No. 50 Autumn. 1946.

Editor: F. O. CLARIDGE.

The Monovian has lost a very capable editor in J. Percival, and he is to be warmly congratulated on the high standard of the magazine during his period of office. Indeed, it is to him that most of the credit for this edition is due, for he has done almost everything that there is to be done before a magazine is published - except write the editorial, for which he is highly thankful, and this unenviable task has now fallen to his extremely nervous and apprehensive successor. The present editor's idea for this essential was fully exploited by Percival in the last issue of the magazine, or perhaps it has been exploited by all editors of all school magazines with their remarkable gift for writing something about nothing. Yet there really is little to write about. Turning to School life, the editor finds that this has continued much as usual, with only minor changes, if any. in the routine. Thence to the outside world. He looks, shudders, thinks, and then shrugs his shoulders, for how can he, a mere scribbler in a school magazine, attempt to interpret something of which even the greatest writer in the greatest periodical can make nothing? There is nothing for it but to discourse inconsequentially on something which he hopes will interest his readers, and that is the magazine in his charge. Tbroughout all the difficult war years, the Monovian was published fairly frequently, if spasmodically, and was always assured of a welcome, especially among Old Boys in the Forces. The war has been over for some time, and we are, allegedly, at peace, but there seems to be more difficulty now in all things than there was during the war. However, this page is no place to discuss the merits and demerits of the international situations, and the editor does not profess to have anything of very great consequence to say on this subject. Technically, this is peace-time, and a certain degree of normality is expected. Presumably included in this is the wish of all Monovians and Old Boys that the magazine shall appear regularly. The "new management" can only say that this will be done to the best of its ability, and hopes that the previous extremely high standard will be maintained. This, of course, depends entirely on the contributions received from the School, and it might be added, from people outside who are interested. To conclude, it is only now that the difficulties of an editor are realised by the member of the School now in that position. Before be actually had to, he dreamt of writing an editorial daringly original and striking, but when he attempted to do so, promptly destroyed the result, and has finally compromised with the struggling effort now published. Perhaps as time goes by, he will become more adept at saying nothing in many words without making it too obvious, but at the moment can only tell all who pick up this edition to read it, and, if they can, enjoy it.

F.G.C.