At the Oxford and Cambridge Athletic Sports on Wednesday last, great
surprise was expressed at the defeat of the hitherto invincible Mr.
C. B. FRY by Mr. MENDELSON in the Long Jump. Mr.
MENDELSON, who comes to us from New Zealand, has not only done
a fine performance, but he has also jumped into fame. It is at any rate
obvious that it is quite impossible for him to represent his University
in the High Jump, for
With a musical name (though he varies the spelling),
This youth from New Zealand is bound to go far.
He couldn't jump high, since (it's truth I am telling)
No master of music e'er misses a bar.
* * * * *
The Long Jump, snatched like a brand from the burning, practically gave
the victory in the whole contest to Cambridge, who also won the Weight,
the Mile, the Three Miles and the Quarter.
The Light Blues triumphed, fortune being shifty;
They cheered FITZHERBERT sprinting home in fifty.
For strength the weight-man's parents have a hot son,
Witness the put of youthful Mr. WATSON.
LUTYENS, who always pleases as he goes,
Romped in, his glasses poised upon his nose.
And none that day with greater dash and go ran
Than the Light Blue three-miler, Mr. HORAN.
* * * * *
During the practice of the crews for Henley Regatta there has been one
exalted contest, which I cannot remember hearing of in former years.
My _Sporting Life_ (of which I am a diligent and a constant reader)
informed me that "at one time it did seem as though Jupiter Pluvius was
about to swamp Old Boreas, but the latter proved too tough." Quite a
sporting event, evidently. Why, oh why, was not Old Boreas present when
Pelion was piled upon Ossa? The whole course of (pre) history might
have been changed.
* * * * *
A Newcastle contemporary has been discussing the art of adding to
the beauty of women by the use of cosmetics, &c. May I commend the
following extract to the notice of the ladies of England?
"No woman is capable of being beautiful who is capable of being false.
The true art of assisting beauty consists in embellishing the whole
person by the ornaments of virtuous and commendable qualities. How
much nobler is the contemplation of beauty when it is heightened
by virtue! How faint and spiritless are the charms of a coquette,
when compared with the loveliness of innocence, piety, good-humour,
and truth--virtues which add a new softness to their sex, and even
beautify their beauty! That agreeableness possessed by the modest
virgin is now preserved in the tender mother, the prudent friend, and
the faithful wife. Colours artfully spread upon canvas may entertain
the eye, but not touch the heart; and she who takes no care to add
to the natural graces of her person, noble qualities, may amuse as a
picture, but not triumph as a beauty."
* * * * *
Cheltenham is a pleasant place. I quote from a memory which is, I know,
miserably defective:
Year by year do England's daughters
In the fairest gloves and shawls
Troop to drink the Cheltenham waters,
And adorn the Cheltenham balls.
This is not the place that one would naturally associate with violent
language over so small a matter as the rejection of some plans. A
quarrel, however, has taken place in the Town Council, and terrible
words have been spoken:--
"In the course of a discussion on the rejection of some plans, Mr.
MARGRETT accused the acting chairman of the Streets Committee
(Mr. PARSONAGE) with being influenced by personal and
political motives against the person (Mr. BARNFIELD) who
sent them in. Mr. PARSONAGE warmly retorted with the lie
direct, and told Mr. MARGRETT that he knew he was lying. Mr.
LENTHALL accused Mr. PARSONAGE of being 'slip-shod'
in his method of bringing up the minutes of the Streets Committee,
because he had passed over without comment a dispute between the
Corporation and the Board of Guardians. While denying this imputation,
Mr. PARSONAGE said he would even prefer to be 'slip-shod'
than to follow Mr. LENTHALL'S example of giving utterance to
a long-winded and frothy oration over such a trumpery matter as a road
fence."