We would not wish to see the Boating Club in such prominence as at Eton, where the cricket is materially damaged by it, but we must ever wish it success, and hope that those "duffers" who cannot handle the bat or ball, may continue to swell the number of our aquatic youth.

We have not this year to record a victory over our opponents on the water; it could hardly have been expected, against so excellent a boat as Shrewsbury School sent down to Worcester; but we may congratulate the officers of the Club on the renewed vigour and energy shewn by all its members. A decided proof of this was given in the revival of the Picnic which everyone must remember with pleasure, especially the cricketers, who, no doubt, enjoyed it all the more for having first had their ardour somewhat cooled by an inpromptu bathe. In numbers the Club has increased wonderfully, and with this increase, we may hope for a corresponding improvement in the College boat. Not that we would for one instant disparage the powers of its present members, far from it. We know that they worked hard at Worcester, and although beaten, were by no means disgraced.

The Boating Club must excuse any inappropriate remarks that may have occurred in the accounts of the races during the past year. If the aquatic phrases have not been so correct as they might have been, if similes have offended nautical ears, we must be pardoned, as, unfortunately, we have no correspondent in the Boating Club. This, however, might be obviated, if some responsible officer would furnish us with reports in proper phraseology, which would be most thankfully received. Reports are sent in by the Cricketers and Rifle Corps, and why not by the Boating Club?

Our readers must often have noticed the proceedings of the Rifle Corps-and moreover, must have always been pleased to see such fine average shooting. We were sorry that the Eleven did not shoot as well at Wimbledon as was expected of them. The second place, nevertheless, was only lost by one mark, and our bugler, Godfray, occupied a similar position for the Spenser Cup. The Corps, seemingly, is still somewhat small, but it does them all the more credit to turn out so good a set of marksmen. Enterprise is not wanting, at any rate, which is fully shown in the raising of the band, whose progress in the harmonies of the fife and drum are truly wonderful.

One more sport is left, namely, Football. It is a game on which there has been considerable discussion during the last few months. It has been stigmatised as brutal and barbarous, and as totally unfit for any civilised beings. We feel sure that any one who

has witnessed the game as played in the play-ground, cannot concur in these opinions. Accidents will happen, &c., is a well-known adage, and if a boy is occasionally laid up, such might just as easily happen at cricket or any other game. The spirit in which, during the last two years especially, the game has been carried on, is amicable in the extreme. No better proof of this can be given than in the numbers of the fair sex who are so often seen during these brutal encounters. We feel sure that as long as they favour the scene with their presence, no ferocious propensities can arise in anyone's breast. The members of the town, unfortunately, could not be prevailed upon to put in an appearance so often as usual during the last half, and the match with the Training College was not so good as was expected, but we were more than repayed for all this by seeing so many old faces at the end of the half, and having so good a match.

We have thus endeavoured to put before our readers some slight summary of the chief events of the past year: we have, in conclusion, the painful duty of bringing to their notice two sad events.

The first is the death of an "old" Collegian, who, perhaps, none now at the College ever knew:-Thomas Barrows Adams died at Anglesea in the 28th year of his age. He was a member of the Eleven in 1856, and one of the best players in the Football Twenty. Many old Collegians must have known him, and his loss will be regretted by all.

The other is one which will be more deeply felt by us, as many still at the College must have been acquainted with Edward Bullock. Those who were here in 1863 may remember his winning the Mile, the Grand Steeple, and Thowing the Cannon Ball, at the Athletic Sports, the only three entries which he could be induced to make. Every one must still bear in mind his gentlemanly and unobtrusive manner, his kindliness, and that truly religious spirit which was one of his chief characteristics. In 1864 he went to Oxford and entered Exeter College, and in the following year we were all gratified by seeing his name as the winner of the University Hurdle Race.

His constitution, however, never very strong, was found to be giving way, and in the winter he was taken seriously ill. With spring came renewed health, and he returned to the University. It then seemed as if his recovery was complete, and in November he went to Bournemouth, hoping to be able to return to Oxford and take his degree this year. But it was ordained otherwise. The disease in the chest passed to the brain, and in a few days proved fatal.

It is sad to have to record so melancholy an event at the beginning of a new year. Edward Bullock was but twenty-two years of age, and hardly three years had elapsed since he left College. No one was better prepared to meet his end; of no one could we hope with more certainty that death to him was but a release from the cares and troubles of this vale of tears. Surely this is another warning to us all; may we profit by it, and find that

"There is

"In mournful thoughts a power to virtue friendly."

TH

The College Private Theatricals.

`HE success which attended our first attempt at a Dramatic Performance, shews how much may be accomplished by well directed energy. At the beginning of the half-year such a thing had not been dreamt of, and we are not aware to whom the credit is due of having first suggested "Private Theatricals," but whoever he may be, he cannot but feel highly gratified at the brilliant manner in which they passed off, without a single mishap or breakdown of any kind.

The management of the whole undertaking was left in the hands of a Committee of six, chosen by the Prefects, viz., L. C. Abbott, G. W. Addison, F. Baker, F. H. Barrow, A. W. Hutton, and W. A. Mackworth, who proved to be fully equal to their arduous task, and we must congratulate them on the perfect order and regularity with which all their arrangements were carried out.

The next step after gaining Dr. Barry's consent, and choosing the Committee, was of course to select the Plays. After due consultation Goldsmith's well known "She Stoops to Conquer," and Sheridan's "St. Patrick's Day" or the Scheming Lieutenant, were finally fixed on, and all must admit that it would have been difficult to improve on either.

The rehersals began about five weeks beforehand, under the efficient superintendence of Mr. T. B. Shenton, who was most indefatigable in his endeavours to bring his Corps Dramatique to as near an approach to perfection as circumstances would allow, and unreasonable indeed must he have been who was not satisfied with the results.

* As previously stated, admission was by invitation only, and all the expenses were defrayed by Subscription, which we are glad to say proved amply sufficient to meet all demands.

The Dresses were supplied by Mr. Harrison of London, and only arrived in time to have a Dress Rehersal of one play on the Monday evening previous to the Grand Performance. In order to give the whole College an opportunity of enjoying them and to prevent all unnecessary crowding, a previous performance was given on Wednesday evening, to which Collegians only, and those immediately connected with the College were admitted. This was in no way different from the Grand Performance on the following evening, save that the audience was perhaps more noisy and demonstrative in its applause, nevertheless the order maintained throughout was really wonderful considering that five or six hundred boys were gathered into one room.

The piece acted first was "She Stoops to Conquer," for which the cast was as follows

Although most of our readers must be familiar with the plot, yet it may not be out of place to give a brief sketch of it here.

The chief feature lies in Mr. Hardcastle's (W. Humphrys) house being mistaken for an inn by Young Marlow (Mackworth) and Hastings (Brice). This is a trick played upon them by Tony Lumpkin (P. H. Barrow), who is a rollicking country squire utterly devoid of all polish and refinement. Happening to be regaling himself at an ale-house with his boon companions when Hastings and Marlow come to enquire their way, he conceives the idea of misleading them thus.

Marlow, the son of Sir Charles Marlow, a very old friend of Mr. Hardcastle, is coming down from London, at his father's urgent request, in order to pay his addresses to Miss Hardcastle (Phipps). By some unaccountable reason, although perfectly at home in com

pany with barmaids, inn-keepers, and persons of this sort, yet the moment he comes in contact with ladies, he is most ludicrously shy, and to all intents and purposes an entire nonentity.

On arriving at Mr. Hardcastle's house, who has made the most extensive preparations to receive them, the two young men, to the old gentleman's utter disgust, act precisely as in an inn, ordering him about and criticizing his fare in the most unmerciful manner.

Hastings meeting Miss Nevile (Ottley), whom he has known before in London, and whose lover he is, finds out his mistake, but knowing his friend's peculiar temperament, resolves not to undeceive him. Miss Hardcastle accordingly comes in as if from a walk, and immediately, on being introduced, Marlow relapses into a tremendous fit of bashfulness, not even daring to look in her face. In the meantime Hastings has been holding a conversation with Mrs. Hardcastle, Tony's mother, an excessively vain old lady, and desirous of being considered the height of fashion. Her great wish is to see Tony and Miss Neville united, whose views on this point do not altogether coincide with her own. Hastings accordingly proposes to Tony to carry her off, and he at once accepts the proposition and promises to obtain his cousin's fortune which consists of some valuable jewels. This he does by breaking open his mother's drawers. In the meantime, however, Miss Neville asks her aunt to allow her to wear the jewels for one day, and, as a means of evading her request, she replies, at Tony's suggestion, that she has lost them. On finding that this is really the case, she flies into a violent passion, which only provokes her son's mirth. Hastings on having the jewels given him entrusts them to the care of his friend Marlow, who, for greater security sends them to the landlady, or Mrs. Hardcastle, and thus she recovers possession of her lost treasures.

Miss Hardcastle, being determined to win Marlow's heart, descends to the subterfuge of disguising herself as a barmaid, whence the name of the play "She Stoops to Conquor." In this she is completely successful, and Marlow falls in love with her at first sight. Unfortunately, however, her father suddenly interrupts them and takes this as an additional proof of his insolence, and upbraids his daughter with having before told him he was excessively modest and retiring.

Marlow, still supposing Mr. Hardcastle to be the inn-keeper, treats him with the coolest indifference, and so exasperates the old gentleman that he orders him out of the house, and finally, by saying he had been led to expect a very different person from his father's letter, gives him the first hint of his mistake.