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Davies being preeminent in the dribbling line, while Lane and the two Robertsons were doing a host of work in the squash. Trethewy hurt his ankle, and Bucknall come up to take his place for the last 10 minutes: though new to the place he showed very well, giving Bett several chances that would no doubt have been turned to good account, but the good collating of Cooper proved a fatal bar. Bucknall soon afterwards made the best run of the day, showing plenty of pace, and succeeded in getting a try close to the touch line; the goal was a failure. Time was called soon after.

Thus ended a game that most of the spectators would have been sorry to miss. To have been beaten by Way's is no disgrace, and Baker's certainly made it the reverse by the splendid way they played. If any are mentioned all must be mentioned for their play, but yet it is hard to refrain, and Lane and Ellis are worthy of notice for Way's forwards, while H. C. Bucknall and Bett did their best behind. Way's, while the three School forwards with Ross and Chappel to back them up showed what good Association may do for the Rugby game, Waterfield well. deserved his subsequent promotion, and Harvey played in most plucky style.

COCK HOUSE MATCH.

For

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WAY'S (CRESCENT) V. HART-SMITH'S (MITRE). 1st day. Tuesday, Nov. 25th.-Result: Way's 3 goals and 2 tries to nil.-Played on the Common owing to a hard frost and a sprinkling of snow. is only fair to the losers to record that what had been a promising team at the beginning of the term had undergone a succession of disasters. The three XL caps with which they began the season were rapidly placed hors de combat; and of them H. L. Stanton and E. M. Harvey played on this occasion for the first time for several weeks, while A. B. W. Willson was unable to play at all, and to crown their misfortunes F. E. Bull, the most dangerous threequarters in the School, was crippled a fortnight ago, and condemned to watch the game. Other minor accidents had so hampered them, in the course of the term, that practice-matches had been virtually impossible, and they had an uphill fight to make against intact and powerful opponents. Under these circumstances the first ten minutes took everyone by surprise. Harvey kicked off for Hart-Smith's down

the hill, and a brilliant run of Fletcher's having taken the ball into Way's quarters, there it remained, and only the most determined play of the backs prevented a try being obtained, W. Lascelles and G. E. Cooper (pro Bull) showing prominently. Then combined rushes of Way's forwards, notably of Hildebrand and Lane, carried the ball steadily up the hill, and Bett passing to P. E.. Bucknall, the latter went off like the wind, ran clean round every. one, and secured a try right behind, which his brother placed with success. Time, 15 minutes. After kick off, Hildebrand, Wilding and Lane, by some fine play, brought the ball into Hart-Smith's quarters, but till change no further point was gained, though Chambers nearly got in after a clever bit of dribbling. Over and over again Way's backs were prevented from passing by the extremely smart collaring of Martyn, and the dashing forward play of Preston.

After change, as might have been expected, the Crescent had all the best of the game, their heavier squash telling irresistibly on the slippery ground: and before long Bett got in after a capital run, and H. C. Bucknall made a grand but ineffectual attempt to place a second goal. For the remainder of the time Hart-Smith's were closely penned, and some of the best play of the day was seen. Lane, Hildebrand, W. H. Robertson and Chambers brought the ball through time after time, and were met with the most determined pluck by Hankey, while Harvey and Stanton were doing a power of work in the squash, and Chaine (pro Willson) collared splendidly, and twice relieved his side by a good dribble, and Poynton did some very smart things: but all would not do. P. E. Bucknall made another fine run, and his brother placed the second goal. In five minutes Trethewy, who had made many strong runs, carried the ball over the line, but the place was missed. Nothing daunted the Mitre played up as hard as ever, and then within a minute of time, H. C. Bucknall, who throughout had dropped, punted and collared admirably, secured another try, which he turned into a goal by a fine kick.

2ND DAY.-Hart-Smith's kicked off on a rainy day, and seemed for two minutes as though they might keep Way's out; but that soon came to an end, and, after a disputed try by Bett, a second was got by Trethewy, which H. C. Bucknall turned into a goal, after eleven minutes' play.

Thus ended House Matches for 1884. We can only wish the defeated House better luck in them for future years than it has had for the last two.

HOUSE GROUND-SEMI-FINAL TIES.

WAY'S V. PRESHUTE.

1ST DAY.-Way's kicked off from Lyne's end, and after some squashes Wainwright made a good run to Preshute goal line, and T. C. Bett getting the ball from the squash obtained a try, which was not turned into a goal. A try was then obtained by a strong run of Hildebrand's, who again almost got another try after Meyrick-Jones had been charged for omitting to make his mark. Then the behind play of Coape-Smith and Taylor somewhat equalized matters. Towards the end of the game, T. C. Bett obtained a try right behind and co nverted it into a goal.

2ND DAY.-Way's began by driving their opponents back in spite of the efforts of Towgood, Taylor and Bulman. Then T. C. Bett got a try between the posts, which resulted in a goal. Then Atlay, after some good passing of Way's behinds, obtained a try by a brilliant rush from near the goal line. The place was a failure. After some good play by the behinds of both sides Hildebrand by a fine run obtained a try for Way's which was not converted into a goal. After change Preshute forced Way's back, but some punts by Briscoe effectively stopped them. After some good running and passing by Bett, Hildebrand, Wainwright, and Meyrick-Jones, the first obtained a try right behind. The place was successful. Thus Way's won by 3

goals and 7 tries to nil.

Way's were much too good for their opponents behind, but Preshute often took them through in the squash. For Way's, behind Hildebrand, Mey rickJones, Bett and Wainwright were best, while Atlay, Peake and Meeres were best forward.

For Preshute, Coape-Smith and Taylor behind, and Bulman, Towgood and Landon forward, tried their hardest to avert defeat.

Natural History Society.

A private meeting of the Society, at which 19 members were present, was held on Thursday, Nov. 20th. As an evidence of the unusual warmth of the

past summer, Mr. Preston exhibited some frait of the Pyrus Japonica from the garden of Yatesbury Rectory, and some flowers of the Jerusalem artichoke from Mr. S. B. Dixon's garden at Pewsey, and stated that the plant had also flowered at Wootton Bassett and Yatesbury. The following donations were also produced-a good skull of a Neilgherry Ibex, shot by F. W. Bourdillon, Esq., O.M.; some coral ornamentations from the throne of Bhudda, in the Buddha Gya temple, dating from the 6th century; and a large fragment of pumice stone, thrown up in the Java eruption of last year, and picked up in the Indian Ocean; the two latter being presented by F. J. S. Neill; and a water stone from the Uruguay River, presented by F. S. Kinch. The last is a transparent stone about two inches in circumference, nearly circular and hollow, and containing water, which is plainly seen inside. The existence of the water is accounted for by the theory that the bubble holes left in the heated rock after it has cooled get filled with water, which carries in with it flint, which settles in the form of crystals on the sides of the hole. In most cases the water evaporates, but in the case of the water stones a further deposit hermetically seals the apertures, and the water remains. Sometimes the flint does not settle in the form of crystals, and entirely fills the hollow space, and agates are formed. To illustrate the various ways in which the flint is deposited Mr. Preston brought in a collection of potato-stones, sponges and agates.

The committee have recently expended about £50 in defraying expenses incurred in arranging the Museum collections.

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The following books have been added to the Library:- Darwin's Earthworms, Jefferies' Gamekeeper at Home, and Wild Life in a Southern County, and Taylor's Sagacity and Morality of Plants. Members are at liberty to take home books for the holidays on application to the President.

On Saturday, Nov. 25th, Mr. Hart-Smith gave a lecture to the sister Society at Charterhouse, on "an Insect's mouth."

The Stanton Prizes this year were for the largest number of properly prepared Botanical and Entomological specimens required to fill up gaps in the Museum collections, but no work was done which could justify the award of the Prizes.

Art Society.

The last meeting was held on Thursday, Nov. 27th, when a fairly large audience assembled to hear Mr. Thompson converse,' as he modestly put it, upon the Less Known and Doubtful Plays of Shakespeare. The first folio, published by Shakespeare's friends after his death in 1623, contains all the plays usually recognised as Shakespeare's except Pericles, nor does the second folio add anything new. The third folio (1663), contains Pericles and six other plays, three setting forth in their title the name of William Shakespeare, three others purporting to be written by W. S. These are Sir John Oldcastle, Thomas Lord Cromwell, the Yorkshire Tragedy, Locrine, The London Prodigal, and The Merry Devil of Edmonton. To these is to be added a seventh play, which has absolutely no external evidence for connecting it with Shakespeare's name, but was assigned to him in the middle of the last century (first by Capell) on internal evidence only, and has been since pronounced genuine by many competent judges-the play of Edward iii.

What tests have we for determining a play to be Shakespeare's? The external evidence in every case is slight. We must "soak ourselves in Shakespeare until we fit ourselves to be true critics of his manner. We must learn to evaluate the "notes" which we chiefly find in him, his wonderful imagination, his restraint and sobriety, his wit and humour, his unerring knowledge of human nature, his largehearted charity, the form of his verse-the "true Shakespearian iambic." Artificial and mechanical tests, such as that of the "stopped-line," have a certain value indeed, but too readily suggest the Aristophanic scale-test as applied to Aeschylus and Euripides.

The lecturer sketched three plays and read extracts from them.

(1). Thomas Lord Cromwell was pronounced genuine by Schlegel, and indeed reckoned one of Shakespeare's most mature productions. A most astonishing judgment! What would not Shakespeare have made of so dramatic a figure as Cromwell, a man whose life was like a stage-adventure? But the play is dull. Thus Cromwell wins the favour of Wolsey. I have added to my knowledge, my lord, the Low Countries, With France, Spain, Germany and Italy;

And though small gain of profit I did find, Yet it did please my eye, content my mind— with more to the same vapid purpose; and Mr. W. S. can be guilty of lines like

I am the wife of woful Bannister!

(2). Sir John Oldcastle was a great Lollard leader. When the writer says—

It is no pamper'd glutton we present, Nor aged counsellor to youthful sinthe Falstaff of Shakespeare appears to be pointed at, and there are other indications that the play was really written in competition with Shakespeare, as in the way in which the conspiracy of Scroop is introduced. The play contains a simile of a King, as the prime stag of the herd, which has a Shakespearian

echo in it, and several very amusing scenes, as that of the Sompnour and that in which the hedge-priest of Wrotham plays his part, and the very funny scene at the inn, when dresses and disguises get mixed up.

(3). Edward III was published by one of Shakespeare's own publishers, but not with Shakespeare's name, so that the external evidence is against it. In spite of several great names which have pronounced on internal grounds for the authenticity, the lecturer could not bring himself to say more than that the best of it may have been written by Shakespeare when under Marlowe's influence. He then concluded by reading some remarkable extracts, one of which we quote. The Countess of Salisbury rejects Edward's temptation in these lines :

"As easy may my intellectual soul Be lent away, and yet my body live, As lend my body, palace to my soul, Away from her and yet retain my soul. My body is her bower, her court, her abbey, And she an angel, pure, divine, unspotted; If I should lend her house, my lord, to thee, I kill my poor soul, and my poor soul me." If the writer was not Shakespeare, he certainly caught the manner of the master when he could write like that.

The President briefly returned thanks, alluding especially to the lecturer's dramatic sketch of a dramatic figure, Cromwell, as evidence that he possessed at least one quality necessary to the true Shakespearian critic.

SCHOOL PRIZES.

Colbeck Reading Prizes: 1. A. W. Mahaffy.

2. E. K. Chambers.

Hon. Mentioned:-R. N. Dundas. Master's Prize for Latin Prose: B. G. Ussher,

Hon. Mentioned:-A. F. B. Williams.

SCHOOL HONOUR.

Arthur Blackburn Poynton, Classical Scholarship at Balliol College, Oxford.

ERRATUM.

P. 181. 1. 20.-For D. E. Cooper read D. E. Martin.

Back numbers of the Marlburian may be had of the Printer, Waterloo House, Marlborough.

Printed by CHAS. PERKINS, at his General Printing Office, High-Street, Marlborough.

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THE MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE MISSION. A LARGE part of this number of the Marlburian is occupied by matters relating to the Mission established at Tottenham in 1881 by the Masters and boys of the College.

I am asked to write some introductory words in explanation.

I must say at once that this is a critical moment for our Mission. From Easter 1882, when to our great satisfaction, Mr. E. F. Noel Smith consented to take charge of it, up to the present time, its progress and success have been all that could be desired, with one great exception which shall be mentioned presently.

At the head of it is an Old Marlburian, singularly well qualified for such work, and entirely devoted to it, in fact overtasking his strength by his unsparing labours. His modest statement of results gives but a bare idea of what he has done.

In repeated visits I have had full opportunity of secing how much vigour and reality he has thrown into the Mission work, and how entirely he has won the hearts of his people. Quite an unusual number of lay-workers have been enlisted to help him in various ways, and the general goodwill is shewn by the fact that from a really poor district such con

PRICE 3d.

siderable amounts are gathered for the necessary expenses and for charitable objects.

With Mr. Noel Smith is associated another excellently qualified Old Marlburian, the Rev. E. S. Marshall, who has thrown himself most heartily into the work, and is much liked in the district.

The Bishop of Bedford has been from the first a warm friend and a wise adviser. We have not forgotten the bright stirring address that he gave in the Upper School when we were beginning our enterprise. His letter given below shews what he thinks now of its success and usefulness.

Now I come to the exception referred to above. Till within the last few weeks we had absolutely nothing that we could call our own. A hired Hall for Sunday services, held on sufferance from the School Board, but liable to be withdrawn at any moment by the vote of an unsympathetic majority; a hired room for week-day uses, held on sufferance from the kindly owners of the neighbouring factory: that has been all our plant' hitherto.

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But now at last, after endless delays, we have secured a site, just sufficient for a Church, Mission room and parsonage, in a convenient position,

Now that we have got this, the moment has come to make a further, and I trust a final, appeal to Old

Marlburians and other friends of the College, in aid of the Building Fund.

It will be seen that enough has been already given or promised to pay for the site, and leave a balance of some £1,100 for the buildings. We must as our share by some means gather at least £2,000 more. When this is accomplished we shall be able to claim assistance from the Bishop of London's Fund, and other bodies, whose grants are given only to meet definite contributions from other

sources.

And this sum of £2,000, large as it seems, is not really large in proportion to the number of those who might help to raise it, if they felt the value of the work, and the necessity of present help.

And let me add that for years past Marlburians have not been harassed by appeals for subscriptions on any large scale. Those who know anything of other Public Schools, Harrow, Rugby, Clifton, Wellington, Haileybury, Sherborne, &c., will also know that enormous sums have been subscribed of late years for buildings in the Schools themselves.

But our Council has quietly done a great mass of building work out of savings effected by careful management, and at this very time the great but necessary expenditure on the new Chapel is being faced without appealing to outside help. I do not deny that for the internal decoration of the Chapel we hope to be helped in due time by gifts from our friends; some handsome gifts have been already promised, and doubtless others will be forthcoming when the occasion for them arrives.

But it remains a fact that Marlborough has in recent years made far less call than many other Schools on the liberality of her sons and her friends.

I have now set forth, as briefly as the importance of the subject allows, what has been done and what is to be done. I must end as I began. This is a crisis for the Mission. Everything is in favour of progress ; but we are hampered, and we may be crippled, for want of buildings of our own. If this appeal does not produce what is wanted, I do not see when or how it is to be repeated with any chance of success.

And, therefore, for the honour of the School-for is it not pledged to carry this work of mercy to the point of assured success ?-for the welfare of the people whom we have undertaken to help, and who are so generously helping us and each other-and for

the sake of Him whom we serve-we who are responsible for this duty entreat those into whose hands this paper may fall not to pass by our appea! without consideration. If they have not already helped, let them consider whether this work does not make a claim on their sympathy. If they have helped already, will they not continue their help to a work which needs it and deserves it? If they have done as much as lies in their power, will they not bring it to the notice of others, whether Old Marlburians or not, who might be able to help? And this I specially urge on the present members of the School. They are themselves doing their part very steadfastly by their terminal contributions to the yearly cost of the Mission; but might they not also shew their parents and friends that they have its welfare much at heart, and so bring from many quarters fresh helpers for a service in which we are all so deeply interested?

G. C. BELL.

[WE subjoin a letter about the Marlborough Mission received from the Bishop of Bedford with the answer returned to it.]

"STAINFORTH HOUSE,

UPPER CLAPTON,

LONDON, E.

To the Editor of the Marlburian. THE MARLBOROUGH MISSION.

your

SIR,-As the Marlborough Mission is now taking a forward step in the acquisition of a site for a church, I will ask you to allow me to express your columns my great interest in the work School is so generously aiding. I need not tell you that you have an admirable representative in the Curate-in-charge, Mr. Noel Smith. He is doing thoroughly good work, and I hope the School will heartily support him. I am especially anxious that Old Marlburians should come to the rescue, and do what they can towards providing funds for the much-needed church. Having had three sons at Marlborough, I feel I am next thing to an old Marlburian myself, and I can pledge myself to do all in my power to help forward a work so full of present usefulness and of future promise. WM. WALSHAM BEDFORD,

Bishop Suffragan for East London.

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