PUBLIC SCHOOL INTELLIGENCE.

CHARTERHOUSE.

Our Eleven is proving itself a very fast team and successful to boot, for the art of kicking goals has been revived. In the last month we have beaten Godalming, Casuals, and Old Harrovians, and drew against a strong team from Magdalen, brought down by Forbes.

The House-matches have at last been played out. Gownboys were victorious over Saunderites in the semi-finals, and over Verites, who had drawn a bye, in the final. The matches were chiefly remarkable for the pluck and play of the smaller houses.

We had no exeat this quarter for fear of bringing down scarlatina again from London, where so many of the boys go for their short holiday. In consequence we have triumphed completely over our insidious enemy. The long Term, however, has been enlivened by an unusually large number of bright entertainments, including tableaux and two sets of theatricals. For the latter we are indebted to Old Carthusians, and to Mr. Dundas Gardiner, whose performance was the best thing we have had here for a long time.

The December Greyfriar has made its appearance. The place of honour is given to Captain Baden-Powell's lively reminiscences of "My Hats," with a capital illustration of a vedette in active service enduring the rain and the wind. The other full-page illustration is a hunting scene by E. A. S. Douglas. Worthy of note also are Mr. Parry's Sketches from Old Norwich, and a mixed selection of "Holiday Work."

CLIFTON.

Pocock has gained a Mathematical Scholarship at C.C.C., Oxford. On Thursday evening, Nov. 24, a successful concert was given in Big School by the School Musical Society.

FOOTBALL.-The Rugby Union Rules, which have been unanimously adopted by Big Side Levee, came into force for the first time on Thursday, Nov. 24, in a match against C. C. Bradford's Oxford Fifteen. Our opponents had brought down a strong team, including several Blues. The School Fifteen made a good fight of it throughout the game, though their passing was not as good as usual. But they could not succeed in scoring anything against the superior pace and passing of the Oxford men, whose play was greatly enjoyed by all the School. The visitors ultimately won by I goal and 4 tries to nothing. For the winners Christopherson and Boswell and Glubb were most conspicuous; and for the School Boas and Crawford (half-back) and Orr (three-quarter-back). The second drawing of the House-matches was finished on Wednesday, Nov. 23, when Wa. H. beat Wi. H. by 2 goals and I try to I try. On Saturday, Nov. 26, Wa. H. played S. H. for Cock House, and were beaten by 2 goals dropped by Órams and May) and 2 tries to nothing.

W. H. George, the Racquet-maker, has been obliged to give up his post owing to ill-health, and we are anxious to hear of a good man to take his place.

ROSSALL.

On Friday, Nov. 18, the fourth of a series of home lectures, given by masters, and illustrated by aid of the magic lantern, was delivered to the upper half of the School by the Rev. W. S. Dixon, on the subject of "Architecture." The views and drawings were excellent, and the lecture clear and interesting.

The fifth of the series was given on Monday, Nov. 28, by the Rev. C. J. Boulden, before the whole School, the subject being "Canada.” The magic-lantern views were excellent, the lecture most interesting. On Saturday, Nov. 19, an entertainment was given in Hall to the servants of the establishment. The audience numbered about 120, and proved most appreciative. The Head-Master is founding a lending library for the use of the servants, and would doubtless be glad to receive contributions in the shape of suitable books from any Old Rossallians who are interested in so good a work. The Bishop of Manchester will hold the annual Confirmation in the Chapel on Nov. 30.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, a party of eight masters and boys went over to Newton Heath, the parish of the Rossall Mission, and gave a concert in the schoolroom. There was a large and most appreciative audience, and the hope was generally expressed that the concert might become an annual institution.

FOOTBALL.-The Fates seem adverse to the School, who have been disappointed of two foreign matches in successive weeks. Housematches this year are unusually prolific of draws: in 2nd ties, Batson's v. White's have played twice without coming to any decision.

On Dec. 3 the School played a splendidly contested match against the Liverpool Ramblers, the latter eventually winning by 2 goals to I.

Mr. J. N. Fraser's exhibition at Balliol caused great rejoicing here. This is now the fourth year in succession that Rossall has carried off a Scholarship or an Exhibition at that College.

SHERBORNE.

We reassembled on Sept. 21 after eight weeks' absence, the Governors having allowed us to celebrate Her Majesty's Jubilee by an extra week of holiday. As a more permanent memorial of the great event a stained-glass window, representing the granting of the School Charter by Edward VI, is to be placed in the Library. We had hardly returned when we heard that E. A. Morres, our Captain of the Games, had died at home of consumption. His death deprives the School of a promising scholar and cricketer. A brass to his memory is to be placed by his friends in the Chapel. The Sanatorium, which was commenced last spring, had now been completed, and forms no unworthy addition to our buildings. The architect is certainly to be congratulated on his work. Mr. W. B Connop has resigned his place on the Modern Language staff. Mr. C. J. Murray, Queen's College, Cambridge, and Mr. C. W. Dunne, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, have been taking temporary work, and Mr. M. C. Kemp, Hertford College, Oxford, has joined us for the Term. Mr. J. E. M. Bridge, Exeter College, Oxford, is engaged at the Preparatory School, which has received an accession in the persons of two little Indian princes-the first Mohammedans, we believe, sent to an English Public School.

The Fifteen have won three matches, drawn one, and lost one. The team has improved considerably lately.

The Musical Society gave its 99th concert on Nov. 10. At the 100th, which takes place on Dec. 19, Gaul's The Holy City will be performed. On Oct. 20 Commander Lovett-Cameron, R.N., delivered an interesting lecture in the Big School on his African travels; and on Nov. 17, Mr. Watts-Russell gave a recitation of select passages from English WELLINGTON.

authors.

The athletic, if not the event of the Term took place on Tuesday, Nov. 15, of course, the Marlborough match. Those few, infinitely few we hope, who anticipated a free fight and bad feeling must certainly have been disappointed, for the mutual cheers as the Marlborough team drove off to the station in the evening marked the close of a day voted on all hands most satisfactory, and to us most successful. Indeed the actual score of two goals and a try to nil gives no idea on paper of the keenness with which every point was contested on both sides, and the vigour of the game all through: of the umpiring it need only be said that Messrs. Rowland Hill, Curry, and Budd very kindly consented to be present. In fact the epoch was made; the new era inaugurated! Not the least pleasing feature of the match was the number of O. W.s and O. M.s who came to see the game: the voices of veterans were recognised shouting the old familiar orders, and it must have been a marvellous effort of self-control that kept them outside the ropes.

We trust, however, that the new match is not to exist at the expense of the time-honoured gathering of the O. W.s which took place on Nov. 5 this year, the pretext being as usual the O. W. match. Great School was crammed in the evening to listen to our old friend Mr. Corney Grain, who was most generous with his sketch of "Holiday Notes," extracts from "Jubilee Notes," and other songs. We hope he appreciated his audience as much, if possible, as it enjoyed him. But life now, to the hero of the Football field, and perhaps even a larger section of the community, is a dreary blank: others would it were so, as they shudder at the approach of the Woolwich Exams., or sigh at the thought of the Benson Scholarship.

In the meantime Capt. Reade, R.N., delivered a lecture on the Navy, on Thursday, Nov. 17, which was made all the more interesting by the aid of a Magic Lantern applied to the excellent photographs of the Jubilee Review at Portsmouth and other naval scenes. Canon Dalton of Windsor is, we believe, coming to convert us in the Debating Society to the proper view of Federation: is it by way of preparation that we are now discussing the old but ever living story of "Ghosts"?

But in spite of all the sneers of social aporiasts and humorous chaff of Mr. Corney Grain, the weather is the subject of interest; will the frost last? and how soon will the lakes bear? are questions of real moment; while Hockey, vice Football resigned on account of the hardness of the ground, ekes out a precarious existence between frost and thaw.

WINCHESTER.

The school succeeded in making a very interesting match of the game against Old Wykehamists on Nov. 17, but they were beaten (6-7): Sixes are going on this week and one at least of the matches ought to be evenly contested.

The Archaeological Section under Mr. Kirby, the President, explored the interesting churches in the neighbourhood, King's, Martyr, and Headbourne Worthy.

The Debating Society decided against "Compulsory Enlistment" by a majority of 22, and in favour of a House of Lords by 7. The Shakspeare Reading Society has finished its session with a good reading of Henry V.

Noctes Shaksperianae is at last before the world.

Mr. H. F. Wilson delivered an interesting lecture in School on "Imperial Federation," tracing the history of our Colonial possessions and forecasting the future of Federation. He showed some excellent pictures drawn by Mr. Speed.

some steps towards the abandonment of the system altogether. The retention of so absurd a system up to the present day is a striking illustration of the tenacity with which men cling to an existing institution, however many may be its faults and disadvantages. About the merits of Viva voce when constantly employed as a part of education, there can be very little doubt; Dr. Arnold approved of it highly when so used, and argued at some length in its favour. That it is of any real use as a merely final test in an examination, is a point which nobody seems to have proved and very few to maintain at all. When, formerly, Viva voce constituted the main part of the School of Literae Humaniores, there was good reason for its employment; whereas now, it is universally understood that it is nothing more than a final test whereby any possible hesitation is removed from the minds of the examiners. As a final test the system is (1) unfair. It is indeed no test whatever. Nothing is more idle than to test a man's knowledge of subjects wide and varied by putting to him a few disconnected questions; especially in view of the facts that he has already been thoroughly tested by several searching papers, and that no one is ever at his best in an oral examination. (2) It is insufficient, for the reasons given by Mr. Lodge. And (3) it involves many serious disadvantages-waste of time on the part of examiners and examinees, frequent inconvenience for both, extra labour for both, loss of holiday for both, and long delay in the publication of class-lists. Other arguments have been set forward by Mr. Lodge, and it is unnecessary to go over them again. Competent examiners can find no difficulty in assigning a man to his proper class, if, as Mr. Lodge has suggested, they make a careful reconsideration, in any doubtful case, of the twelve or fourteen papers sent in. Viva voce has been dropped in Honour Moderations. Let it be further laid aside in all Honour Schools. Yours truly,

ALPHA.

THE MODERN LANGUAGES SCHOOL.

SIR,-When so many suggestions are being made for the due recogrition of Modern Languages in the Oxford curriculum, it seems to me strange that no one has made the one which is most obvious, viz. to assimilate the Modern Languages to the Classical Schools by a system of Mods and Greats. This plan, pace the grumblers, has worked well in Classics, is now understood by the public, and is analogous to the system of London and other Universities. The School, in Mods and Greats alike, should include those languages for which teaching is provided by the University-that is, at present, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish. In Mods every candidate should be obliged to take English and two other languages, and the examination should test the knowledge of the languages in their present stage by translation, dictation and composition, of select literary masterpieces, and a sound but not too advanced acquaintance with the philology of each language should be required. Modern Greats would correspond to Classical Greats, with the substitution merely of Modern for Ancient Historians and Philosophers.

This scheme ought to meet the needs of the advocates of ancient and modern learning, and also of the Utilitarians, the Researchers, and other "faddists," while the economists cannot object, as it is not proposed to admit any language to the examination until it can get itself endowed. In Modern Greats it would be quite enough to require one other language in addition to English which all should offer.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

'Tis evening. See with its resorting throng
Rude Carfax teems, and waistcoats, visited
With too-familiar elbow, swell the curse
Vortiginous. The boating man returns,
His rawness growing with experience-
Strange union! and directs the optic glass
Not unresponsive to Jemima's charms
Who wheels obdurate, in his mimic chaise
Perambulant, the child. The gouty cit,
Asthmatical, with elevated cane
Pursues the unregarding tram, as one
Who, having heard a hurdy-gurdy, girds
His loins and hunts the hurdy-gurdy-man
Blaspheming. Now the clangorous bell proclaims
The Times or Chronicle, and Rauca screams
The latest horrid murder in the ear

Of nervous dons expectant of the urn
And mild domestic muffin.

To the Parks
Drags the slow crocodile, consuming time
In passing given points. Here glows the lamp,
And tea-spoons clatter to the cosy hum
Of scientific circles. Here resounds
The football-field with its discordant train,
The crowd that cheers but not discriminates,
As ever into touch the ball returns
And shrieks the whistle, while the game proceeds
With fine irregularity well worth
The paltry shilling.—

Draw the curtains close While I resume the night-cap dear to all Familiar with my illustrated works.

Q.

RUSTICUS.

MR. DILLON'S SPEECH.

London, Dec. 5, 1887.

SIR,-In the Times' report of a speech delivered in the Corn Exchange of Oxford on the evening of Nov. 28, 1887, I have read this passage: "In 1782 this country decided that power was to be given Ireland to make her own laws. They might search the history of the country till now, and they would find no parallel to the prosperity and progress from that year till 1798. The cause was that they had a Parliament of their own (cheers)."

No great acquaintance with history is needed to make it clear why the Irish "Patriot" of to-day should look fondly back to those eighteen years as (very literally) the Golden Age of Ireland. But some of those who cheered this particular " Patriot" may be glad to learn more of that Parliament which is supposed, for the purpose of adorning a tale that indeed needs much decoration, to have brought, like Hesperus, all good things in its wake. Permit me to offer them a description of it from one who knew it very well, even better than the speaker who was celebrating its extinct virtues.

"I have now seen the Parliament of Ireland, the Parliament of England, the Congress of the United States, the Corps Legislatif of France, and the Convention Batave. I have likewise seen our Volunteer Convention of 1783, and the General Convention of Catholics in 1793; so

that I have seen in the way of deliberative assemblies as many, believe, as most men. And of all these I have mentioned, beyond all

comparison the most shamelessly profligate and abandoned by all sense

CAMBRIDGE LETTER.

Ely; Gardner's eight got the lead from the beginning by THE race between the Trials was rowed on Saturday at starting off at 40, and won by three lengths. Both crews were above the average, but no single oar was particularly striking; Hale and Maturin rowed well in the winning, and Orde in the losing boat.

By far the most exciting football match of the week was the Rugby game between Jesus and Clare. Earlier in the Term these two colleges had met, and Jesus had just managed to win; since then, however, Clare had beaten Selwyn, which had already beaten Jesus; so that their return match with Jesus was looked forward to with interest. Both colleges turned out en masse to cheer, so that the streams at Grantchester were troubled at the thunder, and the lonely grinder" on the heights of Magog trembled lest the Socialists were looting the University. Nor were the spectators disappointed: the match was stubbornly contested, ending in a victory for Clare by a goal to 2 tries.

The Association team has again been victorious, winning

an easy victory over the United Hospitals, and a difficult one over the Swifts.

The Union has enjoyed the rare delight of a Committee of the whole House to consider a decision of the President: the appellant was Mr. Storey of St. John's, who had been fined two guineas by the President (Count Strickland) for refusing to apologise for a remark to the effect that the murder of a member of the royal family had done good in the past, and might do good in the future: the committee consisted of about 400 members, and decided against the republican by a majority of nearly three to one. The honourable member acquiesced, paid his fine, and is again delighting the house with his eloquence. The consequence of this exciting debate was that the less important subject of education attracted a very small house, which decided that Cambridge knowledge is superior to Oxford culture by 41 votes to 32. The best speeches of the evening were made by Mr. Fillingham, and Mr. Edwards of Merton College, Oxford, and no doubt went towards reducing the majority. The Review has been in a palpitating state lately owing to a motion at the Union to the effect that a copy of the paper should be taken in the reading room; the motion was rejected, and the Review breathed more freely only to be scared again by a circular announcing that next Term a rival will take the field against it in the shape of the Cambridge Fortnightly, which promises to be a "literary" paper.

We recommend our readers, though they do not need the recommendation, to look at a little article on Social Oxford in this month's Macmillan. It is always pleasant to read about ourselves-delicious to be praised; but if we are truly worldly wise enough to see it, far more piquant, and really complimentary, to be slandered, or at least criticised.

This little article has both these merits. It mingles the butter of flattery, the caviare of criticism, the lemon of a little spite, in the most appetising manner, and spreads them all on the properly slightly stale and wholesome bread of stock platitude.

Why is it so difficult to write about Oxford? says the author. Because nobody knows all about it. I don't, I know I don't, yet I'm going to write. I can't speak three words of your language; I haven't seen half your cities: I've been only a week in your country: but I've been long enough to write a book on your manners and customs. This would be the frank avowal of many an author of Travellers' Impressions. It is that of our critic.

Oxford was once familiar to him, he tells us, and we believe it; for who but an old habitué knows Joe Tollit and Charley Symonds? Oxford is not now familiar, he says, and we believe this too; for like Pleasure at Drury Lane, his picture, though very clever, displays the most astonishing ignorance.

Why is it so difficult to write about Oxford? Because those who write will repeat the old, worn-out stuff about the married tutor and the perambulator, the professor and the professor's wife, the "deserted College" and the Common Room where "port accumulates and men decay." Because they gird themselves for the task, with a perusal of the unconscious cerebrations and obliviscences of the Rev. J. Pycroft, who wrote a serious introduction to Oxford, about the time that the same thing was far better done by the real genius of Verdant Green, or of the worse confounded confusions of Mr. Stedman's repatched, and refurbished and anachronous compilation.

If the author of "Social Oxford" had taken a little more time, however, and trusted less, as he would then have done, to these broken reeds, he would have written a most admirable critique. For he has the gift both of observation and of delineation. His description of the Oxford dinnerparty, tutorial or otherwise, the shoppy talk, the worldly lady, the titled fledgeling, of the influx of "families belonging to retired civilians, or officers, loosely connected with Bullingdon, barely tolerated by the academician and revenging themselves by courting the country gentry," of the human stream that ebbs and flows "beneath the mutilated elms that now fail to hide the erubescent horror of Keble,” of "the dirty flannels and bare legs that recline cheek by jowl with academic dignitaries on the sofas of the Union," of the "hideous lodgings of King Edward Street," and the abomination of the tramway desolating the most beautiful thoroughfare in Europe,-these and many other hits, allowing the usual trade discount on epigram, are fair enough.