v. R.M.A., WOOLWICH, was the fixture down on our card for Nov. 4, and we used all our energies to get together a good team, as our opponents were undoubtedly strong, having played a drawn game with Blackheath, while Queen's House only gained a try against them, winning the remainder of their matches. Owing to the late arrival of some of our men, it was ten minutes past four before the "Shop" kicked off against the wind, which was blowing so hard that it was determined to change ends every quarter of an hour. With the wind behind us we soon worked the ball into our opponents' quarters, where a very keen forward game was carried on, Fowkes, Stanton, and Vans-Agnew for Vans-Agnew for the Shop especially distinguishing themselves. After some good play on the part of our backs, and notably a run by C. Hawkins, which took the ball into the Academy 25, Duncan cleverly ran in and gained a try, which however was not converted into a goal. After touching down several times in self-defence, the Academy took the ball away from their goal, and carried the war into our quarters, till time was called and ends changed. Strange to say, playing against the wind, we continued to have the best of it, and after some good play by Lavers, Thursby, and the two Hawkins-K. Butterworth got hold of the ball and passed it cleverly to Wilkins who ran in. K. Butterworth took the place kick, and converted the try into a goal. The second part of the game was very evenly contested, Kennedy's play for them and Gunner's for us being invaluable. During the last ten minutes, darkness rendered play a matter of great difficulty, and at the last moment Fielden, by a sharp run, gained a try for Woolwich, which from a long distance was converted into a splendid goal by Simmonds. Immediately after time was called, and we retired victors by 1 goal and 1 try to 1 goal. Thus ended a most pleasant and enjoyable game, as indeed our matches v. R. M. A. always are. It was gratifying to see that in spite of the absence of some of our best forwards, still our men showed excellent form in the scrimmage, and that too against so formidable a lot as the "Shop" are, while behind we showed a marked improvement. The following played:-Nomads:C. M. Wilkins (capt.) and F. Duncan, three-quarters; A. K. Butterworth and E. J. Gunner, half; A. C. Lavers, back; C. Hawkins, G. G. Hawkins, F

Thursby, C. S. Rashdall, A. T. Drake, G. C. Master, A. C. Borlase, G. M. Butterworth, H. T. Ravenhill, and E. H. Lawrie, forward.

R. M. A.-H. Kenneday (capt.) and G. C. Oldfield, half; R. Casement and B. B. Fielden, threequarters; J Charnier, and G. Simmonds, back; F. Stanton, F. Vans-Agnew, M. Pasley, J. RennyTailyour, G. H. Fowkes, J. W. Pringle, W. H. Mc.Bean, J. Ritchie, and H. J. Smith.

THE PENNY READING.

Ir success be a test of merit, the last Penny Reading must be pronounced a highly meritorious performance. It is a commonly received opinion that to call a performance performance "meritorious" is but a lefthanded compliment, is indeed another way of "damning with faint praise." We disclaim any such intention. Granted that nothing in the programme was quite first-rate; granted that there was nothing. which calls for enthusiastic praise; yet on the other hand, nothing was quite mediocre, and the whole performance, taken together, gave evidence of such honest labour and desire to please on the part of the Penny Reading Committee, that the critic would indeed be sour-tempered if he went about to look for small occasions of fault-finding.

The instrumental part of the performance included a Pianoforte Duet, played with much spirit by Webber and Lawford, a violin duet, and two selections performed by the brass band. Of stringed music, of music of the kind which can "hale the souls out of men's bodies,"-as Benedict mockingly says, not knowing how true a thing his tongue utters -of such we enjoy so little here, that Herr Müller and his pupils, Webber and Macpherson, deserve all our thanks for their efforts, even though the result may have fallen a little short of the ideal ravishment of those "divine airs," which the artless cynic abovementioned (having no ear for music, be it understood), unfeelingly compared to the howling of a dog. Webber especially showed clever manipulation and played with a good deal of feeling, and he was well supported by his second. They received a well-deserved encore. That the brass band, considering the difficulties they have to contend with, should have acquitted themselves

as well as they did, is no mean tribute to the energy and skill of Bandmaster Swain; we might suggest perhaps, that the wielder of the big drum-stick should keep a keener eye on the conductor, and that the performers on the bombardons should endeavour to persuade their instruments to yield somewhat less. uncertain sounds, but perhaps these are details unworthy of the critic, who is already pledged to a liberal judgment. He can award a word of wellearned praise to the part songs, which failed where they did fail through want of voice rather than want of will or care, a defect which the performers themselves would doubtless remedy if they could. The only solo of the evening was sung by Blandford, who sang well, with taste and correct judgment, rather than with feeling, and was greatly helped by a sympathetic accompanist in Webber. Davies' account of the dining out of J. Sprouts, Esq., in Belgrave Square, and its consequences, was read excellently, with great distinctness, and undeniably produced much laughter, in which the Marlburian critic is bound to confess he rarely joined-but that again was not the reader's fault. And so to the event of the evening, the farce of the "Goose with the Golden Eggs." There is a story told of a Frenchman who, when asked if he liked fish, replied “I eat it, but not with enthusiasm." So the Marlburian critic may say of the farce-he laughed, but not with enthusiasm. The fault was in the piece, which frequently wants movement and more adequate motive to prevent its flagging, and is moreover decidedly too long. But the acting was capital. We shall not soon forget the tableau which followed the ominous question," Mrs. Turby, do you not perceive a powerful odour about this bird? the truly attorney-like twang of Mr. Turby's voice as he proceeded to sum up his several pleas,-the wheedling deportment and lachrymose grief of the excellent but helpless Mrs. Turby-or the suggestion of unutterable meanness depicted upon the countenance of Mr. Flickster. No less memorable, though perhaps more unconscious touches were the floods of tears shed by the unhappy Miss Clara on being presented with her lover and made happy for life (she had by that time. got pocket-handkerchief on the brain), and the masterly idea of heightening the thrilling effect of the excited narrative of Mr. Bonser (playing the part of the Messenger in Greek play) by combining

On Oct. 28th, a large number of members and visitors met in the Bradleian to hear a lecture by G. W. Rundall, Esq., on "Fortification." In vigorous and incisive terms the lecturer explained the rise of the science of defence and attack from the times of the Romans to the great master Vauban. A diagram by the Rev. W. J. V. Baker gave a good idea of the fortifications of the feudal times and the modes of attacking them, which were completely modified by the introduction of fire-arms, which caused massive walls, flanked with towers, to be superseded by

sunken defences. This was followed by several neat diagrams of Vauban's various systems, with the methods of attacking them by sapping and mining, till the besiegers were enabled to "crown the glacis" and establish breaching batteries. The lecturer then explained the general principles that regulated the 'position of the various parallels and batteries, with an explanation of ricochet fire and its effects, concluding with an account of the siege and storm of Badajoz, with a criticism of Wellington's operations before the town. A few words of thanks from the Master brought a most successful and interesting lecture to a conclusion. A large number of excellent diagrams, together with a clever model of a Vauban fortress, greatly assisted the audience to understand the mysterious technical terms of this branch of military art. Present:-Members, 55; School, 71; C. R. and friends, 15; Total 141.

On Thursday, November 9th, the Rev. T. A. Preston gave a lecture on the Frog, and exhibited a large number of specimens, many recently acquired from from the British Museum, which furnished a sample of the collections which it is proposed to have in the New Museum to illustrate such text books as St. George Mivart's. Besides these the lecturer had kindly provided live specimens from London of the green Tree Frog, and the Salamander, and Mr. Hulme threw further light on the subject by some striking diagrams. By means of the happy omission of scientific terms every one present became familiar with the gradual development from the tadpole, the huge Bull Frog, his handsome Tiger cousin, the flying frog from Borneo, and others of the 600 known species, the handiness (if one may be pardoned the expression) of the hind foot, the extraordinary means by which sometimes the eggs are hatched, the fish-like prolongation of the back bone, and o her facts calculated to excite a compassionate interest to this too often most brutally tortured of creatures.

Debating Society.

ON Wednesday, Nov. 1st, C. W. Horsburgh moved "That the Puritan Revolution in England was

Printed by C. PERKINS AND SON, at their General Printing Office, Waterloo House, Marlborough.

DE CAELO DESCENDIT Γνῶθι σεαυτόν.

It was decided-I was to go to Oxford. They told me I should have to read Philosophy there. I determined to take time by the forelock, and begin at once and now for a week had I been the proud possessor of a Philosophic Manual, which, beginning with Pythagoras and ending with Hegel, discussed with great impartiality, though with a certain brevity, the various Philosophers and their Systems. Here lay wisdom in a nutshell-I had paid my money and might proceed to take my choice-Plato or Aristotle, Kant or Hegel, Altruism or Egoistic Hedonism-who, or which was it to be? Strange as it may seem I had as yet been unable to select the Master, by whose words I was henceforth to swear -and now, as I sat in my chair and looked into the red embers of my fire, with next morning's repetition still to learn, I began to despair of the Republic. Repetition, construing, aud suchlike beggarly elements interfered sadly with contemplation. It was School versus Xoλi-my philosophic aspirations must be given up. Suddenly a thought struck me, so whimsically absurd that I laughed as I traced it out in the fire.

PRICE 3d.

"The watchman is the very beau ideal of a Philosopher," said fancy-" see him-expound to him-set the various systems calmly and impartially before him. Lend him your Manual and let it work. Qui facit per alterum facit per se. Who knows if you two between you may not elaborate a system that will swallow up its rivals, and cover you both with glory."

The more I thought of my idea, and the more ludicrously unpractical it seemed, the more was I tickled by it. "Yes," I exclaimed, "the watchman is the man. Nature intends him for a Philosophical experiment. He shall no longer wake in vain-his long hours of leisure shall no longer lie heavy on his hands. He shall be made auráркns-he shall become a great Philosopher."

As I continued gazing into my fire, my tenses imperceptibly changed. My scheme was now a fait accompli-my book was in the watchman's hands-I had explained to him his peculiar fitness for the study-I had fired his enthusiasm, and I finally had agreed to visit him on three successive evenings, to report progress!

And now the hour for visit number one had arrived, and I hastened into Upper School-lonely,

ghostly Upper School-to find the great Philosopher of the Future.

He was not there, but I had not far to seek. It was a bright moonlight night, and seated by C House door, I found my man, braving the elements in his shirt sleeves. Zeno had captivated him, and by his stern expression I saw that there stood before me a very Stoic, a Philosopher of the Porch. I asked him diffidently, as the night was somewhat cold, how he liked Philosophy as far as he had got. He replied that he recognised the quotation,-that he was now to all intents and purposes a king, and that, though he felt a certain difficulty in fully realising the position, he had little doubt of doing so in time. Still, as he complained of the cold, and bitterly lamented the absence of his pocket-handkerchief, I told him I would call again next night, and left him, grumbling somewhat (at least so I fancied) at what he called the Fallacy of the Acervus, or Mound.

Visit No. 2.-The next evening I visited the scene of action somewhat earlier, and on entering the 6th Form class room discovered my friend recumbent in a water barrel (which I had missed from the alley that very morning), but manual in hand, and at no great distance from his lamp. I asked him if I could assist him in any way. "By standing out of my lamp light," he replied, a little tartly, revealing at once the fact that he was now, as I had feared, a cynic. At first I felt inclined to mark my sense of the impropriety of his conduct by withholding the compliment for which he was evidently fishing, but feeling that under the circumstances it was perhaps safer to humour him, I sighed and said "If I did not hold a somewhat responsible position in the school, I would certainly be a watchman." He snarled out something I concluded to be meant for thanks, but added that I might have given the recognised reply before.

I was relieved, however, to discover that his cynicism was merely an experiment, for, rising as he spoke, he pointed with some triumph to a placard on which were inscribed the words γνῶθι σεαυτόν. He next showed me an old fork, which he called somewhat mysteriously, the letter of Pythagoras and when finally he took down from the wall, a portrait of a previous master, and protested stoutly that to the best of his belief he himself had once filled a very similar position, I perceived that he

was still halting between two opinions, so promised to call again.

Visit No. 3.-This time I approached Upper School with great misgivings. I had had mysterious forebodings all day long, and was now prepared for anything. As I drew near I fancied that I heard strange noises-yes, beyond all doubt, there was a sound of revelry by night. I advanced with caution, and as I peeped through the cranny of the door, a strange vision met my eyes. The Philosopher was seated this time on his tub-by his side a suspicious looking black bottle-in his mouth something that looked very like a clay. This latter object he removed so dexterously on my entrance that I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. may have only been, as he declared, his toothpick. But I saw that my worst suspicions were more than confirmed. The man had become an Epicurean. "avτа pɛ" he remarked complacently, though somewhat inconsequently, as he stirred his tumbler.

It

I was just going to tell him that it would be my painful duty to inform the authorities of the College at once, when I seemed to hear a heavy tread upon my stairs, and a well-known voice in unmistakably unphilosophic tones broke upon my ears, "It's past 11 o'clock, Sir, the bells have been gone an hour." I awoke to find that my fire was out, and my repetition anywhere but in, yet comforted myself, as I trudged across to bed, by reflecting that my Philosopher belonged to the most useful school of all-the Peripatetic.

HELLEBORE.

MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE AND THE LONDON POOR.

At the invitation of the Dean of Westminster, a meeting of Old Marlburian was held on Tuesday week in the College Hall, Westminster, with the object of inaugurating an associated effort for personal work among the London poor. In the circular convening the meeting the promoters of the proposal, among whom the Rev. E. C Hawkins takes a leading part, express their belief that there are many who recognise the claims of the poor, and would be willing to take part in such a movement, but who, from the want of external impulse or from not knowing how to set