Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-05-19
Thp 'Trattelpr.
For the Jou
Oxford University.

dlnNy, smoky, loggy streets OF London, and at
the Paddington Station took the cars for Oxford,
sixty mlesup the Thames. The ride from Lon
don to Oxford is through charming country
full Of the rcpose Of English scenery. There is
nothing startling or grand, but there is eyerruore
gentle loycliness n soft, dreamy picturesque
ness, and perpetual changes of beauty 1t is like
going through an immense garden The effect
on the mind is unolloyed pleasure and satisiac-
ton.
At Oxford ] found myself the guest Of the
Principal Of one of the lialls, or Colleges. gen
tleman Of noble birth and breeding, Of rare hospi-
tality, and Of the most genial and generous cul-
ture. Under his roof every want wus anticipated
and every desire gratifei Under his intelligent
direction the University was opened to my in-
spcction in all its parts
The first feature Of the University which strikes
nn American, is the pecuarity Of the structure
Of the Colleges. There are at Oxford twenty
four Colleges and Halls, with an aggregate num-
ber Of twenty-seven hundred students. The Col
lege buildings are entirely distinct from each
other and occupy their respective lots and areas
in perfectly Independent secusiveness The y
are lnrge, quadrangular edifces, built upon the
four sides OF a square or court. There is but one
way Of ingress TO the building. An the students
enter and leave at the same arched gateway, cut
clear through the building, and giving admission
70 the court. The various balls of the Colleges
are entered from this interior court A porter
always occupies a small lodge or stall at the guto
and takes the name Of each scholar as he goes in
or out and certifes in his pass-book the hour Of
going and entering. No student can in any way
leave or enter the College without the knowledge
Of the janitor At nine O'Clock in the evening
the cute is closed, and all students entering after
that hour are reported, while none are permitted
to leave without pass. This system of college
construction gives the officers an easy ard mml-
lar knowledge of the habits Of all the students
These twenty-iour Colleges, among which are
such celebrated names as Christ Church, Baliol
ST. Johns, Migdalen, &c. are integral parts Of
the University, though they have an independent
corps Of officers They pursue a separate course
Of study, aud have their own internal admins
trtion and discipline The University contains
and preside- over the whole, announcing annual
by a list Of text books, FROM which the students
of the respective Colleges can make their selection
and iu amy or all of which they can pass their an
nual examination Tie University dominates
over all the Colleges, very much as our General
Government dominates over all the States, though
with little closer adherence to the fundamental
law The University makes all the general reg
ulations, decides the course Of study, holds ex-
aminations confers honors and gives degrees. 1t
has no charge over the students while they are on
their respective College grounds, but when they
go outside Of their own halls they come under the
surveillance Of the University, are omenable to
its discipline and subject to It's police. The Uni
yorsity has no appointment Of the officers Of the
Colleges, but exercises general supervision,
holds the Annual Commemoration, and decides
upon the admission Of students. It has three an
nual examinations which must be passed before a
scholar Of any one of the Colleges can receive his
degree
\ Ayoung man, on going TO oxford, first deter
mines in which Of the Colleges he will pursue his
course. They have their respective claims and a
/ special popularity based upon tradition, instruc-
ton, or taste One is more noted for its classical
instruction, another for the pre-eninencc it gives
to the exact sciences, another for its philosophi-
cal department, another for its general culture,
and another for its good fellows, good commons,
and good beer. Christ Church is at present the
most attractive having a membership Of three
hundred. The candidate for admission has the
privilege Of studying two years for his first ex-
animation. After having passed the first one, he
[ is obliged 70 take the two other examinations al
the interval Of one year Having chosen his Col
D e.. g.
which the University prescribes for the first ex-
animation, and select from it the course which he
will pursue. lie then engages his tutor, and at
such intervals as they may agree upon he repairs
/ 70 his tutors rooms for instruction or direction,
and at the commencement of each term pays him
such fee as the customs Of the College prescribe
/ The student can thus consult his own taste, Pc
culiarties and aptitudes in his choice Of studies
and text books, and in his selection Of teachers
Having made his selection Of both, he gives him
/ self to his work with such arlor as his own am
bition or conscience may inspire. lie may do as
li:te or as much as he pleases. lie may spend
his time on the cricket ground and at the boat
club, or in his room and amid his books HC
may study simply TO pass his examination, with
out special credit, and on the least possible curri
culum, or he may study for honors. of the twen
ty-seyen hundred students in the University last
year, only two hundred and seventy presented
themselves to be examined for honors, and o
these only twenty-seyen obtained them. Ten PEI
cent only of the students aspire to high grade
of scholarship, and one per cent only reach the
coveted prize of their ambition Ninety per cent
are satisfied with the barren honor of a degree
obtained at the least cost of mental activity anC
with the minimum of intellectual labor. There
is no end to the progress which the ambitious
scholar may make under the University training
If he passes each of his examinations, in all the
studies designated, without mistake or bunder
he is admitted upon election to a fellowship in hi
College A fellowship obtained in this way giye
to its fortunate possessor life interest in the Col
lege lie has a suite of rooms devoted to his exclu
siye use. lie can have his commons with the stu
dents, and receives an annual stipend Of from on
hundred to five hundred pounds. This scholarship
with its perquisites is vacated only by death o
marriage.
The degrees Of the University are given onl
upon examination. The degree of Master or U
Doctor can only be reached by course Of rigi'
study and examination, such as but few Of tn
graduates are ever willing or able to undergo
There are not two hundred men living upol
whom the two Universities of Oxford and Cam
bridge have conferred the degree of Doctor o
Divinity Scarce the least of our New Engan'
Colleges but can boast larger record Of honor
given than both of these famous institutions.
The Commemoaton is held each year, in tn
month Of June, in the University theatre or Ro
tunda circular building, after the style of al
amphitheatre, or very much like the dome of St
Paul's Cathedral, set down upon the ground. |
is most emphatically the students day. Fo
once they take the reins into their own hands an'
give full vent to their feelings. They assemble
in the galleries of the amphitheatre' The stag
and audience ere in full view. No one can ente
or go out without their notice. As the essayist
come upon the stage to read their theses, the.
applaud or hiss, according to their sovereign anC