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Sadder and  w iser  w e  became,  as  w e  th ou gh t o f  th e   R a d ica l  and  h is  le tt e r ;   n ot   sadder because  th e  L ev ee  is  abused,  n o t  sadder  be­ cause  h e  washes  to  destroy  a  th in g   “  th a t  has ex isted    fo r  g en eration s,”    b u t  because   th is proposal  o f  a   change  is  tak en   in   hand  b y   an in d ivid u al  w hose   apparent  kn ow led ge  and experience  o f  L evees  is  so  sh o ck in g ly   lim ­ ite d ,  and  because  his  id eal  assem bly  is   so ab su rd ly   inferior  to   th e  one he abuses  :  w iser w e  becam e,  fo r  w e  little   th ou gh t  th a t  an  in ­ dividu al— w hose  w ritin g   proves  h im   o f som e im portance,  w hether  h e  is  a    “  sw e ll  o f  the first  w ater ”   or  n ot— could  have  trifled   w ith a   grave  su b ject  in   so  friv o lo u s  a   sty le .    H e h as,  a t  any  ra te,  v en tilated   th e  m atter,  and h as  said Some  o f  th e  old   stu ff about  “  ancient cla ssics  a n d -m o d e m   g am es,”   w hich  w e  have often   noticed   goes  dow n  w ith   th e  low er  or­ ders  o f  th e  com m u n ity.    H e   has  done  v ery little   else,  besides  com m ittin g   several  gross errors,  one  o f  w hich  is  th e  groundless  sup­ position   th a t  a  great  p a rt  o f  B ig -sid e   p lays no  F o o tb a ll,  excep t  in   Second  T w en ties.   H e also  le ts  us  k n ow   h is  ideas  o f  h o n o u r ;  he w ou ld ju s t ly   deem   it  an  honour  to   atten d  an a ssem bly  o f  H o u se  T w en ties  and  E leven s  ; «  b u t  he  considers  it  a  bore  to   atten d  a  L evee as  a  m em ber  o f  th e  h igh est  and  m ost  im por­ ta n t  d ivision  o f th e  Sch ool.  “  B rin g  togeth er 1 8 0  m em bers o f the  U p p er S ch o o l,”   he w ould sa y ,  “  and  y ou   have  d u st  and  r o w ;   b rin g tog eth er  2 0 0   a th letes,  and  a ll  is  q uiet  and o rd e rly .”     H e   has  an  a lm ost  childish  idea  o f th e  w orth   o f  an  audience  o f  athletes. W e   th in k   it  n ot  out  o f  place  to  su gg est  a few   rem arks  upon  the   su b ject,   h op in g  for com m ents and  im provem ents upon them  from correspondents.    I t   is  eviden t,  first,  th a t  th e L evee  is  too  la rg e.   W h e n   th e  U p p er  S ch ool w as  first  con stitu ted   as  th e  g overn in g  b od y, it   w as  m uch  sm aller th an   it   is  now   :  now   w e w an t  som e  sim ple  arrangem ent,  and  as  the division    betw een   th e   U p p er   and   M id d le S ch ool  is  g reat,  so  is  it   great  betw een  th e Y t h   and  th e  form s  b elow .    I f   w e  too k   the Y I t h ,  X X ,  and  Y t h   as  our  L ev ee,  and  'te n w ere  elected   o u t   o f   th e   L ow er   Y t h ,   w e should  n ot  have  a  m uch  m ore  com plicated one  th an   w e  have  now .   W e  w ould , how ever, adm it   any  m em ber  o f  th e  X I   w ho  w as  n ot already  adm itted  b y   th is  arran g em en t;  and w e  w ould   exclude   everyone  w ho   had   n ot been  a  certain  tim e, say a y ear, in   the  School. O ur  L evee   w ould ,  b y   th is  m eans,  num ber about  1 1 0 ,  w hich  w ould  n ot  b e  too   m an y, and  it  w ould  include  m ost,  i f   n ot  a ll,  o f  the influential  m em bers  o f th e  S ch o ol.   W e   w ish to   add  one  or  tw o   rem arks  upon  th e  R adi­ ca l’ s  le tt e r :  w e  w ish   to   rem ind  him ,  th a t  a ll ordinary  A th le tic   prizes  are  £ 1 ,  unless  there is  an  express  arrangem ent  th a t  th ey   sh all  be h ig h e r :  also, th a t  it  is  usual  to   g iv e a  second prize  as#an  understood  th in g .    T h is is for his private  inform ation,  as  h e  seem s  a  little   ig ­ norant  o f  these  m atters.    W e   also   b eg   to su g g est  th at  it  is  n ot  th e  m aterial,  b u t  the w o rk in g   o f  th e  Levee  w hich  is   “  a  farce th a t   th is   farce   is   th e   resu lt  o f  th e  fickle nature   w hich   is   th e   p a rt  o f   ev ery    great assem bly,  and  also  o f  th e  carelessness  in to w hich   those  w ho   attend   th e   L ev ee   have fa lle n ;   th a t  argum ents  m igh t  ju s t   as  easily be  produced,  i f   th ey   w ould  on ly   rouse  them - 2 THE   METEOR, selverf  and  tak e  th e  trou ble,  b y   th e  U p p er S ch o ol,  as  b y   th e  E leven s, and the  T w en ties. W e   publish  a   letter  from   an  O ld   R u gbeian Correspondent   upon   th e   m atter,   and   he prom ises  us  a  sketch   o f  som e  reform s  th at m ig h t  be  effected  in   th e  L ev ee,  fo r  our  n ex t num ber. Reform is  th e  order o f the  d ay.    R eform  has occupied  th e  atten tion   o f  P arliam en t  since th e  b egin n in g  o f  th e  session,   and  R eform   is fa st   c u ttin g    its   w ay   into   our  gam es   and education.    B u t   it   is   th e   R eform    in   our gam es  w hich  w e   propose   here  to    discu ss. I n   a   form er  num ber  w e  proposed  an  altera­ tio n   in   the  Steeple-chases.    F o r  years  it   has been  fe lt,  th at  our   Steeple-ch ases  w ere  n ot real  Steeple-ch ases,  th at th e  running  w as  too great  a  stretch  for  lu n gs  and  le g s,  alth ou gh th e  course  w as  n ot  v ery  lo n g .    N ow  th a t  the cou rse  has  been  changed,  and  th e  Steeple­ chase  has  been  ru n,  w e  m ay  view   th e  change in   its  proper  lig h t.    N o  one  w ho w as  present la st   w eek   could  have   h elped  n oticm g   th e im provem ent.    M a n y   indeed  w hen  th ey   saw th e  course  for  th e  first  tim e,  looked  upon  it w ith  th e g reatest horror,  th in k in g  th ey  w ould b e  h alf-d ead   before  th ey   reached  the  goal. B u t  the   resu lt  proved  quite  the   contrary. T ile   runners  them selves did  n ot find  it n early su ch   a  p u ll as th ey  had expected.   T h e course m oreover  affords a   m uch better  field fo r  good w in d   and  good   ru n n in g,  and  n ex t  year  w e sh a ll  expect  to   see  a  la rg er  en try ,   since  w e b elieve m an y w ere deterred from  ru nn in g th is year  from   th e  dread  o f th e  new   course.    W e are  v ery   g la d   our  proposal  has  been  acted upon  in   th is  case,  b u t  another  R eform   has tak en   place,  w hich w as b ro u gh t about  b y   one o f our C orrespondents,  and  a t w hich  w e m u st express   our  regret.    W e   allude  to   the  new D ou b le  R acq u et  and D ou b le H an d -fives  T ies. O ur  reasons   are  those  expressed  b y   “  P h ilo - R u g b y  ”   in  our la st.   A lm o st a ll the pairs w ho have entered  are in  th e sam e H ou ses,  and the b est  player  m ay  often  w eak ly   choose  one  in b is ow n house,  n ot  second  b est.    Njpw  w hat w e  should  propose  as  a  rem edy  is  th is— th a t th e  S ch ool  D ou b le  R acq u ets  and  H an d -fives should  b e  draw n  as before ;  th a t there  should b e  a  C hallenge  Gup  to   be   com peted  for,   in D ou b le   R acqu ets   and   H an d -fives,  b y    tw o chosen  m em bers  out o f each  H o u s e ;  th a t  the H o u se  R a cq u ets  and  H an d -fives  should  be p la y ed o ff th is T erm , therepresentatives chosen and  th e proposed  Cups  played  for n ext T erm . T h e  advantages  o f  th is  w ould  be  m anifold— th e  chance  fo r  th e  C up  w ou ld   b e  th e sam e  as it  w as  b y   th e  old   sy stem ,   and  th e  H ou ses w ou ld  have  a  chance  o f  com p etin g   against oth ers, as is  alm ost th e case in  th e  p resen t one. A g a in ,  it  is  v ery   hard  fo r  one   o f  th e  b est players,  su pp osin g  h e  is  th e only g o o d   one  in h is  H o u se ,  to   b e  prevented  from   g o in g   in , because   a ll  th e   oth er  good   players  in   th e S ch ool  pair  w ith   others  in   th eir ow n  H ou ses. W e   k n o w   ourselves  o f  m any  o ld   R u gbeian s w ho  have  spoken  con tin u ally   o f  a   C hallenge H ou se   C u p ,   and   w ho   w ould  m o st  g la d ly subscribe  to   it. In  our  la st  num ber  appeared a n   a rticle  upon th e   O ld   R u gbeian   F o o tb a ll  M a tc h ,  an d   th e su b ject  su gg ested   to   us  th e  opportunity  o f   a few   rem arks  upon  O ld   R u gbeian s  as  a   cla ss. In   sp ite  o f  th eir  h a v in g   been  praised  in   im ­ m oderate  term s since R u g b y  w as first kn ow n , w e  cannot help  b estow ing a  little  m ore eu lo g y upon  th em .    I f   a   few   o f  th em   g o   a w a y  fro m here,  an d   th in k   no  m ore  o f  th e   p la ce,  th ese are  th e  w orst  specim ens,  and  g en erally   th ose w ho  have  n ever  risen  from  th e  lo w est r a n k s ; th e  m ajority   retain,  for  m an y  y ea rs,  som e  a ll th eir  life,  an  in terest  in   th e  d oin gs o f presen t R u g b eia n s.    T h e y   com e  dow n  here, w hether to   p lay   fo o tb a ll  or  crick et,  to   see   ath letic gam es,  or  w h atever  b e  th eir  reason,  from   a ll parts  o f  th e  w o r ld ;  th ey   p a y   th eir  m on ey w henever  th ey   are  asked ,  scarcely  k n o w in g w h at th ey  are  to   p a y   fo r ;  and w herever  th ey are  th ey  u nite  in   a   k in d   o f fello w sh ip ,  w h ich arises  on ly   from   a  % iu tu a l  advantage— th a t th ey  are  O ld   R ugbeian s. W e   sh a ll  com e  to   th is  hap p y  sta g e  som e tim e  o r  other,  and  w e  m ay   as  w e ll  see  th eir goodness,  th a t  w e  m ay   fo llo w   in   th eir  step s. B u t  w e  have  one  o r  tw o   com plaints to   m ak e. O ne  is,  th eir  perpetual  a n x iety   to   gru m b le, w hich  w e  den y  to  b e  th e  p rivilege,  a s  som e assert,  o f  ev ery   O ld   R u g b e ia n :  th ey   h ave  a w a y ,  esp ecially  th e  y ou n ger  ones,  o f  com in g here  in   th e  fo o tb all  season  and   d isco verin g th a t  th eir  H o u se  X X   is  n o t-th e   b est  th a t could  be  chosen,  as  i f   a   d a y   o r  tw o ’ s  experi­ ence  cou ld   teach   th em   as  m uch  as  a   m on t h * o r  tw o   has  ta u g h t  th e  head  o f  th e  X X ;  so in   th e  crick et  season,  th ey   w rite  and   p oin t o u t  fa u lts  in   th e  choice  o f  th e  X I ,  and  other little   errors.    Som e  have  a   w a y  o f   deploring th e  gen eral  aspect  o f  th in g s,  and  w ondering w h at  th e  place  is  com in g  t o ;  also  o f  sa y in g th a t  it   w as  n o t  so  in   th eir  tim e.    A n   O ld R u gbeian   in   th is  form   w e object  t o ;  because w e  feel  sorry  th a t  h e  is  disappointed  in   the THE   METEOR. 3 place.    Som e  few   O ld   R u g b eia n s,  how ever, w e  h ave  to   com plain  o f  for  break in g  then- w o rd .    I t   w ould  be  q u ite  absurd  to   recount th e  instances  w e  rem em ber  a t leav in g -b rea k ­ fa sts,  h all-su p p ers,  & c.,  o f  the  w orth y  people w ho  have  vow ed th ey  w ill  com e dow n several tim es   every   y e a r ;   th ese,   w e   find,   seldom com e  dow n  a t  a ll.    W e   w ish  O ld   R ugbeians to   understand  th a t  i f   th ey   feel  bound  b y  any tie s  to   th e  S ch ool,  th ey   must  com e dow n, and esp ecially  th ose  w ho  have  still  sch ool-fellow s le ft h e r e ;  th a t th ey  o u g h t to  m ake every effort to   com e  here  upon every o cc a sio n ;  and w hen th ey   com e  here,  le t  th em   be  careful  n o t  to --------;  w e ll,  w e  w ould  a lm ost  a llo w   th em   to gru m b le  i f   th ey   w ou ld   com e  and  see  us  as often   as  th ey   can .    A ll  w e h ave to  say is th at we   w ill   n o t   gru m b le,   w hen  we   are   O ld R u gbeian s. We  are  b o y s  !  y e s,  w e are undoubted ly b oy s, b u t  w e  are  rea lly   m ade  a lm ost  too  conscious o f  th e  fa c t  in   our  dealin gs  w ith   th e  trades­ m en o f th is flou rish in g tow n .    W e  are treated w ith   c iv ility ,  perfect c iv ility   g en erally,  b u t  it is  w ith   a  c iv ility   th a t  is  ak in   to   kindness, w ith   a  tou ch   o f  condescension.    A n d    th is treatm en t  tak es  different  form s.    W e   have th e  tradesm an jo c o se ,  w ho  w anders  from   th e su b ject  o f  th e  article  w e  are  interested  upon in to    p u n gen t  w itticism s   o r   p e tty    scandal. A lso  th e tradesm an pom pous, w ho is evid en tly too  good   for th e  place,  and has p robab ly liv ed in   fo n d   hopes  o f  “ b ette rin g    h im s e lf”    for y ears   and   years.    H e    gen erally    ends   his sentences  a b ru p tly ,  w ith ou t   th e   w ord   sir. B u t  th e  m ost  dangerous  class  o f  a ll  is  th e w h ited -w a ll  tradesm an,  w ho  in variably,  per­ haps  slig h tly   lo ftily ,  prom ises  th a t  w e  sh all h ave  w h at  w e  order  im m ediately  a t  th e  v ery la te st,  b u t  w e   call  again  in   a  w eek ,  again  in a  fo rtn ig h t,  and  i f  w e  are  lu ck y  w e  g e t  w hat w e  w an t  in   a  m on th   or  so.    A n d   w e  bear  all th is.    W e   suppose  because  w e  are  too  g oo d - natu red   to   do  w h at  w e  clearly   ough t  to   d o ; th a t  is,  to  tre a t any specim en o f th e first  class rath er   d ista n tly ,   and  a t   th e   first   sign   o f w andering  to   p u ll  h im   up  sharp.    T o   treat a n y   specim en   o f  th e   second  class  v ery   re­ sp e ctfu lly ,  a d d in g   th e   w ord  “ s i r ”   to    our answ er  to   any  sentence  o f  h is  w hich  om its it ,  and   to   tre a t  any  m em ber   o f  th e  th ird class  a t  th e  second  offence to   a  P .P .C .  card. A N     O L D     R U G B E I A N     O N “ A    R A D I C A L .” W e   had  alw a ys  piqued  ourselves  on  bein g tolera b ly    advanced   and   p retty    consistent R a d ic a ls ;  b u t  w e  confess  th at  our  brother’ s le tter  in   our la st  num ber  fa irly   threw   us  into th e  shade.    T h e  su b ject,  how ever,  is  so  im ­ portan t  th at,  even  a t  th e  risk  o f low erin g our character  in   our  b rother’ s  eyes,  w e  w ish   to sa y   a  few   w ords  on  h is  am u sin g  and  revolu­ tion ary  su ggestion s. W e   m ay  observe, a t  th e  outset, th a t  on  one p oin t  w e  fu lly   agree  w ith   our  correspondent. I f   it   can  be  in con testab ly  proved  th a t  B ig - side  L ev ee  has  done  its  w o rk ,  th a t  it  w as founded  during  a  period  o f  d isorganisation, and  has  becom e  an  effete  and  decrepit  m em ­ b er  o f  an   order  o f  in stitu tion s   w h ich    has lo n g   passed  a w a y ;  i f   it  can  b e  show n  th at fo r  th e  la st  tw en ty   years  it  has  been  slo w ly degenerating   from    bad   to    w orse,   and   no lon ger  represents  th e  opinions  and  interests o f  th e  S ch o ol,  th en ,   w e  say,   b y   a ll  m eans sw eep  it  aw ay. T h e  q uestion,  therefore,  resolves  its e lf  in to th is— is  B ig -sid e   L evee  w orthy  o f  th e  rid i­ cule  and  contem pt  o f  th e  S ch o ol ?    D oes  it carry  m easures  opposed  to  the  w ishes  and in terests  o f  th e  "S ch ool P   and  w ou ld  it   b e possible  to  replace  it  b y   another  b od y   m ore respectable  and  m ore  efficient ?    A s   our  cor­ respondent  is  so  firm ly  convinced o f th e  irre­ trievable   depravity  o f   B ig -sid e    L ev ee,   w e sh all  presum e  th at  he  has  said  a ll  th a t  can b e  said  a gain st  i t ;  nor  do  w e  th in k   th at  it w ou ld  be  possible  to  find  a   m ore  effectual m ethod  for  tu rn in g   him   from   th e  error  o f h is w ays  th an   b y   m eetin g  h is  argum ents  fa irly . H is   first  argu m en t,  th a t  “  g reat  num bers o f  its  m em bers  have  little   in terest  in ,  and less  know ledge  o f,  th e  m atters  w ith   w hich th ey   have  to   d e a l,”   can  only  be  called  an  ar­ gum en t  b y   courtesy.    W e   cannot  d ig n ify   it w ith   a  loftier  nam e  th an   a  sw eeping  and  un­ founded   a sse r tio n ;   and   u n til   it  has   been supported  b y   th e  stron gest  proofs,  w e  shall tak e  th e  lib erty   o f  d isb elievin g  i t ;    a t  th e sam e  tim e ,  w e  cannot  b u t  express  our  aston­ ish m en t  th at  such  an  assertion  should  have proceeded  from   our  brother  R a d ical.   H a s  he fo rgo tten  w hat  party  it  w as  th a t  asserted  th e indifference  o f  th e  w ork in g  m en  to   th e  fran­ chise ?    W e   earnestly  beseech  h im   to   tak e heed  to   h is  steps,  le st  he  should  in   due  tim e (b y   m ista k e,  o f  co u rse,)   find  h im self  in   the lo b b y   w ith   M r.  D isra eli.    T he  second  argu­ m en t  is  m ore  plausible— “  W h e n   m em bers  o f B ig sid e  Levee  do  atten d,  th ey  v ote  fo r  m en, and  n ot  for  m easures.”     T h a t  th is  is  often th e  case  w e  fu lly   a llo w ;  b u t  w h at  then ?   Is th is  a  fa u lt  w hich  you   can  ever  g e t  rid   o f ? I s   it  n ot  a  fa u lt  inherent,  to  a  greater  or  less 4 THE   METEOR. degree,  in   a ll  assem blies ?    I s   it   n ot  a  fa u lt inherent  in   th e  suprem e  L eg isla tiv e  A sse m ­ b ly   o f  th is  cou n try ?    W i ll  “  R a d ical ”   ven ­ tu re  to   assert th a t no  L ib era l m em bers  fo llow M r . G lad stone  sim ply because h e is th e  leader o f th e L ib era l p a r ty ;  and th a t no C onservative m em bers  fo llow   M r.  D isra eli  sim p ly  because h e  is  th e  leader  o f  the   C onservative  p a rty   ? O ne  question  w e  should  lik e  to   a sk   our  cor­ respondent— Is   th is  a   fa u lt  from   w h ich   his id eal   assem bly   w ou ld   b e   fr e e ?      D oes   he m ean  to   assert  th a t  a   H o u se  T w en ty  w ill  n ot fo llo w   th e  C aptain o f th e  H o u se  T w en ty ,  and th a t  a   H ou se  E lev e n   w ill  n ot  fo llow  th e  C ap­ tain   o f  th e  H ou se  E leven  ?    I f   h e  does,  w e cannot  congratulate  h im  on  his  know ledge  o f hum an  nature. T h e  th ird  argum ent  is,  th a t  no  reasons  are g iv en   for  o r  a gain st  a   proposal.   T h is  is  non­ sense ;  our  experience  o f  B ig -sid e   L e v ie s  is a t  le a st  as  great  as   o ur  brother’ s,  an d   w e con trad ict bfm   fla tly .    I f   som etim es  no  rea­ sons  are  g iv en ,  i t   is  g en erally  because  no reasons  are  needed,  because  th e  L ev ee  is  in possession  o f  a ll  possible  inform ation  on  the su b ject.    S h ou ld   “  A  R a d ical ”   need  reasons, h e   can  rise   and   in sist  th a t  th ey    sh all  be g iy e n ;  or  i f   he  b e  n ot  “  a   sw e ll  o f  th e  first w a ter,”   h e  can  su rely   persuade  som e  friend o f  h is  w ho  does  support  th a t  proud  charac­ ter  to   fill  h is  place.    W e   w ou ld  rem ark  fu r­ th er  th a t  as  to   “ speak in g  w ith   a   hope  o f su ccess,”    th is   objection   is  com m on   to    all le g isla tiv e  a ssem b lies:   th e  H ou se  o f  C om ­ m on s,  in   th is  resp ect,  is  in   as  w oeful  a  p lig h t as  B ig -sid e   L ev £e.    B u t  w ill  our  correspon­ den t’ s  ideal  assem bly  b e free  from   th is  objec­ tio n ?   W i ll  th e  b otto m  fello w   in   “  R a d ica l’ s ” H o u se  T w e n ty   speak  “  w ith   as  m uch  hope o f success ”   as  th e  H ea d   o f  th e  S ch ool,  or  the w in n er  o f  th e  C rick  ? A s   to   “ R a d ica l’ s ”    fo u rth   argum ent,  w e are  n o t  sure  th a t  w e  have  fu lly   understood h im ;  b u t,  as  fa r  as  w e  can  gath er, h is  objec­ tio n   seem s  to   b e  th a t  F o o tb a ll  R u les  are  de­ cided   b y    B ig -sid e    L ev ee,   w h ile   B ig sid e L ev ee  rea lly   know s  n oth in g   about  F o otb a ll. H e re , again ,  our b rother  in du lges  in   a   sw eep­ in g   statem en t,  w hich  a   m om ent’ s  calm   con - sideration  w ou ld   refu te.    W e   m aintain,  in opposition  to   our  correspondent,  th a t  B ig - side  L ev ee  does  k n ow   q u ite  as  m uch  about F o o tb a ll  as  is  necessary.    I t   contains  alm ost a ll  th e b e st Caps  in   th e S ch ool,  alm ost a ll  the b est  B elo w   C aps,  a lm ost  a ll  th e  fello w s  w ho have  been  lo n g est  a t  th e  S ch ool,  and  w ho, th erefore,   have   played    F o otb a ll    lo n gest. T h is  is  a   m ere  question  o f  sta tistics,  and  w e d efy   o ur  correspondent  to   refute  u s.    T a k e, fo r  instance,  th e   S ch ool   H o u se   T w en ty  o f la st  H a l f :  D av en p o rt,  S o u tter,  F ie ld ,  R in g - rose,  P o ole,  and  G w atk in   w ere  a ll  m em bers o f   B ig -sid e    L ev ee ,   o f   th e   b od y    “  w hose opinions  are  n oth in g   w o r th !”   o f  th e  b od y o f  w hich  “  everyone  speaks  in   rid icu le  and d is g u s t!”     T h a t  there  are  m em bers  o f  B ig - side  w ho  tak e  no  prom inent part  in   F o o tb a ll, and  kn ow   little   about  it ,  w e  are  ready  to a d m it;  b u t  again   w e  sa y   th is  is  a  fa u lt  com ­ m on  to   a ll  le g isla tiv e  assem blies.   T h e  H ou se o f  Com m ons  passes  tu rn p ik e  b ills  and  canal b ills,   th ou gh    probably   n in e-ten th s   o f   th e m em bers   kn ow   n oth in g  about  either  tu rn - pik es o r can a ls.    A n d , w e  w ou ld  a sk , is th is a fa u lt fro m   w hich  our  b rother’ s id eal assem bly w ou ld   b e  fr e e ?     H o w   w ill  h e   ensure  th a t “ th e   H o u se   E lev e n s,”    “ th e   w inners   and seconds  o f  S ch o ol  p rizes,”   and  “ th e  C om ­ m issioned  O fficers  o f  th e  R ifle  Corps ”   sh all “  k n o w   som eth in g  about ”   F o o tb a ll ? A n d    now    w e   tu rn    to    th e   con structive schem e  o f  “ A   R a d ic a l.”     W e   confess  th a t w e  perused  th is  schem e  w ith   m in gled   sen ti­ m en ts   o f   deep   sorrow    and   overw helm ing sham e.      H a s   our   brother   fo rgo tten    h is n a m e ?     A    le g isla tiv e   assem bly  b ased  en ­ tir e ly   upon  fa n cy   fra n ch ise s!  our  w ou ld -b e John  B r ig h t  le a v in g   th e  T o ry   leader  o f  th e H ou se  o f  C om m ons  m iles  b e h in d !    B y   th e tie s   o f   our   com m on   brotherhood,   b y    th e m em ory  o f  our  com m on  hopes  and  our  com ­ m on  aspirations,  w e  beseech  our  brother  to forsak e   th e   dow nw ard  paths  o f  ignorance and   in iq u ity .      M a y     Ins    repentance    be speed y,  and  m ay  it   b e  sincere  !  A n d  m a y  our w ords  ten d   to   fu rth er  th e  w ish ed -fo r  con­ sum m ation ! W e   th in k ,  w ith   a ll  good   R ad icals  (in to w h ich   class  w e  cannot,  a t  present,  adm it  our correspondent)  th a t  every  legisla tiv e  assem ­ b ly   o u g h t  to   be  based  upon  a   sim ple  p rin ci­ p le.    S u ch   a   principle  w e  find  in   B ig -sid e L evee.    I t   is  probable,  v iew in g   th e  m atter abstracted ly,   th a t   th e   U p p er   S ch ool   w ill contain  th e  b est  F o o tb a ll   p layers,  and  th e b est  C ric k e te rs;   th e  b est  R acq u et  players, and th e b est  F ives  p la y ers;  the b est A th le te s, and  th e  b est  runners  a t  H are  and  H ou n d s. I t   is  alm ost  certain  th a t  it   w ill  contain  th e sharpest  fello w s  in   th e   Sch ool,  as  w ell  as th ose  w ho  have  been  a t  R u g b y   lo n gest,  and have  h ad   m ost  experience  o f  School  affairs. T h e  reason  w h y   it   goes  dow n  no  low er  th an th e U p p er  Sch ool is  obvious.   T h e authorities o f  th e   S ch ool  have  th ou gh t  fit  to   m ak e  a d istin ction   a t  th a t  p oin t  betw een  fa g s  and THE   METEOR. 5 n o n -fa g s,  and  w e  have  follow ed  th eir  exam ­ p le.    W h a t  is  q u ite  as  im portant,  b u t  w h at “  A   R a d ical  ”   en tirely   overlook s,  th e  U p p er S ch o ol  pay  a  subscription  double  o f  th e  sub­ scrip tion  o f  th e  M id d le  and  L ow er   School. I f   th e  id eal  assem bly  o f  “ A   R a d ic a l”   is  to be  established,  th e  w hole  financial  system   o f th e  S ch ool  m u st  b e  altered. W e    assert,   th en ,   th a t   B ig -sid e    L evee stan ds  upon  a   sim ple  and  in te llig ib le  p rinci­ p le,   th e   p rincip le   o f  m en tal   and   ph ysical sup eriority,  o f   su periority  in    a g e    and   ex ­ perience,  as  w e ll  as  upon  th e  p rincip le  th at th ose  w ho  p a y   m o st  sh all  have  th e  la rg est share  in   le g isla tin g   fo r  th e  com m on  w eal. T h a t  su ch   an  a sse m b ly .  contains  anom alies w e  fu lly   ad m it.    B u t  w e  contend, in   the first p lace,  th a t  th ese  anom alies  are  v ery   s lig h t ; an d ,  in   th e   second  p lace,  th a t  an  E n g lish ­ m an  is  th e   la st  person  to   declaim   a gain st anom alies,   fo r   anom alies   have   existed   in ev ery  E n g lish   in stitu tio n   since  th e b egin n in g o f   h isto ry. W e   contend ,  therefore,  th a t  th e  principle o f  B ig -sid e   L ev ee  is  a  sound   prin cip le,   a prin cip le  m ore  consonant  w ith   th e  sp irit  o f o f   our   R u g b y    in stitu tio n s,   and   th e   spirit our   E n g lish    in stitu tio n s   th an   a   m ore   u n - anom alous  p rincip le  w ou ld  be.    B u t  w e  are prepared  to   m eet  our  correspondent  on  his ow n  grou n d.    W e   are  w illin g ,  for  th e  sake o f   argu m en t,   to    a llo w    th a t   th e   principle w hich  w as  so  m ercilessly   rid iculed  b y   one  o f th e  greatest  E n g lish   statesm en,  th at “ Each fair burgh, numerically free, Should choose its members by the rule of three,” is  th e  tru e  prin cip le.    A n d   even ,  ta k in g   th is lo w   g rou n d ,  w e  are  ready  to   prove  th a t  the id eal   a ssem bly  o f  “ A   R a d ic a l”   is   fu ll   o f anom alies,  and  th a t  it   w ould  b e  im possible to   con stitu te  any  assem bly  w hich  sh all  n o t teem   w ith   anom alies. W h a t,  th en ,  is  th e  con stitu tion   o f  “   R a d i­ c a l’ s ”    a ssem bly  ?    A ll   H ou se   T w en ties— 1 8 0 ;   a ll  H ou se  E leven s— 9 9 ;  th e  W in n e rs and  Seconds  o f  S ch ool  P rizes— 2 0 ,  s a y ;  th e C om m issioned  O fficers  o f  the  R ifle   Corps— 3 ;   th e  W in n e r   o f  th e  C r ic k ;  th e  H ea d   o f th e  S c h o o l;   and  th e   S ch ool  H ou se  B elow Caps— 1 7   say.    W e   m ay  rem ark,  parenthe­ tic a lly ,  th a t   “  A   R a d ica l’ s ”    sarcasm    about d u st   and  row   is  rather   unhappy.    I f    th e present   B ig -sid e    L ev ee,   con sistin g   o f   1 8 5 fello w s,  creates  “   d u st  and  row ,”   m uch  m ore w ill  “  R a d ica l’ s ”   L ev ee,  con sistin g   o f about 2 7 0 . A n d   now   le t  us  exam ine  “   R a d ic a l’ s ”   L e ­ vee.    T h e  first  question  th a t  su g g ests  its e lf i s :  considering  th a t  th e  num ber  o f  fello w s w ho  p la y   C rick et  is  about  th e  sam e  as  th at o f  those  w ho  p lay   F o o tb a ll,  w h y   should  the la tter  have  1 9 7   representatives,  and  th e  for­ m er  on ly   9 9  ?    H ere  is  an  anom aly  w ith   a vengeance.     T o   c o n tin u e :   th e  num bers  o f th e  R ifle  Corps  are  about  8 0 ,  and  th e  num ­ bers   o f   F o otb a ll   players   about   4 8 0 :   the R ifle  C orps,  therefore,  o u g h t  to   b e  represen­ ted   b y   3 3   m em bers,  and  n o t  b y   3 .    H ere  is another   anom aly.    A g a in ,   there  are  about 2 5   fellow s  in   th e  School  w ho  run  H are  and H ou n d s.    I f  w e  com pare  th is  w ith   th e  num ­ bers  w ho  p lay   F o o tb a ll,  H are  and  H ou n d s o u g h t   to   be   represented,   n ot  o n ly   b y   the so lita ry   w inner  o f  th e  C rick ,  b u t  b y   a t  least 9   m ore.    T h is  w e  m ay   call  anom aly  num ber 3 .    A s   to   the  w inners  and  seconds  o f School p rizes,  w e  g iv e  th em   up  in   despair.    W h y th e  A th le tic s  should  have  special  representa­ tiv es  a t  a ll,   or  w h y   th ey  •  should  have  th a t precise  num ber,  w e  are  to ta lly   unable  to   see. S till  m ore  perp lexing  is  th e  introduction  o f th e  S ch o ol  H ou se  B elow   C aps.     W h y   n o t the   School  H ou se  Second  E leven  P     W h y n ot  th e  w inners  o f  the  S ch ool  H ou se  H a n d - fives  and  R acqu ets  ?    W h y   n o t  th e  holder  o f the. School  H ou se  H ou se-b ag s ? F u rth er,  le t  us  look  a t  “  R a d ica l’ s  ”   Levee fr o m ,a n o th e r  p oin t  o f  v ie w .    Is   th e  second fo r   th e   C rick  a   less  sw ell  th an   the  bottom fellow   in   “   R a d ica l’ s ”   H ou se  T w en ty   ?    I f n o t,  w h y should  h e  be excluded  and th e other a d m itted ?   I f h e  is,  w h at is  “ R a d ical’ s ”  stan­ dard  o f m easurem ent  ?    H o w   m an y  seconds for  th e  C rick   are  equal  to   one  fello w   in   a F irst  T w en ty  ?    O r  how   m an y  fellow s  in   a F ir st  T w en ty   are  equal  to   a  second  fo r  th e C rick  ?    A g a in ,  w h y  should   the  vote   o f  a B elow   Cap be  w orth   as  m uch as  th e  vote  o f a Cap ?    A n d   w h y   should  th e  vote  o f a  B lu e- band  be  equal  to   the  v ote  o f  a  X X I I . fellow  P A n d   w h y   should  th e  vote  o f  a  X X I I .   fellow be  equal  to   th e  vote  o f an  X I .  fellow   ! T here are, therefore, in  “ R a d ical’ s ’ ’ schem e, about  a   dozen  g la rin g   anom alies.    A   pretty- fa ir  num ber  fo r  a  L evee  w hich  is  con stitu ted upon  th e  ru le  o f three  principle ! “  B u t,”   says  ‘ R a d ic a l,’   “  is there  any  con­ nection  betw een  ancient  classics  and  m od em gam es  ? ”     W e   w ill  answ er  his  question  b y a n o th e r :   Is   there   any  connection   betw een ancient  classics  and  m od em   fa g g in g   ?    W h y should  a   “  sw ell  o f  th e  first  w ater ”   be  liable to   c a n y   coats  sim p ly  because  h e  does  n ot k n ow     G reek  P      W h e n     “   R a d ical  ”     has answ ered  our  question  sa tisfa cto rily ,  w e  w ill endeavour  to   answ er  his. 6 THE   METEOR. Som eth in g m ore w e had  to   Say, b u t w e w ill reserve  it  for  another  tim e.    W e   hope  on som e  future  occasion  to   replace  th is  n egative defence  b y  one  m ore positive.    B u t  one th in g w e  th in k  th at  w e  have  proved.    I f   B ig -sid e L evee   be   indeed   p lagu ed   w ith    th e   great plagues  o f w orthlessness  and  in cap acity,  our C orrespondent   has   n eith er   discovered   the causes  nor  th e  rem edies o f th ose  p lag u es,  nor has  he  devised  an  assem bly  w h ich   sh all  be exem pt  from   th eir  influence.