THE CYGNET
COMMITTEE. Editor : MARGRET Ross.
Treasurer: D. MATTHEWS.
Third Year Representative—J. LAPRAIK. Second Year Representative First Year Representative
K. DOWNHAM.
—
M.
—
GRUTTER.
' The power of God created the mountains, The mountains ; Then because it was dark in the depths of the mountains He created the moon.' (Tibetan Shepherd Song.)
THE CYGNET JUNE, 1933
Editorial HINKING for me is an Unpleasant Process of Murkiest Disillusion,' said the Editor, and swept her arms into a Withered Whin-bush on Shotover. She gazed at the scene. It was strictly confined to her brawny arms, to the few red marks occasioned by her impulsive gesture at Life. She looked further. Her legs were nettle-stung, her ankles lacerated by the prickly spikes of the Scottish Weed. The Editor had been romantic. She had ascended the peak of Oxford to find in Nature that emotion which was lacking in the Status Pupillari ' of the lower life. Again the Editor considered the world as it was. The nearest object was a Withered Whin-bush. The latest fact of importance the prickles on her legs and arms. A Modern to the last, the Editor considered all this symbolically. She deliberated on a moral dissertation. She speculated on an effort to revive the Whin of Conscience in the bosoms of some one hundred and fifty women. She wrote. "And now I feel assured that after all there are more people like myself. And now I realise that this remark will not surprise and pain you, as much as it contradicts and destroys the still noble ideas and hopes of my majority. I find I am like you because I am afflicted with your disease. You and I, we think that ' they ' will think. We think that ' they ' will write and do. ' They ' don't. Then you read the Cygnet. You squeak from the cynical narrowness of your whale-like throats. " They " are feeble. Next time I shall do. I can do better things than " they." ' And I — I am disillusioned because you don't. I see you sitting on your pedestals, so neat, so refined, so ineffectual in your angelic do-nothing positions. I write gibberish on Shotover. It will not be printed. There is no Cygnet. It is a bird that never can be. For you do not know that ' they' do not know, that you do not know that ' they' do not know that you never write anything for the Cygnet."
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The Battle of the Beetles. I am a beetle Of very good family, I find it difficult To live here at all ; For while I'm obtaining Food for the family, Running down the corridor Under the wall, Chasing And pacing, Facing And racing, I'm rushed down the corridor Into the Hall. Under And over The tables and chairs, Some day I know I'll be caught Unawares. And I'm the responsible Father of a family,— If only they'd leave me Under the wall.
The New Room. I've measured it from side to side'Tis three feet long and two feet wide. The little window where the sun Could never peep in all its run, Looks out upon a splendid view— The chimney pots of number 2.
The Lark. Caught is the lark in a whirlpool of sound, Drawn spinning upward round and round Up to the very brink of delight : Pauses a moment poised on the height Then drops like a ship engulfed in the night Of swirling waters foaming white,
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From a College Window. Brick houses in their own domains ; complacent, walled respectably from too inquiring eyes ; broad roads, tree-lined and quiet. There is the scent of limes that changes hourly—at noon-time faint, rain-wet at evening, strong ; a scent that's never-failing till the leaves turn autumn largesse, faery, drifted gold among the dust. There's lilac, and great conifers' bent branches, bearing a snowy weight of drifted light beneath the moon: chestnut candles, grave and waxen, wasting in their limp green sconces, till they strew the pavement rich with splendour, for their dying is more lovely than their life. Any morning early, there are birch trees caught at flinging cascades of leaves for joy to the spring sky. Stillness without all stress, a cloistral beauty ; yet in less happy hours it hems a dammed up pool of quiet, made to soothe nice senses. There are long rows of houses with a strait of mud between them — in winter churned, in summer dried up clods. The dreary grubby windows are near, facing, too weary even to stare. A few scattered fence posts, painted once and peeling, wait disconsolate for their final lot — to serve as fuel when all other fuel fails. No quiet, for all day the trucks of coal go clanking —full first and horses straining ; then empty, noisier, back. Yet, in the twilight, the slag heaps grow lovely — a darkening mountain made by work of man for man. In those sad streets, there beauty goes a-roving, merry at the magic in her touch. She makes bare arms, with many washings sodden, curve glorious, womanly ; she lights the eyes of children to shine in self-made joy — starry in kindly blindness — or in vision, beyond the gaze of other earth-tied men. Beauty there, is half an agony, a joy heart-wringing. Is it so strange to thirst for ugliness?
From a College Window. Bars . . . a few trees— a red brick wall . . . . and above all the monotonous grind —half thunder, half wind of the organist vainly in search of her Muse. Stars . . . what are these? but visions that fall . . . . on the eyes of all who unwillingly find their rooms are this kind on the ground floor, east side, west wing, St. Hugh's. ! ?— • •
THE CYGNET
On this Rock. There were once two Large Men who wore Blue Serge Trousers in Winter and Blue Linen Trousers in Summer. They went to work at eight. They ate Bread and Bacon at twelve. They swilled down Buns and Tea at six. They were nice men. They went to Blackpool once a year. What was their labour, their vocation, their Life's Work? For what did they get Fifteen Florins once a week, and go to Blackpool once a year? They shaved off the ends of twisted rock to a fine smoothness. They cast on one side the twisted sugar whose fair pink roundnesses were chipped or sullied. They pursued this exquisite artistry from eight until twelve, from one until six. And they went to Blackpool once a year. One day these two fine men looked at the shavings. They looked at the chipped-off stump of a twisted stick of coloured rock. They looked at the waving symmetry of a line Of pink (strawberry-tasted) winding through a stump of white (vanilla-tasted). Like a Winkle, these lines,' said the one. Like a Winkle on Blackpool Beach.' Aye, like a Winkle, these lines,' said the other. Like a Winkle on Blackpool beach.' And they went on chipping the sticks of sweet, sickly sugar stuff. And they went to Blackpool once a year. One day they were given white gloves and white aprons. They tied white aprons round their waists. They washed their hands. They pulled on their gloves. They rubbed their mouths with the back of their gloves. They swept the last crumbs of Bacon and Bread from their Blue Serge Trousers. And they chipped off the ends of the pink and white sugar stumps. And one little foreman came in and fingered the buttons of his white overall, and stroked back the three strands of his greasy black hair. And another little man came in. He had wide eyes, frightened; a little hat, nervous ; a little stick, jumpy ; a waisted coat, perjink. He looked at his stick, and he looked at their sticks. And what happens here? ' he said. The foreman coughed. The sugar sticks are finished here. Their ends are made even.' The one man pointed: Like a Winkle, these lines.' The other man pointed : Like a Winkle, these lines.' ' Oh, they're like a Winkle, these lines,' said the little man, nervous, fidgetty and perjink. Like a Winkle,' said the Foreman. Like a Winkle,' said the Works Manager. Like a Winkle,' said the Junior Director. Like a Winkle,' said the Chairman. Like a Winkle,' said the Press. Like a Winkle,' said the Island, set like a gem in a silver sea. And Everyone was so Happy. That's Life,' said the Island, looking up from the Press.
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Give him a title,' said the Press, on behalf of the Chairman. ' Come to dinner,' beamed the Chairman to the Junior Director. Come to lunch,' said the Junior Director to the Works Manager. Have a cigarette,' volunteered the Works Manager to the Foreman. He's a fine boy, that,' said the Foreman, and brushed back the three strands of his greasy black hair. And the two large men wore Blue Serge Trousers in Winter, and Blue Linen Trousers in Summer. They pursued their artistic chippings in white and pink sugar. They went to Blackpool once a year.
The Song of the Earnest Students. We are the College Unattractives. We were on the river while they were at the dance, We preferred the water to the amorous eye-glance, But, of course, you'll tell us that we didn't get the chance, For we are the College Unattractives. They spend their time in Elliston's while we work in the Bod ; Their lightsome laughter echoes as we trudge across the Quad ; They dash off brilliant essays while we dutifully plod ; And we remain the College Unattractives. They seem to know by instinct what we have to sit and learn ; They win the praise and fame for which our inward longings yearn ; This world is not a just world, and we'll never get a turn While we remain the College Unattractives. So let others seek the river, for we're going to the dance, Our thoughts now turn to claret and the amorous eye-glance ; No longer they'll despise us, we will seize our every chance, And we will not be the College Unattractives.
The Author's Dilemma. We wish to initiate you here into the mysteries and sacred rites of the Dedication, so that when you embark upon your first novel, which is almost inevitable at any moment, you may be launched safely over the fair white pages which precede your first chapter. For this purpose, and for all your future works, we have tabulated suitable dedicatory matter with explanatory notes. For the first novel the young author is advised to invite the parental spirit to preside over the preliminary pages. We should suggest the Dedication Direct as a suitable gambit :
When Creditors Call.' To my Father.' Or, if it should so happen that both parents are deceased, the writer should, with engaging frankness, throw himself upon the Dedication Provocative :
`A Trial Trip.' To my readers, upon whose improbable appreciation the existence of my future work depends.'
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With advancing years, as he looks back upon the fragrant moments of the past, we have no doubt that the Dedication Intimate will meet his needs : ' Hearts that Beat.' ' To Daisy and Chick, in memory of buttercups at Borstal, the pink-eyed cat of Madagascar, and because the wind blows over the trees at Lough Ballyhiccoughs.' Since so many a home has been disrupted by an ill-timed appreciation, it is imperative that we should warn the author against the Dedication Indiscreet. For example: ' Unhappy Wedlock.' ' To my wife, without whose constant companionship this book could never have been written.' As the inventive faculties weaken, and the writer is thrown upon academic topics, he may ensure a limited sale, at least among his pupils, if he prefaces his labours with the Dedication Appreciative: ' The Spoken Word, or Grammar at a Glance.' ' To all my students, in gratitude for the interesting points which they have raised and which at the time I did not feel justified in answering.' In his swan song the author is allowed a few notes of injunction to the Future Generation, and the following Dedication Hortatory we can recommend with the utmost confidence: ' Six Ways of Making a Slip Knot.' To youth, in the hope that the torch which this little work has kindled will be borne aloft in brave young hands until this dear old land of ours shall be worthy of the name of England.' An author so schooled and so disciplined might write his own obituary.
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Arrogon. Arrogon ' is divided into three parts—the Bod,' the ' High ' and the George,' and the greatest of these is the Bod.' `Bod' is a term interchangeable with 'Rad,' synonymous with 'Schools.' Its natives are the most active exponents of the ' Idea of a University' so speciously outlined by the candidate for entrance to the desired land. They of the Bod,' it is true, have an ideal ; but it is an ideal of which, curiously, their actions and appearance often suggest shame. The true flame of their achievements seems even to be dim besides the electric advertisement of the George.' Their negative attitude towards praise and blame allows the moribund reptile to rise to the surface of the stagnant Isis.' The High ' is a table-land, where natural selection is an erratic law, and where the fittest almost invariably usually survive. Its general representatives tend to put legs before heads. Their learning is unfortunately constricted by red tape. Their administrators have not the insight to cultivate the George.' • • The George' is like a foolish flypaper. It attracts every kind of buzzing blue-bottle. It is a fruitless waste of mirages, lost under the aridness of its shiftless sands. It has been suggested that its inhabitants number up to seventy per cent. of the total population. This is because the freaks of nature inevitably attract the ignorant or passing physiographer. Arrogon is a doubtful place. It can boast of a good number of perverts . . . it is definitely a fast College.' It is probable that at such criticism the Bod ' kites will wonder who they are,' the High ' mites will tighten their red tape, the George ' sights will paint themselves more red than ever. Then Arrogon will sink back into the morass of indifference. 'A Letter to Oxford ' will merely have been the sticky stock for difficult conversations. But The morass is irrigable, And There are always the sound parts in the curate's egg to consider.
Why have I tried, Since soon when I am dead The sky will still be blue above my head? Why have I tried, Since nothing lives but dust? Why have I searched? Because I live. I must.
Personal Column. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. '--ZInglice reddenda. Wanted : A quiet hour in College.—Jean.
THE CYGNET
" Le monde constitue comme it est.
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With this motto of cynical significance before them, the Committee have decided to be reactionary in one action and progres'sive in another. An appeal was made to one hundred and fifty women of popularly believed extra intelligence to support their College Magazine. Some five or six have gathered their efforts together. The Wages of their Sins is the prize-money. Thus far it is considered that to tempt women in this way to help next time ' is a reactionary measure of school-girlish propensities. The system for awarding the active members of the state is, however, based on Marxian ideology. By our communism ' is signified the vesting of property in the community (i.e. the active community), each member working according to his capacity and receiving according to his wants. Contaminated by the sins of our predecessors, we were almost defeated. We all wanted the whole 20/-. Some of us felt also that we were possessed of superhuman capacities and should be awarded accordingly. Sisterliness, Equality and an Enlightened Generation won in the struggle. The writers of the society and sports reports were regarded as foreigners. They were rewarded with gifts.' We remind them that they would not receive anything from the inactive society of which they are not the always unwilling ' members. This is our final pay sheet :— M. Reekie M. Ross K. Downham 1 . . (joint effort) I. Ironside at 2/6 each. The writer of the Lark ' The writer of the prose ' From a College Window ' The writer of the poem From a College Window' Foreign Reporters.
P. Wallbank 0. Alexander N. Rice-Jones R. Mallin E. Thorpe
at 3d. each.
Joker. and Amanuensis and Brewer of Tea.
J. Richardson, at 6d. + 6d. from the League of Militant Editors. Since the composition of this resolution last term's Editorial arose from the murky depths. May we quote it? However, when we reflected that we were met together for the last time, the tears gathered in our eyes and we decided to urge the dead horse along the last few yards in order that we might hand in the corpse to our successors.' There's life in the old horse yet. The Committee keeps its tail up.
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THE CYGNET
From the Hedgerow. Herb Robert winks at me from the hedge, Pink campion is a smiling star, Bright in the green gloom Of a cool and leafy night It beacons far. Sickly sweet from blossomed beans And heavy is the warm scent blown ; Borne on the soft breeze Is the spirit of fruitful June From hay new-mown.
The First Year Play The First Year Play was wisely composed in the form of a revue of political, topical and social events, a more manageable affair than the complications of a connected plot. One of its best features was its chorus, which provided the introductory and explanatory comments of each item. Its neat red bows gave a welcome touch of colour which we should like to submit to proctorial approval as a permanent addition to feminine subfusc. The best item, considered as a whole, was the Oxford tea party, which was held together by its hostess with admirable firmness and garrulity, but excellent individual achievements were to be seen in the dramatic episode of the Proctor's Punt and in the Film Scenario. The chief failing of the production inevitably lay in the disjointed nature of the programme and the too bold impressionist lines of certain of its items. The character of Mr. MacDonald capably dominated the Economic Conference, but his supporters remained to the end a somewhat anomalous body, at least to the non-politically minded. But it is ungrateful to criticise an entertainment which was delightful from beginning to end for the good humour and vitality of its libretto and for the excellent team-work' of its caste. Our thanks are due to the first year, led by P. Reekie and R. Kershaw, for a very enjoyable evening. Musi
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On May t7th Miss Ellen Epstein and Mr. Sumner Austin gave a concert in the College Hall. Included in the programme were pianoforte works and songs by Lady Headlam-Morley that had not previously been performed in England. Miss Epstein is a performer of brilliance, and showed amazing mastery over the technical difficulties that her programme offered. In spite of the almost masculine vigour and the speed of her playing, frequent inaccuracies could be detected, which marred the general effect. This was particularly evident in the last item, the Beethoven Capriccio. Miss Epstein's rendering of modern composition was more sympathetic and more restrained, although she showed throughout a somewhat exaggerated affection for the loud pedal. Mr. Sumner Austen sang two groups of songs with great feeling and spirit, and his voice was at its best in the songs of Heine, set to music by Lady Headlam-Morley.
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Report of the Musical Society, 1932-1933. The first concert of the year was given in December in the College Chapel, the programme consisting of Sacred Music and a Prelude and Fugue for Organ and Piano by Cesar Franck. The second was held in the Hilary Term in the J.C.R., and male members of the University took part in the performance, which included madrigals and a sonata for two pianos. The proceeds of the collections at these concerts were given to St. Margaret's House, Bethnal Green. Contrary to its wont, the Musical Society extended into the Summer Term, and, for the first time, professionals were invited to perform. Dr. Sydney Watson, of New College, gave a pianoforte recital, and Miss Carpenter-Shaw, accompanied by Mr. Kelly, sang two groups of songs.
The B.U.L.N.S. in College. Three meetings of an informal study circle were held during the Michaelmas Term. The aim of the circle was to gain some closer knowledge of the affairs and conditions of countries other than our own. The subjects of discussion were : The British and Dominions Summer School at Geneva, France, and Germany. The weekly Discussion Lunches have been moderately well attended from this Branch. The speakers at these lunches are generally good : among the speakers this term have been the Master of Balliol and Dr. T. C. Chao. The Discussion Lunches, it is true, are arranged more conveniently for the men than for the women, but they deserve more support from the women members than at present they receive. The College Representative of the B.U.L.N.S. for the next academic year will be Miss Lee. R. D. MALLIN.
St. Margaret's Guild. In the Michaelmas Term a most successful Bazaar was held at St. Hugh's by members and friends of St. Margaret's Guild. The proceeds, which amounted to about 45o, were sent to St. Margaret's House to help towards the salary of an Assistant Club Leader. During the Christmas Vacation a member of the Guild, Miss Forster, spent a week at St. Margaret's House, where she had practical experience in many branches of the work. The chief event in the Hilary Term was a meeting in Exeter College Hall, when the late Viscount Chelmsford was the chief speaker. Miss Kelly, the Warden of St. Margaret's House, described the very varied activities carried out by the Settlement. As usual on Whit-Monday, St. Hugh's entertained thirty girls from Bethnal Green, all members of a club run by St. Margaret's House. They arrived about mid-day and were taken round Oxford to see the sights, which they seemed to enjoy in spite of the intense heat. They were particularly impressed by the studious atmosphere in the Camera — and by the fact that it was open until ten o'clock at night ! The afternoon was spent on the river. In spite of a few mishaps, such as the lack of a pole for one punt, everyone enjoyed themselves, and no one actually fell in !
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Tennis. I
was asked by the Editor to write a report of the ' tennis activities ' of the term. It was an impossible request. College tennis has been entirely passive. With the exception of some few stalwart souls who have repeatedly responded to the call, there is apparently little talent and less enthusiasm. Decimated by Schools, the First VI, Misses Burton, Lippold, Lewis, Phillips, Goodfellow and Thorpe have never taken the field together. The services of Misses Grutter and Watson, who have borne the heat and burden of most matches, are gratefully acknowledged. The Second VI fluctuated between Misses Grutter, Watson, Bird, Woolf, Doveton, Stinton and Preston, occasionally supplem ented by Miss Reynard or Miss Hearn. Matches were won against the Norham Gardens Club (6-2), St. Hilda's (5-4), and St. Katharine's, Wantage (6-3). Those against St. Edmund Hall and Reading University are still to be played. The First VI lost in the first round of the Cuppers to Somerville by five matches to four. The Second VI survived one round, beating St. Hilda's by six matches to three. The Secretary's energy and memory have proved invaluable. E. THORPE. ,
Swimming. Once again, the season as judged by the result of Cuppers has been a successful one. It has not, however, been really satisfactory. There are very few members of the College who can not actually swim, but when for Cuppers the services of a reserve were needed, it was found that in addition to those already swimming, there were less than half a dozen people who were likely to reach the other end of the bath. Of what use to a poor, hardworking Captain are all the other ' swimmers ' ? Why not learn to swim in the proper sense of the word? * I very much hope that several members of the second and first year will take this to heart for next year ; especially as we are this term unfortunately losing three extremely useful members of the team, namely Miss M. Evans, Miss J. Sparks and Miss M. Lewis. Of the invaluableness of the former the whole College knows, and I will say no more. So please practise !— and go on practising !— so that we may be as successful next year as we have been for the last three years. P. WALLBANK. * We do not vouch for this liquid.—ED.
HOLYWELL PRESS. OXFORD.
CONSTITUTION OF THE COLLEGE MAGAZINE. I.—That the Magazine be called THE CYGNET.' 2 .—That the officers of the Magazine shall be an Editor and a Treasurer, elected by the J.C.R., and an elected representative from each year. 3.—Contributions shall be accepted or refused by the decision of the majority of the Committee, the Editor reserving the right of the casting vote. 4.—The Committee shall not be held responsible for any opinions expressed in the Magazine. 5.—Nothing of intrinsic merit shall be excluded on account of views expressed therein. 6.—The anonymous character of contributions shall be respected when required. 7.—Contributions are eligible from the Senior and Junior Common Rooms, past and present.
8. —The Committee shall be empowered at their discretion to invite contributions from anyone not a member of the College.