St. Cyprian's College
Among the six day-schools which were to form the "Alliance" none was
more important in the city of Kirkton than St. Cyprian's College. Though
in numbers it was much smaller than the High School, it possessed a
unique and thoroughly-well-deserved reputation of its own. St. Cyprian's
specialized in music, and just as at many large educational
establishments there is a classical and a modern side, its course of
study was arranged for "collegiate" and "musical". No girl was received
under twelve years of age, by which time, it was considered, her natural
bent ought to have declared itself, and her parents could determine
which branch would suit her best. Those who looked forward to a
University degree, or any career in which public examinations must play
an important part, were placed on the "Collegiate" side, and trained
accordingly in the necessary classics, mathematics and physics, which
would fit them for matriculation, or as candidates for certain
scholarships. In this department St. Cyprian's had done well, and scored
several brilliant successes. On the musical side Miss Cartwright
considered she met a crying need. She was apt to wax enthusiastic when
she discussed her favourite point.
"The time and attention devoted to music in most schools are totally
inadequate," she would say. "Take any girl with a moderate amount of
talent: the years from thirteen to eighteen are of extreme importance in
her musical education. Now if she attends an ordinary High School, she
may with great difficulty put in an hour's daily practice, but no
allowance at all is made for this in her table of home work, and it must
come out of her recreation time. She will probably have about forty
minutes' choral singing weekly, and possibly--though this is by no means
the rule--half an hour at theory, but of real music she does not
understand even the rudiments. Pick out any ordinary girl of sixteen,
take her to a concert, and ask her to name for you the various
instruments in the orchestra: the chances are a hundred to one that the
violin and the 'cello are about the limit of her knowledge. She could
not tell you the difference between a sonata and a symphony, or give you
the vaguest idea of the bass for such a simple tune as 'God save the
King'. Though, of course, girls differ greatly in musical capacity, I
contend that the utter lack of any adequate training is largely
responsible for the pitiable ignorance and bad taste in music which is a
reproach only too justly flung at the British by other European nations.
If all schools would give this subject the prominence it deserves, at
the end of a generation the present popular street songs would not be
tolerated, and we could once more produce something of the quality of
the old English, Scotch, and Irish melodies which have lived among our
national tunes."
In accordance with her system, therefore, Miss Cartwright arranged that
any pupil who was entered on the musical side of the school had a
specially-prepared curriculum. Certain lessons, which were compulsory on
the collegiate side, were in her case omitted, and the time given to
classes in harmony and counterpoint. Each girl practised for at least
half an hour daily at school, under the supervision of a mistress, who
was present while she received the weekly or bi-weekly lesson from her
master, and who would see that his instructions were carried out to the
letter. The home practising was considered of such vital importance that
every pupil received a weekly time-sheet, which she was required to fill
up with the amount done daily, and to bring signed by a parent or
guardian. By this method real and thorough work was ensured, and a
record of progress carefully kept.
With regard to its special cult of music, St. Cyprian's was particularly
fortunate in being situated at Kirkton, one of the biggest provincial
cities in England. Kirkton offered peculiar facilities for a musical
education. Owing to its important commerce it included a large
proportion of Germans among its population, who were sufficiently
wealthy and influential to support a magnificent series of classical
concerts. The "Freiburg" orchestra, so called in memory of its founder,
was world-famous, and comprised some of the best instrumentalists from
various parts of Europe, while its conductorship was considered an
honour sufficient to tempt leading musicians from Vienna or Berlin.
There was also in the city the Freiburg Academy of Music, on the lines
of a foreign conservatoire, where members of the celebrated orchestra
gave lessons, and students who were judged of sufficient talent could be
adequately trained for the musical profession.
To this "Academy of Music" Miss Cartwright passed on the most brilliant
of her pupils. Several of its professors taught at St. Cyprian's, and
she endeavoured as far as possible that all the instruction given at her
College should be on "Freiburg" lines, and therefore preparatory to the
more advanced work which was to follow.
Among the girls who comprised the musical section of the school there
were, of course, vast differences. Some were not possessed of any very
great capacity, and would never attain more than ordinary proficiency,
but one or two were really talented. The standard was so high, and the
pains taken with the pupils were so great, that almost any average girl
could be taught to play well, up to a certain point. There is a
difference, however, between music that has been learnt and music that
is inborn, and no amount of cultivation can supply what nature has not
implanted. At present there were only about five girls at St. Cyprian's
whose performance was of outstanding merit.
Ella Martin, a member of the Sixth, played the violin with considerable
skill; but though her technique was good, she had no power of
expression, and the result was brilliant, but cold. Elizabeth Chalmers,
of VB, was the counterpart of Ella Martin, but on the piano. Her
rendering of most compositions was excellent as regards execution, but
purely mechanical, and therefore soulless. May Fawcett, a child of
barely thirteen, who had only joined the school at Christmas, showed
talent, but was yet in the initial stages of Professor Weissmann's
particular system, and, until she had forgotten the faults developed
under her former teacher, was being kept almost entirely at exercises
and studies.
In VA two girls came easily to the fore. Lottie Lowman had acquired
rather an all-round reputation in the College. She played the piano
well, with a crisp, firm touch and a certain amount of feeling. She was
an excellent reader, and could dash off almost anything at sight, and as
she had, besides, the power of memorizing, she always seemed at home on
her instrument. She sang also, with a clear soprano voice, pretty,
popular drawing-room ballads, into which she threw much sentiment, and
which never failed to delight an ordinary audience. Her extreme
confidence stood her in good stead, and her bright, taking manner added
a further charm to her undoubtedly clever performances.
If Lottie was certainly the favourite of the school, it was Mildred
Lancaster who, in the opinion of those really competent to judge, was
likely in the future to do credit to St. Cyprian's. Mildred had shown
talent amounting sometimes to inspiration, and every now and then she
rose to the point of genius. She learnt both piano and violin, but it
was at the latter instrument she excelled. Hitherto she had only worked
when she chose, and was alternately the pride and the despair of her
master, Herr Hoffmann. There was, unfortunately, no relying upon
Mildred's industry. One week her practice sheet would record three hours
daily, and the next would show a deplorable series of blanks. When she
felt in the mood to play she could astonish her professor with her
extraordinary flashes of brilliancy, but at other times she would seem
absolutely apathetic and uninterested.
She had been three years at St. Cyprian's, and her general school record
was fairly good. She never rose beyond the average of the Form, but was
not regarded as amongst the drones. Perhaps one reason for this was her
friendship with Kitty Fletcher. Kitty had a thoroughly sensible,
practical character. She was a hard worker, and being one of a large
family, was not given to whims or fancies. Her influence over dreamy,
romantic Mildred was excellent; she would spur her on to fresh efforts,
both in lessons and athletics, and by a combination of sympathy,
chaffing, and sheer will power often prevented her from falling into the
slough of inertia to which her disposition was prone. Bright, jolly
Kitty was well liked in her Form, and her appointment as Games delegate
proved popular. Her enthusiasm was catching, and already the girls
promised under her leadership to try to retrieve the lost glory of the
College, and raise it again to its former standard.
All at St. Cyprian's knew that the United Schools Alliance was not a
thing to be taken lightly. If they wished to shine in comparison with
other schools, they would have to work, and devote far more energy to
their various undertakings than they had yet troubled to give. Their
five rivals were not at all to be despised. The Kirkton High School,
averaging six hundred to their two hundred, by its very numbers offered
a good pick of champions for hockey teams or tennis tournaments. The
Marston Grove High School, a suburban branch of the former, had improved
on its parent establishment, and cultivated an almost Olympic keenness
for athletic contests. The Newington Green School was famous for its
Arts and Handicrafts. The Templeton School had given several excellent
dramatic entertainments in aid of charities; while the Anglo-German
School, which was bilingual, could certainly win the palm in respect of
languages.
"The fact is, except in music, we're rather a rotten set. We shall have
to buck up!" said Kitty at the first committee meeting. "If we don't, we
shall get a slap in the face."
Though they might not endorse her slang, the other nine delegates were
inclined to agree with her sentiments.
"There hasn't been enough competition just amongst ourselves," argued
Ella Martin.
"And it's been so hard to make anyone enthusiastic!" sighed Alice
Lightwood.
"Or get them to do anything," echoed Joan Richards.
"Well, they've just got to enthuse now. Slackers must turn sloggers, for
the credit of St. Cyprian's," declared Kitty. "Each department needs
thoroughly organizing, and the best workers picking out. If possible we
must try and not overlap. It stands to reason the same girl can't be
champion at everything, and it's better to make her decide on her bent,
and stick to it. If she's A1 at drawing, she mustn't unsteady her hand
by over-practice at tennis; but if she's a record bowler, for goodness'
sake don't let her waste her time pottering over photography. I vote we
take a census of the school, put down everybody's speciality, and place
her on one of our five lists."
"An excellent suggestion," said Dorrie Barlow. "We divide the school
into Literary, Musical, Dramatic, Arts, and Athletics, and as heads of
the various departments look after our own protegees."
"But surely all will play games?" objected Joan Richards.
"Oh, yes! they'll play, of course--one must have a rank and file--but
the ones we select for special training must not be those who are
working in another division. Can't you see that if a girl's in the
'Dramatic', or practising for a concert, she may play cricket or tennis
for health and recreation, but she can't give her whole mind to it, as
she ought to if she wants to be a champion?"
"A boarding-school with compulsory games has the best chance."
"Well, thank goodness, we're not competing against boarding-schools. The
others are as much day girls as ourselves, and no doubt as hard to make
keen. If we can keep up the general interest we shan't do badly, and I
dare say we may hold our own with fair credit."
Kitty's plan was at once adopted by the committee. A census was taken of
the school, and each girl was asked to decide upon which subject she
meant to devote her surplus energies. The delegates were enthusiastic,
and allowed nobody to escape from their net. They formed five special
societies with sub-committees, drew up rules, enrolled their members,
and insisted upon keeping them up to the mark. Any girl who was not
clever in the more-cultured branches of the Alliance was relegated to
athletics, and under Kitty's tutorship made to develop her muscles. At
first the habitual idlers grumbled, and tried to evade the hard work,
but public opinion was against them. St. Cyprian's was on its mettle,
and the busy bees would not tolerate drones in their hive. Any girl who
did not try her best in one of the five new societies speedily found
herself unpopular, and to be unpopular in a large school is an
unpleasant experience. Each society was working for a definite object.
The "Dramatic" was getting up a play, the "Literary" meant to publish a
magazine, the "Arts and Handicrafts" were working for an exhibition, the
"Musical" meant to give a concert, and the "Athletic" was training its
cricket and tennis champions.
Lottie Lowman certainly was capable of rendering good service in the
Musical department. She discovered several juniors with promising
voices, and taught them each to sing a solo with great effect. If her
style was not quite of the best, she was enthusiastic, and could
communicate her own enthusiasm to others. The younger ones practised
away at light opera songs with keenest enjoyment, learnt, in their spare
time, to play the accompaniments, and were always to be heard trilling
snatches of melody about the school. Ella Martin was concentrating her
efforts upon the instrumental parts, and left the vocal to her
co-delegate. "Lottie's choir", as her flock was called, was entirely a
separate institution from the College Choral Classes, and had nothing to
do with Mr. Hiller, the singing master. Lottie organized the whole
business, chose the songs, conducted practices, and coached her pupils
entirely independent of any supervision at head-quarters. She threw
herself heartily into her task. The work entirely suited her. She loved
to lead, and was extremely happy in her new role of training mistress.
The girls had gathered very readily round her musical standard, with one
exception. Mildred Lancaster held herself aloof, and, under plea of
needing all her time for instrumental work, refused to attend the choral
practices.
It had been a great blow for Mildred that she was not chosen as a
delegate. She was conscious that her talent greatly surpassed Lottie's,
and she did not altogether approve of the latter's methods. Her marked
lack of enthusiasm for the new scheme drew down comment from her friend
Kitty Fletcher.
"You might help, Mildred! You could do so much if you liked, and it's
all for the good of the Coll. Why can't you train some kids, or give a
shove to the thing somehow?"
Mildred shook her head gloomily.
"I know you think me mean, but the fact is I can't work with Lottie. Her
style sets my teeth on edge. She's giving those juniors the most trashy,
rubbishy set of songs, and teaching them to sing with that horrible
perpetual vibrato--and you know Mr. Hiller's opinion of that! She lets
them thump accompaniments anyhow, with the bass all wrong. Ugh! The
whole thing is too music-hall-y for me."
"Of course we all know your taste is classical," sighed Kitty; "but on
that very account I thought you might be so useful in keeping up the
standard. Miss Cartwright never meant them to howl pantomime songs.
You'd be a check on Lottie."
"A check she won't acknowledge. If I say a word, she'll ask me who's
delegate, and tell me to mind my own business. I don't court snubs,
thank you! No; if they chose Lottie, they must stick to Lottie, and
abide the consequences. I'm not going to do the spadework and let her
reap the harvest. I've plenty of practising to do on my own account,
quite enough to fill my spare time."
"Yes, if you'd do it," retorted Kitty, who was public-spirited, and
therefore rather angry with her friend.
But Mildred only shrugged her shoulders, and turned away. Kitty said no
more at the time, but she made an opportunity to see Ella Martin, and
poured forth her complaints.
"Mildred's slacking all round," she said. "I don't know what's wrong
with her. She's letting her own work go. Her practice-sheet is a
disgrace. She's the most musical girl we have at the Coll., and she's
simply doing nothing for herself or anyone else."
"Yes, I've noticed she's gone off lately," replied Ella. "She's a
curious girl. I can't make her out. I sometimes think she's incorrigibly
lazy. She plays when she feels inclined, and she's so clever that it's
no effort to her, but real solid work she doesn't understand. If I'd
half her talent I'd undertake to do more with it than she does.
Sometimes she makes Professor Hoffmann absolutely rage with wrath; she
has her lesson just before mine, you know, so I don't bless her when she
leaves him in a bad temper. Professor Kleindorf gets pretty savage too
when she won't practise, though I think he realizes that her piano is
only understudy to her violin, and doesn't expect too much."
"I wish something would happen to wake her up!" declared Kitty.