New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-06
IN OXENRD IIE.

There are some respects iii which it must be
admitted that our civilization is inferior To that
of England. Our college commandments pre-
sent dead level of propriety and dizziness, which
contrasts most strkingly with the vivid and tu-
multuOus scenes which are presented on Com
memOratiOn Day in the most prominent universe
ty of England. 1t is the custom on this occasion
for the younger undergraduates to crowd the
galleries, ard keep up running fire of insult
and abuse at every one in the audience about
whom there is anything distinctive enough TO
form the justification of an epithet SOme-
times man is howed into shame and confu-
sion for parting his hair in the middle an
other catches the tickle regard of the young
savages by not parting his hair at ALL while
the apparition of a very bald head is
often the occasion for tempest of
sarcasms. A gentleman was once driven from
the house because he had committed the indi5-
cretiOn of bringing his umbrella into the hall,
and when it was singled out for animadyer-
sion by the sharp-eyed rOwdies Of the gallery
attempted in an imbecile hope OF escape to
hide it under his OverC0at. 1t Is not long
since there appeared in an English journal q
savage letter from travelling BritOn in Sew
lille, whe had been forced by the merry Anda-
lusians in the bull-rng to put on and off his
macintosh once or twice, to beglile the weary
moments of waiting for the fight. Yet these
were heather Spaniards, and the young out
laws of Oxford are the result of some centu-
ries of freedom and ariStOcratic refinement.
This dsgraceful system of insult is directed
with special energy against the recipients OF
honorary degrees. Men OF the highest distinc-
ton in literature and philosophy are OlacK-
guarded and browbeaten in the most savage
manner, while the guests Of the University, III
violation of every consideration OF hospitality
and decency. 1t is only year or two since
one of the most eminent men OF science In
Great Britain refused degree from the UNI
yersity on the ayowed ground that his state
of health would not permit him 70 face
the rowdyism Of the undergraduates OF the
gallery.
If il seems incredible that such an abuse should
be allowed TO continue, still less i5 it conceiy-
able that it should find, if not defense, at
least palliatiOn among people OF culture ana
refinement. There is a little sOOd-natured de-
nunciatiOn of it every year, but no one Serl-
ously thinks of reforming it. II would seem
like tearing down the pillars OF the conStitu-
tons to force these young barOarians 10 keep
a civil tongue in their heads. This year there
has been a grotesque illustration of the vim
dictiye lawlessness Of the students and the
pusjllanimity of the public. An unfortunate
gentleman. with an ill-regulated taste for
color, went to CommemoratlOn in red era
vat This bit of personal adornment grated
so fearfully upon the artistic sense of the
galleries, that a scene of the widest confusion
ensued The appearance OF the Man IN the
Red Tien was the cause of a storm Of yells
and Kisses, which could not have been worse
| if the galleries had been filed with mad bulls
and turkey gObbler5, animals which have
hitherto been presumed 10 have a monopoly
of this branch Of cOOrphObia. The spectacle
grew at last so unseemly that the visitor was
compelled to take off his red cravat 70 restore
order in the assembly. The galleries were
placated by this scarlet sacrifice, and turned
their attention TO another victim.
The matter could not end here No true
Brton submits tamely 70 outrage without in
| forming The Times. The man in the red tie
writes to the great organ Of public opinion
detailing the circumstances, and as in the re-
| tirement of his own closet he feels much
more courageous than before a gang Of aristO-
! cratic tOrturers, he announces his intention %
| flaunt the blushing occasion of discord next
year before the triumphant galleries. But he
meets with no sympathy. The most respect
able journals denounCe him as the guilty
| cause of the row. He must have known
says The Pail Mall Gazette "that red tie
"waS a conspicuous and extraordinary article
"of clothing" 1t does not deny that the up
roar of the students was too violent protest
| against the visitors taste in thOracc decOra
| ton, but continues: "The broad fact remains
that the man came in a red tie TO place
"where he was well aware that the color Of the
/" tie would be the cause of row." and with
this solemn dictum, the hapess Englishman
and his outrageous neck-cloth are handed over
to the contempt of the universe.
Last year, the world was shocked and dis
gusted at the murder of young German by
Volunteers of the Havana for the sole crime
of wearing blue cravat The matter
was so scandalous and loud that the sympa-
thetic authorities of the island were forced TO
try and shoot the murderers, whose patriotism
and taste had found 80 exaggerated an ex-
preston. 1t is clear that nothing short of
murder or so will induce our English cousins
to apply rein to the exuberant gayety of the
high born cubs Of their greatest university.
But while such disgraceful scenes continue
they form a curious commentary on the in
huence of learning, which, We have long been
told
Emolllt mores. nee sinit esSe feros.