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THE YEAR, 1877.

FEBRUARY 6TH, 1878.

THE Year 1877 is past and gone, nor has it departed without leaving distinct traces of its presence here. Since the year began, the new lodge has been finally completed, and few will now deny how much it has beautified the appearance of our court. But while we are mentioning the lodge, it is the fittest time to mark the departure of the well-known face of Mr. Voss, who was not destined long to inhabit his new mansion. Few however will ever forget him, and it may give pleasure to our readers to know that about £40 have been collected for his testimonial fund. It has not yet been finally settled what to give him. Besides the new lodge, four new fives-courts have been erected in the field by the Sanatorium hedge, just below Sankey's house-ground. They were

not completed for the fives-term last year, but are now found extremely useful, and it is to be hoped that the combined effects of these new fivescourts and of hockey, will be soon to make loafing quite a thing of the past in the Easter term.

The new gates and a new bell for the lodge have also been hung.

PRICE 3d.

The last new building which has to be mentioned is a laboratory of a temporary character, which has been erected between the bathing-place and the laundry, and which, we believe, is of the greatest value to the more scientific portion of the community,

The Hockey Season was a wonderful success. Every foreign match was won, and home games were played with a relish and vigour above that of any previous year.

In accordance with a suggestion made in the Marlburian, a new cap was started for the use of members both of the XI and XX, but it appears never to have become very popular even among the few who are entitled to this rare distinction.

The Races were perhaps hardly so successful as usual, but great allowance must be made for the unsettled state of the School at the time, as we were on the point of breaking up prematurely. The same reason accounts for the unsatisfactory conclusion of the house-fives and scratch-fives competitions, and the non-occurrence of the solo singing.

We have to congratulate ourselves last year on making a better show at Prince's in the Racket Com. petition than we ever did before. Our representatives played really splendidly, and were only beaten in the

final ties by Eton, whose play was, we believe, greatly above the average usually shown by the winners of the challenge-cup there.

We now arrive in the natural order of things at the Cricket Season, which was one of almost unprecedented success. We won both our great School matches; we lost indeed one match, whereas we did not lose even one in 1876; yet no one will deny that our XI of 1877 was in every respect superior to that of 1876. The play was much more uniform throughout, and our "tail" was more formidable than it had been the year before. Even on those very few occasions when Steel made a small score, there were others always sure to make runs.

Prize-day deserves special mention, because our late head-master Canon Farrar was then presented with a large silver salver richly chased, a silver claret-jug, and inkstand, as a testimonial from the School where he had worked for six years. Part of the testimonial fund had been already spent in continuing the Farrar prize in the School.

The list of honours as read on Prize-day, though indeed not so long as that of the previous year, was yet well up to the average, and contained seven open Scholarships at the Universities gained from the School, and five open nominations to Woolwich, besides several other distinctions gained by Old Marlburians at the Universities or elsewhere.

The Football season has been the most successful one known for many years. It is needless however to dwell on it here, as a full review of the season appears in another part of our columns.

The School were overjoyed last term at the news that the Council had determined to pave the bathingplace all over, to deepen it 2 feet at the shallow end, and to wall up the bank on the side of the wilderness to prevent the mud draining. These improvements have just been begun, and will prove perhaps more universally popular than any which have yet been made.

The appearance of the Court has been further improved by the laying out of several new beds, especially a large one by the gates, which has been planted with rhododendrons.

The interior of the Chapel has been improved by the appearance of two moro pictures. We understand that four more will be ready about Easter. This will necessitate an alteration in the present method of

lighting chapel, as the new pictures will have to go just where the present gas-jets are.

The new organ has at length been erected, and is now delighting everybody with its melodious strains. A further account of it will be found in another part of our columns. It has been found necessary greatly to strengthen the props of the gallery, as the new organ weighs 14 tons, while the old one only weighed four.

Finally, a new edition of the College hymn book is being prepared, and will probably be published at Easter.

The past year has accordingly been one of marked improvement in many respects, and of great success in work and games.

THE CONCERT.

On the evening of Monday, December 17, the Marl. borough College Musical Society gave its thirtieth annual evening concert. Those who sang at the first of these concerts must have possessed no little faith in the future of the young school to whose life they were the first to add the charm of music, if they could have foreseen with what increasing éclat and success this long and almost unbroken series would be attended. The present generation of Marlburians can scarcely imagine what one of our Christmas concerts would be like without decorations—without an Old Fellows' chorus-without the Carmen-without even "Auld Lang Syne," and last, but not least, without Mr. Bambridge. In those days the dimly lighted and unadorned hall, with benches piled on the further tables as the seats for the school, contained the few visitors who came to hear what was then not merely a name-the Marlborough College Musical Society; the orchestra was then a local and not, as now, a national institution, when Mr. Tayler played the flute and Mr. Whitehead Smith led the violins ; "Dulce Domum" was sung no less heartily than the Carmen now; and the proceedings terminated with Concert Supper in the Upper Fifth Class Room, at which symposium no glass or crockery was smashed by our less cultured forerunners. But though it is easy and agreeable to indulge in such reminiscences of the past, our busi

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ness is rather to give some account of the concert of 1877, which was not unworthy of its predecessors. The arduous task of the stewards was wellnigh completed when the outburst of enthusiastic cheers announced the entrance of the Master and Mrs. Farrar, (whom we were very glad to welcome once again among us), followed by the Bursar and Mrs. Bell. As soon as those sounds died away, the orchestra began the overture to the "Men of Prometheus by Beethoven. Mr. Bambridge is to be congratulated no less on the choice of this exquisite composition than on the orchestra which he had got together for its performance; for a more competent body of instrumentalists has never been heard at any of our concerts. Though there seemed to be a slight want of simultaneity at first, yet they soon settled down to their work. The slow movement with which the overture opens was smoothly executed and in the ensuing vivace the dash of the violins, led by Herr Kornfeld, was most effective. Where the whole was excellent, it may be enough to mention that the brass-which in a scratch orchestra is often blatant, was well subdued, and that H. O. Yeatman in this, as in both the other orchestral pieces, proved himself invaluable as a flautist.

The time honoured "Welcome" is only deserving of special notice, because it afforded an exact estimate of the choir as a whole. The quality of the voices was not up to the usual mark; but we have never seen them better under their conductor's control; and consequently they excelled in sharpness of attack and in well-graduated expression. Mr. Barnby's graceful part song "Tell me, Roses" was prettily sung, but not in perfect tune; and the same remarks apply to the five singers who rendered Pearsall's "Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee" sufficiently well to gain an encore.

Between these two pieces, came two instrumental quartettes played by Herr Kornfeld and Messrs. Webb, Gunniss, and Aylward. Both were charmingly executed. The first, a The first, a "Serenade" by Haydn, displayed all the simple sweetness and delicacy which are so characteristic of this Master's style, but seemed a little too long drawn out for the taste of the audience. The second, a "Canzonetta" by Mendelssohn, was most tastefully given and was much appreciated by many. After this, M. Rogers, who led the trebles most pluckily and carefully all

through the vocal part of the concert, showed that he had improved as a soloist considerably during the past year. Pinsuti's song "What shall I

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sing to thee?' was well suited to his powers; and

shaking off his nervousness as he went on, he deservedly won an enthusiastic encore. After Hatton's "Red Red Rose" had been delightfully sung by the choir and unsympathetically received by the audience, E. Peake sang a song by R. Manners Williams, an old Marlburian-who has set to music Byron's words "The kiss, dear maid, thy lip has left." The melody is graceful, the song is essentially "singable," and the accompaniment easy, yet carefully written. It suited the singer well, whose resonant high notes were heard to the best advantage, and who sang with more taste than he has previously shewn. It is a long time since there has been among us a tenor singer of such capabilities, and we hope that he will turn out a worthy successor of the Platers and Humes of bygone days. A delightful part song by Hatton, "The Ballad of the Weaver," followed; at first it seemed a little too hard for the choir, but the second and third verses were really beautiful specimens of part singing. Next some twenty Old Marlburians gave Mendelssohn's "Hunter's Farewell." The voices were better balanced than usual, and considering how little practice is possible, the performance was decidedly good and deservedly encored. Without drawing invidious comparisons between the individual members of a body of singers whom we are so glad to welcome, we may be allowed to ask one questionWhat would the O. M. choruses of late years have been without F. G. Hume?

The second part of the concert opened with Boieldieu's overture to "La Dame Blanche." Good as the orchestra showed itself before, its performance now was even better, especially in its vigour and unity of attack. Indeed, the clear and vivacious music of the French composer seemed more suited to them than the more subtle effects of the greater master. Still more exhilarating was the ensuing performance of a comic part song with solos and chorus, "The mice in council," by Filby. This was sung with great spirit, and fairly brought down the house. Renewed applause next greeted the Rev. F. G. Hume as he came forward to sing-not for the first time at these concerts-Smart's very graceful ballad of the

final ties by Eton, whose play was, we believe, greatly above the average usually shown by the winners of the challenge-cup there.

We now arrive in the natural order of things at the Cricket Season, which was one of almost unprecedented success. We won both our great School matches; we lost indeed one match, whereas we did not lose even one in 1876; yet no one will deny that our XI of 1877 was in every respect superior to that of 1876. The play was much more uniform throughout, and our 66 "" tail was more formidable than it had been the year before. Even on those very few occasions when Steel made a small score, there were others always sure to make runs.

Prize-day deserves special mention, because our late head-master Canon Farrar was then presented with a large silver salver richly chased, a silver claret-jug, and inkstand, as a testimonial from the School where he had worked for six years. Part of the testimonial fund had been already spent in continuing the Farrar prize in the School.

The list of honours as read on Prize-day, though indeed not so long as that of the previous year, was yet well up to the average, and contained seven open Scholarships at the Universities gained from the School, and five open nominations to Woolwich, besides several other distinctions gained by Old Marlburians at the Universities or elsewhere.

The Football season has been the most successful one known for many years. It is needless however to dwell on it here, as a full review of the season appears in another part of our columns.

The School were overjoyed last term at the news that the Council had determined to pave the bathingplace all over, to deepen it 2 feet at the shallow end, and to wall up the bank on the side of the wilderness to prevent the mud draining. These improvements have just been begun, and will prove perhaps more universally popular than any which have yet been made.

The appearance of the Court has been further improved by the laying out of several new beds, especially a large one by the gates, which has been planted with rhododendrons.

The interior of the Chapel has been improved by the appearance of two moro pictures. We understand that four more will be ready about Easter. This will necessitate an alteration in the present method of

lighting chapel, as the new pictures will have to go just where the present gas-jets are.

The new organ has at length been erected, and is now delighting everybody with its melodious strains. A further account of it will be found in another part of our columns. It has been found necessary greatly to strengthen the props of the gallery, as the new organ weighs 14 tons, while the old one only weighed four.

Finally, a new edition of the College hymn book is being prepared, and will probably be published at Easter.

The past year has accordingly been one of marked improvement in many respects, and of great success in work and games.

THE CONCERT.

On the evening of Monday, December 17, the Marlborough College Musical Society gave its thirtieth annual evening concert. Those who sang at the first of these concerts must have possessed no little faith in the future of the young school to whose life they were the first to add the charm of music, if they could have foreseen with what increasing éclat and success this long and almost unbroken series would be attended. The present generation of Marlburians can scarcely imagine what one of our Christmas concerts would be like without decorations-without an Old Fellows' chorus-without the Carmen-without even "Auld Lang Syne," and last, but not least, without Mr. Bambridge. In those days the dimly lighted and unadorned hall, with benches piled on the further tables as the seats for the school, contained the few visitors who came to hear what was then not merely a name-the Marlborough College Musical Society; the orchestra was then a local and not, as now, a national institution, when Mr. Tayler played the flute and Mr. Whitehead Smith led the violins ; "Dulce Domum" was sung no less heartily than the Carmen now; and the proceedings terminated with Concert Supper in the Upper Fifth Class Room, at which symposium no glass or crockery was smashed by our less cultured forerunners. But though it is easy and agreeable to indulge in such reminiscences of the past, our busi

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