Part 6 (1/2)

”We aren't going to do anything Queer,” said Shoesmith, pointedly not looking at Britten.

The question of the t.i.tle had manifestly gone against us. ”Oh! HAVE it ARVONIAN,” I said.

”And next, what size shall we have?” said Cossington.

”Something like MACMILLAN'S MAGAZINE--or LONGMANS'; LONGMANS' is better because it has a whole page, not columns. It makes no end of difference to one's effects.”

”What effects?” asked Shoesmith abruptly.

”Oh! a pause or a white line or anything. You've got to write closer for a double column. It's nuggetty. You can't get a swing on your prose.” I had discussed this thoroughly with Britten.

”If the fellows are going to write--” began Britten.

”We ought to keep off fine writing,” said Shoesmith. ”It's cheek. I vote we don't have any.”

”We sha'n't get any,” said Cossington, and then as an olive branch to me, ”unless Remington does a bit. Or Britten. But it's no good making too much s.p.a.ce for it.”

”We ought to be very careful about the writing,” said Shoesmith. ”We don't want to give ourselves away.”

”I vote we ask old Topham to see us through,” said Naylor.

Britten groaned aloud and every one regarded him. ”Greek epigrams on the fellows' names,” he said. ”Small beer in ancient bottles. Let's get a stuffed broody hen to SIT on the magazine.”

”We might do worse than a Greek epigram,” said Cossington. ”One in each number. It--it impresses parents and keeps up our cla.s.sical tradition.

And the masters CAN help. We don't want to antagonise them. Of course--we've got to departmentalise. Writing is only one section of the thing. The ARVONIAN has to stand for the school. There's questions of s.p.a.ce and questions of expense. We can't turn out a great chunk of printed prose like--like wet cold toast and call it a magazine.”

Britten writhed, appreciating the image.

”There's to be a section of sports. YOU must do that.”

”I'm not going to do any fine writing,” said Shoesmith.

”What you've got to do is just to list all the chaps and put a note to their play:--'Naylor minor must pa.s.s more. Football isn't the place for extreme individualism.' 'Ammersham shapes well as half-back.' Things like that.”

”I could do that all right,” said Shoesmith, brightening and manifestly becoming pregnant with judgments.

”One great thing about a magazine of this sort,” said Cossington, ”is to mention just as many names as you can in each number. It keeps the interest alive. Chaps will turn it over looking for their own little bit. Then it all lights up for them.”

”Do you want any reports of matches?” Shoesmith broke from his meditation.

”Rather. With comments.”

”Naylor surpa.s.sed himself and negotiated the lemon safely home,” said Shoesmith.

”Shut it,” said Naylor modestly.

”Exactly,” said Cossington. ”That gives us three features,” touching them off on his fingers, ”Epigram, Literary Section, Sports. Then we want a section to shove anything into, a joke, a notice of anything that's going on. So on. Our Note Book.”