Lehrjahre and Waiiderjahre 183 



A whole series of epigrams and verses touch on the fun and frolic 

 of this last year of Galton's College career. The lirst, I quote, refers 

 to the Historical Debating Society founded by Galton and his friend 

 Charles Buxton. 



On the cursed Gift of Oratory. 

 Within the Black Bear's ancient walls, 

 Sit the young Historicals. 

 Sambo Sutton once fought there, 

 Once a meeting met for prayer. 

 Once a Tory there did try 

 Election bribes successfully. 

 But now worthier than all 

 Sits the Sage Historical. 



Look at him that now is pleading. 



Gravely, earnestly. 



His hands against his lips applied. 



Swaying about from side to side. 



Ever with uneven motion. 



Like a barrel on the ocean. 



The while some one idea he lays 



Before the club in many ways. 



Or, there was satire of some well-known member of the circle : 



Nature when she built you Taffy, 



Made a lion too. 



For whom she found a soul so gruff 



And one so meek for you. 



She had in the live-coal 



Far too many irons, 



So the beast got Taffy's soul 



And Taffy got the lion's. 



Taffy's heart of steel 

 Knows not fear at all. 

 But the lion he must feel 

 Particularly small. 



Towards the end of his Cambridge time Galton became for a 

 short while a teetotaller, and possibly the following lines commemo- 

 rate the episode : 



Ode to Milk Punch. 

 When first I met thee warm and young 

 There shone such truth about thee, 

 Such fragrance o'er thy surface hung 

 I did not dare to doubt thee. 



