The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
OUTDOOR mr. ar OXFORD.


occupies his Tine when be- isn't supposed To- be
at work with his books. | fancy that n great
many Americans ow' most ct their ideas Of
what goes on ut this Lur .sh university 10" Tom
Brown" and " rlant Grorn" but any old
scout will tel che That things has greatly
changed" since then. and that was years ago.
The matchmaking. Understanding. high play
lng $50 hle nearly disappeared. and their place
has boon taken 10y another lot. who while thoy
certainly do curo for the good things Of this
life. at least use them with more moderation.
!, is very natural that when one goes up TO the
Varsity b" Should usk how he Is going to amuse
hims.lfin leisutebours. Ofooursc. If he has
been az Ilon or one of the English public
schools. he has formed his tastes or had them
formed for h.m-I moan ns lar ~ outdoor
sports are courcrncd-hut % not this. perhaps,
r. one Of the fret questions he puts to himself.
OF gll tho things TO do at oxford think
boating. taking the whole wear round is the
most popular, -implY because 1t can be INDUCED
10 with the lerst expense. and any one will I'M
drrstand that whore so many men ase brough,
together. the majority have but liulo money to
throw away. There arc two rivers or. rather
ono river separated into two parts. one might
say. by the locks near the town. and called
tho uppcr und lower rlyer-the former OF
which has been christcued tho Isle. On
luNSts curing Term ilulc. may DO seen bcoTfs
and scores OF bonts gliding about. from the
graceful shell to the awkward punt. the punting
~ which | could never SO tho pleasure in.
Each college has IL boat club. and on the lower
river barge. whore one may 90 and read the
papers or write his letters. Here. too. the
VARSITY eight is 10 be seen taking its daily
practice some weeks before the race. During
the summer term. when the races are going on.
and the barscs are covered with flags. and
crowded with excited people. the river is in
decd a SIGH; TO be remcu. bcrcd. on the Isis
few centre board boats are for hire. but don't
think. as aSule. much nautical skin is dis
played. for there is n good breeze very seldom.
and wncn there Is. capsizlncs for want Of bal
last are numerous. Tho riyer is only n hum
dred yards or so wide and when the tide goes
down It gets very shallow. so thnt poles come
into play ut every tack. However. one is able
TO refresh himself at the end Of his voyage a,
tho Little inn near Godstow Abbey. an old ruin
which would be very picturesque were 1t not
shat Il has been converted into sort OF cow
she'd. Tho ancient game Of skitilos can be
played hore any time the proud undergraduate
will condescend. and shIndysan can be quailed
20 the hearts content.
Next 20 boating comes cricket. Almost all tho
colleges have their own cricket clubs and fields
milo or two from the town. II one doesn't
happen 10 belong 10 one Of the college eleyens.
Dee may 40 and have an hour or two with pro-
fessionui bowler. three or four Of whom arc en-
eaced by each club. The athletic sports are also
bold here. Cricket OF course. il Il summer game.
and II there Is nothing better 20 do. 1t Is very
pleasant 20 stroll W 10 the ground and watch
the game. or IL more energetic play n SGT or
two at lawn tennis. for on English turf this
gentle exercise is nj It's perfection. Many again
in Tor l., hal mo Inca Nufnlt.s 90
daily played between the different colleges and
some " them take place in the Parks rs they
are called. nearly opposite that hideous struc-
ture. kehe College. which looks modern in
the last degree when compared with the other
temples OF learning. The Parks are also
the fashionable resort on Sunday afternoon.
WHOM one hus eaten an enormous lunch and
wishes is c.Icats to Disappear rs rapidly ms
p1-s ie. and then walking it of seems 10 lc the
only thing u 10 on that most dole.ul occas .on.
OBJ" Lusi-h day OF rest.
Tnereure four racquet courts NJ oxford hold by
tho oxford Racquet Company. and i is difficult
enough GO in3 ono unoccuprd uul"ss engaged
long ahead. ior 10 She inter terms daylight gru-
Grady begins 40 y and ends al 8. oxford also
huu-i- of tennis court and in il is played per-
hays tEc most charming game IN the world and
tle most AIM AIT. have heard many men say
that there is nocomuarisou hrtwcrn rs iascina-
tious and those a. racquvis. tut no doubt opin-
ions on TINS diiler. 10 all these courts fiyes
courts are attached. which possess attractions
oil their own.
A year or two eeo n polo club was started. and
IL has been Great success. match was
PLAYED with Cambridge n few months nGo. and
OK ord CAME N victorious. There is n gun
club too, and II one cares about pigeon shoot
INK he mny 20 beyond Folly Bridge and do