No. 27. MARCH, 1918. VOL. VIII.

FIAT LUX.

NOTICES.

The next number of The Pharos will appear about July 25th. Contributions should be handed in not later than July 10th.

Copies of the current issue of The Pharos or of back numbers which are in stock may be obtained from the Editor, who would be glad to have the names and addresses of Old Pharosians and others desirous of receiving copies.

HEADMASTER'S NOTES.

The Summer Term will begin on May 9th and end on Wednesday, the 31st July. Boys are particularly requested to have their railway season tickets made out to cover both dates.

We take an especial pleasure in welcoming to the Staff this term Miss E. K. Edmonds, and hope her stay will be a long and a pleasant one. Her experience at Blundellsands and at the Liskeard High School, together with her professional training, will be an invaluable asset to the boys of the Junior School, and we are glad that a very trying three months in Belgium at the beginning of the war and a somewhat adventurous escape across the frontier have neither impaired her health nor checked her educational zeal.

Already the July Oxford Local Examination Forms have arrived, and candidates must fill them up so that they reach the Headmaster not later than noon on May 10th, i.e., on the day immediately following the opening of School for the Summer Term. It will be wise, therefore, for all candidates to complete the forms before the Spring Term closes and to make good use of the month's holiday between the two terms.

Under the new Education Bill, a qualifying certificate will be in the future of more importance than ever. Indeed. it is anticipated that the boys who attend the High Schools will shortly be expected at the age of 16 years to have passed the Matriculation Examination of a University or an examination recognised as equivalent thereto. Failing this, it will not be easy for the High School boys to obtain exemption from the obligation to attend the new Continuation Schools which are to be established, and which require boys to attend for certain hours each day until the age of 18 is reached. Apart from this a sound general education, of which the Oxford Senior Local certificate is testimony, is the basis of all careers.

Mr. E. Salter Davies, whom we all remember as the Inspector of Higher Education since 1904, has been appointed by the Kent Education Committee as County Director of Education, and we wish him every success in the great office which he now holds and in the work upon which he is now more particularly engaged, the reconstruction of the Educational Scheme of the County.

We have welcomed this term the Schoolmasters' and Schoolmistresses' Gardening Classes, which are held on Saturday morning and afternoon, under the very able direction of Mr. George Andrews. They have involved much digging on our part, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that according to professional opinion the ground has very distinctly improved in texture, and we shall hope for equal improvement as regards its fertility. In spite of the many extra School activities of the term, our tillage operations have been undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm, and we hope that gardening, which has always been a useful hobby and is now of especial service to the country in the crisis, will become a fascinating recreation for all time. Seeds of great variety have already been sown, but a fair amount of digging still remains to be done; however, it is hoped that all will be ready when the time comes for completing the work by putting in the main crop of potatoes.

EDITORIAL.

THE Easter Pharos finds us still "carrying on," though under conditions which are as far as ever from being normal. Up to the present, we have not had recourse to "raid-holidays" this term, and our numbers have kept up well, in spite of some exciting night vigils.

We have received a great many contributions for this issue, some of which have had to be held over owing to lack of space. The subjects chosen by contributors are of more than usual variety and interest, and it is satisfactory to note that every form is represented.

It is a matter of great regret to us that so many of our contemporaries seem to have ceased publication latterly. We much appreciated the exchange of Magazines with other schools, and shall hope to see it revived when better times come.

GLEAMS AND FLASHES.

Mr. Darby writes from France:—" . . . . I left my Battery of the R.G.A. at a few hours' notice, under orders to report for duty to the Meteorological Section of the R.E. I am now definitely transferred to the latter unit, with the number 358529 (learning these new numbers is like trying to memorize a formula in maths.!) and the title of Pioneer.

"As regards the work. . . . .. The most interesting, though the most difficult part of it, of which we do a good deal, is pilot-balloon work. I am becoming fairly accustomed to this, having succeeded in tracing the movements of a balloon up to 15,000 feet. But, however interesting the work, it has little charm in the middle of a frosty night, and not much more at five in tile morning, though an appetite for breakfast is one of the advantages gained by early rising and an hour or so on duty.

"I hope school is going on well and that Dark Blues are making a good show again in the struggle for the House Shield. I have heard rumours of a disaster sustained at the hands (or rather the feet) of the Reds, but find no record of it in last term's Pharos. Anyway, good luck to all the Houses, and may the best team always win!"

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Mr. Tunnell, who is still undergoing training as a Cadet, is now at Catterick in Yorkshire, and seems to have much the same impressions of the place as Mr. Darby bad last year. But camp inconveniences, wind and constant rain can evidently be borne with equanimity by one who has had experiences of the trenches round about Ypres, and Mr. Tunnell thinks himself particularly lucky in that his old Company is now at Cambrai.

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We are sorry to have no recent news of Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. James and Mr. Walker to report, but hope to be able to give particulars of their movements in our next issue. Mr. Baxter is still at Cranwell and pays Dover flying visits from time to time.

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On Saturday, 23rd March, a successful concert was given by the School at the Town Hall, in aid of the special fund for providing the men at the Front with concerts and musical recreation. The Hall was well filled, and the various items reflected the greatest on Mr. Taylor and the boys. The complete programme appears on another page.

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The collections for the Dover Prisoners of War made since the last issue of The Pharos amount to £6 13s. 3d.

Marriage.

SCHOFIELD-JOHNS.—On February 12th, at St. Michael's Church, Headingly, Leeds, by Rev. Dr. R. L. Bellamy, M D., LL.D., Vicar of Kirkby Overblow, near Harrogate, Mr. Herbert Sehofield, M.B.E., B.Se., formerly Assistant Director of Education at Dover, now Principal of the Technical Institute, Loughborough, and Miss Clara Johns, niece of Mr. and Mrs. J. Moir Wadsworth, of Chapel Lane, Headingly.

D.C.S. AND THE WAR.
Additions to and corrections of former lists.

Costelloe, W. G. (09/15), promoted 1st Lieut., R.E.
Harris, C. G. (11/14), transferred to R.F.C.
Fishwick, M. (05/09), Sergt., Devon Regt.
Beaufoy, S. L. G. (08/14), 2nd-Lieut., R.F.C.
Hadlow, A. L. (10/13), 2na-Lieut., R.F.C.
Nye, H. E. (09/10), transferred from R.G.A. to R.E.
Eaton, J. (09/12), Midshipman, R.N. V.R.

Oram, A. E. (09/11), 2nd-Lieut., R.F.C.
Fox, E. H. (08/10), Lance-Corpl., transferred from Buffs to A.S.C.
Barron, S. (00/04), 2nd-Lieut., D.C.O., Baluchistan Infantry.
Walter, Norman P. (05/06), Canadian Field Artillery.

MISSING.

Fishwick, M. (05/09), since 26th October.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS.

Lyons, J. (10/15). Military Cross, for bringing in a wounded man under fire.
Ripp, C. G. (10/13), Médaille Militaire.
Walter, Norman P. (05/06), Military Medal.
Durban, Lieut. T. E. (01), Mons Star.

OLD PHAROSIANS.

H. A. Ellender (05/07) was home at Xmas, after leaving hospital, having been gassed on 26th October. He was in the dressing station at Bullecourt and saw H. K Fisher brought in wounded.

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H. E. Nye (09/10) was also home at Xmas. He is now with a large repairing shop for railway material within reach of gunfire.

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E. W. W. Brown (11/16) "stopped a machine-gun bullet just before Xmas, when with a working party a few yards behind the line North of Ypres," and was landed in Dover on Boxing Day and sent to a hospital at Liverpool. When last heard of, he was progressing well.

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We were pleased to see R. Day (14/15) last January, when he came in on leave, after having been torpedoed (for the second time) off the Isle of Wight just before Xmas. Fortunately he escaped without injury.

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We have also had visits from H. V. Gasson (06/11), C. Watts (09/15)., E Hussell (08/13), and E. H. Fry (07 /12), and congratulate the last named on his having completely recovered from his wound. Russell has been wounded twice, but fortunately only slightly. He is now a sergeant. Gasson, who belongs to the Australian forces, is in Dover at the time of writing. Since he was home last, he has fought at Poelcapelle, but most of his time overseas has been spent at Wyteschaete.

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Lieut. W. Dunn, R.N.R. (03,04) was on leave in Dover recently. He is with the Grimsby trawler patrol.

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Alec. Brett (08/10), now a sergeant in the R.E., has gone on service abroad.

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L. Cahill (10/15), J. A. Hampden (09/14) and E. F. Prescott (09/10) are at Salonica.

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It was with great regret that we heard of the death of Robert Reeder, who visited us just before Xmas and gave the fifth and sixth such an interesting account of the work of the flying corps. His loss, less than three week after, and following so closely on his marriage (chronicled in last term's Pharos) brought the war very closely home to us. He came of a military family, his father being a Lieut. in the R.E. After leaving school he was on the staff of the Barton Road Boys' School, and was at College at the  time when war broke out. From the O.T.C. attached to the College, he passed to the Artists' Rifles, and did service in Ireland during the Sinn Fein Rebellion.. He was later gazetted to the Manchester Regiment and subsequently transferred to the R.F.C., in which corps he speedily distinguished himself and gained rapid promotion.

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We tender our hearty congratulations to J. Lyons, T. E. Durban, N. P. Walter and C. G. Ripp on their receiving the decorations referred to above (under Awards and Decorations.) Ripp's exploit is officially described as follows:—"Decorations and Medals presented by the President of the French Republic:—Médaille Militaire—151725 Lance-Corp. Cyril George Ripp, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, in that on 22nd April, 1917, during the battle of Gavrelle, he and a comrade made four successive journeys through a heavy barrage fire to a neighbouring R.E. dump to obtain fresh supplies of wireless stores urgently required at the wireless stations under his charge, thereby enabling an S.O.S. message to be transmitted and acted on within seven and a half minutes, and enabling reinforcements to be brought up, as a result of which the position, which was being heavily counter attacked at the time, was held."

Ripp sustained injuries in this battle which occasioned his being sent to a London hospital, and he is now stationed at a Signal Depot.

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Ours is a very young School, and it seems hardly possible that an Old Pharosian should be a recipient of a Mons Star. It is therewith great pleasure, not un-mixed with pride, that we record the bestowal of this decoration on T. Durban (/01) who went out to France with his battalion of the Middlesex Regt. and is at present in Norwich hospital, Cairo.

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News is to hand of one of our oldest O.P's. Sydney Barron, after leaving school, served an apprenticeship at A. L. Thomas' Ironworks, and later was with Simpson's of Newark for a year. He then went out as an estate engineer to a rubber and tobacco estate in British North Borneo. He was there in the wildest surroundings, being at first unable to sleep at night owing to the noise of the wild beasts in the forest. For two years he never saw a white woman. The natives were treacherous, and he nearly lost his life through a stab received from one of them. When war broke out, he was at Singapore, en route home for a year's leave. While at Dover, he had served in the Cinque Ports' Artillery, and so be applied for a commission, filling in the time of waiting on another rubber estate at Alor Gajah, Malacca. He then went through an O.T.C. course in India, and was later gazetted to the D.C.O. Baluchistan Infantry. He is at present stationed in the far north of India, and finds it very cold there.

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Maurice R. Fishwick (05/09)1 joined the Devon Regiment in 1915, and was later promoted sergeant. After a time on Salisbury Plain he went to France in May 1917, and was reported missing on October 26th, after the engagement for Passchendaele Ridge.

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We are truly grieved to hear that F. W. Ford (11/15) has been so severely wounded in the legs that amputation of both limbs below the knee has been necessary. However, he writes cheerfully from a hospital in Italy, and we wish him a speedy recovery, so far as recovery in such a case is possible.

OBITUARY.
We record with sorrow the death of the following:—
Pro Patlra.

FORM NOTES.

IV.—Working on the same time-table as that of last term, the work has run fairly smoothly, although the work has been somewhat cramped, due to the shortness of the term.

We have found our English book, Lorna Doone, extremely interesting this term, and the geography also has been rather more interesting than usual. Our visit to the local museum has had to be postponed twice, much to the disappointment of the form, who, nevertheless, are still looking forward to the visit.

We all much regret the loss of two of the most popular of our members. Mills and Sibley will be greatly missed by the form and in the sports. I am sure we all wish them the best of luck in their future careers.

J.T.

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IIA.—We have had three new boys this term, Jeffrey, England, and Weekes. Jeffrey has just emerged from hospital. He was a successful Scholarship candidate, but was unable to attend school last term.

A football team was arranged last. term. There is a first XI. under the captaincy of R. Virgo, and we hope to get enO1lgh names to form a second XI. England plays a good game.

Our head boy, Davies, has been up in an aeroplane.

The library monitor would gladly receive any spare books in good condition. Several of ours are invalided out of the service.

Our Magazine Club is running successfully. A few boys do not return their magazines promptly enough.

We have had a Debating Society this term and discussed several good topics. Every boy has to find something to say.

A large number of boys gained the merit mark. Some of us find our jaws rather stiff after pronouncing Latin names in botany.

About half our boys are in the choir for the School Concert.

L.R.

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IIB.—Form Football.—We have two XI.'s, the first and second Dreadnaughts. These are presided over by the super-Dreadnaught, Mrs. Wallis. We have Wilson as captain of the first Dreadnaughts, and Stokes as vice. McConnell is the captain of the second Dreadnaughts and Broadhurst is vice. We have played many matches, but have not been beaten yet.

The Form Magazine Club.—This is presided over by Costelloe and Broadhurst. There are three magazines, the B.O.P., "My Magazine" and "The Captain." We have these magazines given out in turn, and we keep them for three days, and if they are not brought back to time a fine of a penny has to be paid for each day that it is kept over the time. The subscription is one penny per month.

The Form Library.—Every Tuesday we choose our library book, the number of which is put down in a catalogue. When the book is brought back, the number in the catalogue is crossed off. We have about ninety books in the library, and have had several new ones lately.

"THE LAMB."

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IA.—We have a new Form Mistress this term. We also have three new boys. Several of our boys cycle to school. Four of us belong to the Cadets. A number of us have played football this season. We are very grateful to Mrs. Thomas for the book she gave to our library. We are glad most of us are over ten, or we might not get any dinner. We spend some of our half-holidays getting nature specimens.

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IB.—We are the lowest form in the Schoo1. There are twelve boys in our form. We have one new boy this term. We have some interesting books in our library, but we want some more. Several of us play football, and we hope to go to swimming next term. We all like manual work, and have just made permit book covers for the Staff.

FORM IIa. DEBATING SOCIETY.

Every other Friday morning we have a debate in our Form. We have had some very good ones. The first was "That every boy should be a Cadet," proposed by Hyeland, opposed by Taylor. Ryeland brought in a peculiar point. He argued that if anyone was wrecked on a desert island, the information be had learnt about knots, etc., as a cadet would be useful for making a shelter. Roberts made a very good speech, bringing up the question of the expense of the uniform. The debate ended in 16 votes for, 10 against.

Another debate was "That people should go into air raid shelters after the syren had blown." England proposed and Forsythe opposed. The speeches were fairly good. England brought in the point about our being commanded in the Bible to take care of our lives. Forsythe made a good point of the danger of catching a disease. This ended in the votes being in favour of Forsythe.

The last one we had was "'That there should be compulsory football." This was proposed by Bent and opposed by Law. This was not as satisfactory as the others, but the most prominent thing was that most of the boys who opposed it were the keenest footballers. Several boys argued that conscripted players would not play as well as voluntary ones.

On the whole these debates have proved very satisfactory and most interesting. Every boy in the form has spoken at one or another of them.

H. RUSSELL (ii. a).

Va.

A 'JOY-RIDE' IN AN AEROPLANE.

It is a perfect day for flying, just enough wind, and not a cloud to be seen.

For a whole week past I have been hoping that the weather would be just like this, for I have been promised a trip in an aeroplane!

There she is, a two-seater, trim and taut she looks, and as safe as houses, for I know who supervised her erection and last overhaul; and this is her pilot now approaching the machine, with a cheery "All ready, sonny?" It isn't, his usual business, this joy-riding stunt, for he has recently been invested by the King with the D.S.C. for bringing down a Gotha in our own coun1yof Kent, so I have absolute confidence in both pilot and machine. . . .

"Contact, sir?"

"Contact"

And before I am really settled down comfortably we are off the ground, and climbing at a good angle above Dover. Someone had asked me whilst I was being dressed for the trip if I was going for a joy-ride." A joy-ride!! I always understood a joy-ride meant just it ride for pleasure, but I understand the term better now, for this is more than pleasure, it is pure unalloyed joy and ecstasy. But even now I could be happier if only the machine were fitted with dual control, so that I could have hold of the control-lever, if only to try one turning movement!

Higher, and still higher we climb, until a safe altitude is reached, when the pilot executes a beautiful "bank," the horizon seeming to stand upon end, for it is the ground that seems to bank, not the machine. But this is for only a few seconds, and we are travelling in another direction.

Perhaps I ought to describe what the world looked like from the air, but, truth to tell, I was more interested in the action of the ailerons and elevators, than in "viewing the landscape o'er." If I were poetical, I might describe the world as looking like a multicoloured carpet, and the blending of the different colours of the fields into an extremely pretty pattern. . . . But the engine has stopped, and I wonder for an instant, why? Then the pilot turns round and shouts, " How do you like it'?" I yell back, " Top hole!" He smiles, and on goes the engine again. Now we are descending, and I feel that if I don't "hold on" to something, I shall be left behind!

But where is the aerodrome?

I gaze round on all sides, and at first fail to locate it, but soon I see the harbour; such a small little place it looks! and the ships merely little black streaks. Ah! there's the aerodrome, that tiny little field. We fly over the town before landing, and I search in vain for the School. Down and down; and now the ground seems to rise to meet us. A slight bump, the wheels are running on the ground, the tail drops, and the pilot runs the machine up to her hangar. The engine stops, and my "joy-ride" is over.

Time: 20 minutes. Height 3,000 feet.

G. DAVIES (ii. a).

THE MONO-RAIL SYSTEM.

The latest step in railway engineering is the coming of the mono-rail train, which, as its name suggests, runs on a single rail. It is obvious that an ordinary railway train with two sets of wheels cannot do this. If, however, these are removed and one single set is substituted and placed under the centre of the carriage, the train will remain upright, if only when travelling fast. The principle of such a train would be the same as that of a bicycle, which win remain vertical as long as it is travelling at a comparatively high speed, but fall over on being brought to a standstill. Of course more than this is required on a successful mono-rail train. It must be vertical, whatever its speed and state.

Many creditable attempts have been made to produce a successful mono-rail train. Engineers fully realise the value of such a system, for friction is lessened, weight decreased, and consequently less driving power is required, and high speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour will be reached. One of the earliest mono-rails to be made exists at Ballybunion, in Ireland. This is an improvement upon the train mentioned before. Instead of just a simple carriage, which has a set of wheels under the centre, weighted compartments are hung on either side of the wheels, and thus, if well constructed, the train will remain upright. The train in Ireland on this model reaches a speed of 83 miles per hour, while one between Liverpool and Manchester covers the distance of thirty-four miles in twenty minutes, an average speed of 102 miles per hour.

Another type of mono-railway is to be found in the Wupper Valley, in Prussia. In this system, the train is suspended from a rail, the wheels being above the car. The rail is held up by strong supports in the shape of au inverted V, the train hanging from the vertex A considerable portion of this successful, but not important railway, hangs over the Wupper River itself.

Another so-called mono-rail system is that of Kearney. This is usually referred to as a mono-rail, but it is not really so. The car runs on one rail, as in the first train discussed, but in order to keep it upright it taut wire is used above it. The main objects of the mono-rail train. Namely to reduce friction, weight and driving power, are of course realised.

Above all these stands the great invention of an Irishman, Mr. Brennan. All boys know the appearance and performances of the gyro-top. Mr. Brennan has shown how to use the gyroscope to keep a train upright. The centrifugal force of the whirling gyroscopes counteracts and neutralises the effect of gravity in their vicinity. Two such gyroscopes are used, whirling at the tremendous rate of 3,000 revolutions per minute. So easily do they turn that they will continue to do so effectively for two days after the driving power is cut off. Mr. Brennan has made a small gyro-car on these lines, carrying forty people. It attains a speed of 150 to 200 miles per hour, and obviously needs little force to move it while the gyroscopes are in action.

Wonderful are the well-founded claims put forward by Mr. Brennan for the success of a full-size mono-rail train after the model of his gyro-car. He says that not only will exceptionally high speeds be reached, but the train will be so steady that it will be possible to write easily in it, and, what is more, to play billiards with perfect accuracy in it. After the war, we may expect great things in mono-railways, and perhaps the fulfilment of Mr. Brennan's wonderful prophecies.

E.W.P.

MERIT LIST.

Form Va.—Pelham (2), Brand, Hart, Hyeland.
Form Vb.Wilson (3), Moorcroft (3), Hillier, Johnson, Horrex.
Form IV.—Gosby (3), Twyman (3), Tomlin (2), Lawes (1).
Form IIIa.—Arter (3), Booth (3), Browne (3), Gilbert (3), Phillips (1), Quinlan (3), Scarlett (3), Watts (3), Wilson (3), Strugnell (2), Motley, Waite, Glogg.
Form IIIb.—Stroud, Regan, Horrex, Davis, Flinn, Harvey.
Form IIb.—Davies (3), Law (3), Roberts (3), Virgo (3), Taylor (3), Henney (3), Gambrill (3), Russell (3), P. Reed (3), Laslett (3), H. Read (2), C, Reed (2), Weekes, Clarke, Bent, Dane, Jeffrey.
Form IIb.—Day (3), Stokes (3), White (3), Broadhurst (3), Wilson (3), McConnell (3), Nowers (3), Clark (3), Carpenter (3), Greenstreet (3), Pudney (3), Lamidey (2), Russell.
Form IIc.—Walls (3), Motley (3), Day (3), Romney 13), Young, Harrison, Mangili.
Form Ia.—Barlow (3), Gunn (2), Watts.
Form Ib.—A. Lewis (2), C. Lewis.

FOOTBALL NOTES.

In the following table the complete results of the competition for the House Challenge Shield are shown:—

The School 1st XI. this year has been under the disadvantage of being unable to obtain matches with opponents of its own weight. Fortunately Standring has succeeded in arranging several games with naval or military clubs, and these have afforded the eleven opportunities of practising as a team.

LOVELY.—Makes a good captain and full-back who can be depended upon to accomplish a good hard game,

AYL1NG.—Would make a very safe goalkeeper if he would master the art of punching. Should gain his colours this year.

COOKE.—The surprise of the season—plays a well-balanced game at half.

STANDRING.—At outside right causes some dangerous times for his opponents by good runs along the line. Should gain his colours this year.

PERRY.—An excellent half-back-recently discovered that he is a clever and fast left-wing man; should gain his colours.

WILSON.—Has done some good work at left back, a position not easy to fill; should gain his colours.

DEVERSON.—Plays a clever game on the right, but he must remember there are four other forwards.

DEARLING.—As centre forward holds the forward line together very well. His speed and strength of kick are invaluable. Should gain his colours.

KENYON.—Plays well, but inclined to individual effort. Must remember the other forwards; is good in front of goal.

WOOD.—Plays a fair game at half, and knows how to tackle any opponent.

It is a pity that the rest of the School does not more consistently support the XI. To a non-player it is difficult to express how great a difference a few cheers from supporters make to the men on the field. The players were glad to hear those boys who showed their sportsmanship at the match against the Naval Writers by coming to the ground to support the School.

J.S.

FIRST XI. MATCHES.

January 30th—v. C.P. (F.) R.E.—This was the first match in which the School XI. had played together, and, all things considered, the team did quite well. We won the toss and elected to defend the Pavilion end; the play was fairly even during the whole game, but, owing to the superior play of our opponents, they ran out winners by 6-2.

Team—Ayling; Lovdy (capt), Cooke; Wood, Mr. Slater, Wilson; Standring, Deverson, Dearling, Kenyon, Perry.

February 6th—v. Band, 3rd Buffs.—This game was spoilt by the very strong wind which was blowing diagonally across the field. Our opponents won the toss and kicked with the wind, scoring one goal in the first half. After changing over, another goal was scored against us, but Kenyon very quickly scored one in our favour. Unfortunately, however, the Buffs managed to score another goal and thus won, 3-1. The absence of Dearling was very much felt, and the whole team did not play as well as it had done the week before.

Team—Ayling; Lovely (capt.), Cooke; Wood, Mr. Slater, Wilson; Deverson, Mills, Standring, Kenyon, Perry.

March 6th—v. Naval Writers.—Our opponents won the toss and decided to kick with the wind; with this advantage, and also that of weight, they succeeded in scoring three goals before half-time; whilst, thanks to a brilliant run-through by Dearling, the School scored one goal. After half-time the play became more even, but whilst the Writers scored two more goals, our forwards failed to score. On the whole, although we lost 5-1, the team played together much better than before.

Team—Ayling; Lovely (capt.), Wilson; Cooke, Mr. Slater, Wood; Standring, Deverson, Dearling, Kenyon, Perry.

March 13th—v. C.P. (F.) R.E.—Our opponents won the toss and kicked against the wind, with the sun in their favour. The School had the best part of the play during the first half, and three goals were scored, the half-time score being 3-0 in tbe School's favour. During the second half the play was much more even, being, if anything, slightly in our opponents' favour; two goals were scored against us at the beginning of the second half, and, after a dingdong battle, the School ran out winners by 3-2.

Team—Ayling; Lovely (capt.), Wilson: Cooke, Mr. Slater, Wood; Standring, Deverson, Dearling, Kenydall, Perry.

M. S. STANDRING.

HOUSE NOTES.
COSTELLOE'S HOUSE.

The record of this House for the latter half of the season is certainly not a glorious one so far as victories go. But when one remembers the tussle between Reds and Light Blues, the fact that Red managed to beat us does not seem so disappointing. Certainly the team did not play so well last term as it has done in this term's practice matches. Kenyon, Mills and Moorcroft were especially outstanding examples.

A forecast for the next term's cricket results is difficult, for all Houses have had vital losses. Dark Blues will certainly miss Sibley and Mills, also Durban, if he leaves before Sports' Day. We have still to pin our chief hope of the shield to Sports' Day, so every boy in the House should enter for at least one event. Fellows should practise hard at swimming, as there win he several vacancies in the team.

A.V.P.

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STREET'S HOUSE.

This term there is but little to be said about House activities, since our energies have been devoted solely to School first eleven matches and practices.

Towards the end of the autumn term, as a result of somewhat drastic changes in the arrangement of the House team, we were able to make a very much better show in the second round of matches, and improved our position on the list from fourth to second. For the efforts made by the team in order to secure this improvement, I should like to thank the players; and may I also take this opportunity of asking them and, in fact, the whole House, to go into the cricket with an equal or even greater vigour and enthusiasm.

The House matches, besides having a peculiar interest to the Houses (as such), provide all invaluable opportunity to the officers of the 8ehool first XI. for improving the school team. This, then, should surely be a double incentive to greater energies.

W.S.L.

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CHASE'S HOUSE.

The House matches concluded with a game against the Reds, in which a hard struggle was maintained from the kick-off to the finish. We were able to retain our unbeaten record, but, at the same time, were forced to cede one point to our opponents, as the match resulted in a draw of two goals each.

The next business of members of the House is to give some attention to training for the Annual Sports, which are to take place early next term. Each boy should try to gain some points for the House, either in the running events or in the swimming contests.

This is especially important, as some of our athletes have left the School during the past few months.

H.D.

—:—

BROMLEY'S HOUSE.

Apart from the loss of Wilde and Hunt, two notable members of the House, there is little to report.

The results of the second round of House matches are too well known to be set down here, but if any persons are doubtful as to the results, I refer them to the last issue of The Pharos.

I trust that the same patriotism and House spirit may remain with the house for the cricket season, for although we never win a match, we always enjoy one.

H.E.C.

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

It will be of interest to the cadets to know the latest figures from the War Office regarding the strength of the Cadet movement. There are in formation 1,620 recognised companies, with a total strength of 78,651 of all ranks. From this total, during the year. 1916, 11,223 cadets joined the forces, either directly from the unit or within six months of leaving it. This means to say that 11,223 men joined the colours already in possession of the knowledge of the elements of military discipline and drill. What an economy in temper and vocabulary for the sergeant-instructors of recruits!

The following promotions have appeared in orders:—

To Rank of Sergeant.—Corpl. Hyeland.

T0 Rank of Corporal.—2nd-Corpls. Drayson and Gray.

To Rank of 2nd-Corporal.—Lce.-Corpls, Durban, Day and Wilson.

To Rank of Lance-Corporal.—Cadets Le Sage and Pudney.

To be Company Buglers.—Senior Bugler Day, Junior Bugler Hart.

To the following Cadets who have left the School the Company expresses its wishes for success:—Sergt. Costelloe, Corpl. Jasper, Lance-Corpl. Sutton, Cadet Hunt, Cadet Strugnell.

It is pleasing to report the addition of three names to the roll, F. Toms, Gray and Hoskins. Now that the evenings are longer, Q.M.S. Lovely will conduct classes for instruction in telegraphy and lashings, while Corpl. Garland gives instruction in signalling. With these facilities, it is hoped that new boys will join the Company, and that Cadets will endeavour to pass the tests for promotion.

J.S.

DE REBUS ROMANIS.

It was at a time of great civil strife in Rome that Cicero wrote his magnificent poems against Cataline (Cf. Prof. Zeppa, M.A.'s renowned article of our last issue). At almost the same time, Brutus murdered Trajan in the Temple of Vesta, whither he had fled to escape the vengeance of Cleopatra, who had just married Vespasian amid great rejoicings.

Speaking of Cicero, it might be well to say just a little about the most famous of the other Latin poets. Virgil, under the patronage of C. Julius Cræsar Caligula, published his celebrated Metamorphoses to celebrate the journeyings of Julius Cæsar through the dark wastes. When the story was read in the council of the immortals, Minerva is said to have wept on the shoulder of Aphrodite, and to have sent to Virgil the golden apple which Paris had given her when she defeated the Centaurs on the walls of Troy.

A short time after the death of Tarquinius Superbus, a young man became conspicuous among the Latin poets. Tacitus, for so the young man as called, soon made himself famous by his love poems, of which the "Germania" is the most renowned. I should say that prolixity is one of Tacitus' great failings. His poems, however, so pleased Regulus, who was then reigning, that he presented him with Sardinia, which had recently been taken from the Greeks at the battle of Canae.

About the year 1005 B.C., Catullus came beneath the eye of Julius Cæsar. Catullus as orator and poet soon gained the favour of Cræsar by getting him a divorce from his wife, while Cræsar sadly moaned—

"We seken faste after felicite,

But we goon wrong full aften trewely." (Sibylline Books).

He further gained the ear of Cræsar with his celebrated poem, "De Bello Gallico," which deals with Cæsar's exploits in the lower world, whither he had gone to attempt the rescue of Proserpine.

In the reign of Cæsar Borgia, the poets Livy and Ovid became conspicuous. In the Aeneid, which they wrote together, they revealed the plot of Queen Teuta and Boadicea to murder Borgia. With the aid of this valuable information, Borgia was able to frustrate the plot, and he rode through Rome with Teuta and Boadicea drawing his chariot. While Achilles, whom Borgia had befriended after the siege of Troy, whipped them, Borgia yelled at the top of his voice—

"Holla! ye pampered jades of Asia!

What! Can ye draw but twenty miles a day

And have so proud a chariot at your heels,

And such a coachman as great Borgia?"

The last of the great poets whom I intend to mention is Horace, who is famed for having bravely chanted his odes while he kept the bridge against the Etruscans, and who was; one of the priests of Isis. By his book, the "Odyssey," he angered Hasdrubal, who was then Consul, and he contrived to have Horace and many of his friends executed. Horace went merrily to his death, chanting—

"If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs. . . .  "

LATINUS."

DOVER BY NIGHT.

A PAPER CHASE.

A paper chase is a very nice half-term holiday amusement. The last time I went for one, the hares started at 9.30 in the morning, and we followed at 9.45. "We went right up the Folkestone Road till we came in sight of the guards. Here we saw the hares about a quarter of a mile in front. Instead of running in the middle of the road, we ran in under the hedge so as not to be seen. Before reaching the guards, we turned round to the right, which took us through a wood. Here we lost the track. "We hunted up and down, and with much difficulty found it. We followed them as fast as we could till we came to the high road and here again we caught sight of them. When we came nearly up to them they blew the whistle for dinner. They really blew it so as not to be caught. We did not mind a bit, and, after dinner, being much refreshed, we quickened our pace. On the homeward run, we caught sight of them, but they got home about three minutes before we did.

M. M. GRAY (ii.c).

A SUMMER HOLIDAY ADVENTURE.

We were sitting on the bank of a river, gazing idly at the water. There were four of us in all; we had been enjoying ourselves, bathing and playing games for the best part of the afternoon, but now we could think of nothing fresh to do. Suddenly, from a bend in the river, there came floating down a large rowing boat. It was unoccupied. Slowly it neared the bank where we were resting, and we quickly took off our boots and stockings and waded out as far as possible, to bring it in should it come near enough to us. It came slowly nearer, and we could see the name in the stern: "Tilly Dawson." The boat came in close enough for us to reach, and we brought it in. It was grey in colour, broad and with three thwarts, not counting the stern-sheet, The painter was hanging over the bow, and this we made me of to make the boat fast. We concluded that a party had landed on an island farther up the river, and that they had failed to moor the boat securely. We decided that we would try to row to the island and ascertain if our conclusion was correct. "We cast off, and four sturdy pairs of arms were soon rowing towards the island. It was no easy matter to propel this big boat against the stream, but after much exertion we managed to get near to the island, where we perceived a group of sailors. When we reached the shore, we were immediately surrounded; and on recovering our breath, we told our story. When the sailors had heard our yarn, they gave us a jolly good tea, and invited us on hoard their ship. We accepted and had a very interesting and instructive time. On leaving, they gave each of us sixpence and pressed us to repeat the visit. They rowed us ashore, and after wishing them good-bye, we hurried homewards, stopping on the way to spend a part of our money. This is what I call a top-hole adventure.

R. L. STRUGNELL (iii a).

MY EXPERIENCES OF EGYPT AND PALESTINE.

I have been asked by Mr. Whitehouse to give a short account of my experiences whilst on active service overseas. I hope readers will forgive me if they find my narrative rather abrupt in details, for the Censor insists that one shall never describe places and occurrences in an article, and these points really contain the matter for an article.

I left England in January, 1916, and the voyage to Egypt took sixteen days, The boat was an exceedingly small craft, and horses were aboard. The accommodation was shocking, and in view of the none too savoury odour emanating from the horses' quarters, most of us elected to sleep on deck.

The first four days of the voyage were rather bad times for us, for it was terribly rough. But all through the Mediterranean Sea the weather was ideal.

The sight of Alexandria from the sea is a splendid one, but that, I am afraid, is the only sight I ever appreciated during my sojourn in Egypt.

As to the Arabs, I may say that they are exceedingly lazy, but with firm handling and leadership they can be made to do anything. Under the orders of soldiers, some of them work splendidly. To me they seem to have fallen into the slack ways of the Turks.

The natives are able to live on a very small amount of food, and one often wonders how they live at all. One cannot help noticing the good work done by the Americans in that country in the matter of education and missionary work.

Now I must. say a little of the work done by the troops. I was for the greater part of 1916 operating with cavalry and infantry on the Western desert, our object being to clear the rebel tribes from the oases which they bad occupied. Our task commenced at Sollum which was cleared in February 1916. From there the Senussi and Bedouins retreated to the Baharia and Dakla oasis.

Dessert work is very trying to the men in view of the very small quantities of water and the excessive heat, hut in spite of all difficulties the fellows stuck to their work.

When the enemy had occupied these two lower oases, our troops worked from the Nile, by Minia, and across the waterless desert of Egypt for 130 miles. Every inch of this was done on foot by one regiment, who built block-houses as they went, and later laid a light railway.

When we did reach the oasis, the enemy had gone, and was soon followed up by armoured cars in quick style. He was finally driven from the Suva oasis and retreated into Tripoli, after losing his leaders and all material. Very little was heard of these operations, but I can assure readers that they were performances that taxed the troops to the utmost. It is no easy task for men to march day after day carrying their own supply of water and food, in a temperature of anything above 120°. One never feels that bracing effect that the English climate exerts on one. We often used to wish for some good English rain.

It is impossible for me to describe emphatically enough how horrible is the fly pest in Egypt. One dare not rest, or try to eat unless prepared to withstand an attack by myriads of these insects. At night, one is troubled by mosquitoes and these are nearly as bad as the flies as disease spreaders.

People who have been to Alexandria and Cairo and have seen some of the buildings and works of European men think they have seen Egypt. They most certainly have not. One needs to be for nearly two years amongst them and around their mud villages to understand the people and country.

In describing the Egyptians to you, I must ask you not to think I include the Soudanese, These people are far above the Egyptians in every possible way, and the men make good trustworthy soldiers. Their love for Lord Kitchener is splendid to see, and one cannot help feeling that the loss of Lord Kitchener has been a big blow to the fine work he started in Eygpt and the Soudan.

In August, 1917, I left Egypt, and was in the trenches in front of Gaza for three months, doing a probationary period in connection with my Commissioner. I notice that many of our old boys have described their life in the trenches, so I'm not going to lengthen my article by a description of trench life.

I might say that Palestine is far preferable to Egypt, for very little life existed there and one could feel the cool sea breezes and notice the absence of odours so common in Egypt.

The journey home was fairly good except for the five days we spent travelling in cattle trucks, thirty men being in one truck. But we were homeward bound, so it did not matter.

GEO. K TOOK.

THE FARE OF OUR ANCESTORS.

If in all eras the Englishman's appetite has been famous, he has not always been able to employ it upon the same material. In Anglo-Saxon times, and long after, the staple foods of the multitude were bread, butter and cheese. A few of the coarse vegetables were added, and it was only on occasions that this was varied by salted bacon and pancakes. The meat was generally boiled over a tripod, and the kettle in which this was done "Was the universal one for boiling Purposes. Philology shows that the Saxon food was bread, butter and cheese, for beef, veal, mutton, pork and bacon retain the names given by the Normans.

For centuries in England there was a prejudice against the fork, which displaced the fingers, and forks were at first used only by kings; in fact, it took six hundred years, or until the seventeenth century, to establish them in England. and even then a countryman used to eat his bacon or his fish, with his fingers, just as Charles XII. of Sweden buttered his bread with his royal thumb.

Butter was not much used before the Norman Conquest, although the Englishman, unlike the Italian, had no oil as a substitute. Sugar must have been scarce and dear in 1226, for, to quote a chronicler, "Henry III. asked the Mayor of Winchester to procure him three pounds of Alexandria sugar, if so much could be obtained, and also some pink and violet coloured sugar"; but before the end of the thirteenth century it became more plentiful and was sold at what would now be about two shillings a pound.

Addison says that living in the days of Queen Anne was plain and abundant. A dinner had only two courses. "Two plain dishes," he says, "with two or three good-natured, cheerful, ingenious friends, would make me more pleased than any pomp or luxury," It is seen in Dickens' novels how good cheer in eating and drinking was really an English inheritance, and deep potations were common everywhere. It is to be feared, however, that this inheritance cannot be indulged nowadays, when even the richest have only a stated ration of meat and other edibles allotted them.

"MAZEPPA."

PROGRAMME OF SCHOOL CONCERT,
23rd MARCH, 1918.

1 Dover Triumph Song "All hail to thee, dauntless Dover"...

H. J. Taylor

(from the Dover Pageant Music).

2 Waltz Song ... "blow, soft winds" ...

C. Vincent

(Trebles and Altos).

3 Song ... "The Trumpeter"..

Airlie Dix

W. S. LOVELY.

Stephen Adams

W. E. ENGLAND.

Barnby

6 Violin Solo... "Meditation"...

Bach—Gounod

L. N. GREEN.

7 Folk Songs (a) "I'm seventeen come Sunday"...
                    (b) "Admiral Benbow"...

8 Quartette  (a) "Stars of the summer night"...

                  (b) "A Catastrophy"...

H. AYLING. J. C. LICENCE. W. S. LOVELY and A. E. ROMNEY.

Martin

10 Duet (with choral effects)... "Barcarole"...

Offenbach

(from "Tales of Hollmann")

J. W. TOMS and H. AYLING.

AN INDIAN POLICEMAN.

One day, while I was standing in our verandah at Rangoon, I saw four Indian policemen standing at the bottom of our road. A tram came along and three of the policemen got in, but the other, who tried to be clever, jumped on when it was going. As he jumped on, his turban fell off his head. He tried to catch it, out fell off himself. When he got up, the tram had stopped. He then started swearing at the Indian driver. A man in the tram told the policeman that it was his own fault for trying to get on the tram when it was going.

J. WATTS (i. a).

OUR PET MONKEY.

When my father went to Siena Leone, he had a pet monkey, When he went out he used to have a high bat and a walking stick. If you did not watch him at his meals, he would get hold of his food and start eating it with his fingers, and then he would get a box on the ears. He was a nice monkey and could do no end of wonderful things. He would lay the tea table and pour out the tea, and he could act as a doctor. When he was going to have his bath, if my father would not give him the sponge, he would cry like a baby. Another thing he did not like was having his hair brushed with a hand brush. Every morning he would stand by the looking-glass and do his hair, just like a boy would.

W, BARLOW (i. a).

PAPER.

Through the different ages many devices have been used for writing purposes. Sometimes people scratched with a sharp instrument upon a piece of hoard covered with wax. However, things written in this way could not be preserved. At other times they wrote upon soft clay, which was afterwards baked into bricks or tiles, Although it was easy to keep these for a long time, only rich people could afford to have such an unwieldy library.

Egypt, China and Japan are the countries in which the earliest manufactures of paper are known to have been carried on. The Egyptians made their paper from the pith of a gigantic reed called "Cyprus papyrus." Egyptian paper was in use until the eighth or ninth century of our era. Then it gave place to paper manufactured from cotton and other materials. This had probably spread to Western Asia from China, where it existed at a remote period. The first paper mills in Europe were set up in Spain, and in the 14th century some were built in Italy, France and Germany. In these mills the manufacture of paper from cotton rags was commenced.

Up to about six or seven hundred years ago, the few people in Europe who were able to write used the prepared skins of sheep and calves instead of paper. These substances were known as "parchment" and "vellum," and are still used for important documents, such as indentures and wills. They do not tear so easily as paper, and can therefore be preserved longer without much chance of injury.

The earliest paper factory in England was that of John Tate, at Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, in the reign of Henry VIII. The next celebrated paper factory was established by Spilman, a German, at Dartford, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from whom he obtained a monopoly of the manufacture. The first paper-making company in Scotland was established in 1695.

Paper can be manufactured from many materials. The Chinese manufacture their paper from hemp, the inner bark of the mulberry, the bark of the elm, rice, straw and bamboo. After the introduction into Europe of cotton and linen rags as material for papermaking, other vegetable fibres were neglected for centuries as they were dearer and less suitable for the purpose than rags. It was only about the close of the 18th century that paper manufacturers again began to turn their attention towards using vegetable fibres as a substitute for rags. At the present time, the chief materials used in papermaking are straw, wood pulp, and esparto grass, besides rags.

The finest paper is obtained from rags. They are first thoroughly boiled and washed, and are then put in a machine which tears them up very small. They are then bleached and reduced to pulp. The next operation is to spread the pulp upon an instrument made of wire-gauze or netting. Thus the water drains away and the pulp is left as a thin sheet. When this is pressed and dried, it forms blotting paper, and, in order to render it fit for writing and printing, it has to undergo several more processes. It is soaked in water containing glue, and is then dried and again pressed by being passed between iron rollers.

Since the commencement of the war there has been a serious shortage of paper. Many periodicals have ceased publication, and the remainder are greatly diminished in size, and also increased in price. Paper is five times the pre-war price, and it is very difficult for the printers to obtain sufficient paper. A great effort is being made to encourage the use of straw in its manufacture. It might be said that ours is a paper civilization. Almost everything depends on paper, not only the press and the book trade, but almost every trade. If there were no paper, there would be no letters or rationing, and I should not be able to write this article, which, of course, would be an infinite loss.

JACQUOT.

LIFE IN A GARRISON FRONTIER TOWN.

What would the farmer of quiet Devon or Cornwall think of life in a town on the South-East Coast? Ah! that coast. How often do we see, on looking at the heading of the morning newspaper, that it has been crossed by the harbingers of death and destruction, during the early hours of morning!

It is indeed the nearest place in England to the western theatre of war and we are frequently reminded of this fact, which is held out to us as a reason why Dover boys should be (and are) especially brave and manly. Other conditions serve to remind us of our geographical position, besides rain and mud. "Gross Darkness," says the Defence of the Realm Act, and consequently all lights are obscured, which renders travelling very dangerous during the evening, unless the moon is shining. This brings other disadvantages, for it gives the German aviators an opportunity to raid the town. It is on such occasions as these that we feel that we are in the war zone. Heavy guns from land and sea batteries engage the raiders, and chimney pots, tiles and bits of shell whizz through the air, making us feel rather uncomfortable. Trembling and bewildered, we grope into the cellars until the danger is over. The next morning insurance offices are busy attending to "claims" and applications for policies.

During the fine weather, when the wind is in the right direction, we hear the guns on the front. The greatest excitement is caused when submarines bombard the town; everyone hears about the German Fleet being out in the Channel, coming to land an army!

A. E. ROMNEY (v. a).

A LUMP OF SUGAR.

I was made at Freetown in West Africa. I journeyed to Plymonth, and was then sent to London. From there I had a rough ride to a large grocer's shop at Dover. Late in the evening of my arrival the box was broken open, and I, with a few other friends, was put into a pound bag and slipped under the counter, where nobody could see me. Next morning a lot of people came in and asked for sugar, but the only answer was, "No sugar to-day, madam." Later on in the day the assistant's friend came in. "Have you any sugar?" "Yes, two pounds. Put it under your coat and do not tell anybody." "All right. When can I have some more?" "Oh! next week. Hush! not a word! Good-bye." "Good morning."

E.G. (ii. a).

ARMY NICKNAMES.

Every regiment has its nickname, and the history of some of them is very interesting.

"The Cheeses" is the name, or at least one of the names, of the Life Guards. In 1788 it was said that the Guards were "not gentlemen but cheesemongers." The "Piccadilly Butchers" was another name the Life Guards earned during the riots of 1810.

"Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard" was a name given to the Royal Scots because of a dispute with the Picardy Regiment as to which was the more ancient. The Picardies said they were on duty the night after the Crucifixion, to which the Scots replied, "Had we been on duty we should not have slept at our post"

"The Cherry Pickers" was a name given to the 11th Hussars, on account of some of their men being captured in a fruit garden while on duty in the Peninsular War.

Other nicknames given to regiments are: "Sand-Bags" and "Coal heavers" to the Grenadier Guards: "Death and Glory Boys" to the 17th Lancers, and "Holy Boys" to the Norfolks.

The R.A.M,C. are not aptly named the "Linseed Lancers" and the "Poultice Whollopers."

PROFESSOR OLDE.

A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT A Y.M.C.A.

I was asked to go and help at the Apollonian Hall Y.M.C.A., so I went to the hall at 3.30 pm., as asked. I had a hearty greeting from the people who were there, because they were short-handed, and were very glad to see me.

I set to work collecting dozens of empty cups and saucers, which I took round behind the counter and began to wash up. Suddenly I was startled by a slight scream, and, on turning round, found that Miss —— had tipped over a kettle of hot water.

I turned again to my work, laughing to myself Then Miss —— came up to me and said, "I thought you were laughing!"

After that, all went pretty well. There was a great rush, and we were serving and washing up as. fast as we could till 6 p.m.

Sometimes men were standing three and four deep along the counter. I learnt to mix "Horlick's," for such a lot of soldiers and sailors ask for that. But washing up was my chief job. I'm sure I washed hundreds of cups, to say nothing of my best suit. I think I shall wear a waterproof next time.

A.H. (ii. a).

OUR ADVERTISEMENT COLUMN.

WANTED.

Reliable self-sounding bugle, to relieve breathless bugler.

Apply—CADET.

Sound-proof helmet, capable of deadening noise of syren.

Apply—LIGHT SLEEPER.

Pair of gym. shoes, warranted not to disappear from lockers and not to wear out.

Apply—T.D.

Special patent safety ink bottle for red ink. Also polish which will remove red-ink stains from wood.

Apply-LOCKER II., ii. a.

Keeper for qualified madman, to feed him, dress him and do his home work.

Two or three miniature revolvers for certain Cadets who find their rifles too short for them.

Apply—J.L.A.

Complete set of  "ever-bright" buttons.

Apply—TIRED CADET.

—:—

FOR SALE.

Fountain Pen. Used to writing impositions. Can turn out 100 lines in ten minutes.

Apply—R.

—:—

FOR HIRE.

Half-a-dozen spades. Useful for School garden. Know the ground well.

Apply-GARDENER.

VISIT TO A RUIN.

One day in the Christmas Holidays, when I had not much to do, I took it into my head to look for some ruins which I had heard of in a large wood. It took me half-an-hour to find it, and a sorry spectacle I looked; for what with the roots and rabbit holes, I had embraced Mother Earth a few times. The ruins are not so old as I had imagined, but what interested me was a great heap of stones, which I took for a grave. Round it was the remains of a rose garden, and here and there were a few snowdrops. On the whole it was a very pleasant spot in the day time, but I confess I should not like it so much at night.

G. REGAN (iii. b).

A CURIOUS HEN.

Owing to the war, we are all asked to do as much as we can to produce food. This can be done by growing vegetables or by keeping chickens or rabbits, or even pigs. The keeping of fowls is a very interesting and useful hobby, especially the rearing of young birds. These can be hatched by an incubator, but the better way is to sit a hen on some eggs and let her hatch the chicken naturally. The little birds are very pretty when first hatched, and are soon able to look after themselves. Broody hens are sometimes very troublesome, and refuse to sit on the eggs after a few days. On the other hand, some hens will sit on anything, such as a pot egg or a few stones. A hen which was sitting on some eggs last year would not leave them even to feed. A saucer with some food in it was placed near the nest overnight. In the morning it was found that the hen had turned the eggs out of the nest and had scratched the saucer into it and was sitting on it very tightly. The owner of the hen might have left it there in the hope that she would hatch a tea-service! When he took it away, the hen refused to sit on the eggs, which were spoilt.

"U-BOAT" (iii. a).

A TINY VOLUME.

What was said to be the tiniest volume ever printed was exhibited at Paris in 1882. This microscopic edition contained Dante's "Divine Comedy." The complete volume was less than half-an-inch square and contained five hundred pages, yet two sheets of paper were sufficient to hold all the 14,323 verses. There were many difficulties encountered, and although the type was cast in 1834, the work proved so arduous that no one would continue it for any length of time.

C. FRAKCIS (iv.)

SPARKS FROM THE CLASS ROOMS.

The Ancient Britons coloured their bodies with vitriol. (Britanni antiqui vitos se colorabant).

Latona with difficulty untied by almighty Jupiter. (Latonamque supremo dilectam penitus Juuvi).

Ci-gît—Lodgings here.

The Witch of Endor was the lady who kept the Cave of Adullam.

But for David's kindness, Saul would have been killed three times.