Within a fortnight both she and Thomas were dead also. There is much that I should like to say of the amiability, affection, faithfulness, and many other moral excellencies of my two friends, but I feel that my readers may already think that my prophetic boast of shortness has hardly been fulfilled, and, therefore, dear Mr. Editor, I hasten to sign myself,

Your obedient Servant,

AIOLOUROPHILUS.

FOOTBALL NOTES.

The football season of 1879-1880 is now a thing of the past, and we take an early opportunity of briefly reviewing it, and of comparing it with former seasons.

In the first place it was not a successful one. We played seven matches and lost them all. Our defeats, as in previous years, were due to the fact that we played against much stronger teams; indeed, only in the Denstone matches can it be said that we had any chance of success.

So habitual has our ill-success become, that a just review of the season can only be made by considering the general play of the fifteen, and the nearness to victory to which they attained. Judging in this way we have every reason to be satisfied with our late season. There has been an enthusiasm and an interest taken in the game, which stands out markedly in contrast with some former years. Only in one match did the fifteen seem discouraged and lose heart, viz., in that against Mr. F. Dilworth's team.

The matches against Denstone were the hottest and bestcontested that we have ever played against them, and although in each case we were unfortunate and just beaten, we can comfort ourselves with the thought that, in the latter game especially, we showed, as our opponents allowed, the best form, and had the advantage in the game.

Since the appearance of the last number of the magazine, the two vacant places in the fifteen have been filled by Read and Adderley. Appended is a list of the fifteen, with some comments on the play of each.

F. W. Clementson, a very energetic half-back, has much improved since last year, and increased in muscular strength His collaring is remarkably good. The last season has been the most successful we have had, and we can with justice attribute our success to our captain's good temper and example.

A. J. Henstock was one of the best players we have had for some time. He played half-back; his running and dodging were both remarkably good, but he was rather slow in picking the ball up and getting away. A very useful place kick.

B. B. Dickinson shews a very great improvement on last year's play. Undoubtedly plays best forward, where he does a great deal of work. Has played three-quarter back sometimes, but does not shove off well when he is running.

F. Malkin is useful both back and forward, collars well at times, but varies in his play.

R. B. Daniel is decidedly one of our best forwards. Always on the ball, and pushes very well in the scrimmages.

S. Topham gives good promise. He plays with plenty of dash, and makes a very fair forward.

W. Twyford is one of the most promising players for the future. Although young he plays up well and pluckily.

P. Patten is a very useful three-quarter back, and has been improving all through the season. His drop kicks are often judicious, and he runs fairly.

H. Wildin was too weak to make a good forward, and was apt to get discouraged. Ran fairly.

W. Bennison, a capital back, but rather too impetuous. With care, however, will make one of our best players.

H. G. Kirkham was a fair back, and collared well sometimes, but varied greatly.

P. Bacon's great fault is running back; he also lacks courage ; his swiftness of foot was useful.

W. E. May plays with great pluck and vigour, but is not nearly judicious enough. When this fault is corrected he will be of great service.

R. H. Read works hard forward, and plays up well.

R. T. Adderley is a promising young player, and with careful training will do well.

PAST V. PRESENT.

This match was played on the School Close, Wednesday, February 25th. The afternoon was fine, and the Old Boys turned up in considerable strength, though two men short. The School also were deprived of the services of several of the fifteen. For some minutes after kick-off, the ball remained in the middle of the ground, where from a catch by Dilworth, R. Twyford had a long shot at the School goal, which did not reach; but almost immediately afterwards some good passing between Holtom and Dilworth took the ball into the School territory, and the latter running in, Baildon ma. kicked the first goal for the Old Boys. The School's kick-off was of little good to them, for Dilworth again brought the game to their lines, obliging them to touch down in self-defence. A good run by Mr. Woodforde soon after compelled the Old Boys

to do the same, but this success was brief, Holtom and Warner mi. taking the ball back to the other end of the ground, where Twyford secured a try, which Baildon ma. converted into a second goal Henstock's long kick-off sent the ball for a time into the enemy's quarters, where a free catch was made by Dickinson, the try, a very long one, failing. In the last few minutes Holtom and Dilworth each ran in, but the place kicks were unsuccessful. Thus the Past were left winners by two goals, two tries, and a touch down to one touch down. For them Twyford and Baildon mi. were most conspicuous forward, and Warner mi. and Dilworth behind the scrimmage, the running and collaring of the latter being very good. In the School team, the tail of which was very weak, Twyford, Read, Rose, and May worked hard; Patten's short but judicious runs and drods, and Henstock's collaring were very useful.

The sides were as follows:

Past: W. P. Baildon (captain), G. Foster, half-backs; J. Warner and F. Dilworth, backs; A. Warner, three-quarter back; R. J. Twyford, W. Wain, C. J. Holtom, F. Powell, A. Smith, F. N. Baildon, forwards.

Present Clementson and Henstock, half-backs; Patten, threequarter back; Bennison and May, backs; Dickinson, Twyford, Topham, Malkin ma., Read, Rose, Adderley, Macdonald ma., Ramsdale forwards.

SCHOOL V. DENSTONE COLLEGE (RETURN).

On Saturday, 28th February last, the School fifteen journeyed to Denstone to play the return match with St. Chad's College. The first match this season against Denstone was played on the School Ground, and after a tough struggle resulted in a victory for the College by a goal and one disputed, to a try, but the result thus stated does not really show the true state of the game, for the ball was in the College half of the ground for the greater part of the game. Naturally, after this, the School were very anxious to win the return match, but the College were equally determined in their efforts, and this led to a very exciting match. Denstone won the toss, and decided to play up hill and against a very strong wind for the first half of the game. At 2.40 the ball was kicked off, and the School forwards charging up, prevented the College backs from returning the ball. A scrimmage was immediately formed, and the School forwards at once proved themselves stronger than their opponents by forcing the ball over the College goal line, and compelling them to touch down in self-defence. From the drop kick at quarter-flag Clementson caught the ball about the centre of the field, and made his mark. Henstock was deputed to try a place kick at goal; the kick was a splendid one, going high over the cross-bar, but owing to the ball being placed too near to the College forwards, one of them managed to touch it,

and in consequence prevented a goal being scored. The College again touched down behind their own goal line, and from the drop kick another free kick was obtained, this time by Henstock; the same player took a drop at goal, but nothing came of it. For some time the College goal line was in danger, and Henstock obtaining the ball almost obtained a try for the School. After several scrimmages near the School goal line, Bland, Brown, Stretton, and Millar, by short but useful runs, relieved their goalline from danger, and carried the ball to the School half of the ground. Millar then, by a good run, obtained a try. Millar was entrusted with the kick, which although a good attempt, fell short, owing to the strong wind. The ball was now gradually taken to the Denstone quarter flag, when half-time was called. After the kick-off Averil and Stretton managed together to get the ball over the goal line, but Clementson got hold of the ball, and a maul ensued, in which Clementson forced the two Denstonians over the line again. After an exciting struggle between the opposing forwards the ball was got away by Patten, who made a very useful run. A little time after this Henstock managed to pass all the opposing backs, but when within a few yards of the goal line was overtaken by Millar and Brown and brought down. For a considerable time the College goal line was in danger; when the ball got loose Patten should have taken a drop at goal, but ran amongst the College backs and was prevented from scoring. After this the ball, by good passing on the part of the Denstone backs was taken to the half-way flag. Time was now called, the result being a victory for the College by a try to two touch downs. Although the School lost it had the stronger side, and was very unlucky in not scoring. The School for wards played well together, and showed a decided improvement on their play in the Past and Present match. The strong point of the Denstone fifteen was their passing back when collared, an example that it is to be hoped the School will follow. The best of the forwards were, for the School Daniel, Dickinson and Read, and for the College— Berry, Monson, and Gifford. Of the School backs, Clementson, Henstock, and Malkin ma. were the best, and of the College backs Bland, Brown, and Millar.

The following were the teams :—

Denstone F. Haden and T. Brown, backs; W. A. Bland (captain) and H. Millar, half-backs; W. Stretton, and C. Averill, quarter-backs; C. A. Gifford, C. Lallemand, J. Haworth, C. Sherlock, H. T. Hodges, W. Berry, J. A. Monson, W. Hodges, and J. F. Stephenson, forwards.

High School: Bennison and Malkin ma., backs; Patten, threequarter back; Clementson (captain) and Henstock ma., half backs Dickinson, Daniel, Twyford, Topham, Wildin, Macdonald, Read, Bacon, May, and Adderley, forwards.

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CRICKET PROSPECTS.

There need hardly be an excuse made for considering as briefly as may be our prospects and our duties for the coming season. There have been many electioneering addresses lately published, and one more will not be very seriously felt. Yet it is most earnestly to be hoped that there will be a reasonable effort made this year to ensure success. Cricket at a school without effort, in its own proper time, really fails as a national recreation. Success in the game may be said to consist in earnest in school matches, a good eleven, and promise for the future. These three things, among others, ought to be attained, and they ought also to be attainable this very year. A great many despondent remarks have been made already as to the prospects of the eleven in the absence of Cracknell, whose bowling, undoubtedly, had it been backed up by even decent fielding, would have been remarkably good. There is not the slightest real reason for this feeling. It is, indeed, an entire mistake, and a misapprehension of the true interests of cricket. It will be useful, perhaps, to treat of the points named, in order. The first point, and, in the writer's opinion, the most important to be aimed at, is the organisation of good, earnest in-school matches. It is from these that the good eleven and the future promise must be drawn. As soon as possible an opening match, a House v. School match, a Sixteen match, a Sixth Form match, and any others that can be devised, should be played. Far more fellows can be tried by this plan than by having many out-matches early; and there are many this year, or ought to be many, who will be tolerably equal in trying for the last places. Players can only gain real practice and confidence by working hard in a number of games. The greatest improvement is often made thus in boys, who at the outset, appear to be out of the running altogether. It is to be hoped that there will be real energy in this matter. Then there may be a fairly "good eleven." It certainly cannot be worse than last year's, for this reason. Ten members of the eleven, in every match, when in the field, seemed to rely altogether on the chance of Cracknell's clean bowling the other side. Consequently, there was neither dash, nor certainty, nor energy in the field. This can be remedied by preferring good fielders, and by watching players, with a view to particular places. The value of discipline and strict hard work in the field was shewn by the Australians, and ought to be known and practiced, as a special advantage, by every school eleven. For no other elevens can play so much together. This, with what bowling there is, must be made the great point, and if it is, there will be a far more useful, and probably a more successful, team than there was last year.

It should be considered a duty to keep up more matches for