No. 24. MARCH, 1917. VOL. VIII.

FIAT LUX.

NOTICES.

The next number of the Pharos will appear about July 21st. Contributions should be handed in not later than June 30th.

We acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of The Erithian.

Copies of the current issue of The Pharos or of back numbers which are in stock may be obtained from the Editor, price 6d.; post free, 7d.

The Editor would be glad to receive names and addresses of any Old Boys, in the Services or elsewhere, who would like to receive copies.

HEADMASTER'S NOTES.

The Summer Term will extend from Thursday, May 3rd, to Tuesday, July 31st (inclusive). Railway passes should be taken up to cover this period.

The "At Home" to parents announced for last term has been abandoned for reasons of War-time Economy.

The Prize Distribution has also been abandoned for similar reasons. The certificates have been presented without ceremony to those entitled to them.

EDITORIAL.

THE present term has been more than usually uneventful. The war and the weather combined make our games more a matter of chance than a regular occurrence, and being in actual occupation of our new buildings, we no longer have to publish those exciting, eagerly-anticipated and sometimes-fulfilled forecasts and rumours concerning the progress of the New School, which were at one time a feature of our pages.

"Happy is the nation that has no history." Equally happy probably is the school in similar case. Not so happy, however, is the Editor of the School Magazine, called upon to work on a foundation of slender and unsubstantial material.

Apropos of the foregoing, and in view of the agitation which is at present raging in the world of journalism, we hasten to assure our readers that it is not our intention, at present, either to reduce the size, or to raise the price of The Pharos.

Probably by the time these lines are in print many of our boys will have become amateur gardeners of no mean skill. They may even have passed the stage of aching backs and stiff limbs which will follow their first efforts. Much as we all regret the loss of our prospective playing field, we shall realise that the nation's necessity is paramount, and shall be proud to add another small achievement to our list of war activities.

Changes on the Staff have become so common that it seems superfluous to comment on them. It appears that the latest claims of the Military Authorities will cause further alterations in the near future. The local Tribunal have recognised the claims of the School and the difficulties of "carrying on," with the result that Mr. Mamlock and Mr. Darby will be leaving for the Army at the end of this term, while Mr. Baxter and Mr. Walker will remain with us till the end of the Summer Term, unless, in the meantime, efficient substitutes can be found.

STAFF CHANGES.

Two new members joined the Staff at the beginning of the Spring Term.

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Mrs. Clatworthy has patriotically closed down her home for the period of the war and placed her services as a classical teacher at the disposal of the country, now that Mr. Clatworthy, who was lecturer in Mathematics at Reading University, has joined H.M. Forces as Lieutenant in the R.G.A.

Mrs. Clatworthy was educated at the South Western Polytechnic Day School, Chelsea, and at Bedford College, London, graduating with Second Class Honours in Classics in 1908, and taking the London University Teachers' Diploma in 1909. She has had teaching experience in Girls' Schools in London and Exmouth.
We were glad to see Lieut. Clatworthy one day at School Dinner. Though coming from a University like Reading with its scientific equipment, he expressed himself delighted with the arrangements for science teaching here, and almost appeared to envy the Upper School its Physics Lab.

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Mr. W. Davies, whose teaching services are available owing to his having unfortunately been rejected for Military Service, becomes responsible for the organisation of the science work of the School.

He was educated at the County School, Llandyssil, Cardiganshire, and at University College, Cardiff, is a B.Sc. (Wales) and holds a diploma in Engineering. He has had experience of the best kind at Wallasley Grammar School, Cheshire, and at Oundle Grammar School, where he was a resident master, and has been for the past four years Senior Mathematical and Science Master at Whitby County School. As the Head Master joined the Forces he became acting Head Master of the latter School.

We hope we may be able to use Mr. Davies' scientific and advanced electricity qualifications to great purpose, both in the Day School and at the Technical Institute. He is most desirous that a school garden should be established for nature study purposes. This will be a new departure for the Junior School, and we wish him every success.

GLEAMS AND FLASHES.

We were all very sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Slater's brother, who was killed on active service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the end of February. We can assure Mr. Slater of the sympathy of the whole School and Staff in his great loss.

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Mr. Tomlinson has been promoted to Sergeant in the R.A.M.C. We were all glad to see him when he paid us a short visit last December.

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Mr. Tunnell has been with the Expeditionary Force, "Somewhere in France," since December.

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Mr. Wheeler has received his commission in the Royal Artillery, and is now at Edinburgh.

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Mr. James crossed to France soon after Christmas and was last heard of from the Headquarters of the Friends' Ambulance Unit. His chief complaint was that he was not allowed to sketch or to take photographs!

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Congratulations to Hadlow, Standring and Lovely on their success at London Matric. The name of R. W. Pryer, one of our Old Boys, appeared in the same list.

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Half the ground originally intended for the School playground and playing field will be dug up for the purpose of growing potatoes. "Epicure" and "Table Talk" are two appropriate varieties which will, we hope, shortly add to the pleasures of the School Dinners.

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Our thanks are due to the Dover Corporation for their offer to lend articles from the Town Museum for the use of the Art and Nature Study Classes.

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Our Dover Prisoners of War Collection had reached £26 4s. 3d. on March 13th.

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Contributions to The Pharos have rather fallen off in quantity this term, though an unusually large proportion of our space was available for articles of general interest. Will boys note the date of publication of our next number and have their efforts ready in good time! There is always room for the best. Forms VI., IVa., III. and IIc. have done well. We wish their keenness would spread to some of the other classes.

D.C.S. AND THE WAR.

Additions to and corrections of former lists:

A. F. Worster (09), 2nd-Lieut., Buffs, from R.E.K.M.R.

H. Morford (07/09), 2nd-Lieut., Yeomanry
W. Newing (03/05), Sergeant, R.G.A.
E. St. J. Keeley (01), Training Reserve.
P. Walker (02/06), Sergeant, Canadian O.E.F.
R Walker (06/08), Unit unknown.
C. Watts (09/15), A.S.C., (M.T.)

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WOUNDED.

E. Fry (07/12), wounded November 22nd, has returned from Hospital at Huddersfield. He is still lame.

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WOUNDED AND PRISONER.

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HONOURS.

In December, 1916, he was attacked by diphtheria and transferred to the Training Reserve. He dropped his acting rank, reverted to private, and when last heard of was applying for a commission.

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ITEMS OF NEWS OF OLD BOYS.

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B. Holmer (06/09), who was badly wounded in the foot, was for some time doing clerical work in the Q.M.'s Office, as he was unable to march. We hear he has now returned to the Front.

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J. E. Farrell (11/13) was home on leave in January—his second leave since the outbreak of war. Although he has been at the Front from the very first he has been fortunate enough to escape with nothing worse than a few scratches. On one occasion, whilst under fire, he stuck in the mud and was unable to move for half an hour, when fortunately help arrived.

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Cecil Baldwin (06/10) writes from the B.E.F., "Some where in France," speaking very cheerfully of his experiences as follows:—

"A strange coincidence happened the other day. I was talking to a fellow in a cafe and thought I recognised him. It turned out to be George Clarett, who was once at the County School. He was in the Field Ambulance to which I was attached in 1914, at Slough, and there also are Ellender and Maynard. I have seen Maynard, and many of the Corps I know, some of whom are from Dover."

31st January, 1917.

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Mr. A. C. James has now left England, and is attached to the F.A.U., "Somewhere in France." He writes on January 15th, as follows:—

"The world as we know is a small place. Arriving at my destination late on Monday night, one of the first people I met on the ground floor of our quarters on Tuesday morning was Anderson, formerly of the D.C.S. The surprise was mutual and complete. He and others were being entertained by our Unit under circumstances not unusual in these times, and of which you will probably hear details later."

Mr. James finds foreign service a pleasant change, but seems to feel very much cut off from his friends, knowing that the sea is between. His quarters are very comfortable, comparatively speaking. They sleep on ambulance stretchers on the floor, but it is fortunate even that he has a floor on which to sleep. Mr. James remembers with much pleasure how warmly he was received by all on his short visit to Dover at Christmas, when he came to see so many of his old friends before leaving England for France.

From another letter we hear he is still pursuing his nature studies and he finds French magpies woefully tame. Near his billet they have a siren to which he says ours is a penny whistle!!

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H. Fincham (09/12) after undergoing a course of training at Holborn Hall College for a post as private secretary has been managing a branch of the Ministry of Munitions.

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W. B. Hollands (07/09), who has been employed by the Board of Customs and Excise far the past three years, has been refused permission to enlist.

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W. T. J. Atkins (13/16), who is studying engineering at King's College, London, is hoping to join the Royal Flying Corps.

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S. W. J. Barron (00/04) who has been for five and a half years at Singapore has been transferred to Malacca, having been refused permission to enlist.

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J. J. De Coster (11/16) is apprenticed to the Chemical Department of a Soap Works in the North of England. He finds the smell of boiling glycerine decidedly exhilarating.

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Birth.

PARTON.—On March 12th, at Napier, New Zealand, to Mr. (02) and Mrs. Arthur Parton, a daughter.

Marriage.

FISHER-LEWIS.—On February 3rd, at St. Mary's Church, .Wimbledon, Reginald Henry Fisher, Lance-Corporal, A.O.C. (05/06), eldest son of Mr. E. Fisher, of Peter Street, Dover, to Grace Louie Lewis, of Stalham, Norfolk.

"THE WOODEN CITY."

Through the kindness of one of the boys we have seen two numbers of the eight-page magazine which bears the above title and is published by the prisoners of war at Gottingen. They contain a burlesque Sherlock Holmes story, mock interviews, descriptions of journeys abroad and sundry poems, together with records of concerts, whist drives, etc., and display an underlying likeness to The Pharos.

We are pleased to see they were allowed to publish the following poem by the late Lieut. Rupert Brooke, R.N.., who was killed in action at the Dardanelles. The poem was found in his notebook:—

1st CADET COMPANY C.P. (F.) R.E.

All Cadets are requested to give serious attention to the new tests required to be passed in order that promotion may be gained. The standard of these tests is higher than that of those first issued, but the classes of instruction now conducted by the Sergeants will be the means of acquiring the requisite knowledge to ensure success. It is a sign of progress that the officers can confidently leave so much of the training and instruction in the hands of the senior N.C.O.'s, Sergts. Lovely, Knivett, Hadlow and Licence.

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The official signallers for the Company have been appointed for special instruction under Cpl. Smith. They are Signallers Bond. Drayson, Scarlett, Gray, Blackford, Pudney, Garland and Farley, but it should be remembered that all Cadets must have knowledge of signalling in order that efficient signallers law on may be ready to be posted officially as Company Signallers when vacancies occur.

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The following notices have appeared in orders since last term:—

To be Drummer.—Cadet Arter.

To be Buglers.—Cadets Strugnell and Pelham.

Recruits.—.Francis, W. Clark, F. Clark, Drayson, Lamidey, Youden, Robinson, Budgen and Johnson.

The Company wishes to express its best wishes for success to Cadets who have left the School:—Cpl. Worster, Cadets Evans and West.

SPORTS.

Again I have almost nothing to report; during a winter such as that through which we have passed, football is practically impossible. However, on the few days we have been able to play, the Houses have been at work with splendid enthusiasm and some really enjoyable games have been the result. I will leave the different house captains to make their reports.

We shall hold an attenuated sports meeting next term, possibly on May 30th. It will be on the same lines as last year, with yet one more economy—there win be no printed programme. However, I am sure we shall have an exciting time—or at least three of us will, when we fight for second place! Is there no one sufficiently enterprising to arrange for the kid napping of two sturdy marines (ultra), from May 29th to 31st? I would undertake to re-assure their parents, and in the absence of the champions the rest might take heart; who knows, even the despised Conservatory might continue its surprising career.

After many delays the Fives Court and the Racquets Court are at last nearing completion. If it is possible to buy the necessary balls, gloves, etc., I hope the games will be in full swing before the end of the term.

W.W.B.

D.C.S.F.C.

A match was played on Saturday, March 17th, against the Bandsmen of the Fusiliers, at the Duke of York's School. We kicked off at 3.0 p.m. with the wind and sun in our favour. Our opponents quickly rushed the ban up the field and scored a goal. After a ding-dong battle Dearling succeeded in evading their backs and scored a goal from a well placed centre. Play now centred round our goal and at half-time the score was 4-1 in favour of our opponents. Immediately following the kick-off our forwards rushed through the defence and Wilde scored a goal. From then till the end play was fairly even, although the soldiers succeeded in scoring three more goals by force of weight and science.

Our thanks are due to Mr. Slater for refereeing the match.

TEAM.—Ayling; Lovely, Costelloe; Hadlow, Perry, Cocks; Standring, Wilde, Dearling, A. C. Tomlin, Boorn.

HOUSE NOTES.
BROMLEY'S HOUSE.

Bromley's House had a great difficulty in forming a team to meet that of Costelloe's House.

But one was eventually formed, which proved itself nearly as good as the opposing eleven. Cooke did fine work and was a shining light of the Greens' team. Smith was successful in scoring two goals, while one was netted by Cooke. Strugnell did not prove himself a capable goalkeeper, allowing the ball to pass him five times.

The second match played was against Street's House. The team was very much weakened by the absence of Wilde and Waite, centre-half and left-back respectively.

During the first half our goal was very much bombarded, but the Greens put up a good fight, and in spite of the heavy wind there were no goals scored. During the second half, Smith made a rush, scoring the first, goal of the game. Pennock, our goalie, and Cooke did especially well.

On the whole there is an admirable sense of keenness in the "Conservatory."

CHASE'S HOUSE.

MERIT LIST.

Form V.—Costelloe (3).
Form IVa.—Brand (3), Pelham (2), Cole, Day, Loyns, Wells, Corner, Romney.
Form IVb.—Newlyn.
Form III.—Lawes (2), Twyman (2), Pelham (2), Gosby (2).

Form IIa.—Phillips, Tomlin.
Form IIb.—Scarlett (3), Strllgnell (3), Watts (3), Booth (3), Quinlan (3), Arter (2), Stewart (2), Drake (2), Browne (2), Glogg, Ross, Trigg, Goode.
Form IIc.—Lamidey (3), Bourdeaux (3), Law (2), Virgo (2), Broadhurst, Day, Dane.

Form Ia.—Walls (3), Pay (3), Russell (2), Grinsted (2), Gray.

Form Ib.—Barwick (3), Dellbridge (3), Gunn (2), Cartwright (2), Watson, Greenhalgh.

SEEN FROM A FORM ROOM WINDOW.

I have not the slightest doubt that work is an excellent thing when attacked in the right way. "But," the inexperienced asks, "what is the right way?" What an opportunity one has of studying this engrossing subject at the present time! Unmolested, save for the occasional entry of a master to take a lesson, or by the pouring of ink or the gentle pushing of paper down one's back, or the ruffling of one's hair, one may watch for hours the time, labour and profound thought expended by gentlemen, hired for that purpose, in the construction of the playground.

See with what diligent care and delicate precision the load of earth is propelled along the shining metals towards its destination by the breathless sons of toil. Their object achieved, the victors sink gently to rest in the grateful shade of the trolley, until such time as the "knock-off" whistle shall blow. But (do not be surprised my friends) propositions such as the pushing of a trolley are not the greatest which the workman has to face. I say "Do not be surprised," for long and studious observation of the methods of these good gentlemen has taught me to be surprised at nothing, however incomprehensible.

See yon able-looking man. A pile of rubbish is before him, and a depression of the earth is at some short distance from him. Now something has told him (probably the foreman) that this state of affairs cannot continue; that the rubbish must be deposited in the hole. But is he daunted? No! He sits down to think, to deliberate, while we fall into a reverie.........

Ah! he is moving. He has pondered the question for one hour and a half—no more. His face is lit up with an honest satisfaction, a kind of mild ecstasy. He has arrived at the solution of a question which we, ordinary mortals that, we are, could not begin.

Here is the heap—there is the hole. He seizes a pick and strikes the heap of earth, gently at first, but with increasing vigour. The earth falls—it is placed in the trolley—the trolley is propelled by the two brethren hereinbefore mentioned—the earth is precipitated, and the whole has taken little more than one short afternoon. The victorious Three, exhausted, recline their weary lengths gently upon the ground to indulge in a little well-earned rest of a mere hour or two. Brethren-gaze and wonder!

THE SCRIBBLER.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,

I hope you are quiet well. I am. Although mother says there is lots of measles about, but I've never sean any have you. I am 9 years old and I am in the cadett corso I expect you arnt cos you are to old. All of are form is in the cadett cors except one which is afraid to join because of the sarjints and the parades cos he promised his mother to run home directly. Our room is very nice. It has 4 windoes and lots of lockers which are outside the dore. I lost 2 conduct markes today but ginger stuck a pin in me and the master is always down on me. I play center forward in our team. Its the worest place. I'm the best player. Do you play foter. I dont expect so cos mother sed it was an awfuly ruf game but it isnt is it. I'm going to join the army when I'm 18 if the war lasts which farther says it is sure to do. I'm going to be an r.f.c,. orficer cos I'm in the cadett cors. I draw lots of funny things and masters. I drawed our master the other day and he tok 2 markes off which wasnt fare. He's the master which is down all me and which favers ginger. We have 2 holidays a weak. Hear I must end because the master said the grate art of leter riting is wishing their was more.

Yours andcetra,

CUTHIE.

THE CHRONICLES OF YE NEUVE WELLE.

Now it came to pass in the five and twentieth year of Ye Scole that there came one high in authority, full of wise saws and of lerninge, and this same wight said: "Arise! get ye up ye sluggards, for it shall come to pass that in the seventh month of the year there shall be a grievous plague in all the land, and there shall come among you two evil ones, demons who shall grievously torment you, and the names of these same shall be called Xam, which is by interpretation Ye Senior Oxford, and Werk, which is, being interpreted Swottinge, and they shall lay your brains upon the rack, and your minds shall not rest, nor shall you sleep, no, neither by day nor night. Behold I have told you all things that when they come to pass ye may remember how I said unto you: 'In those days thus shall it be.' "

Now when the sage had made an end of speaking, and while he yet tarried with them, they took counsel among them saying: "And shall these things be even so?" And the sage, hearing them. said: " As I have said even so shall it be, moreover in those days shall come one Matric, and he shall surely have the dominion over you unless you awake from your stupor, but I say unto you if ye shall subdue Werk and make him subservient unto yon ye shall also be able to overcome Matric."

Now when he had made an end of speaking all these things they girded up their loins, and ran, and took unto them each twenty bookes, and therewithal they smote Literature, him that was servant to Matric and did marvellously ill-treat him, then they laid hold on Gramar and they cast lots and divided one Sentence so that he fell into a Clause then they took Clause, and hewed him in pieces, and they called the pieces Verbe, Sujet and Objet, and sent them away in columns.

Now there was at this time dwelling in the land a weakly one whose name was Frenche Course, and the same was kinsman to Gramar; him also they seized and when they had spitefully entreated him they sent him into the farthest parts of the
land to dwell a weakly hermit there.

Now! while the brethren were yet fighting against Werk, Xam and Matric, came one, sometime knighte of Ye Welle, and he greeted them saying: "Behold I, even I, the last of the knights of Ye Welle, at whose name Xam was wont to tremble, have come to greet you, for behold Ye Welle is no more, no, nor the knights thereof, therefore am I come to you that you may take their place, and this place wherein ye now dwell lo! the name of it is Neuve Welle, which is being interpreted Ye Snuggery, and ye are the knights thereof, and I send you forth to overcome your enemies and my enemies, and if ye spare any and slay them not, behold I will arise and slay you with my hands."

Now at these words the knights of Neuve Welle gat up and smote Xam, Werk and Matric so that they retired from the field for a season. At this time came one clothed in black samite, mystic, wonderful, and he lifted up his arms to the skies and made a proclamation saying: "Hearken, oh ye men of valour be it known unto you that for the space of one month there shall be some respite given you, and in that time ye shall do no work, no, not so much as an erg, for he that worketh in those days, him shall the giant Brane Fagge surely slay." Then the knights waxed joyous and made merry and said: "We will no longer work," Now the rest of the acts of the knights of Neuve Welle, behold they are written in the book of Pharos.

JACOB.

A WAR-TIME VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND.

We sailed from Karilchi on the H.T.S.——— on the 20th November, 1914, en route to England. Everyone on board was pleased to know that the German armed raider Emden had been sunk a few days before we left.

Seven days sail from Karachi, after a pleasant voyage (although the weather was very warm), we arrived off Aden. I felt very disappointed that we were not close enough to the land to a get a good view of the port. We did not stop but sailed direct into the Red Sea, passing a lot of small islands which I was told were called the "Twelve Apostles."

We had some very tough weather before we reached Port Suez, the entrance to the canal.

Only one ship at a time could sail through the canal, which is very shallow and narrow in most parts. Very often we almost ran aground. All along the banks of the canal breastworks of earth and sandbags were built up with barbed wire entanglements round them. There were all sorts of troops from India, Baluchis, Ghurkas and British guarding the canal, as an attack was expected from the Turks; and as there had been a fight a few days before, we felt rather anxious. On reaching the Bitter Lakes we took a pilot on board, as the ships have to pass through a long line of buoys as far as Ismalieh. From Ismalieh, where we stopped for two days, we sailed on to Port Said, where we stopped for coal. At Port Said I saw the statue of Ferdinand De Lesseps, who designed the canal, and we met the soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who after wards made such a glorious name for themselves at Gallipoli. After coaling we left for England, passing Malta and Gibraltar, and dodging submarines in the Bay of Biscay within two days sail of England. We arrived safely at Devonport on 22nd December.

E. PAY (Form Ia.).

HINTS ON GARDENING.

In planting turnips, do not plant the seeds upside down.

If you do happen to forget, dig them up and put them the right side up.

If you don't, all your crop will go to Australia.

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Broad beans should be tasted before planting, to see if they are tender. Don't miss a single one.

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If you want to have potatoes growing above the ground, plant the seeds upside down.

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If you want tomatoes blue, paint them that colour.

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If you want your radishes year after year, put a repeating machine inside each one.

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Paper is now so scarce that I can't write any more. I will give you some more hints when paper is cheaper.

NATURALIST (Form IIe.).

GEMS FROM THE CLASS ROOMS.

"'Scott, by his reiteration of choice volubility. . . . "
"Asleep in the arms of Madame Morphia."
"Newfoundland was discovered by John Cabot, who was one of the Pilgrim Fathers."
"A stickle-back is a insect; it can fly across the river. Some boys catch them and put them in a bottal. I had one and I gave it away becose it used to keep on coming in the house and getting on the foud."

THE SCENERY OF THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS.

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world is on the Himalaya Mountains. The flowers have no fragrant smell like our own flowers in England but they have more beauty than English flowers. From Lebong and Darjeeling you can see the highest range of mountains in the world; this range is called the Kinchinjunga Range. From Darjeeling you can see Mount Everest, and from Lebong you can only see the Kinchinjunga Range, while Mount Everest is obscured by some other high mou'ltains. In the valleys are big lakes, waterfalls and rivers. After a rainfall there is a continual rush of water down the rivers. In t;he early morning, if you happen to look down from where you are, you see a sea of clouds. Wonderful cloud effects are generally seen during the Monsoons. All the highest mountains are snow-capped all through the year. On the lower slopes of the mountains great plantations of tea are grown. About May the tea is picked, and the gaily coloured clothes worn by the natives make the scene a very pretty one.

The railway which goes from Silligurri to Darjeeling is a very wonderful railway and is known as the toy railway, and the scenery all the way up is very beautiful. When you get to Darjeeling you have reached the height of eight, to nine thousand feet.

D. M. (Form IIc.).

TIMBER SAW MILLS.

The other day I went to see a timber saw mill and it was very interesting to see all the different kinds of wood cut up. The men have to be very careful when they get a piece of wood with a lot of knots in it, as if they don't watch carefully when the saw gets to the knots, the wood slips, and they can easily get a finger cut off, although they have guards to prevent accidents. :For cutting up logs they use what is called a rack bench, and they can fix any size of circular saw to this according to the size of logs to be sawn. There are also large and small bench machines which are used for cutting smaller timber. Then there are planing and moulding machines. The planing machine is' for making rough wood smooth so that it can be used for floors. The moulding machine is used for shaping wood. This machine is a very big one, and looked to me as if it would be very difficult to understand; the wood goes in at one side rough and comes out shaped. Another machine that interested me was called a band-saw; this can be twisted by hand to where ever the man wants it to cut the wood. Another machine is called a frame bench, this is fixed' with saws which move up and down. The engines which drive these machines are very strong, and burn several tons of coal a day.

E. C. ROBINSON (Form IIc.).

OUR UNDERSEA WORKERS.

The man who works beneath the waves is certainly the most adventurous of all toilers. Carrying his life in his hands he sees what few persons see and experiences what very few would care to experience.

He is often open to the attacks of the shark, the dog-fish, or the octopus; but even when protected from these perils, if the pumps by which he is supplied with air are in any way impeded he suffocates, while he is also in great danger from a kind of paralysis known as diver's palsy.

This is a disease produced by the excess of nitrogen taken into the system by breathing compressed air. When the man is suddenly brought into ordinary atmosphere, the nitrogen escapes into the tissues in the shape of bubbles. When these collect about the nervous centres, paralysis takes place. All that is necessary to prevent this disease is to raise the diver very slowly with frequent stoppages. The excess of nitrogen is then totally exhaled and escapes without harming the diver.

Under the best circumstances the work of the deep sea diver is extremely difficult. He is strangely helpless, for in spite of the one hundred and eighty pounds of armour in which he is clad he is as light as a feather. By making the slightest effort, he can take enormous jumps, and yet, for all practical purposes his muscles and sinews are as weak as those of it child. If, at a depth of two hundred feet he strikes a blow with an axe, using all his force he will not be able to break a thin piece of wood The pressure of the water is so great that the blow is seven times as weak as it would be on land. If he uses a shovel he dare not press the blade into the ooze. If he did so he would fall backwards. He must scoop the blade full with his hands, at t he risk of cutting or tearing them on the sharp edges of shells and wreckage.

His powers of hearing are curiously altered. If the guns of a battleship went off above his head he would not know what had happened. except by the quake of the mud beneath his feet. On the other hand, submarine noises come to him quite plainly through the escape valve of his helmet.

Besides working in the sea in recovering treasure and repairing ships, the diver has often strange tasks to perform on land. A few years ago one of them was employed in securing the foundations of Winchester Cathedral. This edifice was built on a marsh, and it began to sink, but the diver has now gone down into the bog with bags of cement, and converted the treacherous earth into a concrete foundation.

Many experiments have been carried out to ascertain the depth to which a diver can venture. It has now been calculated that it is not possible, with the best apparatus at present available, for a man to descend more than four hundred and twenty feet below the sea. The greatest depth to which a diver has yet descended, however, is only two hundred and ten feet.

C. P.

THE MYSTERY OF WINSBURY LIGHTHOUSE.

The following paragraph appeared in The Times of February 12th, 1883, "The light of the famous Winsbury Lighthouse which warns vessels of the dangerous Winsbury Rocks situated some distance from the Scilly Islands, was observed to cease revolving at 1 a.m. on the 10th of February. No notice was taken at first as it was thought that a mishap with the machinery had occurred, which the keepers would soon repair: As nothing happened, however, a party set off from the mainland to investigate. The keepers' boat was found in its place but when the lighthouse was searched no signs of the men were discovered."

The services of the police were called in, but no traces of the missing keepers were found.

About a week later a boat with two occupants was observed coming towards the mainland from the direction of the Scilly Islands, and it was found that the two men were the missing lighthouse keepers. Their story was certainly an astounding one. In the words of one of the keepers it was as follows:—"On the night of February 10th, I was attending to the machinery when I heard a sound behind and looking round I saw three men coming towards me. I was seized and bound before I had a chance to resist. My mate (who was in bed at the time) was similarly overpowered and we were both imprisoned in a little room. An hour or so after, we were put in a vessel which carried us to one of the islands lying some distance off. We were there kept in an underground cave. Our captors treated us kindly though we were carefully guarded. One day, however, we were left alone and I succeeded in freeing myself. I then cut my mate's bonds. We found a small boat moored close to the entrance to the cave, and embarking in it, rowed as you know to the mainland."

An examination of the island was made without delay. The police found there a series of underground caves in one of which the keepers had been imprisoned. One of them contained bottles of whisky, and the plant required for its manufacture was also discovered. Several men who were there were arrested and they told the police that the rest of the gang would arrive that night to carry off the liquor.

Upon their arrival these, too, were arrested and the leader subsequently confessed. He said that they illegally manufactured spirits on the island, selling it without paying duty. One night they were about to land a cargo at a lonely spot on the mainland coast when they were seen. They promptly turned back but were unable to effect a landing on the island owing to the rough sea. One of them, however, suggested that it might be possible to force an entrance into the light house, overpower the keepers and rid the ship of its tell-tale burden until it could be removed to the island.

The plan was successfully carried out and the two keepers were imprisoned in a little room. All would have gone well but for the fact that the machinery went wrong and they did not know how to adjust it. Knowing that a vessel would probably come to investigate, they hastily put the goods into their vessel again. They feared that in their hurry the keepers had guessed their secret, so they took them with them. The storm having somewhat subsided they were able, with difficulty, to effect a landing on the island.

Had not the men luckily escaped, the gang might have remained undiscovered. In this case the ultimate fate of the two keepers can only be surmised.

T.H.B.

A PATRIOTIC HOBBY.

I had read in the papers day after day, "Everybody can do something to help the country in the present crisis," and when I read an article on rabbit keeping I determined to take up this hobby. Although I had had no experience in the keeping of these animals, I bought a handbook on the subject, and aided by the advice of a few friends who kept them, I made a start. My first purchase was of three cross-bred rabbits, one of which I named Joe. A fortnight after this I bought three pure bred Belgian hares and two Flemish giants. These were at first very timid, but they grew more familiar with their surroundings, until now they will eat from my hand without fear and whenever I approach them they run wild, thinking I am bringing them a meal. My object is to go in for breeding and to sell some of the young ones, keeping the rest for myself to supply the table, thus making it profitable as well as a hobby, and at the same time 1 feel that I am "doing my bit," if only a "very little bit," to help solve the question of the food supply.

HAYRADDIN (Form III).

A VISIT TO RYE CHURCH.

While I was at Rye last summer I visited Rye Church. This Church is situated on the highest point of the hill on which Rye stands, therefore it is a landmark for miles around. As I was staying at the house of the Verger I had plenty of opportunities for visiting the Church. One day the Verger said he would take my brother and me to see the bells and the view from the top of the tower. We first went up a flight of uneven stone stairs and came to a pathway along the side of the wall which is so narrow that one has to go along sideways. We then climbed a ladder and went into the belfry. There are eight bells and they weigh about four tons altogether. Each has a rhyme upon its lip. One has: "If you have a judicious ear you'll own my voice is sweet and clear." We next passed up another ladder through a quaint little door and came out on the top of the tower. A fine view can be got from there but though it was a fine day the tower rocked slightly, so what must it be like on a windy day? Another time I went up to the room below the belfry and watched the bell-ringers, and saw the Verger wind up the clock. The clock is one of the oldest going clocks in England and the pendulum, which is very long, swings within the Church. On the outside of the Church are the two "Quarter Boys," gilded figures nearly five feet high, which strike the quarters on two bells. There are very many interesting things inside the Church and, because it has been partly burnt down by French and Spaniards, there are many styles of architecture, early English and Norman. It has several flying buttresses and the Church dates back to the twelfth century. Inside the Church are many curios, a vinegar Bible, several stone cannon balls, etc. There are many other things of interest such as the St. Clare Chapel and the vault of the Lamb family which is now used as a vestry. There are several beautiful stained glass windows, one of which is by Burne-Jones. In the St. Clare Chapel all the lumber was stored first, and, at the time of the French raids, this was a powder house. The South Chancel has been put to many uses as well: first the old women of the Workhouse span there, next it was used as a soup kitchen, and afterwards as a school.

PROFESSOR OLDE (Form III.).

A DREAM.

I had been busy doing my homework, and had risen to put away my books, when I upset the inkpot. The room at once began to take on a shadowy aspect, and I seemed to be going down and down into a thick, black, foggy liquid. I saw something black, shaped like an enormous tadpole, swimming about. It said to me: "What are you doing here?" and I replied that it was more than I could tell him. I then enquired who he was, and he said that his name was "Blob" and that we were both swimming about in the inkpot. I enquired if there was any way out, and was told that there was one door, which led into Topsy Turvy Land where the giants Algebra and Geometry lived.

I went through this door and found myself in a land where apples were growing on cabbages, strawberries growing on trees, and many other things were growing in the most singular places. After I had gone a little way I met a large cat with a head like an inverted triangle. It asked me what I wanted there, and I replied that I wanted to find my way home again.

In the next field we saw a notice which read thus:—
TOPSY TURVY LAND—NO VISITERS WANTED HEAR UNLES THAY KAN DO ALJEBRA AND GEOMTRY.

The spelling was awful. The cat left me soon after this and I came to another notice to the effect that the giants were holding a feast that evening. Everyone had to bring his own provisions, saucepans, etc. Soon after this I came to a man fishing in a lake of waste paper. He told me that he was fishing for stray x's, y's, congruent triangles, etc., for revenge upon the giants.

When I had left him I saw a flight of steps about six miles long and a notice which said that they led to the palace of the giants. I went up them and entered the palace. It was in a fearful state; there were beds in the hall and many other things out of their places.

At last I entered a large room in which were many people. Some were black, some had square heads, some round, and some had triangles for heads. The Kaiser was there in all his glory, with a tremendous moustache about a yard long. The giants were frightfully ugly; Geometry had a triangular shaped head and green eyes, and when I entered he was drinking tea out of a teapot. Algebra was not quite so ugly, but his clothes were covered with algebraic symbols.

The feast was going on, some people were eating toast off toasting forks, some were eating meat with penknives and garden rakes, and some were drinking soup out of saucepans.

After the feast was over the giants asked me questions about Algebra and Geometry, of which I could not answer a single one. The giants sentenced me to be hanged, but I darted between some of the people and managed to get out of the palace. I started down the steps but tripped and landed with a loud bump—I here woke up and found I was on the floor by the side of my bed.

"JIM."

THE FATE OF ANDRÉ'S AERIAL POLAR EXPEDITION.

My readers will no doubt have heard of, or will remember, André's ill-fated expedition to the North Pole not so very many years ago. His plan was a very daring one. He did not intend to travel by sea and land, but by air in a balloon. By this means he probably thought to avert the many dangers that attended a journey in the Polar regions on foot, such as all former travellers had attempted.

André started out with a suitable wind, keeping the civilised world in touch with him by means of carrier pigeons that he took with him. These useful birds brought back many messages, and. then all correspondence suddenly stopped. Where was André with his companions? This question will probably never be answered, for no trace has ever been found of the expedition.

I will now proceed to suggest a few means by which André and the ill-fated party perhaps perished in unknown regions. Most of us know that cold causes contraction, It is not impossible, therefore, that the extreme cold of the Arctic regions may have contracted the gas in the balloon, beyond André's expectation. The contraction may have been so great as to make it impossible for the gas to support the balloon. If such were the case and the balloon descended, it is highly improbable that the men could have travelled far on the snow with the equipment that would have been carried in a balloon. Travelling on foot is not so fast as travelling by air, and the food supply of the party would not, therefore, last long enough to enable them to reach civilisation if stranded on the snow.

It is also possible that Andre's balloon may have' been caught in one of the fierce Polar blizzards. If so it would fare badly with the frail balloon and its occupants, blown before the blinding snow and rough wind. In this case the ill-fated travellers would certainly have met their doom, for they could not have lived long in these trying conditions.

Yet another suggestion: the men may have been forced to descend, and, on alighting from the car, may have met with the fate which has befallen other Polar explorers. Thus Andre and his party would have perished by the very dangers which, by their unusual mode of travelling, they tried to avert.

Meanwhile the question "Where was André?" remains unanswered, and will probably remain so throughout all ages, because it is impossible to find any trace of the expedition, for they must all be covered with snow. The foregoing suggestions are purely imaginary, and must not be taken as facts.

E.P.