THE FIRE-FLY.

FEBRUARY, 1885.

EDITORIAL.

As the present term is exceedingly short, and the Editors work this time rather heavy, we fear our new number will not reach the public before the middle of the term. By that time we expect the Football season will have come to an end, and the short miscellaneous period of runs, fives, tennis, etc., commenced. We hear that the Athletic Sports are to take place, weather permitting, on Thursday and Friday, March 26th and 27th, and that the annual House v. Town Fives match is fixed for Saturday, March 21st.

SCHOOL NEWS.

Died on December 31st, 1884, at the Villas, Stokeon-Trent, of rheumatic fever, Francis Arthur Cresswell, aged 13 years and 8 months.

W. J. Elliott has been elected to an open Natural Science Scholarship of £50 a year at Christ's College, Cambridge.

F. R. Tennant has been elected to an open Natural Science Scholarship of £50 a year at Caius College, Cambridge.

The open Scholarship at the School has been won by A. R. Moss, and the Scholarship open only to boys at the Middle School to T. C. Warrington.

A Scholarship open to boys from the Endowed Schools at Tunstall and Burslem has been awarded to H. D. Sillito of the Tunstall School. This Scholarship is given in memory of Professor T. H. Green, of Oxford, who was the Assistant Commissioner under the Endowed Schools Enquiry Commission, who reported on this part of England, and who suggested the foundation of a High School at Newcastle.

The following new boys have also joined the School, since our last number, Dawes, Hollamby, Alcock R., Green, Meakin A. J., Blair, Howson, Leason W. T., Challinor and Wedgwood.

On Jan. 30th, Mr. Mark Knowles, whose life is the subject of "From Loom to Lawyer's gown," addressed the School on Engineering and Self-help."

J. W. Hartley and F. E. Swinton have passed the London Maticulation Examination; Hartley was 32nd in Honours. Swinton has been elected on the Athletic Sub-Committee.

The School is larger this term than in any previous term, and the Schoolhouse has only one vacant bed.

W. T. N. Spivey, G. P. Hyslop, G. T. Sparks, H. Poole, E. L. Paget, T. Redfern, W. Briggs, and A. Briggs have gained their XV colours.

The following fixtures have been made for this term—

OLD MASTERS AND OLD BOYS' CHRONICLE.

G. B. Green (University College, Oxford), has been placed in the First Class in Classical Moderations. W. E. Dowson has been appointed to be assistant manager of a Merino and Silk Mill, and F. Dilworth has succeeded his father in the well-known business at Newcastle.

Dr. Purdie has been elected Professor of Chemistry in the University of St. Andrews.

On Dec. 30th, T. Disney, B.A., Headmaster of Halesowen Grammar School, was married to Annie, eldest daughter of Mr. J. S. Robinson, of Spilsby, Lincolnshire.

S. K. Alcock has been appointed House Surgeon to the North Staffordshire Infirmary.

G. C. Wardle played for Staffordshire against Derbyshire in the Association Football Match. Staffordshire won by two goals to nothing.

G. St. J. Topham is Captain of Worcester (Oxford) Football Club this term.

FOOTBALL MATCHES.

HOUSE v. TOWN.-The first match was played on Nov. 19th, and was easily won by the House by six goals and two tries to nil,

THE SCHOOL v. C. WALKER'S (O.N.) TEAM.-This match, played on Nov. 22nd, was the only match won by the XV. this season. Our opponents were not very strong, consequently the game was one-sided, the School winning by six goals to nil.

THE SCHOOL STOKE FOOTBALL CLUB, JAN. 31ST.-This time the School did not fare so badly against Stoke as usual, being beaten by three goals and two tries to one goal and a try.

HOUSE v. TOWN.-The return match was played on February 11th. The House won by six goals and four tries to nil.

OLD BOYS' MATCH.-The Old Boys' Match was played as usual on the last day but one of the term. The O.Ns. mustered so strongly that an agreement was made that the School should have the assistance of Mr. Cooper. But even with this addition of strength to the team, our adversaries had the best of the game all through, winning by three goals and four tries to one goal. Twyford obtained most of the tries for the Old Boys, and played in very good style, but the whole team played very well together. For the School, Strick, ma. got the only try; Swinton, Woodall, and Meakin also played well. The Old Boys' team was as follows:G. St. J. Topham (Capt.), R. T. Adderley, W. F. Bates, W. B. Briggs, J. Carruthers, W. E. Dowson, H. A. Dowson, E. Forshaw, G. B. Green, J. H. Parkes, F. C. Powell, R. H. Read, W. Twyford, B. Wardle.

THE SCHOOL v. ST. CHAD'S COLLEGE (RETURN).-On Saturday, Feb. 7th, our XV. journeyed to Denstone to play the return match against the School. Paget won the toss, and elected to play at first up the hill. For the first few minutes we succeeded in preventing Denstone from scoring, but as soon as the first try was gained, our XV. appeared to lose heart, and Denstone had it all their own way, scoring eight tries before half time. From none of these tries, however, did they succeed in kicking a goal. On changing ends our XV. made a much better show, and although they were pressed all the time, prevented their opponents from scoring more than four tries. From these tries two goals were kicked by Appleton and Wilson respectively. The tries were gained as follows:-Norton 5, Sulley 3, Wilson, Sylvester, Appleton, and Finch-Smith, 1 each. Behind the scrimmage Sulley, Hibbert, and Norton played best for Denstone, though all played well; and on the Newcastle side, Meakin, Strick, and Mosley. Among the forwards, Hyslop for Newcastle, and Appleton and R. B. Ward for Denstone, were most noticeable. The teams were-Denstone :L. F. Ward (back), H. Sulley, R. W. F. Norton, R. H. Wilson (three-quarter back), J. C. Sylvester, F. A. Hibbert (half-back), J. H. Boldero, G. L. Bomford (Capt.), A. C. Piiania, T. Appleton, E. D. Finch-Smith, R. B. Ward, H. L. Boldero, A. Bowcock, A. McDonald (forward). Newcastle :F. E. Swinton, G. E. Meakin (back), J. A. Strick, H. Poole, E. L. Paget (three-quarter back), G. H. Woodall, H. Mosley (half back), T. L. Paget (Capt.), A. E. Ash, W. T. N. Spivey, G. P. Hyslop, T. Redfern, A. Briggs, A. von Hafen, E. Mansell (forward).

THE MUSICAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

On the evening before the last day of the term the Musical Society gave a Concert in the Big School. The friends of the boys who took part were invited, and consequently the room was well filled. The Concert opened with a part song, "The Sea King," by Smart, which the choir executed in a very fair

style, the time being well kept throughout. After a pianoforte solo by Wardle, mi., which at first was hindered a little by his nervousness, a selection of basses and tenors gave us "The Young Musicians," which received a loud encore. A Gavotte, by Handel, was then played by the band, who showed by the accuracy of their performance the fruits of patient practising. After this, Mrs. Dakyns delighted the audience with a song, "Little bird in the green tree," (Claribel), which was rendered as usual with considerable feeling, and met with a well deserved encore. The next performance worthy of note was Mr. H. Olden's (O.N.) solo; "Trusty as steel," a very pleasant surprise to those unacquainted with his vocal powers. Briggs mi.'s Violin solo was accurately played, but not so harmonious, perhaps, as it might have been, owing, as we afterwards learned, to some fault of the fiddle. The trio by Mrs. Gostick, Mrs. Dakyns, and Mrs. Phillips, was very well rendered and loudly applauded. After a song by Mr. Cooper, given in his usual style, the Concert concluded with "Haste thee Nymph," the solo being taken by Swinton.

SEPARATION.

He paced the room in wild despair,
And many a handful of his hair
He plucked out by its roots.
"No longer can I bear," he said,
And sitting down he clasped his head
Between his trembling hands.

"I thought that I might pass with thee
"Through this cold world, till at length we
"Should parted be by death.

"In time no doubt the wound will heal,
"But still, I shall for ever feel

With me you might have been."

No jilted one was he, forsooth,

But, suff'ring from an aching tooth,
Was going to have it out!

THE DEBATING SOCIETY.

F. D. H.

A meeting was held on November 14th, when the House considered Elliott's motion, "That the Abolition of the House of Lords is at the present time very desirable;" the attendance was not good and the motion was lost by a majority of 5 votes (10 to 5). The speakers for the motion were Elliott, Poole, mi. Spivey, Felkin, and Paget, ma; and against, Tennant, Wardle ma., and Meuricoffre ma.

The next meeting was held Nov. 21st, when the President moved "That Association Football is preferable to Rugby Football;" this debate brought forward many new speakers, and was, perhaps, the best debate we have yet had. The motion was supported by Poole, mi., Wardle, ma., and Redfern; and opposed by Paget, ma., Tennant, Spivey, Swinton, Woodall, ma., and Mosley. On a division the motion was lost by 12 votes to 6.

A meeting was held on Nov. 28th, when Tennant moved "That, in the opinion of this House, the Extension of the Franchise to Women is undesirable." Elliott, Hartley, Scrivener, Hyslop, ma., and Woodall, ma., opposed the motion; while Poole, mi., Spivey, Wardle, ma., Ash, ma., Paget, ma., and Meuricoffre, ma., supported it. On a division the motion was lost by 17 votes to 6.

On Dec. 5th, the House met to consider Spivey's motion, "That the Abolition of Capital Punishment would be unadvisable." The motion was opposed by Elliott, but on a division was carried by 17 votes to 4. This debate was rather too conversational and we may here say that it is to be hoped that henceforth some members will make longer speeches, and not rise so often at each debate. Spivey was supported by Tennant, Wardle, ma., Strick, ma., Meuricoffre, ma.. and Paget, ma. The opposers of the motion were Poole, mi., Hartley, Felkin, and Meuricoffre, mi., while the opinions of one member could not possibly be determined from his speech.

The last debate of the Session was held on Dec. 12th, when Wardle, ma., moved "That the Art and Practice of Fishing are both pleasant and attractive." The President opposed the motion and in the absence of the Vice-President, Ash, ma., was voted into the chair. The motion was carried by a majority of I vote (7 to 6). Paget, ma., and Meuricoffre, mi., opposed the motion, while Redfern and Meakin supported it.

The first meeting of the present Session was held on Jan. 30th, The Officers for the Session were elected as follows: President, Hartley; Vice-President, Tennant, ma.; Co-Secretaries, Poole, mi., and Spivey; Members of the Committee, Wardle, ma., Mosley, and Woodall, ma. Several minor alterations in the rules were effected and the House adjourned until Feb. 6th. In the meantime the Headmaster notified his disapproval of the subject chosen for debate, and, therefore, the meeting held on Feb. 6th was only formal.

We are surprised to see in the list of those who did not speak last Session, the names of several members who are high up in the Sixth, we earnestly hope that these members will reform.