Pharos No. 18 March 1915

We understand that the Governors have expressed their appreciation of the efforts of all who assisted to make the function a success.

The football season 1914-15 has come to an end, and the result for the season is the best the school has had for some years. The team should be heartily congratulated, more especially Street and Took, and Dewell, whose efforts have in a large measure contributed to the satisfactory result.

Played 15; Won 10; Lost 3; Drawn 2; Goals for 66; Goals against 33.

RESULTS SINCE THE LAST ISSUE OF THE "PHAROS."

Played at the Duke of York's School in a torrential downpour. The School showed to some advantage in these conditions, and won by 2-0; Dewell and Watts scoring.

The return match played on December 9th, at Crabble, resulting in a draw, 1-1, after a hard game. Morford scored the School's only goal with a brilliant piece of individual play.

The new term opened with a drawn game, played at the Duke of York's School. Dewell scored the only goal in a very fast and fiercely fought struggle.

The above match was played at Canterbury on January 30th, and, although we fielded a very weak team owing to illness, we won by 15-0. Dewell, 2; Morford, 2; Green, 2; Lyons ii, 2; Lawes, 1; Watts, 2; Costelloe i, 2; Boumer, 1; Rigden (own goal) were the scorers.

Played at the Mill ground on the 3rd February, resulting in a loss of 5-2. The School team had very hard luck, and although Costelloe i. hit the bar twice, with long drives, and Lawes hit the upright several times, only Baurner could score. Street netted a penalty.

This proved to be one of the most equal matches of the season, and the School managed to win thanks to a really brilliant drive by Dewell, two minutes before time, which left the goal-keeper helpless. Dewell, Lyons ii, Bourner, and Lawes also scored for the School.

Since the last issue of "The Pharos" only two matches have been played, two others being postponed owing to wet weather.

This match was played at Canterbury in very wet weather. The School could only field a weak team, and, as a result, lost by 5-0.

Team:—Dearling; Bromley, Lloyd; Chase, Costelloe ii., Badlow; Licence, Tomlin, Perry, Green, Morrison.

Played at Dover, and resulted in a win for the School by 3-2. Green scored two goals; while Worster sent in a fine cross shot which left the goalkeeper helpless.

Team:—-Dearling; Bromley, Lloyd; Chase, Cahill, Costelloe; Morrison, Green, Perry, Tomlin, P. C, Worstel.

The Sixes' Competition has this year been held under great difficulties, the whole of the matches having been played at the Mill Ground after School hours. Thanks are due to those who kindly refereed the matches. The results of the Competitions are as follows:—

First Round.—Castelloe i. beat Morford; Watts beat Lawes; Dewell beat Street. Atkins, Hichens, Lyons ii., and Took drew byes.

Second Round.—Dewell beat Costelloe i.; Watts beat Hichens; Atkins beat Lyons ii.; Lovely beat Took.

Fina1.—Dewell (9 goals 6 corners) beat Lovely (1 goal). Dewell's Team:—Dewell, Morrison, Parker ii., Dixon, Head, Day. Lovely's Team:—Lovely, Bromley, Parker i., Roberts, Horrex, Hopkins.

In spite of the depressing conditions, seven of the members of Form IIa. have banded together for the purpose of studying Nature. The phrase "Studying Nature" in this case means the process of collecting butter1Jies, birds' eggs, small animals and plants, the expenses thereby involved being supplied by a weekly subscription from each of the members of the Club. Outings are held every Saturday, the Club going out into the woods and obtaining various specimens of plants, etc., for their collection.

For the purpose of managing, also to avoid quarrelling, a President is appointed every two weeks, a Cashier, a Secretary, and also a Cipherist. For the purposes of distinguishing the members of this Club, the ingenious Cipherist contrived to make some green badges, the effect of which, however, proved to be not very successful.

An unfortunate incident occurred one sunny afternoon—the Cashier, in attempting to jump across a stream, slipped, and emerged a wiser boy, and a dripping spectacle! This was followed by a week in bed, where, no doubt, handkerchiefs were in great demand.

The following additions or corrections to the Roll of Honour published in the last "Pharos" have come to hand:—

T. Eaves (01/05)—Sub-Lieutenant, East Surrey Regiment.
H. J. Hosking (08/13)—Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers.
A. M. Goodbun (03/07)—Sub. Licutenant, R.N.R., H.M.S. "Inflexible"

S. Belchamber (01/06)—(Mine-sweeping).
G. Baldwin (05/09)—Anti-Aircraft Corps, R.N.V.R.
W. G. Bartlett—Royal Garrison Artillery, Gibraltar.
E. W. Clarke (05/07)—H.M.S. "Erne."

F. Day (05/07)—East Kent Cycling Battalion.
A. C. Eastes (09/11)—Mounted Signaller at the Front.
A. W. Evans (06/08)—H.M.S. "Recruit."

R. Finnis (08/10)—Torpedo Boat No. 9.
J. Lawrence (02/03)—R.A.M.C., Rcgular Army.
D. McPherson (09/12)—Army Pay Corps.
H. E. Nye (09/10)—Royal Garrison Artillery.
H. J. Penn (04/05)—Anti-Aircraft Corps, R.N.V.R.
R. Pessers (11/12)—Anti-Aircraft Corps, R.N.V.R.
T. Pritchard (07/12)—Repairing Mine-sweepers.
G. P. Saville (08/09)—3rd (City of London) Royal Fusiliers.
G. Saunders (13/14)—Royal West Surrey Regiment.
C. A. Osborne (07/10)—Honourable Artillery Company.
W. Pearce—Royal Flying Corps.

The County Education Authorities have asked that the ranks (Commissioned or Non-commissioned) held by old boys serving in the Forces be also recorded. We give below a list of those known to us and shall be grateful for further information.

J. T. Gocdchild (01)—First Lieutenant.
C. Reeder (07/12)—Sergeant.
N. V. Sutton (09/12)—Sergeant.
A. Durhan (03/08)—Corporal.
G. R. French—Lance-Corporal.

The Headmaster's post bag of letters from Old Boys is particularly interesting at the present time when, as the list printed in the last issue of the "Pharos" showed, so many Old Boys are on Active Service. It is gratifying to find that many Old Boys keep in direct touch with the Old School.

H. J. Hosking, now Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, write, from Epsom, where he is billeted. We are glad that his desire for a Commission has been realised.

Gunner W. G. Bartlett, writes from Gibraltar, where he is just finishing his second year of service. His chief anxiety seems to be to get to the front with the new draft which he anticipated would be leaving shortly.

We are pleased to hear of A. T. Eaves' appointment to a temporary Commission in the New Army, he being posted to the 10th East Surrey Regiment. We understand that he did remarkably well in his examination at the end of his course of musketry instruction and merits congratulation.

J. R. MacWalter has written from the Front, or at least from the base whence he expected to proceed to the firing line soon after writing his letter. He complains of mud and rain, but appears cheerful enough in spite of these discomforts.

Sidney Igglesden of the 2nd Kent Battery, R.F.A. (T.) sends along an interesting letter from Jubbulpore, where he is going through a period of hard training. As an old scout he is naturally interested in the future of the School Scouts. He refers to the immense value of his former Scout training, especially in his signalling work.

We have pleasure in reprinting in its entirety a letter from T. E. Durban, on Active Service in France.

Dear Sir,—I have no doubt you would be pleased to hear from one of your old pupils, now in an unexpected role. It is a pity I cannot give interesting particulars, but the censorship is rather strict.

We have now been over here nine weeks and during that time have done four Spells in the trenches, the longest period being twelve days.

The greater part of the battalion goes into the firing line, keeping watch day and night, snipers on both sides making things interesting and occasionally scoring. The rest are put into reserve trenches just behind. They do not have to keep watch, but get fatigues after dark bringing up rations, wood, and coke.

One gets from the reserves to the firing line by communication trenches which are on the average a foot deep in water—if your luck is out you may step in up to your waist—but the fatigue parties go overland to the rear with searchlights swinging round and star bombs going up.

The dug-outs in the clay sides must have been very snug in the dry weather with three or four feet of solid earth above and the sides dry. But the wet and thaws have brought them all down. Consequently they have had to be built up with wooden supports and roofs covered with clay—the floor is beautifully soft but somewhat wet. At first the wood was obtained from the ruined farms and cottages behind us, but now the matter is tackled scientifically and prepared ends and cut planks are brought up over night.

Wet clay is the bugbear—the food is more or less coated with it, the water bottle contains it in suspension, one's clothes are daubed with it, hair filled with it, and one's pipe choked with it. It appears to be quite wholesome.

When we retire we go back a mile or so and act as supports. This is not altogether a rest cure, as we are within sight of the "Allemand" lines, and if we show ourselves during the day, or strike lights at night, they put in a few high explosives to drive us out and they salute us with shrapnel.

I shall never forget that Flanders is a low-lying country. Unfortunately the trenches are below that level. As fast as the trenches are dug the water comes in. However we are standing it well.

I remember, I remember,

When I was but a child,

The quantity of homework done,

And how my pater smiled.

I remember, I remember;
How mother praised her boy,

And said she always knew that he

would be her pride and joy.

I remember, I remember,

The money that I spent,

And though I said that it was given,

Pa said 'twas only lent.

I remember, I remember,

The cane which father kept,

And how, if I lay upon my back,

I very rarely slept.

I remember, I remember,

The fruit trees overhead,

And how I never climbed up them

But when pa was in bed.

I remember, I remember,

The cigarettes I smoked,
How much my stomach hated them,

And how I nearly choked.

I remember, I remember,

When first I boxed a round,

I thought 'twas I who ought to hit—

The reasoning was not sound.

I remember, I remember,

My glimpse of Dover Town,

With its noble winding river

Washing the rubbish down.

I remember. I remember,

The famous D.C.S.,

With its playground—oh, so spacious.

And boys in Eton dress.

I remember, I remember,

My journeys to and fro,

And how I wished the station near,

Just when my watch was slow.

I remember, I remember,

The master's visage grim,

Correcting my French exercise—

Oh, how I pitied him!

I remember, I remember,

The new school, large and white,

Which, vainly longed for many a year,

Now really is in sight.

SOUVENIR.

On half-term holiday my cousin and I took a walk round the docks. We did a sailor a favour by fetching him something from a Post Office. He offered us a shilling, but we did not like to take it, so I asked if we could come "on board" and have a look round. So, after a quartet or an hour, we climbed up a gangway to the "forecastle" (about 30 degrees ascent). We then were shown the forward 4-inch gun, which was covered with grease for rough seas; inside the gun are spirals running up to the breech, to enable the shell to twist round and round to keep it straight when in forward motion. We next saw the two 18-inch tubes, and saw a torpedo in each of them, ready for firing. There was an anti-aircraft gun, in case of an attack.

The speed of this ship is 33 knots per hour (about 44 land miles). She has two 4-inch guns and a small aircraft gun, two 18-inch tubes, and is a "turbine destroyer" of 1,090 tons. These fast boats bum oil fuel only.

Possibly one of the things which might be adduced as tending to show the brotherhood of mankind, is the fact that, left to himself, man has always developed along the same general lines as other men, although completely ignorant of their progress and perhaps of their very existence. This development is naturally greatly modified by his environment, sometimes aided and sometimes retarded by it, but still a man has the same craving for freedom, riches or a satisfactory religion, whether he be a fair Scandinavian or a dark Hindu. So it is in mythology. The same gods are found in the Hindu pantheon as are found in Asgardh feasting with Odhin, but modified in each case by the national characteristics of the people who worshipped them.

The reason for this lies in the fact that almost all religions had their origin in nature worship of some form or other, and since natural phenomena appear the same to all people, the deities by which they were typified bear considerable resemblance to one another. But as time went on new gods were introduced into the various mythologies and new traits given to the original nature-gods, which were more particularly characteristic of the lines along which the people were developing, until the original similarity became much less pronounced, although the resemblance between the earlier and, as a rule, greater gods was ineradicable.
Two instances will perhaps show this more dearly.

The gods which most strikingly resemble one another are undoubtedly those of the sun and light. Of these Apollo is by far the most perfect creation; he is young, handsome, beneficent, delights in music and song, and is gifted with the power of prophecy, in fact he is the embodiment of all the artistic ideals of the Greeks who found in him an expression of the brighter and perhaps better side of their character. Like him, Balder, the Norse god of light, is the type of youthful beauty but Balder is more of a seasonal deity than a sun god and beyond the fact that his influence is for good and that his death was to mark an era of darkness and destruction, he has no further traits in common with the other deities' of light. Florus, in Egyptian mythology, bears considerable resemblance to Balder, but he is surpassed by the great sun-god Ra, who travels by day across the heavens in his boat until at nightfall he descends to do battle with the serpent Apepi and his band of demons in the vale of Tuat, whom he overcomes after twelve hours fighting which however has to be renewed the following night. The Babylonian sun-god Shamash, in addition to his usual beneficent attributes, holds the position of judge or lawgiver of the universe in which capacity, to a certain extent, he resembles Odhin.

A marked similarity is also shown by thunder and storm gods, most of whose characteristics are embodied in Thonarez or Thor, a deity whose name has been perpetuated in the English word Thursday. Thor, in addition to presiding over the natural phenomena mentioned, ;s the protector of men and the home, and is the god of victory and justice. His red beard is the lightning, the blows of his hammer and the rolling of his chariot wheels are the thunder. Many myths have grown up around him and his hammer, one of which relates how it was stolen from him by the frost giant Thrymr, who demanded that Freyja should become his wife before he would restore it. Since Thrymr had buried the hammer seven fathoms beneath the ground, and since Freyja evinced the greatest hatred for the proposed marriage, Thor and Loki his companion determined to resort to guile in order to regain possession of Mjolner, the wonderful weapon. The two, accordingly disguise themselves as Freyja and her waiting maid and set off to the giant's abode, who seeing them in the distance, digs up Mjolner, only to find on their nearer approach that he had been deceived. Thor snatches up the hammer and proceeds to exterminate not only Thrymr, but his brother giants as well, before returning in triumph to Asgardh. This is obviously a symbolical representation of the. destruction of the icy winter by the return of spring.

Indra and Zeus both resemble Thor in his capacity of storm or thunder god, but they have other attributes, lacking in the simple peasant-like Thor, which place them in rather higher positions, in their respective pantheons, than that occupied by him. Other deities resembling him are the Mexican god Mixcoatl and the Hindu god, Rudra.

Whole books might be written on so wide a subject as this, but the two groups described show, how, almost every god has his double, somewhat obscured perhaps by additional attributes, among the deities of other pantheons; and it is as interesting to trace out the causes of these differences as to draw parallels and assign explanations to the myths themselves.

This exhibition was opened at 12.30 p.m. on December 22nd, the day upon which we broke up for our holidays. Upon entering the building we saw the caretaker standing by a little table with his roll of tickets. At the far end of the corridor from the workshop came the rumble of the gas-engine and the screech and clatter of the circular saw. Upon the benches and desks lay various models of woodwork and cardboard; these consisted of ducking-stools, Indian canoes, calendars, and other such articles of juvenile construction. Upstairs, in the microscopic department the composition of chalk, chemicals, together with various rocks and minerals, could be viewed. Two curios were very interesting; one consisted of some very small writing, which, when magnified, could just be distinguished as the British National Anthem, "God Save the Queen"; the other was a very small photograph of a Bank Note for £20. In conjunction with this a lantern with a microscopic objective was used. The slides showed various plants and insects, amongst which were specimens of the bramble, sugar-cane, the common bluebottle, "daddylong-legs," and other insects. The chemical laboratory had its own particular "slogan." Now. and again a low whistle which gradually rose and died down again, could he heard; it would be repeated several times on different notes, sometimes stopping suddenly at the top note (when the light went out). When the experiments were in full swing some careless person had an accident with the chemicals and a rush for the door ensued amidst H2S. A place of refuge was found next door, in the Science Lecture Theatre, where various electrical experiments were being carried on. Of these the most interesting were' a number of Geissler Tubes exhibiting electrical fluorescence, which was explained to be due to the bombardment of the substance by electrons, or small particles charged with negative electricity. A demonstration of Röntgen Rays, by which opaque objects were rendered partially transparent, also proved to be very attractive. Great excitement prevailed amongst the smaller children when the vortex-ring box was brought into action. In addition to these there was a good collection of drawings, both architectural and engineering and a large number of sketches and paintings.

Strange though it may seem, yet one can draw a comparison between our troops now fighting in Egypt and, Leonidas and his band of three hundred Spartans.

There were two ways into that part of Greece, and there are two ways into Egypt, one beside the Suez Canal and the other at the southern end of the Sinai Peninsular.

Our own soldiers, like the Spartans, are facing an enemy far superior in numbers; indeed, it is said that the Persian army was ten thousand times the size of that of the Spartans.

The Spartans held the pass of Thermopylœ against the Persians, under Xerxes, who was the dupe of evil counsellors, until the Persians were led by an exiled Greek through the other pass, and there attacked Leonidas in the rear.

The Spartans fought till every man was killed; but let us hope that our troops will suffer no such disaster. It is certain that the British nation will honour the memory of those who have fallen fighting for their country as much as did the Greeks, who erected a marble lion over the remains of those who had fallen, with the inscription:—"Stranger, tell the Spartans that we lie here in obedience to our orders."

I find myself, even in this period of High Civilisation, writing in a time of War, when the nations of Europe, the Mecca of all learning, are thrust upon the last rungs of persuasive argument. Does it not seem strange to us, that one year ago we never dreamed of the War? It is true that the Anti-German feeling has existed for a dozen years or more, evident in the fiction of Boys' magazines, those. "Invasion of England" stories which were such incentives to the same feeling, but nevertheless they did have influence.

How we will learn our History now and our Geography! The rise and fall of Napoleon is interesting even now; the names of Wellington and Nelson are dearer to us now than they have ever been. But not only to you in England are these names, names to give inspiration, but in every colony the predominance of Patriotism is evident.

You should have seen the various cities of Canada when War was declared, the display of flags and the unusual reverence of the Soldier. I passed through two cities on that day, I was in our car and had just come from a trip to Lake Simcoe, about one hundred miles away. "Extras" were coming out in true New York fashion, and people gathered in front of the bulletin boards of the newspaper offices (not the usual scrappy boards, with. the announcement of some death on them; but large boards by day, and electric lanterns lighted by night). Well, it was noble to see how the Belgians resisted the German attacks, but imagine yourself in a huge, cheering crowd, singing to the strains of some patriotic song, and being swayed with them; the love of country was thus intensified and expanded with the heat of the day.

One might have expected one atom of disloyalty here in Canada, but such was not the case, for the Union Jack is revered and honoured with as much awe as it is revered and honoured in England. It is strange, too, to notice the show and pomp of Canada's patriotism. Flags were unfurled with unvarying promptitude, and the war songs were soon on the records of the Victoria, a general member of entertaining households.

In the commercial way, the war has vastly influenced Canada, the red, white and blue being the pre-eminent colours in which we write our goods advertisement. The famous makers of Gillet's Razors have changed their articles, momentarily, the bull-dog being imbued with superficial wisdom and barking, "What we have we'll hold"; "What we haven't we'll make," the last clause being the slogan or bye-word of Canadian manufacturers. And Canada has a manufacturing element, it generally being thought that it is a purely agricultural country. If you were to visit Toronto, as I did last week, you would not see a single grain of wheat or a cow; you would see factories busily working overtime to fill the orders of the British and Canadian Governments. Here, I would tell you, that the buildings of Canada are not log cabins, but substantial and noble structures, many of them "sky-scrapers"—following, again, the New York style. In fact, we are very Yankee down here, having the previous New York evening papers on our breakfast table.

Thus it is, that Canada is open to a great deal of Pan-Germanic influence. For instance, the "Literary Digest," until recently a very good weekly of Kew York, has been utterly barred from sale in Canada, owing to its Germanic sympathies. So far as the war goes, in the United States everyone there seems to be in favour of Great Britain, and thus the m1burdened thought of attack from our Southern neighbours; besides which the financiers of both countries are too closely intertwined in commercial bonds to think of disruptions.

To the visitors of Toronto, one thing particularly attracts them, and that is the sudden conversion of the Exhibition grounds into a military centre. How strange it is, too, that Toronto's Exhibition this year was called "Peace Year," celebrating thus the one hundred years of peace between the United States and Canada. And now, where the doves of peace and the merry crowds have rested, marches the foot of soldiers, and the strains of the joyous band" have quickened into the martial tune.

And now, in closing, might I add that I still have a feeling for the old Dover County School, and not the wars of a hundred nations can cloud over my memories of that School. I have learnt now that "the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts," and often as I see the merry school children go to school I can hear that old familiar cracked bell. But what a change has come over everything. What do we see but a small Motherland, aided by her loyal Colonies, fighting the battle of right. Each of us now has a love of country, and in our country's need will we be there?

The duties of a regimental Quartermaster at the Front are far more arduous than many people imagine, He is responsible for all the stores and equipment of the regiment, and draws and issues the rations daily to the officers and men. The horses and wagons belonging to the regiment are also under his charge. An infantry battalion at war strength usually has sixty horses attached to it, and forage etc., has to be drawn daily. Rations are drawn from the Army Service Corps by the quartermaster, or one of his staff, and he has to deliver them at the trenches. This is often a very dangerous proceeding, especially when heavy shelling is going on, and it has usually to be done at the darkest hour of the night. On very stormy nights in pouring rain this is not a very comfortable job. The wagons only go a certain distance; then the provisions are packed on the horses, and they go forward as quietly as possible so that the enemy will hear no movement. With the daily rations the letters and parcels are also taken up, which, perhaps, the men are looking forward to more than their food. These are all handed over at a certain point to the representatives of the different companies of the regiment. The quartermaster then reports himself to the colonel for orders, and also gives him any news or orders from behind. When a regiment has to move at very short notice, from one place to another, the quartermaster is responsible for the loading and unloading of the wagons and supply carts of the regiment. The usual plan at the Front at present, is that a regiment stays a week in the trenches and then comes out for a week, when they are billeted in a village or any large building near at hand (convents have often been used for this purpose}. The quartermaster has then to see that the men are comfortable in their billets. There is a cooking staff to each regiment, consisting of a cook-sergeant and a couple of cooks per company, these men are all overlooked by the quartermaster.

He has many other duties to perform which shows the position is no sinecure. Although the quartermaster does not go into the trenches and the real fighting line, he is often under heavy shell fire, as the Germans make a: point of shelling transport wagons whenever they can see: them. The quartermaster is often in a very tight corner, especially, as happened several times in the hasty retreat from Mons, when the regimental transport is attacked.

Oft do I meditate upon

The times I've left behind me;

The friends once known—now lost and gone,

The ancient haunts, now changed each one,

"Where ne'er again thou'lt find me.

Then, with a thought my head does burn,

Which nigh to tears would move me,

That those now gone will ne'er return—

New friends they meet, new ways they learn;
Will they soon cease to love me?

But next there flashes through my brain

A thought with which I'd cheer me:
All are not gone—some yet remain

Who love me still, through joy or pain.
The old familiar faces,

Some of them still are near me.

ANON.

Thursday, February 25th, was a red letter day if the history of the School, the parents of the boys being invited to meet the Headmaster and the Staff at an "At Home" kindly arranged by our much esteemed Chairman of the School Governors, Mr. Hugh Leney. Of course we all knew the Staff very well by name (not always those by which they usually know themselves), and it was for us parents, a pleasant and interesting experience to meet those who are sharing the important and alas very difficult task of educating and training our offspring.

The real business of the evening was to consider the advisability of forming a "Parents' Association," the object of which would be to assist the Headmaster and Staff when possible in any work for the welfare of the boys and the School generally. Our Chairman briefly sketched the lines upon which the Association could be formed, and instanced the proposed Cadet Corps as a subject upon which it would he very useful to have the opinion and advice of the parents. Although entirely favourable to the suggested Association he considered it a question entirely for the parents to decide and for that reason he had asked them to meet and discuss the matter.

Mr. C. P. Tomlin said the idea really emanated from the Headmaster's speech at the last Prize Day when he asked for a closer union between the parents of the boys and the Staff. As one of the parents he we1comed the suggestion and was of the opinion that the Association would not only be a help to the boys and the Staff, but also of benefit to the parents. They would all work for the same object and the result should be to stimulate each others efforts. He emphasised the point that they were to work with and not against the Staff. They were indeed fortunate in having a Chairman who had worked for many years in the face of much opposition and discouragement, to ensure that the children of Dover should have the means of a sound modern education. In Mr. Whitehouse they had a Headmaster qualified by character and attainments for a far more important position than he at present held, and they had every "reason to believe" that he was backed up by an efficient and devoted Staff. The building of the new school had already commenced, it was to cost a great deal of money,—a fact which the people of Dover had only just realised—and it was surely incumbent upon them nor only as parents but ratepayers to see that they had full value for their money.

Mr. Whitehouse gave the proposed Association his blessing. He said he would welcome suggestions and thought the Association would afford a pleasant and sociable opportunity of discussing school matters with the parents.. While stipulating that nothing should be done to in any way interfere with the discipline of the school, he also repudiated the idea that parents could merely leave their children with the Headmaster and the Staff, and expect "the finished article" returned in due course without any effort on the part of the parents. He proceeded to give us a most delightful and inspiring lecture upon our duties and responsibilities, and soon made us feel that we were at school again.

Mr. Parker also spoke in approval of the proposal, and said the suggested Cadet Corps was a matter that required very serious consideration.

The resolution that a Parents' Association should be formed was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously, the following Committee being elected to make preliminary arrangements:—Mr. Hugh Leney and Mr. F. Whitehouse (ex-officio) Messrs. Isaacs, Morford, Morgan, Panter, G. Thomas and C. P. Tomlin.

A very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for his kindness in convening the Meeting, and in reply Mr. Leney took the opportunity of giving us a brief account of the relations existing between Dover and the Kent County Council Education Committee during the last twelve years, which made some of us think it was a pity a Parents' Association bad not been established in Dover years ago.

No doubt it will be noticed that in most cases the reservists of the regular army, like to give their impression of the new recruits in Kitchener's Army. Firstly because they, having served their time (coming out as full private, or lance-corporal at the most), consider themselves in a position to give such a criticism, and secondly because they presume that the Kew Army, consists of a number of upstarts who by some means or other manage to get their promotion in a very short time. Of course those who take this point of view are not reservists of any rank, but simply "n'er do wells" who never could succeed, and therefore envy others.

"Yer ought ter see 'em" is what some say, "fed up to their neck wi' food and gettin' twice as much as we got in our time." "Goes out for what they call a route march an' gets an appetite like an elephant." "They're starving 'ungry when they gets back to barricks and can't even wait for the cook to get fairly inside the door." "They charges 'im i' full rugger style and then scramble for the 'taters and 'aricot beans on the floor." "Dunno how they goes on about the meat, but I 'spect they scramble for that as well, 'praps fight for it."

"It's these kind 0' chaps that we has to put through their drills, and they're as slow and stiff-jointed as could be." "Up to all kinds 0' tricks they are when yer trying to show au other chap to balance himself on one leg properly, just like so many school boys." "Dunno what they'll be like when they gets across the other side, got no constertution at all."

The gentleman who gives such a description, puts the question to you as a conclusion: "Are yer goin' ter join Kitchener's, matey? I wouldn't; they're a rotten lot." At this minute it is more than likely that one of the young recruits will come upon the scene with the same question. His idea of it is expressed as follows: "Fine game, decent food, everything of the best, only one thing I can't stick: its them drill instructors."

While our Grand Fleet are keeping a vigilant watch in the North Sea, some of the men of the Royal Navy have had many exciting adventures, as the following story, told by a Dover Navy man will show:—

"We were ordered to Chatham on August 4th, and I was appointed as stoker on H.M.S. 'Hogue,' an old 1902 cruiser. which, with her sister ships, 'Aboukir' and 'Cressy.' were engaged in patrol duty in the North Sea. The first event of any importance was after the fight off Heligoland, when the 'Arethusa' was badly damaged. We received information, and steamed to her assistance. Finding her practically unable to move, we steamed round her all day, to deceive the Germans as to how badly she was, damaged, and at night we towed her into harbour.

"'After a while the three ships went to Queenstown. Here we coaled, and early the next morning the 'Aboukir' and 'Cressy.' went out for gun practice, the 'Hogue' following a little later for the same purpose. Later in the day there was a rumour that we had gone, out to engage the Germans, and the 'Hogue' was sunk.

"We then went back to the North Sea, and on the 22nd September we were all three torpedoed, and sent to the bottom.

"I was on duty in the stoke-hole when my friend ran down and told me the 'Aboukir' was sinking. 'Have a pull at the other leg!' I said. But he assured me, and I went up to see for myself. Sure enough, she was going over on one side. Now and then we saw the periscopes of the enemy, at which we fired. Then we were struck, first amidships then astern.

"The drums beat us on deck, and not even a small boy flinched. The Captain soon gave the command, 'Every man for himself!' and overboard we went. By this time the 'Aboukir' had turned turtle, but she floated because of the steam in her. The 'Hogue' sunk three minutes after being struck. Then the 'Cressy,' came up and hammered at the enemy, at the same time lowering boats to save us. She, too, in turn was struck. Then down went the 'Aboukir'. We swarm hard to get away from the suction of the boats. The 'Cressy' fired as long as possible, and then sank.

"The submarines then came up and headed towards the struggling mass of men in the water. We thought they were going to cut us up, but suddenly they dived, and were no more seen.

"Despair settled on those in the water, and minutes seemed like hours. Half an hour, one hour, two hours passed, but no signs of being saved came.

"After another half an hour a sail was seen. It proved to be a Yarmouth trawler. We hailed her, and about 80 climbed on board. We were given clothes, and made as comfortable as possible. We were landed at Lowestoft, and clothed, and sent on to Chatham. Here we were treated very kindly by the people, who gave us cigarettes, etc. We were given ten days' leave, and I soon got to Dover.

"When my leave was up I was sent to Portsmouth for a course of motor driving, but, after ten days, was recalled to join H.M.S. 'Sirius,' a 24-year-old cruiser. We went to the Belgian coast, and did some good work with the monitors and other ships in bombarding the coast. We were, however, condemned by the Admiralty as being obsolete, and we were sent back to Dover. On the return we thought we saw periscopes of German submarines. After firing at them for some minutes we got closer, and found the supposed periscope to be an old tobacco tin.

"Sometimes, however, we did see periscopes, and a shudder ran through the men in the ship, and we ran full speed from them, knowing we should stand no chance, as we had no armour plating.

"We got to Dover, and were going to Portsmouth, but next we found ourselves aground at Harwich in rough weather. We got off easily after four hours, and put to sea.

"We then went on patrol duty off the East Coast. We did not get the Princess Mary gift on board our ship, neither did we get our winter clothing, and, as a result, I caught a bad chill, and was taken to Grimsby Hospital. Here I remained for nine weeks, being invalided from the 'Sirius.' I then was given a few days leave, and came back to Dover, and I am now waiting for another ship to take me into action again."

The shades of night had fallen fast. Presumably, they had settled, Unfortunately, I had not, for "X " persisted in remaining an unknown quantity, I wonder why "X" is so frequently associated with trouble! Young stagers are oft perplexed thereby, while old stagers have sadly proved the potency of a certain multiple, And "X" is of necessity in "fix" and "mix." I admit it is not in "solution," but should you ever be mathematically fixed or mixed, there is a danger .of there being something in pickle. Really it felt, I should say looked, so sweetly simple. I saw a problem a wise saw set in one of your books, and that wise saw made me try to sharpen my wits. My mind was set as steel to the task.

My dear old schoolmaster used to assure me that Nature abhorred (strong language) a vacuum. As it is very foolish to be at loggerheads with what it placed above you, I only either scratched or rubbed it, but no light came for a long while. I felt very much in the condition of the unsatisfied juvenile in the bath yearning for a certain article. I have not yet learned if the young shaver ever reached and took the cake. Let's 'ope so! I didn't have any, for cake, particularly if new, is prone to disorganise the organs of digestion, when in ordinary course they are, or should be somnolescent.

Nevertheless, I "got" the answer, as boys were wont to exclaim in the hoary past. Possibly, boys of to-day express themselves with greater grammatical accuracy, although I recently heard a typical example make the inexplicable remark, "Not' arf! " The answer I obtained was wholly satisfactory. Ask me not for formulae, or for a sight of my working. Both must remain un-revealed. You are not always aware of the articles employed in the composition of sausage, but when the consumption thereof has the desired effect, a feeling of satisfaction creeps over you. Thus with my prob. Various laws contributed to the elucidation of the mystery, and I was as pleased as a puppy with three tails. Never seen one! I can conclusively prove (though not by algebra) that all normal puppies are thus favoured. No puppy has two tails. One puppy must have one more tail than no puppy, therefore one puppy is trebly entailed.

But to return to my tale. Many years ago I was at school, happy and careless. I am still happy, but hairless. Possibly, homework and the resultant brain exercise have helped in the construction of one more skating rink. That reminds me. My subject is "Homework." I am constrained to observe:—

1.—Home Lessons are a very profitable institution, particularly for the Gas Company.

4.—It is unkind of the authorities to seek the cooperation of the parents in homework. They are sufficiently exercised in dealing with their own X's.

5.—In the event of a parent assisting in the performance of his son's exercise, he should be requested (by the authorities) to add a certificate to that effect. The marks, if any, to be added to the family account. As the answers would, as a rule, be incorrect, I am sure the boys would vote for this arrangement to a man.

It would have been difficult to find two men who led more isolated lives than Jules Meprier and Jacques Carville. Early in the summer of 1869 they had taken a little cottage on the outskirts of the village of Vermeille, in which they lived, never entering the village except for such supplies as were necessary. Their whole time seemed to he spent in fencing and rifle practice in the woods which completely surrounded Vermeille, and the two ex-soldiers, for such they were, possessed truly marvel1ous skill with their weapons.

When, three weeks after war broke out between France and Prussia, a detachment of German troops entered the village, billeted themselves on the inhabitants, and posted sentries to watch for any French troops which might be in the vicinity, Jules and his friend disappeared. Nobody missed them at first, but when it was whispered that every morning two sentries had been found stabbed to the heart, they remembered the two old soldiers who had lived among, though not with them. The commanding officer was impotent, his men seemed absolutely helpless against the mysterious francs-tireurs who lurked in the gloomy woods around them. On the sixth morning two more sentinels were found dead at their posts and he swore that if any more deaths occurred he would shoot the six leading men in the village by way of retribution. To show that he was in earnest he had them arrested and confined in Meprier's empty cottage.

The sentries that night kept a. sharp look-out and none was keener than young Karl Gaunitz, yet in spite of his vigilance he failed to notice the two gray forms which had emerged from different points in the wood and were advancing on him. It was about half an hour before dawn; a thunderstorm was coming up from the southwards and as he watched the lightning some feeling of danger may have swept over him, for at the very instant that one of the grey-clad figures leaped at him, he turned with a shiver to continue his pacing up and down, with the result that the blow which must otherwise have been fatal merely wounded him in the shoulder. With a cry he turned towards his assailant, discharging his rifle as he did so, and sought to grapple with him hut in vain. The second of the francs-tireurs rose from his cover, paused for an instant to take aim, then fired, and with a choking cry Karl Gaunitz spun round, stumbled, and collapsed against the parapet of the bridge which he was guarding. Then without a word both men set. off to the wood, where" eagerly awaiting them, was a group of men armed also with rifles. From the distance had sounded the noise of a horse galloping which gradually grew nearer until the rider could be seen entering the village in the gray light of dawn. How intensely the little band in the wood watched all that was being enacted before their eyes. The shots which had accompanied the death of Gaunitz had roused the village and the arrival of the messenger with despatches ordering its evacuation served only to increase the confusion. Within a short time of his departure the hulk of the German force was seen to leave Vermeille .and set off in the direction of Beauvois. The two francs-tireurs had by now cast off their grey cloaks, revealing themselves, as was expected, as Meprier and Corville.
"Quick" cried the former, "follow me and we can ambush them in the cutting," but just as he was setting off, one of his companions pointed to the village from which a strange red light appeared. "They've burnt my house," said Meprier calmly, "see, there go the men who were left behind to shoot you, but finding that you had flown, decided to burn your prison by way of retaliation. It was lucky for you that you were imprisoned in my cottage and that Jacques, here, dug that tunnel into the wood last year, or you would not be here now. However don't waste time, but follow me quickly," and he set off into the wood.

Meanwhile the storm had broken in all its fury over the district with almost unprecedented violence. Crossing the forest was dangerous enough for the francs-tireurs who were on foot, but for the Germans mounted on horseback it presented almost insuperable difficulties. They had nearly got through the wood, however, and were passing .along a piece of road with wide sloping banks, covered with trees on either hand, when, with a crash, a tall poplar tree, struck by lightning fell across the road only a couple of yards behind the rear of the troop. Immediately the horses, already terrified, became utterly unmanageable. For an instant there was a lull in the storm, and then two rifle shots rang out from the woods, followed by a perfect burst of lead. It was not the first time that the French chassepot rifle had proved its efficiency to the Germans. The Commandant was killed by the first shot and the Lieutenant, after having had his horse killed beneath him, was mortally wounded a few minutes later. Shot after shot came from the trees, but never was an assailant to be seen, and it can scarcely be wondered at that the Germans, believing themselves to be attacked by a superior force, became panic stricken and galloped off wildly towards Beauvais.
But there was no elation visible on the countenances of the French, for a stray bullet, fired at a venture perchance, had robbed them of their leader. He had fallen without a cry and when they found him at the conclusion of the skirmish his rugged features bore a look of peacefulness, totally at variance with the red pursuit in which he had been engaged. Why had he practised day after day before the War with his rifle? Why had he hunted the Germans down with such vindictiveness? and why had he reserved the first shot for himself in order to slay the Commandant in the final skirmish? No answer was ever given to these questions. The dead kept its secret as safely as in life.

As I passed through this world I lighted on a place where was a well; and I lay me down to sleep, for the book of the lesson was dry like unto dust, yea, even the dust of the cupboards withal. And, behold, I saw two men with burdens on their backs and books in their hands, who, as they read, trembled and cried aloud, "What shall I do, for I cannot learn my Areopagitica and the piffle thereof?

"Now, as they journeyed I perceived that he who was named King At regarded not his book as did his fellow, so that his burden (which is called homework) was much lightened.

Now I espied that in their journeyings they accosted one Termas, who said, "What doest thou here; is not this the hour for the homework; shouldest thou not ply thy pen diligently to the end that thou mightcst obtain marks, and not chastisement?" Then King At conducted Termas to a certain hill, from which issued forth divers noises like unto cats that are sick, which the inhabitants thereof call "Town Band." And the many evil odours of that place were as nothing else in this world. Whereat Termas wotted not what to do lest he should die, for he did quake with fear. But King At laughed him to scorn, and took not heed of the "Lab." Now he that was a grievous swot was filled with envy at the lightness of King At's burden, and I perceived that he was aweary of his load and his book, so that he said, "This is but rot." And he flung it afar off, whereat his burden fell from his back, and he rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

On Wednesday afternoon, March 17th, through the kindness of our Chairman, a small party from the School had the privilege of being conducted over the Dover Works of messrs. A. Leney and Co.

Beer, perhaps the commonest beverage of the day, is a liquor made from malted grain and hops, the process of making it, as seen by the party of inspection, being as follows:—

The barley, the grain which is used, is, first of all heated on a kiln and stored for a short time in sacks to mature, and it is afterwards cleaned, to remove any dust in it. Then it is placed in oblong troughs and covered with water for a day or two; this is to bring about germination.

Next it is drained and stirred to distribute equally the heat and moisture, and spread over the malting floor very evenly, being turned over now and again. Soon the small rootlets begin to sprout, and the barley is spread out thinner; it is then removed to an upper floor and dried under great heat from below. It is very frequently turned, and the temperature, which is carefully regulated, is gradually raised to a maximum, and afterwards the barley is cooled, the roots are sifted, and it is passed through a cleaner, to remove all foreign bodies, and a series of magnets to remove nails and bits of steel. The roots are used as a manure. The malting is the most important part of the process, and the beer is practically made on the kiln. The barley is next weighed and crushed and put into large wooden vessels, which are each fitted with a false bottom, a spray, and a metal rake.

After the water and barley are turned on, the mixture is mashed up and raked round the vat; this is kept at a certain fixed temperature. It remains in this vat for two or three hours, the temperature playing an important part. At this; stage the starch is completely converted into sugar. The "wort," as the resulting liquid is called, is then boiled in large brewing coppers to sterilise and aerate it. At this; stage the hops are added; these are required to give the flavour and aroma to the beer, also to assist in the purification. Thence the "wort" passes on to the refrigerator, through which a steady current of purified air passes. When the "wort" has cooled to its proper temperature, it is run off into a series of fermenting vats. Here carbon-dioxide is given off, and in some cases, collected in an aluminium cone for further use. The yeast rises, and is skimmed to remove a froth of hop resins and impurities, and the rest is either run off by means of a central funnel down into the yeast-troughs below, or skimmed off as before. The yeast is afterwards sold to be made into baking-powders, etc., and the hop impurities are used for manure.. When the "wort" is judged capable of throwing up one more head, the skimming is discontinued, so that the liquid may be preserved from the air by the last head, which, when almost dry, is contorted so as to resemble miniature mountain ranges. The beer is now drawn off from below, the yeast remaining on the bottom of the vat, and put into large casks for storing., After some time the beer is run out of the casks for bottling. The bottles are placed on a revolving shelf, and as they revolve slowly they are mechanically
pushed up to the top of the apparatus and simultaneously filled and carbonated. The bottles come down on the other side of the apparatus, and there they are stoppered, labelled, and packed up fn crates ready to be sent out to the retailers. In some cases, the stoppered bottles are despatched to another compartment for labelling.

The visit was one of the most interesting we have yet had, and this was very largely due to the consideration and patience of Mr. Hammond, the head of the Chemistry Department, who spared no efforts to explain to us the different processes. Our very best thanks are due to him and to Mr. Hugh Leney.

Contents
Headmaster's Notes		The Arts and Crafts Exhibition
Editorial		Spartans and English
Gleams and Flashes		Canada and the War
Correspondence		A Regimental Quartermaster at the Front
Football		Meditations
The Natural History Club		The Parents' Association
D.S.C. and the War		"Kitchener's Army"
Letters from Old Boys		Life on the Ocean Wave
A Letter from the Front		Homework (Inter Alia)
I Remember		France-Tireurs
A Visit to H.M.S. "Viking"		The Scholar's Progress
The Similarity of Mythologies		A Visit to Messrs. Leney's Brewery