Played Thursday, February 6th, on the Common. The weather was everything that could have been desired. A nice Scotch mist, or less politely put, a drizzling rain. The state of the ground was no less desirable. Juicey slimy mud, intersprinkled with occasional puddles of still juicier, slimier water, which was unable to find any egress or ingress owing to the remains of a six weeks' frost still lurking below the surface. However, this failed to chill the hearts of some thirty dauntless youths, who after contemplating for ten minutes this enchanting scene of their impending struggle, finally resolved upon action, and having divested themselves of all superfluous habiliments launched forth into this inviting quagmire. In other words the Sixth won the toss, and having expressed their desire of playing an uphill game for the first half-hour, Ewart accordingly kicked off down hill, on behalf of the School. The ball was not returned by the Sixth, out of respect for the spirited charge made by the school forwards, and in consequence the first squash took place at no great distance from the Sixth's line. Bowlby, who was playing three-quarters for the School, did not fail to take advantage of this, and seizing the ball, succeeded, after much wriggling and many corporeal gesticulations, in eluding the Prefectorial grasp, and securing a touchdown. Tracy's attempt to turn this into a goal was a very praiseworthy one, but owing to his too lofty elevation of the ball, it sailed away on the wings of the wind, which was blowing hard across

the common, and was only rescued finally after a very hot pursuit. On play being resumed after this little episode, C. Hitchcock, half-back, made a useful run for the Sixth, but in a laudable endeavour to pass on the ball when collared, he inadvertently consigned it to the care of Adams, who took it back again and nearly succeeded in getting in. The Sixth were obliged to touch-down in self-defence, and being again driven back by the superior weight of the school forwards were compelled to repeat the process. Peake then took the ball out and made a neat run into the middle of the ground where the play remained for some time, the School getting the best of most of the squashes. Duncan then brought the ball back again by a good run, and was only collared on the line by Cholmondeley, whose collaring throughout was excellent, The result of the squash which ensued was a touchdown for the School by Ewart. Adams tried his best to convert this, and another touchdown soon afterwards, by Duncan, into goals, but was unsuccessful, Change was now suggested, and the breathing space which occurred gave our reporter an opportunity of breathing into his note book a few stray jottings upon the relative strength of the sides. The School had lost the services of Stanton, Davies, and Law, and the Sixth were minus one of their backs, but they were ably reinforced by Rev. W. J. V. Baker and N. Masterman, Esq. The School were much the stronger forward, in spite of the gallant efforts of Hodgson, Thomson, Hardy and Evans, for the Sixth.

It was quite affecting to see the delighted way in which fellows hailed their old friend the mud, after such a long spell of dry weather, and a great partiality was shewn for that delightful Slough of Despond on the road side of the Common.

Revenons à nos moutons. Hodgson kicked off, and the Sixth followed up well and penned the School for some time until Craufurd made a very plucky

run up the hill, nearly to the sixth line where he was overpowered at last, after much wriggling and struggling. About this time Duncan became very irrepressible, perpetually bubbling up again, as soon as suppressed, and was very nearly getting in, when a long kick from Peake deposited the ball in the other half of the ground. Tracy endeavoured to bring it back again by a sharp run, and some good forward play ensued, in which Hardy and Jones on behalf of the Sixth, and R. Hitchcock for the School distinguished themselves.

The combined efforts of C. Hitchcock and Peake then brought the ball near the School goal, when Peake was splendidly collared by Tracy near the line, having passed everyone else, and a maul in goal took place, in which the Sixth, who were represented by Hardy only, had to yield. The ball being well passed on by the Sixth, soon came into Peake's hands, and he got a clear run in, near the goal posts. The try by Cholmondeley was singularly unsuccessful but no doubt the ball was not nearly as light and active as it was earlier in the game. Nothing more happened worthy of mention, and so the game was drawn in favour of the School by three tries to one. Besides those mentioned, Elder, Windeler, and Henniker did good service for the school, and Davidson and Askwith for the Sixth. The spectators were very conspicuous throughout the game by their absence, not an unwise move on their parts.

But the contest continued as stubborn as ever till after change, when "A House" began to pen their adversaries, and a goal was soon placed to their credit by Hardy lus. After this the Lower School had the best of the game, notwithstanding a good run down by Law, who played with much spirit throughout the game, eventually Chappel hit a goal out of a bully shortly before time was called, and Preshute was declared conquered by three goals to none. For the winners, Mr. Bambridge was in good form as back while Messrs Leaf, Hart Smith, and Alford did good service, and Mr. Way was brilliant as ever; these were well backed up by Chappel and Hardy 1us, Nott and Bullock. For the losers, Law, Turner, and Fenwick, who distinguished himself by his hitting in goal, played hard, and Leverton did all he could to avert defeat.

COTTON HOUSE v. LITTLEFIELD.

Resulting in a victory for Cotton House after a hard game, by 5 goals to 3. Littlefield played with the wind for the first half during which Windeler, who was everything for Gilmore's, gained 3 goals and Houghton got one for Cotton House after a good dribble. After change Cotton House played up well together, and obtained 4 goals, by R. B. Thompson, Little, Scovell, and Ewart respectively. Besides the above, Fairrie and Fox played excellently for Cotton House, and Brunton and Petrie backed up Windeler for Gilmore's.

Littlefield were deprived of the services of Wright 1us, and Cotton House of Askwith.

Hockey.

A. HOUSE ▾ PRESHUTE.

A very fast game in favour of "A House," who were reinforced by several members of Common Room, who did yeoman's service. Play was very even for the first twenty minutes, when Mr. Leaf, by a fine piece of play, lowered the colours of Preshute.

B HOUSE v. THE WORLD.

This match was played on Saturday, the 8th. The weather was propitious, and considering the little practice that had been had, some promising play was shewn. For the first half of the game, the play was fairly even B House having the disadvantage of playing up hill. The B House forwards, always well supported by Leach (half-back), several times

time B House were still more successful, as the World had now the hill against them. Leverton however continually made brilliant dashes towards the B House goal, always well backed-up by Chappel, while Robertson and Petrie were on the alert on the wings; but in spite of their efforts the irresistible Jones, by a very fine piece of dribbling, obtained another goal, his example being quickly followed by Crookenden. B House now played up still harder, and Jones obtained a fifth goal. This was, however their last success, as the World made most gallant efforts to retrieve the day, and several times made most dangerous attempts on their adversaries' goal. Just before time Robertson gained a goal-the game thus ending in favour of B House by five goals to one.

For the victors, Leach (half-back) was extremely useful, seldom failing to return the ball just where it was wanted to go. On the wings, Mahon and Jones played well, and amongst the forwards Crookenden, Hardy and Nash, For the World Law, Windeler, and Leverton were most conspicuous, while Turner, (three-quarters) was also brilliant.

The sides were :

B. House: H. Leach (Captain), C. W. B. Jones, C. W. Bowlby, T. F. Hardy, E. Mahon, G. H. Evans, F. P. Nash, S. Callaway, A. B. Turner, C. L. Stawell. The World: F. B. Windeler (Captain), T. H. Law, F. S. Turner, F. E. Rooke, E. S. Leverton, W. H. Chappel, G. D. Petrie, R. B. Thompson, H. Wright, L. Impey.

Captain and Adjutant Lowndes inspected the Corps on Monday the 3rd, and again on Tuesday the 4th. On both occasions the attendance was fair considering the inconvenient hour at which it was necessary to parade. Singularly few recruits have joined the Corps this term which is the more to be regretted, since a small increase to its numbers would allow of an additional grant of rifles from GovernThe severe weather combined with other causes prevented the acquisition of the much desired new range during the Christmas holidays: but negotiations are in progress which lead us to expect a speedy realization of oft disappointed hopes.

ment.

HIBERNICA.

EVERYONE knows that the little town of Tubberscaraghan is situated on the banks of the Scaraghan, a river which has been by some inexplicable mistake, omitted from the manuals of geography as yet published. The Scaraghan is a river of a dark brown colour, slightly tinted with yellow: it flows over a stratum of extremely beautiful black mud: and the effect is at once surprising and gratifying, when the latter is gently stirred up with a stick. It has been said that it reminds one of the Old Masters. But to dilate on the charms of this stream would require a volume: suffice it to say that it takes its rise in the bog of Slough-a-muck, which is "convaynient" to the town; and on many a fine day one may see a Tubberscaraghanian wending his way from here homewards with his creel of turf on his own back, or on the back of his ass, and propelling the animal. by the use of a little mild persuasion.

The smiling dirt which here appears in all its naïve simplicity: the handsome athletic looking pigs which turn their bright and intelligent faces up to greet the approaching stranger, would invite a more careful inspection of the country: but duty calls us to the town of Tubberscaraghan. Lightly vault

PRICE 3d.

ing over a stone wall, we-come down with a crash on our back on the other side, to the great amusement of a rustic, who obligingly showed us that when we wished to get over a wall the simplest way was to knock a hole in it. The walls are constructed for the convenience of the cows. In this blissful country they do not recognise the value of gates: if the gaps must be stopped up, a few branches will do the work; and nothing can be more easily removed, when their services are no longer required. In due time we reach a lane, and finally the metropolis itself.

Walking up the street we cannot fail to admire the edifices of mud which rise on either side, and which munificent landowners occasionally buy up to convert into top-dressing for their fields. We pass the "polis" who are lazily lounging at the door of the barrack to see us pass: and finally reach Mr. Kelly's hotel, observing with sorrow that the Saxon has imported masons and mortar into the once unsophisticated Tubberscaraghan. Our intention is to take our scat on the long car which leaves here for the railway. We shall not have long to wait for its departure; as may be seen from the crowd which is assembling to witness the great event of the day.

Off at last! amid whoops and yells from the ragged small boys, we proudly rattle down the street,

the driver inciting his steeds with incoherent cries. There was one passenger on the car besides ourselves: he was a little man of a deeply melancholy cast of countenance, who wore a look of ineffable contempt for the troop of urchins who followed the car, at whom he levelled such shafts of cutting sar casm as "G'along out o' that, ye poorhouse recruits." As soon, however, as we had left the town behind us, things flagged a little: the horses fell into a very sober trot: the driver's excitement cooled down : and the little man subsided into his wonted melancholy. At last I determined to make a remark: "A fine day," I said to the driver.

"Throth and it is a tall evening," was his reply. A dead silence ensued, which was broken by our other friend, whose name I found to be Pat Maguire, observing slowly and sententiously: "This is the townland of Gub-na-sthuccan we're passing through at the prisent."

"Aye," said the driver, "and yandher's the house of a woman with a tarrible hard name: I'd only mind it at times; it's so hard. Wait now, till I mind it; its Shoo-Shoo-Shooshy Muckaveery. O begorra, but it is a most tarrible name." "And yandher's the hill where the polis officer seen Cork and Dublin at wanst, and the ships sailin in and out of Kingstown harbour, with his tee-li-scope. It must be a wondherful instrument."

We now had to traverse some dreary moorland, of the most desolate character imaginable; nothing but rocks and heath to be seen on every side. By and by we reached a little roadside shebeen, where the driver felt it to be his duty to go in for a wee dhrap of the crathure;" leaving us to admire the prospect. The most prominent feature in the landscape was a man lying dead-I should rather say dead drunk by the roadside; "in the lowest and most degrading stage of intoxication," as I inwardly remarked with much satisfaction. I turned to a bystander for an explanation of the singular phenomenon. "That's a man from th' island o' Thrinidad," he gravely replied, "where they say min do always be dhrunk." "Indeed! was my remark.

"Did yiz iver get a taste o' the raal Irish pocheen, your honour," said our driver as soon as he was enthroned on his box once more. "Boys-a-boys, but it's powerful dhrinkin. Well now, it's not that aisy to make it, thin." The simplicity of the recipe he

gave me, will at once commend its manufacture to present Marlburians. "Ye'll take a sack of oats, and wet it in a ditch or maybe a boghole, and ye'll lave it there for a matther of twinty-four hours. Afther that ye'll lave it outside for twinty-four hours, and thin ye'll throw down the sack in a barn for four days, till the oats begins to bud; and whin the oats is in the bud ye'll empty it out and turn it till ye force the bud in again, and dhry it. But I wouldn't know rightly what I'd do with it afther that, till I see them dhrawin' the pocheen out of the still be a worm; and I'll tell ye the thruth; it wants three years till it'd be the raal sperit. O, but thim Danes was the boys, to brew the pocheen out of the heather. Well, well, thim was great times."

Our driver had become loquacious, and he kept the conversation going till we began to near our destination. To my great surprise, I saw, as we drove up to the station, a game of cricket going on in a field below us. There seemed to be rather a lack of players; and the ground appeared to be a sort of marsh covered with tufts of rushes and weeds. This apparently did not favour the acquisition of runs, but the enthusiasm of the players compensated for every disadvantage. "Give it a clout, Pat!" "Mind that, Phil!" "Ah, murther, boys, did ye see the sticks!" Such were the articulate cries I heard. As soon as a hit was made, everyone began shouting directions to the unfortunate man who was fielding the ball; who almost invariably missed it, and was overwhelmed by his companions' execrations. "Ah, what were ye doin' at all at all?” "Bad luck to ye, McGilligan; is it blind ye are." The only moment of silence was when the bowler delivered a ball, which he did in a solemn and deliberate

manner.

Subsequently I read the following account of the match, which occupied a prominent place in the columns of the "Ballyguttery Weekly Yell"

CRICKET AT BALLYGUTTERY.
GENTLEMEN V. PLAYERS.

This match, which was looked forward to with much interest by no one in particular, was played last Saturday at Ballyguttery, and resulted after a sharp struggle in a victory for the gentlemen. The players having won the toss, and not caring about the pitch, sent their opponents to the wicket. Messrs. Brown and Robinson "wielding the wood" to the