EDITORIAL. WE cannot let this number pass without congratulating ourselves that Big Side Levée has ceased to exist. We suggested its abolition some time ago, but we had very few hopes that it would so heroically commit suicide; we are also glad to observe that it was consistent to its principles even in death, and voted unanimously with the proposer. The terms of the motion will be found elsewhere, but we may notice that the principle of representing each part of the Upper School in its due proportion has been aimed at, and on the whole very well carried out. Under the present system it seems hardly possible that any one whose opinions would have had any weight in the old system can be left out of the new assembly, while we hope that the majority of those who possessed votes and no brains will be deservedly excluded. By this means Big Side Levée has certainly been made more manageable. With regard to intellect it must necessarily remain the same, although we hope that the exclusion of the weaker part will remove the great display of party spirit and lamentable personalities by which it was so often disgraced. We must however confess that we are not altogether satisfied with its first attempts at legislation. We had hoped that a wise and fair measure on the giving of colours would have been brought forward. A measure has been brought forward, but one more singularly adapted for rousing party spirit and personal feeling we cannot well conceive. For one who has just got into the Eleven to decide on the merits of another nearly as good or possibly better than himself, seems a rather invidious method of proceeding. It certainly seems to us that last year's proposal of a committee of five, if not perfect, is preferable to this. The time of giving colours, too, is left vague by placing all proposals in the hands of the captain. There ought to be a fixed match or date before which the Eleven must be filled, otherwise we may have the rather ludicrous spectacle of colours being given to fellows as they are getting into the train, never to return to school again. E We suggest to Big Side Levée that some arrangement should be made about umpires in House matches. If it be not possible to get them out of houses not immediately interested, or masters, it ought to be made a rule that they must have got either their XI or XXII colours. This would at all events insure our having umpires who have some knowledge of the rules. While we are on the subject of cricket we might suggest to the forms that it would be an advantage if they could play pick-ups between twelve and one instead of practice at their nets. What is called practice at a net is in reality merely ten minutes of danger from balls thrown vehemently at one by some dozen bowlers, one after the other, without any pause, whereas by playing matches both the batting and fielding of form elevens would be improved. And now we have only to say a few words before we conclude our first volume. In money matters, we are happy to say, the School have supported us very well, but we wish that they had done the same with respect to articles. We have perhaps had a little more from the School than usual in the last few numbers, but heaven knows that we have had little enough. We have engaged to bring out two numbers a term in future, and we intend to do so; but we must beg of the School to help us in our labours, and not to leave us the lamentable necessity of writing against space. With these words we wish our readers farewell, with some slight hopes of more contributions from them in Volume II. STORIES OF BRISTOL. No. III. THE SAXON INVASION, AND St. Augustine's VISIT TO BRISTOL. A.D. 603. IT is a truth which dawns more clearly on one as the fascination which belongs peculiarly to the contemplation of antiquity, and of which would-be antiquarians are in consequence particularly the victims,-as, I say, this fascination has more attraction for us, it becomes more and more clear that the reality of the life of history is gradually giving way to a morbid halo-dream of helmets and inscriptions without that effort of imagination which reduces these minor details to their proper subordination under the masterful ownership of man. In other words, I mean to say that having to build up a human life from pots and urns, and old relics, aided by a distant glimpse of the nature of a people through their laws, and adding thereto whatever of fancy, whatever of sympathy with the picturesque, with nature, or with human character itself in this age, it is hard to depict the likeness of a sinewy savage of early Britain, or to realise the fierce wild life in all its rude mercilessness, or vigorous, unkempt virility of soul. Tennyson has attempted a reproduction of such an age in his large epic-but what a reproduction! Without disparagement to the unwonted beauty of these poems, I dare to say that few can read them without feeling that the limpid softness of that style, the smooth rounding in delineating the character of every inequality that might offend the nail of a nineteenth century critic, the careful displacement of every rigidity and every trace of barbaric habit, give an anachronism to the whole which, to say the least of it, is to be regretted. No; we are too Byzantine in these days let us not cling to unrealities, and doat on quibbles, and linger over a conceit, but whatever seductions the peachy flavour of such thoughts may contain, let us at least nourish some respect for the bone and muscle of real, stern, if you will, racy writings, of men who know the world and write of it. Shakespeare's personæ are not fibreless, flabby knights, and moony melting heroines, but men and women with faults and roughnesses in plenty-and we like them the better for it. : After such a preamble, proving somewhat unsatisfactorily that racy individuals are the "salt of the earth," we will proceed to ignite the tapers which are to contribute their "various lights" to the illumination of the period I have chosen. Since the early date of British history of which I last wrote, great changes have been taking place in the appearance of the country and the character of its inhabitants. Near the mouth of the Avon, at Sea Mills (Abona) a flourishing town has been rising, the country has been partially cleared; but there are still traces of the old marsh land of Ashton and Avonmouth that strike one with a notion of an unsuccessfully cultivated locality. The old camp at the Observatory has been vacated, but traces of its buildings still remain, and the young Britons from the village below are often seen at play among the ruins, while old gossips shake their heads and, as they invariably have done and will do, wonder why the times are so out of |