19 
The second lecture was given by Mr. J. Bairstow on March &th, 1917, the 
subject being, “‘ Chester in Poetry, Biography, and Fiction.” The lecturer 
explained that his object was to rescue from oblivion referenes to Chester in 
literature, and he then gave examples of such references. 
In poetry, quotations were supplied from Piers Plowman, Bradshaw, 
Shakespeare, Milton, Swift, Spenser, Drayton, Bishop Percy, Pope, Shelley, 
Hood, Scott, Rostand, Longrigg, Lleif, Sion Tudor, Lewis Glyn Cothi, Griffith, 
“King of North Wales,” and others. 
Biography and reminiscences furnished entertaining and varied matter, 
and examples were given from “‘ The Life of John Mytton,” ‘‘ London in the 
Sixties,” ‘‘ Thormanby,” “ Life of H. C. Raikes,” ‘“‘H.M.I1.,” Borrow’s ey Wild 
Wales,”’ “‘ Letters of Samuel Derrick,” ‘Confessions of an Opium Eater,”’ 
“Life of Mrs. Jordan,” ‘‘ Streets and Lanes of a City,’’ Pennant’s “ Journey 
from Chester to London,” “ Life of John Wesley,” “‘ Early Methodism in and 
around Chester,’’ ‘‘ Life of Charles Kingsley,” ete. 
The lecturer stated that in fiction the best-known local stories were ‘* God’s 
Providence House,’’ ‘‘ The Queen’s Badge,”’ “ Lettice,’? “‘ A Lady of Wales,”’ 
“The Blue Dragon,’’ and ‘“‘ Ida, or The Nun’s Grave.” 
Chester occupied a prominent place in ‘‘ John Inglesant” and ‘ Chris- 
topher Tadpole,’ and was also mentioned in “‘ Aylwin,” ‘‘ The Strange Adven- 
tures of a Phaeton,” ‘‘ Lavengro,” “The Way of All Flesh,” ‘“ The Cheshire 
Pilgrims,’ and ‘“‘ The Duke’s Son.’’ Examples were given from the foregoing. 
In conclusion, the lecturer expressed the hope that the collection of 
references would meet with enthusiastic support, and be at the disposal of 
anyone who wished to write or speak about our revered and ancient city. 
ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 
Two lectures have been given during the session, the former of them having 
heen delivered on November 30th, 1916, by Mr. 8S. Fellows, F.R.A.S., of 
Wolverhampton, on the subject, “'The Sun and His System.” ‘The lecture, 
which was on broadly popular lines, endeavoured to trace the growth of our 
«onceptions as to the structure of the solar system. The subject was excel- 
lently illustrated, and a particularly valuable portion of the lecture was that 
in which Mr. Fellows showed the action of blind prejudice in hindering the 
q growth of knowledge. 
The second lecture was given on March 15th, 1917, by Mr. H. Morrell, 
B.Se., Science Tutor at the Chester Training College, and at present of the 
City and County School. The subject was, “From Chaos to Cosmos,” and 
the lecture dealt in the main with the nebular theory. This lecture, while the 
subject was made very simple, was delivered on strictly logical and scientific 
lines, and rarely has the Society had a lecturer who has been more successful 
in conveying to his hearers’ minds clear conceptions of a difficult subject. The 
lecture was beautifully illustrated with excellent and apposite slides. 
