The Rafflesian 1925 Apr Vol 1 No 2

AGAZlNE OF RAFFLES INSTITUTION.

Vol. I April,
No. 2 1925



CONTENTS.

Editorial .. .. .. .. Page.
..
A Few Words to Contributors .. .. .. 1
.. 3
School Exhibition .."" .. ..
.. .4
The First School Magazine .. .. 5
. .\
The Literary Society . . .. .. . . 10
.. .. 12
Second (R. I.) Troop, Boy Scouts . . ... .. 12
..
Swimming . . .. .. .. 14
.. . . 15
Gymnastic Display . . . .. .. .. 16
.. 18
Badminton . . . . . . . . 20
.. 21
School Notes .. .. .. . . 22
.. 23
Prefects' Prince .. ..
.. 24
Our Contemporaries .. 25
.. 26
The School Concert .. .. .. 27

Prize-Giving . . .. .. .. 28
28, 29
Former Pupils' Column . . ..
.. 30
SOCCER: .. .. .. 35
.. .. .. 36
School-College Match .. .. . . 40
Raffles v. A.C.S. .. .. .. .. 42
Raffleite-Victorian Match .. 43
Raffles v. Johore College .. 45

Football .. . . . ' . . ..

Hockey .. .. .. ..

Literary and Dramatic Society Entertainment

A Bus Ride .. .. .. ..

Chop Suey .. .. .. ..

A Scene from the " Three Kingdoms " ..

Personalities through Coloured Spectacles ..

The Theory of Wireless .. .. ..

" Institutionius Praefectus , .. ..



MAGAZINE OF RAFFLES INSTITUTION.

VOL. I. APRIL, 1925. No 2

EDITORIAL.

" Ladies and Gentlemen, encouraged by your generous
applause I shall now proceed to give my famous imitation
of an angry elephant." In other words the first number
of the Rafflesian having been followed by none of those
brick-bats, metaphorical or otherwise, which, we confess,
we more than half expected, we are now venturing on a
second. Indeed, but whisper it softly, we actually received
congratulations with the result that the editorial staff
(we are rather fond of that expression) are now taking a
size larger in hats.

Once again then the editorial head is swathed in wet
towels and the editorial brain is being racked in an endeavour
to produce an editorial of respectable size and substance.

In the first place we have to make an apology. We
cannot take the credit of being the first to provide Raffles
Institution with a Magazine. We have been informed by
a distinguished Old Rafflesian that some forty years ago
a school magazine was started, and we hope in a future
number to be able to give extracts from it. Unfortunately
the venture was allowed to die of inanition, and we would
remind past and present Rafflesians that it is up to them
to see that the same sad fate does not overtake the second,
attempt.

Raffles boys, both those who are still in the school and"
those who have left, seem to be a particularly bashful race,
and though we are glad to be able to welcome one or two-
new contributors, like Oliver Twist we ask for more, more

particularly from the Old Boys from whom we have not
received a single contribution. The burden still rests almost
entirely on one or two contributors, and we shudder to
think what will happen, when, in the due course of events,
they leave the school. One thing, indeed, is beyond doubt,
that the editorial brain, which quails, when confronted
merely by the task of composing the editorial, is entirely
unequal to filling a whole magazine unaided.

The Literary and Dramatic Society is making great
strides, and, at the moment of going to press, we are in the
midst of rehearsals for a performance to be given at the
end of the term. An excellent stage has been erected in
the School Hall, and with the talent at present available
in the school the L. and D.S. should be able to put up an
excellent performance, and incidentally show Singapore what
the Raffles Institution is capable of. Plans have also been
made for a 'performance next term, but we prefer to say
nothing on this subject until something is definitely settled.

With regard to athletics we are glad to note an all
round improvement. In hockey some excellent players have
been found among the new boys, and the side has done
excellently against some very strong teams, while in foot-
ball the first and second elevens have had their revenge on
Johore College. A football match against the A.C.S. had
to be abandoned after five minutes' play owing to the
weather.

One thing more, our heartiest thanks are due to the
Commercial Class for typing out the various contributions.
The necessity for this may not be evident to anybody but
the editor and his subs, but they could say a word or two!
We will content ourselves with saying that if some of the
contributions were sent in unaltered to the printers, our
"bill there would at least be doubled.

Finally we would remind contributors of the virtue of
punctuality. We have begun to think that the earliest we
can expect contributions is one week after the day announced
as closing date, and, as most of these contributions neces-
sitate a liberal use of the editorial pencil, it is exceedingly
difficult to produce the Magazine before the end of the term.
In the present instance the difficulty is enhanced by the
fact that everybody is so busy with rehearsals, and Cassius

seems permanently engaged in conversation with Brutus,
and Sir Toby indulging in an unending carouse with Sir
Andrew, the latter of whom still owes us a contribution!
However, in spite of these difficulties we have hopes that
the Magazine really will be published, but we hope next
term for two things, punctuality in sending in contributions,
and at least one contribution from the Old Rafflesians.

A FEW WORDS TO CONTRIBUTORS.

One of the things that pleased me most on my return
from leave was to find that " The Rafflesian " was no longer
a mere aspiration, but had become an accomplished fact.
For long I had had the intention of starting a School
Magazine, and at one time, almost two years ago, I had
gathered most of the material for the first number; but
want of time prevented me translating my plans into action.
Now, fortunately, others have found more time—or, perhaps,
more energy!

The first number of " The Rafflesian " is a very credit-
able production, indeed; and the heartiest congratulations
are due to the Editor, the Assistant Editors, and the con-
tributors. But we want to maintain the standard set by
the first number, and to improve upon it. We want to
make " The Rafflesian " a real School Magazine, reflecting
the life of the; School from all angles, and forming a strong
link between past and present pupils. This cannot be done
by the Editors alone: they must have the cordial and con-
stant co-operation of all concerned.

TO the present pupils I would say: Do not be shy in
sending in contributions, and do not be discouraged if your
first effort is not accepted for publication; every successful
journalist has had similar experiences. Try again and
again: try to make your contributions as original and as
interesting as you can, and success will be sure to follow.

From past pupils may I solicit all the support which
they can give—not merely in the direction of buying a copy
regularly, but in sending in articles of interest, and in sup-
plying infprmation on matters of interest to the School?

In the present number we are starting a " Former Pupils'
Column," giving short notes about some of the past pupils,
and we want to make this a regular feature. The success
of this column will in a special degree depend on the co-
operation of the " Old Boys," as it is largely to them that
we must look for information on points of interest.

DAVID A. BISHOP,
Principal.

SCHOOL EXHIBITION.

19th December, 1924.

It is gratifying to record after- the weeks of preparation
that in the opinion of press and visitors our Exhibition
was a great success. All classes of the School had some
real work to show; and our acting Principal, Mr. G. T. Peall
(now enjoying his well-earned leave), the staff and boys
may justly feel proud of the occasion.

Not only had we work to show, but our games and other
activities loomed large. The day was fine and visitors were
enabled to see us taking part in football, volley ball, etc.,
and as a finish to a "Great Day" an entertainment was
given to a crowded audience in the School Hall. The pro-
gramme consisted of an excellent gymnastic display under
the leadership of Mr. Jefferson (whom we miss so much
on his leaving for Malacca), songs, instrumental music,
etc., and an able rendering of the Trial Scene from the
Merchant of Venice by the boys of the Senior Commercial
Class. Unfortunately the " players " are no longer with
us or we feel sure they would have given us further
opportunities of witnessing their talent. They have all
taken up positions in Commerce and we wish them every
success and we hope they share with us the happy recol-
lections of their " last day at school."

We feel sure that this, our first Exhibition, is only a
foretaste of what is to come from our " Alma 'Mater."

THE FIRST SCHOOL MAGAZINE

AND SOME OF THE OTHER FACTS.

(By LEST WE FORGET).

We received the following contribution just as we were
going to press:—

The Editor,
The Rafflesian,

DEAR SIR,

My attention "was only recently drawn by another Old
Rafflesian—now a prominent member of the local Bar—to
a certain comment, appearing in the Straits Times of the
26th December last, on your first issue, which saw the light
during the same month.

The comment, which is reproduced in extenso for the
information of all interested or concerned, runs as follows:—-

" Raffles School, which has been without a School
Magazine, for a hundred years, has at last decided
to remedy this deficiency, and Volume One, Number
One, has duly appeared. In a school of the size of
Raffles, with a century of tradition behind it, a credit-
able school magazine is a necessity, if esprit de corps
is to be fostered amongst its boys and kept alive in
its Old Boys. Now that the Rafflesian has taken the
decisive step and emerged in print for all to see, it is
to be hoped that the support given to it will ensure its
permanent success."

How many smiles of dissent the above announcement
has drawn, it is hard to say. Certainly, the well-wishes
therein contained will find echo in the hearts of all students
of the School,—past and present. Certainly, none will
question, or venture to question, the genuineness with which
they have been expressed. Everything that has been Said,
however, though well-meant, may not be in accordance with
the facts.

Of the " Old Gang," happily, " there are still some few
remaining," who, if they are not endowed with the power
of giving you the pleasure of a visionary trip into the
obscure regions of a vanished past, are at least in a position
to say: " That, decidedly, is not correct. It should not be
allowed to pass unnoticed."

And if, perchance, one of their number, probably now
with days creeping into " the yellow leaf," takes up, once
again, the pen, so long laid down and rusty through disuse,
your generosity of heart will prompt you to regard him, not
as one thirsting for the lime-light, but rather as modestly en-
deavouring to link you with the past and, in particular, to say
a few words in vindication of the " Old Boys " and of those,
alas! now passed into eternal silence.

" But what," you may impatiently ask, " are the actual
facts ?" The task of replying would more fittingly be
assigned to those who have contributed so much to the
honour and glory of the Old School. But as most of those
now remaining have lost touch with the past, and the writer
has been deputed to do the needful, he will venture, with
such limited time as lies at his disposal, to offer a reply
and, if possible, to throw some light on a matter, about
which so many—Rafflesians themselves not excepted—
appear to be so much in the dark.

To begin with, it is not correct to say that "Raffles School
has been without a school magazine for a hundred years.""
And it is unjust to its " Old Boys " and to the memory of
those, who have hitherto guided its destinies, to infer there-
from that, in the good old days, esprit de corps was absent,
or, if at all existent, was never fostered.

That a school magazine is a necessity and does help
to foster esprit de corps in any school, there can be no
doubt whatever. But, because of its absence, it does not
follow that esprit de corps does not' exist, or, if existent,
is never fostered. This imputation, however justifiable in
the case of other scholastic institutions, has no justification
when, of all schools, it is levelled at Raffles, "with the
Century of tradition that is behind it," and by those who
claim acquaintance with its past history.

The past history of Raffles shows that, whilst yet in
its early stages of infancy, it was fast gaining: popularity
as a great school. With the introduction of the Scholar-
ships, the time came and—the Boys. It is true that there

were then no Cambridge " Exams," as at present. It is
also true that the studies were limited to Standard VI, with
extra subjects for the advanced boys. In justice to the
boys of past generations, however, one thing must be said.
They never were saddled with superfluous " loads of learned
lumber." They never were taught how to commence erect-
ing a structure from the roof. The foundation-stone was
well laid, and every material, from the foundation to the
roof, was piled up and arranged with mathematical pre-
cision. In fact, whatever was taught was taught with a
thoroughness that bore fruit in due season.

The spirit of emulation, awakened by the Scholarships,
gave fresh life to the boys and seemed to steel their nerves
for the events that were to follow. From one generation
to another, they came off with flying colours, carrying
almost everything before them, in not a few instances
snatching away every Scholarship .offered by Government,
and, leaving, at intervals, one or two minor ones to their
contemporaries from rival Institutions.

The outstanding feature of these successes was that
they were not confined merely to a brief span of years. As
already indicated, they covered a period extending almost to
half a century from the date of the establishment of the
School.

Need there be wonder, then, that these successes at
once gave to Raffles its rightful place, on the pedestal, as
the Premier School of the Colony ? And does such a record,
despite the absence of a School Magazine, suggest or betray
the absence of esprit de corps, or justify the imputation
that it was never fostered?

In truth and in fact, the spirit was with the Old Boys
and in the Old Boys. Possibly, there might have been too
much of it. And, if a slight deviation is pardonable, the
following instance will no doubt go to show to what lengths
it was carried,—bordering even on ambition of a " vaulting "
type.

One of the advanced students in the early " eighties,"
—a " dare-devil " in his days,—selected a spot in the school
building, about 30 feet above the ground. Firmly gripping
an open umbrella in each hand,—each serving as a para-
chute,—he drew a deep breath and let himself downwards,
landing, to the astonishment of all, without even a scratch.
He was about to repeat the performance, and add to his

fame, from a higher pinnacle, when the opportune presence
of the Principal of the School promptly caused him to
abandon all ideas of becoming one of the world's great men.
Not to disappoint the wondering crowd that had gathered
below, he permitted the umbrellas to make their descent
without his expert aid, whilst he himself safely found his
way down by the staircase, clearing several steps at a time
in fine broad-jump style.

It is not known whether he was afterwards the only
audience at a brisk sermon. For his heroism, however,
he received no " iron-cross." Nor was he nailed to any, but
he was thereafter treated with " distant " respect by the
bigger boys and with awe by the/smaller ones. A few days
later, when the whole school was granted a half holiday
and the whisper went the rounds that it was in honour of
the Scholarship he had won and not as a recognition of the
wonderful feat he had performed, their regard for him was
changed almost into one of affection and he was looked upon
as one of the " heroes " of the School.

Perhaps enough has been said to dispel any doubts as
to the real existence of esprit de corps among the boys of
past generations. The traditions of the past, it is pleasing
to record, were ably and consistently upheld at all times by
those who came after, and attracted some of the leading
boys from other schools in the Colony into the fold of Raffles.

That this esprit de corps has been kept alive in the
Old Boys is as undoubted as the fact that to-day it pervades,
with no less intensity, the ranks of the whole school. In
what various ways it has been kept alive might no doubt
form interesting matter, but space would be required, and
to embody it within the compass of this article is by no
means consistent with the present purpose of the writer.
Suffice it to say, that Raffles has, from time to time, placed
on that august assembly, the. Legislative Council of the
Colony, no less than six of its Old Boys.

Having occupied your readers with the marvellous
achievements of those of its students who flourished in the
earlier generations, their attention might now be directed
to the achievements of succeeding generations,—to the
period immediately preceding the establishment, by one of
the wisest and most enlightened of Governors,—Sir Cecil
Clementi Smith,—of the Higher (now known as the Queen's)
Scholarships.

If, in the long and brilliant career of the old school,
anyone, who claims to be " in the know " of things, were
asked to name what period he considers as the most event-
ful, he would, it is believed, ungrudgingly and without
hesitation, point, as such period, to the "eighties," parti-
cularly the latter " eighties,"—that is when the Scholarships
just referred to were first started.

In truth, in the " eighties " it was that, flushed with
the victories of former years, Raffles was in the very zenith
of its glory, and that its esprit de corps was practically at
the highest pitch, that the zeal and energy of its students
was most noticeable without, as well as within, the school
walls. To the " eighties," therefore, rightly belongs, and
must rightly be conceded, the honour of being the most
eventful period in the whole history of the school.

With the example of their predecessors ever present
in their minds, the boys of that period looked for fresh
laurels in other fields as well. The spirit, which dominated
within the class-room and which led them from triumph to
triumph, followed them into the debating-hall, was carried
into the cricket field, and culminated in the birth, on the
31st day of March, 1886, of The Rafflesian,—the first school
magazine ever produced by the pupils of any school in the
Colony.

(To be continued).

THE LITERARY SOCIETY.

On November 28th, 1924, an interesting debate was
held with Mr. E. C. Baker in the chair. The resolution
was "Honesty is the Best Policy." The proposer, Mr. E.T.M..
Lias, brought out some interesting arguments and declared
it was profitable to be honest. He added that it appeals
to the altruistic instincts of humanity, and that we should
be honest, since we believe it is for the benefit of humanity.
He quoted the instance of George Washington who gained
his unique reputation, not by his skill as a statesman or a
general, but by his character. What was it? It was
simply and solely the honesty in him that made him famous.
Another instance he gave was that of Robespierre, a leader
in the French Revolution. It was the honesty in him—
Mirabeau said, " He' believes every word he says "—that
made him prominent. Mr. Lias then quoted the instance
of Horatio Bottomley, who, he said, was undergoing the
penalty for being dishonest. He then concluded by impress-
ing on everyone that it is our duty to persuade others to
believe that it is profitable to be honest.

Mr. Ting Siew Choon, the opposer, with his weighty
arguments, carried the whole house to his side. He pointed
out that we are not at the stage to practise honesty yet,
because the better classes are influenced by emotions and'
interests, and the inferior classes by compulsion. Honesty,,
as he pointed out, is altogether too ideal as a policy. The
world is not perfect. The business men in the commercial
world are great swindlers, and the greatest politicians are
the greatest intriguers. He concluded by advocating a
policy, " Honesty to an honest man, and dishonesty to a
dishonest man." This, he pointed out, is the best policy
in the right sense of the word " best."

Seow Siew Jin and C. Michael supported the leaders-
respectively, and added some points which made the debate
a very interesting and enjoyable one.

The motion was put to the house and lost by a large
majority.

A new Literary and Dramatic Society, which absorbs
the Literary and Debating Society and the Musical and
Dramatic Society, was started on January 21st, 1925, with

Mr. E. C. Baker as Chairman. The rules of the Society
were drawn up by Mr. D. A. Bishop, who is the Honorary
President, and the Committee, comprising the Chairman,
the Vice-Chairman Seow Siew Jin, the Honorary Secretary
M. R. V. Pillai, and Honorary Treasurer E. Nathan, with
two other members, Hu Chee Ing and Tan Cheng Chua,
were appointed by the Principal.

On February 5th, a debate was held, the subject of
which was " War is the Finest Aid to Progress." The pro-
poser, Mr. E. C. Baker, very eloquently brought out some
interesting points. He based his whole argument on the
point that " War is Competition and nothing else." Mr.
Menon, the opposer, spoke in a very able manner and proved
that "War is the source of all evils. Peace leaves leisure
for the advancement of civilisation and attacks all moral
evils."

G. Oehlers, the supporter of the affirmative, compared
war to a thunderstorm, and pointed out that " it clears away
all evils, and brings out the better nature in man."

The negative supporter, D. S. Marshall, emphasised the
fact that " War is War " and " brings out the animal in-
stincts of man—jealousy and hatred."

After a lengthy discussion, the negative side carried
the day by an overwhelming majority.

A Variety Entertainment was held on February 12th,
with Seow Siew Jin in the chair. Three interesting items
made up the programme, namely a violin solo by Robert
Perreau, a humorous speech by M. R. V. Pillai, and an
interesting lecture by Mr. Rajaratnam on " Schoolboys and
their ways." The lecturer, in a very humorous way, kept
the house in roars of laughter with his experiences during
his career as a school teacher since 1904. In one instance,
he told us of how he was asked to deliver a lecture on
Superstition to the boys, in which he said that only fools
believe in ghosts. That very night, after the lecture, he
himself happened to be visited by a ghost, which he found
out the next day to have .been one of the boys who had
purposely played a trick on him.

M. • R. V. PILLAI,
Hon. Secretary.

SWIMMING.

The result of the Inter-School Swimming Competition
held last November, showed that there were few good
swimmers in the School, for out of the many competitors
sent in to compete, only two managed to win prizes. Those
two were: Wee Seong Kang, who came in second in both
the 40 yds. free style, and the 80 yds. back stroke, and
Tan Chwee Chua, who came in second in Class II., both in the
80 yds. free style and the 40 yds. back stroke. This is
hardly satisfactory. More good swimmers are needed, and
swimming ought to be encouraged as much as any game or
sport.

This year, however, we have great hopes of doing
better, for we now have Chia Poh Chong, the 120 yds.
Champion of Singapore, in our School.

Owing to the fact that many water-polo players had
left the School, matches against other schools were stopped
for some time, but this year they will be recommenced. A
match against H.M.S. Durban was played on 18th March
and won by 4—1.

W. S. K.

SECOND (RAFFLES INSTITUTION) TROOP.

At the beginning of the year 1924, the strength of the
Troop was 60, and, when school closed in December, it was
50. The Parades were held every Monday, the total being
38. The attendance was satisfactory. The Assistant Scout
Master gave instruction to the recruits, and during the first
term 32 passed their Tenderfoot Test. During the 2nd
term 11 boys got through their Second Class Tests. The
Scout Master assisted by the Senior Patrol Leader gave
instruction in Bridge Building, Ambulance, Camp Planning,
etc.

Two boys of the Troop obtained proficiency badges in
Swimming and Life Saving—Lee Fong Lim and Mohamed
Yussof.

The Troop won the Scout Relay Team Race at the New
Year Sports (1924).

In August, ten boys of the Troop went to the Training
Camp at Siglap, where they received instruction in many
things, which could not be easily taught at the weekly
parades.

Forty boys attended the Annual Rally and Inspection,
by the Chief Scout for Malaya, held at Government House
on Saturday, October 25th. In the various competitions
for the Sim's Shield the boys did well, obtaining first in
Ambulance and Bridge Building, but they were beaten by
the Fourth Troop in Camp Planning and Scout Mile, thus
losing first place by 12 points only.

Towards the end of the year the approach of Examin-
ations interfered with the Scout activities of several of the
members of the Troop with the result that the Troop a
second time failed to win the Yeall Football Shield.

The number on our register for this year is about 70,
and the turn-out so far is very promising. The Sim's Shield
will be the culminating point of the year's work, and I wish,
in this connection, to make certain observations with regard
to the ability and training of our young boys.

Our movement aims to purify the life of boys, to
nurture in them the qualities of good and useful citizenship
and to inculcate the spirit of helpfulness. Its training
utilizes the powers of mental receptivity peculiar to
adolescence, by exercising the power of observation and
reasoning and the practice of handicraft through the
medium of games, amusements and contests. Further, in
order to familiarize boys with nature, Scouting encourages
life in the open. Scouts are enjoined, when at home, to
help discharge the family duties, and, when abroad, to offer
themselves in social and public service, and to cultivate the
ability to help others. Scouting seeks to inspire in youth
the spirit of independence as well as that of respect for
others.

I shall be gratified if those who take any interest in
the work of our Troop will render it all the assistance within
their power.

K. SABAPATHY,
Scout Master.

GYMNASTIC DISPLAY.

After a successful display at the Victoria Memorial
Hall on the 30th January, the pupils (Leaders' Class) of
Mr. J. W. Jefferson, Superintendent of Physical Education,
left for Penang on the evening of the 28th of January by
S.S. Klang (with the approval of the Director of Education).
They intended to give gymnastic displays at various centres.
Reaching Penang on the morning of the 2nd of March, they
were welcomed by the representatives of the Penang Free
School, and taken sight-seeing in motor cars.

Before the opening of the display, the Empire Theatre
(which was kindly lent for the occasion by the proprietors)
was packed with enthusiastic and eager crowds of teachers
and selected boys and girls. The performance was a great
success, every item being enthusiastically applauded. During
the interval Mr. Cheeseman, after thanking the manage-
ment of the Empire Theatre, congratulated Mr. Jefferson
and his pupils upon their excellent performance and thanked
them for giving the Penang boys and girls an opportunity
of witnessing such a splendid show. At the end of the
display, Mr. Jefferson thanked Mr. Cheeseman and the
audience. for their kind encouragement. Two gentlemen
who had generously offered to defray the expenses of the
visitors during their stay in Penang, wish to remain
anonymous for the present.

The class left Penang on the 3rd of March for Tanjong
Malim by the morning train. When they arrived there
they were received by their ex-leader Md. Zin, formerly a
pupil of Raffles Institution and one of the teachers at the
Sultan Idris Training College. The display took place in the
big hall of the College before a large audience of teachers and
hall of the College before a large audience of teachers and
College boys, and was a great success. The class next made
for Kuala Lumpur accompanied by Md. Zin. On their
arrival they visited the Batu Caves. The exhibition took
place that evening at the Town Hall, which was crowded to
overflowing. The enthusiasm of the audience knew no
bounds. This display closed the tour, and they returned to
Singapore on the following day.

The programme throughout consisted of:

First: Marching and a novel physical exercise (Wands),
which ended with a little exhibition of fencing. Then came
the Highland Fling, Advanced Free Movements, Blue Eyed

Stranger, Rigs O'Marlowe, Irish Washerwoman's Dance, and
the Oxen Dance; Indian Clubs, Vaulting Horse, Parallel
Bars, and Floor and Parallel Bar Pyramids followed.

The following took part in the displays:

Raffles Boys:—Kee Yew Hock; Lee Fong Lim; Othman
bin Jaffar; Abdul Rahim; Bani; Maswari; Lee
Hong Kee; Omar bin Mokti; Gheo Seng Hock; Yap
Tian Beng; Lee Peng Kwang.

A.C.S.:—Lee Yeok Poey, Appadurai.

Choo Seng Kay; Choo Seng Ghoon; Tan Teng Kok.

Lee Peng Kwang, who is one of the best in the class, is
unfortunately in hospital owing to some injury which befell
him in the display in Singapore.

Miss Towers accompanied throughout on the piano.

Y. H. KEE.

BADMINTON.

Badminton has been, and will always be, a very popular
game with the boys of Raffles' Institution. It affords keen
competition between the various Houses, and the yearly
contests are eagerly looked forward to by all.

Last year the honours went to House 3, its represent-
atives winning the Singles as well as the Doubles. In the
Singles, the first round started with Houses 1 and 6 (.Tan
Kok Tan and Lim Chuan Geok) as the rival Houses. House
1 managed to qualify for the second round.

House 3 (See Gim Hock) had no difficulty in entering
the second round also, beating House 4 (Chua Beng Hin)
in the first round.

House 2 (Tan Thean Teck), after defeating House 5
(Chew Keow Chin), found itself in the finals, having re-
ceived a bye in the second round.

House 3, again, had no difficulty in disposing of House 1
in the second round.

Thus the Championship Honours were left between
Houses 2 and 3. The finals, however, did not prove to be
a fight worthy of champions, considering the fact that all
the ties were played on the same day, and the games went
as far as twenty-one to win ! Naturally both finalists were
dead beat, and put up a poor show. House 3, however, was
easily superior, and won two straight sets.

In the first round of the Doubles competition, House 1
defeated House 6, House 3 defeated House 4, and House 5
defeated House 2.

House 3 (See Gim Hock and Shooker Abed) received
a bye in the second round, and thus qualified for the finals.

After a hard fight, House 1 (Tan Kok Tan and Seng
Chye) overcame House' 5 (Chew Keow Chin and Goh Tian
Beng) in the second round.

The Championship now lay between Houses 1 and 3.
Again House 3 proved all-powerful and ran out victors.

This year, with the advent of new boys, it is hoped that
the competition will be still keener.

_ _ _ G. E. N. 0.

SCHOOL NOTES-

Mr. D. A. Bishop, our Principal, arrived here on Satur-
day the 17th January, after an absence of nearly 9 months
on leave.

The Scholarship Class gave a comic play on Thursday
the 29th January on the occasion of Mr. Peall's departure
for Home, on leave. Mr. Peall, who had been Acting
Principal during the absence of Mr. Bishop, remarked in
his speech that he thought the boys over here thought more
of school, and were more seriously bent on study than boys
" back home."

Mr. Jacobs, our Science Master, sailed for Home, on
leave, on Jan. 16th. Mr, Young will ta'ke charge of Science
Division 1 in his absence.

Mr. Selvadurai has lately come to join our staff as
Science teacher. We wish him all success in his arduous
task.

On "Armistice Day," Nov. 11th last, the first three
prefects in order of seniority: Seow Siew Jin, Wee Seong
Kang and D. S. Marshall, laid the School wreath on the
Cenotaph, in accordance with the wishes of Mr. Peall.

We wish to congratulate the following boys on having
been elected prefects:—

Cheng Chua, H'ng Kong, Ibrahim and E. Nathan.
M. R. V. Pillai of House 6 and D. S. Marshall of House
5 have both been transferred to House 1.

The Queen's Scholarship results are out and we regret
to note that both our candidates have failed to qualify.
Wee Seong Kang, however, is trying again this year.

The Gymnastic Classes are held every Friday at 5 p.m.
and are open to all schoolboys. Marching exercises, free-
hand drill, Indian clubs, games, vaulting the horse and
parallel bars, are all included in one evening's programme,
and it is strongly advisable that all school boys should make
a point of attending these classes, which are worthy of
the support of all.

Lately the Literary and Debating Society and the
Musical and Dramatic Society have been amalgamated, and
called the Literary and Dramatic Society. The Society,
although yet in its infancy, being less than 6 months old,
has made such remarkable progress, and put up such really
successful debates and shows, that Mr. Bishop has seen fit
to erect an expensive stage in the hall, for its benefit. The
stage scenery is being executed by Gan Teng Ku and Gan
Teng Swan under the direction of Mr. Sabapathy.

Extensive preparations are being made for the end
term concert. It will be held in the first week of April and
the programme will be wholly Shakespearean. Five per-
formances will be given and large and enthusiastic audiences
are anticipated.

On " Parents Day " held after the Cambridge Exams.,
thq Commercial Class put up the Trial Scene from the
" Merchant of Venice." Mr. Quarmby, who was the stage
manager, is to be heartily congratulated on an excellent
show; and of the players, Shooker Abed, who played the
role of Shylock, deserves special mention.

We understand that an attempt made by D. S. Marshall
to get the Cambridge results by cable has failed. He has
received a letter informing him that this is against the
regulations .of the Syndicate.

PREFECTS' PICNIC.

Of late the school prefects have been desirous of
getting into closer touch with the house-prefects.

After a great deal of discussion it was decided that a
picnic " on Neptune's yellow sands " would be just the thing
we needed, and so we approached Mr. Namazie to see if he
would let us have his charming bungalow at Siglap for this
purpose. Mr. Namazie very kindly consented, and Sunday
the 22nd February saw the choicest rowdies of Raffles
Institution kicking up a ' shindy ' at his place.

By 9.30 we were all in bathing costumes, banging on
the piano, mimicking the gramophone, now and then giving
our footballs a free bath, and impatiently waiting for those
truant teachers (Mr. Bishop and all the housemasters had
been invited, and had all promised to come, with the
exception of Mr. Menon).

Now, being well-bred young men, we, with due
propriety, refused to regale ourselves in the muddiness
of the rubbish-strewn water, before our revered house-

masters had been first served, since precedence must be
given our superiors; and we would have persisted in our
standpoint had not Mr. Campos, who arrived first, promised
us absolution.

Well, what with water-polo, and beach-rugby and
punching each others' noses, and ducking them, I can assure
you we had an enjoyable day.

Mr. Quarmby and Mr. Lias soon turned up.

Mr. Lias entertained us by impersonating a pious old
country-parson, and Mr. Quarmby . . . . well b y the
time he finished he had broken a whole bed and sent his
hearers reeling, faint with laughter,

Mr. Cobb, we were told, was laid up with a headache,
as a consequence, we believe, of scratching his head too
much overnight, and Mr. Bishop and Mr. Baker, who
promised to come at 12, seemed intent on punishing us for
our future errors, yet undefined, by starving us; and they
would have succeeded had it not been for the timely aid of
a hawker. He sold something that looked like skinned and
dried bats, and I would have had qualms as to sampling
them, had I not seen Mr. Quarmby attacking them, and
attacking them most manfully I can assure you.

Mr. Bishop and Mr. Baker arrived at last, at Half-Past-
Two (having spent two weary hours searching all round
the coast for the bungalow—thanks to the indefinite
instructions of the head prefect) and never was the sound
of breakers or the sight of land more welcome to a wrecked
and compassless crew than was the sound of their motor-
horn and the sight of their car to us.

They were accorded a welcome worthy of Royalty, since
it came from the bottom of our hearts, or rather, our
abdominal regions. The first thing that met their ears was
the deafening roar of two dozen pairs of lungs thundering
forth in various keys, but with equal sincerity:

"WE WANT OUR TIFFIN."

Within a few minutes silence reigned supreme, broken
now and then by a long drawn sigh of content, the reason
being that the dishes were excellent; even the fastidious

Solomon subscribed to the general opinion on that point, and
we agreed that all honour was due to M. R. V. Pillai, since he
was responsible for the cooking of them.

Lunch over, Nathan gave us his " Experience in a Ford
Car." His poor wife was blown away in the hood, chasing
one of the mud-guards, and the engine mistook one of his
sons for benzine and ate him up. Pillai next followed with
" How to Kiss." The audience sat with bated breath, while
this learned professor of the most useful of youthful accom-
plishments expounded his theory, which he summed up in
5 words, like a true descendent of Bacon, " When I kiss I
KISS." (Hear! Hear! Encore!!)

Other impromptu items were given and then Messrs.
Bishop and Baker took their leave, Mr. Bishop thanking us
for our entertainment " both physical and otherwise."

After a long walk on the sea-shore we had tea and
then entered a Death Car— the bus, which took us to our
respective homes. And this was the end of a " Prefect"
Day.

" When the sun sinks low with a flaming ray

And the dear friends have to part."

D. S. MARSHALL.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.

We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of
the following School Magazines:—

" The Free School Magazine " (Penang Free Shool) :
" The Optimist " (Malacca High School Literary Associa-
tion) : " The Victorian " (Victoria Institution, Kuala
Lumpur) : " The Cantabs." (Junior Class, A. C. S.) ; " The
School Review " (A. C. S. Klang) : " The Edwardian " (King
Edward VII School, Taiping) : The Magazine of the Sultan
Idris College, Tanjong Malim: and "The Yellow Dragon"
(Queen's College, Hongkong).

THE SCHOOL CONCERT.

On Thursday, January 29th, the boys assembled in the
Hall for a farewell concert to Mr. Peall on his departure for
England.

Mr. Peall and Mr. Bishop were cheered loudly as they
entered, the hall, and the concert then commenced.

The first item was an Overture by Day & Co., followed
by a Violin Solo by Day. On this being encored, Day
promptly gave us " something jolly."

The next item on the programme was a Recitation given
by M. R. V. Pillai. Everybody expected something
humorous, but, contrary to expectations, he rendered us part
of " Burke's Speech on the Impeachment of Warren
Hastings." His rhetorical gesticulations, and appealing
demeanor, however, saved the situation, and, on leaving the
stage, he was loudly applauded.

The third item was a Vocal Duet by Seow Siew Jin and
Wee Seong Kang. We were agreeably surprised to note that
we had a budding tenor in Siew Jin, and a prospective bass
in Seong Kang. The duet was a huge success, and the whole
hall resounded with shouts for an encore. In response to
the encore, the pair sang " Sweet Genevieve."

The fourth and last item was a Humorous Sketch,.
entitled " Fatty's Boxing Bout," staged by the boys of the
Special Senior Class. Although they had only one day to
learn and rehearse their respective parts, judging by the
applause of the audience, the play was a decided success.
All honour should undoubtedly be given to our fat and
ready comedian, Hu Chee Ing, to whom the success of the
enterprise was largely due.

Mr. Bishop then spoke of Mr. Peall's hard work as
Acting Principal, and thanked him, in the name of the School,
if or the services he had rendered. Mr. Peall replied, and the
proceedings closed with the singing of " God Save the King."

G. E. N. 0.

PRIZE-GIVING. .

The annual prize-giving was held at 10.15 on Friday
the 24th of October in the Big Hall. There were no parents
or visitors present, though there were many old boys, who
came to receive their prizes.

Mr. Peall, our Acting Principal, in his opening speech,
spoke of the high standard of work attained by the school
in general, and remarked that he was happy to see that the
school, as a whole, with few exceptions, was seriously bent
on study. He went on to say that those who were not prize-
winners should not feel that they could not get prizes, but
that they should look forward to the future, when they
might be able to be the proud possessors of books, with the
coveted insignia of Raffles Instituution on them. He then
introduced Mrs. Sime to us, telling us how she was always
interested in the girls and boys of every land, and how she
had very kindly consented to honour us with her presence
to distribute the prizes to the fortunate and deserving prize-
winners. (Applause.)

Mrs. Sime here rose and addressed the assembled
students, telling them what some present were ignorant of,
that she was Scotch (laughter), and that she was greatly
interested in the welfare of the youth of all nationalities.
She said she considered it an honour to be present on that
auspicious day to undertake the pleasant task of recognising
the merits of the deserving boys in the School. She then
advised the students not to devote all their time to study,
and said that they must also think of playing games.
(Applause.) " For," she said, " All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy."

The presentation of prizes over, Mr. Peall suitably
thanked Mrs. Sime, who was presented with a beautiful
bouquet of flowers, and was given three hearty cheers.

Mr. Peall made special mention of Leong Neo Choon
as being the ' Dux ' of the School in 1923.

D. S. M.

FORMER PUPILS COLUMN.

C M . Chen (formerly known as Tan Tiang Beng) has been
appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Communica-
tions, China.

Shooker Abed, one of the three holders of the School Tennis
Colours, was runner-up in the S.C.C. Open Tennis
Tournament last January. He also had the honour
I, of being one of the representatives of Sinagopre in
the Colony vs. F.M.S. Tournament for the Guillemard
Cup, held in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Maurice Nathan has gained an Electrical Engineering
Diploma from the Chicago Engineering Works.

Sydney Evans and Sheik Nazir Ahmad have gone to London
to continue their Medical studies.

Poh Chee Juay and Oh Thiam Hock have gone to Edinburgh
with the same object in view.

Wong Peng Cheong has entered St. John's College, Cam-
bridge. "He intends to take up Accountancy as a
career.

J. Namazie is at present at Heme Bay College, preparing to
enter Oxford University in the autumn of this year.

T. Mayhew has gone to London to study Electrical Engineer-
ing at the London City and Guilds College. He
obtained a . Scholarship at the recent Entrance
Examination.

Vyner Westerhout is in London studying Music.

Ng Yeok Boon is studying at Hongkong University.

Leong Neo Choon is studying Law at the School of Com-,
parative Law, Shanghai.

Lim Chin Leong is also at a College in Shanghai, while Wong
Yin Yong is a student at Pekin University.

Sadhan Chander has just left for London, with a view to
studying Law. .

KING EDWARD VII COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

C. E. Smith passed the Third Professional Examination
during the past year, while the following passed the First
Professional Examination:—

B. H. Sheares (Distinction), E. S. Monteiro (Dis-
tinction), Benjamin Chew, N. Ahmad, S. L.
Oehlers and R. C. Oehlers.

B. H. Sheares was awarded the Silver Medal and E. S.
Monteiro the Bronze Medal, having taken First and Second
place respectively in the First Year course.

The following entered the College in 1924:—-

Tan Tian Ann, D. G. Oehlers, R. Govindarajoo, V.
SaravaUamuttu and P. Retnasabapathy.

SCHOOL-COLLEGE SOCCER MATCH.

* On the 7th of November 1924, the School 1st XI. visited
Johore to play the college. Leaving the school about 2 p.m.,
we arrived at about 4.

Before play started Mr. Gunn had photos taken of both
teams. At the outset the school had the better of the game,
the college area being constantly besieged, and after ten
minutes play the school succeeded in taking the lead through
Salim, who netted the ball from a fairly good distance.
About five minutes later another goal was registered through
Ali, who took the ball up to the goal mouth, and defeated
the college custodian.

On the resumption desperate attacks were made on the
school area, and we were penalized through Salim who
accidentally handled the ball. The school custodian stopped
the ball, but it rebounded to the college centre forward who
hesitated a moment, and then successfully shot- The college
thus rewarded, increased their energies end equalized
through Ouyob, and were fortunate to get past the school
custodian again, about ten minutes before a well fought
game ended by a win for the college, by a goal.

Refreshments were provided for the teams, and later
Makan was served in the college dining hall. Ibrahim
proposed our hosts in a witty speech which was responded
to by the college captain. After a few words of thanks from
Mr. Peall, it was unfortunately time to wend our way home-
wards, and so ended a jolly time.

We look forward to another visit to Johore when of
course we shall have our revenge for that one goal.

RAFFLES v. A.C.S.

SOCCER MATCH.

The evening of Wednesday the 19th of November last
witnessed the long looked-for match against the Anglo
Chinese School.

There was a slight drizzle and the sky was overcast
with clouds.

A very large crowd turned up to witness the match,
which began at 5 p.m. sharp, on our ground, with Mr. Ting
as referee.

Throughout the first half we were in a very bad way;
our team seemed to be ignorant of the value of combination,
and more often than not they passed the ball to their
opponents. The A.C.S. team, on the contrary, did extra-
ordinarily well for a visiting team; the forwards were such
fine dribblers, and they passed with such precision, that we
were not surprised when they drew first blood through
their outside right with a beautiful shot into the extreme
corner of the net. A second goal soon followed, and the
whistle blew for half-time with the score 2 nil in favour of'
A.C.S.

The second half began with a decided change for the
better in our team. They began to adopt new tactics, and
they again and again besieged the A.C.S. goal, and soon
succeeded, through Kadir, in registering the first goal for
our side. For a while the game seemed to be equal, if not

slightly on the side of our opponents, when one of their
forwards got right off with the ball, and, evading our right
back, shot the third A.C.S. goal of the evening. This last
goal affected our team as a red flag a bull. They rallied
splendidly; indeed so well did they play that though the
score was 3—1, it looked as if we might win the day. A
very fast game ensued, and the ball had more than one bath
in the canal. Saidy, our outside right, pounced on the ball,
when there was a struggle for it near the A.C.S. goal, and
scored our second goal.

Excitement ran high at this stage, and, oddly enough,
the A.C.S. team seemed to have broken down, their play
being anything but up to the standard of that in the first
half, and that combination which was so noticeable among
them at first seemed to have deserted them absolutely.
Our team took full advantage of their weakness, and regis-
tered goal No. 3, also through Saidy.

After this, although the play was faster than ever, and
excitement at white heat, no goal was scored, and the
whistle blew with the result a draw, and everybody quite
happy.

We wish to make special mention of the splendid play
of Majid, our centre-half, Sulimun, our left-back, and Choon
Teng, our goalie.

D. S. M.

The Raffleite-Victorian Soccer Match 1924.

The wet weather and the sodden state of the ground
on the afternoon of the 22nd November 1924 gave no great
hope of the match being played. The rain, however, ceased
by 5 p.m., and a record crowds gathered on our ground to
witness the match. The Raffles team were the first to appear
and received a hearty ovation. Some minutes later the
Victorians marched into the field in single file, led by their
captain Mhd. Samby. They kicked off punctually at 5.15
p.m., and before ten minutes had elapsed Hussain, the
Victorian centre forward defeated our goalie with a well
timed shot. Saidie, our speedy left winger with the help of
Salim made several raids on the opponents territory. These
raids however, were not effective owing to the defence put

up by the Victorian backs, Chan Sen and Mohral. Tamby
being fed by his half, Soniah, banged a shot at our goal but
it just hit the cross bar and bounded into play. Half time
arrived without any further incident of note, the Victorians
leading by one goal.

The second half saw the Raffleites giving ground and
the Victorians pressing hard time after time. Our custodian
Choon Teng, was in his best form and saved magnificently
on several occasions amidst loud applause. Salim, a player
gifted with great speed, nearly equalized after a long run
but Ah Keng, the Victorian goalie, brought off a capital
save. A few minutes before time Hasan, the Victorian left
winger after having run with the ball a considerable distance
centered nicely to Tamby who scored a shot. Shortly after-
wards the whistle blew for time. Result: V.I.—2; R.I.—0.

"JANUS."

RAFFLES v. JOHORE COLLEGE.

On Wednesday 18th February, Raffles 1st XI met the
Johore College eleven on our ground and defeated them in
convincing fashion by four goals to one.

Five minutes after the play started, Ali, our speedy
centre forward, netted the first goal, and within fifteen
minutes Saidy, our dashing left winger, shot another goal.
The Raffleites seemed to be superior in speed, and shortly
before the first half came to an end, Kim Hock got the ball
and beat Othman, the Johore custodian, with a hard
grounder.

On the resumption, the Johore team showed consider-
able improvement. They combined delightfully, and after
some really clever passing and dribbling, Ooyub, the Johore
inside-right, got the ball, beat Yeok Kim, the full back, and
netted a goal". The Raffleites began to strain hard to increase
the lead, and renewed their efforts, giving the Johore team
a warm time. Raid followed raid, and Kadir, our dashing
forward, netted a goal The Johore team now tried hard
to reduce the lead, but found the Raffleites' defence too
sound.

Result: Raffleites, 4; Johore College, 1.
Raffleites:—Choon Teng; Saliman, Yeok Kim; Hasip, Majid.

Ahmad; Salim, Kim Hock, Ali Hitam, Kadir Saidy.
Johore College:—Othman; Ali, Hamid; Ariff, Alif, Abdullah;

Mahmood, Ooyub, Bakar, Ahmed, Mahmood.
M.R.V.P.

FOOTBALL.

We wish to congratulate the following boys on having
gained the School Football Colours:—

Goh Choon Teng, Salim, Abdul Majid, Salimun,
Abdul Kadir, Sayadi, Chiam Kim Hock, and
Ali b. Hitam.

At the time of going to print, the results of the Inter-
House Football League is as follows:—

The results of the School Football Fixtures are:—

HOCKEY.

The following are to be congratulated on having gained
their School Hockey Colours:—

E. Nathan, Tara Singh, L. Brisk, Chua Beng Hin,
C. Michael, T. Smith, L. M. S. Arathoon, V.
Arathoon, G. Oehlers, Ibrahim b. Yunos, K.
Valoo.

The matches of the Inter-House Hockey League have
all been played, and House 5 is the fortunate winner of the
coveted Cup. The results of the League are:—

The results of the School Hockey Fixtures so far, are:—

HOCKEY.

The improvement in our team during last year has been
very marked, both in keenness and in skill; but many faults
are still outstanding. The first and most common is the
result of attempting' to hit the ball as hard as possible,
without any fixed idea of direction or accuracy. It must be
realised that, at most times, a controlled swing, which tends
to make more certain the striking of the ball, is far more
effective than a wild sweep, which may by luck hit the ball,
but, more probably, hits the air. Further, it is most
important that the ball should be hit to a player on one's
own side rather than to an opponent.

On the whole, however, the improvement has been most
mar ked. If a similar keenness continues, there is no reason
why, next year, the School XI should not be capable of
meeting any team in Singapore.

Characters of the 1st XI.
E. Nathan (Captain)—A hard working and keen player,

although somewhat slow and inclined to hang on to
the ball too long.
Tara Singh—Keen and enthusiastic, but rather wild in
moments of crisis.

L. Brisk—A rapidly improving player, though still uncertain
in defence.

C. Michael—An excellent outside on his day, but usually
hangs on to the ball too long.

Chua Beng Hin—A very good goalie when he remembers to
kick the ball; too inclined to try and use his stick

for clearing.

T. Smith—A very valuable centre-half—good with his stick
and possessing a sound knowledge of the game.

L. M. S. Arathoon and V. Arathoon—Two clever and sound
•inside forwards, at present somewhat handicapped
by the heavy ground.

G. Oehlers—A hard-working right half; rather backward in
anticipating the intention of an opponent. He must
learn to hit the ball crisply.

At the time of going to press the remaining two places
were unfilled.

The Inter-House Cup was won by House 5 after a hard
struggle in the last match against House 3, by 2 goals to 1.

E.C.B.

Literary and Dramatic Society Entertainment.

On the evening of Monday, March 2nd, the Society gave
its members and the staff of the school a most enjoyable
entertainment. The L. and D. S. have lately determined to
widen the scope of their activities, and to give a series of
performances during each term in addition to the usual end
of term concert. They are to be heartily congratulated
on their initial effort under this new scheme. If they
continue as well as they have begun, their representations
will form one of the most popular features of school life.

The programme was very judiciously arranged as
regards both length and variety. There were no less than
nine items in a performance which did not last more than
an hour and a half. This is just what is wanted in a school

entertainment, for the quick succession of " turns " keeps
the interest and curiosity of the audience continually
aroused. The organisation of many-itemed programmes also
gives plenty of opportunity for aspiring novices to display
their talent in public. With respect to variety the show
left nothing to desire, for the programme included Singing,
Instrumental music, Recitation, Farce, and Comedy.

The first item was an Overture performed by Day & Co.
This piece of music was rendered extremely well by a
pianist, Day himself ably supported by two violinists,
Perreau and Pereira. All three of the performers are to
be congratulated on their playing, especially Day who has
in him the makings of a really competent musician.

We next had a song by Seow Siew Jin, which was
enthusiastically encored. Our popular head prefect sang
with a bravura and power of voice which left no doubt as
to the condition and strength of his lungs. We hear much
of the ravages which phthisis makes in Singapore; and we
are happy to think that Siew Jin is little likely to fall a
victim to what journalists picturesquely describe as " The
White Scourge." This hearty item was followed by a no
less hearty recitation by Retnavelu Pillai. Pillai recited
exceedingly well. Indeed, the piece he had selected for
recital was hardly worthy of his powers as an orator.

We did not catch the name of the author, but should
imagine that he was some Negro American publicist. At
the next entertainment we should like to hear Pillai recite
a passage from the works of some classic English orator,
not from Burke, for Burke's style is rather heavy, and
involved, but from let us say, one of the splendid and solid
speeches of Macaulay.

Pillai was succeeded on the stage by Mr. Baker who
gave u s " I'll sing the songs of Araby." And later on, also
sang for the eighth item " On the road to Mandalay." The
latter is a perennial favourite, and justly so, for it is a fine
poem as well as a pleasing song. In it Kipling, the famous
imperial poet, has skilfully expressed " The call of the East "
as it comes to a discharged English soldier who under the
grey cold sky of Northern Europe, " The gloom that saddens
Heaven and Earth," thinks longingly of his past years of
service and of the Burmese girl whom he loved in the sunlit

regions of farther India. We hope Mr. Baker will give us
more verses of this always fascinating song on some future
occasion.

We were next treated to a comic sketch, called the
Dentist, by Nathan & Co. This proved a very amusing piece,
of buffoonery, and kept the audience roaring with laughter
throughout its performance. The Dentist, Eze Nathan,
proceeded to operate with an enormous pair of tongs on a
series of patients of different races. Meyer Nathan acted
the part of a Chinese cooly patient with considerable spirit,
and spat out his extracted teeth with great vivacity into the
auditorium. Simon as a Malay patient was perhaps the
best actor of the troop; while Brisk as the dentist's tamby
was most amusing. What the audience seemed to enjoy
most, however, was the appearance of a Missi, a sweet
young thing in a white lace blouse and a Merry Widow hat.
This part was played by Holmes and elicited immense
hilarity. Holmes' success was entirely ocular, for the Missi
sat demurely in a chair without speaking and finally fled in
horror from the room when she saw the effects of the
Dentist's operations on the other patients. We hope Nathan
will give us some more farcical sketches of this sort at
future entertainments. We should like to see him enlist one
or two Malay boys in his troupe. Malays are often born
mimics, though generally rather shy of exhibiting their
talent except in private. Day then played us a Violin Solo
with much feeling and skill and was followed by Mr. Lias
who gave a robustly comic recitation entitled " The blackest
man I know." Mr. Lias has a real recitatory gift and we
should like him to recite the humorous verses of important
comic writers such as Hood, Barham, and Gilbert. The last
turn was the piece de resistance of the show. It consisted
of an abridged rendering of Moliere's " Malade Imaginaire "
or " The Hypochondriac." Moliere's great satirical comedy
is as " alive " to-day as when it was written two hundred
and fifty years ago, for it is directed against an evil and a
weakness which are mutually complementary and equally
deep-seated in human nature, Valetudinarianism and
Quackery. Argan imagines he is always ill and surrenders
himself to the quakeries of worthless medicine-men. He
has a daughter Angelique, who is in love with a worthy
young man Cleante. Dr. Diaforus, a quack, not content with
merely plundering his dupe, persuades the foolish Argan
to bestow the hand of Angelique upon his ridiculous and
pedantic son, Thomas (Gan Kee Poon). Argan is saved

from this extreme folly by a clever ruse invented by his

quick-witted maid-servant Toinette (Oehlers). Angelique

is at last betrothed to Cleante (Wee Saong Kang), the quack

unmasked, and all ends unhappily.

Before the curtain went up Tara Singh appeared before

the audience and read a brief summary of the play. This

was a rather confused piece of Composition, and was not

rendered any more perspicuous by the lack of sufficient

illumination which prevented Tara Singh from seeing his

manuscript clearly. •

The acting in itself was good and kept the audience

continually interested and amused. The " book," however,

was not as satisfactory as that of " Tartuffe the Hypocrite "

which was given by the same company at the end of the

term before last. It seemed to lack coherence and proportion

and made the story a little difficult to follow. Pillai was

excellent in the principal part of Argan. His appearance,

acting, and delivery were all conspicuously adequate. Oehlers,

as Toinette, was competent but he has grown too tall for a

female part and seemed embarrassed in his efforts to look

smaller than he really is. Masculine roles are obviously

indicated for him in the future. Wee Seong Kang was

dignified as Cleante, but he should throw more life into his

acting. Marshall, as Argan's wife, was quite motherly in

spite of his gruff voice; especially when to the huge amuse-

ment of the audience he addressed Argan as " My Darling."

Khoo Poh Ann, Gan Kee Poon, and Hu Chee Ing were all

satisfactory in the parts of Beralde, Thomas, and Dr.

Diaforus respectively. The last named actor had hardly

sufficient scope for his comic talent which is of a broad and

robust variety. And why did he wear a striped waistcoat

like Sam. Weller? The hit of the evening, however, was

undoubtedly Seow Siew Jin as Angelique. Siew Jin had

evidently modelled his interpretation of the part on what

he has seen at the cinema. We shudder to think what the

greatest comic writer of the artistically severe French classic

literature would have said could he have seen one of his

creations transformed into the likeness of a vamp from the

movies. Never was such an Ingenue seen in a stage before!

Yet Siew Jin carried through this extraordinary interpreta-

tion of the part by sheer skill in acting, and carried with him

his whole audience. We were all delighted especially by the

piece of " business " he put up at the end of the play when

coyly surrendering his hand to Cleante. What well-bred

young lady could be more deliciously and artificially "Malu" ?

The heartiest thanks and congratulations of all the
audience are due to the Committee of the LITERARY and
DRAMATIC SOCIETY for their excellent Entertainment.

Still, I hope we haven't made poor Moliere turn in his
grave.

A BUS RIDE.

I entered a bus, one of these " road-hogs," off St.
Michael's Road—or rather in St. Michael's Road, for this
particular bus, being rather " starved " of passengers, backed
up the road when " little me," was sighted, fully two hundred
and twenty yards, two feet, six inches away, by the keen,
hawk-eyed, conductor.

As soon as I stepped into the bus, the " bone-shaker "
leaped forward, to the accompaniment of the conductor's
" GOEADT," and my fall on to my allotted seat.

Having collected my scattered wits and paid my fare
of nine cents (not forgetting to demand my one cent change
from my ten cent note), I thought I would have a look at
my fellow passengers. I really received a shock when I
examined the conductor. He-was devoid of that portion of
the face we call the chin, and his nose—well, the tip seemed
to be vainly endeavouring to reach the roof of the bus!

The first passenger, I noticed, was a man who seemed
to have all his belongings in the world tied up in a little
bundle—at least that's what I gathered by the way he
guarded it.

The next man filled two whole seats with bone and fat
(largely fat), and he sat there, with legs stretched far
apart, looking, for all the world, like a " Lord of the Manor,"
or at least the owner of the Bus. The passenger, who
occupied the seat beside the driver, had nothing particular
about his features (worse luck), but he was, unlike the
" Lord of the Manor," as " thin as they make 'em." It
seemed to me that these two would serve admirably as
" human " advertisements for Mellin's Food, " before " and
"after."

I was suddenly interrupted in my contemplation of the-
passengers by the voice of the " scarecrow" starting a"
conversation with the fat and pompous " Lord " Ching Fong

(or some such name). I immediately found myself in a
maize of " musical" notes and bars, flats and sharps
included, trying to place the exact tone of voice of the thin
speaker. It had a peculiar shrill tone, very disconsolate
and irritating. After much thought, I decided that it went
up as high as E flat! " Mr. Scarecrow " was answered in a
deep baritone which would doubtless have excited the envy
of any prospective bass singer.

All this time the bus had jumbled and jolted along the
none too even Serangoon Road, when—" BLAKE," shouts the
chinless individual, and the " thing " under me " heaves a.
sigh," pulls up with a jerk, and lets down the traveller, who
is still hugging his precious bundle. " GOEADTBLAKE "!
shouts the conductor in one breath as he just sights a
breathless individual struggling on in the rear, endeavour-
ing to catch up with the bus. Puffing and blowing, the Malay
man drops into the bus, and has just enough breath to gasp.

"Berapa?"

" Mana pergi," retaliates the conductor.

" Turun," is the vague reply.

" Tujoh cen." ,. .

" Mana boleh; lima cen," contradicts the hundred yards
sprinter, and he gives four cent coppers and two half cent
bits.

" Bo! lagi dua cent."
" Tah mau."

" Kasi lagi dua cen! " (this very fiercely).

And so the conversation continues until the bus has tra-
versed at least a mile. Then,

" Tah mau lima cen, suda. Kasi balai," and the
passenger, having received his money back, coolly steps off
the bus, having reached his destination!

" Babi! "—this from the conductor.

With this parting epithet, the bus jerks on again, and
the vocal duet recommences. The " tenor " seems to get
the better of the conversation, when he suddenly leaps
out of the bus, leaving " Mr. Baritone " nonplused.

At this point I reach my destination, and descend
gracefully from my " Rolls-Royce."

G. 0.

CHOP SUEY.

While the first number of the " Rafflesian " was in the
process of being brought out, the Editor and his subs, owing
to heavy pressure of work, suffered from writers cramp—
and this affliction seems to increase in intensity judging
by the empty spaces which we have to fill with the very
few articles we have received. Honorary Secretaries are
earnestly needed. Any applicants?

North and South attract one another (refer to " Ele-

mentary Physics," Hadley— Magnetism). Why is it

the reverse in China?

We regret to say that we are unable to publish a poem
by a budding poet in our school entitled " Ode to a Broken-
hearted Frog." Any other Hudibrastic verses of this kind
will be consigned to the W.P.B. (Wicked Poetry Basket).

Mr. Seow Siew Jin, C.B. (Confirmed Bachelor), is start-
ing "A Society for Devout Celibates." Applications for
membership should be made to the Head Prefect—Special
Class—Room 4.

Is it true that: There are two sides to every question—
unless a woman holds one of them?

For confirmed bachelors, no parting is so painful as
that at the destists'.

We hear that Tara Singh has been offered the part of

" Maria " in " Twelfth Night," but he says he is unable to

accept it because (see "A Midsummer Night's

Dream," Act I, Sc. 2, Line 49-50, Verity's Edition),

We hear that a Literary and Dramatic Society has
been formed. The society will never run short of comedians.
The Special Class has an unlimited supply.

la it true that: Women are a practical joke on the part
of the Creator in order that man's life may be made unbear-
able? Ask the Editor.

It is noticed that a certain master of our Institution
wears a very loud neck-tye that shrieks aloud to the heavens.
O Wembley ! Wembley !

A certain doctor asserts that " swearing is really an
effort of nature for the preservation of the body in reason-
able health." Students are warned not to follow this doctor's
method of keeping the " body in reasonable health " during
school hours. Prefects will be on the look out.

During the Chinese New Year, the citizens of this city
•experienced the most dismal of weathers. The wind and
the rain seemed to have entered into a competition as to
which of them could be the more objectionable. They both
won!

Students of the Special Class complain of various kinds
of smells issuing through the cracks of their class-room
floor from the Physics Laboratory below. Recently they
had a novel sensation of experiencing the pungent smell of
Carbon di-Sulphide blended together with that of a de-
composed rat.

There is a certain well-dressed Raffles' master who is
known by his well tied bow-ties. We feel sure that those
popular bow-ties must be favoured by a gentle pat from a
feminine hand before he leaves home every morning for
school. Who is he? (clue: watch the little fmger of his left
hand as he walks).

News Extracts (from " The Rafflesian," which may appear,
in 1950):—

Mr. D. A. Bishop, M.A., etc., etc., the distinguished
•scholar, has been persuaded to resign the headmastership
of Raffles Institution.

Sir E. C. Baker (F.R.G.S., L... L D....) will give
a lecture on his favourite subject " Contours " at the Public
Hall on Thursday at 5 p.m. This versatile master of Raffles
Institution has been lately appointed Poet Laureate. May
he woo Queen Calliope to the end of his days!

We regret to announce that our prominent citizen Mr..

Seow Siew Jin, President of ' The Society for Devout

Celibates," passed away on Friday the 5th ulto. He lived

and died a confirmed bachelor..

(We don't think.—Ed.)

Mr. E. T. M. Lias has at last won the Singapore Golf
Championship. We understand that, throughout the match,,
his caddie wore patent ear-guards and that there have been
several original additions to the vocabulary of the English
language.

" My Fat Self," which was staged at the Theatre Royal
last night was tremendous success. The comedian Mr. Hu.
Chee Ing stands unrivalled by his mirth-provoking antics..
As we go to press he informs us that he is undergoing a.
weight and fat reducing process, as the lady he is about to
marry refuses to fix the wedding day " until you reduce
yourself to a more human size."

Owing to something being wrong in the arrangement
of the apparatus for some experiment, the Raffles' Labor-
atory was blown up. The Science master Mr. Young
fortunately escaped death. All that is found of him was
placed in the General Hospital. He wishes us to inform the
public that if other parts of his anatomy are found, he
would be obliged if they would kindly send them to the;
hospital.

Professor F. Cobb has just completed his 54th Vol. on
" Literature of the World." His next book will be " How
to cure Bald Heads." When questioned further by our
reporter about the projected work on Calvity, Prof. Cobb
stated that he believed baldness was due mainly to the
pernicious habit of hard thinking, and that he congratulated
the majority of his colleagues and pupils on their being so
little exposed to the danger of having to suffer from that
distressing disfigurement. He also informed our reporter,
" It is generally allowed by thoroughly up-to-date biologists,.

ethnologists, psychologists, and anthropologists, as well as
among the best anthologists, that the scratching of the head
is a most significant gesture betokening extreme astonish-
ment. This emotion is aroused in me daily by the examples
of phenomenal thickheadness which so many of my young
charges are continually exhibiting. Perpetual astonishment
has led to continual scratching, and continual scratching
has worn thin the hyacinthine locks with which nature
originally endowed me. The baldness of my skull is there-
fore to be attributed, in no small degree, to the denseness
of my pupils."

Things we should like to know:

Why is Mr. Lias so fond of saying " It is perfectly
delightful " ? .

Who gave this sentence for analysis ? " He caught her
wound the waist and dwanced her wound the woom " ?

Is it true that a recent accident in a Hockey Match has
caused an improvement in the appearance of one of our
Prefects ?

Is it true that Hu Chee Ing has sent a Testimonial to
the Antipon Co.?

Concerning Prefects (through coloured spectacles).

Prefects are almost etherial beings. In the evolution
of living beings, the aimal has evolved into the man, and
the man has evolved into the Prefect. So the Prefect seems
to be the perfection of the evolution of human beings.
Hence it is natural that, in doing their every-day duties,
the personal carriage of Prefects is not without the suspicion
of a strut. Their favourite dish is Goo-Bak Kway teow,
and this is perhaps the only food they consume year in and
year out, at11 o'clock in the Prefects' room. These gastro-
nomically inclined individuals assert that this dish helps to
produce a monarchical and dignified demeanour—and, in-
deed, this newly acquired bearing savours a little of a
gasconade. But woe unto the man who breaks the school
rules, or the man who displeases a prefect. He shall either
be eternally writing lines or constantly feeling the sweet
sensations of the " Rotan manis."

" UMNUEY."

A SCENE FROM THE " THREE KINGDOMS."

It was an evening in autumn. The yellow loess plain
was bare. Desolation seemed to brood over it. A thatched
cottage peeped from a tiny copse. No green foliage was
there to relieve the monotony of the scene. A village in
the distance, seen through the yellow haze, was spectral.
Two horsemen were riding towards the copse. Catching
sight of the cottage, the younger of the two heaved a sigh
of relief. ' A n uncle of mine lives yonder. He will give us
food and shelter," said he. " Good, he can be trusted, I
suppose," replied Chan Koon; such was the name of the
elder traveller.

They were obviously men of rank. The younger travel-
ler's name was Tso-Tso, and he was the descendant of a
former prime minister of the Han dynasty. At the moment,
however, he was a fugitive with a price upon his head. He
had made an unsuccessful attempt upon the life of a blood-
thirsty ruffian who had murdered one Emperor and was
about to dethrone another.

When they arrived at the miserable cottage, they were
welcomed by its master, an insignificant looking person who
seemed happy to see his nephew. " Your father has fled
to the east. You have been very fortunate in escaping
capture. How did you manage it?" Tso-Tso gave an
account of his adventures. " But for Mr. Chan," he said,
bowing to his fellow traveller, " I should be mince-meat by
now. I was arrested by his men, but he released me
secretly." The old man bowed low before Chan, and
thanked him. " Gentlemen, you must pass the night here,"
he said. He left them in the hall and went in.

After some time he returned. He must go to the next
village he said, and get some wine. So he begged his guests
to excuse him. He looked uneasy. Without waiting for a
reply, he mounted his ass, and left. .

Time appeared intolerably slow to the two friends who
were too tired to talk. All at once Tso-Tso started. Some-
one was sharpening a knife. " He is only an adopted uncle.
His leaving us like this is suspicious." Chan nodded. They
rose to their feet and stole to the inner hall. " Oh we must
tie him first, of course, and then despatch him," they heard
someone saying. Accompanied by his friend, Tso-Tso rushed

in, sword in hand, and, without further delay, cut down
every man and woman in the house. They killed eight
persons in all. They searched high and low, and at last
came to the kitchen. There- they saw a pig tied up, ready
for slaughter. "Alas!" Chan exclaimed, "We have killed
innocent people." His companion shrugged his shoulders.

Mounting their horses, they left the house. Before
they had gone two hundred yards, however, they saw their
host coming towards them, loaded with eatables. He called
out to them. " Gentlemen, why do you leave so suddenly?"
His nephew replied, "A price is on my head, and I dare not
stay." " You are quite safe. The servants have orders to
get a pig ready for to-night. Please return to the house."

Tso-Tso ignored the invitation and went on his way.
As the old man was staring after them Tso-Tso suddenly
turned round and pulling out his sword, galloped towards
him. "Who are those people coming towards us?" he de-
manded. There was no one; but his uncle at once looked
behind him. As he did so, Tso-Tso's sword flashed in the
setting sun, and the old man dropped to the ground, dead.

"What have you done?" Chan exclaimed in horror.
" My own safety demands it," was the cool rejoinder, " if
he lives, he will try to avenge his family." We wronged
him by our suspicion," said Chan. " We murdered his
whole family and now you have killed him." No remorse
could be seen on Tso-Tso's face. He gave his companion
a sinister look. " I may wrong the whole world," he said,
" but let him look to it who wrongs me." After this they
continued their way in silence.

That night, while Tso-Tso was sleeping, Chan left him.
But years afterwards, the two whilom friends met again.
Chan was a prisoner taken by Tso-Tso's soldiers. He dis-
dained to beg for mercy, and none was vouchsafed him.
He was executed by Tso-Tso's orders.

Tso-Tso himself became prime minister of the Han
Emperor at China. He wronged his master as he had
wronged his relative, and as he has wronged the' man to
whom he owed his life. He lived to be • the first Wei
Emperor of China.

PERSONALITIES THROUGH COLOURED

SPECTACLES.

D. S. Marshall (Prefect, House 1).

Learned physiologists wisely and truly state that the
human body is capable of performing only a certain amount
of work. But we are able to present to them this very
interesting specimen of humanity, who has been continuously
working since he first saw the light, and is, now, like Johnny
Walker, still going strong. His activity is non-stop, and
the quantity of superfluous energy in him inexhaustible.
Here is an apt subject for our Physiology master, Mr. Young,
to experiment upon.

The only fault' we have to find with him is that he is
a hopeless miser. Marshall and Money are synonymous
terms. Bankruptcy and ruin would face all tonsorial artists
if every man was a Marshall. His barber has the pleasure
of seeing him once a month when his beard has reached
the ripe old age of thirty days. Why, he was once seen
to stand before a cracked mirror pulling out this vener-
able appendage by its roots in order to save ten cents from
falling into the coffer of the barber. Marshall has got one
neck-tie, one only. Its original colour was purple, but in
sharing faithfully with its owner, his, joys and sorrows, in
sunshine and rain (in both senses of trie words) it has faded
into a dull brownish tint. Marshall suffers from an occa-
sional attack of verbosity and at times needs an increase in
his hat size. He professes 'to be a great lover of aimals, but
we dare not repeat what a naughty frog once said about
him.

Hu Chee Ing (our fat comedian).

Hu Chee Ing is a short, stout individual, with that air
of modest pride that so often goes with corpulence. "War-
riors may fight and die, but I must dine " is his watchword.
Indeed, we are very much surprised at the Gargantuan
appetite he shews every day at the Tiffin shed. If Chee
Ing happens to be absent the hawkers lament the waste of
a large amount of unpurchased foods.

He has a manner as of some secret understanding with
himself • which is based on the eternal hilarity of things.
He does not laugh—but favours the more gentle and
feminine way of expressing mirth, namely by giggles. When

be shakes hands with you, you have a feeling that it is only
.by keeping a tight hold of your hand that he is able to stop
himself from exploding with mirth in your face. He will
therefore keep fighting down his risibility until he can emit
a " How d'ye do ?" with an air of asking a social conundrum
while he chuckles inwardly at your inability to answer it.
Chee Ing is a good hand at basket ball, and his favourite
tackling move is to go on top of his opponent (who may
happen to hold the ball) and press him down by the aid of
his more substantial avoirdupois. One of his victims told
us once, " I could never realise the agonies on the .old-time
form of torture, ' the rack,' until I experienced ' the press.' "

Our fat comedian is a regular visitor to the Gaiety
'Cinema, but, strange to say, he prefers the exquisite love
making of Gloria Swanson to the comic antics of Charlie
•Chaplin. After seeing a cinema-picture, he used to imagine
bimself (he confesses to us) the hero and somebody else
as the heroine. During these moments, Imagination " Soars
to the seventh heaven of invention." He thus wooed Mor-
pheus and gently went off to sleep with the evanescent
picture of the hero, Hu Chee Ing, clasping the heroine in a
long emotional kiss.

" UMNUEY."

THE THEORY OF WIRELESS.

A simple explanation of wireless waves, and how they

perform their astonishing work.

When we talk about wireless we always refer to that
scientific system of wireless which is used for long distance
communication throughout the world to-day.

Ordinary conversation is, in fact, analogous to scientific
wireless in many respects. When I talk to a friend, I
" transmit " a wireless message, which he " receives." The
distance over which we communicate depends upon these
two factors: the quantity of energy I use in speaking, and
the quality of his hearing.

Messages are radiated in all directions. When I speak
my voice does not merely travel in one direction; It can be
beard by anyone within range, above, beneath, or on either
side of me. Similarly, a wireless message travels in all
directions from the station which transmits it, and can be
picked up by any ground station or aeroplane within range.

When we speak, we vibrate certain chords in our
throats and our listener's ear drums are struck by some of
these waves of sound, causing the drums to vibrate at
exactly the same rate as the speaker's chords. The vibra-
tions in the listener's ears are then conveyed to the brain,
which carries out the intricate process of- converting them
into sounds.

Now the higher the rate at which the listener's dia-
phragms are vibrated, the higher will be the pitch of the
sound produced in his mind. When the speaker wishes to
produce a high sound in the listener's mind, he vibrates his
own vocal chords rapidly. Needless to say, of course, no
one is conscious of producing or receiving these vibrations
in the course of ordinary conversation. Nevertheless, that.
is " how the thing works."

In " artificial " wireless the equipment and method used
are similar to those used in ordinary speech, or " natural"
wireless. At the transmitting end there are two or more
wire membranes (usually called the transmitting aerial)
which are vibrated in a certain manner by a quantity of
energy. The vibrations thus caused set up waves of energy
which move out in all directions through the surrounding
space.

These waves produce vibrations similar to those in
the transmitting aerial in any sensitive wire membrane
placed within their range. The wires employed for this
purpose are called receiving aerial.

There is something needed, however, to complete the
receiving equipment, i.e., an instrument which works like
the brain when hearing speech. The received vibrations
have to be converted to sounds. This is done by a special
'apparatus which I shall describe in the next issue.

In actual practice a transmitting aerial is Vibrated by
passing a current of electricity backwards and forwards
along the wires which comprise the aerial. Each journey
of the current backwards and forwards causes a wave of
energy to be radiated into space. If the current pulses
follow each other rapidly, the distance between the waves
(or wavelength) will be small..

M. N. '

INSTITUTIONIS PRAEFECTUS.

Aloof he stands, in unapproached grandeur
Nor condescends to view the common throng,

Save with a look, at which, in all its splendour,
No boy can glance, and stay unmoved for long.

The power dread which majesty enhances,
The splendid pride of Jove, astride the skies,

Are visioned in the splendour of his glances,
And flash imperious from his eagle eyes.

They say this godhead once like us, who worship,
Was prone to break the firm-established law,

Which, like the Phoenix, risen from its ashes,
Unchanged shall be, and firm for evermore.

We too perchance to godhead shall attain,
Shall walk unsmirched amid the common throng,

And, in our turn shall, Jove-like, with disdain,
Smite those to whom we lately did belong.

We pray thee god, until we to the clouds ascend
Look down on us with pity, and thy bolts suspend.

E. C. B.

Who is this ? The Editor is offering several handsome
prizes (perhaps!) for the best solutions, with reasons given.
The winning solution will be published in the next issue
(again perhaps).