It has ever been a custom at Marlborough, that once in the summer term the votaries of football meet to show their predilection for their favourite game, while the unenlightened lovers of Cricket are pursuing their vocation in a different part of the field. This year has proved no exception to the rule; in fact, so far from showing themselves less enthusiastic than in former ages, the worshippers of Jupiter Pedarius have this year been even more eager to display their devotion, and the annual celebration has occurred at an earlier period than usual. The

occasion selected for the anniversary was May 24th, on which day we were made happy by a half-holiday, given in honour of Her Gracious Majesty, in the anticipation that we were to be spared the proverbial "Queen's Weather." But alas! the Clerk

of the weather was not less cantankerous than usual, and Her Majesty's 60th year was ushered in by a storm of wind and rain which effectually damped the ardour of the devotees of cricket, who were forced to relinquish their purpose of asserting the superiority of their game over football, and loiter in sullen ennui within the shelter of their class rooms, unless when a transient glimpse of sunshine enabled the more venturesome of them to attempt a feeble imitation of cricket in the shape of "Snob." Not so the Footballers; undeterred by wind and rain, they sallied forth to sacrifice on the altar of their deity, and seldom has the rooi, when verdant with the bloom of summer, witnessed a more exciting encounter than that which occurred on May 24th, between the champions of B House and the world. The representatives of the world elected first to face the opposing slope, and gallantly struggled up the hill against the super-imminent host of B House : in vain were their noble endeavours; in vain did Stanton and Hodgson rival the labours of Sisyphus, and toil incessantly to take the ball to the topmost summit of the Tooi; again and again were they repulsed by the charge of the gigantic Fowler, the indefatigable Worship, and the sturdy Furneaux; while the fleet-footed Arkle and the irresistible Vassall eluded all the endeavours of Davies and Petrie to arrest their course, and three times was the ball landed in victory behind the goal posts of the world; once did Arkle, not less skilful than fleet, speed the ball in safety over the bar, and Crookenden failed only by a hair's breadth in a noble endeavour to emulate his performance: once, and once alone, did a sustained charge on the part of the

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World beat back their opponents, and Denman was enabled to restore in some measure the prestige of his cosmopolitan allies by securing a try, which the sturdy foot of Stanton converted into a goal. Nor less, when sides were changed, and the World had the advantage of the slope, did the blue-vested champions approve themselves superior; successful than their opponents in their Sisyphean task they succeeded in confining the ball to the upper half of the ground, and once more Arkle secured a try, while Evans, wily in dodging, frequently made desperate attempts to accomplish a like success; and thus when the welcome signal "No game was heard, the glad tidings that B House had inflicted on the World a crushing defeat by a goal and three tries to one goal, was announced by a peal of cheers that tore the concave vault of Heaven.

DEBATING SOCIETY.

On Monday, May the 20th, R. D. Curtler moved : "That the present outcry against spiritualism and supernatural agencies is unjust."

The speakers were:

For the Motion: Neutral: Against the Motion:
R. D. Curtler L.R.Furneaux T. G. Balfour
R. A. Farrar
O. Elton

M. C. Ll. Griffith A. D. Burnett

On a division, the numbers were:

Balfour Stewart's Elementary Physics (New Edition) by the Author.

Edible Birds-nests, Chuckrums and Chuckrum Boards, Crystals of Salt, and Betel Nuts, by A Bourdillon, Esq.

Monkey Pot, Skull and Foot of Albatross, Hair of Elephant, Toe-nails of Tapir, Shark's teeth, Boar's tusk, Leopard's teeth, piece of Lace tree, and a fine Specimen of Amber Gum, A. Meyrick-Jones.

Lance from Waterloo, by Mr. Neate.
Shell of Roman Snail, by H. D. Rolleston.

W. H. Chappel, O. Elton, and W. M. H. Milner then gave their reports on the Ornithological, Entomological, and Botanical Notices taken since the beginning of the term; after which W. H. Chappel read an exceedingly interesting paper on 'Cornish Superstitions.' He divided his subject into the following heads; (1) The origin of superstition in Cornwall, (2) the Giants, illustrated by the story of Giant Bolster, the (3) "Small People," (4) Romances of the Rocks, (5) Legends of the Saints, (6) Well worship, concluding with several examples of miscellaneous superstitions. A full account cannot be given here, but the paper will be printed at length in the next Report.

After the lecture the President made some remarks on a complete series of Cotton Specimens, exhibited by J. H. C. Dalton.

There were 65 persons present, 30 Members, 2 Honorary Members, and 33 Visitors.

On Saturday, May 18th, a small expedition was made to Wolf Hall, near Burbage. About 50 Ornithological observations were taken; and 40 Entomological; the Botanical Section was better represented than the others, and 151 plants were found in flower.

NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND.

ANY one who has had opportunities of observing Marlborough during the past few years can hardly fail to have been struck by the increasing want of energy displayed by her alumni. Old-established institutions, merely because they offered no attraction to the athlete, such as the Rifle Corps, Natural History Society, and Debating Society, have all been reduced to the lowest ebb at various periods for want of active support, and when stirring appeals have been made in their behalf, those who ought to have been most eager to come forward have exclaimed "Yes, it's very sad, but really it's such a trouble." Even in our games the same spirit, or rather lack of spirit, appears. Though a momentary excitement may kindle a transient flash of enthusiasm, the old listlessness soon reasserts its sway, and we seem to require a game which shall combine the minimum of exertion with the maximum of enjoyment [a chance for some enterprising inventor]. If such is the case with our games, we can hardly expect it to be otherwise with our work; the object here seems to be to get it done as quickly as possible, just well enough to avoid punishment, and from this culpable laxity inevitably

PRICE 6d.

arises the mean and cowardly practice of cribbing ; cowardly, because it comes merely from a fear of being called to account for shortcomings. Matters have reached such a pitch in respect of work that it is apparently considered "the thing" to be as idle as possible; and not only that, but to make it a subject of boasting, and one may frequently hear the question 66 Do you know your work?" met by the answer "Not a word!" often untrue, and merely dictated by a false shame at acknowledging the performance of duty, and a wish to be thought "correct." There is growing up in the School a sect who glory in considering it "bad form " to do anything energetically and heartily, holding it as their creed to despise all who do their duty either in work or games, and bestowing on them an uncalled-for, Pharisaical pity. What their idea is in all this passes our comprehension; can it be (a hideous suspicion arises) that they wish to ape the Epicurean philosophers, about whom they know little, and whom they resemble less?

Surely we can and ought to do something to remedy this evil; we can be up and doing, and shake off this lethargic torpor, we can establish a new tradition that it is far better "form" to do everything heartily, whether work or play, and assuredly these sluggards will find duty far less irksome than when

Finished at last, that dull routine

Through weary hours plied;

With heavy eyes and throbbing brow

I thrust my books aside.

And now, mid silence still and deep,

In the calm midnight I pause awhile Ere I turn from solace sought in toil To seek release in sleep.

But now the thoughts I'd held at bay,

Whilst poring o'er the Classic page,
Come swirling back; the darkness teems
With shapes of diverse form and age;
And with them memories arise
Of bygone days and friendship's ties,
Knit on that chequered stage.

The faces cross, recross, and fade,
Though fain would I have them stay;
All pass save one, grow dim and faint,
As stars at the opening day.
Yet one fades not, as ye may see
'Mid sunset's fleeting imagery

One changeless line of grey.

As first I gaze, that one stands forth,
Young, but still half a sage;

A restless thirst for something high
His whole soul doth engage:
And so he toils 'mid antique lore,
By reading on and reading more
That strange wild thirst t' assuage.

Success he gains but not his will;

"Whereat, then, must I strive?" I hear an answer come: "Poor fool,

PUBLIC SCHOOL. NOTES.

The Meteor for June contains a review of the present state of the Eleven and Shooting VIII. Their batting is on the whole fair, their bowling moderate, and their fielding bad. In the latter they hope for improvement when the weather improves. May the wish, at least for better weather be father to the result! It is indeed "a consummation devoutly to be wished." The Eleven have drawn a match with Balliol and defeated University by 105 to 83. The shooting is greatly improved since last year; they defeated Rossall by 27 points, and Cheltenham by 17, and have good hope of securing the much coveted Shield to grace the walls of the Museum, which is now being erected through the energy of their present Head-master. There is but little of general interest in the paper, which is mainly occupied with School news. A correspondent urges the introduction of Eton jackets and tail-coats for Sunday wear.

We hail the reappearance of Our School Times after its year's silence, with much pleasure. It has lost none of its amusement or interest by its change from Monaghan School to Foyle College, and with undaunted energy plunges into the most weighty matters. An article on "Assistant Masters" states

their position very fairly, and though the subject is difficult to treat of in a School paper, it has been skilfully dealt with. Next we find part of the Analysis of the First book of the Aeneid, with copious quotations from Mr. Conington's translation. There are some good remarks in an article on "Hamlet and Horatio," which is chiefly occupied in estimating the character of Horatio. In the line of poetry there is a fair translation from the Edipus Coloneus, a long and thoughtful hymn entitled the Christian's Prayer, and an elegy to the memory of "Skye," Mr. Hime's faithful dog also a translation of that somewhat hackneyed ode of Horace "Eheu fugaces:" an account of the writings of Juvenal, some thoughts on the duties of a Senior boy, and an account of Foyle College, complete this interesting number.

In the Eton College Chronicle there are some very interesting reminiscences of the Bishop of Lichfield, an old Etonian, and a programme in verse of the events of their Speech day, the 4th of June. The rest of the number is taken up with aquatics and accounts of cricket matches. They were defeated by Christchurch by 106 to 55.

The Editors of the Reptonian for May find themselves at a loss for something to say in their Editorial. Accordingly they criticise an old letter contributed by their Oxford correspondent, who wishes to deprecate the plan of inserting articles in their magazine. Their Sports were unusually good this year: all the four long races fell to Hawkes, a success unrivalled before. Besides various School news, this number contains an interesting "In Memoriam" of the late Bishop Selwyn, and a letter from their Cambridge correspondent, who chronicles the doings of Reptonians at Cambridge. A. F. J. Ford, O.R., represented them in the University Team v. England. Another correspondent describes a visit to a County Prison, and at the end of a somewhat long account thinks that "perhaps it is time to release the readers of the Reptonian from such disreputable company,' a sentiment with which we entirely agree.

The Haileyburian (May 25th) opens with an article entitled "There is something in the wind," giving an account of the many strange superstitions connected with the winds. This is followed by an account of the city of Bruges, and a rather mediocre article on "The right aims and methods of education." Next comes a poem, called "The Poet's Dream," which is

quite up to the average standard of such contributions. Of the following contribution, however, the less said the better. It is headed "Examination," paper 1; let us hope it will also be the last paper. Their second annual singing competition was very successful. At Haileybury the management, practice, and performance of the part-songs are entirely in the hands of the leading musical spirit of each house that enters, while the choice of the solo is undertaken by the singers themselves. The rest of the number is taken up with accounts of their athletics, and cricket matches. A correspondent suggests the adoption of a system of house-grounds in preference to the existing arrangement of Big-side and Little-side.

The Wellingtonian for May opens with an article on cricket, in which some sound advice is given to young cricketers. Their cricket has been started on an entirely new basis, all the players being divided into two Clubs, the first comprising 70 members, the second all the residue. There seems to be no lack of contributions in the shape of essays and reviews, and consequently there is but little of that "padding" so common to School Magazines.

The Carthusian reviews the past football season, which was very successful: out of 14 matches they won 9, lost 4, and one was drawn. The notice, however, appears too late in the year to excite much interest. Their Athletic Sports came off on April 22nd; the Mile was done in the very fair time of 4 min. 51 sec., and the other events were well up to the average. The whole was enlivened by the performance of a military band. Musical entertainments have been plentiful; the Choir gave a performance of Handel's Messiah, which they sang in first-rate style. May the Marlborough College Choir follow the good example!

The Malvernian opens with an Editorial repeating the old cry for contributions, so they be not in the shape of correspondence, of which it seems they have enough and to spare. Next comes a short article on "School-boy Character," condemning the standard types of "the good boy," "the low, coarse, bully," "and the quiet plodding boy," so much indulged in by inexperienced writers. Their prospects for the cricket season are good. They have already won two matches against Exeter College and Clifton Town; in the former match the bowling of Stratford is conspicuous; he secured no less than nine wickets