No. 54. MARCH, 1927. VOL. XVII.

FIAT LUX.

NOTICES.

    The next number of The Pharos will appear about 23rd July.
Contributions must be submitted to the Editor not later than 30th June.
    We acknowledge with thanks Ruym (Ramsgate County School), The Ashfordian, The Magazine of the County School for Girls, Dover, The Magazine of the County School for Girls, Chatham, The Anchor (Gillingham County School).
    Copies of the current issue of The Pharos or of back numbers which are in stock may be obtained from the Editor, price 9d.
    The Editor would be glad to have the names and addresses of Old Pharosians and others who would like to receive copies. The Pharos is now issued free to all members of the Old Boys' Association.

HEAD MASTER'S NOTES.

    Summer Term, 1927.—The Summer Term will commence on Thursday, 5th May, and end on Wednesday, 27th July. Holders of season tickets are asked to see that their railway passes are made out to cover both these dates.
    Astor Avenue Site.—We congratulate ourselves and the groundsmen upon the excellent appearance of the Astor Avenue lower level playing pitch, which will be ready for use for the Summer Term's cricket season. And now that our opportunities are enlarged, an increased interest in school games is expected. In 1928 we shall have the additional ground on the upper level. Active participation in school games has a direct influence upon the whole of a boy's schoolwork, and a boy's school sports record is always considered by prospective employers. The essential adequate playing fields having been provided, we must make the fullest use of them, lest to our shame we go down to posterity, conscious of slender performances in the midst of great opportunities.
    The additional ground presented by the anonymous donor has, strangely enough, given rise to a new crisis concerning the exact site which the new buildings will occupy. After much anxious thought and full discussion, and the presentation of varying views, it is expected that the decision will be arrived at within the next few days, and then the final piece of levelling will be begun.
    Personal.—With the deepest regret we heard of the death, on Tuesday, 25th January, of Mr. G. D. Thomas, to whose long and valuable services I have already made reference in a previous issue. The School appreciated the honour and the opportunity of paying our last tribute of respect to him, and of expressing our sympathy with Mrs. Thomas, by attending the Funeral Service at Charlton Church, of which he had been so long a prominent member. A coloured print of Turner's "The Fighting Temeraire," being towed to its last berth, is a serviceable and convincing "In Memoriam" addition to the School Hall pictures.
    Another loss befell us three days afterwards by the death of Gordon Evans, of Deal, to whose parents we extend our heart-felt sympathy in their abiding sorrow.
    Parents' Association.—Dame Fortune has been unusually unkind in another direction. The troubles of China have had a direct effect upon the School, in that Capt. Rowe, of the R.A.S.C., has been ordered at short notice to proceed to Shanghai. The news of his departure came as a shock to all of us. His valuable, energetic and sincere devotion to the work of the School and the Parents' Association we can ill afford to lose, and it will not be easy to find a successor of equal ability and enthusiasm. His departure was accompanied by sincerest expressions of good luck and goodwill. We must not be disagreeable about this "unkindest cut of all," but look forward with hope and courage to his safe and speedy return to Dover in the near future.
    Cadet Corps.—We were justly proud of the smart appearance of the Cadets at their Church Parade at St. Mary's, and at the ceremony which followed immediately afterwards in the Maison Dieu Hall, on Sunday, 20th March, when Col. Poyntz, D.S.O., Col.-Commandant of the Duke of York's School, presented the Lucas Tooth Shield and the medals to the members of the Physical Training team. We have striven for this distinction for some years, and heartily congratulate Capt. Pearce and the "Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men," upon bringing the Shield to Dover. It was one of the rare occasions when the Corps parades in public, and it was delightful to hear the appreciative remarks from the military critics present. We know the competition for the Shield will continue keen, but hope that we shall deserve to win on the next occasion.
    Vacancies.—The issue of this term's Pharos brings us to the end of the second term in the School year and reminds me that September is not far distant. The School year begins in September; the Free Place Scholars will be admitted in September, and September is the month which, for many reasons, is the best time for the admission of new pupils. We shall be rendering a service both to the School and to the parents of intending pupils, if we constantly bear this in mind, and impress upon them the need for making early application for forms of admission so that the names of would-be entrants may be placed on the School waiting list.
    School Reference Library.—The invitation to send books to the School Library has not fallen upon deaf ears, and I acknowledge with gratitude the following gifts:—from Mr. Maplesden Young of Deal, a handsome leather-bound edition of "The Iliad of Homer," translated by Pope, and three volumes (library edition) of "The Letters of Junius"; and from Capt. Donald, "The Geography of the World," by McKail.
    Many useful additions have been made to the Reference Library this term, and I know the books are being used with increasing advantage to all concerned.
    The finances of the School Libraries cause great anxiety. The steady annual grant of £10 for upkeep is acknowledged to be a meagre allowance. May I suggest that senior boys should establish the pleasing custom of giving, on leaving School, a standard work to the Library, in recognition of the School's services to themselves? How beneficial it would be if a school
could come upon the Carnegie Fund for library assistance, especially in a town which lacks a Public Free Library.
    The Wireless Set.—Thanks to the generosity of the Carnegie Trustees and to the Kent Education Committee. we have installed a loud speaker and wireless set, which exceed the expectations of even the severest critics. We accepted this set on the condition that we should take part in the general educational experiment on the value of wireless in schools. A further condition was the payment of £12 10s. for the set itself. The School is grateful to the Staff for devoting £6 from its own Soirée Fund towards the payment of the amount due, and I invite suggestions for an endeavour to raise the debit balance.
    Careers Opportunities.—We have been most successful this year in placing the Sixth Form boys who have left the School, and news of opportunities for careers confirms the view that at least a year in the Sixth Form is worth while.
    The upper age limit for the R.A.F. Apprentices and the R.A.F. Clerks is now 17 years of age—i.e., for the boys in Lower VI., and the Entrance Examination is to be held on 22nd April next. During training, examinations are continued, and it is by the results of excellent work in the examinations held at the end of each of the three years that Aircraft Apprentices receive Flight Cadetships tenable at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell. The far-sighted, ambitious boy will therefore make the fullest possible use of his time at School, and particularly in the Sixth Form.
    The same policy appears to be indicated for the eleven Paymaster Cadetships in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines which will be offered next June. The age limit is 17-18, and candidates are not even eligible to sit for the examination unless they have passed well a School Certificate Examination. The competition is keen, but the career is attractive.
    After an interval of several years, open competitions for posts in the Customs and Excise Service are to be resumed again, and some fifty vacancies are to be filled next May. The age limits are 19-21 so that the best chance lies with the boys who have done at least two years in the Sixth Form—in other words, have followed out the Advanced Course work either in Science or in Arts. The initial salary at the moment for new entrants, including bonus, is £193, and the maximum £609 a year; but the career offers further promotion for the able and industrious official who becomes a surveyor or an inspector of Excise and Custom. Perhaps the only serious drawback is that Customs and Excise Officers must accept appointment on the outdoor or on the indoor staff of the Service, as required in any part of Great Britain, and during the early years of their career there are frequent changes of station.
    This search for intellectual ability as a guide to practical, efficiency appears again in a scholarship which has just been offered by the Committee of Lloyds. The value of this scholarship is £100 p.a. for two years, tenable on H.M.S. Worcester, the Nautical Training College. The age limit is 16 years, and candidates must be in need of pecuniary assistance. This follows closely upon the scheme of the P. and O. Steamship Company, which offers half-fees scholarships (approx. £70 p.a.) to H.M.S. Worcester every year, and in addition promises to continue their cadets in the employment of the P. and O. Company on the completion of their training.
    Vacancies are occurring too in the home stations of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company's Training School. Applicants must be between 16 and 17 years of age, who have passed a School Certificate Examination. A premium of £50 is payable in two installments of £25. The course of training occupies 18 months, and pocket-money is given on satisfactory service.
    Vocational Training.—The question of vocational training—i.e. the inclusion of vocational bias in the School curriculum, was seriously considered by the Board of Education Consultative Committee which has recently issued its report. A considerable body of evidence was collected from employers, and their general opinion is definitely that pupils who remain at school longest stand the best chance of becoming the most efficient workers later on. In industry the most important qualifications are habits of careful observation, readiness to think things out by a process of scientific reasoning, a high grade of general intelligence, together with a power of application. To this end the Committee regard it as important that vocational training should never be of so marked a character as to prejudice the general education of the pupils. It is the boy and his development which must always be kept in mind, and not his job. The school must generate within him a power which may be usefully efficient in whatever department of work he finds himself.
    Organ Fund.—I take this opportunity to remove a misunderstanding with regard to the date of closing the subscription list, by saying that the Organ Fund will remain open until the day the organ is actually completed. As this is not likely to take place for the next three years, Old Boys, friends, and parents desirous of sending a contribution will gladly forgive this reminder.
Most gratefully do I record the following names of additional subscribers:—Mr. H. R Thacker, Mr. L. Sharp, "In Remembrance," Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Smith, Mr. G. A. Bond, Mr. F. J. Ryeland, Mr. F. G. Ryeland, Mr. E. Ryeland.

F.W.

EDITORIAL.

    We return, after the production of the Twenty-First Birthday Number, to the usual routine in the preparation of this term's Pharos. This prompts the question, "Are we getting into a groove?" Some, perhaps, would answer that, if we are, we are only following the tradition of other and more famous periodicals which continue through a long series of issues to publish similar articles on corresponding pages and which, in fact, for this very reason, endear themselves to their faithful and long-suffering readers. But the age is one of progress, and originality is generally welcome. At any rate we appeal to our readers and contributors to bring forward any ideas they may have for making our pages more useful or more attractive.
    The Editor would like to offer one suggestion. It is that boys who submit articles for publication should give more time and care to their preparation. Many rejected efforts begin with a promise of interest which they fail to fulfill others show defects of style and composition which might be remedied were there time. The habit of waiting till our "last day for receiving contributions" and then "dashing off" a trifle in the hope of success results mainly in an overflow of the waste-paper basket. We want to emphasise that contributions may be considered at any time during the term, and the earlier the better.
    We hope to add to the usefulness of the Magazine by publishing a series of articles dealing with careers. These will be written by Old Boys from practical experience and first-hand knowledge. A start is made this term by Mr. W. S. Lovely, who deals with Electrical Engineering. Suggestions and assistance in this scheme will be welcomed by Miss Rookwood at the Junior School, Ladywell.

GLEAMS AND FLASHES.

    We congratulate J. J. Betts on passing the London Intermediate Arts Examination, and W. V. Carpenter on obtaining an Open Exhibition in Natural Science at Downing College, Cambridge.

—:—

    The School Sports will be held at Crabble, on Wednesday, 15th June.

—:—

    The amount contributed to the School Charity Funds this term, up to 19th March, amounted to £7 16s. 9d., making a total for the School Year to date of £25 2s. 6d.

—:—

    On 3rd March, Lieut.-Col. A. Haddick visited the School to give an illustrated lecture on the Mount Everest Expedition, of which he was a member. His vivid account of this great feat of mountain exploration, and the beauty and interest of the pictures which were shown, gave great pleasure to all who were present.

—:—

    Another notable event in which the School took part was the exhibition of the League of Nations film at the Town Hall on 22nd March. An opening address was given by Mr. G. T. Hankin, H.M.I., who also explained the points illustrated by the film as it was shown. The School is much indebted to Mr. Hankin and to the Dover Branch of the League of Nations Union for this opportunity of learning something of the important work which the League is doing.

—:—

    The Old Pharosians' Cricket Club will welcome as members any Old Boys or boys leaving School this term. A good fixture list is being arranged for 1st and 2nd Elevens. Information may be obtained from the Secretary, Mr. F. W. Greenstreet, 87, High Street, Dover, or from Mr. Slater at the School.

PARENTS' ASSOCIATION.

    The Christmas Parties, held on the 6th, 7th and 8th of January, as in previous years, were of a very high standard.
    A Punch-and-Judy show and conjuring entertainment for the Junior School party, and a conjuring and ventriloquist entertainment for the Middle School party, given by professional entertainers, were pleasing surprises for the boys and their guests.
    The generous response by the Parents with gifts of money and in kind was much appreciated. For the success of the Parties our thanks are due to Mrs. Whitehouse, the Ladies' Committee, the helpers, and the Hon. Secretary.
On Saturday, 26th February, the Executive Committee of the Association were invited to an "At Home" held by the Deal and Walmer Parents. We congratulate them on this very successful function.
    The Soirée which was to have been held on the 13th January was abandoned owing to the prevalence of Influenza.
    The Dance arranged by the Staff on the 5th March was a very enjoyable event.
    On the 30th March the Annual Competition for the Association's Challenge Cup for Physical Exercises will take place and we hold over our account of the result until next term.

DEAL PARENTS' "AT HOME."

    On 26th February the Deal Parents were" At Home" to the School Staff and the Committee of the Parents' Association.
The meeting with the parents of our boys from Deal, Walmer and the district has become a pleasing annual event. On this:
occasion about sixty were present at the Clarendon Tea Lounge.
After tea, Mr Fea took the chair and welcomed the guests in an entertaining speech with humorous references to previous invasions of Deal by well-known historical personages from the direction of Dover. The Head Master addressed the Parents, and Captain Howe spoke of the work of the Parents' Association.
An excellent musical programme was carried out, including songs by Miss James, Miss Evans, Mr. Langley and the Staff Quartette, 'cello solos by 1\1r. Andrews and a pianoforte duet by Messrs. Willis and Baxter. Miss Rookwood and Mr. Fea contributed recitations. Those who had helped in the entertainment and organisation were thanked, on the motion of ~Ir.
Tomlin, seconded by Mr. Motley.
After the "At Home" many of the guests went on to Oatridge's Rooms where the Old Boys had arranged for a dance to conclude the evening. This was well attended and very successful, thanks to the efficiency in organisation of Mrs. Woodham and Mr. J. Bunyan.

OLD BOYS' NOTES.

    There is little to report this term.
    The Re-Union appears to have been an unqualified success, and thanks are due to Mr. R. H. Cuff, who, in the absence of the Secretary, so efficiently carried out his duties. Socially, I understand, the event left nothing to be desired, and a small profit balance on the accounts was most encouraging.
Owing to the deeply lamented death of our old friend and master, Mr. G. D. Thomas, the Dance to have been held on 29th January was cancelled.
    We now look forward to a good send-off for our new year by having a record attendance at our Annual Dinner at the School on Easter Saturday. Following this dinner, the Annual General Meeting will take place. 'We hope as many as possible will be present at both functions.
Members are reminded that subscriptions fall due on 1st April. For Old Boys who have left the School no longer than four years the membership fee is 2/6, but otherwise 3/6.
    As we go to press we learn, with the greatest regret, of the departure of Capt. Howe, and we should like through these notes to wish him God-speed and a quick return. He has been a real friend to the Old Boys' Association, and his loss will be keenly felt in all our activities.

HOUSE NOTES.

    There has been only one set of football matches this term.
These matches were outstanding from the term before, and were therefore played as soon as possible. The pitches were in a slippery state, but the games were mostly of a very even nature-Country House 1st XI. beat Maxton 1st XI., who had on Iv nine men '; Buckland 1st XI. beat Town, but the Light Blues 2nd XI. avenged this defeat; Maxton 2nd XI. also lost to Country. The rest of the games this term have been hockey matches, two Houses combining to play the other two. After an encouraging start, the enthusiasm for hockey has noticeably fallen off towards the end of term.
The departure at the end of last term of E. M. Smith, captain of Buckland House, was regretted by all, and we take this' opportunity of wishing him success in his new career.
The School Sports will be held early in next term, and all boys are therefore urged to begin their training in the holidays,.
both for the sake of their House and to make the event as great a success as possible.

A.C.Q. H.A.S.
L.I.B. D.G.A.S.

—:—

RESULTS OF HOUSE MATCHES.
1st XI.

19th January Country. . . . 4 Maxton. . . . I Buckland. . . . 2 Town. . . . I

2nd XI.

Country. . . . 5 Maxton. . . . 2
Town . . . . I Buckland. . . . 0

FINAL HOUSE POSITIONS-FOOTBALL, 1926-7.

GOALS. PER
P. W. L. D. F. A. P. CENT.
Country. . 12 10 I I 74 12 21 43.75 Maxton . . 12 8 4 0 45 39 16 33.33 Buckland. . 12 3 8 I 25 60 7 14.59' Town. . . . 12 2 10 0 19 52 4 8.33,

SCHOOL GAMES.

    The School football season closed with the annual game,.
Past v. Present, played on 18th December. In spite of a very high wind, a good, fast game was witnessed. The Old Boys,.
having the wind at their backs in the first half, led at the interval by 1-0, through a goal scored by Denton. However, in the second half, the School had matters pretty much their own way and scored 5 goals, Betts doing the" hat trick." For the Old Boys Nowers played an exceptionally good game at centre-half, but he was not well supported.
Several games of hockey have been played this term, and they have shown that there are players of ability in the School. Three games were arranged between the Cadets and the Rest of the School, and each game proved to be fast and keenly contested, the Rest winning two out of the three matches.
There is no doubt that hockey, if given the necessary support, will prove to be successful in the future as far as the School is concerned.
In conclusion, I should like, on behalf of the members of the football Elevens, to wish G. S. Peyton a speedy recovery after his recent operation.

SPORTS ACCOUNT, 16th MARCH, 1927.

RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE.
£ S. d. £ s. d.
Sale of Hockey Sticks 2 7 6 8/12/26 Juniors to Subscriptions. . .. 45 12 6 Folkestone . . 0 12 6 G.B.A., and extra sales 18/12/26 G.B. Match, Tea 0 IS 0 of Pharos.. . . 9 I 6 21/1/27 Harris-Photo 0 8 6 Cash in hand, 3/12/26 8 II 10 3/3/27 Cricket Bags. . 7 2 (, Cash at Bank, 3/12/26 13 8 8 9/3/27 Dovorian Coaches 8 5 0 14/3/27 Grigg.. .. 36 7 0 14/3/27 Gunn .. .. 3 IS :> Secretary's Expenses.. 0 I 0 Distribution of Birthday No. of Pharos. . . . 0 13 1 Cash in hand. . . . I 18 II Cash at Bank. . .. 19 2 <;)

£79 2 0 £79 2 0
--

Audited and found correct, W. WILTON BAXTER, W. H. DARBY. Hon. Treas.

DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

    The Society has this term been affiliated to the British Drama League, a privilege which the kindness of the Parents' Association has enabled it to enjoy. Drama, the magazine published by the League, is sent every month to the Society, and has been much appreciated. For this so liberal encouragement of dramatic work, all members wish to tender their sincere thanks to the Parents' Association.
At our first meeting this term, Mr. Watt gave a talk on the new Festival Theatre at Cambridge, and showed how nearly all experimental work must be carried out in the Provinces, the cost of running a theatre in London being too great to allow many risks to be taken. For the purposes of study, the Society has divided into two sections-a senior and a junior. The senior
section have been studying Galsworthy's "Little Man" and Musset's "On ne saurait penser a tout," the lower, Dunsany's "Night at an Inn." The sections have met on alternate Mondays.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.

    The programme of the Society has been somewhat curtailed owing to numerous engagements at the beginning of term.
The first meeting of the term was held on 11th February, when W. T. Sergeant (VI. Science) read a paper entitled "The Construction of Bridges." The history of bridge-building was briefly sketched,. and the various types of bridges were explained and illustrated by means of blackboard diagram. This proved one of the most interesting meetings the Society has yet enjoyed.
On 25th February, a debate was held on the motion" That coloured aliens ought to be admitted to Australia on equal terms with white immigrants." The motion was proposed Mr. Garland and seconded by Goodburn ; while the opposer WClS Sanders and his seconder Sergeant. The proposers laid stress on the need of international rather than national vision, and pointed out the danger to the race if the economically overcrowded regions of Asia were prevented from expanding naturally.
The opposers laid stress on the fact that the British were the first in Australia, and on the success of the British exploitation, urging that harm to British interests would result from the admission of coloured aliens.
The debate was thrown open, and several members spoke.
In the [mal speeches it was pointed out that the alleged success of the British exploitation was questionable. The resolution was put to the meeting and was carried by eight votes to five.
The Society met again on 11th March, when Mr. Darby took the chair, and H. B. Garland (VI. Arts) read a paper entitled "Henrik Ibsen." The life of Ibsen was briefly outlined, the plays of Ibsen were examined in detail, and their ethical and technical importance was indicated. Great stress was bid upon the fact that the substance of Ibsen's message was an attack upon ideals and idealists.
The programme of the Society for the current School year will close on 25th March, when D. G. A. Sanders will read a paper entitled "Some Problems of Philosophy." Our thanks are due to Mr. Uncles for organising these four meetings in a rather crowded term.

MUSICAL SOCIETY.

    This term has seen yet a further addition to our list of School activities. When' the Prize-Giving was over in November, general regret was felt at the cessation of the School Choir practices, and it was suggested that a Musical Society should be.
formed for the senior forms. The result was that a first meeting was held on the 18th January, when it was decided that the agenda should be divided between choral work and general musical appreciation.
    The next four meetings were devoted to string quartet work, M1'. Halestrap kindly lending the records and Garland the gramophone, while M1'. Willis illustrated in full the nature and form of the pieces in question. The following quartets were treated:—Haydn in D major, Schubert in D minor ("Death and the Maiden"), and Mozart in B flat.
    We are indebted to Mr. Froude for two very fine talks which he gave on 15th February and 1st March in appreciation of Schuhert's "Unfinished" Symphony. They convinced us fully of the great difference between simply hearing music and thoroughly understanding it. On the 15th March Garland spoke on "Beethoven's Life and Work," as an introduction to the very popular Fifth Symphony, on which the Society is now engaged.
    In choral work we have invited the co-operation of trebles and altos from the lower forms, but have limited ourselves so far to Elgar's "Banner of St. George."
    It is to he hoped that a Society so successfully begun will continue to flourish. If we can judge by the humming on the top corridor, the favourite Melodies at least have made an Impression.
    The Head Master wished the whole School to join in the celebrations of the centenary of Beethoven, the leader of the new Romantic thought in music at the beginning of the 19th Century. Lectures illustrated by records of instrumental works were given in the last week of March, as the centenary (If Beethoven's death falls on the 26th. A gramophone and records were lent by the Columbia Company for this purpose. Messrs. Murdoch and Co. also gave their help.
    An instrumental performance of the Trio in C minor, the Violin Sonata in D, and a 'Cello work were also given through the kindness of Miss Somerville, violinist, and Miss Hopkins, 'cellist. Thus Beethoven's centenary was fitly observed by the Dover County School for Boys.

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

RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE.

£ S. d. £ s. d.
Balance brought forward 17 7 10 Ammunition. . .. I 5 0 Sale of Uniform . . 0 16 5 Messrs. Potter and Co. I 0 6 Hire of Uniform.. I 15 3 A. J. Gunn and Co. .. 2 I 8 W. O. Grant. . .. 15 16 0 Messrs. Stevens. . 2 2 0 Drum Sticks. . . . 0 4 6 Carriage of Drums.. 0 2 6 Travelling Expenses.. 0 12 4 Postage and Cheques 0 2 8 Uniform. . .. 2 10 0 Manuals. . . . 0 14 0 Basins, Posters, Rope 0 13 6 General Expenses. . 0 3 2} Balance in hand.. 24 3 7}
-~
£35 15 6 £35 15 6

Audited Ilnd found correct, W. E. PEARCE, Capt.
S. F. WILLIS. 22nd klaTch, 1927.

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

    The Unit held a Field Day in the Pineham district on Saturday, 5th February. The operations, which took the form of an exercise in outpost and scouting work, were well carried out.
Serjeants Peyton and Jarrett are to be congratulated on gaining Certificate "A" at last November's examination. Serjeants Smith and Saunders and Corporal Cooke have passed the practical test in the March examination and are awaiting the result of the written test.
Voluntary musketry parades have been held weekly throughout the term, and have been consistently well attended. Each of the Company's four Sections has b~en entered for the King's Shield, the King's Trophy, and the Imperial Challenge Shield.
The Unit's hockey team played against a team representing the rest of the School in three well-contested matches, of which the first resulted in a win and the remaining two in a loss for the Corps.
It is pleasing to note that 15 Cadets have entered for this term's qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of Lance-Corporal.
The most important event of the term took place on Sunday, 20th March, when the Shield and Medals of the Lucas Tooth County Competition were presented to the Unit by Colonel H. S.
Poyntz, D.S.O., Commandant of the Duke of York's Royal Military School. The Unit paraded at 9.50 a.m., and after inspection by the Officer Commanding, marched to Divine Service .at St. Mary's Church. At the conclusion of the Service, the Unit marched to the Maison Dieu Hall, where the presentation took place. Colonel Poyntz congratulated the recipients of the medals, and hoped that he would have the pleasure of presenting the Shield to the Corps next year. At the conclusion of the parade three cheers were enthusiastically given for the Band and the Commanding Officer.
The Unit will suffer a distinct loss by the departure of Serjeant-Instructor H. B. Garland. For the last two terms he has been completely responsible for the organisation and instruction of the Training Section, whose present strength and efficiency .are due entirely to his efforts.

VALETE.

H. B. GARLAND.-Head Prefect; Mayor's Prize, 1926; School 1st XI. Cricket (Colours), 1924-5-6; Capt. 2nd XI. Football, 1925-6; Sjt.-Instructor, Cadet Corps; Barlow Section Cup, 1926; Cert. "A," OT.c., 1926; Secretary, Sports Club;
Secretary, Literary and Scientific Society; Dramatic Society; Hon. Member, O.B.A. ; Member, Pharos Committee;
proceeding to Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
D. W. PuLLEE.-Maxton House 2nd XI. Football.
W. T. MooRE.-School 1st XI. Cricket, 1926; 2nd XI. Football, 1925; Buckland House 1st XI. Football and Cricket.
Apprenticed to Stone-Mason.
F. G. ATKINs.-Country House 1st XI. Football and Cricket;
Orchestral Society; Clerkship in " Shell" Oil Co.
S. J. SHARPE.-School 2nd XI. Cricket, 1926; Town House 1st XI. Cricket. Clerkship in National Provincial Bank.
G. H. SLARKs.-Country House 2nd XI. Football; Lce.-Cpl., Cadet Corps. Clerkship in National Provincial Bank.
A. W. TURNER.-Country House 1st XI. Football; to Messrs.
Boots, Chemists.
'G. MAYNE.-Going to Prince of Wales' Sea Training Hostel.
J. H. BuCKLE.-School 1st XI. Football, 1925-6. Joining the Army-Musicians' Branch.
A. H. MORRIs.-Apprenticed as Tailor's Cutter.
G. O. SQUIRE.- Joining his parents in Germany (B.A.O.R.) D. C. S. TREGILGAs.-Transferred to Simon Langton School.
E. J. OLIVER. A. H. GRIFFIN. H. J. CARLTON. L. HERSEY.
R. HARDCASTLE.

MERIT LIST.

Form V. (Joint Board).-Peters, A. J. Kennett.
" V. (Oxford Local).-Grist (3), Mills (2), Hadfield (2), Clements (2), Scott (2), Hurd, Mayne, Barwick.
" IVa.-Crofts (3), Moseling (3), Goodridge (2), Martin (2), Pittock (2), Sparham (2), Castle, Darby, Bird, Hopkins.
" IVb.-Anderson.
" IV c.-~ Whittingstall, Farley.
" IIIa.-Kemp (2), G. W. Sharp (2), Thompson (2), White (2), Claw, Salmon.
" IIIb.-Merchant, Foad.
" IIa.-Sharp (3), Eade (3), Fox (3), Gutsell (3), Mainwood (2), johnson, Harrow, Ravensdale, Hampshire.
" IIb.-Coulter, F. l{edman.
" Ilx.-West-Oram, Bell, Chadwick.

Junior School.

Form la.-Abbott, Bailey, Brown (3), Bussey (2), Cooke (2), Milne (3), Moseling, Solley (3), Vosper (3), \Vraight (3), White.
" rb.-Harvie (2), Hutley (2), Hiscocks.
" Cpper Trans.-Bowles (2), Cockfield (3), Cox (3), Ellender, McNeil (2), McToldridge, Slator, Stapleton (2), Watt (3).
" Lower Trans.-Arnold (2), P. E. Coles, Browning (2), Scott (2).
" Prep.-Blaxland (3), Goodbun (3), Teasdale.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AS A CAREER.

    The choice of a profession !--this is indeed a matter of supreme importance, and one which comes, sooner or later, to each of us. ~"e have arrived at another" milestone," and we sit down to think. Ahead, the road branches at several points to right and to left; the country to and through which these roads pass is unknown, and it may be that all are equally smooth and well defined, or maybe some only are that, whilst others are rough and indefinite'-one even may be a cul-de-sac. Go forward you must, and the question is, in which direction. The wise traveller does not necessarily follow the road which is obviously inviting; if he has started out with an objective ahead and a working knowledge of the contour of the countryside, he will consider every detail of the situation and set off along that road which he judges will lead to his goal; from that time onward his progress and his" spirits" will be what he makes them. The road probably runs up hill and down dalethere are ditches to jump and hedges to scale, but a cheerful heart makes light of these.
The foregoing, I venture' to suggest, represents fairly accurately the position of many" Fifth-formers" at the end of July in each ,"ear.
The ~pplication to the world of education and business is, I hope, easy to see. You have to decide whether in the future you are to be a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, an engineer, a financier, or a m~mbET of one of the many other professions tL~t go to make up the world of business. Doubtless there are mal1\" ict this time who are thinking seriously along these lines, and ,;ome of you may he wondering whether or not your choice shall fall on Electrical Engineering, To such ones th('se few remarks will have particular application; to the others, I can only hope that they will be of general interest. It is b{ no means my intention to coerce any of you into my own profession, highly as [ esteem it and good as it has been to me.
Let us approach the matter logically. Whatever the profession you hope to enter, the starting-point from which all else will begin, and the foundation on which all the future will be built, is a sound gener21 education. The man who can talk with assurance on matters of general interest outside his own pet theme is the one who is most likely to make a success of his own job. There are times when to talk" shop" is by general consent considered to be the breaking of an unwritten lawthen it is that the" all-round" talker scores over the man of limited conversation, alway.s of course provided that he does not let his enthusiasm run riot. Put briefly, this reallv means that the attainment of a good school certificate is of "extreme importance. In the main I hold that exams. are pernicious things, but at least they do give one an incentive to work, and they haye their uses. At all events, under the present regime they are essential, and without them one cannot rOSSE-SS any uni,"ersalJy accepted certificate of scholastic merit.
Ha ,"ing achieved the" general," one next proceeds to the " particular" or "specialised." To reach the higher posts in the engineering profession, a man requires to gain as much theoretical knowledge as he can collect and retain, and in additien to make himself familiar with and reasonably expert in, the practical side of the subject. In my opinion these two should, as far as possible, go together.
Certain it is that the graduate who goes out from college into works, or the practical side of engineering, is but on the threshold of his training. 'Vhen one comes into contact with the many perplexing points which arise in practice and which are to be met with there alone, one realises how little pure theory stands for. But do not imagine that I depreciate the value of theory; as a basis it is indispensable, and when an employer of labour is .engaging a man, he will doubtless be influenced by the scholastic qualifications of the latter-they are therefore in the nature of .an " open sesame." But I should like to make very clear this point, that there.after the man will be judged by his results and not by his degrees.
If, then, we agree that both theory and practice are required, it will be helpful and interesting to enquire into the ways by which these may be obtained. One- may follow one of three .courses :(a) Go from school to college, and obtain a diploma there before entering upon the" shops" side of the work.
(b) Go from school to a particular form of Engineering College, where both theory and works training can be obtained concurrently, in " sandwich" form.
(c) Go straight from school into a works and continue with theory at evening schools.
I have seen all of these methods in operation and am of the 'opinion that when possible, course (a) should be followed. With regard to (b), I am at least" neutral," but I strongly advocate that (c) be not adopted unless circumstances make it the only possible one. No lad or man can be fit to use his brain as passing .exams. requires it to be used, after he has worked from 7.30 a.m.
till 5 p.m., and maybe later.
Consider now each of the three courses from the point of view of outlay of time and money.
Course (a) means three years at college, during which time little, if any, " grist" is coming into the mill and a great deal is going out therefrom. Living away from home, either in college .or in " digs," is in itself an expensive item, though it is a valu.able experience and in most cases the latter serves to prove to the individual the real meaning and worth of "home." Speaking in round figures, I should say that the inclusive cost of living for three years under present conditions can be put .down as £300-it need not amount to as much, and certainly should not exceed this figure. To be added to this is the amount of college fees which, if they fall wholly on the individual, will probably make him the poorer by about £50-£60 per annum.
Luckily in these days of educational enlightenment it is possible to obtain scholarships to defray part, or even all, of the college fees and" grants" to cover part of the cost of living. So that .although one may at the end of three years at college be minus £450, it is very unlikely that one will be-it depends very largely on the persuasive powers of Headmasters, the" pulse" .of local Education Committees, and last, but by no means least, on the individual student. After a college course it should not be necessary to submit to a further long apprenticeship;
two years with any particular firm will in most cases equip a man sufficiently with practical experience and place him in a favourable position for being selected for a definite post. During these two years one must not expect much remuneration; with luck one can obtain just sufficient to meet current normal . expenses, but bank balances do not improve during this period.
On assuming a specific position after this time, a young engineer would probably and generally start with a salary of £200-£250 per annum; progress after that depends on the ability and . conscientiousness of the individual, the state of trade, and the humanity or otherwise of Boards of Directors.
Course (b) involves the same span of years, and possibly the same capital outlay as (a), but my personal opinion is that at the end one would be less well equipped than one would be at the conclusion of (a).
Course (c) also means five years of apprenticeship, with very .little remuneration, and at the end of the time one still has far to go. Both in theory and in practice, one is, in truth, but beginning to climb.
Let us now look into the profession itself. To-day it is . clearly on the threshold of developments, the magnitude of which it is at present difficult to foresee or define. One sees on . every hand the growing application of electricity to the home, and with the passing recently of the Electricity Supply Bill one may, I think, look for the extension of distributing systems on such a scale as will bring an electric supply within the reach of every homestead in the country, and this, coupled with the various provisions of the said Bill, which will allow of the generation and therefore the sale of electricity at very much more . attractive prices than are operative at the present time, will increase the demand for this form of energy. Here, then, is scope for young engineers; outlined briefly the developments will mean that
(a) New and larger power stations will be built.
(b) Larger generators and a large quantity of high capacity switchgear will be built and installed.
(c) Many hundreds of miles of new underground cables and of overhead transmission lines will be run out for the linking up of the power stations and the carrying of power to towns and hamlets dotted about all over the country.
(d) Many more high-power transformers will be needed for stepping up the voltage of generation to a much higher value so as to enable more economical transmission to be effected. At the" receiving" ends of the lines corresponding transformers will be needed, to step the voltage down again to a value more suitable for local distribution.
e) More and more instruments such as ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, etc., will be called for.
(1) There is also the matter of railway electrification.
And so it will be seen that there should be work in plenty for the makers of every class of electrical equipment.
So mclch for the broad aspect-now for the consideration of each section of the electrical profession, in detail. One may throw in one's lot with anyone of the three groups--the Contractor, the Supply Undertaking, and the Consulting Engineer. The first of these makes the machinery which the second uses to produce and control the current, which he passes on to the general public; and the third is chiefly a connecting link between the first and second. equally interested in both. The man who joins a firm of manufacturers may first of all select the class of article with which he desires to be concerned and, having chosen, has still the option of entering the particular firm of his choice as a designer, a draughtsman, or in a minor supervisory capacity in the" shops" or "testing station." The Supply Company man may become attached either to the constructional side or the operating. The former is responsible for the installation and maintenance of all gear on the company's system, and the latter for the correct running and handling under both normal and abnormal conditions of the said gear.
The Consulting Engineer must be a specialist in one or other of the many branches previously referred to, and have in addition a general working knowledge of the others. His duty to the client who is a supply authority is to advise him as to the most satisfactory way of giving supplies required at the moment and of extending his system to give those required or expected to be required in the future, He has also to be responsible for the satisfactory design of gear bought by the client, and for the excellence of the workmanship applied to the gear by the manufacturer. In the last two respects we see how the Consulting Engineer is brought into contact with the manufacturer. Each manufacturer has his own ideas on the design of the articles which he produces, and it is the Consulting Engineer's business to examine these and, having done so, either to accept them, if satisfactory, or take steps to have modifications made where necessary.
To sum up and conclude, I should like to add a few words of advice to all prospective electrical engineers.
Do not expect to advance too rapidly, and do not be disheartened while vou find vourselves still verv "small fry" in the profession ; \~ith application and unflaggi'ng effort you will progress: and remember that everyone is essential to the scheme as a whole, irrespective of the magnitude of his contribution, The smallest tooth and the smallest split-pin are of viral importance to the large machine of which they form a part--Iet either get out of place or fracture in service, and there is gra \'e risk of complete destruction of the whole machine. Again, for the satisfactory operation of a Power Supply, the Control Engineer must have sale powers and must be able to rely upon thc instant functioning of each and every piece of equipment under his control. Under emergency conditions, the failure to operate of a protective feature may mean the destruction of plant, and even the wholesale temporary curtailment of supply to an area.
You, in your station, are in the position of the" protective featuie." And, finally, when your chance comes, take it, and take it with both hands-and with both eyes open and your minds alert.

SHAKESPEARE CLIFF.

    The traveller who approaches the ancient cinque port of Rye from the higher ground towards Battle can follow the sandy coast line past Dungeness to Folkestone, and on a clear day can distinguish what appears to be the summit of a pyramid that stands out in bold relief beyond the F olkestone Hills. That is Shakespeare Cliff, the first piece of English soil which has greeted the traveller from the Continent ever since that far-off. day when Cesar and his little fleet sighted our Kentish coast. Kings, queens, generals, diplomats, merchants and ordinary people have sensed that welcome which our white chalk cliffs send forth into mid-Channel.
The old cliff is high enough to have a shroud of mist in autumn and winter, and at such times the sea fog comes sweeping in from the Channel, closes down on the summit, and in a few seconds all is so still that the outside world seems far distant, and, except for the wild sea birds who nest in the crevices of the rocks, scarce a soul will pass by in the whole day.
    In Summer all this is changed. Three hundred feet below, the rocks form a background for the bright, clear pools. and the glistening seaweed, During the day the sea breeze; will set the corn in the valley moving—swaying like the little wavelets in the sea below. The bees love the cliffs at this time of the year, and later when the gorse is in bloom the margin of the cliffs is one blaze of golden glory. It is good to listen to the rustle of the wind in the grass and all the subtle undertones of summer which come murmuring up the hillside. In the calm of the morning the sea will be churned up into miniature fountains, where a shoal of mackerel are coming inshore after the whitebait, which now, alas! come all too seldom. The lark has been up for hours, and is pouring forth his soul with that cheerful vigour which brands the small minstrel as a confirmed optimist.
N ear sunset the sea breeze has dropped, and there is one off the land. The sun sets over beyond Hougham, the light from Gris-Nez is answered at longer intervals by its fellow at Dungeness, out to sea some barges are making the best of their way down Channel, while our little friend has not yet descended from his airy concert platform. The windows in the Castle on the hill opposite catch the last rays of the sun, they light up in turn with that mellow glow of evening and then gradually grow dim. Down below in the valley the day's work is over, lights shine in the windows, and I sit and dream. I am no longer near the edge, which is a hundred yards or more away;
the cliff has become much higher. I hasten to the edge, but it is now overhanging its base, where before the cliff was almost perpendicular. The harbour, the houses, and the Castle have disappeared; the watch fires of an army burn brightly at the foot of the Castle hill. And these two figures coming along the cliff path, who are they? The one is an old man, bowed down by the height of a great sorrow, and he is blind, for the second, who is a poor ragged figure, leads him by the hand. They pass by and soon are hid from sight round a bend of the cliff.
    It is on record that Shakespeare's travelling company of actors visited Dover; possibly Shakespeare came also, and who can tell whether he did not wend his way to that part of the cliffs that bears his name?

THE STREAMS.

LONDON.

    A faint gleam of light spreads slowly across the distant horizon and, as it increases, the blackness of the night is dispelled by the greyish light of morning, revealing, as far as the eye can see, domes, spires, factory chimneys and houses in which preparations are being made for the oncoming day. Before us lies the centre of the commerce of the whole world and heart of the greatest empire that has ever been. Many empires have risen in the course of time. Some have, as it were, risen out of the desert and attained greatness gradually after several thousand years of existence, after which a decline has reduced the once omnipotent empire to such a state of decay that whole cities, rendered magnificent by architectural works, are now buried in the heart of a sand-swept desert, with no vestiges remaining to show the greatness which has been. Others have risen in a similar manner in other parts of the world, but the æon of their glory has been cut short by overwhelming invasions of marauding tribes or races which have gradually trampled upon and extirpated all remains, the populace itself intermingling with the vanquishing races. Our own empire, we hope, will become ever more prosperous, founded as it is upon our love of freedom and justice; and certainly if we gaze on London when everybody is astir—smoke pouring from the countless chimneys within view, the streets filled almost to confusion with traffic and people—it seems inconceivable that it could, like so many of its predecessors, disappear even from the memories of later generations.
    To the thoughtful man, standing upon one of the great bridges which span the flood of the Thames—viewing this scene of mankind's mightiest work—it is a far stretch of the imagination through the ages to the day, two thousand years ago, when the destiny of London was really consolidated by the arrival of the Roman legions. This latter-day hub of the universe, now the home of millions, then rang with the regular tread of Roman soldiery, the heralds of oncoming civilisation. The Romans found it a level piece of country, marshy in character, but they saw how ideal was the site for a fortress, commanding the only ford over the broad stream Tamesis; and to expedite their transport, built the causeway which gives us the name Newington Causeway. So civilisation came—so London grew.
    By the time of the Norman Conquest it had developed greatly; and Westminster Abbey, a glorious shrine comparable to anything Christian architecture has ever produced, stood at its borders, the nation's legacy from St. Edward the Confessor. The Tower of London soon followed and London grew lightly to the westward of this, having St. Paul's Cathedral and the Guildhall in the centre, and being bounded by the City wall, which had seven gates. Such names as Ludgate, Newgate and Cripplegate show the localities of these. Westminster and Southwark were then different cities from that of London, and, in the case of Westminster, we find that it was separated by fields and bad highways until a surprisingly recent time. Dean Swift, although he possessed lodgings in Chelsea, would never journey thence from London after dusk. Gradually building extended outwards into the country, linking up Westminster and London by the building of Charing Cross and the Strand and joining Deptford and Bermondsey to the main city, until London has now developed such an enormous size that it is the greatest city in the world.
    At noon, London presents a wonderful spectacle. We find that wharves and docks extend along both banks of the river for many miles. Every kind of vessel from all corners of the world is loaded here. The hiss of steam cranes at work, the creaking and plashing of barges and tugs swaying gently at their moorings, the raucous cry of the seagulls, and the shrill blasts of the siren of the departing vessel, each adds to the animation of the scene before us. Amid it all, unhurried, unperturbed, the yellow waters of the river roll on, as they have done since man was in his infancy, as they will do as far as thought can picture. The main roads of the City display intense activity, nor does the continuous stream of pedestrians, or endless line of motor vehicles, seem to lessen from morning till night. Yet we can, if necessary, easily search out some corner where we may forget the hurry in our present-day life and dwell among memories. From Fleet Street we can pass through a narrow alley which leads to the Temple. Here, in one sequestered spot, surrounded only by tall, bleak buildings of that austere character so much in vogue during the reign of Queen Anne, and so much in accordance with our memories of Dr. Johnson, Boswell, Goldsmith and Reynolds, we find a bare stone slab bearing the deeply carved words "HERE LIES OLIVER GOLDSMITH"—a simple epitaph, as simple as any could be, and certainly more human than Samuel Johnson's grandiose effort in Latin. This alone remains to show the last resting-place of an author whose name has been a household word for many generations, and who himself wrote an essay on London which, indeed, does much to stir the imagination, although the hundred and sixty years which have passed since then have witnessed many radical changes. To the lover of "The Deserted Village" and "The Traveller" is left the solitary veneration of that stone, and such a bare, plain slab means more to him than many a gorgeous monument.
    As dusk approaches, so lights, first singly and later in their tens, gleam through the evening air. The riot of colour which illuminated the western sky at sunset has now gone, and only a faint glow, far beyond the distant towers of Westminster, remains to tell of the day that is gone. In the streets the blaze of lights reveals the endless stream of pedestrians, seemingly a confused mass of humanity. The murky waters of the Thames are lighted by the reflection of a thousand lights shimmering upon its ever-moving surface. Gradually, however, as the night is more advanced, the mighty cloak of darkness engulfs these lingering lights. All is still. The City sleeps at last.

OAKWOOD.

    Oakwood is a picturesque little village on the Sussex border. When we arrived it was early autumn, and the trees were turning yellow. Our object was to find the old Chapel of St. John the Baptist dating from the time of Henry III. Somewhere inside we knew there was a brass, telling the story of why the chapel had been erected. The story ran that the last wild boar in England had lived and died in the forest near Oakwood. One day a boy was walking in the wood, when the boar, a huge and very ferocious beast, attacked him. He ran, and the boar charged; by some miracle a tree fell across the monster's path, and the boar, with its head lowered in its fierce charge, dashed its brains .out against the log. The thankful father then built the chapel to commemorate the wonderful escape.
We found the chapel in the middle of a little coppice. The churchyard was not enclosed by any pale; and some of the tombstones stood out among the trees. The chapel was in a poor state of repair, and ivy clung to its old walls. On entering, we first mounted the rickety stairs to the gallery in search of the brass tablet. A rope served as an assistance to mount the stairs. The gallery was empty, save for a few small pews and some grinning faces in stone near the roof. We went below once more; after a long search we discovered a ring in a slab in the floor, beneath a piece of carpet which covered the aisle. Beneath this piece of stone lay the brass lettering which told the story of the reason for the building of the chapel.

A WALK THROUGH CHINATOWN.

    The Chinaman has been described so many times that I think it would be superfluous to do so again. His dress, his appearance, his mysterious origin, and many other points concerning him have often been pointed out and are practically known by everybody. So now let us see for ourselves part 0:
the everyday life of these "Celestials"—for as such they regard themselves.
An excellent place for doing this is in Yaumati, the large Chinese quarter on the Peninsula of Kowloon, which is just off Hong-Kong. Here, then, we shall go.
    A few hours before noon we leave the town of Kowloon and come to the outskirts of Yaumati. As we get nearer we can hear a steady hum, which gradually increases in volume, coming from the town. The Chinaman is usually regarded as a stolid, silent individual, but this is not so when he is advertising his wares or otherwise concerned in his business.
    The houses, we notice, are mostly in a dilapidated condition, although here and there one is painted with a bright colour, for the Chinaman is fond of bright colours. He is not very clean in his habits, as litters of rubbish lying on all sides show.
    Slowly we pass farther on and see a little of the everyday life of these people. Here, perhaps, we see a fat old man huddled up on a stool outside his house, with a long pipe in his mouth, calmly taking no notice of anything that is going on around. Also we hear the musical "click-clack" of the women's wooden slippers, and marvel at the sight of them in trousers. Raucous cries of "Ay-Yah " are heard, and we hastily step aside to let a rickshaw or two-wheeled human carriage pass. Perhaps, above the tumult, we may hear the steady" swig" of the chairs, not unlike sedan chairs, carried on the shoulders of two Chinamen. A little farther on we see scaffolding erected against the side of a house, showing that there has been a death in it, for the body must not be taken through the house, so it is carried down on the scaffolding. Some distance off we see an old woman fanning a fire with a coat and chanting something at the same time. From this we learn that someone in the house is sick, and the woman is chasing away the evil spirits with the sick person's coat. This, however, is usually seen at night.
    Afterwards we come to the shops' and see numerous boards with the Chinese fantastic figures on .them, all painted with bright colours and hanging outside the shops. These boards, so picturesque to us, mean the same to the Chinaman as the names above the shops here mean to us. The scene here becomes busier and the motley crowd increases. If we enter a shop we may turn the wares over as we please, the shopkeeper taking no notice of us whatsoever until we ask the price of anything, and then he usually doubles the original price, fully expecting to be beaten down.
    Perhaps we may be fortunate enough to see a wedding or a betrothal. The first sign of this is that we notice a gorgeously decorated sedan chair standing outside a house, with the attendants near by. Anxiously we wait, expecting to see the bride and bridegroom, gorgeously dressed, come and enter the chair, but imagine our disappointment when two little children, barely five years of age, come and take their places. This is their betrothal, the marriage taking place years after.
    The day which we have chosen for our walk may happen to be a big Chinese feast, such as the Feast of the Lanterns, which falls on the first full moon of the New Year. If so, we should wait for the night to fall and then continue our walk in the streets. On all sides, from every shop, from every house, carried by many people, we see lanterns of all shapes and sizes, with a candle burning in them. It is a wonderful sight to see these dragons, fishes, and many other things flitting about everywhere. Also the Chinaman loves fireworks, and now makes use of them, greatly adding to the din.
    Slowly we continue and pass out of the town altogether, to make our way home and to bed, to dream dreams or marvel at the things we have seen, which, to those who have lived in China for many years, are common, everyday scenes.

S. ANDERSON (Form IV.b).

THE FOUR WINDS.

FROM MALTA TO LONDON-OVERLAND.

    After a stay of four years in Malta, my father was ordered home. Just at this time it was very difficult to get a sea passage from Malta, owing to the troops being sent from Constantinople.
We waited four months, till finally we were ordered to proceed overland.
We left Malta on the Lubiana for Syracuse, arriving there next morning. I was not greatly impressed with this place because we had so little time to spare, as our train left very soon after. Our next stop was Catania, and after leaving there we could, for some hours, see Mount Etna. I shall never forget this sight, as volumes of dense black smoke were pouring forth.
We soon lost sight of Mount Etna, and after some hours in the train we stopped at the Strait of Messina. Here we had an unusual experience, for instead of getting out of the train we were shunted on to the ferry, which then conveyed us across the Straits of Messina. Still sitting in the train, we were taken off ; the ferry and started off for Kaples. Leaving Naples we started for Rome, and passed through cultivated land and beautiful scenery.
We stayed two days in Rome, which enabled us to tour this wonderful city. Two places of great interest were St. Peter's, where we spent many hours looking at wonderful paintings and altars; and the Coliseum, which is a mass of old Roman buildings. The last day we went to the Vatican, where the Pope lives. We also visited the Unknown Soldier's grave and saw the wreath placed there only a week before by our King and Queen.
Continuing our journey, we went- through the Alps, which was a wonderful experience. The tops of the mountains were covered with snow, but in the valleys could be seen rushing torrents. We also went through the long Mont Cenis tunnel. We arrived at Modane on the French frontier, and there we had to change trains.
    After six hours' journey we reached Paris, where we stopped for two days. The first day we went to see the Arc de Triomphe and the grave of the French Unknown Soldier. From the Arc de Triomphe could be seen the Eiflel Tower. We spent the last day looking at the shops, in which we bought several souvenirs, before leaving on the final stage for home.

FEBRUARY IN DOVER.

WHY THE SNAIL CARRIES HIS HOUSE ON HIS BACK.

    Long ago the Snail did not carry his house on his back, but had it on the bank of the great river.
    One day the Great Spirit summoned all the animals and birds together; his messengers, the Jays, flew screeching through the woods, telling everyone the news.
    Now the Snail was very slow and, as it crawled to the meeting place, it had to stop many times because it went so slowly, and so it was just in time.
    The Great Spirit gave each a present: he gave the Nightingale a beautiful voice, the Parrot the power of speech, and the Humming-bird and Rainbow-fish a wonderful coat. When he came to the Snail he asked him what he would like. The Snail said "Make me able to travel more quickly."
    "I cannot do that," said the Great Spirit, "but I can fasten your house on your back, so that you can always have lodgings."
    He did. So that is why the Snail carries his house on his back.

A VISIT TO GLASTONBURY.

    During my holiday in Somerset, we visited many places of interest; among these was Glastonbury. Here, Joseph of Arimathcea was buried, and it is said that before he died he buried with his own hand, in a hill close by, the Cup of the Last Supper itself. Now the hill is called "Chalice Hill." Another hill, called "Weary All Hill," is so named because it was to this hill that Joseph and his eleven companions came, when, weary all, and nearing their journey's end, the Saint, as token that their pilgrimage was over, thrust his staff into the ground, where in time it took root and became the famous Glastonbury Thorn. But now the spot is only marked by a stone slab bearing the date, "ANN.D. xxxi.," the tree having been removed to just inside the entrance to Glastonbury Abbey ruins.    
Many cuttings of this tree have been taken, and they still blossom at Christmas-time. We brought a cutting home with us, but unfortunately it did not take root, which was probably .due to the different soil.

TOPS.