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on the telephone was read before the Science Society, and a specimen exhibited which had been made across the quadrangle from the Museum to one of the Studies. A correspondent hopes that house gymnasium competitions may be adopted; another complains that some members of the sixth form "chant hymns during their meals, amidst the loud and continued applause of the Lower School!"

The Meteor (December 19) reviews the past term in a short editorial. It was, on the whole, uneventful. As to football, the house matches were good and closely contested, but the foreign matches were not so satisfactory, as the XV game is not much practised at Rugby. The societies continue to flourish. "T.V.W." is noticed; it has an article on the VIth, "closing with a whine over obsolete privileges." The appointment of M. Waddington to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is recorded as a Rugbeian honour. House concerts, peculiarly Rugbeian institutions, appear to be very successful. Letters to the editor include an able defence of the Observatory and Art Museum; a proposal to start a cap or ribbon for a certain number of the best racquet players; and an appeal for more energy in rifle shooting.

The Eton College Chronicle (December 17) does not offer much to comment on. The interest that might be aroused by last term's football matches is by this time nearly over. A correspondent asks if it is impossible for a "vast tract of ground called Agar's plough" to be laid down in grass and used for football. Charges of unfair play were brought against the Colleges' Eleven on Saint Andrew's Day, and are here rebutted by the captain. The Literary Society discussed Colonial Federation.

The Wykehamist (December 19) publishes a letter complaining of the undue prominence given to school news, to the exclusion of matter of general interest, and criticizing severely the style of the leading articles; the editor, however, cannot see that "A trip to Norway" or "Life in the Fiji Islands," is preferable to a detailed account of an exciting football match or a speech at a meeting of the Debating Society, and is resolved to exclude everything that does not relate to school life. Detailed accounts aro given of debates on Russian policy and total abstinence. A telephone has been exhibited at Winchester

with success. We notice a short article on Chamber Libraries; what is wanted is that all the rubbish should be cleared out and that collections of really useful books should be got together.

THE NEW ORGAN.

Messrs. Forster and Andrews, of Hull, have completed the new organ for the Chapel, and it contrasts very favorably with our old friend of many years. The front is most imposing, as the 16 feet metal pipes are all shewn, and when the case is decorated, which we hear will be done in the vacation, the organ will form a very handsome addition to the many beauties of our Chapel. It is a three-manual instrument, with ten stops on the great, ten on the swell and seven on the choir. These with a pedal organ of five stops, give a grand combination, as the diapason and reed work is of broad and yet sweet quality. The particulars of the instrument are as follows:

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A portrait of Dr. Bradley has been procured, and is placed in Hall over the door leading to the A-House porch.

A collection was made in Chapel on Sunday, Jan. 20, to be devoted to the poor in Canon Farrar's parish. The amount was £22 16s. Od.

The new casts lately put up in the Bradleian are presented to the College by Mr. Thomas Woolner, R.A. The donor writes of these-"The designs are monumental, and one is called “ Charity," the other, I believe, "Maternal affection." The original models by Flaxman are in the dome of University College, among the Flaxman Collection presented by Miss Denman.

Marlborough was in "a state of agitation" last week at the prospect of a disputed election. Lord Ernest Bruce, who represented the Borough for

forty-five years, had succeeded to the Marquisate of Ailesbury; and Lord Charles, his brother, was confronted by a Conservative opponent in the person of Mr. Ashton. The latter gentleman, however, not meeting with sufficient support, withdrew before the day fixed for polling, and a Liberal is again our representative.

A new organ has at length been erected in the Chapel. An account of it will be found in another column; but we may safely say that it fully repays the long period of expectation and subscription which has preceded it.

Owing to the inclemency of the weather the match v. Marlborough Nomads, fixed for Feb. 2, was given up: and an association game of 12 a side was played instead on the Common.

The promised improvements in the Bathing-place are being executed; some workmen have been observed for some days engaged in the extraction of mud and other preliminary operations.

We observe with pleasure that the pruning of the trees in Court, suggested by a correspondent in our columns, is now a fait accompli, and the journey across Court is accordingly less fraught with peril than heretofore.

House Ties in Racquets and Scratch Ties in Fives are being played off; accounts will appear in our next. A Chess Tournament is also organised for this term; the first prize will be given from the funds of the Race Committee, and Mr. Drury has kindly offered a second.

We observe with great pleasure the success attending the energetic movement that is being made in behalf of the Rifle Corps. A great many recruits have given in their names, and we confidently expect that increased proficiency will follow this increase of numbers.

CHARLES SMITH WALTERS.

(DIED JANUARY 2ND, 1878.)

The subject of this notice is one whose face will be remembered still by most present Marlburians. Not widely known in the School, for his feeble health precluded any participation in games, yet Walters has left behind him a pleasant memory in the minds of one and all who were in the same house with him, and something more in the hearts of the few who knew him well: for beneath the outer reserve and even melancholy which marked him, there lay one of the kindliest and most genial of natures. Nor was this all: he had no mean abilities. Many masters will bear testimony to the scholarly neatness which characterised his work; and his love for music would doubtless have made him an able, as he was a promising musician. Unable for long before his death to work really hard, he still kept up the interest of an active mind in his School reading: and when the illness began which called him away from Marlborough for the last time, he went on by himself with the work which he had been doing in form. When this became too laborious an exercise, he still worked at modern languages, a favourite subject of his, for his excellence in which he was indebted to his mother: his affectionate nature never forgot the obligation. As he grew weaker, this too had to be cast aside, and the book which cheered his late days was one which he had not only made his especial study, but striven to embody in his life, the "Imitatio Christi." With what wonderful patience he bore the long confinement and pain of his tedious illness, need not be told here. As the hopes of a return to school and to active life died away, they were replaced by others of a different kind entirely, for the realization of which he had not long to wait He died as he had lived, a Christian. Some of us will not easily forget him and for the rest, though he died too young to make himself a name, it is enough for him to be one of

"The unknown dead who rest
In God's still memory folded deep."
H. A. J.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

DEAR SIR,-As the time of the races is drawing near, will you allow me to make two suggestions through the medium of your valuable columns? First, would not a Pole-jump be an interesting novelty in our Programme? Nearly every other Public School has one, and in most a high standard of excellence is attained. Of course assiduous practise would be necessary to avert a failure; but I feel confident that fellows would take sufficient interest in it to ensure success. If the measure should be adopted, a pole could easily be placed in the field for the use of intending competitors.

Secondly, the institution of a Strangers' race, the place of which is but indifferently supplied by that of the College Servants, has always appeared to me a desideratum on our card. The annual occurrence of such a race would, I feel sure, attract a far larger number of O.M.'s than at present assemble at Easter. The Race Committee, I understand, are not averse to establishing this Race provided that at least twelve O.M.'s promise to take part in it. Those Old Fellows, therefore, who would be willing to run should send their names to the Secretary of the Race Committee. race could be settled at a later period; probably be agreeable to the majority. Hoping that the measures I propose will receive support, I am, Sir, yours, etc,

The nature of the a half-mile would

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

ELAD.

SIR,-It seems to me that this is the proper time to make alterations in the Football Rules. If any alteration is proposed during the Xmas term there are many objections to introducing it in the middle of a season, however expedient the change may be in itself, and the improvement is necessarily postponed for a year. It seems also, that (in spite of the earnest protests of "good Conservatives") the football authorities are prepared to adopt changes which they con. sider for the better, even in the face of the undeniable assertion that the old regime was deemed good enough by their predecessors. These considerations induce me to submit two proposals to the Football Committee.

1st. I propose that (weather permitting) all foreign matches and as many Big Games as possible be played on the Eleven. In support of my proposal I would say three things:

(1). The Eleven is a be ter football ground than "Big Game," and therefore the majority of players would prefer playing there.

(2.) The Eleven is a level ground, and therefore the number of accidents will be reduced by playing there.

(3.) The Eleven will not be thereby deteriorated as oricket ground; but if the interests of football players are

deemed antagonistic in this respect to those of cricketers, I maintain that if the good gained by football is greater than the damage sustained by cricket, the change ought to be adopted. I add this last sentence, because I think that some will be in favour of the change, but consider it their duty to oppose it, if it is even remotely possible that a ball will shoot or break at the wrong time in a cricket match on account of a season of football having been played on the Eleven. I am convinced that most of our football accidents are caused by our playing on a slope, and I have no doubt that in a large majority of the cases of broken collar-bones that have occurred during the last three or four years, the accident has happened to a fellow running down the hill. Perhaps someone's memory will serve to test the correctness of this conjecture.

But even those who do not agree with me in this, will hardly dispute that a level ground is much pleasanter to play on.

Who recalls a series of "squashes at the bottom" without a shudder? And who cannot remember a feeling of relief when at last the ball reached the top side or the middle of the ground? Further, I believe that a level ground improves the play-at any rate a sloping ground discourages dribbling, and too many of our half-backs have spoiled their play by trusting to" spurts down the hill."

I will leave the objections that will doubtless be raised by some, to be answered by the many, who I am sure will approve of my proposal. I will only anticipate two, which I have already heard expressed, viz., that the Eleven is too small, and that it will be spoilt for cricket. I believe it will be found that the ground will be only slightly smaller than Big Game, and I see no objection to a rather small ground. In fact a small ground has certain advantages. It gives a premium to drop-kicking; it encourages habits of running across the ground, and it tends to more speedy scoring; three very good points. With regard to the other objection, I can state one fact that is alone sufficient to overthrow it. College has a cricket ground which is universally allowed to be second to that of no Public School, and many of the county matches are played on it. In the winter that ground is "Big Side," and is regularly played on unless the weather is exceptionally bad. Doubtless your correspondents will be able to furnish other instances of the same thing.

Clifton

My second proposal is this:-That the O.M.'s football match be played on the Saturday before concert. I have often heard, and this year experienced, how difficult it is to get O.M.'s down from London for November 1st. Indeed as long as I can remember the match, the team has generally consisted almost exclusively of men from Oxford. If the Oxford O.M.'s care to keep up the match on the 1st, by all means let them. The School will not object to an extra match. The match on the 1st will then be a match against O.M.'s at Oxford, the Nomad match against O.M.'s in town, and then the term will end with a match against O.M.'s generally, and will be what I consider a typical Old Fellows' matchawfully festive, and awfully bad football.

But please don't understand me that my objection is that the play in the O.M.'s match is at present too good. My sole object is to enable O.M.'s to be present at both the match and the concert, and to make these an occasion for a general meeting of O.M.'s at Marlborough. At present, O M's at Oxford have to choose between the Old Fellows' match and Concert; O.M.'s in town have to choose between these two occasions and the Nomad's Match. O.M.'s at Cambridge are the only ones who have no choice, and must come down to Concert or not at all. I, myself, have very reluctantly missed the last two concerts, because I like coming down for the two football matches, and cannot manage to come down three times in the term; and many others are in the same predicament. The Rugby Match is a recognised summer meeting of O.M.'s; why should not the O.M.'s match be a winter meeting of the same sort? Besides, how about the Old Fellows' choruses? We might have a chorus then in good earnest, instead of the double quartette which too often takes its place. I may add that the plan I propose is the one followed at several Public Schools, and with great

Success.

If further arguments are needed, I will contribute more on a fature occasion; but I see that my letter has already reached an unconscionable length.

With many apologies, dear Mr. Editor,

Yours, etc., A.K.B.

Natural History Society.

A private meeting was held on Thursday, January 24th, to settle the usual preliminary business of the term; the Meetings were fixed for February 7th, and 21st; March 7th, and 28th. Only 15 members were present, several others being unable to attend owing to the weather.

The main feature of last term's Report, which is expected to be ready in a few days, will be the excellent map and views (three in number) illustrating Mr. Rodwell's lecture on Etna; these will necessitate a slight increase in the price, which will, however, be kept as low as possible.

To explain certain peculiarities connected with the rainfall of last year, an instructive series of rainfall observations since 1865 has been inserted in the Report, which will also contain several pages of Weights and Measures, and the usual careful and interesting Weather-diagram for the year.

ART SOCIETY.

The first meeting of the term was held upon Jan. 31st. After a very close struggle the choice of the Society fell upon Glennie as the new member of the Committee. W. H. Macdonald, Esq., kindly exhibited a series of sketches made by himself during the Christmas vacation in the neighbourhood of Mentone, and made some few interesting comments on the nature of the scenery, strongly advising all members of the Society to go as soon as possible, and, once there, to stay as long as possible. The president then gave out the subjects for the next sketches, "War" and "Spring." Every member of the Society is invited to illustrate one or both of these, as it is the manifest duty of all members to contribute s far as they can to the success of each meeting. These sketches will be brought up on Feb. 14th, the date of our next meeting. After some few remarks by the Secretary as to library arrangements, the drawings made during the holidays in illustration of the word "Christmas" were exhibited, and the prize, a box of moist colours, was awarded with acclamation to D'Urban for an excellent drawing in colour of a group of Christmas plants, holly, mistletoe, chrysanthemum, and Christmas rose: could any justification of the existence of our Society be needed, it would be amply supplied in its being the cause of the production of such drawings as this of D'Urban's, or the well-remembered head sent in last term by Taylor lus. The meeting next term will be devoted to the exhibition of the drawings illustrating "War" and "Spring," and to a lecture by Taylor on drawing heads and the human figure; as this will be largely illustrated by sketches on the black-byd, we would strongly advise all who would desire rally to profit by it to provide themselves with paper and pencil. The attendance of School members was good, while Mrs. Bell and several other ladies graced the seats assigned to our honorary members and visitors. We may in conclusion mention that we shall be very glad to receive the offer of a paper for the meeting held on Feb. 28th. The closing meeting of the term will be devoted to a paper by the president on "old Churches,"

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