ave again. So now I hope you'll
all listen to me" (loud cheers of "That we will"), "for I'm going to
talk seriously. You're bound to listen to me for what's the use of
calling me 'pater,' and all that, if you don't mind what I say? And
I'm going to talk seriously, because I feel so. It's a jolly time,
too, getting to the end of the half, and a goal kicked by us first day"
(tremendous applause), "after one of the hardest and fiercest day's play
I can remember in eight years." (Frantic shoutings.) "The School played
splendidly, too, I will say, and kept it up to the last. That last
charge of theirs would have carried away a house. I never thought to see
anything again of old Crab there, except little pieces, when I saw him
tumbled over by it." (Laughter and shouting, and great slapping on
the back of Jones by the boys nearest him.) "Well, but we beat 'em."
(Cheers.) "Ay, but why did we beat 'em? Answer me that." (Shouts of
"Your play.") "Nonsense! 'Twasn't the wind and kick-off either--that
wouldn't do it. 'Twasn't because we've half a dozen of the best players
in the school, as we have. I wouldn't change Warner, and Hedge, and
Crab, and the young un, for any six on their side." (Violent cheers.)
"But half a dozen fellows can't keep it up for two hours against two
hundred. Why is it, then? I'll tell you what I think. It's because we've
more reliance on one another, more of a house feeling, more fellowship
than the School can have. Each of us knows and can depend on his
next-hand man better. That's why we beat 'em to-day. We've union,
they've division--there's the secret." (Cheers.) "But how's this to be
kept up? How's it to be improved? That's the question. For I take it
we're all in earnest about beating the School, whatever else we care
about. I know I'd sooner win two School-house matches running than get
the Balliol scholarship any day." (Frantic cheers.)

"Now, I'm as proud of the house as any one. I believe it's the best
house in the school, out and out." (Cheers.) "But it's a long way from
what I want to see it. First, there's a deal of bullying going on. I
know it well. I don't pry about and interfere; that only makes it
more underhand, and encourages the small boys to come to us with their
fingers in their eyes telling tales, and so we should be worse off than
ever. It's very little kindness for the sixth to meddle generally--you
youngsters mind that. You'll be all the better football players for
learning to stan