VAMPYRS.

"Vampyrism was chiefly prevalent about the middle of the last century, when it spread with fearful rapidity through the east of Europe, especially Servia and Wallachia."

That sentence puzzled me as much as anything I have seen in print before or since. Till then what little I had known about these strange demons-and that little was hazy enough-had depicted them as a kind of superior specimen of ghosts; a sort of link connecting those grand old firespitting dragons of the time of St. George, with the very "commonplace type" of phantom we poor mortals of the nineteenth century have to be content with, that frivolous creature that fritters away its valuable time in hammering drawing-room furniture, or playing with indifferent skill on a noisy tambourine.

But here seemed to be some utterly new phase of spiritual eccentricity, and long I pondered over what it might mean. All that seemed certain was, that it was some sort of plague or disorder. Who were its victims? What were its symptoms? Had it anything to do with my old ghost acquaintances? Was it a kind of epidemic like measles or whooping

PRICE 3d.

cough, that raged in the spiritual world at that time? I was on the point of giving the problem up in despair, when I noticed a footnote referring me to an earlier chapter. Eagerly I turned to the place, and. the mystery was solved. I saw before me a full, true, and particular account of the Vampyr, his habits, appearance, antecedents, and fate, accompanied by a list of authorities, witnesses, dates, and everything else that distinguishes sober history from his twin brother romance.

These particulars were headed by the following luminous and precise definition taken from the learned pages of a contemporary antiquary:-" A vampyr is a dead body which continues to live in the grave; which it leaves however by night, for the purpose of sucking the blood of the living, whereby it is nourished and preserved in good condition, instead of becoming decomposed like other dead bodies."

My authority then went on to describe with details, what I will willingly omit, the horrid feast of this blood-thirsty fiend, and the fearful fate that came upon his victims; how that the only remedy, and that but a very temporary one, was to eat some of the earth out of the Vampyr's grave and smear oneself with his blood; how that, despite of all precau

tions, sooner or later the bitten person was hurried to the grave; there to himself take up the fearful trade, and spread, perforce, amongst his former friends, the Vampyr plague.

And lastly there came some extracts from a perfectly authenticated document dated 1732, and signed by three surgeons of the district, telling of the fate of one of the victims of this terrible scourge. It seemed that one Arnod Saole had been serving in the Levant, when he came back to his home at Meduegna near Belgrade, in 1726. He bought a farm here, and settled down, as he said, for his life. Despite his seeming prosperity and popularity, his neighbours soon noticed a peculiar air of despondency that ever saddened his mirth, and seemed to make him shun his fellows' society. A young girl, to whom he was betrothed, at last wrung from him the cause of this anxious gloom. He whispered in her horror-stricken ears the fate he had but too much reason to expect. He had been bitten by a Vampyr.

About a week from this time, Arnod fell from the top of a hay waggon; was picked up insensible and died in a few hours. Hardly twenty days had elapsed from his burial, before men began to complain of being haunted by the dead man. One of these suddenly died. His death was followed by that of others, each day telling of a greater number of victims. A panic set in. At last it was hastily determined to disinter Arnod. Early one morning a selected few gathered round the grave in anxious suspense. Foremost among the party stood two military surgeons, attended by a drummer boy holding their instruments. The old sexton shovelled out the last spadeful of earth, lifted the coffin from the grave, and raised the lid; the drummer boy gave one wild shriek and staggered to the ground; the rest with ashy lips and tottering limbs stood drinking in with horror-stricken eyes the hideous sight; hideous from its unnatural lifelike appearance, that seemed to make a mockery of death; the lips still wet with new spilt blood; the eyes lit up with an uncorpselike brilliancy; the skin smooth, and presenting every appearance of life and vigour ; everything but more surely confirming-had confirmation been needed their fearful suspicions, that his, which they were looking on, was indeed the readed Vampyr.

What need to give further details? The body of the unfortunate Arnod was at once staked according to the formula (at which, says our chronicler, blood streamed forth, and the corpse gave an audible groan) and then burnt. Four other corpses were found in a similar condition and treated accordingly, and, a few years later, no fewer than fourteen corpses underwent a similar fate.

What then can we say to these facts? for facts they are incontestably proved to have been. Are we like some few, to meekly accept the ancient interpretation? to say that "of course it's very strange; but still so many things are strange, and there seems no other way out of it; and it's done very well for other people, as an interpretation, so why shouldn't it do for us?"

Or are we, as many do, to settle the matter equally simply and satisfactorily, by calmly putting the whole thing down as a pack of lies?

Very nice ways, doubtless, both of them, of cutting the Gordian knot; but let us rather attempt to untie it. There seem to be two mysterious elements to be considered; first, the Vampyr visit and its consequence; secondly, the state of the disinterred corpse. The first question can be solved in two ways. According to one explanation the mysterious visit and its fatal effect should be treated separately; but as their consideration would involve questions of too great an importance and too abstruse a signific ance for my present limits, I will not attempt to discuss it further.

The other interpretation denies the supposed necessary connection between the visit and the seizure that follows upon it; in a time of panic, consequent on the advent of some new and strange disorder, the persons who would be most liable to its attack would be those whose weak nerves would also expose them more especially to imaginary terrors, and disquieting dreams, in which their distraught fancies would be but too likely to conjure up the vision of the latest victim of the plague it has been so dwelling upon. Thus we can well imagine how the unhappy patient would be led to look upon those very visions as the cause of the mysterious disorder, of which they were really but the premonitory sympton.

And thus finally we come to the question what was this disorder, this mysterious epidemic, that"

The

produced such strange results upon the body of its victim. And the answer is Death Trance; that strangest and most complete form of suspended animation, when the heart ceases to beat, breathing is suspended, the nerves stay their motion, all feeling and intelligence is lost, and even warmth leaves the body, which sinks into a state of positive repose and torpor, only to be distinguished from death by the absence of mortification or decomposition. period during which all life seems thus extinct is uncertain, but in several well authenticated cases it has extended as long as three weeks. Instances of Death Trance occur in great numbers, but it is unnecessary for us to take more than two or three. About 1741, a Colonel Russell refused to allow his wife to be buried, and watched her for eight days. On the eighth day the church bell began to toll, and suddenly, to his great surprise, his wife sat up in her bed remarking, "That is the last bell; we shall be late."

Some statistics published in New York in 1829 give one a fearful idea of the danger there may be even in England, among the poorer classes, of premature burial. All coffins were ordered to be kept above ground for eight days, and as many as one corpse out of every two hundred were found to be merely in a trance. Lastly, there is the most celebrated, and perhaps the most curious case of Colonel Townshend, mentioned in the works of Gooch. This gentleman had the power of spontaneously falling into the death-trance, He had often pressed some medical friends to witness this phenomenon, and at last they consented to do so. Colonel Townshend laid himself down on his back, and after a few seconds, pulse, breathing, and action of the heart were no longer to be observed, but returned just as suddenly, after the space of half-anhour. The tale here ends abruptly. Colonel Townshend, on recovering, immediately made his will, and six hours later died for good and all.

Briefly then to sum up what I have been trying to explain. Death Trance becomes in certain times and places epidemic. A panic sets in; a person with weak nerves is continually disturbed with horrible dreams about the new plague and its latest victims. He himself soon is seized with it. The neighbours, who have heard about his dreadful visions, connect them with the sudden death of their friend. Somebody propounds the theory of the Vampyr; the

I heard the naughty words come pouring fast,
Both Himmel,'' Teuffel,' and the 'Deutsche' for 'blast.'
'Cease to blaspheme.' I made these coppers hot

Lest
ye should search in vain and find them not.
When next ye warbled, temperance drinks I gave
From washing-ewer; cease at this to rave.

I did it for your good: our English wine
Is stronger and more heady far than thine.
'Twould rise into your brains. This jug instead
Projects the water downwards from the head.
Again ye make night hideous round my door:
And bassoon plays as badly as before.
I gave ye what I could-'twas all I had,
Hot coppers, water-buttons now I add.
Tomorrow pr'aps my maid will sew more on.
But take these now, and quickly get you gone.

O.M.'s.

MARRIAGES.

H.

June 8th, at St. Mary's Church, Goodhurst, the Rev. Harry Harbord, Rector designate of East Hoathley, and Chaplain to the Marquess Camden, to Ellen Jane, third daughter of the late Harrison Blair, Esq., of Kearsley, Bolton-le-Moors.

June 14th, at the Parish Church, Westerham, Kent, Alexander Frederick, son of Alexander B. Rooke, Esq., of the Ivy, Chippenham, Wilts, to Edith Harriet, daughter of C. R. Thompson, Esq., Winterton House, Westerham.

June 15th, at St. Bartholomew's, West Wilton, Francis Septimus Strickland, son of the late Rev. E. Strickland, Rector of Brixton Deverill, Wilts, to Anne Isabel, third daughter of the late John Fothergill Clarkson, Esq., of the Chantry, Wensleydale.

UNIVERSITIES.

SCHOOL OF MODERN HISTORY, OXFORD. Second Class-Francis Alban Houssemayne du Boulay, Keble College.

Edward Franklin Simpkinson, C.C.C. Third Class-John Mead Falkner, Hertford College. Percival Hardy, Merton College.

Fourth Class-Gerard Saltren Rogers, C.C.C.

FINAL SCHOOL OF JURISPRUDENCE. Third Class-Reginald Digby Curtler, C.C.C.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Rev. Charles Goddard Doyne, Vicar of All Saints', Branksome Park, Dorset.

Rev. Arthur Powys Woodhouse, Vicar of St. Matthias, Sneinton, Notts.

Occasional Notes.

THE examination for the Senior and Junior Scholarships came off on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 14th, 15th, and 16th. There were fewer "Peregrini" than usual among the examinees, but they obtained a fair share of success. The list of successful candidates will be found on another page.

COCK HOUSE MATCH was finished on the last day possible, June 15th. The finish was rather exciting, Cotton House only defeating Sharp's by 20 runs.

On the evening of Prize Day a Concert will be given in the Upper School, in aid of the Royal College of Music. There will first be a short performance by such talent as the school can supply the second part will consist of Sullivan's well-known operetta "Cox and Box," which will be performed by London amateurs.

On Saturday, June 24th, our VIII met Cheltenham on their own range at Gloucester. We hear that this is likely to be the last of our meetings; this is particularly to be regretted, as Cheltenham has won nine times to our eight. With the exception of some smart showers at 200 and a gusty wind the weather was rather favourable. At the short range Cheltenham finished first, luckily for them, as our last pair had to shoot in such a squall that it was a difficult matter to escape missing the target. Consequently we only led by six points, making 178 to their 172. At the long range the wind was very effective in reducing the scores and interspersing misses, but although the range was strange to us, we succeeded in managing the wind better than our opponents, and further increased our lead to 38, making 167 to their 135.

In the 2nd tie of House Grounds Horner's have drawn Preshute, Cotton House have drawn Gould's,

and Sharp's the bye. In the 1st ties Preshute beat Baker's, Sharp's beat Gilmore's, Cotton House beat Way's, Horner's beat Upcott's, and Gould's drew the bye.

WE are informed that on Prize-day the School will be honoured by a visit from B.R.H. The Duke of Albany.

The School XI have been defeated by the O.M.'s A full account appears in another column.

WE beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following contemporaries: - Blundellian, Shirburnian, Wykehamist, Elstonian (Bedford County School), Geelong Grammar School Quarterly, Lorettonian, Eastbourne Cliftonian, Blue (Christ's Hospital), Cliftonian, Haileyburian, and others.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

DEAR SIR,-There is to all appearances a gate in the field by the new racquet court and fives' courts leading to the Sanatorium: yet this gate is never by any chance opened, but is always to be found persistently locked, which is I feel a great nuisance to all fellows going that way, and more especially to members of the Brass Band, for whom that way is the most expedient when going to practice in the Sanatorium. As for climbing over-only those who have tried know what this entails. Would it be too much to ask you to exert your influence to rectify this matter, and thus to confer an inestimable benefit on Yours truly,

A SUFFERER.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

SIR, I write to make a proposal to the school. What do you say to starting top-hats? I am informed that some fellows have started them already and with great success. I myself have come across one, and very effective it was, quite stylish. Surely, Sir, we should all aim at being as dressy as possible. Why, what else do we come here for? Never mind if the introduction of dressiness interferes with work or games, we don't come here for either. We come merely to swagger about and look nice and aristocratic. "Aristocratic"! Ah! that is the word. and look aristocratic, no matter what our be or what fools we may look in the process. Sir, that you and the rest of the school will agree with me in believing that top-hats cover a multitude of sins. Your kind indulgence in printing this letter will greatly oblige A SPICY (IF SOMEWHAT SNOBBISH) NOVUS HOMO.

We must all try antecedents may I am convinced,

It

To the Editor of the Marlburian. DEAR SIR,-I must thank the Captain of the XI for his courtesy in according me an explanation of his conduct. is rather a pity perhaps that he thought it desirable to address his defence to me personally, and not to the school, to whom it was really due. Of course the notice should have been put up avowedly by the Master's order, or else by the previous vote of the Race Committee, not merely with their subsequent approval.

I hope I shall not appear to be officiously setting up as a censor morum "if I say a few words also about a rumour that reached my ears some days ago. I was informed that last term the Race Committee largely increased the sum of money usually given in prizes to the Gymnasium VIII. Usually I believe the Captain of the VIII received £2 or £2 10s. perhaps. This year I hear that the Captain received £3, the second man £2, and the other members £1 each. If the facts are not as I state them, it would be well that an immediate denial should appear in your columns, as such a report is certainly about. It is impossible in my opinion to condemn too strongly the tendency to turn our athletes into professionals. This practice already prevails too much at the Races and in the Rifle Corps; it would be a great pity if it were allowed to penetrate into other school pastimes.

Again, do the Race Committee mean to be consistent, and award pecuniary remuneration on a corresponding scale to the XI and XV and shooting VIII, who certainly have equally good claims? If the Race Committee do not know what to do with their surplus, let the subscriptions be reduced; but let them not waste the money in largesses which can only lower the tone of school athleticism.

We are of course willing to consider it a mere coincidence that three of the members of the Committee who passed this vote were also members of Gymnasium VIII.

I remain, yours truly,

seconds and seconds from thirds, and, as I said before, this looks bad for future years. At football fellows don't fool, so why should they at cricket? In fact there is more reason why they shouldn't at cricket, for cricket has to be very carefully attended to indeed if one wants to get a decent amount of exercise out of it. Let us then reform: let us strike at the root of things, and raise the play of our seconds and thirds to a higher level. As it is useless to drone charms over things that need the knife,' so it cannot be expected that this letter will touch the consciences of the delinquents. It is for captains of houses to act strongly in the matter. Yours truly,

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

E.N.R.

DEAR SIR,-In your last issue you published a letter advocating the foundation of a musical society in the school. I think this would be a mistake, for one or two reasons. First, your correspondent proposes that the society should give entertainments; now an entertainment has to be " got up" some time before hand; and among members of the about one is capable of doing it; Mr. Bambridge would not have time nor the members of Common Room. Besides, we have an entertainment every term, to say nothing of such humble efforts as "Penny Readings." Besides all this there are already a good many societies in the school, and it seems a pity to start another on a subject that would interest very few. While I am writing I might perhaps mention "Z"'s proposal to change choir practise from Gym. to Chapel. Has he considered the subject of glee practises at all? If he is particular about his books let him put them on the bottom shelf of his place in chapel.

Apologising for the length of this letter,
I remain, etc.,

C.

A.H.H.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

DEAR SIR,-I was much pleased to see in a letter in your last number from "An old Captain," that the writer was severe on slackness and humbugging at cricket. At present the state of lower games, I speak of 2nd and 3rd house elevens, is rather ill-omened for future years. On seconds fellows humbug when they're fielding and don't seem to care twopence when they're batting. Their one object seems to get out as quickly as possible, and run up to the XI: whence it comes that there are occasional interruptions in the game caused by the absence of the men who ought to be batting. On thirds some men field with their coats and some with their feet. Now to my mind this shews a spirit of lamentable slackness. I think the captain of each house ought to take precautions that his 2nd and 3rd should be governed by responsible captains, not irresponsible people who are too slack or cautious to correct uncricketing behaviour on the part of their men. First elevens are largely recruited from

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

DEAR SIR,-I write to suggest a very simple and obvious reform. Why should not three screws be put on to the bottom of the telegraph-board for the not-out man's score? Every other telegraph-board has such a thing. As the authorities have neglected so long to do this small thing, perhaps it is hopeless to suggest that they should put up another telegraphboard on the other side of the eleven, as the present one is not visible from all parts. This would, however, be a real boon to the school.