and works of art that a week instead of an hour would scarcely have sufficed have sufficed to appreciate them thoroughly; however, the allurements held out by the Natural History Society soon drew visitors away to the cooler atmosphere of the Bradleian, and indeed the walk across the court was no slight relief after the stifling temperature of the Library.

Passing in on the right we first came to a stand of human and other skeletons, whose otherwise grim. aspect was chastely softened by a tasteful arrangement of ivy round their heads; these with several other of the objects exhibited were sent from London for the occasion. The first two stands on the right side of the Hall were filled with Chinese curiosities, and after inspecting these we came to a spectroscope kindly exhibited by Mr. Rodwell, for the management of which our thanks are due to H. M. Elder whose lucid explanations added much to the enjoyment of what might otherwise have been a mystery to many of those present. The two succeeding recesses were filled with various botanical curiosities exhibited by the President, and on turning the corner we arrived at a very fair display of moths and other objects of entomological interest under the charge of O. Elton, whose beauties however were we fear partially thrown into the shade by a magnificent collection of their Mexican relatives which stood close by. Passing by an interesting collection of birds and eggs and also a hideous mummy woman, which for the sake at least of some of the lady visitors might we think have been well excluded, we found *the opposite side of the room filled by an interesting collection of cased birds whose number gave us quite a new conception of the possessions of the Society. These with other ornithological exhibitions were arranged by W. H. Chappel. The middle of the room was filled by a table with four microscopes from London, which were largely patronised during the evening, a large collection of more than 300 wild. plants at the time in flower and two tables containing 700 or more coins of various nations and ages, arranged and classified with great care by W. H. E. Worship. One striking object was a string of diagrams passing round the walls of the room, lent by Mr. Hulme, which proved very effective, but might we venture to observe, have been more instructive had their juxtaposition been less casual and grotesque. The room was mest tastefully decorated with flowers

and ferns by Mrs. Booth and the Misses Preston, to whom our best thanks are due, as well as to the President, who was ably assisted by W. H. M. Milner, in the general arrangements of the room. As 11 drew near the visitors returned to the Common Room, where a light supper awaited them previous to departures they numbered we suppose nearly 80 and what with the masters who were most kind in assisting to entertain them and some 120 of the school, the assembly was no small one. This brought to its close an entertainment that may be considered in every way a great success, and we trust it may be the lot of our successors to chronicle many such another, in accordance with the wishes so freely expressed at its close.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

SIR, Few of your readers play racquets this term, but those who do so will be obliged to me for calling attention to a small matter that wants attending to. For some time past the door of the court has wanted repairing; it refuses pointblank to shut properly, and you have to make it fast by the help of a piece of paper, which is very troublesome. I hope the race-committee will take the hint, and promptly expend the slight amount required to restore the door to its former efficiency.

I am, yours very faithfully,

MORITURUS.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

DEAR SIR,-Marlborough is a place famed for its staunch Conservatism; but even the most uncompromising Conserva. tive must, I think, have been astonished and ashamed to find that the obviously admirable and easy reform suggested in your last issue by "Protestans" has not taken place. The school are still condemned to the certainty of a disagreeable football squash, to the possibility of serious fractures and contusions, in the endeavour to enter hall every day for dinner. And yet the extremely simple and efficacious remedy pointed out would put an end to this. If any real purpose is served by keeping the front door religiously closed, the case is different: by all means let us put up with any discomfort it may entail. But let us know what that object is. Can it be that the captain of football has used his influence to keep up this custom as a means of inuring unpractised players to the hardship of the scrimmage? Or is the strength of our staff of officials unequal to the effort of unbarring and

closing the more massive portal? would the frail constitutions of those who sit near the door be injured by a breath of fresh air on a sultry July noon? or is it considered a wholesome moral discipline for fellows to have to wait patiently till a huge seething mob has forced its way into hall, and then to be relentlessly "cut off" though they would have been in ample time if allowed to go in at once? Surely not. There is yet time for this nuisance to be rectified; and that it may be so, to the great benefit of our shins, our tempers, our decency, and our punctuality, is the earnest prayer of Your obedient tervant,

OTIUM CUM DIGNITATE.

Cricket.

LITTLEFIELD v. SANKEY'S (STAR).

FRIENDLY HOUSE-GROUND MATCH.

Gilmore's won the toss and went in first, making the total of 77. Fasken (23), Petrie lus (12), and Agnew (11 not out) being the only double figures. Bagge took six wickets.

Sankey's wickets collapsed very fast, Crowe making 11 in four hits. Petrie and Curtler had a hand in all the wickets, each taking 5.

Gilmore's 2nd innings was an improvement on the 1st, as the good score of 149 was reached. Of these Petrie made 55 and Fasken 30; and there were three other double figures.

With 192 to win, Sankey's chances seemed rather hopeless, bat Rogers (20), Bulley (18 not out), and Crowe (11) helped to raise the total to 79 for 8 wickets when stumps were drawn, the match thus ending in a moral victory for Gilmore's.

BAKER'S (FLEUR-DE-LYS) V. HORNER'S (CROSS ARROWS).

This match ended in a much easier victory for Baker's than was anticipated. They were first represented by Hodgson and Hume, the former playing a steady innings for 25. By the united efforts of Hill 2us, who played a useful, but some. what lucky innings of 26, Rashdall (15) and Hill lus (14) the total amounted to 97. Wilkinson was well on the spot and captured 6 wickets, the fielding of Vassal at long leg being especially noticeable.

Horner's innings does not call for any remarks, the whole side being disposed of for 38. Arkle made 14. Hill lus and A. Davies took 4 wickets each. Baker's were now 59 to the

The Rifle Corps.

In the notice of the Roundway meeting we omitted to mention that Sergt. Purdey obtained 7th prize in Class B with 76, being the second score for Sniders, although he made a magpie on the wrong target at 200 yards.

On July 4th after the Rossall match Purdey made seven bull's eyes at 500 yards in seven shots; we believe that this is the first time that this feat has been performed upon the Marlborough range. On the next evening he made 34 out of 35 at the same range.

On July 5th the Yeomanry held their usual prize competition on the Marlborough range. Capt. Balfour and Sergt. Goddard, the only members of the M.C.R.V.C. present, were respectively first and second in a sweepstakes of 5 shots at 400 yards, while The rifles used were Sorgt. Purdey was fourth.

the Westley-Richards (small-bore) carbines.

There has been incessant practice lately, and the scoring has been decidedly good; all the VIII, however, have seldom been able to practice together.

The most noteworthy score was made by Finch on July 8th, and has only been surpassed by Goddard's score against Charterhouse.

2nd Stage.

3rd

Stage.

Aggre.

4-60 2-41 14-58 2-47 200 500 600 Tot. ... 27 18 14-59 Sergt. Goddard 21 18 17-56 Pte. Cross ...... 27 29 L.Corp. Dawson 23 24 17-64 L.Corp. Dalton 19 20 ...... 24 21 Pte. Richardson 25 19 Sec. Lt. Heaton 22 14 10-46 ❞ Creeke ,, Finch

6-42 200 500 600 Tot. 26 28 23-77 30 19 19-68 18 24 21-63 25 25-78 22 26 14-62 17 19 16-35 20 17 11-48 14 28 22

COMMON ROOM CUP.

The competition for this challenge cup ended upon July 2nd, having been commenced early in June, but it was unduly protracted by the constant succession of matches which we have been shooting.

On the first day Cross obtained a long lead, and although passed at one time by Goddard he finally beat him by three points with the score of 202, two points less than the winning score of the two preceding years. Dawson, steady as usual, was third, Dalton fourth in spite of a bad start.

The shooting was at times brilliant, but on the whole uncertain. Goddard at 200 yds., Cross at 500 yds. and Dalton and Cross each in one stage at 600 yds., were most conspicuous. Cross and Dalton in the second and Goddard in the third stage made the best totals: the shooting improved towards the end being generally very bad on the first day.

Eighteen competitors put in an appearance but only half of that number completed their stages.

M.C.R.V.C. ▼. CLIFTON COLLEGE.

On June 20th we met Clifton at Devizes and defeated them by 22 points.

Our score at 200 yds was fair but we shot very indifferently at 500 yds., considering the fine and comparatively still evening. The Cliftonians were a very even lot, if not very brilliant, Reynolds making top score with 48, while there was nothing below 42. Finch made 52 for us, and Dawson earned his colours with a useful 51.

This match only fell short of a perfect success, from the late start which the Clifton fellows were obliged to make, which gave them only three hours at Devizes. It is hoped that next year we shall be able to have time to dine together afterwards, as this match will be an annual institution.

The scarlet uniform and helmets of the Clifton Corps completely threw into the shade our not very military equipment and appearance.

Lt. Col. Plant, who umpired in the competition for the English VIII at Cambridge last year, kindly acted as umpire for both sides.

(SUMULTANEOUS)

A return match was shot with Rossall on July 4th, when Marlborough again were victorious, this time by 5 points.

At 200 yds. our shooting was villainous. No one should ever dream of making less than 25 at this range yet only four succeeded in obtaining more than this amount. Chiefly owing to Goddard and Creeke we made 196, eleven points behind Rossall.

At 500 yards we set to work with a will, and shot very steadily until Cross came to grief. But for this unexpected calamity we should have made over 200; as it was, we made our highest score for this year with only the four misses aforesaid.

Goddard, as ever, was most brilliant, making the first 60 in a match since the days of Philpot, whose feat at Wimble don he seems not unlikely to emulate. For Rossall Carr made 56, Starkey and Knaggs 52 each. There was a fairly strong right wind blowing at Marlborough: the day was grey and the light clear.

At Rossall it was raining most of the time they were shooting. The light was good and there was a strong left wind. Marlborough has won 6 of 7 completed matches.

As the annual match with Devizes suddenly and unavoidably fell through at the eleventh hour, a simultaneous match with Charterhouse, which was already proposed, was immediately fixed for July 6th. As the arrangements for the Devizes match had not been altered we invited a sound licking by shooting at Roundway. There was a tremendous wind from the left so that at 500 yards the aiming was in the left corner of the bar and several feet off the target. At 200 yards we made 203, and reached the total of 340, not bad as circumstances went. Cross and Goddard shot best for us with 50 and 48 respectively.

However, fortune was bountiful with her favours, as Charterhouse were unable to shoot except at 200 yards, where they made 201, and the match was postponed till July 11th when we shot at Marlborough.

was a very strong 'fish-tail' wind, and the light was far from good.

Dalton, Finch, Cross, all shot well, but what words could do justice to Goddard's score? Nine bull's eyes four inners and one magpie! the highest score ever made by a Marlburian in a match, higher than ever has been made in the Public Schools competition. This is the result of incessant practice, and energy undaunted by failure, which all shots, veterans and recruits alike, must not fail to imitate, if they desire similar success. No one can become a really sure and brilliant shot at once, there are very few who cannot become at least sure by hard work.

With one substitute in their VIII Charterhouse headed us at 200 yards by six points which we just, and only just, recovered afterwards, winning a most exciting match upon our long range score, while Cooper made a good 55 for Charterhouse, who had no scores below 41.

At Charterhouse the light was bad and there was a strong but variable left rear wind.

The last general Meeting of the term was held on Thursday, July 11th. The President announced the donations of the Rugby and Clifton College Natural History Reports, and the 7th Vol. of the United States Geological Survey.

W. H. Chappel was nominated by the President as Secretary for the ensuing year, and three vacancies in the Committee were filled by the unopposed election of T.O.Harding, Esq., O. Elton, and W.H. E. Worship the former taking the place of F. E. Thompson, Esq., who has resigned.

A Vote of thanks was proposed by W. H. Chappel and carried unanimously to the retiring Secretary, W. M. H. Milner, who in acknowledging the compliment made a few remarks congratulating the Society on its present satisfactory condition.

The President then announced that the prize, offered for the greatest number of notices to members below the Sixth Form, had been gained by F. S. Alston, who was far the best in Botany, and one of the best in entomology. Pearse in Entomology, Hailes and Sankey in Botany, and Fenwick in Ornithology had also worked very well.

A very interesting paper on 'Ants' was read by O. Elton, the chief points touched on being, the place held by Ants in the animal kingdom; the duties of the workers; the construction of their nest and the labour and industry required in its building; the Aphides or 'Ant-Cows,' and their affection for the Ants; the wars and slaves of the Ants; their language, and finally the high moral qualities, which render them a peculiarly interesting study.