To the Editor of the Marlburian. DEAR SIR,-We have all seen how, during the last year, the Brass Band has, from a mere name, become a living and flourishing reality. Its prosperity, however, I fear, will relapse into decay, unless it has some friends to support it. At present it has none. The members each pay 3 guineas a year, but this all goes to support the Drum-Major, whose income thereby derived is none of the greatest. At present the Band is in great want of new books; but unless Drum. Major Swain gets them himself, it will have to do without. There are other small matters which render a fund desirable, e.g., the cleaning and mending of the instruments. I venture, therefore, to suggest that a subscription of 2d. a head should be raised every term from the whole school; which would bring in about £14 per annum. This arrange. ment would save heads of Houses the trouble of returning innumerable twopences, as they generally have to do; and no fellow, I feel sure, would grudge this small sum. The income which the band would thus receive, would suffice to defray present expenses, and would go towards getting some new instruments, of which we are deplorably in need. Hoping this will meet with the approval of the authorities, I remain, yours truly,

A BANDSMAN, M.C.B.B.

PENNY READING.

The first of the two Penny Readings, which we are to have this term, was given on June 5th last. It was not such a genuine success as some other Penny Readings we have heard. It is of course always easy to pick holes and find fault, but without wishing to be captious, we think the glees ought to have been better than they were. There is plainly plenty of material; in quality and quantity of voice the trebles were distinctly good, but they failed to do themselves justice mainly through a want of steadiness and adaptability in the different parts. This lack of adaptability is often so conspicuous in our oratorio practice that a hint may not be out of place here. In learning, a singer can afford to concentrate his attention on his own part and disregard everything else. But when he has mastered it and is performing it, if he wishes to do his duty by his fellow-singers, the author, and the audience, he must listen to the other parts, he must sink his individuality entirely, and remember that he is for the time being only a unit with no lights of his own at all. If he insists on his own rights, on being heard above others, and on setting the time to them, he is like a competitor in a simultaneous solo competition, not a part-singer.

The

The

But enough of fault-finding. Of the three partsongs, Pearsall's "When Allen-a-dale went a hunting," Lloyd's "A sunny shaft did I behold," Bishop's "Now by day's retiring lamp," we liked the last much the best, and the first least. The last might have been more smoothly sung, but the voices were fairly well together; and in this and the second glee time and tune were better preserved and the words more distinctly pronounced. The chorus from Mendelssohn's Antigone for basses and tenors, barring a occasional unsteadiness in the time, went well. The second chorus especially distinguished themselves by a fine crescendo at the words "renders the savage creature tame" in the first Antistrophe; but the effect of a prolonged chord at the words "honour be given" in the second Strophe was mixed through non-attention to the time and the conductor. solo singers were Hemsley and Tanqueray. former spoilt the effect of his song by singing in a mechanical manner, rather as though he were marking time, but he has been an acknowledged favourite, and deserved his encore. Tanqueray has the first requisite of a solo singer, a good voice, and when he has worked off its roughness and gained more flexibility, he will doubtless be able to sing with less. appearance of effort than at present. His song, Sullivan's "If Doughty Deeds," suited him well and was delivered with much spirit. The reader was Taylor, who recounted the thrilling adventure of Exciseman Gill, and his race with Smuggler Bill. As Petruchio, in the scene from the "Taming of the Shrew" Taylor was decidedly good; and Askwith's Grumio was amusing, though too broadly farcial. The rest were fair; Hawkins especially struggled hard with his most difficult part, but he must learn to speak more slowly and distinctly. A pianoforte duet, a solo by Luard, and a performance by the Brass Band constitued the instrumental part of the programme. The Brass Band was rapturously received, as indeed it deserved to be, for the efforts of the performers; but its music on this occasion was not first class; one or two instruments-it would be invidious to particularize-were out of tune, and the effect was at times somewhat painful.

Elliott, T. G. Buchanan, D. E. Martin, H. H. Orr, R. H. Isacke, C. Tulloch, H. M. Crookenden, A. W. Yeatman, A. H. Tanqueray, J. F. L. Hardy, H. Adams, E. Heaton, W. B. Taylor, E. Mahon.

3.-Reading ......W. B. Taylor. 4.- ........ "Antigone of Sophocles". ........Mendelssohn. H. Adams, H. Crookenden, A. Tanqueray; D. Ellison, E. Heaton, W. B. Taylor, A. W. Yeatman, J. F. Hardy, R. Cholmeley.

5.-Song......

"The Bird and the Letter

W. J. Hemsley.

Herbert Forster.

6.-Pianoforte Solo... "Tarantelle in A flat"............Heller. J. G. Luard.

......Lloyd.

7.-Glee......... "A Sunny Shaft did I behold" 8.-Scene from 'Taming of the Shrew," Act iv., Sc iii, Shakespere. Petruchio, W. B. Taylor; Hortensio (friend to Petruchio), R. A. Farrar; Grumio (Servant to Petruchio), G. R. Askwith; Tailor, J.A.H. Craufurd; Haberdasher, H. Adams; Katharina, A. H. Hawkins. "If donghty deeds"......A. H. Tanqueray. Bishop. "Now by Day's retiring Lamp" ....Battifort. ............ Offenbach.

9.-Song. 10.-Glee..... 11.-Valse

Galop............

"Fantine ."Orphée aux Enfers

The Brass Band.

"God Save the Queen."

M.C.C.C. v. OLD FELLOWS.

The 8th of June began with rain and dismal forebodings. But the rain cleared off; and the pessimists did not gain all they had prophecied, for though Peake at first was in great difficulty about getting eleven men to play at all, he finally succeeded. It really is shameful that old fellows should ask to have places reserved for them in the match, and then never appear, or even give an explanation of their non-appearance. The captain had to walk about all the morning, craving that old fellows who live in the his team, up town or close by would come to fill came. because those who should have played never This match, instead of generally being one of the worst, should be the best in the season. other schools old fellows turn up in numbers sufficient to form several elevens. Here there is difficulty about even one, and unless something is done, and O.M's. are more energetic, it might be as well to drop the match altogether, and substitute some other where the teams would be more evenly matched, and better cricket seen.

At

Hill to make a slight stand, hitting a full pitch for 3, but at 24 Peake sent in one of his fast 'yorkers,' and bowled him clean. Mounsey, the succeeding batsman, played steadily, while Hill made the runs. Gostenhofer took Freeman's place at 37, and bowled a maiden to which Peake replied. But when he sent a pitch, Hill let him in for a fiver. Peake's bumpers full proved difficult to keep down, and Hodgson secured Mounsey at square leg off a skier; 4 for 53, Leach joined Hill, hit a 2 and 4, and caused Thorpe to take Peake's place at the Town end; 8 singles were added, when Peake tried from Lyne's instead of Gostenhofer. The result of the changes was successful. Leach spooned a ball of Thorpe's into Bambridge's (subs.) hands at long off, and retired, while Hill was caught at the wicket in Peake's second over, 5 and 6 for 68. Hill's 34 was made by good sound cricket, and if he continues as he has begun, he should be one of the bests bats we have ever had. Turner and Steel appeared, and the former immediately hit a 3 and 4. Lunch intervened, and play stopped till 2 o'clock. Then Turner began again, Steel helping a little; 4 off Peake, 3 and 2 off Thorpe, 3 off Peake, and 3, 1, 2, 5 off one over of Thorpe's was quick scoring. After that little treat Thorpe had to come off, and Peake again changed ends, which resulted in Stanton catching Turner, 7 for 105. His score of 27 contained 3 fours, and no singles. Steel got 6 and was bowled by Peake, who now delivered over the wicket. Martyn hit a 3, and met the same fate, and Curtler succumbed to one of the strangest balls ever bowled even by Peake. It may have pitched a third of the way. All out for 119.

Stanton followed The Old Fellows then came in. Bengough's example. and was caught in the first over off Steel (Lyne's) by Leach at midwicket; 1 for 0. Thorpe was secured by Hill off Curtler in the 2nd over 2 for 4. Freeman hit one of Steel's hard, but Turner in the deep field ran in and by good judgment caught him, 3 for 4. Things thus looked rosy till Peake and Gostenhofer got together. Then some nice hitting began. Curtler was bowling from the Town end against a strong wind, so was not in his usual form; Peake hit him for a 5 and two 4's in quick succession. 3's were sent all over the ground, till a climax came, when Peake sent a ball for 6 right into Sun Lane.

Martyn

Then

took Curtler's place, and immediately was sent for 6. But though the fielding, still continued fair, noticeably Thompson's at point, the runs came very fast; then Curtler tried bowling with the wind, and got Peake's wicket: 4 for 72. Peake's 45 contained 1 six, 1 five, and 3 fours. On Glennie's appearance Gostenhofer hit Martyn for 6. Glennie sent a skyer for 4, was misjudged by Tatham, and finally run out by rather hard luck, for Gostenhofer hit a ball of Curtler's hard back into the wicket, and as it passed, Curtler just touched it, so Glennie, who had started to run, had to retire: 5 for 97. Hardy stuck steadily while his companion made the runs. Tatham began to bowl instead of Martyn, and Thompson instead of Curtler. In the latter's 3rd over Gostenhofer was caught by Leaf in the slips, 6 for 167. His 64 contained 2 sixes, 1

five, 2 fours, and 7 threes. Hodgson, the next man, should have been caught off nearly the 1st ball, and Hardy run out off a bye, but neither event took place, so Steel again went on to try to separate them; soon Hardy was secured by Curtler off Tatham, 6 for 167. But Hodgson made some amends by managing Rogers was caught in the slips, Ward was a 7. stumped first ball, and Alford bowled. All out for 182, Hodgson being left not out for 20.

Turner and Tatham began the second innings for the School: Turner casually smote an 8, but at last was caught by Gostenhofer, after making 18 out of the 22 runs. Hill, soon bowled by Peake made way for Leaf, and then one of the longest stands ever known on the Marlborough ground took place. When Leaf came in, the score was 33, but it reached 179 before the next wicket fell. Tatham at once began work with a 6 and a 5, off Freeman. This made Peake change ends, and Thorpe was put on (Lyne's); on the town end Tatham hit a 4, and was missed in the slips, then smacked a 5, and nearly lost his companion, who should have been caught at midwicket. The runs came merrily, Leaf sticking in while Tatham scored. Gostenhofer followed Peake from Lyne's end and Tatham was again missed when his score stood at 62. The first day's play then closed 101 for 2 wickets, Leaf not out 10, Tatham not out 65.

The rain which ushered in the Wednesday cleared off as on the previous day, and play commenced on a slippery ground. Freeman's first over (Lyne's)

resulted in 9 runs, in the succeeding ones he bowled a good many full pitches to leg, of which no little advantage was taken. Peake, bowling from the Town end, had a hard chance returned him by Tatham; the ball touched his hand and went on for 4. Gostenhofer after 4 overs relieved Freeman, when Peake might have held Leaf in the slips. This not being the case the runs seemed to come still faster. Thorpe took Peake's place and loud cheers congratulated Tatham on reaching his century. Two overs and Glennie followed Thorpe, five more and Feake returned, to be promptly cut for 4. . College bell showed it was time for lunch, when with the last ball of the over Tatham was clean bowled by Gostenhofer. His 116 was chiefly composed by regular hard smiting, 2 sixes, 4 fives, 5 fours, 6 threes, 13 twos. Thompson began directly after lunch, and cut Peake for 4 and 2. A run out might have been effected, but by a mess among the fields 3 runs were gained instead. Peake was so hit about that Freeman tried from the Town; and Thompson was magnificently caught by Stanton at point off a hard cut: 4 for 218. Bengough, the next man,soon made himself felt with a 4 over the bank, and Peake again took the ball from Freeman. The latter fielded several hits splendidly in the slips. Leaf after a most patient innings, but not without chances, soon succumbed, well caught by Stanton, at cover: 5 for 242. He did exactly the right thing, blocking to desperation, and thus riling bowlers and fields, while his companions made most of the runs. Mounsey followed his example, while Bengough hit the fives and fours, but Stanton, who was in rare form, at last fetched him at point : 6 for 259. Bengough was yorked by Peake before any more runs were added, Martyn got out through one of Poake's hitting his shoulder first and then his wicket, Leach was bowled and Curtler raised his average by being not out for 4, the innings closing for 280.

The Old Fellows went in with 218 to get, but they failed in spite of first appearances to obtain that number of runs; one wicket was down for 59, 10 for 132.

Stanton and Thorpe again commenced the batting. Thorpe hit Curtler (town) for 3 and 2, was missed off a skyer, at the wicket, in the slips, and finally ended a lucky innings by being well caught and bowled by Martyn, who had succeeded Curtler

Hardy was soon caught at midwicket (2 for 62), and Peake appeared, Thompson taking the ball from Steel. Stanton all this while had been hitting hard about, but at 86 was foolishly run out, and Gostonhofer also the next ball. Few elevens can afford to lose good batsmen in this way, as the Old Fellows soon discovered. Freeman, bowled by Martyn, made way for Glennie, and Steel again went on bowling. One hit off him to square leg was prettily fielded by Leach on the bank. Soon after the 100 was up, Peake ran out, and was cleverly stumped, and Glennie played on : 6 and 7 for 107. Rogers made some stand, but was given 1.b.w. to one of Martyn's bumpers; Ward was quickly caught in the slips, and Alford likewise after some neatly judged runs ; Hodgson being again not out, for 9. The score reached 132; both innings amounting to 314, against 399, scored by the School. Thus the School won a fairly easy victory by 85 runs. If the men who engaged to play had turned up the result might have been different. Appended is the analysis and

History has so far repeated itself that the same houses have been playing for the Cup in final ties this year that played for it last. But the exciting incident of a preliminary tie match was omitted this time, and the decision of fortune has been as decided in favour of Sharp's now as it was in favour of Gould's then. Having drawn the bye twice running Sharp's had not appeared since their match with Preshute in first ties. Gould's on the other hand had played their ties through. The arrangement which allows the possibility of drawing the bye more than once in any House Competition seems a bad one. Either at football or cricket it might lead to a onesided and uninteresting Cock House Match. And the luck which benefits a weak house is certainly no boon to a strong one, which loses rather than gains by being kept out of matches.

Of the two Houses in the final tie Sharp's were on the whole the favourite, and this year at Marlborough as at Epsom prognostications have been verified. But. there were plenty of chances for a different result. Neither House were "taking their cricket unseen." In the one case the mantle of H. E. Stanton had fallen on to worthy shoulders in Tatham, and great pairs had been taken in fielding: on the other hand Leach had not been idle, and it was no secret that one formidable ruu-getter in House Matches had conceived a low opinion of the slows by which his opponents hoped to dismiss him.

The match began on a fag-day afternoon, Monday June 7th. It is not the custom on these occasions to do anything hurriedly, and Mr. Brampton excelled himself in the deliberation with which he prepared the pitch. However there was time for a good hour's play, and Sharp's, having won the toss, went in on a fast ground and with a high wind to the bowling of Martineau and Beatson. For the first half hour runs

came at a great pace. The change of Beale for Martineau stopped this, but not till fifty runs had been put on. Lascelles meantime had succumbed to a bumpy ball from Beatson, after making a useful dozen containing one fine hit for six. Koelle and Windeler were not disposed of till they had respectively secured 24 and 26 runs by free though not faultless hitting. Tatham added another 26, at times driving the bowling particularly well. He was caught off Beale, who soon got two more wickets, and after Harvey who was run out got a hard hit, 13, play was postponed over the Old Fellows' Match to Thursday the 10th, when the rest of Sharp's wickets fell rapidly to Beatson, the total standing at 128. Beatson had taken six wickets, two bowled and four caught. Leigh opened well for Gould's but was almost immediately stumped off Taylor by Lascelles, whose wicket-keeping should be mentioned as distinctly good throughout the match. When Leach had been bowled by Martyn, there seemed a chance of Gould's having to follow; but this was averted by Beatson's 13, Cheales' plucky 19 and Everett's 10. The innings closed for 70. Taylor took six wickets, and Martyn three. Sharp's fielding was, with few exceptions, bad during the second day. Gould's was much better, though redeemed by a very brilliant catch made by Beatson in the slips which disposed of Taylor, who, as well as Koelle, had made 15, while Lascelles and Windeler failed to Tatham was playing under difficulties, partly the effect of his century in the Old Fellows match just before. On Friday afternoon he was bowled for fifty by Martineau, who with his next two balls got Harvey and Fisher, and the innings rapidly closed for 97.

score.

Gould's now went in with 156 to make to win Leigh and Mangin began the batting to Taylor's slows and Martyn's fast bowling. Leigh fell a victim to Taylor, and when the same bowler in the next over got Leach by a well-judged catch of Koelle's, the

cause of the Star became nearly helpless. Still Mangin and Beeton played well and steadily for 18 and 17, replacing the bowlers by Tatham and Wiliams. The fielding was a great improvement on the day before, and Mangin was at length well run out by Tatham from cover-point. After Beeton's wicket had fallen, the remainder were quickly obtained by Williams, and the match was over.

This is the first year that the Mitre has held the Cup. They were last Cock House in 1863. The Cup was started in 1866 and antedated two years. The holders of it have been.