At Owens College, Manchester, so I gather from the letter of "An Old Student" in The Manchester Guardian, some of the students are beginning to feel, that "while its teaching of specific subjects is admirable, in fact, unsurpassed, its general education—that education which consists in the development of men—has not yet reached the same level." They therefore wish to develop athletics, and by making the modest subscription of 10s. 6d. compulsory on all, "to decoy the unathletic man into taking exercise almost without knowing it." At present only 150 out of 800 students pay up. I heartily commend this proposal, though I confess I should like to know what sort of exercise it is that a man can take almost without knowing it. Let the unathletic man be decoyed by all means, but let him thoroughly understand that he is to take exercise, and take it, if possible, with reasonable violence.
Mr. N. F. Druce, of Cambridge, is, as I write, at the head of the batting averages of this year, and next to him comes the marvellous W. G.
Ye batsmen attend, of my hints make a use,
And consider the greatness of Grace and of Druce.
If you wish to make hundreds your names, you'll agree
Must be monosyllabic and end with c, e.
ASCOT.
To Monsieur Punch.