Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-08-20
An Oxford Story.

"Now my dear Frank" said nv
father, replenishing his glass the
while with some very particular port
the old Butler had brought out that
evening in my honor, Gas you start
for Oxford early tomorrow, I may as
well say now what little wish to
say TO you respecting the important
step you are about taking in entering
university life"
took some filbcrts and listened
atten,ively.
THE social advantages Of the uni
versity," continued my father, ''arc, 1
hold, of very great Importance but
do not wish you to sacrifice its cducu-
tional advantages to-to-its-its-
"Oh, no! certainly not" interposed
(somcwhat vaguely, pcrhaps.)
$50 l shall expect you to take your
degree in the usual course; if us a
mere pass man, well and good; if with
donors all the better. Although you
will not have to earn your bread (in
the accepted use Of the term,) you
will find such advantages Of use"
I asscntcd to all this, inwardIy de-
irving no small consolation from the
fact that I should not be obliged to
encounter any m.nation at once
as my matricuIat;on had already been
triumphantly accomplished.
81 shall allow you five hundred
pounds u year and the expenses Of Il
horse" added my father; land shall
give orders for you to be supplied
with sound and wholesome port. On
this 1 shall expect you to live without
incurring any debts. If you do run
into debt, you must discharge all
such liabilities out Of your own earn
ings."
One of my fathers great charac-
tcristics was firmncss. His was gen
uine firmness, and had nothing to do
with its weak counterfeit obstinacy.
knew that he meant what he said
about my paying all debts by my
own earnings, and that it had not
been added merely for the purpose of
giving weight to his warnings, or sea-
soning his advice with the condimcnt
called "solcmn chaff" OF course
had no intention then of incurring
debts; but I felt that 1 should have
to accept the alternative if did.
a few words shall dismiss my uni
versity experience. Five hundred o
year with the expenses of horse to
this servant was added, with gra-
tuitous supply Of port wine, seemed
In contemplation a mine of wealth
that would be fully equal to all my
necessities. So, relying on the pleni-
tude OF my resources, 1 started Sec
ond horse, and even third during
the hunting season. liked Gn COM
mon with all other Cxonians I ever
made acquaintance with) easy chairs
and luxurious furniture. was fond
OF looking Mt handsomely bound
books. if 1 did not read them very
carefully; and good pictures 1 had
quite passion for. In music took
great delight; 80 grand piano forte,
hired at the rate that would have
paid it's price once year, formed q
conspicuous feature in my rooms
All these likings (and many others OF
an expensive nature might be added, J
together with great taste for pleas
ant and genial society, suficed to rem
der my career an expensive one.
One thing I can conscientiously
aver, if money was wasted thought
essly on capricious whims and pleas
ures, it was not wasted on any pur
suits that could be condemned as vi
cious. The result of all this expendi
ture may be easily guessed.
1 was never blowed but in tbosi
periodical encounters with the exam
iners the university rules obliged me
90 engage in, I may say that the for
NOR always died game. Never shall
forget those last final rounds, con
Quoted across that awful green table
when al ones mental pugillstis