New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-25
4 DOCTOR OF DIVINITY'S HENHUYE

One Of the leading professors in Oxford hates 10
have the subject of hens mentioned in his presence
especially black hens: and the reason OF tits THIS;
II was on a fine Sunday afternoon IN summer,
good many years ago. that the professor III question
who Is a doctor of divinity. and who even then was
one of the bes-known figures III the university, en-
loving reputation for prodigous eruditlon-was
summing himself in the High street. Now the Hlgh
street in Oxford on a fine Sunday afternoon toward
the ond of the summer term, when the
town Is filled with visitors VINO nave
come up TO see Commemoration, Is one OF
tine most crowded and fashionable thoroughfares TO
be found in all England; and the doctor threaded
his way through the well-dressed throng his dig
nified air bespoke consciousness OF uncommon
merit, and of merit not unrecognIzed by the world,
while his face shone with q mixture OF pride aud
heueyolence such as became so great man III 50
ooolly a company. 1t so CHANGED, however, toat
Rampant gust of wInd--which Kolus ought never 70
have allowed TO roam about on sueh sunny
day--came rompng up the street, StlTrlhs up
swirls Of dust and tiuttering me ladies' iiD -
hons as il came; and, whether IL was tDo
couspicuOus gloss upon the professors Eat thaG
caught the winds eye (tor the vino mas an eye OF
how could mariners sail nltf or wnetneI y ,;
an more easily is uncertain, but certain II IS mat
his was the only hat that blew of in all the crowd.
Naturally the professor Went on dier nI p lt TLe
had o catch his hat when 1t blew on, ana WIN az
his erudition the professor was not unlike MI.
pjckwick in figure: So instead Of his having caught
his hat, the latter had obtained contmaha-
ing lead before it blew bump up
against the gaie-post OF s ss ne sat
Now was the professors opportunity, Tor the nat
was living dead beat up against the gate. But IL SO
CHANGED that a solitary hen--a black one-was
taking an afternoon stroll Just inside the yard, ana,
with that peryersity which has caused black hens 10
bs regarded by the superstitous OF all ages as ords
of evil omen was so frightened by the noise the
hat made knocking against the wooden gate 'nas
she scutIed out INTO the street As soon as sue g9e
into the street. the confusion az hpdlhg neIseu
among so many people sent her III q Hurry Oh dust
and feathers-for hens always run the wrong way
ont into the road. Once in NE ROAD, sno
wat tbe professor. and Immediately concluding
lin spite OF bis clerical attire that ne was mere
RI hunt her away she went down the road IN 'front.'
of him Nor was her surmise to his intentions so
ll-founded as is common with the panes OF mems,
for the professor is terribly shor-slghted anu wha
with the dust and the heat and the eXctemenb Oh
the chase he never detected the fraud that was
beng palmed off upon him. but started OH after inc
hen as blthcly he had heretofore huntea MS nat
Bnt though hat is h9rd to catch hen Is worse;
and any healthy fowl ROmiRe digRd can easily out
rnn doctor of divinity. SO down the illgii street,
with tho stately thrOng OF fashionable ioik all
agone ON either hand. went this worse than
GIlpin race; and while the hen kicked np, inc
dnst and the professors bald bead went nasnlhg
in the sun tie undergraduates bent ont OF their
wipdows ON each side of the road and cheered pur-
suer aud pursued. and lana long odds upon We heu
And i'm all probability the professor would have
hunted that hen till shutdown had not u carriage
come nm the road to meet them, when 10 his h0rrOr
he saw his hat--hs well-behaYed clerical mar, mat
had sat quietly on his head every SUNDAY for the
last two mOnths-take wings and fly CLICKING over
the crowded sidewalk TO settle ON wall Ana 10
this day the professor hates the man WHO talks 10
4, nf hans