CRICKET SEASON, 1878.

THE history of our season is very soon told, Steel has left us, and his mantle is at present missing. Of matches we have had nine, four of which we won, one was drawn, and four resulted disastrously. However, we were certainly not deficient in fielding, and always played up well to the end, but the result was as above stated. Napier had a difficult position to fill, succeeding "the foremost cricketer of 1878," but considering he was Captain, and a bowler, performed his duty well. His team consisted of eight new choices, and three last year's men, but he speedily brought them to a perfection of fielding which reflected the greatest credit on all. Gostenhofer reproduced to some extent the "curl" of Steel, but indisposition prevented his doing justice to himself or to his mentor towards the end of term, and notably in the Rugby match. Hayes proved himself invaluable at Cheltenham, and the whole team shewed how they could play up after his example had been set them.

PRICE 6d.

He and Napier

for his excellent not out innings. were the only reachers of double figures. Next came the Liverpool match, and this was drawn. The batting on either side was not brilliant, but Gostenhofer's six wickets for eleven runs must not be overlooked. In the succeeding contest with Exeter College, Napier's bowling was most effective, as eight wickets fell to him for 21 runs. He also took the highest score with forty-two. The result was a win by 20 runs.

The Old Fellows, captained by A. G. Steel, next came, and owing to slackness in their second innings were defeated by 78 runs. Steel's 170 will not soon be forgotten, and the school bowlers will long remember his brilliant hitting. We next played the Nondescripts, and beat them grandly; Rogers playing a fine innings of 112, and Gostenhofer backing him up with a 59, obtained in first-rate form. Then came Cheltenham, and another victory. Too much praise cannot be given to our XI for going in against 160 runs, and obtaining them for four wickets. Oliver for our opponents played two fine innings, but the bowling generally was inferior to the batting. E. E. Money, on July 13th, brought a team to play us, and his cousin, W. B. Money, beat us with his "lobs," no less than eight wickets fall

ing to him for 40 runs. Four days later we were doomed to defeat again from Mr. W. J. Ford's XI. This was chiefly owing to the splendid bowling of Mr. A. F. J. Ford, who trundled down eight wickets for seventeen runs. This was an achievement which could not go unrewarded, and we lost the match by seven wickets. Our most utter collapse, however, remained for the Rugby match, an account of which has so recently appeared in these columns: suffice it to say Leggatt was irresistible to the tune of 11 wickets for 45 runs, and we were defeated in an innings by 24 runs. The fine batting display of Leslie deserves special mention, and the leather-hunting he gave us should urge every one who has a chance of representing the school next season to make himself a bowler. conclusion we may mention that owing to Gostenhofer's nerve the Common Room match resulted in a tie, two wickets falling to his arm at the finish for

no runs.

In

CHARACTERS OF XI. FOR 1878.

J. R. NAPIER.-A very good captain, especially as he succeeded such a captain as A G. Steel. A good fast bowler on his day; a pretty bat, with capital hitting powers; excellent field. Has left.

S. H. HAYES.-Has played some good innings, notably that against Cheltenham, but unaccountably fell off at end of season. Fair field, and has been known to bowl. Has left.

D. WOMERSLEY.-Rather shaky at first, but dangerous when well set. Capital field, with straight throw in. Has left.

H. LEACH.-Showed great form at beginning of season, but owing to illness and accidents was unable to play during a great part of it. Good field.

G. GOSTENHOFER.-Capital slow bowler, plenty of break both ways. Improved greatly as a bat all through the season. Sharp field. Winner of average ball for 1878. Has left.

C. W. A. LAW.-Steady bat, rather stiff, cuts remarkably well. A very fair change bowler, and an excellent field.

The average bat was gained by G. S. Rogers, with the average of 233.

Ερρει πᾶσ' ̓Αφροδίτα.

The plashing of the fountain,
The murmur of the sea,
The mountain's myriad voices,
What joy have these for me?

I care not for the woodland

With its wavy-tressed trees,
Nor the humming, 'mid the lindens,
Of innumerable bees.

I care not for the even

With her starry-spangled veil,
Nor the silver Queen of Heaven,
Shedding light o'er hill and dale.

But I love the deep-voiced thunder,
Reverberating far,

Like the rolling of the axles

Of Jove's imperial car.

There is joy in the bluish lightning,
Flashing its lurid gleam,

From hill-top unto hill top,

Swift as a beacon's beam.

There is joy in the rushing whirlwind
Which tears adown the glen,
Like a rout of demon hunters,
Whose hunting is for men.

For my mind is in a turmoil,

And it soothes my grief to rove 'Mid the crash of warring Nature, Since I've nothing left to love.

ICHABOD.

UNPUBLISHED ORIENTAL LITERATURE.

THE voracions book-worm, who has devoured all the literature of the Western World, and regales himself on anything he can procure from the East, will be sorely disappointed if he expects to find in this paper anything hitherto unknown, say from the Lautskrit Hitopadesha, or the Persian Igd-i-gul,no, the Oriental Literature we are about to publish for the first time to the world, through the widespreading medium of the Marlburian, is a series of writings mostly in the form of letters, emanating

indeed from the East, but written in the English language, and in order that there may not be any suspicion of deception, we can produce, if required, the original manuscripts: we shall, in printing them, of course suppress the names of the authors lest they should be overcome with pride at finding themselves rendered immortal by the re-appearance of their names and writings in these pages. authors must be divided into three classes-Eurasians, Baboos, and Native Servants, and perhaps a word may be said about each class before we introduce our readers to their respective productions.

Our

The name of the first explains clearly what their origin is. It was at one time feared that a race in which English pluck and Indian sympathies would probably be blended, would, as it grew in numbers, become more formidable to the governing race than the natives themselves, these fears however were utterly groundless, for if there is one thing which is more markedly deficient than another in the Eurasians, as a race, it is what may be termed back-bone. In dealing with them an immense amount of tact is requisite to avoid unpleasant friction,-whether they are "touchy" or conceited one can hardly say which, nothing seems so difficult as not to wound the susNature shews her ceptibilities of an Eurasian. caprice wonderfully in the race; often in brothers or sisters, one may be as fair as the other is dark. Although the English are mainly responsible for the appearance of the race of Eurasians, they do not seem to have any great affection for them, while in the Mutiny many pure Europeans were spared, and Eurasians ruthlessly slaughtered by the rebel natives. The Eurasians therefore do not occupy a comfortable position in society, and it must be admitted that the most philanthropically disposed Englishman finds it difficult to get on with them, they seem to repel one naturally; and yet here and there an individual is found who would, if he could, make up for the shortcomings of his brothers. They speak with a

twang" which is very disagreeable to the ear, and they write with a peculiar style and diction that is no less unpleasant. Here are some specimens: the first is an answer to a question on a few pages of Macaulay's History, asking what effect the Roman Catholic and Protestant religions respectively, had upon the intellectual progress of the countries in which they were dominant:

"Whenever a Roman Catholic would reigne the Kingdom, the Roman Catholics enjoyed peace; but if a Protestant was reigning they sufferred, so that there was nothing but grudge on both sides. The Roman Catholics were very much against Protestanism, and they would order those who disapproved of their religion to be butchered.

Romans in ancient times taught the English many useful things, and the Protestants brought out the use of Bible reading."

The next is in reply to a question about the Independents and their leader :

"Dependents are those people who have Cromwell as head; and these, during the quarrel of the Parliament and Charles, took a prominent part on the side of the Parliament, through whose military knowledge defeated Charles in several battles, killed Strafford Charles' Prime Minister, and soon after he himself was beheaded. He reigned England not as a king, but went under the name of 'Protector.'

The other two are written applications for employment under Government:

To the Secretary of the Government of Bengal. SIR,-In consequence of having finished my school course, I would with kindness ask you to help me in launching my frail though persevering craft on this world's ever flowing stream. During my stay at school I have been well read in Latin, French, and German, not to mention Hindustani and Bengali. I have read as far as DeMoivre's Theorem in Trigonometry; mastered Napier's principles of Logarithms; Newton's Law's of Motion, and Binomial Theorem and Euclid's Elements. I have studied Deductive Logic, and passed Roscoe's remark's on the Spectrum Analysis.

In the event of a vacancy occuring would your honor steer my bark as far as its abilities can permit it to enter without endangering itself.

You have in the above, Sir, a picture of your obedient servant.

do with all my power, to your satisfaction. This is not the first time I am going to do this kind of work, as I have been employed in two places where I have been doing exactly the same sort of business. And will therefore give you greater satisfaction than if I was just out from school, and did not know anything about business. I am not very young either, I will be eighteen next birthday. And if you require to know anything more about me, I shall be most happy to tell you all, when I will be at your office tomorrow at 11 A.M. Hoping to get a favourable answer from

you

to-morrow.

I remain,

Your obedient servant.

(To be continued).

MY REP.-A DIRGE.

Oh ye, whose lot unkindly fate hath cast
To be in form a sure unchanging last,
Who, seldom shining 'neath a prosp'rous sun,
Attain the giddy height of last but one;
Who watch with sweet contentment's placid eye
Around the form the circling questions fly,
Nor dare an anwer, knowing what would be
The sure result of such temerity;
Who gaze with ignorance, but not with bliss,
On Xenophon's far famed Anabasis.
Nor know the meaning of a single clause
In the whole range of Ceasar's Gallic Wars;
-Ye genial dullards! list to wretched me,
And lend a pitying ear, for very charity.

Now gentle sleep her peaceful veil had thrown
Upon all weary eyelids save my own:
For me, alas! 'twas vain to hope for rest,
The morrow's rep sat heavy on my breast:
And when at length in sleep I close my eyes,
Behold in dreams the morrow's rep arise!
-In short, when waken'd by the sun's broad rays,
I find to-morrow's rep become to-day's.

Lo, now behold, our morning chapel done,
Without delay is morning school begun.
The pedagogue has enter'd, and sat down,
(His desk first neatly dusting with his gown),
"Now shut all books!"-When this command is given,
All I had leart from my poor head is driven,
And when to take a final peep I tried,
"You at the bottom there, begin!" he cried.
At that dire word, confused I slowly ros",
And first the ceiling scann'd, and then my toes;
Next came a long and silent pause, wherein

THE

I vainly wonder'd how I should begin.

At last, tired out,-"Maecenas," stern he said;
Prompt I respond, "Maecenas,"-and stop dead.
Another pause.-Next, "Atavis" he cried,
And "Atavis" like echo I replied.
But when at last to "Edite" he came,
And "Edite" I still replied the same.
Human endurance could no further go,
-"I say, young man, this sort of thing won't do!"
Well knew I that, but in my own defence,
Assumed a look of injured innocence.

"Don't make that ugly face, Sir, but sit down!
Thunder'd the pedagogue with angry frown.

Now this was bad enough, but, cruel, he

A deeper insult piled on injury;

For when I told him all the time I'd spent
Trying to learn, before to bed I went,

May heaven pour down its vengeance on his head!-He seem'd incredulous to all I said!

Enough; my dismal tale at length is o'er,

I ask your sympathy,—I can no more.
Yet in the midst of misery and woe,

I rise superior to my hated foe:

I freely pardon him for all he said,

And heap hot coals of fire on his head :

I pardon him his angry words, his scorn,
(Though such contempt was hardly to be borne)
And last of all,-magnanimous concession!
I pardon him my horrid extra lesson !

THE TRIENNIAL DINNER.

T.

Triennial Dinner of Old Marlburians took place at the Pall Mall Restaurant on the evening of the Rugby match day, the date having been altered this year from the middle of June, it being thought that a larger company of O.M's. could be got together on the occasion of our annual town cricket match than at any other time. This anticipation on the part of the Committee proved correct, as in point of numbers the dinner was more successful than ever before. Considerably more than a hundred O.M's, comprising representatives of every generation, assembled to support the Chairman, the Rev. S. C. Voules. The Master, Dr. Farrar, and the Bursar, together with several representatives of the Common Room past and present, were among the guests. The only generation of Old Marlburians inadequately represented was the youngest, it being a matter of

regret that a larger number of those who had most recently left the School did not respond to the appeal which had been made to them, not to regard the occasion as most especially intended for the senior members of their body.

It will be unnecessary after the manner of local papers to give a list of the dishes consumed, or to commend the catering of whoever may be the Pall Mall Restaurant proprietor. We may therefore hurry on to the removal of the cloth, remarking by the way that the long room in which the dinner was held is not ideally well adapted for a celebration of the kind. As it is long and narrow it is difficult to get anything like a collective view of the assembled guests, and at the Triennial Dinner one wants to see as many people as possible.

After the usual loyal toasts the health of the United Services was effectively given by the Chairman. Captain Bradford enthusiastically responded for the army, indeed he found so much to say on the subject that while evincing every desire to bring his remarks to a close he evidently found his enthusiasm too much for him, and only concluded after a lengthy speech.

The Rev. T. L. Papillon then gave the toast of the evening-" Prosperity to Marlborough College," in a neat little speech, expressing the satisfaction of a Member of the Council, and the pride of an old Marlburian in the progress of Marlborough College. The Master responded, and it was very satisfactory to observe how thoroughly his manly, simple, straightforward little speech seemed to win the hearts of the large number of O.M.'s to whom this was his first introduction. The next toast was"Former Masters of Marlborough College," proposed by Mr. A. Robinson, of New College. Dr. Farrar responded with his usual eloquence. He was warmly received and loudly applauded. Mr. S. H. Butcher then somewhat lengthily proposed "The Assistant Masters, past and present," detailing his own experiences as an ex-assistant master at Eton, which he humourously compared to "fighting with beasts at Ephesus,"—a somewhat doubtful compliment to his late pupils. The Bursar, who was heartily welcomed, replied for the present, and the Rev. S. Branson for the past.

Mr. Branson's speech is always a great feature at these gatherings. His exquisite humour, his quaint