To the older men Freshmen naturally prove objects of curiosity according to the tastes and habits of the former. The Reading man eagerly scans the motley group, if haply he may spy Intellect, in the shape of Classics or Mathematics, lurking beneath the hydrocephalous head, the unkempt beard or the regulation spectacles. To the Rowing part of the community the shoulders back and weight are the only objects of interest, the "Nice" man regards merely the "cut" of the trousers or the handling of the knife and fork; while the "Sponge" looks for signs of money and future spoliation within the rooms of his intended victim.

There is one imposing ceremony which must not be passed over in silence. We allude to the high-sounding farce of "Matriculation." In ancient days questions used to be put to each would-be Undergraduate by the Vice-Chancellor; and everybody will remember Theodore Hook's smart reply to the question whether he would subscribe to the Thirty-Nine Articles: "Oh! forty if you please." But in these degenerate days the process is shorn of its grandeur, to such an extent that it has almost become a burlesque. It consists in five or six men grasping as far as possible some portion (say a nail) of the Tutor's hand at the same moment, and sidling up in this ridiculous attitude to the Vice-Chancellor's throne. Thereupon the worthy Tutor doffs his cap and gabbles a cut-and-dried Latin formula, which hardly one of his audience could translate; this done, he flings aside the batch of newly-fledged Undergraduates, and bids them sign their name in a ponderous tome kept for the purpose. We must now conduct our Freshman to his College, and leave him there for a month or two.

HAMLET'S SOLILOQUY.

EIN oder Nichtsein, das ist die Frage
Ob es sei edler im Gemüth erdulden

Die Pfeil' und Schleudern wüthenden Geschicks
Oder sich waffnend gegen eine See von Plagen
Durch Widerstand sie enden ?-Sterben-schlafen

Nichts mehr;-und denken, dasz durch Schlaf wir enden
Das Herzweh und die tausend Schläge der Natur,

Des Fleisches Erbschaft. Es ist ein Ziel

Auf's innigste zu wünschen. Sterben;-schlafen :-
Schlafen! vielleicht auch träumen :-ja, da liegt's:
Denn was im Todeschlaf für Träume kommen
Wenn wir den Drang des Ird'schen abgeschüttelt
Zwingt uns zum Halt. Das ist die Hinsicht
Die unser Elend so langlebig macht.
Denn wer ertrüge Streich und Hohn der Zeit
Des mächtigen Druck, des Stolzen Misshandlungen
Verschmähter Liebe Pein, des Rechts Verzug
Der Uebermuth des Amts und auch die Schmach
Die Unwerth schwiegenden Verdienst erweist
Wenn er die Quittung selbst sich stellen könnte
Mit einer Nadel nur?

G.W.

RACQUETS.

I will assume that the subject of Racquets is one undeniable in merit, and fascinating to all who have made any practical acquaintance with the game. Less scientific than its sister game, 'Tennis,' and occupying the middle place between it and 'Fives,' Racquets satisfies the ambitious souls of hundreds of young Britons, who have hardly seen the inside of a Tennis Court. Although its popularity has been somewhat of mushroom growth, owing to the sudden impulse given of late to all athletics, yet I am convinced its real merit will secure for it lasting and deserved attention from all who have once tasted its charms. Looking back to twenty years ago, (ah, if it were only that!) with what pride does one recall one's early Racquet ties. On one such occasion, my opponent (now a member of the London School Board) played in an open Racquet Court with a heavy Tennis bat; we took it to be a very heavy Racquet, and thought he used this style of bat to display his superior "physique." We played in this court with an india-rubber ball, since designated by the euphonious name of 'squash.' It was many years before a court was built in the town and we had an opportunity of seeing a game with hard balls. In the first game of importance in a close court that I saw, there were four of the best players of the University playing, and to my unpractised eye on a dark afternoon, it was miraculous to see the precision with which all seemed to strike, and to know where the ball was coming.

My object, however, is not so much to dwell on the past, as to give a few hints about the game to those who are either now fairly proficient, or want to become so. Two heads are better than one, so, my readers, let us lay ours together and consult. This reminds me of Sidney Smith's saying to the Members of a Council, who were deliberating about laying down a wooden pavement round St. Paul's Churchyard, "Lay your heads together gentlemen, and the thing's done." Our heads not being quite thick enough for that purpose, we will use them differently. While speaking of floors, I think one of asphalte (as at Prince's) the best, as it is almost impossible to lay flags quite so smooth. At any rate a wooden one would be out of date, except in Canada, where I believe such things exist. Suppose then we have entered a court, suited to our liking, with an antagonist well matched and eager, and suppose having spun for innings, and called 'rough' we win. Why it should come 'rough' five times out of six I don't know; but if you can get a racquet to fall 'smooth' you will oftener than not win the innings, provided you have not the call.

In serving, be very careful not to serve yourself out. The first serve is the one on which to expend your craft :-in case that is a

'fault' or 'short,' be sure that the next is playable. Remember however easy a serve may be, it is better than putting your 'handʼ out, as at any rate it gives you the chance of making a return; whereas serving yourself out is a piece of supreme folly; if, therefore, you have given one 'fault', make quite sure either by a 'high' service, or a very judiciously placed hard-stroke to be well over the line next time.

use.

You should adapt your style of service generally to your opponent's play. I say generally, because if you are good at one particular style, it is better to keep to that than to spoil both by changing. If, however, you can serve equally well 'high' or 'fast' it is of great With an impatient player opposed to you, high service often fidgets, worries, and puts him off; also with a short-sighted one, the high service is not so well seen, and consequently gives you an advantage. Again, with a player who is not quick on his legs, a sharp, hard stroke pitching full on the back-wall is often efficacious, especially if you see him hanging back when awaiting the serve. But as a rule a fast serve which strikes the side-wall about ten feet from the back-wall, and about two feet from the ground, will be found good, especially if you put a little cut on as you serve; or else one which strikes the ground two feet from the side-wall about the same distance up the court, and shooting on it, drops sharp on touching the back-wall. Here, as I said, you must watch your opponent,-if he shews signs of volleying your service, take care to make them hit the side-wall at a place where he cannot well reach them without plainly losing his balance or steadiness. With a slow service, it is of great importance that they should be really high and accurate in length; without this they are too palpably easy to be of much use; if they are short, they can be met and killed; while on the other hand, if they hit the back-wall, they come out better for all sorts of strokes. So this style requires great steadiness, care, and judgment of length. Avoid all 'round-about' serves, they necessitate your covering up and crouching down, or else being driven into a corner, and so for safety's sake sacrificing a good position. Having served, move if possible into the middle of the court, watching your opponent, about half-way down, ready to spring forward or back as required, always keeping covered up.

One word about taking service will not be amiss. Remember here, as on all occasions, it is more important to get the ball up than to try to make a showy stroke at the risk of losing an ace. Play strongly enough to keep your opponent well back; thus it is often advisable to make use of the side-wall when the serve is a

difficult one, and you do not know how to get it well away. Do not let your opponent serve till you are quite prepared, and on no account let him hurry you by running across the court after he has scored an ace by a difficult serve: there is of course nothing unfair in his

doing this, but it is all against the taker of the service; for when a man's hand is in he often likes to rattle off as many aces as he can in quick succession; therefore watch your opponent and never let him hustle you.

I say nothing as to the merits, or not, of the dropping or cutting game; this must be left very much to the individual taste of each player. Both are good in their way, but the hard game is the safest, with a drop when your opponent is jammed or blown. In every case judgment is better than strength; and a knowledge of the length of the court everything: therefore a clear head very materially assists you to victory. No one who has seen Mr. R. D. Walker play, can fail to be astonished at the marvellous judgment and consummate ease with which he out-manoeuvres an adversary, and still holds his place as the best gentleman player of the day.

In a knock up, do not be too fond of hitting the side-wall first, as the ball will generally be thereby brought well into the middle of the court and into your opponents reach. Again, do not be anxious to kill every ball; be contented to wear your antagonist down till you get a fair chance, and then you may do your best to kill it dead. Even then my advice would be not to aim too near the line, if you use right strength, a ball struck about 1 to 2 feet above will almost always prove good enough; and if you aim well above, should your wrist give way at all, the ball will not fall in an aggravating manner just below the line.

As in every other game, one's play varies more or less according to the score: still remembering a game is never lost till it's won, let me give a word of warning on this point:-if you want to win, always play to win from the first :-never indulge in fancy strokes, because you are far ahead: times without number the hare and tortoise' has been enacted at racquets, and many a game snatched out of the fire by determination. There are times when it is impossible to get some balls up except by fancy strokes, such as playing between your legs, &c.; but these are rare occasions, and the applause from the gallery, in consequence, is to be forgotten as soon as possible. A half-volley is a delicious stroke, so clean and effective, but dangerous to a young player. Imagining himself on the green sward, the player lashes out as if to drive the small ball for 6 through the wall, and probably misses it entirely, or catching it on the edge of his racquet sends it to the left or right of him, far from its intended course. On the contrary, a stiffened wrist and steady push forward is more adapted to making the successful half-volley, which sends the ball flashing above the line to the discomfort of your opponent. It is a stroke more honoured in the breach than the observance, tho' most effective in the hands of a really sound player. Volleys, again, have led many to ruin. If these lines ever fall into the hands of

any old players, they will recall many a match lost from excess in this way. It is a brilliant and very fascinating style of play, but do not try and run before you can walk; thus, till you are master of the ordinary strokes, leave the more difficult ones alone.

It is impossible to say all one would wish in a short article; the single-handed game has been chiefly thought of in these remarks, and tho' much of course, that has been said applies to the four-hand game as well, still there are points in both that require separate notice. Such is impossible, at present, and at the risk of being prolix, I will in conclusion give a few hints on match playing.

First, never play, if you can avoid it, when out of health. Soundness in body and limb are absolutely essential, to say nothing of concentration of the mind. Therefore, while you are playing, devote yourself entirely to the game. Forget the gallery, forget yourself, as nothing is so distracting to a player as the thought, what do they think of this stroke or that, or of my dress, or style generally. Let there he nothing but victory before your eyes. The style by which victory is gained, cannot be a bad one, on the principle that a good horse cannot be a bad colour.

Be very careful to save yourself as much as possible, if your condition is not good or if your opponent is very active and you see he wants to tire you out. Often after a hard knock up it is better to give a high service, if you are blown and you think your adversary is in better wind; while on the contrary, should he be the more distressed, rattle him along and keep him moving.

are.

In order to make effective strokes, you must stand firm on both legs and keep cool; only try and play with either of your limbs weak and you will soon see how feeble and uncertain your strokes The ball should be struck by the racquet when it is on the point of passing an imaginary line, drawn down the centre of your body as you lean over, and at the latest possible moment before it reaches the ground for the second bound; as this requires great steadiness, avoid all flurry.

Do not leave the court, if you can avoid it, as the change of light is bad for the eye, and you run a risk of getting chilled by any pause of this kind. And never begin a game insufficiently clad:till you are warm always keep a jacket on; it will not impede your movements half so much as stiffened muscles and a shivering frame.

Do not use a racquet too heavy or too light; in the one case, quickness of return must be sacrificed for the fancied superiority in driving power, and in the other, a light racquet lasts but a very short time; and nothing is worse than to have to change your racquet in the middle of a match. So avoid, too, all displays of temper,