as I have already said, and it is necessary there- fore to put a few thoughts into their heads. The usual plan. I believe, is to read over some- thing to them a day or two before and then get thom to write it oat. Mr. Hambling gave thom the subject of interest at that time, the Regatta. It seems they knew they were to be asked to write a composition on this, and they were their lives, perhaps for the first time in
The diligent readers of the newspapers. consequence was we had pretty good repetí- tions of the newspapers, and perhaps that was the origin of Mr. Jennings' colonial phraseology." At the same time I don't soo that any different method could be pursued. A boy has few thoughts at that age and has a difficulty of expression. If he is to be given a lesson of that kind he must have something read to him, and then the day after he reproduces it as best he can. You have had the result, and it is encouraging, even if it is only repetition of newspapers, that they have good memories, though perhaps it would have been better if they had had shorter memories as regards the "oulonial phraseology." Returning to Dr. Eitel's report, he put down 300 marks as tha highest number a boy could obtain. He reports 262 as the highest actually attained, which is not far from the limit, and the lowest 150, half the marks that might have been got. On the whole it seemed to me Dr. Eitel's report was satisfactory as showing good honest work had been done. Well then, to go on to Mr. Coughtrie's report. It would not be right that we should just stick to dry work and add up figures and write down hard names after learn- ing them. We had enough of that in my boy- hood, but now there is a little idea of beauty introduced into school work, and you see hung round the room the result-the best result, for it is no use showing you the worst, but having boys who can do this work it shows a good deal of talent that may be drawn ant. Mr. Coughtrie examined the drawings and pick- ed out the best and put them in the order in which he thought they ought to stand. He
says
The drawings submitted to me for examination though fewer in number than last year were of greater merit. The first award in the copies of dogs heads was a very creditable production indeed, as were also the first and second awards in the freehand drawings or ornament. The fower subject did not produce equally good results, but this was probably owing to the poverty of the example, which was one that could nnt poseibly create any enthusiasm for the subject placed before the scholars to
boys
dopy
In looking over the drawings made by some of the out of school I found sketches by two of them of asual merit and I learn with pleasure that an extra prize
will be adjudged for them. The incentive to good drawing created by the choice of pleasing or congenial subjects is, I think, bersin sufficiently manifest.
The map drawing is fully equal to that of past years, luch
must be considered praise when acconut is taken of the difficulty of the one chosen this year-via: India, with its hard and unfamiliar names of places, &c., &c.
The best examples of handwriting were unusually good, particularly those in "large hand,"
This closes my statement of what we have done and the way we are doing it. We are glad to have your presence here to-day to encourage from what I have soon I can say that good
us.
į conscientious work is being done from day to day, and I think it is evident from the assombly I see before me that the public of Hongkong appreciate our efforts to provide education for the youth of the colony. I think we may still appeal with confidence for your help. (Applanse).
HIS EXCELLENCT-General Sargent, ladies and gentlemen, it was with very great pleasure that I accepted the invitation of our revered Bishop to be present here on this interesting occasion. I have always held it to be one of the first duties of a Governor to promote by every means in his power the saorod cause of education, and to meat all classes of the com munity over whom he presides on the common ground of art. science, and literature. Cheers. I grieve that I am not accompanied to-day, as lusti year, by my wife and family, whose departure, in' consequence of the dangerous illness of Lady Bowen, has cast a gloom on my life here, for I was never before separated from my family. With reference to the object of our meeting, I would observe that on the similar occasion. last year I made a long speech, but I have no intention of inflicting an oration on you this year. Moreover, the very full and satisfactory statement as to the present position and progress of this school made by the Bishop, to whom we all listened with much pleasure and interest, has leftmalittle to say. There can be no doubt, as the Bishop remarked, but that this in- stitution supplies a want folt in this community.
There are many families here who desire to give their sons a sound English education, and yet are not in a position to send them to Eng. land. Moreover, during my visits to China and Japan, I have found former pupils of this institution occupying responsible posi tions in those countries. For instance, one of the principal sacretaries of the great Viceroy Li Hung-chang--one of the most powerful anil intuential men in China-was a former pupil of St. Paul's College. All will agree that it is a most legitimate means of extending British in- fluence throughout this quarter of the globe to provide means of education in this British co- lony for those who will afterwards take a pro- minent position in the neighbouring conntries, and especially in the great empire of China. Such men cannot fail to remember what they owe to British education. To my young friends the pupils of this institution I would say-j Work hard and prepare yourselves to take ad- vantage of that good fortune, that chance of success, which falls to almost every man at least! once in the course of his life. (Applause. People talk of good luck and good fortune, and the good luck of one man and the bad luck of another, but all men of great experience in life will agree that good fortune attends only those who have prepared themselves to take advantago of it. Our own Shakespeare has said in famous verses E
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to Fortans. Omitted, all the voyage of our lives
Is lost in shallows and in miseries. What I would exhort you to do, my young friends, is to prepare yourselves that you may be able to take that tide at the flood which leads on to fortune. (Applause). I would also remind those of you more advanced in your studies of the lines of the great Roman post and Satirist, Juvenal, in which he says:-
Nullam nomen haben si sit Prudentia; nos te Nos facimus, Fortuns, Deam, oculoque locamxua. That is (I translate of course only for the benefit of the ladies) "Oh Fortune, thou hast no divinity if we have prudence; it is we who make thee a goddess and instal thee in HoavoN." After these few observations I will now pro- cead to distribute the prizes. (Applanso).
HIS EXCELLENT then presented the prizes to the boys, the Bishop stating the subject for which each prize was given and making a few remarks as to the position and progress in the school of the recipient. In the course of his remarks he said-I think last year all the boys get something, and some went home saying they had got a prize and it was very doubtful what it was for a laugh) and it was found it was not a prize at all but simply a present. i That was in our younger days. We are getting older now and nearer manhood, so no prize is given to-day except for work done, that is, either for actual merit or for considerable work and promise of merit to come. There is the motto on the card at the beginning of each book by which we try to carry out the Governor's advice! Heaven helps those who help themselves.”" ! Those who work are sure to get rewarded some- how.
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