First Classes I place our club; with this one word written over it, the word that has only once been used in all the centuries of honours of the University of Cambridge—incomparabilis. (Applause)."
I have quoted largely from this speech because from beginning to end it is a masterly pronounciation. It is a sermon worth the hearing, and compresses into a few terse sentences the objects, aims and possibilities of an Alpine Club, as a mold in which to form a nation's character and comprise within it all the high moral, scientific, artistic and literary attributes that go to make the life of a nation or of a man beautiful.
Mr. Hermann Woolley, the President-elect—who, by the way, has spent a summer exploring and climbing in the Canadian Rockies—in replying to the toast of "The Alpine Club" said among other remarks: "Brilliant work has been done by those members who delight only in guideless climbing. Some of these gentlemen even disdain the services of the harmless, necessary porter, so successfully have they adjusted the weight of their equipment to the fewness of their wants. Whatever may be the disadvantages of guideless climbing, one thing may be said in its favor. When two or three men have climbed habitually together the safety of each one constantly depending upon the skill, judgment and watchfulness of his companion or companions, I believe that a feeling of confidence, sympathy and friendship must spring up between them strong enough to outlast all the wear and tear of later life. Last night's meeting impressed upon me the great development that has taken place within recent years in the Club, and also the value of the possession it has become to us. There is, I think, in one of Thackeray's books something to this effect: that we ought to cherish with gratitude and reverence a wine of noble vintage carefully laid down by our wise forefathers at a time when we were intent on childish things. In the same spirit we ought
