The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-11 00:00:00

OXFORD COMMEMORATION.

We strongly suspect that the Oxford Commemoration is
a thing of the past, so far as the conferring of degrees in
the Sheldonian Theatre is concerned. Although no cele-
brities were honoured with degrees, and thus one cause of
contention was taken away, the undergraduates were
more uproarious than ever. For three-quarters of an
hour a bachelor who bad adorned himself with a green tie
was shouted at until he left the building. The gallery
then turned its attention to the ladies. The Times thus
describes the saturnalia:—" Occasional outbursts of
gallantry on the entrance of ladies to the semicircle
had chequered the previous time of dreary row ' with
gleams of a better spirit. The Ladies in yellow," in
green,' 'in blue,' &c., had from time to time been
given and cheered. Now, however, this necessary
portion of the proceedings was taken thoroughly in hand,
and treated with the habitual exhaustiveness. When
varieties of colour failed, other categories were resorted to,
and tribute due was paid to Pretty faces,' to the Girls
of the period,' to the Ladies engaged,' the Ladies un-
attached,' the Chaperones,' the ' Ladies in hats,' the
Ladies in spectacles,' the Ladies that wear their own
hair' (prolonged cheering), and All the ladies,' Political
cries followed. Lord Derby was cheered heartily and repeat.
edly, as were Mr.Gathorne Hardy,Sir Bounden Palmer,and
the Bishop of Oxford. A storm of applause followed the
cry of ' The House of Lords.' The names of Mr. Glad-
stone and Mr. Disraeli provoked a contest of applause and
hisses. Some good cheers were given for 'Bob Lowe,' and
some hearty groans for John Bright.' Dr. Pusey was
repeatedly cheered. Keble College,' Keble College
Eight," The 'Varsity Four,' 'The American Four,' were
among cries which struck us as new. Otherwise no par-
ticular gift of invention was discernible, the staple cries
producing generally the accustomed amount of approbation
or disapprobation. At a little before eleven the great
gates opposite the Divinity School were thrown open, and
the procession entered—a procession less august than any
which we ever remember to have presented itself on the
occasion. Almost the only unfamiliar personage was
Bishop Claughton (Colombo), whom few had seen since he
quitted the university about thirty years ago. The re-
mainder consisted of the Heade of Houses, the Proctors, the
Registrar, and a few other resident and non-resident doctors.
The Vice-Chancellor opened the proceedings in tolerable
quiet, but the delivery of the Crewian Oration by the
Public Orator was the signal for the renewal of disturb.
ance ; the speaker was interrupted by a running fire of Tim
tions and remarks, which were more witty than compli-
mentary, and very little of his speech reached any other
ears than his own. When he finally sat down the Vice-Chan-
cellor rose, and having with great difficulty obtained silence,
announced that if the proceedings were interrupted any
'more the Encomia would be abruptly closed. The
recitation of the prizes (there being no honorary
degrees) then commenced; but very little could be beard
of any except the Newdigate, which was listened to
with tolerable attention, and interrupted less than
usual. The series of recitations approached completion,
when attention was unfortunately attracted to a ' white
hat,' held, though not worn, by a gentleman in
the area. The Undergraduate is afflicted by a disease
which, for want of a better name, we may term Pileo-
albo-phobia.' At the sight of a hat of the obnoxious hue
he foams, he shrieks ; he is no longer master of his actions.
The solemn warning had been given by the Vice-Chan-
cellor ; the warning was understood to imply a probability,
at least, of the abolition of Commemoration for all time to
come--a terrible consequence this, which those present
would, one might have thought, fully appreciate ; but all
was in vain. With the hatred white hat' before their
eyes the infuriated mob of undergraduates could do nothing
but rave and boot ; and the Vice-Chancellor, unable to
obtain attention, rose from his seat, and, accompanied by
the doctors, left the building. A volley of groans followed,
the exact meaning and abject of which appeared uncer-
tain. We had thought disapproval of the abrupt termina•
tion of the proceedings was intended ; but we have since
heard that the procuratorial staff was the special object of
the demonstration."