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075 the Sydneian MAR 1888

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075 the Sydneian MAR 1888 ......l _____ _ PRICE SIXPENCE. l I I No. LXXV. A MAGAZINE EDITED BY MEMBERS OF THE SYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL. MARCH, 1888. CONTENTS. j•AOI': Editorial 1 Snap Shots 2 "That Old Umbrella" 3 The Value of Competition 5 Account of Musical and Dramatic Entertainment given by the School Debating Society 5 Crieket-The Melbourne Match 7 School N otns . 12 The University Examimition 13 Lawn Tennis '... 13 Correspondence 14 SYDNEY: PUBLISHED AT THJ1; GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1888. -·----I EDITORIAL. THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION. Tll:E results of the recent Matriculation Examination ought to teach us a few Practical lessons. From the exceptionally large number of failures on the Present occasion it is evident that the Professors have determined to raise the standard of this examination. This is a step in the Tight direction. Hitherto . the matriculation examination has been so cruelly easy, as to supply no positive test, either of the acquisition of knowledge, or of the formation of habit of study. The consequence has been, that many persons have been tempted to enter upon a University course without any sufficient guarantee, that they Were likely to profit by the lectures, or even to pa&s the subsequent examina­ tions. Last year, for instance, "at the first year examination 81 ordinary students presented themselves of these 38"-less than half the whole number -" passetl." Such was the official announcement. There can of course be no question, that many of these students were very "ordinary," but the blame for their failure attaches to a great extent to the University authorities, Who had allowed them to matricul.i.te, before they were fit to do so. Under the new regime we may hope that the matriculation will no longer be regarded as an easy vassport from a life of comparathre idleness at School to a life of more unfettered idleness at the University, with the distant but sure prospect of a "pluck " at the end of the first year, relieved only by the melancholy possibility of a process of " post mortem " torture. This will be a gain both to the University and to the Schools. It will inspire the students with greater respect for the' course of study, upon which they are entering, and will raise both the intellectual and the moral tone of the Undergraduates, while it Will perhaps disabuse the minds both of schoolboys and of the parents of schoolboys of the prevailing impression, that a few months' more or less regular attendance at Schools will suffice for au education in all branches of knowledge, and afford an adequate training for entrance upon University life. The sooner we all recognise that the Matriculation Examination has become a. real test of proficiency, and that, as such, it will demand persistent hard work, the better will it be for tu and for the credit of the School. 2 SNAP-SHOTS. "These pa.per bullets of the brain. "-Mitch Ado About Nothing. IT seems that one at lea.st of my shafts has hit its mark, for Ya.gel's " Return· fire" was evidently not ca.used by a mere desire to right the wrongs of others. This Quixotic Rha.da.manthus (get out your Classical Dictionary, Ya.gel), appears to have been wounded in some way by the first edition of " Snap· Shots." Perhaps it is jealousy at not being first on the field. Perhaps-but this is doubtful-Ya.gel is only " Upper IVth" under an alias. , However, Ya.gel, in future I will do my best to imitate the mildness of language and freedom from ma.lice which characterised your effusion. (This is ironical). • * The other day the School was startled by the apparition of a paper, which seems to have come from the classic shades of Darlinghurst. This singular production rejoices in the modest title of "The Enterprise." Judging from the contents, it might a.s well be called "The Speculation," as its chief object seems to be as large a circulation a.s possible. This editorial is conched in singularly modest language, and sets forth the ends of the publication with beautiful simplicity; but, turning over to the last page, we come on a.n exchange column such as our frequent little friend desires to see in the Syclneian. Here is a. specimen of the literature this pushing young person would fill pages of the Sydneian with. " FoR SALE, a Game Rooster (pile), &c., good ftghte1-, &c." I myself am not quite up to all the terms of poultry breeding, and so do 11ot understand the meaning of "pile," but the rest of the advertisement spenk9 for itself. The young gentleman who takes the trouble to write from our School to "The Enterprise," might as well find out a few facts to contribute. But he makes up for this by the flowery expressions (by the way, scents a.re flowerY expressions) which he employs to convey his thoughts to the " youth oj Sydney" through the medium of " The Enterprise's " columns . • • • "Fluellen," whoever he is, would like to put a. stop to the jam, fruit, &c., at the Annu~l Cadet Camps. lle is very kind no doubt, to waste his valuable time over us, and we of course a.re duly grateful, but regret having to refuse to follow his advicP.. The food at these Camps, '' Fluellen," is certainly excellent both in quality and quantity, but however excellent it is, a course of boiled, roast mutton, and bread and butter, becomes monotonous. It is necessary to hold out some attractions to ensure a good muster on these occasions, and no amount of regulations would prevent delicacies being smuggled into camp. 3 Besides, "Fluellen" seems to think that in order to become soldiers, we lllust undergo comparative hardships needlessly. If drilling is the sole object of the Camp, why not camp near Sydney? But you may lead a horse to the water but you can't make him drink, so "Fluellen" must be satisfied with the fact of having offer1:1d us advice, Without being angry at its rejection. So much for "Fluellen." * * * 'l'he Debating Society is prosperous once more. Several of the J\I asters kindly consented to attend as Chairmen, and the -effect of this was eminently satisfactory. Instead of the speakers losing their tongues with awe, the debates were conducted in an orJerly and friendly manner. The presence of a Master has not once prevented a hot debate, but merely has acted as a governor to prevent disturbance. The Society's rules have undergone thorough revision and will soon be in force. Arrangements are being made for an entertainment, which, judging from the proposed programme, will certainly not be inferior to any preceding one. " TH DA T 0 L U M B R E L LA." WITH what delight I drew my chair to the fire and settled myself for a long evening's pleasure, which was to consist of looking at the glowing coals, iiml dreaming those clay-dreams we all love so well ! I had just partaken of a slight repast, after coming home wet through. Although I meant to have a pleasant evening, I could not help feeling a little mournful. Yon know "there is a skeleton in every closet." My umbrella was the skeleton in my case. The min had actually soaked through it, and given me the wetting hefore alluded to. Never before had such a thing happened, so my readers lllu~t not put me down as an old fogey who will grnmble at anything tlmt chances to happen. I glared quite savagely at the offender as, standing in a corner, it reflected the light of the fire from its wet surface. Susan, my Waiting-maid, came in to remove the dinner things, and, turning to her, I said: "Susan, my dear, would you get me some whisky and hot water? I mn afraid I have caught cold, and wish to prevent it going too far and C<Wryingme into im ea.rly grave." "Yes, sir," said Husan; and she related th;tt her brother's wife's cousin, the milkman, died from !\ cold last week. \Vhcn Susan retut")lC<l with my beverage, I mixed a large glass and placed it hy my elbow. Already I see several hands held up in horror, because I drink Whisky, "uwis chacitn son yo11t." The pleasant drink and warm fire ma1le Ille feel more contented, and I felt quite sorry that I had been vexed about an Umbrella. "Now, how long haYe I had that umbrella?" so I mused as I gazed dreamily at it. "Oh ! I remember; just three years." Going into a hotel one day I Imel left a. new masher umbrella in the stand, and coming out again found my present protector, which, as is usual in c;ises of the kind, was 4 considerably worse than my own. " Three years ! dear me. I am getting quite ancient-48 next Michaelmas-day, and not married yet." This thought made me feel very sad, and deeply regretting the fact that no young lady had taken pity on my lonely state, I stared at my umbrella. "What? Oh, horrors !" I rubbed my eyes, pinched myself, drank some whisky, and stared again. That umbrella was actually assuming a form, and in abont two minutes a little wizened man stood in the corner instead of my umbrella. Oh, gracious ! I feel a funny sort of feeling start in my feet, travel up the­ small of my back, am! coming to my head, make " each particular hair to stand on encl." But I was not frightened, clear me no, not at all.
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