50 THE MOONLIGHT LECTURE 



accompanied apparently by shooting rockets, the 

 victory has easily been achieved by our side. No ! 

 it is but another remnant of old Sussex tradition — 

 a survival of the anniversary of Guy Fawkes and 

 his Gunpowder Plot on the 5th of November. In 

 the neighbouring, quaint old town of Lewes and 

 in all the villages around there are merry-makings, 

 fireworks, rockets, bands, all culminating in one 

 big bonfire in some central position where crowds 

 can stand and see an imaginary effigy of some con- 

 spirator thrown upon the fire to be greedily eaten 

 up by enveloping flames. This year the effigy that 

 may be in the minds of most will in all probability 

 be that of the leader of our foe. 



This is, however, only a momentary interlude 

 to the gardeners' studies. It is getting late, and 

 all have been at work since eight in the morning, 

 with short interruptions for dinner and tea, and so 

 the glow-worm lanterns run off in detachments to 

 collect forks and spades for earthing up celery 

 should they be required. Others go to the Stu- 

 dents' Office, where objects long and narrow, re- 

 sembling primitive footlights, are found and carried 

 to the ground that is to be utilised. There are holes 

 pierced at regular intervals in these wooden stands 

 and candles are fitted into them which upon an 

 absolutely calm night, like the present one, give 

 a most useful addition to the light of the moon and 

 the glow of the hurricane lanterns. 



I should here explain that it is not by choice that 

 we select a time after sunset for practical demon- 

 stration. It must be remembered that it is war 

 time, and that although we in Sussex are but a 



