Sir Hilary. A RIDDLE. Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt, My first to all the brave and proud My next with her cold and silent cloud, Before to-day is done. And both together to all blue eyes That weep when a warrior nobly dies. ANON. Correspondence. THREE GRIEVANCES. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-There are three things which I want altered, and I don't see much objection to any of them :-- I. There is no clock in the library, and I don't keep a watch; and I can't be asking Mr. Darter every half-minute what o'clock it is. 2. Why is the top door of the chapel kept shut on Sundays? If the authorities object to fellows coming in by it, at least they might let them go out by it. Thirty yards in the midst of a huge congregation of boys is a long way for the stricken sufferer to wander, especially if the last extremity have arrived. 3. Why am I and several others to break our bones every morning at 9.15, over that horrible corner at the top door of the chapel, which lets us through like sheep, one by one: and the worst of it is that more than one will go at a time? I wait in expectation, and am yours, P. O. G. THE GALLERY OF THE COLLEGE CHAPEL. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-In a former number of The Cheltonian,' I remember noticing a letter, which stated that ladies (strangers) had complained of a want of civility in the Gallery of the College Chapel. I trust that all cause for such complaint has ceased to exist, as it was not allowed to pass unnoticed by the College authorities. But I thought at the time that a good deal might have been said on the other side, knowing as I do, from personal observation, some of the difficulties which occur in the way of keeping, for their proper owners, the seats assigned to the ladies connected with the College. Cards are nailed on the desk before each reserved sitting; yet visitors constantly persist in taking the places so marked, and, I may add, in refusing to vacate them when requested to do so. It will, perhaps, hardly be believed that on one occasion, a lady, when at last prevailed upon to move from a reserved sitting, carried away with her the cushion and hassock she had found there, to ensure herself against any inconvenience from the change of place! But I wish to be allowed, by means of your widely-read periodical, to bring to the notice of visitors attending the Chapel services, a real grievance, of a serious character, under which we very often suffer. Many people (I am sorry to say) seem to forget the solemnity of the place, in the amusement they find in gazing on the large number of boys who are assembled in it; as is shown more especially by the unseemly rush to the front, which so often takes place at the close of the service, to watch the boys as they leave the Chapel. Their interest, moreover, in individual members of the Congregation, leads them to talk, and point out boys and masters in most audible tones, to the pain and annoyance of those who are regular attendants at the services. Without entering into the right or wrong of such conduct, or the evil of such an example in such a place, let me put it merely as a duty to those to whom the Chapel is a regular place of worship, that visitors should at least preserve a decorous silence within the Chapel walls. But what is actually the case? With the closing words of the sermon still sounding in our ears, before we have risen from our knees while the Blessing is being pronounced, our thoughts are rudely scattered by our feelings of indignation, at questions and remarks on the various members of the College, or occasionally discussions on the amusements of the past week. Why should all feeling of reverence for a place of worship die out of the breasts of these ladies when they ascend the Gallery stairs, and are removed from the immediate observation of the large Congregation below? Can it be that the having to procure tickets for admission is suggestive of the idea of a place of entertainment? In venturing on these remarks, I should be very sorry to have it supposed that I refer to the generality of the Visitors who attend our Chapel. The cases (I admit) are exceptional; but the exceptions are sufficiently frequent to give rise to the feelings which I have expressed, and which I know to be shared by many, who have been at times almost driven by such annoyance from the Chapel itself. I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, March 2nd, 1868. L. V. B. THE CHELTONIAN FUND. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-I was glad to see in your last number a communication from Mr. F. E. Price, on the above subject. Some years ago, at the suggestion of a Member of the Council of the College, a few of the Old Boys' started a similar scheme; but whether owing to some mistakes in the Prospectus, or to the circumstance of our being such very old Collegians, it did not meet with general approval. I rejoice, however, to see the idea again mooted, especially by so influential an old Collegian as your correspondent. May I suggest that one way to ensure success will be to appoint in every town or regiment, where there are any number of old Collegians, one or more of their number to act as Secretary and Treasurer, whose duty it will be to collect subscriptions and furnish information on the subject. I will also suggest that all donations, as distinct from annual subscriptions, should be funded, so as to ensure a certain degree of permanence for the scheme. I enclose a copy of the Circular which we issued, and also a list (imperfect I must confess) of the Old Boys,' who promised to assist us in it. I remain, yours faithfully, Kenilworth House, February 17th, 1868. JOHN WALKER. The College, Cheltenham, 12th November, 1862. Dear Sir, It has been suggested that there should be established in Cheltenham College some Scholarships and Prizes, similar to the 'Old Marlburian Scholarships' at Marlborough. The necessary funds would have to be contributed year by year by former Members of the College. The Scholarships might be tenable at Oaford or Cambridge* by boys from the Classical Department. The Prizes for the boys from the Military Department might be given to those who receive their commissions with distinction at Woolwich or Sandhurst. The number and value of these Scholarships and Prizes would depend on the amount subscribed, which would be impartially divided between the two Departments. But these are merely suggestions. The Rules would have to be framed at a General Meeting of Subscribers, after conference with the College authorities. Our object in communicating with you is to ask whether you, as an old Pupil of the College, are favorable to some such proposal as that of which we have ventured to sketch the outline, ard which has received the approval of the Principal of the College, and of the Head Master of the Military Department. Signed HENRY JAMES. CHARLES SCHREIBER. S. W. LAVICOUNT. G. A. GRAHAM. JOHN WALKER. WILLIAM LAMBERT NEWMAN. IRVING COURTENAY. JOHN RAMSAY. EDWARD RIPLEY. P.S. It is requested that an early answer be addressed to John Walker, Esq., Kenilworth House, Cheltenham, who would be happy to receive any Subscriptions at once. * Query whether they would not be more useful by being held whilst the boy was at Cheltenham College.—J. W. The Cheltonian. APRIL, 1868. Reminiscences of Cheltenham College. BY AN OLD CHELTONIAN.* WE E saw the announcement of this book with pleasure-we opened it with hope-we have read it with annoyance— we have closed it almost with shame. We are not denying to any Old Cheltonian the right of publishing his reminiscences of the College; but he who does so should recollect that he is writing not only of his old school but either for or against it. If a Collegian's reminiscences are such that he has no kind words to write or pleasant scenes to describe, surely he would do well not to write at all. But if he differ from this view and claims his right to censure or expose he must be careful to be accurate in his facts, and truthful in his charges, and if he fail either in his accuracy or truth he must not complain if those who have happier reminiscences of Cheltenham College both censure and expose him. We do not complain of a writer assuming a nom de plume, but it must be premised that the College roll bears no such name as that of 'Paul Ward.' If any one be anxious to discover who it is that has assumed this name, we think the following inferences may fairly be drawn from the book, and may be of some assistance in making that discovery : 'Paul Ward' appears to have been at the College from about 1853 to 1859. He was in the Classical Department, and boarded with a Master of the Military Department. He never was in the eleven, disliked football, frequented billiard-rooms, and possessed an inordinate love of pastry. We regret these are the only clues to his identification we can offer, except that he is the nephew of a solicitor who has no children, and to whose 'aristocratic pride' we are indebted for the presence of the author at Cheltenham College. *Bemrose and Sons, London, 1868. No. 22.-Vol. III. |
