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Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Marlburian.

SIR,-A motion has lately been carried by the debating Society condemning the excess of Athletics, and with their decision I perfectly agree. But some of the speakers for and against the motion alike, mentioned the neglect of some Athletic exercises and the degradation of others: in particular the small attendance at the Gymnasium was commented on by one speaker. I was glad to hear deplored the little attention given to boxing and the prostitution of that noble science by the introduction of the brutal system of prize-fighting, but there is one old English sport now almost forgotten, at all events rarely cultivated, yet one of the most manly, difficult, and noble of Athletic sports. I mean the old English pastime of wrestling. Now that some stir is being made in favour of the revival of this almost forgotten sport why should not Marlborough take the lead? The day I hope will soon come when wrestling will take its legitimate place in the Pentathlum all over England, but at any rate let us restore it to its rightful position here. If any one fears fall a the floor two mattresses in the Gymnasium would save him from any hurt. Wrestling brings into play every muscle in the whole body, it requires strength, quickness, readiness and watchfulness, strength and height, though great advantages, are not everything, smallness may be compensated for by agility and cleverness in perceiving the weak point in an adversary. The authority of Tom Brown' we may hope will have its usual weight, and his recommendation in this particular be considered as powerful as the rest of his advice. Some Marlburians I know avoid the Gymnasium in fear of stunting their growth or otherwise injuring themselves, but no one can possibly have the smallest fear of wrestling, for the exercise does not strain the frame. Hoping wrestling will soon be introduced here, and be cultivated for its own sake without the inducement of prizes and cups. I remain,

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Παλάιστης.

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This competition was begun on Monday, March 22nd, and after some very good games the first priz was won by H. B. Carlyon. We give the scores in each game.

J. A. Kempe, 11, 11,
R. W. Wickham, 11, 3, 11,
H. E. Sieveking, 11, 8, 11,
A. F. Robinson, 11, 11,
H. Macdougall, 11, 11,
C. N. Lawrence, 11, 11,
H. B. Carlyon, 11, 11,
C. B. Woollcombe, 11, 11,
W. E. Leach, 11, 11,
E. Collinson, 11, 11,
R. C. Leach, 11, 11,
W. G. Fellowes, 5, 11, 11,

FIRST TIES.

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On Monday, April 5th, the competition for the new "House Challenge Cup" began, and, as this is the first time it has been tried for, a great amount of interest was felt about it. Wilson's were easily first, getting 730 marks out of a maximum of 848. The highest individual score was obtained by Wickham (for Bright's) who got no less than 102 out of 106. We may also mention Pyke, and Clutton, who scored 100 each, Deacon, Giles, and Freeman 97; Smythies 96; Heatley, Dayman, and C. Hawkins 94; Bourdillon 91. The following is the order:

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weed, and a queen termite; W. D. Fenning read a paper, written by G. E. Manisty, on "A visit to Esgair." There were 27 persons present-2 hon. members, 10 members, 15 visitors.

MEETING HELD APRIL 2ND.-There were no exhibitions in order that there might be more time for the paper, which was read by A. H. Beesly, Esq., upon "The Arctic Expedition." There were 59 persons present: 3 hon. members, 16 members, 40 visitors.

April 9th.

A stirring and novel excitement was felt upon this day in the small universe of Marlborough, and more especially in the scientific sphere of that universe. On the 9th of April five years ago, and on the same day of the week, that is Friday, the Natural History Society was born, and the anniversary of its fifth birthday was the occasion of the novel excitement to which we have referred.

The thought suddenly entered the mind of some benefactor of the Society (for such the event proved him to be) that it would be a capital plan to try to get up a 'Conversazione' to commemorate the great event. Though suddenly thought of, the measure was maturely executed. All hands were busily employed for a week or so, some writing invitations, others arranging the different objects which were to be exhibited, and others making themselves generally useful.

The Adderley Library was allowed to be used for the entertainment, a sacred apartment worthy of so bold a venture. The whole space was occupied with animals, birds, fishes, flowers, butterflies, fossils, &c., &c., and the effect of all these, with a bright light shining upon them, was certainly very captivating to the eye.

Visitors assembled to the number of about forty, including most of the gentry around Marlborough, except of course those who were absent or otherwise prevented from coming. First of all they were ushered into the Common Room, which was thrown open for the evening, and refreshments were there. provided. As soon as all the guests had assembled a journey was made to the Museum, where Dr. Fergus made some chemical experiments, and F. Giles shewed some experiments in electricity.

As soon as this part of the proceedings was over the audience left the Museum and entered the Library,

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of which we have anticipated the description (so far at least as it is here possible for us to do). When due time had been spent in the examination of the numerous interesting objects the visitors adjourned to the Common Room, where a supper had been provided by the liberality of the college. Shortly after the supper the guests began to disperse and a very agreeable evening was brought to a close.

The guests had no sooner departed than the members of the Society and those of the School whom they had admitted went into Hall and sat down to a substantial supper of cold meat, &c., also provided by the College.

If we might be allowed to hazard an opinion we should certainly be inclined to say that the Society have every reason to be pleased with the success of their praiseworthy daring. Everything, to us at least, seemed as though it could not have been better. Considering that the Society is only five years old, it is marvellous how they could make such a display of wealth, for there really was a very fine 'show' in every department of Natural History. It is very difficult and almost impossible to imagine what the next Conversazione will bring forth, if even so early as this the Library can be filled with the possessions of the Society. We prophesy that the Hall will have to be cleared or some room quite as large. members might reasonably feel flattered at the large number of their visitors and in fact at the entire success of the evening, though more accommodation might have been provided for the representatives of the press.

The

MEETING HELD APRIL 16TH.-Geology: W. D Fenning exhibited a fossil bone from Battle, presented by F. H. Bowles. F. Giles exhibited specimens of quartz, hydrated iron pyrites, landscape-marble from Clifton, dog tooth spar, septaria from Oxford clay, Echines covered with serpulo from the chalk, &c.

Ornithology.-J. B. Fuller passed round a list of notices, and exhibited a deformed hen's egg, presented by G. E. Manisty.

Entomology.-H. M. Hilton passed round a list of notices, and exhibited a small box of Australian beetles.

Zoology. The president exhibited specimens of spider, monkey, and vampire bat, a white bream and tetrodon.

H. M. Hilton then read a paper on "collecting insects." H. C. Spry and J. H. R. Clarke were elected

members, and H. Manders was re-admitted to the Society. There were 61 persons present: 2 hot members: 22 members: 37 visitors.

We quote the following notice concerning an O Marlburian :

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"In the studio of Mr. Francis Pierce Connelly, Florence, there has lately been exhibited a plaste group representing Honour arresting the triumph Death. The scene is the battlefield; the allusion to the late war in the United States. a spirited attempt of a young and rising artis Study and practice aiding, there is no reason why should not hereafter take a high rank in his a The present group is a mere sketch, barely halfsize. It is intended, I believe, that it should at se future day be executed in heroic proportions, and the finished work certain defects of detail now evide will of course be remedied, and the imperfections d to haste will not fail to be corrected.”—Times, April.

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S. H. Butcher, Minor Scholarship at Tr College, Cambridge-Bracketed First.

We omitted among the names of successful est dates for Woolwich, those of T. J. Roch and Wace, (Old Marlburians).

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. RESERVED.-Translations of Horace, Sophocles, Homer;

to Percy Bysche Shelley.-REJECTED WITH THANKS-The b Field.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CHARLES PERKINS at his Ge Printing Office, Waterloo-House, High-street, Marlboro Wilts.

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ESPRIT DE CORPS, AND PARTY SPIRIT.

Esprit de Corps is as often, or nearly as often, held up for admiration, as Party Spirit is reprobated and condemned.

What are the essential differences between them? In what respects is the one superior, or inferior, to the other?

Esprit de Corps is a genus of which Party Spirit is a species. Party Spirit is the application of Esprit de Corps in one of its special forms, or manifestations.

Esprit de Corps is corporate feeling generally; Party Spirit is corporate feeling necessarily conveying the idea of hostility.

Is Esprit de Corps beneficial in all cases? If not, is it in some cases and not in others? If so, does Party Spirit fall among the former, or the latter?

Esprit de Corps has two distinct sides -1. A generous and self-sacrificing side. 2. A selfish, exclusive side. It is upon which of these two sides the case in which it is applied allows to be uppermost, that its advantages, or disadvantages depend.

PRICE 3d.

In all classes, or corporations, which are by their nature and formation distinct, Esprit de Corps must be a prevalent, if not the presiding, and animating principle.

In the case of nations it is called Patriotism: the very existence of a nation depends upon the Patriotism of its citizens. In the Army, in the Church, in a Public School, in the Houses which compose it, in a University, in the Colleges which compose it, unless there be Esprit de Corps there cannot be life and vigour.

Unless each individual member of the society feels that he is called upon to make some sacrifice, or put forth some exertion on behalf of the body of which he is himself a constituent element, the principle of the society cannot be perfectly carried out.

It is therefore upon how far that principle is beneficial in itself, that the advantages of the Esprit de Corps, which it calls forth, depends.

All these distinct corporations are beneficial so long as they only form distinct elements of a greater whole. National feeling is beneficial so long as it does not interfere with cosmopolitan progress, Nationalities

are necessary, but if they become so exclusive, and jealous, as to prevent the combination which is requisite for the development of the world's resources, they become a necessary evil. The National Esprit de Corps interferes with the wider and nobler Cosmopolitan Esprit de Corps.

Esprit de Corps then, in its noblest sense, should so exist in the smallest combinations as to bring them to assist its operation in those above them; it should perfect the most extensive society, by perfecting each of the elements which compose it.

Is this the character of Esprit de Corps contained in Party Spirit? It cannot be, because the end of Party Spirit is to further the interests of the party, not only in a manner which shall exclusively benefit the Party itself, but which shall be actually detrimental to other Parties, in their capacity of Parties.

A certain amount of Party Spirit is necessary in all free governments. The difficulty of procuring progress and reform, requires an artificial moving power, and this is found in Political Combination or Party Spirit. Without joining such combinations no great man, however commanding his talent, is able to act with vigour. Without such combination, public discussion must cease.

But this is an artificial power, and if it were not for the checks imposed upon it by rival powers it would prove severely detrimental. As it is, two manifest evils are caused by it. I. It robs men of the free exercise of thought, binding them to the principles of their party. II. Great men, as the leaders of parties, finding protection in their party, rather than the whole nation, are apt to feel responsible to their party only, not, as they ought, to the whole nation.

Party Spirit is at most a necessary evil: Esprit de Corps, though itself closely allied with human imperfection, can, and does become a source of immense good.

H.

A NEW BOY'S IMPRESSIONS.

What dreadful thoughts racked my brains as the train whirled me along to Marlborough! All the old stories of bullies, of fierce looking schoolmasters, of grave intellectual-looking doctors, of fagging, of impositions, of being tossed in a blanket, and what not, whizzed at once through my heated imagination and there sat papa-was it levity, or was it stolidity?—papa, who could make a joke of my going to school, who could tell long dry stories about what he did when he went to school, stories which I had heard oft repeated, and varied as oft as repeated, (Papa sometimes forgetting that it was Slasher who bunged up his eye and not he who disfigured Slasher's frontispiece)-Well, there set Papa sleeping, and, O Heavens, snoring. Next night when a heavy slipper hit me on the left eye, and a hoarse voice roared out "Don't snore, or I'll throw a boot at you," I remember asking myself whether they would have dared to do it to Papa if he had snored in that horrible manner in dormitory. Well, at last we arrived at the station, when Papa, who was very fat, and I who was rather tall, respectively hurt our stomach, and crushed our hat, in being shoved into a very dirty and "fuggy" looking 'bus, by an equally dirty and "fuggy" looking 'bus cad. Jolt, jolt, papa groaning, and I trying to straighten my hat, we were hurried first down a steep hill, then along a very wide, long, and gloomy looking street. last we arrived at the College, when we were ushered into the august presence of my future House-master. He did not appear so terrible a person as I had imagined, and actually smiled, and talked about cricket and football. This calmed me a little, but I put it all down to Papa's being there, and felt sure of caning and lines as soon as his back was turned.

At

The school was not to return till the following day. so I was allowed to return to the hotel and dine with papa for that evening. I no longer felt angry & Papa's being jolly, when he ordered a jolly good dinner, as I felt very hungry after my journey, an had made up my mind for school fare for the next si months. Gradually, when papa had poured me ot a second glass of wine, I began to feel that schoo was not so terrible a thing after all, and when! marched back to the College and went to my dormi

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