L. Morgan and E. Bowler are the Commercial School representatives of the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Philatelic Society. A good number of boys attended Mr. Stanley Philip's lecture on "Stamp Collecting: The World's Hobby," on the 19th November. We should like to see more boys joining the Society.
There has been a slight alteration in the School cap. It was found that the light blue bands became discoloured very quickly. The new caps are very attractive and proving much more satisfactory.
The alteration in the School hours seems to be a great success. It saves waiting about in the morning, and we are able to get away 15 minutes earlier in the afternoon.
Next Term we hope to resume the Physical Exercise classes at the Church Institute.
On behalf of the K.S.P.C.A., the sum of 3s. was collected and also tin foil and silver paper is being collected in aid of the West Kent General Hospital.
A School library has been organized with P. Woollard as librarian. There are already about 130 books in the library, and further gifts of books will be welcomed as the present books become worn out. The following have contributed books this Term : E. Walkling, S. Reynolds, R. Bushby, B. Finn, J. Pierce, W. Spurgeon, G. Lynn, J. Elbourne, R. Wood, J. Piper, L. Pierce, J. Beale, W. Beale, E. Vidler, L. Morgan, E. Tolputt, K. Whibley, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Piper.
The lighting of the Schoolrooms has been improved. Electricity is now available over the whole of the premises, and a projection plug has been fitted in the large Schoolroom for the purpose of lantern lectures. The large tree which has been an obstruction for so long, has been cut down.
We were sorry to hear of the death of an Old Boy, R. H. Billingham, in a motor-cycle accident. The funeral took place within a few hours of Mr. McCabe's funeral.
Our best thanks to all who have contributed to this magazine. We have been obliged to omit some items for reasons of space. K. Wills and F. G. Stone sent in some excellent illustrations, which we are reluctantly compelled to hold over for the present.
It is hoped to enter a number of boys for the Cambridge Local Examinations next Mid-summer, and we wish the candidates every success.
A Debating Society is being organized, and there is no reason why it should not prove to be a very great success. We understand that lantern lectures are also to be arranged for certain evenings next Term. Perhaps some day we may even aspire to a School concert.
The beginning of next Term has been provisionally arranged for Thursday, 8th January; Term ends on Wednesday, 1st April.
The following are the new boys for this Term: N. Brooker, IVb; E. G. Stone, IVb; G. H. Goodchild, IYb; J. H. Piper, IVb; R. Wood, IVb; E. Haywood, III; S. Farman, II.
F. RANDALL.
F. TOLPUTT.
MR. McCABE'S DEATH.
(The following account is reprinted from the South Eastern Gazette, to whom our thanks are due.)
There passed to his long rest at 9.15 p.m. on Wednesday last, Mr. William John McCabe, for many years the principal of one of Maidstone's best-known private schools for boys. Mr. McCabe, who had attained the age of 74 years, came to Maidstone from South Newington, London, where he was head of Lonsbury College, in 1888. In that year he took over St. Augustine's College, which was conducted in what is now the Parish Room at the Old College, close to All Saints' Church, and worked it up from 13 boys to 80, and continued to run his school there until 1898, when he sold out and for a time was in London again. Returning to Maidstone in 1901, Mr. McCabe founded the Commercial School at the Masonic Hall in Brewer Street.
Started with Three Pupils.
On the opening clay he had only three pupils, but he was a successful schoolmaster and soon raised his number to 70, and at one time had a waiting list on his books three years ahead. The School remained in Brewer Street until 1910, when Mr. McCabe transferred the establishment to London