DAYS ' JACK-FISHING.
to his identity, as he had P . ' s hooks right across his mouth, and the marvel was how he managed to seize mine with such a gag in his mouth. Going on, we succeeded in catching two or three more jacks, though none of them were of any size ; but soon we had to desist, as we were a good two hours' walk from home, and P . had business to be attended to in the evening . Why the fish should not have risen at the baits in the morning, and have done so in the afternoon so viciously, is one of those things which "no fellar can understand . " The next occasion on which we fished the same stream was in the month of September in the same year, when every one in the country was thinking about harvest . P . and I were again the fishers and we had with us F., a youngster who kept us supplied with fresh baits, and Billy, an old man and retired tradesman who longed to see a pike caught and who begged us to take him with us . He turned out very useful in the end, as he carried our "prop " and the fish . His glee was unbounded at our first capture, which was only damped when a mile from any house he discovered that he had brought pipe and matches but no "batty . " Did ' nt we chaff him ? Soon after making a start we each got one, and then nothing more was seen or felt till we arrived at a bend in the river, known as the "Yuan " (derivation unknown), about a quarter of a mile from *'s farm house, where one is almost sure to find a good fish . And so it was, for on throwing in beyond a large willow bush for the second time, out rushed a veritable "fresh-water shark ." P ., who was fortunate enough to be fishing that particular pool, struck him and held him manfully. I, directly I saw him, guessed his weight to be loth, P . thought loth would be nearer the mark . " Hc's well hooked," said P ., "but how to get him out is the difficulty ." A large bush was at the head of the pool and another at the tail, while the bank on which we were standing between the bushes was almost perpendicular, and six feet high . " You must gc down there, " said P., and down I went, at the risk of going headlong into a dozen feet of water . Clinging with one hand to the bank I grabbed the fish, which was b " this time tired out, across the shoulders with the other, but I failed to hold him, his back being too broad, and off he shot into the middle" again, only to be brought up a second time by P . The next time T got my finger
THE RIVER AT OXFORD .
37
and thumb (our usual way of landing large fish) well into his eyes and held on like grim death, Sir John lashing his tail furiously, and making the water fly on all sides. Billy, who had done gaping at the size of the fish, now began to shriek out directions as to how I was to get up the bank, and at last laid hold of me by the collar. Telling him to hold on, I left go of the bank and grasped the fish round the tail, seeing which, P . threw down his rod and "lugged " me up the bank, half throttled, but fish in hand . Did 'nt Billy dance with excitement ? We soon had him on the weigh, which he pulled down at 16th, so my guess was nearer than P 's . As it was only noon, Billy suggested that it would be better to take him up to the farm house, and there leave him till we returned in the evening . A good old soul was the farmer's wife, though very rustic and broad-spoken, and as she met us at the door, loud were her exclamations . " Oh my! What a fish ! ! Where hover did you ketch 'im ? " On being told she exclaimed "I'll lay it's 'im, then, as 'as been takin' off my baits, 'ooks, an' all . I am glad e 's ketched ." Then we learnt that the old lady had been in the habit of setting nightlines, baited with frogs, and that she had often found them gone in the morning when she went to look at them. In the evening when we returned we made her a present of a jack of 4th weight, at which she became quite ecstatic and offered us a "little drop o ' summat," which we, with many thanks, declined . We altogether that day caught fish weighing 33 or 34th, not such a bad day 's sport for two amateurs . A long trudge home heavily laden thus ended a most pleasant and successful day ; may our next be not far distant, and equally successful . A ;I .Ek.
THE RIVER AT OXFORD. IOW banks, a rapid current, and scores of boats . Such arc the first points in the Isis which strike one accustomed to the slow, high-banked, half-deserted Ouse . The contrast is certainly not in favour of the northern stream . To reach the river one has to pass through Christ Church Meadows, by broad walks lined with trees, some ancient, some but a few years old .
38
THE RIVER AT OXFORD.
At the bottom of what is called the New Walk, a broad and perfectly straight path a quarter of a mile in length, runs the river, lined for some distance on the Oxfordshire shore with the barges of Colleges and boat-builders . Some of the former are most gorgeous affairs, especially the ' Varsity and Christ Church ; others are in a melancholy state of decay and dinginess, and appeal piteously to painter and builder to restore them to their ancient glories : several have a history of their own, as they have been the state barges of some of the London companies ; but most are of more recent date . These barges serve as a sort of dressing room and lounge for the members of the College Clubs, the dressing room being chiefly for the use of "Eight " and " Torpid " men. And now that we have got to our barge, let us be initiated into the mysteries of University rowing. The freshman is asked by a member of the Boat Club Committee if he can row at all, and is then taken out in either a four or pair to be coached. Alas for the man who comes imbued with our Ouse notions of rowing ! " Slowly forward with the body," and " Shoot the hands away at once, " are directions that become the bane of his existence . One's main idea at School was to keep time, and not "screw ." Here, of course, these two maxims arc equally important, but they are not all . Instead of bringing hands and body forward together, we are taught—as soon as the hands touch the chest at the end of the stroke, to shoot them out without moving the body until the arms are perfectly straight ; when the arms are straight the body is to follow them slowly and steadily, all its weight resting on the scat, leaving the arms at liberty to gradually raise the handle of the oar over the stretcher, so as to have the blade close on the water for the next stroke . As soon as the swing forward has been accomplished the water must be struck smartly, the shoulders being thrown back, and the heels dug hard into the stretcher . It is most important to remember that almost all the work must be done before the oar is square with the rowlock . A lug at the end of the stroke is fatal to the swing of the boat, and is sure to drag the side of the boat down in the water . One of the chief faults of our School rowing in our time was this lack of catch at the beginning, which we thought quite subordinate to a good hard lug at the end, a great waste of arm-power without any use of
THE RIVER AT OXFORD .
39
the weight of the body. If fellows at School will think of these few maxims of Oxford rowing, they will find, when they come up, that they will get into it much sooner . Of course these few "tips" are not supposed to constitute a complete course of coaching. Many other points have to be attended to, and one of the most important is "Keep your eyes in the boat . " If there is one thing calculated to provoke the just wrath of a "coach, " it is the breach of this rule . You cannot keep time and swing properly if you will not keep your eyes on the back of the man in front of you . Again, although the main part of the work is done at the beginning of the stroke, the blade must be kept covered until the hands are right into the chest, when the hands must be dropped, wrists turned to feather, and arms shot out straight in what is almost one motion . Great care should be taken to begin the stroke when you arc furthest forward, catching the water firmly at once. So much for coaching ; now for the river itself. In the Michaelmas Term some marvellous exhibitions of rowing may be seen . Men who have never seen an oar before are sent out in Pairs or Fours with a coach, and instructed in the rudiments of the art . Sometimes a luckless coach may be seen watching, with feelings bordering on insanity and despair, the hopeless efforts of a couple of novices to get some way on their boat, whilst a peremptory " Look ahead, Sir"' warns him that he is full in the course of one of the trial Eights, and that the withering glance of the coxswain at his colours has marked him for a fine for obstructing a boat practising for an University race. The river is extremely difficult to steer on . Between Oxford and Iffley, about a mile, boats have to cross the river no less than three times in accordance with the course marked out by the O .U .B .C . Of these the worst is at the Gut, where there is a bend very like that at the Scope, at York, though oil a much shorter and narrower scale, which adds to the difficulty of steering . Once through that, it is pretty plain sailing down to Iffley, where there is the first lock . There most boats turn and row back to Oxford . If there is any flood water in the river the passage of the Gut is a most difficult matter, boats sometimes staying almost motionless for two or three minutes before they can make head against the stream . Sometimes an unlucky freshman venturing out in a dinghey, (a kind of compromise
40
THE RIVER AT OXFORD.
between a tub and a single, as we call them at York, but outrigged), is run down by an Eight or Four and upset, whereupon there is generally a Humane Society's man ready to haul you out with a boat hook or otherwise . They do say that these men have an awkward knack of hooking one up not by the clothes, but by the person . En passant it may be remarked that almost all the boats at Oxford are outrigged . In the Michaelmas Term most of the Colleges have Junior Fours in tub boats, chiefly to develope the powers of freshmen . The University Fours and Trial Eights also come off in this Term . Lent Term is generally most uncomfortable on the river . Frost and snow at the beginning, wind, rains, and floods a little later, make it hard work for the Torpids . The "Torpids," be it known, are strake-built eight-oars, not tubs, " but very far from fine boats . They are the stepping stone to the Eight . The Torpid racing generally begins about the fourth week in April, and lasts six days . The boats start in a long line, the distance from bow to bow being 16o feet, so that there is a space of about a length and two-thirds between the stern of one boat and the bows of the one behind. The object is to run into—technically " bump "—the boat in front. Sometimes a boat will lose a well-deserved bump by the clumsiness of the coxswain, for it is by no means an easy matter to steer an Eight in a race up stream . On the towing path are hundreds of Undergraduates rushing frantically along with their respective boats, some ringing bells, some blowing horns, some swinging heavy rattles, and all yelling. The noise during an exciting race is something astounding . Frequently the water is several inches deep on the towing path, and then the sight of men plunging and splashing through the water is most ludicrous. Frequently, too, men will crowd in swarms into a punt (a flatbottomed boat pushed along by a pole), and sink it, to the great amusement of the spectators : as the river is not deep, all the damage done is a thorough ducking. The most enjoyable time of the year on the river is, of course, the Summer Term . Then every description of boat from the eight-oar to the coracle may be seen . Those who are not rowing in the Eights confine themselves chiefly to purely pleasure boating . Punts, canoes, dinghcys, and pairs swarm up the Cherwell—called the " Char,"—and, making themselves fast under the trees round Magdalen Walks, lie comfortably reading
BOATING CLUB.
41
or half-dozing, until inclined to return . The hard-worked torpid man finds solace after his labours in lazily punting or canoeing, eschewing rowing unless a very energetic individual . After the Eights are over most of the Colleges hold Regattas, sometimes a dozen being held on the same afternoon . Then the wildest confusion prevails ; fours, eights, pairs, dingheys, skiffs, and canoes may be seen coming all in a heap up the river, whilst, floundering helplessly about the river are some half dozen unmanageable punts . In canoe and punt racing very few escape without a ducking, especially in the former, when the race is both land and water . But all mishaps are taken in good part : and there are few pleasanter river experiences than that of the Isis in May and June .
BOATING CLUB. HE Boating season has once more come round much to the
T delight of us all ; for of the three amusements—Cricket,
Football, and Rowing, the last is certainly the greatest general favourite, though the first is not very far behind . And in a place like York, where the river is so much better for rowing than in most towns, it is not a matter for surprise that this recreation should claim more attention than the other two . It has been said that no town in England offers so many advantages to rowers as York ; and, in spite of the many pleasures which Oxford, that "city of waters," that very Rabbak, with all its "romantic associations " and "absolute liberty, " possesses, we much prefer the old Ouse to the rapid Isis or to the sluggish Cam. So much for the advantages which the School possesses in the boating line, and which we hope will not be thrown away by its members . In giving an account of the various boats it would be invidious to prefer one to another, or even to find fault with any of the different crews ; but one thing seems certain, and that is that there will be some very good races this year, as the crews are very equally balanced, and none insuperably superior to the rest . In the Senior House Boats' races we expect to sec some excitement ; and the Form Fours and Senior Pairs will probably cause a considerable amount of interest, though the School
42
OXFORD LETTER.
boat seems at present likely to keep up its last year ' s reputation. It is too early to say anything more about the boats : the crews of some are not quite settled yet . I would gladly forward you the latest betting on the races, but as we do not possess the discriminating power which would enable us to form that valuable institution, I must ask you to wait patiently and see the results yourselves : however, if `father Ouse' is kindly disposed, and Skeldergate Bridge requires no more attentions, we hope to begin the races by about the 18th of March . The Boating Committee is—J . H . Daniel, H . Walker, and G . H . Wade.
OXFORD LETTER. IGH a month has passed since the last number of the Peterite made its appearance, and I am again warned to take up my pen and let you know how things in general are going on, and what Old Peterites in particular are doing up here in Oxford. And first as to rowing, the great centre of attraction this Term. Still more changes in the ' Varsity boat . Although strict training commences to-morrow (Ash Wednesday), the seats in the boat do not seem to be definitely filled, and on no two consecutive days is the composition of the crew the same . This is owing to several causes, the difficulty of finding a suitable stroke being the most prominent; while the floods caused by the persistent down-pour of rain have precluded all possibility of coaching from the bank of the river proper . Robinson, of New, will, we think, occupy the stroke thwart ; and Hobart, of Exeter, (who has found out to his cost at the late Bristol Assizes that he cannot trifle with the affections of a lady) will row No . 7 . Grenfell, the President, will not row at all, owing to an injury to one of his shoulders, but he will be invaluable as a coach when the crew go to Putney . Altogether things are not going on as swimmingly as we should like, and our prospect of success is not so bright as it was at the beginning or Term. Despite the wet weather, over thirty Torpids—an unprecedented number—have been daily practising for the six days ' struggle beginning on March 6th . All the head boats, except Pembroke, have been doing their work on the lower river, so we have not seen much of them, save a hasty glimpse now and then from the roofs of the various College barges . The order of the first five boats in which they will start is—Pembroke, Trinity, Keble 1st, Exeter, and Christ
N
CAMBRIDGE LETTER .
43
Church 1st : and of these we think Pembroke will lose its proud position of " head of the river," a position they have held for two years, and we think that Trinity will take its place . Keble will be, as usual, over-trained . Queen 's come 9th, and ought to go up a place or two ; C . H . Chadwick is rowing bow, and W . E . Moore 4 in this boat. These are the only O.Ps. rowing, as most of the School oarsmen seen to go to Cambridge. There has been grand fun on Port Meadow—a second Clifton Ings—during the last fortnight ; scores of boats, including a fleet of centre-boards, having been out with perfect safety to the adventurers, as the water never exceeded 18 inches in depth. At Football the Association players have done little or nothing, the match with Cambridge being put off till to-day (Shrove Tuesday). At the Rugby game, however, we have beaten the Gipsies and Richmond, played a drawn match with Cambridge, and have been beaten by Blackheath, who came down with a very hot team, amongst whom were no less than five " Englanders . " The operatic Concert was a great success, no less than nine pieces being redemanded . M . Musin was decidedly the hero of the evening, some of his variations on the violin were really wonderful . The Choral Society performed " Judas Maccabceus " in good style and with great effect a week ago . Several O .Ps . took part. Before I close I must not forget to tell you that " Wobbler " Weston arrives here to-morrow evening, either on foot, or in his bus, or by train . He is due to lecture in the Theatre at 8 p .m ., and we shall go to see and hear him . His " walk " has been well described as a cross between the waddle of a duck and the run of a centipede. O . P.
CAMBRIDGE LETTER. ENGROSSING topic number one : How ' s the ' Varsity boat on ? Ditto number two : Who is going to be Senior Classic ? Number three : Shall we do well in the Lent ? As to the first, the crew may be looked upon now as pretty well settled (a consummation which Oxford seems far from arriving at), though one or two slight changes may be still made . Davis, who rowed last year in the First Trinity 5th boat, will certainly remain stroke ; and Hockin and Gurdon, as every one knows, have taken their places at 5 and 6, the latter with the respectable weight of I3st. 13lbs . ; in fact, the crew will be an exceptionally heavy one, the
44
THE DEBATE.% SOCIETY.
average at present being something like 12 1 Z st . The rows taken in the light ship have been promising so far, and there is much less of the great Cambridge fault, feathering under water, to be seen. The Classical Tripos Examination began a week ago, and ends in three days more . Of course there is much less certainty as to the order of the few highest men than in the Mathematical Tripos, in which some two-thirds of the men have been for three years under the same coach, but report points to Tottenham, of Trinity, or Dougan, of St . John ' s, as " hot " men for the first place, unless some " dark horse " soaked through and through with set subjects and philology, is the happy one . Horrors ! to think of this time next year ! All the second and third division boats are in full practice for the Lent Races, but training has only just begun, so that it is too early to tell how each will turn out . Jesus 2nd seems likely to keep head of the second division, while there is not much to choose between the next two boats, 1st Trinity 4th and Pembroke 1st . Cavendish, thanks to a very light ship and an excellent stroke (formerly a Trinity man), have turned out a most promising boat, and ought to do well . Several boats—1st Trinity 7th, Trinity Hall 4th, Christ' s 2nd, St. Catherine 2nd, and Emmanuel 2nd—aspire to get on the river, but none seems likely to dislodge Clare 2nd . E . H . Ainslie and his brother are stroking the first and second Pembroke boats respectively. P . L . Newman and J . R . Husband rowing in Christ ' s 2nd, under Stephenson' s instruction. Some misguided individuals whose idea of the chief good is peculiar, still play Football, I believe, but I can give no particulars of the interesting sport . No Colleges have held their Athletic Sports as yet this Term. Acting on a friendly suggestion I give a list of Undergraduate Peterites at present up in Cambridge : R . M . Ainslie, Pembroke ; W ."Dowson, J . R . Husband, P . L . Newman, and J . E . Stephenson, Christ ' s ; J . P . Hubbersty, St . Catherine' s ; E . Bellerby, Corpus ; R. W . Taylor, Trinity ; C . Kitchin, Trinity Hall ; F. E . Swaby, and C. G . Wilkinson, St . John's . K . K.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY. On Saturday, February 8th, BASKETT moved, "That the Rebellion of 1642 was perfectly justifiable, " and sturdily maintained the cause of the Parliament . GARwoov and WADE joined issue with the
45
POETRY .
proposer in true Cavalier spirit, and it was pretty evident from the first that the feeling of the house was with them . Still the hon. Mover showed no disposition to yield, and, after an animated debate, it was decided to adjourn the further discussion of the question to the following Saturday. Accordingly, on February 15th, the motion was re-introduced by G . WALKER, and again met with strong opposition from WADE and GARwoon . WADE, who had evidently gone to Dryden for his views of the Puritans, could not resist the temptation to fling cheap sneers at the Parliamentarian party, instead of answering argument with argument ; though, when he deigned to use logic, he showed that he could use it with no inconsiderable skill . LE MAISTRE, in a fair and moderate speech, supported the opposition ; while GRIFFITH avowed himself at heart a Royalist, but confessed that the facts were all on the other side, and declared his intention of remaining neutral : perhaps the Royalists were scarcely grateful for his sympathy, but they had no reason to be disconcerted at the defection from their ranks, for a division left them a majority of six .
POETRY. AMEINON. [CONCLUDED F ROM P .
3
0 .1
II. 0 star in the western heavens, 0 glory of gleaming gold, I love thee, fairest and brightest—I hate thee, icily cold. Have my eyes forgotten their cunning that I cannot shut them to sleep ? That I cannot force out through them the tears that I long to weep ? Bright star in the dark, dark heavens, withdraw thy baneful light, And let me slumber calmly till the fading of the night. I slept, and I dreamed of a baby that stretched out its arms with a cry, Out into the cold, cold darkness, not knowing its mother was nigh. I woke, and across the heavens a glimmer of morning stole, And a ray of hope came with it, and dawned upon my soul ; And I cried, 0 wondrous Godhead that I deemed so far and high, I thank thee for the omen, I feel thee very nigh ; I was e ' en as a child in the night-tide that cries from a causeless fear, And fancies itself forsaken the while that its mother is near ;
46
CORRESPONDENCE.
I cursed the gods in heaven that they took away my friend, For I knew not aught of their counsels and what should is in the end. But meseemeth that all anear me is the far-off ending of things, And I hear already the fluttering and rush of immortal wings. Perchance, perchance they may tarry ; but I murmur not at my fate, If awhile the gods compel me upon the earth to wait. At their behest I linger ; hereafter at their behest I shall come, and shall see thee and know thee, Ameinon, dearest and best . HOWARD.
CORRESPONDENCE. T) the Edito rs of the Peterite. DEAR Sms,—A few days ago an O .P . suggested to me in a letter, that it would be a good thing if Scratch Fours for O .P . ' s could be established at the School Regatta . In some respects the idea has been already acted upon, since last Easter, several Old Boys rowed in the School Scratch Fours . I do not think it would be possible to get together enough Old Boys to form separate Fours ; but there might, with advantage, be an extension of last year ' s practice of Past and Present rowing together . Any thing which brings Old Boys into close contact with those now at the School seems desirable . I hope the Captain of the Boat Club will consider this question, and let us have in the next number of the Pcterite the result of his deliberations. Meanwhile, let me hope that the idea will spread amongst the Old Boys, especially those who live near enough to York to come over for a day . I remain, clear Sirs, Faithfully yours, PRISTIS.
THE SCHOOL THEATRICALS.
To the Editors of the Pc/critc. i)F.AR Sias,—Allow me to make one important addition to the discriminating and otherwise complete report of the School Theatricals which your contributor has given . Conspicuous by its absence is any mention of the valuable assistance of Mr . Yeld, to whom was due in great measure the possibility of our continuing the Theatricals last Christmas . Having myself experienced his unvarying kindness
47
CORRESPONDENCE .
and patience,—and I am sure both must have been sorely tried sometimes,—having also had opportunities of knowing, as outsiders cannot possibly know, the extent of the assistance he has given, it would be doubly ungrateful in me, as an actor and a Committee man, if I let pass this opportunity of rectifying this mistake, and, on behalf of the Dramatic Club, testifying our sense of the obligations under which we lie. Mr . Yeld devoted to us a great part of the evening on four (and latterly six) nights every week during the whole of last Term . This fact is eloquent enough, but it does not express all nor half of the assistance he has rendered . I am, yours &c ., G . H . WADE,
Sec . Dramatic Club. [\Ve are very glad that attention has been called to this omission in our account of the School Theatricals, and are sure that our readers will agree with us in ascribing it to an oversight on the part of "Quis" in his otherwise able report .—EDs .]
To the Editors of the Peterite. DaAR SIRS,—I am glad that attention has been called to the condition of the School Boat-house, and that the idea has again been broached of devoting some portion of the boating subscriptions to forming a fund for the purchase of new boats, and necessary repairs of the Boat-house . Little or nothing has hitherto been done to place Boating at St . Peter ' s in the position that it ought to enjoy, considering the size of the School and the splendid stream that is available ; and I hope that it is reserved for the present generation to lay the foundations of an improved system . Before I left the School we decided that the foundations of the Boat-house were in a thoroughly rotten condition, and ought to be restored as soon as possible . This was nearly three years ago, and since that the Committee, owing to the lack of funds, have been able to do nothing. The new White Rose Boat-house will probably have suggested again the idea of a brickwork foundation to prevent the periodical flooding to which at present our Boat-house is exposed ; and I would suggest that that should be one of the first improvements made. I shall not say any thing about the desirability of substituting pewters for the plated cups at present given, as that is a matter of taste ; but in point of durability the former are, as a matter of fact, to be preferred . If the Committee have any money to spend on
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SUBSCRIBERS.
boats they can get a good second-hand tub pair outrigged for 1I4, and a gig four-oar for - TR, with oars, &c ., complete ; and I quite agree with "Remus " that it is high time to get some new boats. -Wishing the Committee every success in their endeavours, I remain, yours faithfully, C . H . C.
SUBSCRIBERS. Subscriptions for the current year have been paid or promised by the following : Rev . H . M . Stephenson ; F . M . Scargill, Esq . ; G . Yeld, Esq . ; Rev. E . Bulmer ; J . L . Freeman, Esq . ; Rev . J . Adams ; Rev. W . Routh ; — Brownbill, Esq . ; J . Travis, Esq. ; Rev . R . Elwyn ; Rev . T . B . B. Ferris ; Rev. G . Edmundson ; W . R . Rayson ; H . Moss ; A . Moss; R . M . Ainslie ; W . Ainslie ; C . H . Chadwick ; G . F . Chadwick ; W. E . Moore ; E . H . Greenhow ; W . J . Sims ; J . P . Hubbersty ; A. Thorney ; J . Marshall ; W . Y . Faussett ; B . H . Abrahall ; W . H. Jackson ; P . L . Newman ; J . E . Stephenson ; J . R . Husband ; C . G Wilkinson ; H . Cattley ; W . Beaumont ; J . C . Rogers ; G . R . French W . T . James ; E . B . Newenham. From the School : J . H . Daniel ; J . H . Piggin ; G . H . Wade ; J . Calvert ; S . J . J . S. le Maistre ; H . Walker ; J. H . Mallinson ; F . T . Griffith ; B . G . M. Baskett ; G . H . Eyre ; W . W . Garwood ; F . E . Watson ; J . A. Jackson ; R . W. Peacock ; J . C . Swan ; R . Kitching ; S . A . Farrar C . A . Knapton ; P . B . Heaven ; F . W . Chapman ; G . W . Walker; A . P . Chadwick ; T . Halliwell ; F . H . Domcnichctti ; P . E . Lord L . E . Stevenson ; G . H . English ; J . R . Rylands ; M . D . Taylor ; C. Kitchin ; H . Kitchin ; 'I' . H . Little ; G . B . Tandy ; G . M . Gass ; H. G . Sims ; J . C . Bailey ; F . W . Greenhow ; H . C . B . Clayforth ; E. W . Clayforth ; I, . A . Ryott ; T . B . Lord ; G . E . Crawshaw ; C. Crawshaw ; M . R . D . Newby ; NV . J . Richardson ; G . G . Richardson J . Ellis ; E . A . Douglas ; — Legge ; — Carroll ; A Chadwick ; P. Hodgson ; T . E Grahame ; R . NV . Bulmer ; H . Wilton ; G . Bulman — Joy ; W . Crossley ; J . Crossley ; E . Bowden ; F . Harland — Pigott ; R . Chaplin ; — Ware ; A . E . Dawson ; N . S . Fox ; — Collinson ; — Thompson ; J . Marshall ; — Crosskill ; H . Wood ; — Blythe . OXFORD : PRINT], T) 1'OR THE PROPRIETORS BY \V' . R . BOAVI>F.X, ;q, HIGH STRF.FT .
