From “Q.C.G.”, February 1906

 

Literary & Debating Society.

 

Thus far the Society has had a most successful Session, but, on looking through the minute book, one is struck by the frequency with which the same names appear as having taken part in debate. We would be the last to encourage any undue presumption in the jibs, but still we think one or two might occasion ally take courage, and also take the “flure.”

 

Whilst we would not under any consideration forego the weighty “Hear, hear” with which Deery George signifies his approval of any sentiment, nor in fact any remark from the hack which has the slightest pretension to wit, for these are the salt of debate, yet we could very well dispense with the rattling of pebbles in tin boxes, and other little amusements of that sort.

 

These, however, are small matters.

 

We wound up last term with a most interesting lecture from Prof. Bromwich on “Cambridge.’’ The slides were exceptionally good, and the preparation of them must have entailed a consider able amount of trouble. After the vote of thanks had been proposed and seconded by Messrs. Ball and Rentoul, respectively, in speeches which did not contain anything startlingly fresh, we separated for the year to prepare for the battle, not to say row, which we were promised at the first meeting of the new term. But our hopes wore raised only to be cruelly dashed to the ground, for the proposer and seconder of the motion failed to put in an appearance, and the house settled down quietly to listen to a paper on “Nelson’ by Mr. Lewis. The succeeding debate was chiefly notable for the rather astonishing remark of Mr. Burke that Nelson was, to say the least of it, not a hero; unfortunately Mr. Armour remembered some things Mr. Burke had said about Napoleon a few days before, when he pictured him almost as a saint upon earth. The late Dr. Biggs’ opinion of the same man was that “he was the meanest hound ever trod God’s earth.” All these things seemed to surprise Mr. Burke very much.

 

The following Saturday we had the felicity of hearing Mr. Deery argue “that poverty is the best start in life,” and his speech may best be criticised in the words of an opponent:- “The gentleman who has just sat down has made a speech embalmed in the glittering dross of high-flown rhetoric.’’ In leading the negative side Mr. Platt was very convincing as he asked with impassioned eloquence— “Did you, sir, ever know anyone proud of the fact that he was born in the workhouse? Did you ever hear anyone boast that he died in the workhouse”? The affirmative was seconded, by Mr. Browne, and the negative by Mr. H. I. Marshall. Mr. Armour read a very good essay on “Charles Dickens,” and a debate on “ That too much attention is paid to Sport” is the last private meeting we have to mention. The affirmative was taken by Mr. Donovan supported by Mr. Ball, captain of the Rugby Football Club. The former was distinctly original when he divided sport into horse-racing and athletics. His speeches as a rule are rather sprawling, but in places rise above the average. The gallant captain tried to enforce his remarks by singing a ballad which seemed to contain a description of some bloody battle field, and then he proceeded to insult the football portion of his hearers by comparing them to African savages. The proposer of the negative side was Mr. Currie, who made a very good speech, although we are sorry to say he read it, I thing not to be encour aged in debate. We are glad to see that his seconder, Mr. Clarke, has taken the hint to address his remarks to the audience and not to the floor.

 

This term we had a public lecture from the President entitled “Women and Science.” Mr. Burke in proposing the vote of thanks related some events in his private life over which he would have been better advised to have drawn as thick a veil as possible. Mr. Bowen made an excellent speech in seconding in which he at times waxed quite witty; but, alas, he yielded to the temptation of perpetrating the vilest pun ever heard within the four walls of the Greek Lecture Room.

 

The letters from Cork, like the Novel Magazine, made a distinct splash. They contained possibilities of quite a lot of interesting private business, but unfortunately, it fizzled out when Messrs. Donovan and Compton declined to face the music. After much ado we got to the discussion of the main question of sending delegates to Cork. 0ne wretched youth timidly ventured to suggest that the question of expense might arise, but he straight away subsided under the weight of the stately magnificence of Messrs. Burke and Donovan, who derided the idea that a few paltry shillings should be considered when the honour of the College was at stake. Delegates galore were nominated, but very few found it convenient to he elected in spite of the honour of the College, and so Mr. Burke remains the only representative.

 

Mr. Burke is certainly in some respects a very good choice, for he is not without a certain merit as a speaker. He should, however, remember that “the sound should he an echo of the sense,” and that the gallery is not specially supplied for throwing sops to.

 

A few unimportant changes have been made in the rules. Physical force is only to he resorted by consent of the majority, and the ambiguous rule xx. has been amended.

 

“AJAX.”