with a total of 1001 out of a possible 1120, and Preshute second with 967. We have received the following news of T. H. Clark, an O.M., which appears in the "Volunteer Gazette:"-" War Office, Pall Mall, Feb. 26 h 1878 3rd Cambridgeshire R.V. Corps.-Thomas Herbert Clark, gent., to be second Lieutenant (supernumerary)." Mr. Clark is the second son of J. B. Clark, Esq., Wingfield, Wilts. He has also won the Cambridge Trinity College Corps Company's Challenge Cup, besides other prizes in shooting matches. His elder brother, also an O.M., is at St. Petersburg, acting as guardian to his Excellency Count Schouvaloff's son, and was formerly captain of the "A" Company, 3rd Cambridgeshire R.V. Corps. Two frames have arrived for two more of the pictures which adorn the walls of the Chapel, and the new organ is in process of being painted. The House Glee-Singing Competition comes off on Saturday, April 6th, and the Solo Competition in the evening of the same day. We beg to call attention to the following letter, which has been printed for circulation among old members of the M.C.R.V.C., and others interested in the matter: National Debt Office, London, E.C., 18th March, 1878. DEAR SIR,-It is intended to perpetuate the "Public Schools Veterans Match," which has been shot at Wimbledon for four years, by procuring a suitable Trophy or Challenge Cup for annual competition, at the National Rifle Association Meeting, amongst past members of the Public Schools. The Trophy or Cup will be held for the year by the School whose team is victorious in the match. At a meeting of the Captains of the Veteran-teams and others interested in the match, at which nearly all the "Public Schools, as defined by the N. R. A., were represented, it was determined that those schools only should be entitled to send in a team to compete for the Trophy, on whose behalf a subscripton of not less then £15 should be collected or guaranteed. I therefore venture to ask you for a subscription (not exceeding a guinea) on behalf of Marlborough. The following are the names and addresses of the Veteran-team Captains and representatives, who are collecting on behalf of their Schools, and I shall be glad if you will show this letter to any other past Members of the Schools with whom you are acquainted. Charterhouse.-A. GLEN, 5, Elm Court, Temple, E.C. Eton.-EARL WALDEGRAVE, 13, Montagn Place, W. Marlbro'.-H. EYRE JESTON, National Debt Office, Old Rossall.-CAPT. ORMSBY, Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lan- Rugby.-MAJOR J. HOLLWAY, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Winchester.-T. B. UDALL, 5, Thanet Place, Strand, W.C. PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTES. The Meteor (March 28) takes the opportunity of reviewing the past football season, since it is a month since last the dull thud of the well-known oval shaped ball was heard bounding on the sward. Two great changes in the game have taken place, the abolition of hacking, and the clothing of all in the warm flannel, formerly the privilege of only those skilled in the game. It is satisfactory to hear that these changes have not caused the game to degenerate; the forward play, we are told, last year was quite up to the average, and the behind play superior to most other public schools. In cricket Rugby will be represented by seven of the last year's eleven ; more practice is wanted, especially in bowling. The Meteor essays to defend the School Clock, which has not been giving satisfaction lately. Another article treats of the Bath, which has not been frequented much this term, and points out that a short bathe, even in the chilly spring weather, is refreshing and salubrious; long bathes are harmful even in summer. Mr. Archibald Forbes will lecture at Rugby shortly after the Easter vacation begins. Rugby has started a skating rink, which is reserved for skaters from the school on certain days in the week. The proceedings of the Debating Society are recorded at great length. One motion was that the newspapers that speak of the decay of England are ignorant and unpatriotic; this produced a lively debate, and was carried by 11 votes to 7. The question of Lake Thirlmere has also been discussed. The School Rifle Corps have defeated an Oxford team by ten points; a march out to Coventry was very successful. House Steeple Chases appear to flourish. Evelyn having won the school racquets, he and Leslie will represent Rugby at Prince's; with more practice, it is thought, they will have a very fair chance of winning the cup, though at present appearances seem to favour the chances of Eton. An interesting paper on the Rugby School Close was read before the Natural History Society. The number is concluded with reviews of Our Contemporaries and Correspondence. "A Loafer" wishes lawn tennis ties to be introduced, and the Committee intend to carry out the proposal. The secretary of the "Reveller's Cricket Club " urges present and past Rugbeians to join the Club. The Correspondence about the Art Museum still sentatives of the School at Princes', the other player being chosen by the Manager of the Courts. Football seems to have been played very vigorously during March. Charterhouse were defeated by R.M.C. Sandhurst by three goals to one; the characters of the Football Eleven are given. The Science and Art Society has heard papers read on the "Lake Dwellings of Switzerland," and "Art in the Prehistoric Iron Age." A correspondent hopes that second games will be more regular at cricket than they have been at football; other grievances are freely ventilated. The Tonbridgian (April) complains of the difficulty of writing a leader; in the late football season they have been moderately successful, winning five out of twelve matches. Strangely enough, their Fifteen never play up unless they are being beaten. The Debating Society has decided that Mr. Stanley did not use unnecessary violence towards the natives of Africa; and that Trade Unions are injurious to the country. Experiments with the Telephone have been carried on with success. Now that the choir has much improved, it has been thought desirable to have at least one concert in each term, besides the Christmas concert: one of these took place on March 19th. Correspondents complain that the Game Committee neglect their duty. Besides the school news, we notice accounts of tours in Algiers, Cornwall, &c., besides poetry, of which the less said It will be seen from the above that 18 passed their 3rd, and only 5 their second. Thus we cannot congratulate ourselves either on the number who have passed or on the scores made. Perhaps Goddard and Creeke are an exception to the latter remark, in the 3rd class shooting, and Goddard in the 2nd. We are glad to see the number of recruits who have regularly practised this term, and amongst them are some very promising shots. We only hope that they will persevere. The monthlies this term were won by For January, Goddard, with the score of 48 at 200 and 500. GENERAL MEETING, Thursday, March 28th. N. Masterman, Esq., read an exceedingly interest. ing paper on "Falconry," first describing the different species, such as the Falcon, marked by its long wings and easy flight; the Hawk, by its short round wings; and the Kestrel and Hobby, both of which have a strong taste for beetles. The sport still has votaries in some parts, and there is a hawking club at present near Everleigh, on the other side of the Pewsey Vale: in the last few days Mr. Masterman had twice ridden there to see the sport, and gave a graphic description of the scene; each bird, with its jess and hood, ready to be flown at some unfortunate rook; then as they returned, successful or unsuccessful, they were fed, and their work was over for the day; the least pleasant part was a ten miles ride over the downs in a heavy snow storm. The paper was illustrated by a number of specimens of Hawks and their eggs: a short discussion then ensued, consequent on some remarks by W. H. Chappel. A great number of exhibitions followed, including a specimen of Sponge presented by C. Ll. Davies ; an Ammonite by D. E. Olivier; and a large and interesting collection of Chinese and Eskimo curiosities. There were 34 persons present, 3 Honorary Members, 16 Members, and 15 Visitors. Played on Thursday, March 16th, resulting after a hard game in a draw, each side getting two goals. A House received the assistance of Messrs. Ford, Leaf, and Bambridge, as well as W. H. Chappel. Goals were obtained for Cotton House by Charley and Whitaker, and for A House by Messrs. W. J. Ford and H. Leaf, whose splendid dribbling counteracted the weight of Thompson's forwards. Besides the above, Dawson, Fox, and Sharp, for Cotton House, and Sutton, Smith, and Foord, for A House, played well. A. Chandler W. H. Chappel Against the motion : F. J. Ellis *E. C. Smith * Visitor. W. H. E. Worship C. LI. Davies D. E. Olivier R. A. Farrar HOUSE GLEE CUP AND SOLO PRIZES. ACCORDING to a custom, which is now almost of sufficient standing to merit the epithet of timehonoured, the last day of the Lent Term was made melodious by the competition for the House Glee Cup in the morning, and for the Master's Solo Prizes in the evening. Considerable efforts had been made to obtain for the performance of the difficult duties of judge, the services of some distinguished musician from a distance; but as the inconveniences inseparable from a Saturday evening frustrated these attempts, we were glad to fall back on the musical knowledge and experience of our neighbour, the Rev. A. G. Bleeck, Vicar of Preshute, who at very short notice kindly consented to judge both in the morning and in the evening, and who on each occasion filled the office to the perfect satisfaction alike of audience and of competitors. For about a fortnight previously most Houses had been very vigorous and persevering in their practising. Those Houses, who are fortunate enough to have regularly established glee clubs, redoubled their wonted exertions, and the rest at once discovered so much musical talent in their ranks as to render it a PRICE 3d. matter for some regret that it had not been subjected to a more regular and persistent cultivation. We may remark in passing that a clear fortnight seems quite sufficient for getting up the glees which have to be performed; in musical, as in physical, training it is possible for a team to get, as the music doubtless does, 'stale.' The Part-Song, selected by Mr. Bambridge, for the 'Tens' was 'Love and Fear,' by H. Stiehl, a somewhat slight composition, but tuneful enough to be easy to teach, yet requiring some accurate singing in the inner parts. The 'Fives' were much more severely tried by Barnby's Part Song, Phoebus,' which was rather catchy' for all the parts, and tested both time and tune by a puzzling change of key and a difficult rallentando passage. At the appointed time all the nine Houses appeared in the Bradleian to compete, and a large audience both from the School and elsewhere had assembled. The singing, as a whole, was fully up to the average: indeed, had not fate cruelly robbed the winners of their best bass and best alto, they would probably have surpassed any Ten' which has been produced since these competitions began. As it was, they were conspicuous by their evenly balanced voices, their correct intonation, their careful expression, and their simultaneity both in attack and in rallentando; and the universal opinion of all present ratified the verdict. of Mr. Bleeck when he pronounced Upcott's House the winners for 1878. His decision placed Baker's next, who were a fairly even and tuneful lot of singers, while Sankey's and Way's were not far behind. Sharp's were a much better lot than they have been sometimes before, and had been strongly reinforced by their Summerfield allies. The Littlefield team sang in a style of their own, which won the admiration of a section of the audience. The trebles from Preshute were very good, but their performance, as a whole, was rough and shewed want of work. The other houses do not call for any special comment. A rather lengthy programme was drawn up for the performance in the evening. Eight songs by treble or contralto voices, seven by bass or tenor, five partsongs, with an introductory Pianoforte Duet, and some verses of the Carmen at the end, seemed a sufficiently formidable evening's work; but as no encores were allowed, and as there was great variety in the selection, it proved in no sense a tedious entertainment. The soloists were undoubtedly better up to their work than connoisseurs in the School had expected; almost all the songs were sung fairly, and some well. The prize for the Tenors and Basses was adjudged to Peake; and probably owing to the difficulty of selection, no one received the distinction of an honourable mention. The winner sang quite as well, if not better, than we had ever heard him before; but his song (Mrs. Goodeve's "Must I forget Thee") was not very effective in performance, nor, as far as could be judged, very meritorious as a composition. However, his superior voice and careful singing won him deservedly the first place. Among the others Arkle's pleasant voice and happy selection of his song ("The Blue Alsatian Mountains ") made him perhaps the most formidable rival of the winner. Firminger sang Diehl's "Mariner," with a good deal of spirit, and infinitely better than at a Penny Reading a few weeks previously. Goddard and Dalton gave very careful and praiseworthy renderings of Pinsuti's "Oh! for thy wings," and Hatton's beautiful song, "The Lark now leaves his watery nest." Curtler showed some rough vigour in Pinsuti's popular "I fear no Foe," and Furneaux grappled with, but scarcely conquered, Handel's magnificent and decidedly exacting, Canzonet, "Droop not, young Lover." As to the singing of the trebles and altos, Mr. Bleeck could, we fancy, have had very little difficulty in making up his mind. Indeed Eliot's singing of Hamilton Aide's "The Fisher" was from every point of view the gem of the evening. "Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci:" the musician could scarcely but be satisfied with the correctness of tone and the painstaking interpretation of the music, while less critical ears were delighted by the singer's clear voice and well marked expression. As a whole, it reflected great credit on the teachers and the pupil; and any winner in past years would have found it hard to beat. Among those who were honourably mentioned, two failed to do themselves justice through nervousness, and two owed their success in great part to the entire absence of that failing and the complete abandon of their singing. Rogers sang Sullivan's "Golden Days" with a great deal of taste and expression, and indeed so creditably that it seemed that with more self-confidence he might have come near Eliot; Christopherson also for the first verse of Gatty's "One morning oh! so early," sang extremely well and looked almost like winning, but he too from the same cause fell quite to pieces before the end. Cox was admirable in Nathan's semi-comic song "Why are you wandering here I pray?" but there was scarcely enough music in it to bring the performance quite into the first rank: and Orde-the fourth who received honourable mention-shewed great spirit and vigour in his declamation of Stark's Of the other ballad "The King's Messenger." singers Vaughan-Johnson has a voice of considerable sweetness and compass; but high notes, however good in themselves, are of little use if they are not in tune. The singing of the Part-Songs by the Choir was as good as usual: Hatton's "Ballad of the Weaver " was as charming to the few, and Filby's "Mice in Council" as taking to the many, as at the December Concert. The usual vote of thanks to the judge was enthusiastically passed: a few verses of the 'Carmen' wound up the programme, and closed a day, which, whether we look at the part singing of the morning or the solo singing of the evening, was undoubtedly satisfactory to all who are anxious for the spread of music at Marlborough, and decidedly |
