PAST v. PRESENT. match of our football season. Next to the Classical v. Modern, this is the most interesting The old mettle is aroused, and the stiff limbs of the old boys are relaxed in a manner which leaves no room for doubt, to them at least, for a week afterwards. This year the number of old boys was far greater than usual, and the presence of five old Captains of the football, viz.: F. R. Price, S. Cooke, L. C. Abbott, Brice, A. P. Young, together with many other names famous in the Twenties of the Past, gave promise of a good match. But the Past never do come off-whether out of compassion for the young'uns, or from inability, is a matter for enquiry. The match began as usual in favour of the boys-and within a few minutes G. Browne, seizing an opportunity given by an unlucky kick in front of goal, dropped the ball neatly between the posts. This was aggravating: for the old boys had not yet got into their form: But they soon showed they had not quite forgotten their old play, and getting well together, they secured two kicks at goal-which were both missed, one by F. R. Price, the other by Abbott. After this, the game went very evenly, the numbers being too great to get points fast. But the exciting announcement by 'Jim' that it was a 'tie,' called for frantic exertions. S. Cooke, E. A. Brice, and Ommanney, were ubiquitous, and were only equalled by the stars of the present season, Guthrie, Browne, Watts, Stewart, and Harrison. The Present were now on their mettle, and began pressing the Past-and added two or three rouges to their score. At half-past four it was agreed to play for the last point-which was hotly contested, but ended in the Past getting a well-earned rouge. They were then left one rouge in rear of the Present: and so ended the best Past and Present ever played at the College. The play of the 'ancients' palpably improved as the game went on, and towards the end they were too much for the boys. The only matter of regret being that Baines, Wyatt, and Strachan, the Captain of the year, were unable to play in this the last match of a most successful season. In the evening, the Old Cheltonians who had taken part in the game, with some others who had not played, dined together at the Plough, instead of supping at the Queen's as heretofore: the change was generally voted an improvement. Soon after seven, about 30 old Cheltonians and half that number of Present boys assembled and sat down to dinner, with Price in the chair, and Abbott in the vice-chair. Among those present, were Messrs. N. Baker, E. A. Brice, F. Bullock, S. Cooke, E. Collier, Crofton, A. Crofton, Crompton, D'Aguilar, J. Dickinson, A. Dobson, Fletcher, R. E. Grey, Hamilton, Kinloch, Naylor, Ommanney, Palmer, J. M. Reid, Rodwell, R. Ticehurst, J. Tickell, White, A. Young, and E. Young; whilst the present Cheltonians were represented by Messrs. Ridley, Corbett (senior prefect.) T. Wise (captain of the 11,) Strachan (captain of the 20,) Baines (captain of Rifle Corps,) Lowther (capt. of Boat Club,) and eight or nine others. Dinner over, the flow of eloquence and of song commenced, and lasted throughout the whole evening. The usual loyal toasts were concisely disposed of, and after them the health and prosperity of the XI., the XX., the Rifle Corps and Boat Club, were severally proposed, and the toasts were ably acknowledged by the present captains who represented the various interests. Nor was the task difficult for either proposers or repliers, since there was an abundance of pleasant topics to dwell on. N. Baker was called on unexpectedly, but doubtless his forensic experience has given him the faculty of speaking fluently on any subject on the shortest notice; he replied in feeling terms. Thanking them much for the kind manner, &c., he only hoped that those who had been so free with their applause would be equally liberal with their subscriptions, and stated that he was ready even now to receive any guineas which were due. Such words deserve commendation-if fellows have put down their names for subscriptions they may as well pay up at once and get it over. After this toast Mr. Southwood's health was proposed, and also that of absent Cheltonians, coupled for some mysterious reason with Abbott's name: of course none could fail to applaud such toasts as these. We should have said that during the intervals between the speeches many excellent songs had been excellently sung (notably one by the Chairman). Palmer now supplied a great deficiency by proposing the health of the Chairman. He alluded to the great assistance which Price gives to the school, and remarked that if any one wanted to find the true 'man of the period,' he must come to the assistant master at the Rev. W. Boyce's house. Mr. Price briefly returned thanks, and discovering that the time had come at which present Cheltonians must depart, he abdicated the chair, and so put an end to a very successful and enjoyable evening. Fibes and Racquet Matches. At last the Racquet and Fives matches are finished; they were allowed to get grievously behind-hand, but in the last week some interest in them revived, and there was hardly an hour without a match. In Fives we think we may congratulate the College on having attained a higher pitch of excellence than that of the last three or four years at least. Not only are the best players better, but there are more good players, which is the most promising sign possible. In Racquets there is little conspicuous talent; we hope, and indeed believe, that there is some dormant which the racquet matches of next half will call out. Taking the Fives matches in detail we have these results: :- W. Bullock (4) beat G. Strachan (6) T. Wise (6) G. Graham (8) These matches were not as interesting as they look on paper. Bradley and Wood were unable to play owing to bad hands, a most unfortunate, and, for Wood, unusual mishap. Bullock and Wise did not encounter any serious difficulties. 4TH ROUND. G. Pruen (0) beat A. Myers (4) W. Bullock (4) T. Wise (6) These were both good matches, especially the first; for long Myers seemed to be having it all his own way, reaching 9 to his opponen'ts 2; then followed many long hardly-contested rounds, which Pruen won chiefly by the superiority of his left hand. For ten rounds the score was 'game ball all'; at last a skillful drop of Pruen's, by no means the first, settled it in his favour. The final match, Bullock and Pruen, was good, but not for long doubtful; Pruen won at 15 to 10. The Double Fives matches in the 5th round stood thus: Myers and Ramsay made some stand, but were beaten at 21 to 12. The concluding Match, Wise and Wood against W. Bullock and Lawrence, was a very good one. Wise and Wood played well together, being by nature adapted for the right and left hand courts respectively. Bullock and Lawrence were not so well suited. Partly on this account, and partly that when once headed they were unadapted for playing an uphill game, they had to content themselves with 16. To the winning pair we would say that they thoroughly deserved their success Of the Racquets less remained to be finished. Now that G. Hare had been blotted out by Cumine, after a most exciting match, there remained Savary (9), Cumine (5), and Myers (o). Myers played Savary and won easily. In the final match the score went:— In the first game Cumine ran away with the lead standing at 9 to Myers' o. Myers nevertheless crept up and won. The second was a clear but not unlaborious victory. In the third game Cumine ran ahead as before, being II to I, and Myers abandoned that game and waited for the next, which he won. Cumine played well on the whole, and made some first-rate strokes in the left hand court. Myers was rather below his best form, hitting high, though managing to get up a good many hard balls. The bat given by Eccles and Machworth, to be played for between the champions of Modern and Classical remains unawarded, owing to Wyatt's unfitness. It will be decided early next half. Correspondence. CLUB CHAMBERS. To the Editors of the Cheltonian. Gentlemen,-Out of the many 'Old Cheltonians' permanently resident in London, there must be a great number of bachelors living in the dreary solitude of lodgings. Some of these, for the sake of company and economy, might be glad to find any of their old school fellows who would be willing to join with them and live in the same rooms. If many could be found desirous of making the experiment, the suggestion might offer itself,-'Why not rent a house and have Club Chambers?' If the trial were made by some six or seven, it would form the commencement of a sort of 'Head Quarters for Old Cheltonians.' The reasons pro and con are many, but the idea has often. struck Yours very truly, C. H. A. The Cheltonian. MARCH, 1869. Harry Middleton, or Life at a Public School.* A TALE OF VICARSCROFT-ON-THAMES. I T was a grand and glorious sunset. The sky was filled with beauteous tints, while the glowing orb sank to rest in the heavens, having all the appearance of a face of fire-a magnificent jewel in a setting of many bright colours. The shadows began to lengthen, and darkness crept in under the trees, contrasting strangely with the golden flood afar off. Now that the heat of the day had passed, the winged insects that inhabit the air whirred. hither and thither with a droning noise, but the tired birds sought green bowers, wherein to perch securely. The garden attached to Claydon Rectory was spacious and well wooded. Mossy lawns were surrounded by spreading trees and bushy shrubs, while the sweet perfume of choice flowers softly assailed the senses and lulled them. In the middle of May, not many years ago, a boy of fourteen was sitting alone on a rustic seat placed beneath an acacia tree; he heeded not the sunset, his eyes were fixed on vacancy. It was easy to perceive that his mind was preoccupied. Occasionally he sighed deeply, for he was going to break away from old associations on the morrow, and quit what had always been to him the mazy paths of a sylvan paradise. He loved every tree in that fine old garden; he was, I may almost say, on terms of personal friendship with every evergreen. Beyond there were dogs, horses, and other pets, the possession of which is * We have heard complaints from several of our readers that we never admit stories to our pages. We have principally been hindered rom doing so by the fact that we never received such contributions. However we take advantage of this opportunity of trying to suit our readers. We must request 'S. Y. G.' to communicate with us by name before next number, or we cannot engage to continue his story. No. 30.-Vol. IV. |