The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-15
BRITISH COLLEGE BOYS.
A Visit to University Town and Its
Seventeen Colleges.
How the Sons of the English Aristocracy
Conduct Themselves at Cambridge
Money-Lenders and PrOctors.



LONDON Dec. 1.-Your readers shall have a
glimpse, this week, of English university
life. We will go to Cambridge, as that place
enjoys a degree of social prominence over
Oxford just now on account OF having among
its undergraduates Prince Albert Victor, the
eldest son and heir of the Prince of Wales.
Where there are three thousand young bloods
most of them belonging to the aristocracy
and many having a great deal more money
than sense, we are sure to find something to
interest, if not to instruct The chief
features of the town are its narrow streets
and the seventeen colleges it contains An
English writer would descant rapturously
upon the river that runs through it, but
looking at this narrow stream with Ameri-
can eyes we cannot regard it as being any
thing but an ordinary creek. Its banks,
however, are beautifully kept, and besides
affordng boating facilities to the students, it
gives an air of pcturesqueness, such as a
wider stream could not, to the college
grounds. One thing about Cambridge will
shock you, and that is the names, derived, of
course, from the colleges. given to some of
the streets and public places. The regular
habitues may see nothing wrong in such
titles, but il seems awful to the visitor to
walk through Jesus's Lane, to see the town
children disporting on Christ's Pieces and
match played by children of a larger
growth" on Corpus Christi football grounds
You will soon know by the street scenes that
you are in great center of high-claas edu-
cation. In the forenoon, about ev-
cry other man you meet will
have on black gown and mortar
board hat, and in the afternoon you will see
an equal number who have exchanged this
toggery for some fantastic sporting suit and
are now fastening to their favorite rendez-
vous for few hours of play. At certain
times of the day you will be reminded of
your whereabouts by even the vehicles OF
the streets, for most of those will contain
dishes and ample cans, and will be pushing
about through the town with the meals of
the students who have private apartments.
Only limited number can room in the col
leges, and these get in by priority of applica
ton; the rest must lodge elsewhere But
the dons, it appears, exercise control over
the stomachs of the young men, as well as
over their minds. In other words, the towns
people may sleep" these young hopefuls.
but they are not allowed to "eat" them, as
the old woman expressed it, for their hash
and other delicacies are sent regularly from
the colleges.
1t takes three years to get a degree at Cam
bridge, and the examinations both for admis-
sion and graduation are very stiff Up to a
few wears ago none were received eithor here
or at Oxford except adherents of the Church
of England. The colleges are still under the
80 IL. lN,,t /
have equal privileges with others. Indeed,
greater privileges for they are excused, If
they desire, from the chapel services, to
which the others must go three or fonr times
a week and twice on Sunday. In their en-
ioyment OF this privilege the dissenting boys
are greatly enyied by their chums of the or
thodox faith, and | should not be surprised
to hear of converts being made, for one of
their number assured me that chapel duties
are in general disfavor among the students
and are shirkeo whenever possible. There
are three terms during the year. covering
about eight months. They have month
for kicking up their heels at Christmas ard
long vacation of about three months in the
summer. These periods of rest and refresh
ment, need hardly say, are very popular.
With the exception of the few deserving
young men WHO have to stay here to earn the
money necessary for the next term the
students all Ego down" at vacation times and
lage. The lectures cost about two guineas
course, the total expenditure In this direc-
ton depending upon the number OF subjects
the student goes III for. Board amounts to
from fifteen to twenty guineas term,
guinea Deing equivalent to five-dollar bill.
Those vino have rooms outside pay from ten
to fifteen guineas term for them. | am
told that one who is economical and virtu-
Gus can get all the advantages of this mag
niiicent university, with large amount of
innocent sport thrown in, for about forty
puineas a term, which would aggregate only
$500 year. But you may be sure that only
a very few get off with anything like so low
a figure as that
EXPENSES OF STUDENTS.
The legitimate expenses are only a fraction
of what the majority spend. l hear of as
much as $500 being dropped by some of
them over single game OF cards; for card
playing is allowed, even in the rooms of those
who live at the colleges and, of course, it is
impossible, under those circumstances, to
prevent gambling. l hear too, of enormous
bills run up by some for wine clothing and
carriage hire The tradespeople of the town
are forbidden to trust the students and those
who lend them money are objects of special
malediction on the part of the college au-
thorities But many do both, and there are
numbers of men in Cambridge who
have grown rich on the interest de-
rived from loans of the needful.
A hundred per cent. is a common rate for
these local Shy locks to charge for such ac-
commodation, and very needy applicants,
with great expectations and little brains,
have often been heeced to the tune of 200
and 300 per cent. The fines paid for infrac-
ton Of the University rules make up con-
siderable proportion of the expense bills OF
many OF the students, Every such breach
that is detected depletes the pocket-book to
the extent OF from So to $4 and it is pro-
verbal saying here that some of the young
fellows get receipts enough from the proctor
in the course of the year for money paid out
in this way to paper their rooms with. The