Those who have any care for Fives, or indeed for the general athletic welfare of the College, cannot have failed to notice, and that with pleasure, the very considerable improvements which have been

effected in the Courts during the Christmas holidays. Agitation has produced its result; and we ought to be very grateful to the Finance Committee, for their kindness and promptness in noticing our request. The general result of the alterations and additions is most satisfactory: the two old Courts are now enlarged to a considerable extent; and, although an unfortunate mistake in the building of the additional pieces of wall gives an ungainly and unplayerlike aspect to the Courts, it is found to be of no very material consequence. The walls of the Courts have been re-coloured, and the ball is now much more easily seen, than in the ancient règime; the walls also have been repaired in the more glaring roughness, and it is hoped more may be effected in this point at a future time. But by far the greatest improvement made is to be found in the formation of a Single Court, which is indeed a great boon. The floor and walls are rather rough at present; but, doubtless, constant play will soon reduce them to a proper state. Another noteable point about the new Court is, that the wall shoots to some degree, owing to an incline: but this being esteemed rather an improvement by some, there is no fault to be found with it. Altogether, then, we have now got three very good Courts to play in; and we take the liberty of thus publicly thanking the Council, on behalf of the School, for their consideration and kindness. But we must remind our fellow-Cheltonians that, as they have got a benefit to enjoy, so they have got a duty to perform. An increased list of entries for the Fives Matches, a double devotion to the game, some care for the preservation of the Court,--these are the things which one is entitled to expect. Any one can play now, for there are engagement boards in the Racquet-room; and our last word, as we hope, towards inducing fellows to play, is this-Any one in the Eleven, the Twenty-Two, or either of the Football Twenties, who refuses to go in for the Fives Matches, and thus give his support to a cause that deserves to be more universal than it is, is not doing his duty to the school that he ought to serve.

An attempt was made to play Football, but custom prevailed, and only II a-side could be mustered. There is great excuse for those who have served every half-holiday, last half, and will be called on next half, to devote every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon to Cricket. But for the others--well! we hope they employ themselves better.

The Fives and Racquet matches have not progressed much yet. Thanks to the Single Court, it will now be possible to have single

Fives matches, as well as double, so that every one that fails, will have no one to blame but himself. The number of entries for the single matches, 'when our reporter left,' was 29; for the double matches, 56. The great Racquet events come off this half, the matches for the championship and the silver cup. There seems to have been a kind of idea that there was some law which prevented the champion of last year from competing again for the championship. On the contrary, the condition on which the Gold Racquet was given, was, that if any one won it for three years running, it should become his own property. This is evidently incompatible with, and ought to over-rule supposed requirements of etiquette. Besides, it seems a paradox that a man should be called a champion, when it has not been proved, as far as matches can prove, that he is the best player.

For the matches under 16, there are now 7 entries, and there ought to be many more. The prize is given by E. J. Myers, and John Reid.

Of the Eleven of last season only five remain, viz.—

E. A. Brice, Captain

C. R. Filgate

T. V. Bramwell

A. Chandler

H. D. Fox

Of these who got their colours last half, there are two, viz.—

T. Wise
J. J. Reid

The new rule is that each, except the captain, should be obliged to win his cap by a fresh display of prowess; so that we cannot with certainty predict that only four new choices will be made.

Of the Twenty-two there are 15 left, 10 of whom belong to the classical. Of the prefects, there remain 12. The list of prefects for this half-year is as follows:

The Galop, (we were wrong last month in saying it was a waltz,) by J. W. Godfray, is now published by Mr. Hale, under the name of 'The Cheltonian Galop.'

Odds and Ends.

The Abbé de Villedieu disliked meat and never ate any until he was thirty. He then tried some soup and a slice of mutton, and immediately died of inflammation of the brain.

When gas was introduced a Scotch woman objected to it as 'Because,' said she, 'what will become of the poor

being cruel.

whales?"

Last December Service was stopped in a Church in New South Wales by moths; seven days' of hard labour failed to expel them. Nature has determined that Florida shall have no white pigs by producing there, in abundance, a root which kills white but spares black pigs.

If the earth were stopped violently the shock would produce heat enough to melt the whole, and volatilize the greater portion of it.

A stag beetle was kept for three years without food to test its powers of endurance. Its box was then opened, and it promptly

flew away.

In the late Chinese examination there were 10,000 candidates; 67 took an honorary degree, 9 a half degree, and 20 died of

exhaustion.

The first boa-constrictor brought to the Zoological Gardens lived there for three months without food, and then ate his blanket. It was his last meal; six months after he died.

Correspondence.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

To the Editors of the Cheltonian.

Gentlemen,-On looking over the past volume of this Magazine, I find but two pieces of Original Poetry. Now it seems very strange that in a college of more than 600 boys there should be