THE FIRE-FLY.

FEBRUARY, 1884.

EDITORIAL.

This time, we are glad to say, we have no need to beg for contributions, but only to thank our contributors, and ask them to continue to favour us as they have been doing of late.

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We are glad to see some correspondence springing up, which shows that a little more interest is at last being awaked; but there are one or two points in Pro Bono Publico's letter to which we cannot quite agree. Ist.-He asks, "When a small boy can get the B. O. P. for a penny, how can he be expected to pay threepence for a Fire Fly, from any hope of getting his money's value in interesting reading?" How can he get his money's value? This ought to be his last thought in purchasing his School Magazine. However poor it may be, it is his duty to support it as best he can, not to think that it is not worth buying, and that the B. O. P. is, in his judgment, far better and only a penny. 2ndly. He speaks of making our Magazine really the Magazine of the School, controlled by no set, no class, no established interest, representing all parties and opinions." Is the Fire-Fly controlled by a particular set or class? Does it represent only one party, one opinion? If so, we are not aware of it. Why it is open to all: every one, (to use Pro Bono's words) "from the sternest master to the most irrepressible First Former" has a right to state his opinion, make any suggestion, or relate his grievances. What is the "Correspondence" for if not for this? 3rdly-He speaks of "the strained, unnatural relations between masters and boys," and asks,-" Why we get on so badly?" Now, granting that in some schools this may be the case, yet surely it is not so here. Do we get on badly together? Ask anyone in the School.

Surely Pro Bono" cannot have been long in the School not to have yet discovered that the relations between masters and boys are not here, at any rate, such as are often depicted in works of fiction.

In another letter Pro Bono again forces us to the conclusion that he cannot be much more than a

new boy" for, in petitioning for a Debating Society, he states that there was a Natural History Society: but that is a very different thing from a Debating Society. Now, anyone who has been in the School long enough, will remember that there was a Debating Society, quite distinct from the Natural History Society, (which also existed,) and, moreover, several interesting debates took place. Why it fell through is another matter. It certainly is a great pity that it was ever allowed to die out, and we agree with "Pro Bono" that a Debating Society is an excellent thing, and no School should be without one, if possible.

Another correspondent begs for more space to be given to Football. This we would willingly do in some cases, (though we think it hardly necessary to insert detailed accounts of matches with scratch teams). But where are we to find room ? Some one will perhaps say. "increase the number of pages: there used to be more than eight pages." Need we repeat once more that the fault lies with the School? Until they support us less grudgingly, we cannot possibly afford to increase the number of pages, and O.Ns. will have to be content with short notices of the Football matches.

We must apologise for taking up so much of our space ourselves, but since we have understood that one or two of our correspondents are taking some interest in these subjects, we have wished to discuss them at some length.

It only remains for us now to add a few words about the Games. Fives, we are happy to say, is this term in a fairly prosperous state; indeed, the number of players seems to be larger now than it has been for some time. We hear that Football will come to any end about the end of February; and rumours have reached us that the Grounds Committee are making arrangements for Tennis being played between then and the end of the term. If this is the case, the usual "slowness" of the end of the spring term, will, we expect, be much lessened in future.

SCHOOL NEWS.

The School met on January 22nd, with an increase of numbers. The following are new boys, Mansell, Goodall, Forsyth, Myatt, Renshaw, R. Meigh, Bullock, T. Adams, P. W. Adams, Alcock, and Myatt. Peile has rejoined the

School, and A. H. Walker, and W. Poole have become "halftimers." In the Scholarship examination, T. B. Wood won the open; Bennett, the Middle School; and Molyneux, of Brewood Grammar School, the Day Boarding Scholarship.

C. H. D. Sharpe has been elected head of the XI. in the place of Poole, ma.

A. H. Walker, T. L. Paget, A. J. Hall, G. H. Woodall, F. E. Swinton, D. T. B. Field, and W. L. Meakin, have gained their XV. colours.

Mr. T. Disney has been elected to the Head Mastership of Hales Owen Grammar School.

On December 8th, Dr. Purdie gave a Scioptikon Entertainment in the Big School, which was well attended by members and friends of the School. Several pretty chemical experiments, and a few views of interesting places in the neighbourhood were very successfully shown. The most amusing part of the Entertainment, however, was the exhibition of a series of comic sketches and caricatures, which we believe were specially drawn by an Old Boy. Some of these we have printed in the present number, hoping that it will thereby be rather more interesting than usual to the junior members of the School.

THE MUSICAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.-The Musical Society gave their third concert on December 15th. Departing from their usual custom, they had issued a limited number of invitations to outside friends, so that a fairly large audience was assembled in the Big School. On the whole, the concert was decidedly a success. It is very evident that the Society is fulfilling the purpose for which it was started, that, namely, of attempting to cultivate the somewhat small musical talent of the school. A very marked improvement was noticeable on the displays which used to be given by the old Musical Society some two or three years ago. At the same time it is a pity that such a small share should be taken by the school itself in the programme, and that so much should devolve on the masters and their wives. To criticise a little in detail, the part-songs were fairly well given, the Christmas carol of "Good King Wenceslas" going much better than the "Song for Spring." orchestra shewed evidence of very careful training, and gave Hare's Mazurka very creditably. We must congratulate Poole ma. and mi. on their rendering of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March;" it fully deserved the encore which it gained. The piano solo (Prudent's Etude) by Mrs. Gostick, was the great success of the evening; it was given in a very artistic and finished manner. Of the violinists, Briggs mi. gives good pro

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mise. Turning to the vocalists, Swinton who, by the way, was the only member of the school who appeared as a soloist, shewed that he possessed a promising voice in his song "The Midshipmite," which was encored. Mr. Salt's pleasant voice was heard to advantage in "Sweet Mignonette," and the duet from "Cox and Box" given by that gentleman and Mr. Cooper, quite brought down the house. Mrs. Dakyns and Mr. Cooper were very successful in their duet, while in the absence of Mr. Disney, Mr. Cooper delighted the audience by "The Virtuous Schoolmaster," a clever parody of the Lord Chancellor's song in "Iolanthe," which appeared in the "Fire-Fly." Both the quartette and quintette went well. In conclusion, we congratulate the society on their performance; they must have worked hard to have achieved such good results, and we hope that, encouraged by their success, they will go forward with fresh vigour in the work they have begun so well.

On the last morning of last term, F. R. Tennant, on behalf of the Laboratory class, presented to Dr. Purdie, a pocket Spectroscope. In making the presentation, Tennant referred in a few words to the great care which Dr. Purdie always bestowed upon his pupils, assured him that he had won both the respect and affection, not only of his own immediate pupils, but of the whole School. Dr. Purdie, in thanking the Laboratory class, declared that his time amongst us had been one of the pleasantest periods of his life, a result, to which the School generally, had in no small way contributed. On the conclusion of Dr. Purdie's speech, the School joined in giving three cheers.

OLD BOYS' CHRONICLE.

A. R. Moody has taken the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery, at Edinburgh.

S. K. Alcock is now Microscopic Demonstrator at St. Bartholemew's.

F. H. Day has been elected a Member of the Natural Science Club at Cambridge.

G. St. J. Topham was pulling in the Worcester Torpids last term at Oxford.

R. Challinor has been shooting exceedingly well at Cheltenham College, and will probably represent Cheltenham again at Wimbledon this year.

A. Patten's regiment was incorrectly given in our last. It is the Royal Scots Lothian Regiment, 3rd Batt.

F. Clementson has passed head of the University Candidates into Sandhurst, standing third on the combined list.

Old boys are earnestly requested to send notices by post for insertion in this Chronicle. We shall be very glad if O.N.'s at the different Universities will volunteer for the post of University Correspondent. (See letter from A.P.)