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The Cheltonian.

JULY, 1868.

WT

words:

In Memoriam.

ITH moistening eyes and chilled heart many an old Cheltonian read in the Times of June 4th the following

“On the 5th May, at Galle, Ceylon, CHRISTOpher Edmond Temple, only son of the Hon. Mr. Justice TEMPLE, of the Supreme Court, Colombo, Ceylon."

Scarce six months have yet passed since we saw his marriage announced in that fitting record of life begun, continued, and ended on earth! We fain would doubt, but the words are clear, and sadly reluctant we realize that we must mourn the death of Christopher Temple.

It may have been towards the close of 1856 that he took his seat among us for the first time-a fair-haired boy. Conscientious in his school-work, eager and persevering in the playground, true in his friendships, two or three years found him one of Mr. Dobson's most trusted pupils, amongst the foremost in our Eleven, loved most by those who knew him best. He passed to Oxford, where both in the Schools and in the field, not merely with credit but with honour, he upheld the reputation of his old School. Duty still to him a sacred word, he entered quickly on his work in life, at the colonial bar, and there, at his post, the fever found him, and in three short days had done its deadly work.

His pure life and affectionate nature had won him many friends both at Cheltenham and Oxford, who now claim to share the grief of his young widow, the bride of yesterday.

The

Cheltenham College had no truer son than Christopher Temple. very faults we marked-and which of us can claim to show none?-were due to zeal for the character and interests of his old School. We old Cheltonians recorded our sense of this unselfish spirit by voting at our late meeting a letter of condolence to his father. To some these few words in memory will seem inadequate,

No. 25.-Vol. III.

to others, perhaps, excessive, because they never knew his simple excellence of character. "We do but mourn because we must."

Nor is he the first of recent Cheltonians to whose early grave affection would bring a mournful tribute. It is nearly four years since John Y. Knowles was taken from our midst: to whose worth Mr. Dobson, at his last prize giving, bore this public testimonythat 'search where we would among the great schools of the country no nobler example could we find of the perfect gentleman and the warm-hearted, manly, English schoolboy than John Knowles.' The speaker and he of whom he spake both lie silent in the grave. Edward Bullock, too, whose blameless life evidenced a principle before which earth's purest motives pale, has long since reaped the reward he sought; but the memory of all these-of William Dobson, our old master, of John Knowles, Edward Bullock, and Christopher Temple, our old schoolfellows, will long speak in the hearts and lives of Cheltonians. They had this

common feature strongly marked, as if in view of the grave whither they were so speedily going, that what they found to do in work or recreation they did it thoroughly, honestly, cheerfully, and with all their might. Theirs was never a half-hearted work, and so they demanded esteem before they gained friendship.

My friends still present at the school, believe me, school friendships are among the dearest and most enduring. Foster them, jealously guard their reality. They sweeten life and even when their loss, as now with us, weighs most painfully, you will be able to say:

'I hold it true, whate'er befall;

I feel it when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.'

But are friendships ever lost? If superficial, if founded on caprice or the fascination of eminent follies they are, and well so.

There is

a friendship whose foundations are solid, whose bond is stronger than death.

R.

W

The Concert.

ITH the formidable criticisms of the 'Looker-On' before us, it is with feelings of something more than trepidation that we venture to give any account of the concert. Fortified, however, with the recollection that the remarks of the Conservative 'organ'

are hardly likely to have any weight, we begin. It was an unfortunate circumstance that the Old Eleven dinner was fixed for the same night. Efforts were made to arrange the concert for Saturday, but it was found to be impossible, and as the dinner has from immemorial antiquity taken place on the first night of the 'old' match, that could not be put off-so the clash between the two was unavoidable.

The arrangements for the accommodation of College fellows were better than on former occasions, and no crush was occasioned. The visitors, too, had the grace to come in time, and the overturenot that from Molique's oratorio, by the bye, as announced in the programme-was begun punctually at Eight. The 'Pilgrims,' with which the vocal part of the concert commenced, was admired by everyone-both for its intrinsic beauty, and the way in which it was sung It was followed by the great undertaking of the eveningMendelssohn's 'Lauda Syon.' The 'Looker-On' expresses dissatisfaction both at the very idea of introducing such music as this, or Gounod's 'Messe Solennelle,' at a breaking-up concert, and at the manner in which it was rendered. We think it was rather a plucky thing for the choir to try, that it was by no means badly sung, and that something more than an 'average amount of justice' was done to it. Doubtless the quartettes were not good, but the chorus parts, and Mr. Graves' solo, were admirable. But, to continue. 'Babylon's Wave,' with which the sacred part ended, was perfectly sung -it could not have been better done, for it is a very difficult thing, and requires no small musical taste and ability in its performance.

The second part of the programme met with more general satisfaction—at least with the vulgar-for it seems to have been only the initiated who were able to appreciate the sacred music. Of course the College fellows vociferously applauded the Laughing Chorus' and 'Voici le Sabre' We beg pardon for again adverting to the 'Looker-On,' but his ideas really do call for some comment here. He gives as his opinion that the last-named song was the best all round performance of the concert-far and away. In the first place, we can hardly rank Offenbach's music, however popular it may be, as of a high character; in the second-though we do not in the slightest degree wish to detract from Pakenham's singing— it was by no means the best rendered piece. Even when perfectly sung—as we have very recently heard Mdlle. Schneider sing it, in 'La Grande Duchesse'-it is no more than what it is meant to bea light, comic piece, and to consider it anything else is a paramount absurdity.

We were most agreeably surprised by E. Moysey's singing in the piece from 'Faust.' His accentuation was perfect, his aprecia

tion of the music evident, and his voice very much improved since last year. To our minds this was the gem. We have only space to touch very briefly on the rest of the programme. Mr. Graves was, of course, in form, and, in 'England Yet' 'brought down the house' the 'Babie' was most satisfactorily 'hushed.' Mr. Archer's opening chorus to the 'Sculptor of Corunna' is really very pretty, and we thank Mr. Riseley for bringing it forward. Mr. Blagrove, as usual, played most perfectly. We hail him as a second Timotheus, with the reservation that we hope his performances may never occasion so dire a result as those of Alexander's musician.

In conclusion, we are desired by the stewards to tender their most hearty thanks to Mr. Riseley, for the trouble—almost unheard of-which he has taken, and the unwearying interest he has shewed in the choir-not only as regards the concert, but also in the chapel services, in which a very marked improvement has taken place since that gentleman has taken the arduous post of choir-master. Be thanks given to Mr. Blagrove, for his kindness in coming down, and for his able leading of the band. Great thanks are also due to Mrs. Barry, for the kind manner in which she has attended the practices and played the accompaniments, a task sufficiently wearisome.

Lastly, we record it as our deliberate opinion that the Concert of 1868 was a distinct success; that the Musical Society, Mr. Riseley's creation, was a success; and express our hope that the concerts of years to come may be equally successful.

AT

The Prize Way.

T nine o'clock, on Tuesday morning, the 23rd, it became evident that the very successful concert of the night before had not extinguished the interest felt by the inhabitants of Cheltenham in the College, and a goodly assemblage congregated in the Big Classical to see the prizes given away. As usual, the Modern and Classical non-Prizemen were on opposite sides of the room; while the visitors occupied the middle. Punctually enough Mr. CurtisHaywood took the chair, and was followed by Dr. Barry, the Examiners, the Masters, &c. After a few remarks by the Chairman, the Rev. G. W. Kitchen, in the absence of the Classical Examiners, was called on, and said:—

I have one advantage over most persons who stand up to speak, and that is, I have a grivance in the matter. The gentleman who ought to have made the speech is not present. I and the gentleman to whom I refer parted from each other on Saturday night, both going in different directions, it having been first decided between us that he (Mr. Markby) should make the speech. Now, it so happens that I, having come to the College to-day almost by chance, find that it devolves upon me to make the speech. Mr. Markby, who knew everything respecting the examination, is absent, and I, who knows nothing comparatively, am compelled to do duty for him. Another of the Examiners in Classics is an old friend of mine, and during the course of the examination expressed himself as being highly gratified with the results. Mr. Markby said he found it very fine fun; and he was much pleased with the result of the examination. The impression on the minds of the Classical Examiners seemed to be that the work is a decided improvement. Mr. Merry, one of the Examiners, also filled that post four years ago, and that gentleman is distinctly of opinion that there is an advance on the Classical side, and an improvement in the style and manner in which the work was done. I am like a certain Arabian bird, who, having no wings, was yet expected to fly like any other bird; but having no other facts to fly with I will cease. I will pass on to notice the examination in the Modern Department, in connection with which I have had the examination of the boys of the upper part entirely in my own hands. In this respect I differ from the Examiners on the Classical side, who had the advantage of checking each others' notes before they sent in their report. With regard to the Modern Department, there is one limitation I must make, and that is in regard to Mathematics, with which I have had nothing to do-the person who examined in English not interfering with that subject. In what I have to say concerning the Modern Department I am at a loss to form any judgment as to one of the most important branches of study therein pursued. The Examiner in this subject has, however, given me leave to say that, without the display of any particular genius in mathematical study-and you must be aware that very few persons possessed that-the boys showed most careful training, and the papers were, on the whole, the most satisfactory he has had the advantage of looking over. Now, in regard to the department which I have examined, I have found no genius; but I have every reason to be satisfied. I did not see any single piece of work which showed that the boy had been playing either with his Examiner or with his subject. In history and geography, and, on the whole, in English, the boys showed careful training. With regard to English, which was the weakest subject, my opinion is that as yet it is a subject which is hardly in 'full swing;' but I hope the day will come when it will be regarded as an instrument of culture and thought, and will occupy that place in education which is filled by classical subjects. If the study of English and history were combined, one would imagine that a boy would be well educated; but it is essential that boys should be trained in the best and most scholar-like manner possible; and I believe that as yet the English language is in its infancy, and that educators are but groping after the best manner of training boys and young men in English, When I came to look over the English papers I will say, at the risk of expressing all I think, that I was not so well satisfied as with some other subjects. I think a great deal remains to be done in the study of English; I do not merely mean as an archæological amusement in seeking out old forms and old expressions; but as giving the pupils a thorough grasp of their manner of existence in one of the noblest languages the world has ever seen, and which contains some of the greatest

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