Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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In the essays that Lamb wrote for the London Magazine he often used the first person, but he always signed himself Elia , thus hiding his identity from the majority of the readers of this magazine. This alone proves that Lamb had no desire to exalt himself in his writings, and that therefore he was by no means egotistical. In many of Lamb ' s essays and also some of his letters can be found quotations from other essayists and poets. Lamb uses these quotations when he cannot express his thought nearly as well as can the poet or essayist quoted. An egotist, given to writing, would never admit that anyone else in the world could express thoughts as well as he. A good example of such a quotation as described occurs in his essay Mackery End, in Hertfordshire. Lamb is speaking of an old country house Mackery End, which he had visited as a child and which he is now revisiting with his cousin, Bridget Elia. When he at last sees it after so many years, he says, 0 how unlike it was to that which I had conjured up so many times instead of it. He then inserts a verse taken from Wordsworth ' s Yarrow Visited ; A critic of Lamb might, indeed, raise the objection that in one of his essays he includes a quotation from his own works, but he probably did this rather from humour than from egotism. In Old China Lamb cannot be accused of being too egotistical, for in his essay he reveals the humble nature of his position in life. In answer to anyone who says that Lamb is too egotistical I suggest that he read some of his poems, for in these he makes no mention of himself either directly or in- directly. Th following is an account found on the newly discovered island, Tasmain, by the celebrated mariner, John Tasmain, when he landed there in the year 1760 A.D. On the fifth of May, being a bright and sunny day, the good ship Cristobal left harbour in the endeavour to discover a new route around the continent of Africa. After five weeks of sail- ing, the watch then on duty sighted land, the Cape of Good But thou, that didst appear so fair To fond imagination. Dost rival in the light of day Her delicate creation. -0- 12

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Dwing to an unlucky combination of questions or circumstances. The extreme importance attached in some quarters to the result of a competitive examination might lead to overwork and anxiety detrimental to a competitor ' s health, or even a break- down. R. OuTERBRiDGE (Whitney), opposing, agreed that competi- tive examination did not necessarily provide the surest or fairest method of discrimination, but could a better system be sug- gested? Even the Intelligence Test would not eliminate com- petition, which was essential throughout life; for instance, it was competition among store-keepers which brought down prices. If a standard of knowledge were substituted, the number of suc- cessful candidates might far exceed the number of vacancies. Selection by personal interview was already used in conjunction with some important examinations. R. Lowe (Whitney), supporting the motion, claimed that competitive examinations were apt to induce an inferiority com- plex in the unsuccessful, while not necessarily producing the best, for the best boy might be temporarily unnerved. As to competition in business, it should be realised that it had been largely superseded by amalgamation. Already, in some of the most important examinations it was personality which counted most. W. R. Kempe (S. G. S.), opposing, said that it was neces- sary for the last speaker in debate to sum up, and likewise a summing-up was necessary at the end of Term by means of the competitive examination. In that final test there was no chance of fraud, and the boy who had worked consistently well and fair- ly during the Term then came to the top. Competitive examin- ations stimulated effort; the alternative might be favouritism. There also Spoke: Mr. J. H. Kerry, Mr. F. B. Rogers, L. Gibbons, Mr. R. E. E. Booker, Mr. G. J. Butland, T. M. Adams, and H. W. Murphie. The Motion was defeated by 24 votes to 18, some abstain- ing. Lamb may have suffered from egoism but he certainly was never too egotistical. In The Sea Voyage he tells of a voyage taken by a small girl of five years and uses the first person. But this is not egotism ; it is merely egoism. Lamb here uses the first person in order to captivate the interest of the reader, and perhaps also to puzzle the reader, who knows very little of Lamb ' s earliest years. -0- 11

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Hope. They landed there gladly and took on board supplies of water and of food, and commenced to go their way. After four more weeks of sailing the worshipful captain perceived that they were off their track, and he proceeded to turn back, but most unfortunately a right strong gale sprang up and the good ship was left at the mercy of the winds. Now the gale grew stronger steadily, until at last the cap- tain had ordered all the sails to be taken in with the exception of the upper top-gallants. The gale continued to increase, until a hurricane was blowing; the sailors were right frightened and a panic arose on board. After two days of this storm, great tumult was noted directly to the east, and from the watch came the cry of, Breakers ahead. Much panic ensued thereupon, and the screams of the women and of the crew raised such din that the deck shivered. The ship was drifting steadily towards the breakers, when with a crash she hit a rock. The crew screamed still more, and amidst great panic all rushed for the longboat. But, as suddenly as they started, all as suddenly stopped. For the impact of the ship upon the rock had caused a great disturb ance of her fabric, and, amidst the shouting, the crew had failed to hear the cracking of the mainmast, until suddenly it fell directly on the longboat, thereby splitting it to pieces, with a few of the crew narrowly missing death. Such was the tumult aboard, when all the ropes and rig- ging fell as was never heard. The ship was rapidly sinking, and the waves all round were grey and presented a frightful picture as though laughing at their faces and mocking them. The waves still continued to beat upon the ship constraining it to fall apart, and with a loud crack another mast fell on the unfortunate crew, injuring and killing several. At last the vessel fell in pieces, and all the crew, grasping bits of wood, manfully swam for the shore. The only ones to succeed in reaching the shore were the captain and the cook, who there took upon themselves to write this script, in case any individual should haply land on the island and find it, thereby disclosing the mystery of the lost ship Cristobal. H. P. MALLOY. o Murder on Christmas Eve. It was Christmas Eve on Sheriff Congan ' s ranch. All was bustle and excitement, for that night the Sheriff was holding a great banquet for his friends, the Rostons from the neightbour- ing ranch. Higley, Cowley and Bossen , the Sheriff shouted 13