Top Banner
TIlE SIIIRBURNIAN. J No. LXXXII. :MARCH, 1880. VOL. IX. :REMINISCENSES OF A JOURNEY FROM NEW ZEALAND4 Many a year in its grave Since I crossed this pathlesswave. r •. T is now not much short of twenty years ago that we started on our voyage back to England from Port L--, in New Zealand. We. were to go by sailing vessel round Cape Horn, as the new route v/a San Francisco and New York wa's not then open. It was on a Saturday afternoon that we arrived at the harbour after a steep and tiring climb along the bridle-path leading across the hills which fence in the port from the surrounding -country, the tunnel, though begun, not being at that time com- pleted. We at once went on board and got comfortably settled before night. I was greatly pleased with the novelty of thing on board, and having none of the discomforts was quite delighted with the idea of the voyage. From this time dates the great love I have always since had for the sea and ships, and 1 ,even felt a hankering after a sea life, such as, being encouraged, might have ended by enrolling me in the navy. On the Sunday I was taken for a trip ashore, but the wind got up and made such a sea that there was no chance of getting L,IC\ to the ship that night, so I had to stay ashore and kick my heels all that afternoon and the whole of the succeeding day. On the Monday afternoon --'
36

SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Apr 26, 2020

Download

Documents

dariahiddleston
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

•TIlE

SIIIRBURNIAN.

J

No. LXXXII. :MARCH, 1880. VOL. IX.

:REMINISCENSES OF A JOURNEY FROM NEW ZEALAND4

Many a year in its graveSince I crossed this pathlesswave.

r•. T is now not much short of twenty years ago that we startedon our voyage back to England from Port L--, in New

Zealand. We. were to go by sailing vessel round Cape Horn, asthe new route v/a San Francisco and New York wa's not thenopen. It was on a Saturday afternoon that we arrived at theharbour after a steep and tiring climb along the bridle-path leadingacross the hills which fence in the port from the surrounding-country, the tunnel, though begun, not being at that time com­pleted. We at once went on board and got comfortably settledbefore night. I was greatly pleased with the novelty of every~

thing on board, and having none of the discomforts was quitedelighted with the idea of the voyage. From this time dates thegreat love I have always since had for the sea and ships, and 1,even felt a hankering after a sea life, such as, being encouraged,might have ended by enrolling me in the navy. On the Sunday Iwas taken for a trip ashore, but the wind got up and made such asea that there was no chance of getting L,IC\ to the ship thatnight, so I had to stay ashore and kick my heels all that afternoonand the whole of the succeeding day. On the Monday afternoon

--'

Page 2: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

2/;6 Remilliscenses of a Journey from Nelc Zealand.~

lo.c

the ship dropped slowly down the harbour and anchored outsidethe Heads for some hours. It was almost a dead calm, but therewas a heavy ground swell rolling in which made it extremelyunsafe for any but good sailors to go beio\v, for as all people of!experience know, few things are more fatal to the equilibriumthan anchoring in a heavy ground swell. I had been deep in one{If Mayne Reid's exciting novels, which I had had to put downfor a moment just in the middle of some hairbreadth escape ormoving adventure-it was not in a botanical lecture or I couldhave endured it-when on returning I found my treasure in thepossession of no less a person than the pilot, who like myselfperhaps found time rather heavy on his hands. I was far tooafraid of such a great man to ask for it, and being the only bookabout, and'seemingly much to his taste, my chances of getting itback seemed small, and so it proved. All I could do was to sitgazing hungrily at him as long as his attention was absorbed. Ifhe looked up I at once removed my gaze and became absorbedIn the view, and my efforts to seem unconcerned were so success­ful that he never for an instant appeared to comprehend that thebook he waS reading was the object of my youthful desire. Forthe reasons above mentioned I did not care to go below, or if Idid my visit did not last long, so I was constrained to spend thewhole afternoon alternately gazing at the pilot and affecting toadmire the distant view. He went at last, and I recovered mybook, but 1 never took to it again with half the previous zest,and indeed I am in doubt if I ever finished it at all; at all eventsl,one of the thrilling incidents have remained on my memory.In the evening we sailed, and the next morning we had our lastview of New Zealand, and such a view that, child as I was, I shallnever forget. It was a bright clear morning, and there was alight breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the waveletsbreak, and fifty miles away. but in that clear atmosphere seeminglyquite close, the lofty range of the Kaihoras, called by the whalersthe Lookers on,

Mountains, that like giants stand,To sentinel enchantcd land.

Page 3: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Reminiscences of et Journey fl'vm New Zealand. 267

It has aiways seemed to me since then that the view from somebold headland. such .as that so magnificently described by Words'­worth in the first book of the Excursion, early on a bright summerbefore the sun has dawn up the mists, is the very perfection ofscenery. The amusements on board ship are uf course necessarilylimited, but there is always the chance of something turning up­to pass away the time. For instance it is very amusing sport.fishing for birds of all sorts, from the Albatross to' the Petrel, or:Mother Carey's Chicken. All that is- needful is a hook baitedwith a piece of white rag, which they will seize greedily, andthen be easily pulled in in spite of their struggles. They areactually merely hooked by the beak, and can then be inspectedand let go again. We caught a most beautiful Albatros, purewhite with grey speckles. This the doctor appropriated,. intendingto take it home and get it stuffed in England, but this was not tobe. As the weather grew warmer it became like Tom Brown's.duck, more and more queesome like, some barbarians, whose­passion for science was limited by the endurance of their noses,made a raid on the doctor's cabin and threw the offender over­board, case and all. On one occasion we had the good fortuneto find a turtle asleep on the water, and a boat being lowered'cautiously made up to him and secured him just as he seemedabout to make off. The result proved that the civic authoritiesare not much at fault in at least one of their tastes. Late oneSunday evening we were sailing slowly along in the famous Bayof Biscay. when some one pointed out a large black object verylow in the water some distance off on our bow. The ship'scourse was altered and we went to see what it could be. On.approaching it proved to be a ship completely upside down, thewhole keel showing about two feet above the water from end toend. It was probably a ship of about a thousand tons burden,and would have been an extremely awkward object with which tohave come into collision. Anything more ghastly and appalling,than a ship in such a position, and in such a place, oa a peaceful,bright moonlight evening it would be indeed difficult to imagine. '

Page 4: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

2GB

SOPHOCLES.

I F one was put to it, to sum up the characteristics of Sophocles fp •.a single word perhaps IJ.ETPIO~ would be that which would most

conveniently express them. The one great fact which makes his poetryso noble is that he has hit upon the right mean between themysterious sublimity of JEschylus, on the one hand, the somewhattoo commonplace want of dignity of Euripides upon the other. Whilehe avoids the great unseen influences, driving men on beforp, them'like ",mere puppets, which we see in JEschylus, and makes the humanpassions and motives the moving powers in his tragedy, his humanbeings are heroic, are above the sphere of every-day life, are nobleand elevated. While human interest is perhaps as strong inSophocles as in his younger rival, he never allows his characters tosink below the proper level of tragedy, and become undignified andcommonplace. We know from the testimony of ancient critics thatit was only after several failures that he attained to this perfectionthat it cost him an effort to break away from the model left by hispredecessor, and that at first he but partially succeeded, but hiseonsummate art won the day, and enabled him to reach almost toperfection. Of his life we know but little; much that is handeddown to us is utterly untrustworthy, and although he is said to ha,ewritten Il3 plays, but seven remain to us, besides fragments. \Veknow well enough, however, that he was born B.C. 495, at CaJollus,a deme about a mile and half north of Athens, and that his fatherwas Sophillos, a man, as Pliny says, " principe loco genitum Athenis,"who was able to give him a good education, as it was then invogue at Athens. Of this education we have a picture preservedto us in the Nubes of Aristophanes. We must acknowledge that it,vas perhalJs more than any other calculated to foster the growth ofthe young poet's genius. Body and mind alike were cultivated by

it; the liberal arts joined with gymastic excellence in producing acultivated and refined mind, in a graceful, well-trained body. Inboth these branches of education Sophocles attained to pre-eminent

.-/

Page 5: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Soplwcleg. 269

excellence, and in 480 we find him selected to lead the chorus ofyouths which sung the dedicatory ode round the trophyereeted to­celebrate the victory of Salamis. In 468 B.C. he first appeared as a.~ragedian and won the first prize from .lEschylus under somewhatpeculiar circumstances. We do not even know the name of theplays which he produced on this occasion, but his rival retired t(}Sicily, leaving him, for the time being, undisputed master of theAthenian stage.

13ut let UE! turn from the mere details of his life to examine afew phases of his poetry, and try and discover what insight they maygive us into his character. Now a noticeable point throughout thetragedies of Sophocles is this, that the gods are always just in theirdealings with men, that they never bring punishment upon themundeserv~d, and that at the same time they never allow crime to passunpunished. Even though, at first sight, the case of CEdipus mayseem an exception to this rule, yet on closer examination we perceivethat all his ills were in reality due to his own hot headed impetuosityand headstrong temper. He goes to Delphi simply because he doesnot believe that the King and Queen of Corinth are his. parents, andthe oracle warns him that he will marry his mother and murder hisfather, he fancies that in avoiding them he has taken sufficientprecautions. With the words of the oracle still ringing in his ears,he, in a fit of rag~, murders a man of whose antecedents he is entirelyignorant, and, without making any enquiries, marries a woman, whomhe knows to be a widow, and whose age must have shown him thatin doing so he was not unlikely to be commiting the predictedcrime. It is only through bitter affiiction that he can be schooled tomoderation and humility. This is only an flxemplification of whatwe have before taken occasion to remark-that it is through humancr..aracter rather than divine agency that Sophocles delights to work.Again his conceptions are less colossal, more quiet and peaceful thanthose of the elder poet, indeed a peaceful serenity of spirit, a gentlecourtesy, seem to pflrvade his character and his poetry. Many of theanecdotes rel'tted of him turn upon this trait, and paint to us a manwho must have been pre-eminently loveable. We have attempted in

Page 6: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

270 Soplwcle8.

this necessarily imperfect sketch to point out some of the maincharacteristics of one who was perhaps the greatest of Greekdramatists, and to show some of the points in. which he differed fromJEschylus. Much we have beeu obliged to leave nntouched; howhe altered the position of the chorus, and increased its numbers, andhow he added a third actor and thus increased the representativepower of the drama. We have been unable to follow out his careerand tell how the Spartan commander at Decelre granted specialpermission for his burial. All this and much besides we have leftunmentioned, but our aim will be attained if we induce any toenquire more deeply into the life and character of Sophocles.

OLD SHIRBURNIAN DINNER.

On Thursday, January 15th, a large gathering of Old Shirburnians,under the presidency of the Right Honourable ~fountague Bernaru,·D.C.L., dined together at the Westminster Palace Hotel. . Amongthe guests, who numbered about 95, were the following :-SirDouglas Forsyth, C.B., Mr. T. D. Hill, Rev. W. H. Lyon, Rev. R. J.Lyon, Rev. M. Hawtrey, Rev. R. Holme, Mr. G. S. Creswick, Rev.A. Wood, Mr. Hornby Tamplin, Mr. A. },f. Curteis, Rev. F. W. Ball,Rev. W. P. Adams, Mr. E. A. Upcott, Mr. A. Cattle,}', Mr. A. W.Upcott, Mr. H. T. Pulling, :Mr. A. B. Crosby, Mr. J. Jl.L Luff, :Mr.H. S. Crosby, Mr. C. R. Benson, Jl.lr. S. P. Pope, Rev. C. R. Tate,Mr. F. G. Bewes, :Mr. H. R. P. Donne, nlr. C. E. Hammond, Mr.A. Hawtrey, Jl.fr. W. L. Hetherington, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. N. J.Highmore, Mr. G. R. Kendle, Mr. F .. E. Bennett, Mr. T. Price, Jl.fr.C. Weir, Mr. C. F. Cameron, l\Ir. H. M. Leggatt, 1I1r. J. D.St. G. Savinon, Mr. E. Honey, Jl.h. C. Plummer, 1\Ir. F. S. Jackson,Mr. E. Davies, Mr. S. A. Bennett, :Mr. "\V. L. Lagden, 1\Ir.E. H. Coleridge, Mr. T. R. Buchanan, Mr. M. H. Bulteel, Mr. P. C.

lIarvey, Rev. H. J. Rawlinson, ]l,1r. B. T. Babington, Mr. E.Andrews, Mr. W. Game, Mr. G~ B. Game, :.\1r. G. A. Harston, M1'.

Page 7: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old Hhil'burnian DinnlJr. 271

A. A. Henley, Mr. H. Hamer, Mr. T. N. Lawrence, Mr. J.·W. Drew,Mr R. T. Finch; 1fr. J. E. Aldous, Mr. W. Collier, Mr. A. Emery,Rev. J. Blanch, Rev. H. Whitehead, Mr. H. W. Andrews, Mr. T. C.Fenwick, ~fr. J. E. Pickering, Mr. H. T. Twynam, Mr. C. E.Pothecary, Mr. L. E. Upcott, Mr. C. C. Tancock, Mr. F. Willcocks,Rev. A. F. E. Forman, Rev. O. W. Tancock, Mr. M. A. Forde, Rev.H. P. Price, Mr. E. F. Henley,1fr. G. A. R. Fitzgerald, l\fr. P. B.Hutchins, Mr. W. H. Game, Mr. J. C. Heathcote, Mr. W. Perry,Mr. J. Parsons, lIfr. \V. Holmes, lIfr. A P. Badcock, Mr. A. H. Bubb,Mr. A. J. Galpin, :Mr. 111. Grey, Rev. S. Hawtrey, Rev. G. Hill, Mr.L. V. Lester, Rev. H. H. Methuen, Rev. T. P. Methuen, Mr. W. B.Watkins, and Rev. E. M. Young..

The Chairman, in proposing the toast of the Queen, the Prince of'Wales, and the Royal Family, said: You will all, I am sure, give ahearty response to this the first proposal I have to make to you(cheers). The old title of our school marks all Shirburnians as loyalsubjects (hear, hear). Every Sherborn~ boy, I think, must feel thathe owes something to the King of England, to whom even thehistorical students who anatomise the characters of our deceasedsoverigns must allow some virtues, and to his short reign some greatservices to English education (cheers). I suppose that the feelingcalled loyalty is apt tobe more lively, or at least most unfeigned, in uswhen we are boys; but men of our kind in the country have hadthis great good fortune, that through our whole lives it has been nohard matter tu us to keep alive, fresh and vigorous, that feeling ofloyalty which we had when young. We have lived many yearsunder a soverign who has sensibly strengthened the monarchy inEngland (cheers); a hard matter in the times through which wehave lived, and to which men as old as I am can look back. Shehas done this, and has shown throughout her whole life an admirableexample, and she has shown herself, and shows herself still,feeling on every occasion for and with her subjects (cheers). Tothat toast I will add the health of the Prince of Wales and the restof the Royal Family. The heir apparent of the English Crown,and the Princes and Princesses of the Royal House, have one and

Page 8: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

"272 Old Shh'bllrnian Dinner.

-all shown themselves capable -of filling their part in life, and insociety, with usefulnesR, and with dignity, amI they have also shownthat they know how to secure that cordial respect, that cordialliking, which station and rank cannot command, and which can onlybe gained by deserving them (cheers). I will, therefore, ask you todrink the health of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the rest ofthe Royal Family (loud cheers).

In proposing "The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces," the Chair­man said: So long as the pugnacity of human nature and the

perversity of human affairs make it necessary that the nations ofEurope should maintain armies and navies for the purpose of attack­ing and destroying one another-(laughter)-so long it will be the.business of this country to take care that she has an army, if notqnite so big as those of her neighbours, yet better than theirs(cheers), and a navy which is both bigger and better than theirs(renewed cheering). We have an excellent army and navy, and I'propose that you should drink their health (cheers). The recent-experience, and the recent examples of military capacity and gallantry~re so fresh.in our minds that it is unnecessary for me to say a word~bout them. Our army and our navr have always been distinguishedlor courage and humanity (cheers). We have also our share ofmilitary ·education. I am not quite sure whether until lately we,entirely realized the fact that for· the business. of war, as for every,other business, it ·was necessary that w~ should be thoroughlyintelligent as well as thoroughly trained. It was all the moreJJecessary perhaps when you feel that you ate liable to 'havearrayed.against you persons who are ,possessed of those qualities. I thinkwe realise that now, and realise also that those qualities have to be·stimulated and fostered in very much the same way as we fostered:those qualities in persons distinguished for other occupations. Isuppose that the captain of the days gone by would agre~ withDean Swift, who said-

H YourOv.ids, and Plutarchs and Homers and stuff,

For egad, they don't signify this pinch of snuff.To give a young gentlemen right education,

Page 9: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old f:fhirbllrnion Dinner.

The Army's the only good school in the nation.lily schoolmaster called me a dunce and a fool,But at cuffs I was always the cock of the school."

(laughter). Perhaps that would be a good description of the captainof that period; but, anyhow, I firmly hold the opinion that the verybest thing that could happen to the English army is that it shouldbe officered by public school men. I would rather see it so officeredthan by men who have prepared themselves at a great "cram"factory-(laughter and cheers)-or in an exclusively militaryseminary. Now, I think that head masters and assistant masters ofpublic schools have some power to produce what we desire in com­manders-in-chief, or secretaries for war, or presidents of militaryeducation, and the like. They have the matter very much in theirown hands. I am most anxious that they should exert that power,and I feel confident that, Sherborne School will not be wanting indoing its duty to the country when that object is attained. To thetoast of the Army and Navy we ought to -add that important branchof the service, the Reserve Forces. I am an entire ignoramus asregards the organisation of the army, and I will not say '~-:word

about it, but I cannot but think that with common sense some localand occasional service afforded to and encouraged in young men whoare not removed or dragged away from their ordinary'occupations fora year or two, that such services lU~st be valuable and useful to themaintenance of an army, especially in such a country as ours. I amsorry that a distinguished officer who ought to have answered to thistoast is absent through illness, and ins hi absence I have the honourto name a most distinguisbed member of a most distinguished corps,Mr. Hutchins (laughter and cheers). We will drink, if you please,the health of the Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces, and that of thegentleman who enjoys such' deserved popularity, Mr. Hutchins(cheers).

Mr. Hutchins, in reply, said: I feel that I ought to apologise forreturning thanks for this toast, being only II bumble member of thereserve.forces-what, in fact, is called a "full private" (laughter). Ithink, however, I ean see one reason why I am called upon, and

Page 10: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

274 Old Shil'lmrniall nil/uP)".

that is that our own school has turned out a good many officers, andthose who have done their duty both in the army and. navy, and Ifeel s~re that many of them would be here if they were not engaged

professionally. I feel certain that the memb~rs of those professions.

who were educated at (.ur school will not be behind those

who were educated at otber public scbo01'l ill doing their duty

to their COUD try. We all recollect that the Duke of '\Yellington

expressed an opinion that battles were won in the playgrounds of

our p'lulic schools, and in that opinion we must all concur. Withregard to ~he navy, I know nothing about it. As to the volunteers,

there is only this to be said, tbat we may hope never to be calledupon to do our duty (loud laughter and cheers), because it will be a

bad time for the country if we are called upon (renewecl laughter

and cheers). I feel sure, however, that if we should be called upon

our duty will be done (cheers).The Chairman next proposed the toast" The School and Head

1I1aster." In doing so he said: I hope I have not O'..1t short prema­turely that interval of relief which you were enjoying between my

speeches, but we have a good many toasts before us, and we hadbetter move on. I have now the pleasant duty of asking you

to join with me. in wishing success to Sherborne Scl1001 and healthto the Head 1\1aster (loud cheers). I have the more satisfaction in

proposing this toast because it cannot be said, I think, that our old

school is one that has been spoilt by success. It is not one of those

schools which have a very large connection amongst the richestclasses of society. If we held a festival in Sherborne we could not

expect that one half of London would flock down by the London

and South-Western Railway in their best hats and smartest bonnets(laughter). ,Ye have not had. time to forget, as some other schoolsbave had, that there was a tim~ when we were comparatively obscure, .

and, therefore, gentlemen, now that the sun shines upon us, I think

we may with all the more pleasure welcome the sunshine (cheers).

If we were to look back to no more distant date than my own

recollections when I went to Sherborne, the school was a very

different thing then from what it is now. Of the Head 11aster by

-'

Page 11: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

or, I 511 irlmrnlan Dinner. 275

whom I was tauf(1Jt I could never speak excepting in terms of themost grateful respect. I owe much to him, and I feel sure that all

those who ha,l the ben~tit of his teaching must have felt that theyowed much to him also. But the schools of those days were wantingin Illany of those things which we have at the present day-namely,comfort and necessary conveniences (hear, hear). Our buildingswere cramped and pOClI', and certainly not very convenient for study

or for order. We at th:lt time could not ~ookhack upon a long list

of distinctions. ' We Itu,1, if is true, our distinctions, and you must

always remety;bcr that" ','i"ere fortes ante Agamemnona." In myday we revere,l fOl" exampl;) the memory of a person-an oid Sher­

borne man'-who obtained note afterwards as an eminent lawyer and.singularly scholarly writer, the author of " Hortenus," and I may '"wish that he was well enough to be here to-day. I mean Mr.

Forsyth (cheers). And we either did or should have reverenced if wehad remembered the n:t:ne of a lawyer, w:ho afterwards became a

very great jud;;e, an:t btJfore whom I sometimes we:1t as a very

young barrister, who Wi!'; distiuguished for his great kmwledge, his

rather formidable \~it, and for his very fine classical scholarship-'-I

mean LordJllstice Kni!;M Bmce (cheers). And whcri I came backto Sherborne many years fl~f\, seeing the old school in the time of

Dr. Harper-(loud chclTs)-I confess that I was very muchastonished, and that J felt very much like Rip Van Winkle (laughter),or -a prehistoric m;l!l brought to life again amongst the modern

wonders of civilization. Then I found a large School House where

formerly there was comparatively ~l. small one; far extended in con­

nection; I found also a group of buildings which I was never tired

of admiring (cheers). They contained every convenience for comfort,discipline, and order, and good buildings are certainly very neceRsary

for those things, especially for the last. They were also such as a

boy could have pleasnre in seeing and in remembering when one's

associations can bring pleasure in old age. They are in mostadmirahle order and in keeping with the character of the place.

Some of you probably saw the rise and progress of those buildings,

and i£ I were to refer to the buildings which have arilien at

Page 12: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

276 Old Shtr[J1lmlun Dimtei'.

Sherborne I should say that the old school-room, the cloisters, thestudies, and things which we had to put up with in the old days,would bear but poor comparison with the n~,! school house, suited

to the modern requirements of education (hear, h~ar). The place isentir.ely new since I was there, and it has been restored in such amanner that you might almost imagine it was the old school. Howhave these things been done l' By a steady and well directed andsustained effort; by that kind of effort which does not hesitate; bymaking great sacrifices for the sake of the old school-sacrifices inmany instances of a personal ch1\racter -and I think that is thesecret of all success. That, was the gre'at secret ofihe success of .Dr. Harper (loud cheers), and I haveno doubt it will prove a successto our present Head Master, Mr. Young. 'When I speak for onemoment of Dr. Harper as I knew him at Oxford, will you allow mein the first place to say how much I regret he iS110t with us thisevening; and in the second place to observe how convinced I amthat the man who has been appointed his successor was the very manto solve the difficult duty which has been entrusted to him, viz, ofupholding the reputation, and, if possible, of increasing the reputa­tion of our old school (cheers). Now, gentlemen, suffer me to addone word as to what I believe to be the true aims and interests ofOllr old school. I earnestly desire that it should' be a thoroughlygood and successful school, but if there were any such a person as apatron saint of schools, and I had any interest with him, I shouldDot ask him to make another Eton or Harrow ofSherborne School(cheers). ,Ve in England are very proud and justly proud of Etonand Harrow, and I myself am very closely connected with one ofthose two schools, but we do not want to multiply Etons andHarrows, but we do want to multiply thoroughly good schools where,with fairly good management, we have to deal with the sons of thosewhohavehad toworkfortheirliving, and with boyswhoinfuturelifewillhave to work for their living as did their fathers before them (cheers).It is not the case I think in England that the rich grow richer and

the poor grow poorer, What has happened is the multiplication of

smaller incomes and a very wide distribution of tlie sense of the

Page 13: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old Sltirourllian Dinner. 277

value of education, a sense which I hope is sinking gradually intothe lower strata of society (cheers), and these wants seem to me tobe at present the most pressing aim, not only of schools but ofuniversities. I desire to Eee the aim of meeting these wants keptnp at universities as well as at schools, and if I were to venture aword of advice to the governors of schools I believe I shouhCsay tothem "Be on your guard against the alleged unanswerable reasonswhich are urged for increasing the payment for boys at school"(cheers). Some.times at any rate turn a deaf ear to those "unanswer·able" reasons; that advice I would tender to the governors ofSherborne School (cheers). I should like to see Sherborne School

.become the great public school for the West of England, and itshould give boys a thoroughly good education at a moderate cost(cheers). I beg your pardon, gentlemen, for giving you this sermon,but the persons who have kindly organised this dinner have thoughtit desirable that various generations of Shirburnians should rememberthat their school had a past as well as a present, and will have a

" future, and that they should learn to interest themselves in thatfuture (cheers~. I should think if they will do that,' perhaps notnext year but at no very distant period of time you may haveanother meeting of this kind (cheers). In the mean time I shallask you to drink success and prosperity 'to Sherborne School, and Ishall couple with the toast the name of the Head l\laster whom ,ve

are fortunate enough to possess at present, viz., the Rev. E. 111.Young (loud cheers).

The toast having been drunk with great enthusiasm, the Rev. E.M. Young rose to respond amidst general applause. He said: Itis no mere figure of speech to say that I rise to respond to this toastwith a feeling of humble prid(l' You, the Shirburnians of the past,will not fiml fault with' me, who represent the Shirburnians of thepresent generation, for feeling proud of the school which is so dearto you, so dear to me, so dear indeed to us all (applause). I thinkI may say, without presumption, that notwithstanding the generaldepression which has affected schools no less than other interests

throughout the country, by the curtailment of rent and other

Page 14: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

278 Old Shirburnian Dinner.

sources of income, Sherborne School is in a high state of prosperity(much cheering), and bids fair if we do but continue true to our oldtraditions to be yet more prosperous in the future (loud cheers). I

am, I confess, very proud of the school which just two years andone week ago entrusted to my carp, its venerable name, and itsalready jnvenated fortunes; but standing as I do to-day in the somewhat reculiar position of a ·very new ~hirburnian in the midst ofthis grand gathering of olq. Shirburnians, I find my feeling of pridenecessarily tempered by a feeling, an unfeigned feeliJ:.1g, of humility.For the prosperity of the school, which you have drunk so heartily,

I can claim no rersonal credit. ,Yhen I-,,"as sumuwned to assumethe reins of office, I found a vehicle complete in all its equipment,going along at a brisk and animated pace, to which was attached ateam of high mettle and generous action, which needed no urging onmy part, and spared no effort on its own. For seven-and-twentyyears a very powerful hand indeed had hold of those reins, and itmight well have seemed to those who were best conversant with theroad that when he whom boys familiarly, but affectionately, styled" Old Dan "-(much laughter)-vacated the box seat the coach mustinevitably come to grief. ,Yell, it was not so, and why 7 ~ aschool is really. prosperous its prosperity depends upon somethinggreater than the skill or the' fidelity of anyone man, 'however skilfulor faithful he may have proved himself (hear, hear). And '>0 when"Old Dan" slipped the reins into my hands I found I had but. toassume his vacant place, and to drive on with a light hand and agood courage in the same direction, with my eyes on the same goal

which he had made his own (much cheering). In one respect only-in only one important respect-possibly, I have deviated somewhatfrom the line he laid down for himse1f. Gentlemen, the remarkablecharacteristic of Dr. Harper's head mastership was that he never

allowed his eyes to be diverted, nor himself to be carried away fromthe straight line of his duty (applause). Faith, zeal, and progressseem to me to have been the principles of his reign, the cornerstones

of the buildinS which he reare£1. He had an intense belief in the

future of the school, amI he disdained with a right worthy scorn to

Page 15: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

go out of his way _to puff it into notice (hear, hear, and applause).He ""orked for it might and main, and grudged every hour of labour-and there were but few:such hours indeed~which was not spentin its service (hear, hear, and cheers). He was by temperament astrong Conservative, but he was not a stand-still, and he courageouslyavailed himself of the first opportunity which the GovernJhent ofthe day presented to him of developing the resources and extendingthe basis of an old educational endowment. It is to that singularconcentration of his work, to his remarkable absorption in it, thatwe may traCtl those solid results upon which we congratulate our­

selves to-night (loud cheers). Whatever may be the future ofSherborne Sehool, and in my opinion she is destined to a reallygreat future-Cloud and continued cheering)-I know that herprogress will never be dissociated from the strong and workmanlikefoundation which he laid, and which are well typified in the sub­stantial buildings which he reared around the school (much applause).\Vell, gentlemen, in faith, in zeal, in love of progress, I hope that Imay follow worthily in the lead of Dr. Harper (applause) j but IC0'11e from a school which is even more venerable than King Edward's

. foundations, and I can never forget the debt which my own boyhood

owes to the "distant spires and antique towers" which crown acertain" watery glade," and to the great names which used to speakto us in that favoured spot out of the never to be f0rgotten past j

and" I should like to add to the three grand cornerstones, faith, zeal,and progress, of which I have spoken, as the indispensableeltlments of success in every educational edifice which is to achievegreatness -Ishouhllike toadd a fourth, that our building may grow up

"T€Tpa')'wIIO'l ({1I€U to'Y0u," and that is a hearty reverence for thepast (cheers). During those years in which our school was emergingfrom an interlude of sickly youth into a hale and vigorous manhood, itwas natural and right that she should concentrate her attention uponthp, present; but now that she has come of age we can afford tostand still for a moment and look round at the fair prospect behindus (hear, hear, and cheers). After all "the cbild is father to the

man," and the school which does not desire that its" days should 'oe

Old Shirburniftn Dinnm'. 279

1

1

1

1

1

Ii

1

1

1

1

1

1i

1

1

1

1

1

I 11

Page 16: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

280 Old Shir7mmian Dinnp1".

bound each to each by natural piety" is not, and pever can become,a great public schooL . Now when I see this vast gathering of OldShirburnians around me, I think I have-, interpreted your feelingaright. I am convinced that Old Shirburnians are as proud of thecontinuity of their history as the members of any public school in thekingdom (cheers). It is in this sense that I interpret our chairman'sgoodwill in coming all the way from, Herefordshire, at great personalinconvenience to himself, to preside at our gathering to-~ay; it is inthis sense that I interpret the fact that some few days ago I enteredupon the books of Sherborne School with great satisfaction a real,live, young Lyon (much applause). Twenty-five years ago, when Iwas a small boy at·Eton, I first became acquainted with the name ofSherborne School by reading, sir, a touching memoir of your brotherHamilton (turning to the gentleman on the right of the chairman,Sir Douglas Forsyth) (loud cheers). I have not opened or seen thebook since, but in a corner of my memory still dwells the sweet,pensive face which was affixed to the frontispiece, and I rememberthe pretty lines in which the boy expresses his love for his school-

" Dear Sherborne, many happy yearsI've spent within thy walls,

.And still thy name upon my earsLike grateful music falls."

The lines are innocent enough, but I. suspect they express prettyfairly the feelings of many men here present who are upon the shadyside of 50, notwithstanding their recollections of a certain librarywhere painful penance was wont to be exacted, which I am invariablyassured by Old Shirburnians of that day is among their keenestreminiscences of Sherborne (loud laughter and cheers). It was butthis afternoon that I had the pleasure, Sir Douglas, of adding to ourschool list a nephew of your own. Allow me one word· more. Icannot upon this occasion, when I meet for the first time so large abpdy of Old Shirburnians, forbear to take the opportunity ofexpre8sing to them the very great debt of gratitude which the school

owes to those who, inspired by a warm enthusiasm for "Old Dan,"instituted many years ago a scholarship fund, from which thfl school

Page 17: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old ,'fhil'Z,w'niall Dinller. 281

has derived large. ben€'fit (hear, hear). Now, in these day:l, I canassure you that many parents, when considering what school theyshall send their boys to, l-ook out for the school that offers the mostadvantage in point of scholarships. I frequently receive questionsas to the number of scholarships which we are able to offer, and overand over again· have I congratulate(l myself upon the generositywhich gave us that Old Shirburnian Scholarships Fund. I am surethen that it is the very least I can do to return our hearty thanks, inthe name of the school, to .those who have conferred so great abenefit upon it (applause). I am perfectly conscious that the motivethat originated the fund exists no longer, and that if it should be con·tinned into another head mastership it will be upon patriotic and notupon personal grounds. Far be it from me to ask that it should becontinued. .All that I have to do is to assure you ot the very highvalue which we attach to it, and to express our obligation to thesubscribers wh) have for many years past contributed so valuable anelement to that prosperity which you have so enthusiastically toasted.If it were to be the case that the scholarship fund were to be per­petuatetl tbrou~h another heall l1l:\stership upon patriotic motives, Ican assure you for my part that I should use my utmost endeavourto bring more closely home to the mind Qf the school than beforethe generosity to whicll it is indebted. Nothing, in my opinion,wonld contribute more to keep alive that regard for the continuityof our history, upon which I have l'lid stress, thau an annualmeeting of the subscribers to the fund at Sherborne, and I Canpromise them that the hospitality of the School House will never befound wanting upon such an occasion (loud cheers). In conclusionhe thanked them once more for the hearty manner in whieh theyhad drunk prosperity to the school, and assured them that so long ashe continued to be head m1\3ter of it he would use his utmostendeavours to maintain, and, if possible increase, the reputation ofthe school (much applause).

The Rev.S. Hawtrey said: I feel rath3r awe-struck at rising before

such an audience to propose the toast of the Governing Body of

Sherborne School, lmt your cheeriness helps me on, so that I hope

Page 18: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

282 _Old Shir/mmiwl DiIiIlC)·.

I shall be able to do my duty. Perhaps 1 may be allowed to say thatthe face on which 1 ha:ve been looking with the deepest interest thisevening recalls to me a face before which.1 studied, that of themaster to whom 1 owe so much, myoId and reyered friend the lateDr. Lyon (cheers). How well I can remember him in years beforemany of you were born. 1 learnt from him what bas been thegreltest blessing to me all my life long. I had a little associationwith Dr. Harper in this way. 1 had had ~ome 36 or 37 years' workat Eton, and 1 retired with the thought that 1 had had enough of it,but 1 began all again, and.1 got my school about me, in which Itake the deepest interest. I wanted an examiner for my school. Iapplied to Dr. Harper and he sent me down an old Shirburniau-afine, majestic fellow, who did his work admirably. Some of youperhaps may kilOW the name of Upcott (cheers). ,Ye are drawn tothose who have done good things, and therefore it is with very greatpleasure I propose the health of a body of men whom one sittingbeside me, the Rev. E. 11. Young, declares to be the best governingbody in England (cheers). 'When I was at Eton, as a math()~atical

_master, it was my happiness to have all the Etonians come underme, and, therefore, my acquaintance with the young men is immense.One of those pupils, whose recollections and whose image are in myheart, is at my right hand now, and his name is Young (loud cheers).As a Sherborne man I say that we owe a great deal to that governingbody which helpbd to place my dear old pupil in his present position(cheers). Let me ask you to drink the health .of the GovErningBody of the School, and when we have passed away may they carryon the noble work in which our hearts are interested, and may theschool be more successful than it has beeu even in the past (loudcheers).

The Rev. W. H. Lyon, in responding, mid: If others have risenwith diffidence I must do so with much more diffidence. I am noorator as Brutus is, but at the same time if there is anybody herewho has the right to speak with affection of Sherborne School I

.hold it is myself. There are only two of us, I think, in this roomwho call say that they were born ill Sherborne School. I was born

Page 19: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old Shil'bumiall DinufJ1'. 283

in Shetborne School, and part of my own chnrch-(laughter)-forthe old school house of Sherborne School is the Lady Chapel ofSherborne Abbey. Lthank you very heartily on behalf of thegoverning body for the manner in whieh you have received the toastso ably proposed by an old Shirburnian. It is to me a subject ofvery great gratification indeed to attend here, and I could havewished that the chairman of the governing hody could have beenhere too. I could have wished that Mr. Digby had been here, for Iam sure that everyone knows how much the school owes to him forhis liberality. He feels the deepest interest in the school. It is tome a source of very great gratification to be present this evening,and to hear the very loyal way in which the governors of SherborneSchool have been spoken of to-night. 'Ve are in earnest, as a body,in wiflhing and forwarding all that is for the good of SherborneSchool. I can look back to the t!me when the governing body ofthe school had 11 sort of fear whether the head master's power orsuccess might not be too much felt, but that is not so noiv, anymore than it was during all the time of Dr. Harper's presidency ofthe school j indeed, it is the one desire of every member of thegoverning body of the school, to do what they can to support thepresent head master, and every/. master, in every good work whichcan pertain to the success antI prosperity of the school (cheers). Iwas present at a meeting of the financial committee of the governingbody this morning. Those members of the body who met were, Ithink, almost all of them old Shirburnians. I rather upbraidedthem for not coming up to-day, but they had good and sufficient.reason, and when I left the room early, so as not to miss the trairt,they begged me to express their best wishes for the success of thisOld Shirburnhm Dinner. I tfl1st thi;; may be only one of manyfuture gatherings of old Shirburnians, and that the future of theschool may be worthy of the past, and greater than it has everbefore been. I "thank you heartily for the m:1lluer in which youhave recei'led this toast, and for the kindriess you have shown tomyself a~d to the memory of my dear father (loud cheers).

Rev..r. H. RawIinson, in proposing the health of the late Head

Page 20: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

281 Old Sltirollrlliall Dinner.

Master of Sherborne School-Dr. Harper-which ,was received withringing cheers, said he did not know why he had been sp-lected toperform so honourable a task unless it were th:J.t he was the oldestHarperian present. When he went to Sherborne for the first time theschool was at its lowest possible ebb. He was sorry to say that wasthirty years ago, and what had made the school wha~ it was now 1The Head Uaster would not have done it without the pupils, andthe fact was that they stood by him, and the two together hadWitllOut doubt made the school what it now was. Referring next tothe Old Shirburnian Scholarship Fund, t.he rev. gentleman expressedregret that the subscription list did not contain any names of a moremodern generation.· He thought the juuiors ought to do 'somethingfor the school; he earnestly hoped the fund would not be allowedto fail for want of support, awl that a great effort would be made,not only to increase the subscript~ons, but to make their old schoolthe best public school in England. He trusted he might be allowedto speak a few words to his j'llliors present to s~y he really thoughtthey ought to .ma~e an effort to make their school the best publicschool in England-that they should resolve it should not be allowedto suffer in any way wbatever, and that the fund should on no accountbe allowed to drop. (The. toast was drunk with great enthusiasm,three hearty cheers being given for Dr. Harper)

:Mr. A. :M. Cnrteis, in rising to respond to the toast, said he feltfrom the bottom of his heart that if Dr. Harper was prf'sent thatevening he would feel much happiness in seeing such a splendidas'emblageof old Sbirburnians, and that be could not help fce'iug thatthat m~eting-thefirst of its kind.-was very incomplete without hisfine, ample presence and his splendid voice with them. Havingworked with him Hj years with the closest amit.r, be was able to say,and he said it with the greatest pleasure, that he owed a debt ofgl'atitudeto him he coulo not repay (applause). He had learnedfrom him lessons of the greatest use, and in saying that he was onlyexpressing the experience of everyone prasent, for he could not

believe that llny one who had workedwith him and lived with him as he

(Mr. Curteis) had done had not carried. away the strongest feeling of

Page 21: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old }:)MrlJllmian Dinllm'. 285

respect and affection for him. and did not feel a b3tter man for havingknown him (cheers). All of them must have felt deeply thegenerosity and sympathy of his nature, which had cheered themthrough those dark days that most of them had had to 'Struggle with(hear, hear). He would be most unworthy if he could ever forgetthe kindness of Dr. Harper, and how in the only serious difficulty heever had in his life he .sent him the best of everything he had,coming to see him twice every day, and eNn took the pains to pro­vide that his work should be done for him. Mr. Curteis said hewould, in conclusion, thank them once more in Dr. Harper's namefor the enthusiastic manner in which they had drunk his health(much applause, and three cheers for Mr. Curteis).

Mr. T. N. Lawrence next proposed" The health of the Rev. O.W. Tancock, the Head Master Elect of Norwich School, and the Past­and Pre'sent Assistant Masters." He said Mr. Tancock, after spending17 years successfully in Sherborne School, was now going to anothersphere, where he was to introduce a new system jand he hoped hewould allow them there to profit by the experience.which he hadreceived at'Sherborne and to which he had been so great an aid.Referring next to Mr. Curteis, he said a better man or a better tutoror a more thorough gentleman hebadnevermet. He trusted the dinnerwould succeed in drawing the different generations of Shirburnianstogether, and, after paying a- tribute to the abilities, and personalexcellencies of many of the present and past assistant masters of thescnool, he expressed a hope that the Old Shirburnian Scholarship Fundwould not be allowed to collafse for want of snpport. Far be it fromhim to dun for subscriptions at that meeting, but he was desirous ofdrawing attention to the fact that the scholarship was institutedin 1870.From that time to the prese~t three scholarships of 20 guineas a yearhad been presented to the boys at Sherborne, and he thought theywoult! all agreewithhimthat that wasa very substantialaid to anyschool(hear, hear). He thought they would also agree with Mm that it wouldbe a very- great pity if so excellent a fund should fall to the groundfor want of adequate support; and he very much regretted to state

that the fund was at present in a languishing condition. The fund

I

I

Page 22: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

286 Old Shirulll'lIi"n Di/U1u.

had fallen off greatly of late, but he thought that was owing to the factthat it had not been sufficiently brought before the attention of the OldShirburnians ; and that'lupposition was supported by the circumstaucethat the gentleman sitting next him at the table had never Even heardof the fund, otherwise he would have been happy to be a subscriber.The fund was originally instituted as an affectionate testimonial to Dr.Harper, but'he thought it was a mistake for members of a publicschool to lose their interest ·in any way in their old school, simplybecause it happened to have changed itll head master. He hopedtheir meeting that night would result in bringing the old. and newgenerations of Sherborne together, and that it would bind themtogether in one compact body inspired with a determination to makeit a thoroughly successful public school.

The Rev, W. H. Lyon intimated that he had received a >5ubscriptionfrom Canon Onslow, and should be glael to become a subscriberhimself.

Sir Douglas Forsyth and lIfr. Methuen expressed a similar intention.{Applause}.

The Rev. O. ,V". Tancock, inresponding to thp, toast, said thatheyieldedto no one in his enthusiasm for Sherborne School, and indeed he shouldlike to sing its praises at considerable length. He was greatly rejoicedthat the old Shirburnians present had mustered courage enough tohold that dinner, which had been in the air for several years, and whenthey met again on a similar occasion he hoped that they would have thesame pleasant, agreeable meeting that they had that night. If he weregoing to stay at Sherborne he would make a suggestion that at thosedinners it should not be the senior but the junior assistant who shouldbe called upon to respond to the toast which he had been called uponto acknowledge. Hebelieved that one of the junior masters, :11"r. Wilson,who would have been so welcome amongst them that evening, musthave lost the train in consequence of the fear that they were going toask the junior to respond (laughter). In conclusion, alllong the manygood things he had learned at Sherborne was that of knoWing how

to sit down (laughter).The Rev. O. W. Tancock proposed It The health of Past Heads of

j

j

Page 23: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Old SltirlJ1lmlan Dim/cl'. 28i

1

1I

the School and Captains of the Games," to which :'lE Fitzgcr::tld anll1fr. ""Y. H. Game responded.

/. _ :J1r.Bu0hanan then proposed" The Civil Service," remarking that ifthere was one sphere of work which more than another required theexercise of great takuts it was the Ci,:il Service of India. It wasonly special men "who were sent out to take charge of importantoflkes there, and there was nQ East India Civil servant in whosehands commissions of greater responsibility had been placed than inthose- of the distinguished old Shirburnian, Sir Douglas Forsyth(cheers). He believed that one of his greatest works was his mission toKashgar and Yarkawl, in which he strove to" open up those greatcountries" to the trade and civilization of England, not by the sword,but by commerce (cheers).

Sir Douglas Forsyth, in responding to the "toast, said he heartilythanked them for the kind way' in which they had received themention of his name. "When he first went to Sherborne he wasrather a puny, miserable boy, tied to the strings of the ladies. How­ever, when he got there he was immediately put in the hands of twomost able tutors, and the first lesson he had wlwn approaching man.hood was that of being pummelled by two gentlemen who werepresent among them that evening (much laughter). He could saythat any sucr:ess in life which he had achieved, small as it might be,had been entirely owing to the first experience and, the first tuitionwhich he got at Sherborne School (applause). That he felt mostdeeply, and he had always thought the tone of Sberborne and thethorough manly feeling that was exhibited there put into his mindcertain principles upon which he had always acted-manly andwholesome principles which had guided him through life-and agreater compliment than that he could not pay to his old school(cheers). He stood there that night as the very unworthy repre­sentative of two brothers who" were in the school before most ofthem were born, and who were still alive (applause). Passing fromthat, he had now the agreeable task to perform of proposing "Thehealth of the Chairman." He believed this was the first occasion onwhich the Shirburnians had met together to glorify themselves

1I

I1

1

1

1

1

1

II

1

1

1

Page 24: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

(Ianghter). The glo~ification which had taken vlace that night heobserved had been divided into two parts-one referring to the greybeards anJ. the other to the young talents (laughter). He, however,

heartily approved of that meeting, and he hoped the idea of havingsimilar meetings in the futur~ would be carried out (applause). Hehoped, however, that they would not b6 held too often-not forinstance every year'-but have a dinner once every three years-(hear,hear)-and let them hope -that they would have such a president tolook after them as they had had the good fortune to ha....e thatevening in their worthy chairman (applause). As a chairman he .had been everything they could possibly desire, and he should appealto their feelings, he was &ure, when he mentioned that their presidentwas the most distinguished Shirburnian they had ever had (cheers).He was a member of the Privy Council; he was a man who haddistinguished himself inever;thin~ he had undertaken. His namewas as well known in America as it was in England, and, indeed, inevery capa.city he had shown himself to be worthy of being an oldShirburnian (cheers). He remembered that the name of the chairnianappeared on the black board in the school room, and even then the nameof Bernard was a great and memorable name (cheers). He was surethey would all join with him heal·tily in drinking his health andwishing that he would preside as happily on some future occasion ashe had done that night (much applause).

The yhairman, in acknowledging the toast, said at such anadvanced hour of the evening it would not be agreeable if he saidmere than this - the part,icular compliment which the laRt speakerhad been kind enough to pay him was one which he could neveraccept in the presence of Sir Douglas ForRyth (applause).

The Rev• .E._M. Young said it would ill become them to partwithout eXl'ressing the thanks they owed to one to whom really wasdue the success of the evening, and that was their excellent secretary,Mr. Twynam (applause). Some weeks ago the idea of this dinneroriginated in a conversation he (the speaker) held with that gentleman

after a football match at SherbQrne, in which he had distinguishedhimself as usual for his energetic play. ~o one who had seen Mr.

288 Old 8hirlml'llil/II lJillllC/".

j

j

j

j

j

j

Page 25: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Twynam in the football field could doubt he was the very man toorganise an undertaking that required energy., He (Mr. Young)accordingly asked him if he would take upon himself the responsi­bility and hard labour' ~f bringing about this meeting, and he hadaccepted the proposal with heartiness. . The consequence was thatfor some weeks past he had workl\d extremely hard in order to securea gathering that should be worthy of Sherborne (hear, hear). What­ever success the meeting had had was due, to him, and he could nothelp hoping that if they met, again on a similar occasion :Mr. Twynam.would again be found willing to become'their indefatigable secretary.

Mr. Twynam responded.Mr.. FitzgeJ;ald moved, and the Rev. E. 1I. Young seconded, that

Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Henley, and ~fr. Twynam be appointed apermanent committee to consider and decide as to when the nextmeeting should be held, which was agreed to by acclamation.

The proceedings, which throughout had been of the most pleasantand agreeable kind, then terminated.

Old SMrl.llmiian Dinnm·. 289

1

1

1

I1

II

1I

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Shirournian.

DEAR SIR,

Will you spare me a little of your valuable space for a fe\vwords about" those Chapel steps?" Your readers will probablyall have suffered frequently, and especially just lately, from thesingular formation of that much used and much abused thorough­fare. It would appear that someone has been trying an archi­tectural problem with the steps, for they all seem to reverse theusual way 'of steps, and, for want of the correct technical word, I

must say slope the wrong way. Are we so hard up for a reservoir

1

i

1

1

1

1

1

Page 26: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

I am, Sir, yours truly,VIGILANS:

[H Skuppers 0' might be a good remedy for our correspondent's

grievance !-ED.J

that if is necessary to catch all the rain-water in the basins

formed by the pavement?As the invaluable Charles can hardly be .expected to spend all

wet days on the chapel steps with mops and buckets, surely some­thing might be done to remedy this defect in that otherwise

delightful entrance.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,When the present custom, in the Debating Society, of the

Proposition and Opposition occupying different sides of the room,was first introduced, a neutral bench was always reserved. If thisplan were again revived the present inconvenience of beingol1iged to take one side ofa debate before hearing the argumentswould be avoided. Hoping this may meet the eyes of those forwhose benefit it is intended, I sign myself

I

Ij

j

j

j

j

j

j

COl'l'esjJoi1tlenee.290

NEUTER.

SIR,

!

Ij

Allow me through the medium of your pages to callattention to the great nuisance-viz., scraping on violins andattempts at playing on other musical instruments-that nowprevails in the studies of the School House: It annoys everyone,and can afford very little if any pleasure to the individuals them­selves who cause it. Now, Sir, I think that this has gone onrather too long, and immediate steps should be taken to put an endto it. If the individuals cannot live without what may be to theminteresting music, surely some time, or, better still, some place

where, undisturbed, 'they might cultivate their musical tastes,might be allotted to them. That they are energetic is clearly

j!IIIj

j

j

Page 27: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

COI'tespondellce. 291

proved by the fact that even Sunday is not exempt from theannoyance.

. ARCHBISHOP WHATELEY.

[There is a rule already confining musicians to the intervalbetween tea and evening work, which, to the best of our know­ledge, is observed; and for that short period surely our corres­pondent's deliCate sensibilities wi1l be able to bear the strain,­ED.]

DEAR SIR,

AIIow me to call your attention to a grievance easily to beremedied by a little care. I believe all persons without anyexceptio? who take books from the Library are bound to putdown their names in the book provided for that purpose. Inseveral instances this rule has not been complied with. I stronglysuspect that the Sixth are not, in this case, the chief offenders,and would call upon all persons who take out books to complywith a rule which demands so little trouble.

I am, Sir,A MEMBER OF THE SIXTH.

FIVES MATCHES.

The majority of the matches were played last term, but thefrost before Christmas prevented their being entirely finishedthen. Throughout the season plenty of energy had been shownin practising, and on the whole· the play shown was not below theaverage of former years. Of the Seniors Whiting and White, ma.,were decidedly the best; the latter has improved ,vonderfully

since last year. White and Cambridge, in Senior Doubles, were

Page 28: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

292 Fives Matches.

easily first, winning all their games without much difficulty. Thesame may be said of Lester, mi., and Sheldon among the Juniors,both showing great promise. The following are the results ;-

SENIOR DOUBLE-HANDED.

First Rourid.

J. White beatF. O. Cambridge

The defeated couple played well, andin the second game.

R. S. Ainslie beatT. A. Chalk

G. M. Lester beatH. L. Dixon

E. W. BastardC. R. Buckle

succeeded in scoring 13

R. G. CooksonF. W. Gee

S. WhiteheadW. H. Dixon

beat

The first game was a good one,the second easily.

A. BewesC.lnce

but the successful couple won

J. A. ParkerR. Turner

Second RoundA. Bewes beatC.lnce

These games were very one-sided.

F. O. Cambridge beatJ. White

Third Round.

T. A. ChalkR. S. Ainslie

G. IVr. LesterH. L. Dixon

A. BewesC.lnce

J. White beat A. BewesF. O. Cambridge C.lnce

This was a walk over for White and Cambridge.I? the challenges for second place,

G. M. Lester beatH. L. Dixon

G. :M. Lester

H. L. Dixon

beat E. W. BastardC. Buckle

Page 29: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Fives Matchcg~

JUNIOR DOUBLE-HANDEn.

293

SquareyBlake

First Round.Bastard, tert beat Harries, mi~

Tancock Jacob, mi.The first game was very closely contested, the score being game

ball all for some considerable time.

Flindt beatGrenfell

This was an easy, victory.McGusty beat . MonganFowler Blake

These games were very. evenly contested, and played with greatspirit.

Sheldon beatLester, mi.

These were most hollow games.Tonks, mi. abMayo,. .. ye.

House, mi.Carver

Second Round.Flindt beat Tonks, mi.Grenfell Mayo

Sheldon beat Bastard, tert.Lester, mi. Tancock

Both these games were won without much difficulty.McGustyFowler a bye.

Third Round.Sheldon beat FIindtLester, mi. GrenfeU,

No stand was made against the successful couple.McGustyFowler· a bye.

Final Round.

SheldonLester, mi.

beat McGustyFowler

Page 30: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

294 F/ves },[({tche.~.

. A very easy victory.Flindt al1d Grenfell beat Fowler and J\1cGusty easily for the

second place.

SENIOR SINGLE-HANDED•

I.First Round.

J. Parker beat G. 1\1. Lester

These games were very' good ones, especially the first two.

H. L. Dixoll beat S. Whitehead

A spirited contest, the winner playi~g up well.

C. R. Buckle beat R. TurnerA. O. Whiting beat T. A. ChalkE.W. Eastard beat C.Ince

Both the latter games were carried off easily by the victors.J. White beat A. Be,Yes

These were the best games played, in the matches, and causedsome excitement.

F. P. CambridgeJ. T. Harries

beatbeat

H. Uay

R. S.Ainslie

These were fairly good games.

Second Round.

A. O. Whiting

Parker beat in one game,reached one.

C. R. Buckle

J. White

beat J. Parker

but in the last game his Score only

. beat F. P. Cambridgebeat H. L. Dixon

These were not close games.

E. W. Eastard a bye.

Third Round.

J. White beat E. W. Bastard

Contrary to expectation it was an easy victory.

Page 31: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Fhes Matches.

A. O. Whiting beat

A walk over for the winner.

O. R. Buckle

295

Mongan

SquareyGrenfell

Final Round.

A. O. Whiting beat J. WhiteThese were good games, but White succumbed more easily than

was expected.White beat Parker easily in the tie for second place.

JUNIOR SINGLE-HANDED.

First Round.

Fowler beat nfayoHobbs beat Jacob, mi.

This was an easy victory for Hobbs, Jacob omitting to score inthe second game.

Lester, mi. beatSheldon beatBlab beat

Blake was far superior to his adversary.Flindt beat· House, mi.

These were really capital games, the defeated party playing upwith great spirit.

Second Round.

Sheldon beat FlindtHobbs beat lI1cGusty

These were not closely contested games.Fowler beat Blake

Lester mi. a bye.

beatbeat

Third Round.

SheldonLester, mi.

Final Round.

Lester, IDl. beat

These were fairly good games.

FowlerHobbs

Sheldon

Page 32: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

296

SCHOOL NEWS.

H. H. May has been elected to an Open C~assical Scholarship atWadham College, Oxford.

R. P. Tregarthen has been elected to an Open Classical Scholar­ship at University College, Oxford.

R. St. J. Ainslie has been elected to an Open Classical Scholarshipat Oriel College, Oxford. .

H. L. Leverton has been elected to a Dyke Scholarship for nativesof Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford.

We are glad to see that J. C. Barton and H. Broadmead havepassed into Sandhurst 5th and 10th respectively•

.Also that W. M. Rodder has passed 2nd out of Woolwich intothe Engineeers.

The following have been presented with their First Fifteen colourssince our last issue :-W. J. Harper, F. W. Northey, H. Rattray,W. C. Penney, J. E. Hayne, and H. Laing; and with their SecondFifteen colours, Cambridge, Ince, Turner, and Methuen.

The Head Master's Glee Prize has been awarded to the SchoolRouse, and Mr. Parker's Hymn Prize to Wood's, the Rev. H. J.Poole kindly acting as judge.

The following fellows were promoted into the Sixth last term :­Barnes, ma., Cambridge, Rolme, and Young, ma.

The following fellows left last term :-Of the XV., J. T. Harries,W. G. Welsford, and R. Broadmead; and of the VIth, H. Broad­mead and R. L. Leverton.

The Games Committee is as follows :-1st XI. 1st XV. VI.

A. O. Whiting. A. Y. Whitehead. R. S. Airislie.G. M. Lester. C Gaskell. H. P. Tregarthen.E. W. Bastard. T. A. Chalk. E. H. Rensley.

At a meeting held on February 10th, all members except R. S.Ainslie' and H. P. Tregarthen being present, it was resolved -

Cl That the House Matches commence on Monday, Feb. 16th."

" That Football stop on March 6th."

Page 33: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

291

At !I meeting held on February 21d, ail members except E. W.Bastard and E. H. Rensley being present, business respecting theRaces was transacted. .'

A. N. Whitehead has been appointed Captain of the Games for the. ensuing season.

We are glad to see that n. T. Twynam has been playing forEngland against Ireland, and for South against North.

Also that H. A. Tudor (three-qu3rter-back), L. Watkins (half­hack), and C. F. Sanctuary' (forward) played for Oxford; and R. T.Finch (three-quarter-back) for Cambridge in the Inter-Universitytnatch (Rugby Union).

MUSICAL EOCIETY.

The success of a Concert does not depend upon the character ofthe performance alone, it depends very largely also upon the character ofthe audience. A large room scantily filled always presents adepressing appearance; and when the majority of a scanty audienceare afflicted with bad coughs, which seem to drown the mostvigorous efforts of the orchestra, it is rash to expect a concert to be[\ brilliant success. The 52nd concert of the Sherborne SchoolMusical Society laboured under all these burdens. The thermometerWas almost at zero, and in consequence a number of our neighbours,'who usually are present, were afraid to put in an appearance j thosewho were bold enough to venture forth had evidently caught coldsalready, and so were reckless; even in the choir itself there was achorus of coughing from time to time. Yet in spite of all this-ofa room not OVer well filled) of the weather, of coughs-the concertWas an enjoyable- one. The instrumental part of it was delightful,especially the Violoneello Solo by 1fr. W. Pettit and the Tj~io by1fessrs. Regan, W. Pettit, and Wand; but nothing less was to be

I

Page 34: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

298 Musical Society.

expected from such instrumentalists. Haydn's 11 Surprise" wasalso very well given.

The most imporl;ant subject of the whole programme was unfortu­nately the least successful. "The Daughter of J airus," by Dr.Stainer, was to some extent unsatisfactory. Let us not be thoughtto be trving to lay our want of success at Dr. Stainer's door whenwe say that this composition of his wants attractive power; it doesnot altogether look welt thus to turn round upon him, for therendering of the Cantata was not perfect;

In the chorus "Integer Vitro" the Latin was pronounced likeItalian; perhaps we may live to hear it sung as Latin yet. Ainsliedid proper justice to one of the best love-songs in the language.The following is the programme :-

PART I.

Haydn.

Mennetto.

"Ein' Feste Burg"The first verse by the successful House Choir.

SYMPHONY (The Surprise)

Adagio cantabae. Vivace assai. Andante.Allegro di molto.

CHORALE

THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS,

A SACRED CANTATA

llY JOHN STAINER.

The Solos by Giddings, Gibbs, Austin, Nisbet, mi., Penny, mi.,Highmore, Williams, tert., Hole, ma., Carver, Smyth, ma., Gee, andAinslie, ma.

CHORUS

RECITATIV~

THE WAILING

11 In that day."11 Behold, there cometh Unto Jesus."" Sweet tender flow'r."

Page 35: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Musical Society. 299

RECITATIVE ..•CHO~US

RECITATIVE & CHORUSCHORUS

... "And when Jesus was come in."

... "In the death ot a man."

... "ButwhenJesus had put them all out."

'" "To Him who left His throne."

PART n.'. '

1. CORONATION ~:f.AncH (Le Prophete) Meyerbeer.

2. CAROL, "God rest ye" Beethoven.3. Smm," To Anthea, who may command him anything" Hattol/.

Ainslie, ma.4. VIOLONCELLO SOLO, "Fantaisie Hongroise" Dunklel'.

Mr. W. Pettit.

5. CHORUS "Integer Vitffi" l<Yemming.6. TRIO, for Violin, Violoncello and Double Bass Largo

and Fugue Handel.

Messrs. Regan, W. Petitt, and Wand.

7. THE COMPETITION GLEE, " Since first I saw your face" FonZ.The first verse by the successful House Choir, the second by all

the competitors.

8. CAROL " Through the Empyrean" Farmel·.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

At the Piano: Lough.

Oonductor: MR. LOUIS N. PARKER.

Before concluding this notice we should like to touch upon onetopic, though we do it with fear and trembling. It was noticed atthis concert that there was at one period a sudden developement of

conversational powers. To be a good talker is to posses anaccomplishment which is said to be growing rarer daily, and it would

therefore seem wrong for us to say anything which might arrest its

developement in anyone; yet may we not hint that there are SOllle

for whom good music has as much charm as the conversation even of

the most subtle professors of this expiring art 1

Page 36: SIIIRBURNIAN.oldshirburnian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1880...light breeze, just strong enough to make the tops of the wavelets break, and fifty miles away. butinthatclear atmosphere

Entomological

aM

FIELD SOCIETY.

November 26th, I 879.-I1Ir. Cleminshaw gave a ieeture on "T1H"JTasimeter and recent improvements in Telephones," which wasillustrated by several interesting experitnents.

The first meeting of this year was held on February 12th in theNew)Iuseum. The officers for the year were elected as follows :-

President •.• Rev. A. ·Wood.

Curator E. Cleminshaw, Esq.Secretary and Treasilrer H. L. Dixon

As Album Keepers :-

{C. F. Benthail

.•. J. C. Clark.Botanical •.. W. H. 1>ixon.Ornithological H. E. Bowen.Archreologicai R. St. J. Ainslie.

The office of Geolugical Album Keeper "\vas left vacant fur thepresent.

The accounts of the society for last year were then laid before thesoeiety. It was decided that in future the SUbscription be 2s. insteadof 3s. 6d. j and be collected at the end of every term from the Housenfasters.

We beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following)f:\gazines :-Jfalvernian, Wellingtonian (2), Durham UniversityJoltmal (2), DJ'oghedean, ~farlb1l1'ian, St. Ed~6al'd's SchoolOhrunicle (2), The Blue (3), 1'he Melburnian (3), Reading SclwotNagazine, Elstonian, Dovorian, Rossalltan (2), Oliftonian, On.gel,

Oinqne Port, Blackheatiwn, Felsiedian, Columban, Harrovian, Lily,

Ca tthusian , Uppi'l1gham School Magazz'ne, Raihmines School News.