The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by Vthere, 2021-04-26 21:24:52

The Rafflesian 1931 Jun Vol 7 No 1

Vol. VII No. 1

TLbe IRafflesian

Magazine of
RAFFLES INSTITUTION

SINGAPORE
«*

JUNE, 1931

Singapore :
Printers Limited.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Calendar ..

Vale .. .. . . .. •• ■ • 1
.. . . 2
Editorial . . . . .. .. .■ • • 3
. . .. 4
Staff Notes .. .. .. . . .. 7
. . .. 8
School Notes . . . . .. . . .. 9
. . .. 10
Prefects’ dinner to Mr. Bishop .. .. .. 12
. . .. 12
Things we want to know . . .. . . .. 14
. . .. 16
Prize distribution . . .. .. .. .. 17
. . .. 20
School Concert . . .. .. .. .. 20
. . .. 21
“ Come let us look ” .. . . . . .. 23
. . .. 24
Daniel Defoe . . . . .. . . .. 26
.. .. 27
The Fire Brigade . . .. .. . . .. 28
.. .. 28
School Libraries . . .. .. .. .. 32
. . .. 33
TheAppealofPoetry .. .. .. . . 34
.. .. 37
“ How Wonderful the Woodland is ” .. .. . . 37
. . .. 38
Tibetan Funerals . . .. . . . . .. 38
.. .. 38
Some lovable Authors . . .. .. .. 39
.. .. 39
Sir Roger and His Friends . . .. . . .. 41
.. .. 42
Shakespeare—for and Against .. . . .. 45
. . .. S3
A Trip to Pahang . . .. . . .. .. 55
. . .. 56
“ Alas Dear Mr. Editor ” . . .. . . .. 57
.. .. 59
“ The Rafflesian ” of the future ..

A Jest of Jeremiah . . .. ..

Cadet Notes . . .. ..

Scout Report . . .. ..

Cricket . . . . .. ..

Football .. . . .. ..

Tennis .. . . .. ..

i j Badminton and Ping Pong . . ..

Volley-Ball .. .. ..

Swimming . . .. ..

Life Saving Class . . .. ..

The R.l.L.A.D.S. .. . . . .

Scientific and Photographic Society . .

Cadets at Port Dickson Camp ..

House Reports . . .. ..

Correspondence . . . . . .

Office Bearers .. . . ..

Cadets . . .. .. ..

Scouts . . .. .. ..

Staff .. .. .. ..

CALENDAR. June 19th.
July 13th.
Second Term Ends . . August 3rd.
Third Term Begins . . Sept. 18th.
Bank Holidays Oct. 5th.
Third Term Ends Oct. 20th.
Fourth Term Begins . . Dec. 7th to
Deepavali . . Dec. llth .
Cambridge Examinations Dec. 12th.

Fourth Term Ends ..

D. A. BISHOP, M.A. (Edin.)

ZEbe IRafflestan

MAGAZINE OF RAFFLES INSTITUTION
SINGAPORE.

VoL. VII. JuNE 1931. No. 1

VALE.

MR. D. A. BISHOP M.A. (Edin.),

Principal, Raffles Institution, 1921— 1931.

At the beginning of this term the School parted with an old
and valued friend. David Bishop, the Principal of Raffles for the
past 10 years, left Malaya in April on well earned retirement. He
had given of his best to the Educational service of this Country.
He began his work here as an Assistant Master of Raffles and
after performing the duties of Headmaster of Anderson School,
Ipoh, and Inspector of Schools, Selangor, he finally returned to
Raffles as Principal to complete his life’s work. We shall often
think of him as one who was both courteous and kind to boys and
masters alike. In his leisure his thoughts will often turn with
pleasure to happy days spent amongst us here. It is our heartfelt
wish that both he and Mrs. Bishop have many years before them
of ease and happiness.

2 T H E RAFFLESIAN

EDITORIAL.

Since the appearance of the last issue of the Magazine, some
very important events have taken place which have interested
present as well as old boys.

The most notable event was the departure of Mr. Bishop, and
the consequent change of “ heads.” Our retired Principal was
exceedingly popular, and many were the functions arranged in his
honour by various communities prior to his departure. We regret
the loss of a valuable leader in Mr. Bishop, hoping, however, that
he and Mrs. Bishop will enjoy their retirement.

Mr. Davies, M.A., who immediately succeeded Mr. Bishop in
the office of Principal, ha.s realised already that the School needs
some re-organisation in accordance with the great number of
boys it now contains and has modified, for the better, as all will
notice, several prevalent systems in the School.

In the year 1929, our School won the Queen’s Scholarship, after
a long interval, by Mr. Tan Thoon Lip. Therefore, we are particu­
larly proud of Miss Maggie Tan, sister of the 1929 Queen’s Scholar,
who again brought the Scholarship to Singapore. We wish to
congratulate Miss Tan on her success in the Examination. Three
Schools desired to be acknowledged the proud tutors of Miss Tan,
but Raffles Institution deserves credit as she put in the finishing
touches.

The Cambridge results arrived at the conclusion of the Easter
holidays, and, judging by the number of passes, many boys must
have felt like having a second period of holidays. We especially
congratulate those boys who obtained “ honours.” It is notable
that H. Visvanathan, recognised as the “ Dux ” of *the School,
headed the Senior honours list for S. S.

The 1930 Prize Giving proved to be a ,special function, as we
then had the last opportunity of honouring Mr. and Mrs. Bishop
before their departure. Dr. Winstedt brightened the ceremony by
his presence. The cheering was very hearty throughout.

Such, in short, were the important events we wished to emphasise
above. More detailed accounts of the various functions concerning
the School will be found in articles in this i,ssue.

It is notable that Our Cadet Corps has made such wonderful
progress under the very capable management of Captain C. A. Scott,
that it has grown to be more than a regular Company,

T H E RAFFLESIAN 3

However, the present generation, or at least those boys who
now boast of being “ Rafflesians,” seem to have a tendency towards
physical activities rather than literary. In consequence the
R.I.L.A.D.S. has suffered rather severely from a lack of interest
and support. But we are assured that the Society will now really
be able to stir up the dormant spirits of our future Shakespeares,
Miltons, and Byrons.

In conclusion, we wish to point out that among the contributions
received (of which there were many), there was a remarkable lack
of poetical efforts. Poetry, if well written, invariably denotes a
high standard of education, and as the Magazine is supposed to
reflect all activities of the School, we should like to see boys keeping
up the esprit de corps by writing artful articles.

1930. STAFF NOTES.
Dec. 1st. - Mr. Jacobs resumed duty on return from leave.

Dec. 5th. - Mr. Ting resumed duty on return from leave.

Dec. 31st. - Mr. C. Forster, M.sc. (Dublin) was appointed
Assistant Inspector of Schools, Singapore.

Dec. 31st. - Mr. D. B. W. Good, B.A. (T.C.D.) was transferred
to the English College, Johore Bahru.

1931.

Jan. 26th. - Mr. P. F. Howitt, B.A. (Oxon.) returned from
leave and resumed duty.

Mar. 2nd. - Mr. Linn Chiew Quang, B.A. (Hongkong) left the
school. Mr. Doray Raj was granted six months
sick leave.

April 13th - Mr. Chelvam and Mr. Gan Hock Hyeassumed
duty.

April 29th. to

May, 6th. - Mr. Peall acted as District Judge.
May 12th. - Mr. Labb Singh resigned his post.

At Raffles College Mr. Howitt is acting as Professor of History
and Messrs. Bowman and Laidlaw as Lecturers in English, and
Mathematics respectively.

4

SCHOOL NOTES.
On April 13th Mr. G. C. Davies, M.c., M.A., (Oxon.) took up
his appointment as Principal of the school in succession to Mr. D.
A. Bishop, M.A. (Edin.), resigned.

At last the school has a book-shop of its own. On April lSth,
this was opened, and boys can now buy books and stationery there
much more cheaply than from outside shops. We understand that
the profits from the bookshop will go towards the school sports fund.

On April 16th, the six rather unweildy Houses were reorganised
There are now ten Houses which lend themselves to easier manage­
ment, and allow more boys in each House to take part in games and
other activities.

On the same day “ Detention Class ” was revived.

On May 18th the school observed Goodwill Day. To an
assembly of pupils Mr. Davies read a message from the Children of
Wales, and Mr. Bowman gave an excellent speech, outlining the
history and work of the League of Nations.

Empire Day was celebrated in the usual way on Friday, May
22nd. The G.O.C., Major-General L. C. L. Oldfield, c.B., c . M . G . ,
D.s.o., came to us and reviewed the Cadet Corps, taking the salute
while the school marched past. He later read a message from
Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe, G.c.B., o.M., G.c.v.o., President
of the Empire Day Movement, and concluded by pointing out a
few of the innumerable benefits which Singapore, as well as the rest
of Malaya, enjoy under British rule.

Miss Maggie Tan is to be congratulated on winning the
Queen’s Scholarship, and the School acknowledges the pride we
have in her success,

T H E RAFFLESIAN S

The Cambridge results have been satisfactory, and we con­
gratulate H. Viswanathan, Lai Kuen Yee, Kok Ying Hoon, Low
Seng Boon, M. I. Ahmad and Low Cheng Siah on gaining Honours
in the Senior and A. C. Weerekoon in the Junior.

2nd Lts. Labh Singh and Sohan Singh have resigned their
commissions. Commissions as under-Officers have been granted
to C. Q. M. S. Lim Tee Kiat, Sgt. Seah Peng Ann, Sgt. Aziz b.
Isahak and Sgt. Ross. The results of the Proficiency Examin­
ation have been very satisfactory— 100% pass—and we con­
gratulate those who have been successful.

Under the patronage of the R.I.L.A.D.S., two interesting
lectures were delivered by Mr. Scherer and Herr H. Kobb, and
we learnt much of foreign lands and of Esperanto, the universal
language.

The Old Boy,s have more or less separated themselves from
the School. We hope that this lack of interest will be remedied
in the future. No communication from the O.R.A. has been
received.

The Cadets have greatly benefited by the changes that were
introduced by Capt. Scott in the past year, and, we are proud to
say, that the R.I.C.C. is one of the best, if not the best, Cadet
Corps in Malaya.

The School Library is flourishing under the management of
Mr. Peterson, and the Upper School is giving it full Support.

The Prefect system has been reorganised, and the new Head
Prefect is P. R. Lewis. House Prefectship has been abolished, and
there are now twenty School Prefects. The following is the Prefect
list:—P. R. Lewis (Head Prefect and School Captain), F. Chua,
Mohd. Said, J. Ie Cain, F. S. C. Ross, Looi Eng San, Abdul Aziz b.
Isahak, Low Cheng Siah, Ng Cheong Ling, Looi Koh Seng, A. K.
Sinha, Saw Chee Liat, Teo Kiak Seng, Tan Choon Seng, Chua Huay

6 T H E RAFFLESIAN

Seoh, Chow Charm Pan, Poong Win Yin, Chan Peng Yin, Chan
See Kan, Chan Gim Liang, Surjan Singh, and T. Kathiravalu.
Congratulations to them.

The Special Class has been enlarged by boys from the Senior
Classes, 1930, and from other schools. We hope that the Queen’s
Scholarship Examination Results will be as good as those of the past
two years.

Games were started early in the year and a good season is
forecast for football, cricket, hockey and volley-ball. The Inter-
House Competitions will soon take place and keen interest is already
shown. Swimming is carried on well, the Life-Saving Class being
very active. Tennis has been revived and practices are being held.
Training for the Athletic Sports has begun and keen competition
i,s expected.

It is with regret that we record the departure of Lee Ee
Ngee, our Head Prefect, sometime Co-Editor of the Magazine and
Vice-Chairman of the R.I.L.A.D.S.

The Gymnastic Classes are in swing, and we hear that they
will entertain us again with massed drill as they did at the Annual
School Sports, 1930.

The Scouts are reawakening from their inactivity during the
past, and this year will see the revival of the Boy Scouts Association,
(S. Malaya) with consequent advancement a'mong local Troops.

We have lost many prominent boys, among whom mention must
be made of Lee Ee Ngee, H. Oehlers, D. d ’Cotta, Seah Peng Liap
and Sohan Singh. On March 6th H. F. Oehlers sailed for England
where he is to study Law. He was at one time Second Prefect,
Hockey and Cricket Captain. A good athlete, he held the school
record for High Jump, clearing 5.8¾ at last year’s Sports Meeting.
We wish him every success in England.

A welcome introduction to the School is the position of the
notice-boards, as it is more convenient now to read notices.

T H E RAFFLESIAN 7

The Editorial Staff thank the School for the large number of
contributions sent in, resulting in some being held over for Vol. 7,
No. 2. It is hoped that this interest will not lessen in the future.

The Editorial Staff has lost the valuable services of P. R.
Lewis, who resigned his Editorship. M. Bolter and T. Kathiravalu
have been elected Co-Editors. Mr. Howitt is the new Hon. Censor.

T. K.

P R E FE C T S’ FA R E W E L L D IN N E R TO MR. BISHOP.

As a last act of gratitude and honour to Mr. Bishop before he
relinquished his post as Principal to go on retirement, the Prefects
of the School entertained him to a farewell dinner at the Chinese
Weekly Entertainment Club.

Mr. Bishop was our guest of honour and we had as our other
guests Mr. Davies, who succeeds Mr. Bishop as Principal, and
Messrs. Jacobs, Scott, and Rajaratnam. We missed very much
indeed the charming personality of Mrs. Bishop who has graced us
with her presence on many other occasions.

During the course of the dinner, the toast to the King was
proposed by Seah Peng Liap, and the toast to the School by
D ’Cotta. Our Head Prefect Lee Ee Ngee made a short but impres­
sive speech, punctuated by laughter and applause, in which he
expressed on behalf of the whole School, the deep regret with which
we regarded the retirement of a Headmaster who had captivated the
hearts of all his pupils by his fine character. We were gathered
there that night to bid farewell to him. In his capacity as Principal
of Raffles Institution—which we were proud to proclaim as the
premier School in Malaya—Mr. Bishop had taken keen interest
in the welfare of all, both masters and boys. He had realised the
fact that there were two sides to a student’s life—work and recrea­
tion—and had seen to it that both were heeded. Whenever called
upon to mete out punishment to offenders and wrong-doers, he had
always been just and lenient. The harmony which had existed
between Mr. Bishop and the Prefects was a matter worthy of
comment, for the relations between both in maintaining order and
discipline in the School had run on the smoothest lines and were
most cordial.

It was a great sorrow to us that Mrs. Bishop was not among our
gathering that night. Concluding his speech, Ee Ngee tendered our

8 T H E RAFFLESIAN

best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Bishop for a very happy and pleasant
time together in retirement.

Mr. Bishop was presented with a memento for his wife from the
Prefects.

Our retiring Head made a suitable reply. He thanked us all
very much indeed for the dinner, the assistance we had rendered him
in school, and, on behalf of Mrs. Bishop, for the memento. He was
very sorry to leave us but after having been twenty-five years in
the East he was expectantly awaiting his retirement and now
the time had almost come. He had done his best for Raffles
Institution and had taken an interest not only in the education of
his pupils but also in their sport in which department he had
introduced Rugby and revived cricket and hockey. The relations
between the Prefects and himself had certainly been cordial and he
trusted they would continue to be so when his successor, Mr. Davies,
assumed the headmastership. He was very sorry that Mrs. Bishop
had been unavoidably withheld from attending the function and
he took this opportunity to say good-bye to us and trusted that
at some time or other he would meet with us again.

Our new Headmaster Mr. Davies was called upon for a speech.
He remarked that he was pleased to have the opportunity of making
the acquaintance of the Prefects and sincerely hoped that the
cordial relations which had existed between Mr. Bishop and the
Prefects would continue to be as cordial when he became Principal.

J. L.

THINGS W E W ANT TO KNOW.

Which master said, “ It is a fact as a matter of fact........... ”.
Who was the anti-mathematical master who said, “ A foot­
pound is the amount of energy expended in raising 1 foot
1 pound.”
Who said, “ What-ho? Who said who’s what was what when
what happened was not what?”
If William Shakespeare appeared for the Cambridge paper on
“ Shakespeare,” what would be his result?
WThich head prefect said, “ I do not agree with the prevailing
prefect system?”
Which master when explaining the sleeping sickness caused
by the Tse-tse fly, found the class suffering from the same
sickness?

T H E RAFFLESIAN 9

Which C.S.M. commanded a company as follows:—Elope
Wahh (Slope Arms), Urderrh Wahh (Order Arms), Esen Wahh
(Present Arms) and Raile Arh (Trail Arms)?

Do all cadets know what disengage to the rear means? Who
suggested that the answer is found in Sect. 24, Page 3, Chapt. 11,
“ Cadet Commands and How to Impart Them?”

Who are the following:— German-Gun alias Filligeschutz,
Journalist, Poko Pisang II, Capt. Looi, Ichibald alias Fair-Lady,
Ciceri, Pups alias Company Idiot, Chandu, Galileo, Half-Crack,
Scientific Gas-bag, Medical College Birds, and Father Apollinaris.

Which boy having left his book at home had the whole School
searched to see if it was in School?

Which prefect on hearing the Head Prefect accuse a boy of
having “ cut glasses ” said, “Do you mean to say he took some
glasses and cut them with a knife?”

Who was responsible for the presence of a large dog wander­
ing about the Special Class before the Chinese New Year Holiday?

Who said, “ Rossetti was a ‘ decorated artist ’?”
Which boy of which class when asked by what teacher why he
was late said that he overslept himself?
Which ex-teacher said, “ The Queen’s Scholarship is an elephant­
ine gamboling of a half-wit?”
Which master delights in lecturing on “ The Degeneration of
Human Beings?”
Which boy said that prefects were liars, and was willing to
become a prefect?
Which boy of the Senior Form said that the method of one
of the mathematical Masters was not approved in the book?
“ Now boys, I ’ll teach you how to swallow and digest a book.”
Said by........................ ?
Which master said that Senior D was a pack of fools but one?

THE PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.

This annual event, important as the School’s farewell to Mr.
and Mrs. Bishop, was held in the Hall on Thursday, April 2nd
at 8.30 a.m. The Hon. Dr. R. 0 . Winstedt, c .M .G ., M .A ., D.LiTT.,
Director of Education, presided and the Hall was crowded when the
function began.

T H E RAFFLESIAN

At 9.30 a.m., Dr. Winstedt, arrived and was conducted to the
stage, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Bishop and Mr. G. C. Davies,
our new Principal.

Mr. Bishop in his speech remarked that the School had
increased in numbers and the average attendance had improved.
He said that the Commercial Classes were reorganised and the
results proved better than of old. Mr. Jacobs had put the
laboratories into shape and science work was hereafter progressive.
The Cadet Corps owed its stability to Capt. Scott and its officers
while the Scout Troop was clearing its difficulties. The School
Library improved under Mr. Peterson’s management and the
Teacher’s Library was firmly controlled. Near the conclusion of the
speech, Mr. Bishop thanked the staff for the support they had
given him.

Mr. Bishop referred to Miss Maggie Tan, our Queen’s Scholar
and said that her success was enhanced by the finishing touches
that Raffles Institution put on her.

After the prizes were distributed, Mr. Davies called on Dr.
Winstedt to perform the unveiling ceremony. In doing so,
Dr. Winstedt said that Raffles Institution had done him a wrong
when Mr. Bishop and his big battalions turned him out of his
office! A Malay custom was to kill an animal and place it against
a pillar when people occupied a new house, and Dr. Winstedt could
not understand if the new custom was to hang the principal’s
portrait! In conclusion of his witty speech, that provoked
much applause, Dr. Winstedt wished Mr. and Mrs. Bishop many
years of happiness in their retirement.

Mr. Bishop replied suitably. Hearty cheers to Dr. Winstedt
and to Mr. and Mrs. Bishop brought the function to a close.

T. K.

THE SCHOOL CONCERT.

A farewell concert was held in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop
on Wednesday, Ist April, at 8.30 p.m. Although an admission fee
of 25 cents was charged, the School Hall was crowded. The stage
was decorated and the light effect was excellent. It is only of
late that the R.I.L.A.D.S. introduced the coloured lights for
concerts and, I am sure, we appreciate them.

When Mr. and Mrs. Bishop arrived, we stood up to receive
them. Mr. Davies announced the opening item, which was a
musical entertainment by the School Minstrels. The conductor,

T H E RAFFLESIAN 11

E. Chua, deserves credit for the good music the Minstrels supplied.
Alfred’s acting as a nigger and his dancing to the tune of
“ Singing in the Sunlight....................... ,” was exceptionally good.
A humorous ballad was recited by A. Aziz, who almost cried
through emotional stress! The European audience especially
appreciated the piano duet by Mr. Hunter and Mr. Waddle and
the violin duet by E. Chua and Chim Bock, with a piano
accompaniment by P. R. Lewis.

Lee Ee Ngee as Sir Harry Blunt was the best actor of the
Concert. It was easy to believe that our late Head Prefect
was in reality an old gentleman, suffering from chronic cough.
The leading female role in the sketch was taken by L.
Alvis and he deserves praise as this was his first appearance on
the stage, impersonating a female. Especially in the ghost scene,
the acting of Mr. Cottongoods was natural and evoked applause.
Sohan Singh was a laughing sensation, when he appeared as a
teacher in an Indian school.

During the interval no refreshments were served as it was
April Fool’s Day and the R.I.L.A.D.S. decided to make us the
victims of a practical joke. We owe a grudge to the Society on
this score!

The School Niggers under the leadership of E. Chua provided
comic songs. Our new Heavy Weight-lifter, Surjan Singh,
amazed the audience by his feats in Indian club-swinging. Even
Mr. Bishop failed to lift one of the clubs. Mr. Hunter and
Mr. Waddle again entertained the audience by their skill at the
piano. The Chinese Orchestra gave us some idea of Cantonese
music and most of us could easily pick up the tune. The last
item, a sketch by. Sohan Singh and others, was cancelled owing
to lack of time, as it was then 11 p.m.

Mr. Bishop delivered a witty speech about the Concert and
expressed sorrow at his departure. He hoped that the pleasant
evening spent that day would ever remain in his memory. The
School had entertained him with a variety of musical items and
sketches. Mr. Bishop thanked Mr. Laidlaw for his efforts in
making the Concert a success. On the conclusion of the speech,
Mr. Bishop was heartily applauded. We may mention here the
interest shown by the School in the Concert, and hope that this
interest will not lessen in the future. The proceedings were
brought to a finish by the singing of the National Anthem.

T. K.

12 T H E RAFFLESIAN

COME LET US LOOK ON BEA UTY’S FACE.

Come, let us look on beauty’s face
And feel the heartbeat in her breast;
I know a very lovely place
Where life may find a rest.

And waterfall and lily pond
Dwell in the shade of leafy boughs;
With breezes from the hills beyond
The golden sunset ploughs.

Come, and share loveliness with me,
And peace, and all the quiet hush,
And bend the thought at beauty’s knee
And feed on her rich blush,

And take refreshment cool and sweet C. E. H. J.
With eager lips from beauty’s kiss,
Of all the paths where walk her feet
What lovelier place than this?
Penang Gardens.

DANIEL DEFOE. 1659— 1731.

Two hundred years ago, on the 26th of April, 1731, died the
author of “ Robinson Crusoe ”, There can be few English
boys who have not read that amazing story, and since it has
been translated into more languages than any books except the
Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress, it is ,safe to say that more people
in the world have enjoyed Robinson Crusoe than any other story
cver written.

And what of the man who wrote Robinson Crusoe? It
wasn’t until he was fifty-nine years of age, for it was in 1719 that
his first story and greatest work appeared, that Defoe began to
write fiction. In the whole history of literature there is no other
man who at that age created a more splendid masterpiece of creative
imagination. And in the next few years he produced a series of
works of genius which compels our astounded admiration.

Sometime during 1659, when Oliver Cromwell was dying, a son
was born to a butcher in the City of London. He must have been
a successful tradesman for he was able to send his son to schools
where he learnt Latin, Greek, French, German and Italian and read

T H E RAFFLESIAN

widely in the literatures of these languages; in addition, of course
to English. Daniel Foe, as he was then called, was being educated
for the Dissenting Ministry. He never, however, took up that
profession. It is probable that he joined the ill-fated Duke of
Monmouth in his rebellion against James II, when he was a youth
of seventeen, but he escaped the caresses of Kirke’s Lambs and the
bloody hands of Judge Jeffereys. Defoe, for he has added the
distinguishing prefix, is next seen running a haberdashery business
in the city and then as the owner of a tile-manufactory at Green­
wich. He went bankrupt but later paid all his debts in full.

That nine years of business life would be a good preparation
for a career of political journalism and novel writing would seem
unlikely. Defoe next appears, and from that moment until the
obscure year of his death, he is very much before the public, as
the author of political pamphlets so brilliant, so biting and so
subtly effective that he is condemned to the pillory and flung into
prison by the Government of the day. This was in 1703. But
he had won the favour of Harley, Earl of Oxford and Secretary
of State, who got him out of prison and employed him on rather
mysterious Government service. In prison Defoe had started the
“ Review,” a paper at first appearing weekly, then as its popu­
larity grew, twice and finally three times a week. I t was a paper in
which the merest fragments of news were turned by the brilliant
imagination of Defoe into what seemed entirely credible descrip­
tions of current events. It contained during the nine years of its
publication essays by Defoe on every conceivable human activity
or interest. The industry and the journalistic genius of Defoe
were immense.

In 1719 appeared the first part of the immortal “ Robinson
Crusoe ”. Everyone knows how Alexander Selkirk was marooned
on the solitary island of Juan Fernandez off the west coast of
South America, and how on his return to England various accounts
of his adventures were published, inspiring Defoe to write
“ Robinson Crusoe ”. It is the relation of adventures, not the
delineation of character, that is the forte of Defoe. His invention
of common incidents and situations was unbounded. It is the
minute descriptions and references which make us believe the whole
narrative true: else they would hardly have been mentioned.

So extraordinary was Defoe’s skill in feigning reality that two
of his books, “ The Journal of the Plague ” and the “ Memoirs of
a Cavalier ” were accepted as contemporary narratives by thousands

14 T H E RAFFLESIAN

who did not know that the Civil War was long over when the
author was born and that the Great Plague depopulated London
when he was only six. It is almost impossible to believe that the
account of the Plague is not that of an eye witness.

In the history of the development of the English novel Defoe
takes an important place as the literary father of Richardson
and Fielding. As an essayist he suggested the famous “ Tatler ”
and “ Spectator.”

When we consider Defoe’s misfortunes and sufferings, if
we remember that his spirit had been broken by apoplexy, and that
he was verging on sixty, his invention of Robinson Crusoe and the
long train of fiction which succeeded, it seems a marvellous triumph
of native genius, self-reliance, and energy.

THE FIRE-BRIGADE.

The insistent peal of a Fire-Engine bell is heard coming along
the road. Pedestrians stop and turn their heads with curiosity to­
wards the red meteor as it flashes past before their eyes. The
traffic pauses to give way to the engine as it tears onwards on its
errand. People realise that it is on its way to extinguish a fire at
some burning locality, but they do not realise to the fullest extent
what dangers the firemen are going to face.

To know the routine of the fireman’s life one must be a
spectator of it.

The life of a fireman is not an easy one. It is beset by dangers
unknown to him, and he expects every moment to see death. For
all this, the fireman is alert and ready for all emergencies. There
are four parades daily, twice in the morning and twice in the after­
noon. The men march into the court-yard attired in their uniform.
After being examined, they disperse in companies, to their separate
engines. They return to their apartments but are always alert
for any alarm that may be received.

Every fireman must be able to jump from a window or a terrace
on to a cloth spread and held by about thirty, for in the case of
finding himself cut off by fire in a burning building his life might
depend on his jumping quickly without hesitation from a window.
A fireman must also know how to lower unconscious people from a
burning building by a life line. He ought to be able to climb the
fire escape rapidly to a great height sometimes, and he must not
be giddy but be able to carry an unconscious person in a correct

T H E RAFFLESIAN 15

position across his shoulder down the fire-escape. These are some
of the things every fireman ought to know and to do.

The complement of an engine is about a dozen men. Each
of these men has some fixed duty to do on reaching the scene of
conflagration. Three or four detach the fire-escape from the
bracket, by which it is fixed to the engine, wheel it to a part of
the house where life-saving has to be done or where the fire seems
to gain most hold. Then they have to detach the stays, and fix
them on the ground, raise the sliding ladder to the required height
and also to put blocks of wood below the wheels to prevent them
from rolling backwards or forwards. Meanwhile the water-main is
connected to the pumping tank of the engine, the hoses, four in
one engine have been uncoiled and water is directed on the fire.
All these are done with precision, not with the least disorder, and
yet very quickly.

When the fire has been mastered, two hoses stop their work
while the other two continue their work until the fire has been
completely quenched.

Once a fireman, having reached the window on which the
escape was leaning heard a cry, “ Help! help!”, somewhere in a
room beyond the one in which he stood. It was the voice of a
lady. The fire had gained hold on the passage between the room
in which he was standing and the one in which the lady was. He
felt desperate for the lady’s safety, so with a wet towel around his
face he advanced towards the passage. At first he could not see
properly, but as his eyes got accustomed to the smoke he saw a
small part of the passage not yet in flames. He debated within him­
self, whether he could pass to the other side. His heart beat a tri!le
faster, and the lady’s voice was not heard, so he surmised she must
have fainted. This decided him, and he plunged into the very
narrow space left untouched. He could feel the heat, the smoke
filled his lungs to bursting-point and his eyes smarted so much.
At first, he could not see the lady, but gradually he saw her
huddled in a chair, her head on the dressing table in front of her.

He picked her up gently and turned to go out of the room
back to the one from which he came. His heart leaped for the
passage was literally a wall of fire. He ran back into the room and
placed his burden in the chair. The he went into an adjoining room
and came back with a bed-sheet. He proceeded to tear this into
strips and knotted them into a long rope. He tested its length, but
it wanted a few feet more to reach ground. Two firemen were

16

bringing a hose round to this side and saw their comrade at the
window. The fire-escape was quickly :brought round and the
lady safely carried down by him. He was not a moment too
soon, for while he was engaged in his work he forgot about the
fire. As the wind was blowing in his direction, the fire had ap­
proached and caught hold of the room without his knowledge. When
he was about to descend, tongues of flame leaped at him. He was
awarded suitably for his timely and brave deed.

Many courageous deeds of this type have been done in
fires in this country and the public is indebted to the efficient and
excellent work of the Fire-Brigade.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

“ We owe to books those general benefits which come from high
intellectual action........ They impart sympathy, activity, and moral
power,” says Emerson, the great essayist. Libraries promote the
progress of knowledge and bring valuable books within the reach of
the poor. Books of reference improve the studies of scholars
while large dictionaries of biography and classics satisfy the careful
brains of the cleverer students. The disadvantages of limited means,
interruptions, distractions and lack of concentrated study are all
abolished in school libraries. The young public in civilised countries
is greatly benefited by school libraries.

Books that form mind and character are necessary to support t.he
moral traits of the young, especially in these sad times. Education,
if it aims to instruct the young in every useful thing, ought to be
carried on with the help of school libraries, laboratories, engineering
models and other scientific achievements, modelled on a small scale.
The vital factor is to have school libraries; for the knowledge of
English, Mathematics and other simple subjects given in secondary
schools will not impart a knowledge of “ something of everything.”
A study of “ everything of something ” is suited to professional
education ; thus the dentist knows everything of dentistry, and the
doctor all of medicine. In elementary education a knowledge of
diverse subjects and sciences is necessary, and it is through books
that most of us acquire knowledge. Hence, arises the need for
school libraries in all secondary and higher schools.

Short treatises of botany, physiology or chemistry, dictionaries
and encyclopaedias, good fiction and magazines should fill the

TH E RAFFLESIAN 17

library shelves. Authors like Emerson, Shakespeare, Lamb, Ruskin,
Thackery or Scott make any reader interested in fiction. Smiles,
Mathew Arnold, Darwini and Wells have a scientific influence on
the young mind and character. The relation of man to the organic
world, the meaning of progress, the essentials of good character,
true economy and other valuable subjects can be well understood.
The biographies of great historical giants are invaluable as models
of character-heroes. Shakespeare awakens our imagination and
entertains us with his wonderful works.

School Libraries equipped thus would furnish the young brains
with such wisdom that everyone of us will say, with Hunt.

“ Take me, my book-shelves, to your arms,
And shield me from the ills of life.”

T. K.

THE APPEAL OF POETRY.

It has been said that he who has never read and appreciated
poetry has missed one of the greatest delights of life and one of the
most important factors of education. One must be either dull in
wit and blunt in imagination, or cynical in thought to stand at the
portals of the treasure-house of poetry without being touched by its
grandeur and beauty. To such persons I give my sympathy. I
would not be hard on them, because T was once in the same position
as they are, and I feel that it is my duty rather to help them to
appreciate poetry. The ability to appreciate poetry has exercised a
tremendous influence in my life and my attitude towards life.

Like the majority of people I was unable to see any sense or
beauty at all in poetry. Of course I had read books on the art
and charms of poetry. I had been told of its majestic grandeur, its
beautiful creative and educative value and so forth. But although
my interest in poetry was roused, although I determined to give
poetry a fair trial, and although I tried to imagine that I loved it,
still after reading several poems recommended by my teachers and
by those who loved or professed they loved poetry, I was in no better
position than before; I could not for the life of me see tnything in a
conglomeration of words and phrases cast about for the decoration
of the pages. Now when I come to think of my previous experience
and to analyse the facts carefully, I could find reasons for this
inability to see the charms of poetry. The first reason I find is

18 T H E RAFFLESIAN

the mistake of reading and memorising poems too difficult for me
to understand. Such poems consequently had no appeal for me.
For example, my teacher who was a great lover of poetry and who
always insisted that all good poems ought to be studied and digested,
one day set me to memorise Gray’s “ Elegy on a Country Church­
yard ” Doubtless, he acted with the best intentions and there was
no question as to the quality of the poem; but it was too' difficult
for me, who was then in the fourth standard to understand. I did
memorise it, of course, and was specially commended for reciting
the whole poem without any error. On another occasion I tried
to read a poem which had been well-spoken of by my teacher (I
forget its title). But it was too much for me, and the result was
that I threw away the poem when I came to the second stanza. It
is needless to say that after this experience if I did not hate poetry,
I was indifferent to its charms.

When I was older, I came across Lord Averbury’s interesting
book “ The Pleasures of Life,” in one of the chapters of which he
presented the special values and charms of poetry that I was led to
make another experiment at reading poetry. By this time my
command of English was greater, and I had the fortune of coming
across some excellent and simple lyrical poems and also a copy of
Shakespeare’s “ Merchant of Venice.” I was thus first brought
into an appreciation of the musical rhythm of the lyrics and was
particularly charmed by the majestic passages in Shakespeare’s poem
on “ Mercy.” My interest was at once roused and I could not
appreciate the beautiful construction of poetic phrases and expres­
sions. I tried several other poems and in every one of them I was
greatly charmed by the musical flow of the passages, the appropriate
use of words and the well-placed construction of poetic phrases.

When I was promoted to the Senior Class I had already deve­
loped a favourable attitude towards poetry. I was consequently
delighted at learning that the set book on Literature for the next
year was a selection of Browning’s poems. But, alas! my interest
in poetry received a great blow when the first poem I read began
with “ Heap Cassia, Labdanum,” out of which I could not make head
or tail. I tried to understand such a poem as “ Saul ” by paraphrasing
it verse by verse, but it did not do me much good, for there were
passages beyond my understanding.

Fortunately, however, I had a good literature teacher who
gradually led me to appreciate the thoughts that Browning tried to

T H E RAFFLESIAN 19

convey in his poems. The constant effort to grasp the thoughts and
messages of the poet gradually developed my poetic appreciating until
at last there was established a mutual sympathy, a communion of
thoughts and spirit between me and the poet. Then it was that the
whole sou! of the poet was exposed to me and that the glorious visions
which the poet was seeing burst in upon me with a grandeur that
I had never beheld before. Indeed, I was carried into heights of
ecstasy and met the poet almost on the same level. My whole soul
was lifted up into a realm that is at once ennobling and inspiring.

From the above experience I learn two great principles in
creating a proper appreciation of poetry. The soul of a poem is
the poet and to understand his poem we must understand him.
It. is therefore necessary for us to exercise our imagination, to
place ourselves in the same position and surroundings as the poet.
A poet does no't write a poem without any purpose. All true
artists fashion their creations according to inspiration and a poet
is led to write a poem under moments of great inspiration. The
object of inspiration may be a beautiful landscape, or some great
thoughts. We can understand the poet only in so far as we dis­
cover the object of his inspiration.

Having discovered the object of his inspiration, we should
try to get into the spirit of t.he poet. The object of the poet’s
inspiration may not be an object of inspiration to us. But we
ought to try to make ourselves inspired by it. In short we are
to become the poet himself.

When these two principles are firmly grasped and faithfully
followed we shall be able to soar with the poet to heights of
ecstasy and realms of experience hitherto unknown; we shall be
able to perceive the divine in the practical, to see the beautiful
in the common, to discover the glorious in the simple; visions of
life and its grandeur, vistas of truth and beauty will burst upon
us with a clearness hitherto unknown. Like a blind man whose
sight is restored, who now beholds the beauty of the world and
is charmed by the scenery before him, so when our eyes are open
and our poetic sense attuned, we will stand enthralled by the
divers charms of poetry, insensible alike to both time and space.

L. TAY BOH,
Special Class.

20 < T H E RAFFLESIAN

HOW W ONDERFUL THE WOODLAND IS.

How wonderful the woodland is
Where softness and the shadows lie
With white anemones,

And winds are airs; where magic notes
Float on the breath of feathered joy,
And flow from fairy throats.

And Loveliness comes gently bold
’Mid vernal green and summer sheen
And red autumnal gold

And, all of woman, woos the sun;
Where silver warp and russet woof
Are delicately spun

Above the silent mossy ways
That bear the tread of timid feet
And carpet quiet days.

How wonderful the woodland is
Where softness and the shadows lie
With white anemones.

TIBETAN FUNERALS.

The Tibetans, as explorers have told us, have many weird
methods for the disposal of the dead. Few among the wealthy are
cremated, because of the scarcity of fuel. Sometimes the dead body
is doubled up and, when it has been sewn into the skin of a yak, is
cast into a raging torrent from the snow clad mountains, to be borne
away by its swift current.

There is a further way, however, which the Tibetans employ
more frequently, ghastly though it is. The body of the deceased is
carried up to the top of a hill that overlooks the village, when priests
or Lamas, as they are called in Tibet, uttering several incantations
and prayers, march round seven times, followed by a large crowd of
spectators, among whom are the deceased’s friends and relations.
Then they retire to a suitable distance, so as to allow the birds and
hungry animals to feed upon the exposed corpse. When the birds
and beasts have had their fill and gone away the Lamas return to
the mangled form, turning their prayer-wheels as they come. They
make seven more circuits, and on the completion of the 7th day they

T H E RAFFLESIAN 21

squat around the butchered body. The chief Lama, then cuts off a
morsel of the flesh that has remained and devours it as greedily as a
wolf. Thereupon the Lamas and the relations of the hapless man,
fall upon him, and scraping off pieces of flesh greedily enjoy their
repast of human flesh ; until the bones are clean and dry.

The idea of this uncouth ceremony is, that the spirit of the
departed of whose body they have partaken, will forever be friendly
with them.

When a man has died of some contagious disease and owing to
the odour of the rotting flesh, neither wild beasts nor birds dare to
approach the corpse, the Lamas uttering incessant prayers sit down
by it and eat it, nor do they rise untii all is consumed. The relations
however know better, for they take no active part in this savage act,
or else they think that such a man is an unforgiveable sinner, and
that no one could better appease his soul than the saintly Lamas !

On the death of a saintly Lama, his ashes are preserved in
tombs specially erected for the purpose. Considering the number of
these tombs scattered all over Tibet, one is inclined to think that,
more than half the people have been saints or that their standard of
saintliness is not very high.

It is difficult to think that such barbarity and cannibalism still
exist in this civilized age. Yet one must remember that Tibet is a
cut off from humanity by a barrier of mountain ranges over which
few venture to pass and convey messages to the ignorant Tibetans.

L. ALVIS,

Senior A.

SOME LOVABLE AUTHORS. (Adapted)

There are innumerable people who have written books in this
world. Some of them are dismissed as “ bad ” while others we
acknowledge to be “ lovable.” Oliver Goldsmith is in my opinion
one of these lovable authors. Some boys do not like Goldsmith and
it is for these boys that I intend to write this essay. Goldsmith is
not accepted by some because they know he only wrote some essays,
poems and a few novels, but not romances.. But if we are to consider
the style of the authors, we find that Goldsmith is a man whose

22 T H E RAFFLESIAN

simplicity in style is hard to be beaten, as the following lines taken
from his essay on “ Funeral Elegies ” will show,

“ How sad the groves and plains appear
And sympathetic sheep
Ev’n pitying hills would drop a tear—
If hills would learn to weep.
“ Goldie ” (his nickname) was born in Ireland and educated
at Trinity College, Dublin and at Edinburgh. His most important
works include “ The Vicar of Wakefield,” “ The Deserted Village,”
“ She stoops to Conquer ” and “ A Citizen of the World.”

Another lovable author is Gilbert Keith Chesterton. You
should read him for his amazing versatility and for his great humour.
Like Dr. Johnson he is intolerant only of cant and hypocrisy. He
loves colour, music and movement. In the “ Ballad of the White
Iiorse ” he sounds the battle-cry of his life mission. “ The Flying
Inn ” with its memorable drinking songs will ever be remembered for
its fine humour. “ The Innocence of Father Brown ” is one of the
finest detective stories in the language. But perhaps the truest of
to human life is his novel “ Manalive ”.

Every boy should read Dostoevesky, because he blessed life and
caused others to bless it. His books are long but never demoralising.

If we want to cultivate broad-mindedness, sweet reasonableness,
no author is more fit to inspire us than Dostoevesky. He writes
Russian but this fact need not trouble you, there are good translations
of his works. Read the following extract from his book “ The
Brothers Karamzov ” and you will know Dostoevesky’s ideal, “ Love
man1in his sin ; love all creatures of God and pray God to make you
cheerful as children and as the birds.”

Lastly, 1 will deal with William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is
the greatest writer we have ever had for the simple reason that he
knew more about humanity and sympathised with it more than any
one else. Persevere with him not for the sake of passing an exami­
nation but in order to increase your delight in life. I would
recommend the following works for a first reading, “ Julius Caesar,”
“ Hamlet,” “ A Midsummer Nights’ Dream,” “ Romeo and Juliet
and the “ Sonnets.”

M. I. AHMAD,

Special Class.

T H E RAFFLESIAN 23

SIR ROGER AND HIS FRIENDS MAKE A RECORD
FLIGHT IN THE “ AEROPLANEALIVE.”

My friend Sir Roger de Coverley having travelled in most of
the countries of Europe spoke to us about his intention to fly to
Singapore. Sir Roger had an aeroplane—an aeroplane so beautiful
and clean that to call it an ordinary aeroplane would be an insult
to it. My friend named it “ Aeroplanealive ” and as he had beauti­
fied the interior of his Church so he decorated his aeroplane. He
allowed three of his intimate friends including me to go with him.

Sir Roger himself is a gentleman of Worsetshire and was made
a knight on account of “ the beneficent services he had done for
the country in his office as mayor of Worsetshire." He was loved
by everyone and Worsetshire became under him one of the most
populous, peaceful and religious counties in the world.

Second in estimation to Sir Roger among us is a learned doctor
of medicine of Droitwich, his name Dr. Tannah. The virtues of
Dr. Tannah are well known to everyone of hi,s acquaintances. A
great physician, mathematician and hockey-player he is one of the
most respected members of “ the Spectator Club.” He had asked
Sir Roger the privilege of going to Singapore, in order to study
the cause and prevention of the hateful world disease “ Rialama,”
the cause of which was supposed to be a germ living in the East.
Sir Roger had consented as he himself had been a victim of
“ Rialama.”

The gentleman next in esteem and in authority among us is a
geologist and geographer by the name of Mr. Bihamir. Mr. Bihamir
is known all the world round as the Founder of the “ Relation of
the strength of the winds to the time of beat of the human heart,”
that most important cause of the downfall of the 19th Century
propositions in Geography. In a conversation with me, Mr. Bihamir
spoke about his intention to shatter the proposition “ That
Volcanoes are due to the effort of the liquid mass in the centre of
the earth to overcome the lithosphere by going on top of it,” and
said that he wished to study the volcanoes of the east.

The person of next estimation is Mr. Gimsen, .a member of
Gray’s Inn and a man having great powers of pleasing people, of
speaking and understanding. He is the most unfortunate person
of the group being the only man who is not a bachelor. Short
in stature but mature in age, Mr. Gimsen is known among us as
the Short Old Man of England. He was very sad at having to
leave behind his wife and children but he assured them that he

24 T H E RAFFLESIAN

would come back a famous man, intending to prove his most well
known enunciation, “ That the Easterners were the real founders
of that wrongly called “ Roman Law.” This law was founded by
the great Eastern Emperor, Anwar Shah and he intended when at
Singapore to search for the original copy of the book, in which
Anwar Shah’s law was written.

Such were the members of the trip to Singapore. On a bright
summer day we started our trip. I do not intend to give an
account of the enjoyable trip we had as the details of this should be
known to everyone, the journey having since been done by millions
of people. France, Italy, Arabia, India and Penang were visited
before we eventually reached Singapore in the record time of two
hours. AU the newspapers were reporting our record breaking
achievement and the following is a cutting from a newspaper of
Singapore dated June 15th 2030:—

“ The Great Five, Dr. Tannah, Sir Roger de Coverley, Mr.
Bihamir, Mr. Gimsen and Mr. Ahmad have shattered the record
of Sir William Mais, B.A., K . c . M . G . , R.A.F., by accomplishing the
flight from London to Singapore in two hours. Our congratulations
to them.

On reaching Singapore we all got to our respective occupations.
Dr. Tannah, Mr. Bihamir, Mr. Gimsen eventually became famous
by their respective efforts. At last on July 7, 2031 we returned
to England. Sir Roger was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal
Aerial Society while each of the rest got the order of Knighthood.

We eventually reached Dover at about 2 o clock and were
welcomed by a crowd of 1,000,000 people.

M. I. AHMAD,
Special Class.

“ SHAKESPEARE,— FOR AND AGAINST.”

R. L. Stevenson, the English author, says: “ I have always
suspected public taste to be a mongrel product out of affection by
dogmatism; and felt sure, if you could only find an honest man of
no literary bent, he would tell you he thought much of Shakespeare
bombastic and absurd, and all of him written in very obscure English
and wearisome to read.” This is Stevenson’s comment on the
“ Prince of dramatists.” The average Singapore scholar has more
of mathematical than literary talents and, as a consequence, Shakes-

T H E RAFFLESIAN 25

peare is declared a wearisome poet. To understand Shakespeare,
one must “ act the play himself within the theatre of his own mind,”
and this necessary imagination is usually a sad lack in Cambridge
students. Many students belong to this category, who add to the
lack of imagination the trouble of reading books of reference and
searching for the sources, the editions and the dates of the plays.
This makes Shakespeare an intricate subject to instill into young
brains. However, this is not always the case. Two years of
Shakespeare tires the hardiest scholar. Merit is of many kinds;
Shakespeare was great as a dramatist and poet. Others have been
pre-eminent in separate fields; Goethe shone in many divisions of
literature, Scott distinguished himself in poetry and romance while
Milton was a great poet and prose writer. Shakespeare excelled
in one branch of literature; there are other writers equally success­
ful. Why should not any of them be chosen for the year’s author
instead of Shakespeare? The Bible is an excellent text of morals
but government schools hamper its use. Love and philosophy
is discussed in Shakespeare; Stevenson says: “ With the excep­
tion of Falstaff, all Shakespeare’s characters are, what we call,
marrying men.” Is love and philosophy essential to the young?
This raises a good question for debating purposes.

On the contrary, the infinite variety of literary qualities dis­
played in Shakespeare, the excellence and quantity of his dramas
count in the poet’s favour. No single name in literature can be
compared to his. Many authors and critics proclaim Shakespeare
excellent. By scholars of literary taste, Shakespeare has been pro­
claimed a master. Shakespeare is quoted in speeches and in daily
usage. Johnson’s praise of Shakespeare speaks much in the poet’s
favour.

To add one or two more plays of Shakespeare would be rash;
one play taxes the student to the utmost and Singapore students
do not shine in literature. Stevenson says: “ You can forgive
people who do not follow you through a philosophical discussion,”
and as Shakespeare tastes of philosophy it is best that Shakespeare-
lovers forgive those who hate Shakespeare for their narrow-minded
view of Shakespeare. John Heminge and Henrie Condell in the
preface to the First Folio edition of Shakespeare say: “ But it is
not our province, who onely gather his works, and give them to you,
to praise him. It is yours that reade him. And there we hope, to
your divers capacities, you will finde enough, both to draw and hold
you: for his wit can no more lie hid, than it could be lost. Reade

26 T H E RAFFLESIAN

him, therefore; and againe, and againe: And if then you doe not
Uke him, surely you are in some manifest danger, not to understand
him.” Herein is the nutshell of the matter; literary persons appre­
ciate Shakespeare while some students fail to do so and divergence
of opinions results. To weigh Shakespeare’s merit as a school
text-book is a delicate question and I would not have tackled the
question but for Stevenson’s comments.

T. K.

A TRIP TO PAH ANG .

I found myself, one wet December morning, in a first-c!ass
coach of the F.M.S. Railways, in the company of three others on my
way to Pahang.

The journey, though enjoyable, was somewhat monotonous for
I had to travel some 32S miles through forests and marshy low
lands,—the typical landscape of the Tropical Lands.

Leaving Johore Station, the train made its way through a
wide expanse of rubber land. On either side, one could see such
plantations and, at intervals, marshes and high forest-clad hills
beyond. Before us, was the track, which ends somewhere near
the Siam State Boundary.

The journey was most pleasant when we came to a region,
bounded on the East by high peaks with their summits hidden
among c!ouds; on the North by a village— the village of Kempas;
and on the West by an immense plain of rice-fields, all golden
with the colour of the ripening corn. Who could disregard such a
magnificent spectacle? I can still imagine this picturesque scene,
which will lose all its natural beauties when once touched by civili­
zation. The journey, after this, was dull until we came to a region
of grasslands of unlimited boundaries. Here tens of thousands of
cattle are reared. These feed on the luxuriant grass growing on
the hilIslopes, where once wild herds have roamed. This scenery
passed away, as if all the events took place in a day-dream; and
soon afterwards, we found ourselves in Gemas.

After a stop of twenty minutes, again we started on our
journey. This, too, afforded views rich in natural grandeur. On
and on we travelled; and wherever there was a forest-clearing,
there alone man existed. He has no other interest in life here but
agriculture; and upon such clearings he grows coffee. Besides the
throbbing noise of the railway engine one could hear the louder
shrill cries of insect.

27

The return trip need not be described, as it was exactly of the
same nature as the first. Both were as smooth as the river flows,
and were enjoyable as the Christmas Holidays. At certain places,
where the regions are traversed from end to end by rivers, and
bounded by high mountains, grassy slopes and marshy lowlands,
there are examples of Nature’s virgin beauty, untouched by

Civilization. TAN TONG HYE,

Senior A.

ALAS! D E A R MR. EDITOR.

Alas, dear Mr. Editor, your task we know is dull
And copy oft rejected. .. .yes, the waste basket is full
Of leaves from budding authors who feel the urge of spring
And shoot their garbage at you; ’tis a most unkindly thing.
And could they see the sorrow that comes welling to your eyes
They’d put their pens in quarantine and silently grow wise.
Accounts of this, reports of that, and scores of cricket matches
Are hardly incubated where the spark of humour hatches,
No truly secretarial arm e’er has a funny-bone
And articles scholastic are/better left alone, /much
Ramasamy’s ramblings may alluring be to him
But why encumber paper with intelligence th at’s dim;
And prefectorial paraphrase of what’s been writ before
But takes the laws of copyright and blows them through the door?
1 wonder if your torturers, can ever sit and think
In kindness of the feelings of a spot of printer’s ink,
Or consider its ambition is to make a bright remark
And not to stain the paper, just at random, in the dark;
Or even dimly realise that linotype is hurt
When falling from the melting pot on lines that aren’t alert,
Or hear the rumbling noises that escape the printing press
Inarticulately cursing where it only wished to bless,
Or remember the unfortunates who have to buy their stuff
And read what’s less digestible than half-cooked army duff,
Or that even humble coolies have a shelter from the rain,
While you, poor Mr. Editor, have no respite from pain,
But in the course of duty, with heart most sore bereaved,
Must lie “ All contributions will be thankfully received ”
And die, without a murmur, just a martyr to the caws,
Of those (like me) who do not know that diction has its laws?

C. E. H. J.

28

“ THE RAFFLESIAN ” OF THE FUTURE.

Thank you! my dear Contributor may blessings great descend
Upon your Muse-inspired pate; you’re proved yourself a friend.
No paper-basket shall embrace th ’out pouring of your pen
Pregnant with witty persiflage; my spirits rise again
From dark unfathomable depths of dire despondency
To Fairy flights fantastical of flagrant flippancy.
And thanks to your kind efforts I am dropping essay drab
Like “ A Ride upon a Tram-car ” or “ The Sex-life of a Crab,”
To give you place of honour in our worthy magazine
Hoping thus that gradually our readers we shall wean
From a rather stodgy diet of School Notes and House Reports,
Results of Cricket Matches and Accounts of Annual Sports;
So that shortly their digestions will be competent to deal
(In a literary manner) .with a very different meal.
We will tittilate their palates with a Joyster Cocktail first
I t ’s the only Happytizer to promote a decent thirst.
The soup you will be glad to know is Cream of Hearty jokes;
Then a spot of Fun and Haddock with a Sauce of Anecdotes
Will prepare the gastronomic path to Devilled Funny-bone,
Washed down with sparkling Muscatel or Ginger Beer (Stone).
And ultimately to complete this side-splitting repast
A score or more of Current Puns-each fresher than the last.
And when our magazine attains a circulation vast
Among th ’intelligensia of boys present and boys past,
To confirm our novel policy, we’ll drop the name Rafflesian
And with the Censor’s kind permish, re-christen it Laughlesian.

A JEST OF JEREMIAH,

I wonder if anyone remembers Jeremiah mad hatter and prince
among fellows. His real name I think was Algerton Alphonso
Devil Rothersey Devil, but we had to draw the Une somewhere,
so we called him Jeremiah. He used to keep wicket for the
school when Toby Browne was skipper, in those days when life
was good to live. I shall never forget Jeremiah. I don’t suppose
T could if I wanted to. But I think I shall remember him most for
his doings at cricket. Then was the time when he stumped the Head
first ball in the Masters match, and burst into tears. Then, once,
in his enthusiasm he knocked the bails into the brim of the Umpire’s

School Captain
P. R. LEWis.

RAFFLES INSTITUTION CADET CORPS 1931.

SEATED: L/Sgt. Lee Wing Kee; Sgt. Ho Mun Meng; Sgt. Seah Peng Ann; C.Q.M.S. Lim Tee Kiat; 2nd Lieut. Sohan Singh; 2nd Lieut.
Labh Singh; Captain C, A, Scott; 2nd Lieut. P. R. Lewis; C.S.M. A. Desker; Sgt. Abdul Aziz bin Isahak; Sgt. J. B, Chang;

L/Sgt. F, S. Clunies-Ross; L/Sgt. Chan See Kan,

RAFFLES CADETS.
Proficiency Badge Winners, 1930-1931 and Instructors.

BACK Row: Sgt. J. B. Chang; Sgt. Ho Mun Meng.
SECOND Row: C.S.M. Chan See Kan; U / 0 Seah Peng Ann;

U /O F. S. Clunies-Ross; U /O Abdul Aziz bin Isahak;
C.Q.M.S. Chan Gim Liang.

2nd Lieut. P. R. Lewis; C.S.M. Imm, D.c.M.; Captain C. A. Scott;
C.S.M. Weston; 2nd Lieut. Sohan Singh.

ABSENT: C.S.M. A. Desker; 2nd Lieut. A. K. Mallal.

RAFFLES CADETS.

Most Useful Section, 1930—Section I.

Cadets: Simon Silberman Bolter Manasseh Hagedorn

Captain C. A. Scott; L/Cpl. A. G. Valberg; 2nd Lieut. P. R. Lewis.
RAFFLES INSTITUTION SCOUTS.

T H E RAFFLESIAN 29

hat and we spent about half an hour trying to find them. But
greatest of his larks was when he got fourteen men out in the
inter-House finals.

I must explain these final to you before I go any further.
There were eight Houses and we used to play a knock-out league
every year. One of our old boys who, in our opinion should never
have been allowed loose, had presented a lovely silver scroll which
had to be won three years in succession for keeps. But he had
also made a most amazing set of conditions, that had, sometimes,
absolutely no connection at all with the game; things that said that
no man whose name began with a G could open for his House.
However we had to play to the rules, and the scroll was worth a
whole lot of rummy rules.

Well, MacNairs had won the scroll for the last two years and
had beaten us in the finals both times. They were a filthy crowd,
were MacNairs, and bragged no end when they won for a second
time. They kept sending us advice. ‘ BowIing for Toddlers ’ and
‘ The right end to hold your bat ’, and we were getting frightfully
annoyed. Jeremiah was sick of it. He skippered Head’s House
(that was us) you see, and he was determined to win that scroll
this year. We went down to the nets every morning and afternoon
and Young Thompson (who had played twelfth man for Oxford)
used to come down and give us a few tips.

It needed a week to the finals and for the third time we were
to meet MacNairs. Did I say that MacNairs were a ragged lot?
They had the cheek to post up silly little scrawls with the most
bragging titles. “ Artist’s conception of MacNairs receiving the
scroll ” ; “ Picture of Head’s House going out for 13, Extras 9 ”.
Jeremiah was mad, and all of us were pretty sick.

Well one day when Jeremiah and myself were in the Head’s
library (we used to be allowed to work there) and I was doing
a spot of Livy for Templeton the next day, he suddenly jumped up
from the book he was reading and yelled Ye Gods! “ Ginger,” he
said to me, “ I ’ve got it! ” Quodsi pugnam detrectassent illos
dedecori-eh-what have you got? ” I asked, not being unduly excited.
Jeremiah was the sort who are always getting it. It was nothing
new. But he dragged me up to his study and put a chair in the
middle of it for a wicket and made me take my stance in front of
it. “ The man,” I said, “ is indubitably mad ”. “ Now listen,”
went on Jeremiah, “ I want you to play this ball when I pitch it
to you.” At the best of times one of our studies is fearfully over-

30 T H E RAFFLESIAN

crowded, but when a fellow starts playing cricket in i t . .. .!
—- But I humoured him and when he pitched the ball up I played
back to it. But just as I hit the ball I felt a most awful shock
go through my body and my arms flew backwards, not much,but
enough to make me knock the chair over.

The trouble was to get Jeremiah’s electrical gadget on to the
wicket, but we managed it somehow, and as the actual wires were
as fine almost as cotton they weren’t at all visible. Jeremiah had
had some trouble winning me over to his scheme. After all, it
wasn’t awfully fair on the blighters, though they deserved it, and
more. But Jeremiah swore an oath that he would own up after­
wards if it was too successful and get the whole school totreat it
as a colossal rag. The Head was fond of Jeremiah.

It rained early in the morning of the match and by two when
we were due to start the wicket was just beginning to dry. It was
a bowler’s paradise. Of course Jeremiah lost the toss; he invari­
ably did on occasions like that so we had to go in. On that wicket
I think I could have given Hobbs a run for his money, and Toby,
bowling slow for MacNairs, played puck with our fellows. I t took
us two and a half hours to make 71 and MacNairs were jubiliant
when our last man came out. The wicket had now dried (there
had been a strong sun) and was easy to bat on.

Toby came in first for MacNairs and I opened bowling.
“ Pitch ‘em up, and make ‘em play back, had been Jeremiah’s
instructions, so I bowled a bit overlength and fast. When Toby
played my fourth ball T saw him start, his arms flew backwards a
bit, and everybody screamed “ How’s that! ” Toby had hit his
wicket. I had been bowling pretty fast, and if anyone had noticed
Toby jump they must have thought that the ball had come up
much faster than he expected. The working of the trick was quite
simple. Jeremiah had the small battery in his pocket and the
wires ran down his left leg under his trousers and out in front of
the stumps. Between the finger and thumb of his first finger he
had the contact button, and when he pressed this the poor blighter
who happened to be standing on the wires had a pretty considerable
shock. Of course we could work the trick on one end of the
wicket, but that was quite sufficient. It was a most ingenions
device and I still have it.

MacNairs were all out for 18. Eight of them had played on
or hit their wickets, but so cleverly had Jeremiah managed things
that the batsmen themselves didn’t realise what was up. Conscience

T H E RAFFLESIAN 31

was pricking one pretty severely, but Jeremiah seemed to be quite
lacking in any spirit of remorse. “ Tut, tut, ” he said to Toby who
was gloomly drinking lemonade “ why can’t you fellows keep
yourselves fit in MacNairs. Your nerves are absolutely in pieces.
Bad Sign! Bad Sign! Utterly immoral Mm! ” Whereupon Toby
had kicked him.

Of course MacNairs followed on and though Jeremiah wasn’t
using his patent idea, they were so utterly demoralised by their
show in the first winnings that they could oniy put up 63, and we
got the 11 we needed for victory with all our wickets in hand. The
whole school had turned out to witness the debacle and MacNairs
must have felt pretty cheap. The scroll would be presented in the
Hall the next day and I was feeling rotten. We had gone too far,
I thought.

That night I tried to find Jeremiah and say that we ought to
tell the Head all about it. I found him in the Head’s library
reading some of the school records, and told him just how I felt and
what I thought we ought to do. There were a twinkle in his
eye when he told me, somewhat to my surprise, that he’d been a
trifie doleful as well. So we went to see the Head and I expected
him to own up.

“ Excuse me, Sir,” he said, when we arrived there, “ but I ’ve
just been reading up some of the School records and by pure coin­
cidence (Heaven forgive you, Jeremiah, for all this!) I came across
this.” And he handed a paper to the Head. There was silence for
a moment, then the Head spoke “ I cannot conceive, Devil, how we
managed to overlook this. I had quite forgotten that one of the
rules was that, should two Houses meet each other in the finals
the third game had to be played on a ground other than the School.
I fear that, owing to this unfortunate oversight on my part to-day’s
result will be of no effect and the game will have to be replayed
elsewhere. I shall speak to the School at prayers to-night.

Of course Jeremiah had spotted it that day in the library. I
could have slain him on the spot and buried him in bits, I was so
annoyed. “ But my dear Ginger,” he said, “ I couldn’t possibly
throw away a chance like that, and, anyway, MacNairs needed a
dressing down and nobody need know.

MacNairs were none the worse for their experience. Toby
pulled them round quicked than I had expected and the replay for
the scroll was the closest gain I have ever played. In our first

32

winnings we made 151 and MacNairs answered with 163. Then we
scored 17S and MacNairs were only 3 behind with one wicket to
fall when Jeremiah caught out their last man with a marvellous
catch low down on the leg off my fast bowling. We had won by 3 !

It was not until just before he was leaving that Jeremtiah told
the Head, and well, didn’t I say that the Head won fond of
Jeremiah?

P. R. L.

CADET NOTES.

The Proficiency Class Examination results proved very successful
for there was a 100% pass and thus we led over the other Malayan
Cadet Corps. We congratulate C.S.M., A. Desker, U/O. Lim Tee
Kiat, Sgt. Seah Peng Ann, Sgt. Abdul Aziz b. Isahak and L/Sgt.
Ho Mun Meng, U/O. F. S. Clunies-Ross, C.S.M. Chan See Kan,
C.Q.M.S. Chan Gim Liang and Sgt. Looi Eng San on their success
in the examination. R.S.M. Imm and C.S.M. & I. Weston of the
S.V.C. deserve credit for their efforts in coaching the Proficiency
Class.

Lieut. A. F. Hunter is now Second-in-Command of the Corps.
Commissions as Under-Officers were granted to C.Q.M.S. Lim Tee
Kiat, Sgt. Seah Peng Ann, Sgt. Abdul Aziz b. Isahak and Sgt.
F. S. Clunies-Ross. Second Lieuts. Labh Singh and Sohan Singh
resigned their commissions. U/O. Lim Tee Kiat recently resigned
his commission. L/Sgt. Chan See Kan and Cpl. Chan Gim Liang
were promoted to C.S.M. and C.Q.M.S. respectively.

The Cadets Rifle Meeting held during the X ’mas holidays was
very successful and it is hoped that it will be an annual event.
The participants had a very enjoyable afternoon. Lt.-Col. J. M.
Mackenzie, D.s.o., Commandant, S.S.V.F., presented the prizes and
delivered a brief speech. The following are the principal prize­
winners:—

Class I. (aggregate). — U/O. Seah Peng Ann.

Class II. (aggregate). — Cdt. Tan Choon Seng.

The best soldiers for 1930 were U/O. F. S. Clunies-Ross (Sgts.
& L/Sgts.), Cpl. Niranjan Singh (Cpls. & L/C pls.), and L/Cpl.
J. Desker (Ptes.)

T H E RAFELESIAN 33

The Annual Inspection was held in November when Captain
Messrs. A.S.O.L.F. inspected the Company. He emphasised that
we were smart in appearance but required more steadiness on parade.
A photo of the Corps was taken before the Inspection.

The Proficiency Class, 1931, went to Camp at Port IJickson
during the Easter Holidays. We thank Capt. Steel and Officers,
Service Company M.S.V.R., for our pleasant stay. An account of
the Camp in more detail is given elsewhere.

The Company is still up to strength as many recruits enrolled
at the beginning of the year. The recruits have been trained in
drill, and are undertaking the weapon-training course. Theyhave
now been placed in the ranks with the old Cadets.

The new system of Weapon-Training is a good solution of the
difficulties encountered in previous methods. Cards are issued, each
bearing a recruit’s name and the instructors tick off a lesson only
if the recruit gives satisfactory proof of having understood the lesson.

Prospects of forming a band are very gocyd; many boys from
the lower classes are interested in it. A Fife and Drum Band will
soon be formed as money and players are available.

At the Empire Day Parade, we were specially honoured by
the presence of H.E. the G.O.C., Major-General L. C. L. Oldfield,
c.B., c.M.G., D.s.o., who inspected the Cadets and Scouts.

This season is very active for the Cadets; we are looking for­
ward to the Annual Camp at Siglap, held in June.

T. K.

SCOUT REPORT.

It is a long time since a Scout report has appeared in our school
magazine, and the Troop which was slumbering, has now re-awakened
with renewed vigour and energy.

Reorganization work took up a great deal of our time during the
First Term of this year, but we have now settled down to work,
beginning from the very bottom of the ladder, and working upwards
towards the greater and more important aspects of Scouting.

We have cut down our numbers, and have limited ourselves
to forty, consisting of five patrols of eight scouts each, with one
Senior Patrol Leader. We have introduced a novelty into the Troop
by equipping each scout with a new uniform including shorts. Our

34 T H E RAFFLESIAN

shirts and shorts are of a colour peculiar to the Troop, and thus
make us appear all the more conspicious when intermingled with
the other Troops in Singapore.

Besides the equipment, we are very fortunate in having the
services of the Rev. T. R. Dean, who has willingly consented to
come down and assist in running the parades. We are also fortunate
in bringing back to the Troop one who has been in its ranks before,
A. S. M. Ismail b. A. Aziz.

As mentioned before, we have started afresh, and have spent
our entire time in tenderfoot instruction and have, with the help of
Rev. Mr. Dean, re-examined every Scout for the Tenderfoot Badge.
At the time of going to press every Scout in the Troop is a passed
Tenderfoot and we have now begun with Second Class instruction
and examination.

Our Troop sent a patrol of scouts, with P. L. Hashim in charge,
to assist in the cleaning up of the Headquarters.

On Empire Day, the entire Troop turned up in their new
uniform to participate in the ceremonies of the day. His Excellency,
the General Officer Commanding the Forces, on inspecting the
Troop, commented on the smart appearance of the boys and
appreciated the uniforms they had on.

In closing, I would like to urge each and every scout to do his
best and co-operate in making the Troop a success.

SCOUTS - - - “ BE PREPARED.”

M. MENAHEM,

Assistant Scoutmaster.

CRICKET.

With only three of the regular members of last year’s X I left
in the School we are finding it difficult to raise a strong1team, and
our results to date have been far from satisfactory. We have
played fourteen games, winning only six, losing seven, while one was
drawn.

We lost our opening game against the Medical College, scoring
63 to their 69. G. Valberg was our highest scorer, while Ie Cain took
3 College wickets for 6 runs.

In our second game the United Engineers were soundly beaten.
They scored only 48, Ie Cain taking 5 for 28, we replied with 142,
Lewis batting excellently for 77.

T H E RAFFLESIAN 35

Against the Royal Engineers we won by 3 runs, the scores

being 67 and 64, Ie Cain and Alvis had a day out,scoring 26 and

15 respectively, and taking 5 for 19 and 5 for 10.

We have played three games against S. C. C. X I’s, winning two

and losing the other. In our first game the club scored 66 (Alvis

3 for 6), and we replied with 70, our chief scorers being Lewis, 31

and S. Rajah, 16. In the second game the club made 73, Ie Cain

bowling well to take 6 for 38. We managed to pass their scorewith

5 wickets in hand, Lewi.s again batting well, and scoring 44. The

third game was a very low scoring one and we lost it by 16 runs,

scoring only 39 to the club’s 55. Mr. Hunter, playing against us

bowled 7 overs, 6 of which were maidens, and took 4 wickets for

only 1 run. Alvis took 4 club wickets for 18.

We enjoyed ourselves against the Staff and declared after scor­

ing 131 for 7. D. D ’Cotta and Ie Cain scored 46 and 44 respectively.

We then proceeded to get the Staff out for 21, Ie Cain taking 5 for

12, while Armstrong got 3 wickets with the only 3 balls he bowled.

Against the S. R. C. D ’Cotta, 32, and Lewis, 20, were the only

two batsmen able to deal with the Club bowling, and we were all

out for 76. The Club then made 128,-despite some good bowling by

D ’Cotta, who took 6 for 28.

I t was a weak team that met, and was defeated by, “ A ” Coy of

the Gloucesters. Alvis scored 47 out of our total of 95, and the

soldiers replied with 111 for 7.

An interesting game was played when a combined Masters

and Boys X I met the S. R. C. on the Padang. The Club scored

128, Mr. Ratnam taking 4 for 28. Despite some fine batting by

Mr. Ignatius, 27, and Lewis, 33, the School could make only 98.

Though without some of its best players a School X I deci­

sively beat the Gloucestershire Band Boys; the School scored 131

(Amin B. Ketchil 27, J. Loveday 26) and then dismissed the

Band Boys for 21, Ross taking 3 for 12, and Alvis 5 for 5.

Playing against a Royal Artillery X I we got them out for

53, Lieut. N. Phillips scoring 17 not out. We then made 78,

Lewis batting brightly to score 27 in under 15 minutes, while

Amin made 18.

Against the Gloucester 2nd X I J. Loveday had the distinction
of being top scorer (with 5) out of our total of 20! The soldiers
replied with 82, Ross taking 4 for 16.

In a return match against the S. R. C. we were lucky to draw,
for the Club scored 139 for 6 and declared, and we were 8 wickets

36 T H E RAFFLESIAN

down for only 66, when the game had to stop. Rajah, with 17, made
highest score.

The following are the averages:—

BATTING.

P. R. Lewis No. of Times Highest Total Average
J. Ie Cain Innings not out score
L. Alvis 257 21.6
S. Rajah 12 0! 77 91 11.4
M. Valberg 8 0 44 113
J. Loveday 12 0 47 60 9.4
L. Smith 7 0 17 30 8.7~
A. G. Valberg 8 4 10 62 7.5
S. Clunies Ross 10 1 26 44 6.9
S M. Ali 8 0 14 43 5.5
C. Alphonso 8 0 18 43 5.4
'14 1 12 27 3.3
Also batted: 9 2 3
Amin b. Ketchil S 1 6 6 1.5
4
45 22.5
3 1 27

BOWLING.

L. Alvis Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average
J. Ie Cain
S. Ross 92.1 25 221 37 5.9
S. Rajah 69.4 13 241 35 6.9
A. G. Valberg 102.1 29 181 21 8.6
J. Loveday 7 63 7 9
26 -2 17
11.2 2 51 3 17.6
106 6
32

Catches.
4. P. R. Lewis; J. Loveday.
3. S. M. Ali; J. Ie Cain; S.Ross; Amin.
2. L. Smith; C. Alphonso; M.Valberg.
1. L. Alvis; A. G. Valberg.

As far as batting is concerned the averages are very poor,
Lewis is the outstanding batsman of the side and is the only
player who has shown any consistency. He plays very fine cricket.
The only two others who have come off are Ie Cain and Alvis; the
former has had to stand down from several games owing to an
injured knee, but he hopes to be able to play again soon.

T H E RAFFLESIAN 37

The three main bowlers of the team are Ie Cain, Alvis and Ross,
and they all have very good averages. Rajah is improving, but
Loveday has bowled with very little luck.

Our fielding on the whole is bad, and we must impress upon
the members of the team that this should be improved. Lewis still
keeps wicket, but in Amin b. Ketchil we have found a keeper of
great possibilities. He is also a promising batsman.

FOOTBALL.

We expect to start our football season in June. All preli­
minary arrangements are well in hand and a committee has been
formed consisting of the following: —

Mr. T. E. K. Retnam
Mr. Low Kong Lim
S. M. Ally (Hon. Sec.)
Mohd. Said (Capt.)
A. G. Valberg
Cheo Charm Pan
Quek Kim Chua.

The various houses have been allotted practice days and we
expect to commence the House Football League in July. There is
very good talent available and we hope to have a very successful
season this year.

S. M. ALLY

Hon. Secretary.

TENNIS.

A certain amount of practice play has been possible. At

a meeting of boys interested in tennis held in the Hall on Tuesday,

May 13th, the following officers were elected: —

Captain . . Quek Kim Chua

Vice-Captain .. Loh Jwee Teow

Secretary . . F. S. Clunies-Ross

To discover what talent there is in the school, it is proposed
to organize a tournament inthe near future.

C. B.

38 T H E RAFFLESIAN

IiADMINTON AND PING-PONG.

Master-in-charge - - MR. J. McCoNiGLEY
- - T. KATHiRAVALU
Secretary - - - CHiM BocK

Captain -

A tournament for the lower classes has been arranged. The
Sixth and Seventh Standards are competing for the Silver Cup.
The tournament is now in progress and the full results will be out
later. Keen competition is expected.

The Inter-House Tournament will start during the Second
Term. The Badminton Captains will select their best players;
which will be a difficult task, as is shown by the enthusiasm during
the practices in the Hall.

It may be possible to select a School Team by the results of
the Inter-House Tournament and matches against outside schools
may be arranged.

T. K.

VOLLEY-BALL.

Volleyball practice started early this term and a large
number of boys are interested in the game. The popularity of
the game is seen from the way the two courts are crowded during
practices. Some of our best players have left school but if the
interest in the game continues a very good school team can be
easily formed from the present boys. Ng Cheng Ling is the Captain
this year. Usually Volleyball practices are held on Mondays, Wed­
nesdays and Fridays. This term houses have mixed practices.
It is proposed to start a league match between various houses next
term. As soon as the school team is fairly strong, matches with
outside clubs and schools will be arranged.

K. M. R. M.

SWIMMING.

The Beginners’ Class is using the Y.M.C.A. Swimming Pool,
where Mr. Lyne is the Instructor. The class is well attended and
the Preliminary Test will be held in June.

An experimental Life-Saving Class has been formed, twelve
good swimmers having undertaken the course. Looi Eng San is

T H E RAFFLESIAN 39

the Instructor. The results of this Class, if successful, will largely
determ inethe general introduction of a Life-Saving Class into the
Swimming activities.

In March this year a Swimmers’ Class was started at Mount
Emily Swimming Pool on Fridays, when School boys are allowed to
swim free of charge.

T. K.

THE LlFE-SAYING CLASSES, 1931.

This year marked the revival, after a long period of inactivity
of the Life-Saving Class. Lee Fong Lim was the former Instructor
but he left school five years ago and owing to the lack of a
capable person, the class ceased to exist. A suggestion to revive the
class was brought forward by Looi Eng San.

To boys who have passed the Preliminary Test, the Life-Saving
Class is essential; therefore the Principal and Mr. Seah Seng Kang
approved the suggestion. The present members of the Class are
Lee Wing Kee, Seow Cheng Koon, Tan Choon Seng, Seah Peng Ann,
Ang Chuan Lim, Phay Chong Whatt, Low Kok Yin, Wee Yew Toh,
and Chia Boon Wee. They will appear for the Life-Saving Exam­
ination in a short time. Boys were also selected from the Non-
Swimmers Class and they are now being trained.

The class is in reality an experiment. If successful, a larger
class will be formed in due course. Progress was the Keynote since
the Class has begun and we believe that the experimeht will be a
success.

1 hanks are due to Mr. Lyne, who has kindly permitted the use
of the Y.M.C.A. Swimming Pool every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. for
water drill. Fhe School also uses the Mount Emily Swimming Pooli
In conclusion we thank Mr. Seah Seng Kang for superintending the
Life-Saving Class, whose Instructor is Looi Eng San.

L. S. B.

THE R.I.L.A.D.S. The Principal
Mr. Laidlaw.
President Mr. Menon.
Chairman P. R. Lewis.
Vice-Chairman Looi Eng San
Hon. Secretary Appajee.
Committee Members

4 0 T H E RAFFLESIAN

Before proceeding to review the activities of the Literary and
Dramatic Society it is our duty to express the gratitude we owe to
our retired Principal, Mr. Bishop, President of the R.I.L.A.D.S.,
who by his patronage and interest has promoted the welfare of our
Society. At the same time, we tender our hearty welcome to
Mr. Davies our new Principal, and we hope that the Head will not
fail in giving his support to the Society.

There was a time when the society slept “ the sleep of the
just and blessed ” but owing to the efforts of Mr. Laidlaw and
Mr. Scott, our former chairman, the Society has awakened and
the year 1930 witnessed activities that always attracted a large
number of boys to the School Hall.

The attendance on the whole has been satisfactory. Two
interesting lectures were delivered during February and March
and much appreciated by the audience. The School Concert was
held on Ist April and it was arranged in Mr. Bishop’s honour.

The first lecture by Mr. Scherer on “ Los Angeles ” was very
well received. The lantern shows served to illustrate what the
lecturer described. Mr. Laidlaw presided and the Principal of St.
Andrews School, was present. Los Angeles was treated agricul­
turally, industrially and as a civilised commercial city. The fruit-
growth, development of rubber-plantations, gold mines and oil wells
together with the enormous trade in the harbours were all discussed.
When the lecturer spoke of the Hollywood film industry and the
Spanish girls we were all very interested! The lecturer, in conclu­
sion, advised us to visit Los Angeles and to learn Esperanto, the
universal language.

Mr. Scherer is a Swiss traveller, Americanised and humorous.
He speaks English with a slight foreign accent. The lecture he
delivered was instructive and we learnt more of Los Angeles than we
could from geography texts. Thanks were given to the lecturer,
Mr. Scherer, by the Chairman and the proceedings were concluded
with well-deserved applause.

Herr. H. Kobb delivered the second lecture on “ A Tour from
Turkey to India.”

Mr. Bishop was present on this occasion. The customs and
general life of the Turks were ably described. We felt like follow­
ing the lecturer’s advice in marrying Turkish girls because wives
do all the work of the men and yet acknowledge the unquestioned
supremacy of the males. The Persian and Afghan customs were
presented to the audience in lifelike manner. The audience in the

T H E RAFFLESIAN 41

end, were quite satisfied and well entertained by his lecture. Mr.
Menon proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was cor­
dially responded to.

The School Concert was held on Ist April and it was a success.
The audience enjoyed the variety of entertainment. Being sporting
we appreciate the “ April Fool joke ” about refreshments although
we suffered from empty stomachs!

We hope that attendance at lectures, concerts and debates
will be kept in the same level as up to the present.

T. K.

THE SCIENTIFIC AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.

'J'his Society, the oldest in the School, has, after that period of
quiescence to which age lays common claim, undergone rejuvena­
tion and entered on a new lease of life.

Always a popular organisation, the society has now about 100
members from the upper School, and Mr. Davies has succeeded
Mr. Bishop as its President.

Fortnightly excursions are made to places of local interest
and the first of the series was held on Wednesday, May 6th, when
a very enjoyable and instructive hour was spent at the Fire Station
in Hill Street. Our thanks are due to the Chief Officer and his
Staff for a really splendid display.

The second excursion to the Gas Works in Kallang Road
took place on Wednesday, May 20th. We suspect our old friend
Mr. Bedford of enjoying our visits as much as we do. A pleasure
shared is a pleasure doubled!

The keen interest of the boys is shown by the large attendance
—over 90 boys being present on each occasion.

More camera friends would be welcome. They add snap to
the proceedings!

Our next visit is to Messrs. Fraser and Neave’s. Members
should bring their thirsts with them; non-members, unhappily,
are not invited.

C. E. H. J.


Click to View FlipBook Version