one who has attained the first class in the elementary division of the
public examination for honors in pure and mixed mathematics, commonly
called the mathematical tripos, those who compose the second rank of
honors being designated senior optimes, and those of the third order
junior optimes. The student taking absolutely the first place in the
mathematical tripos used to be called senior wrangler, those following
next in the same division being respectively termed second, third,
fourth, etc., wranglers. Century Dictionary.]

[Footnote 52: double-first: any candidate for the degree of Bachelor of
Arts in Oxford University who takes first-class honors in both classics
and mathematics is said to have won a double-first.]

[Footnote 53: Retzsch (1779-1857): a well-known German painter and
engraver.]

[Footnote 54: Test-Act: an English statute of 1673. It compelled all
persons holding office under the crown to take the oaths of supremacy
and of allegiance, to receive the sacrament according to the usage
of the Church of England, and to subscribe to the Declaration against
Transubstantiation.]

[Footnote 55: Poll: an abbreviation and transliteration of [Footnote
Greek words], "the mob"; university slang for the whole body of students
taking merely the degree of Bachelor of Arts, at Cambridge.]

[Footnote 56: pluck: the rejection of a student, after examinations, who
does not come up to the standard.]

ON A PIECE OF CHALK

[Footnote 57: On a Piece of Chalk: a lecture to working-men from Lay
Sermons, Addresses and Reviews.]

[Footnote 58: Needles of the Isle of Wight: the needles are three
white, pointed rocks of chalk, resting on dark-colored bases, and
rising abruptly from the sea to a height of 100 feet. Baedeker's Great
Britain.]

[Footnote 59: Lulworth in Dorset, to Flamborough Head: Lulworth is on
the southern coast of England, west of the Isle of Wight: Flamborough
Head is on the northeastern coast of England and extends into the German
Ocean.]

[Footnote 60: Weald: a name given to an oval-shaped chalk area in
England, beginning near the Straits of Dover, and extending into the
counties of Kent, Surrey, Hants, and Sussex.]

[Footnote 61: Lieut. Brooke: Brooke devised an apparatus for deep-sea
sounding from which the weight necessary to sink the instrument rapidly,
was detached when it reached the bottom. The object was to relieve the
strain on the rope caused by rapid soundings. Improved apparat