Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-26
AZ OLD OXFORD
A Glimpse of the Famous English University
and Its Student Life.

] found 20 my surprise, writes L. {,
Crawford, that the number of American
students a Oxford is only twelve, and
that OF this number the majority are TAX
ing special courses, and have no fixed
period for their stay there. 1t is not
generally known that among the dons or
fellows there are at present two Ameci-
cans. It is only within late years that
any foreigner could become q fellow OF
the Oxford university.
The small number of American students
is easily accounted for. Until very re-
cent time the reg dlations at Oxford were
so strict that American students prefer
red the greater freedom of the German
universities. The young men who come
to Europe from America to study are
nearly always graduates of good schools.
They feel that they have been in leading
strings long enough and SIS they have not
taken ki-dIy TO the extraordinary disci-
pline which was aud Is still enforced at
Oxford The relaxation of some of these
regulations, however, has brought to Ok
ford q few American students, and they
hope to have others come In time, so as to
have as large a representation at Oxford
as at any one of the German university
places. It is only within few years that
anyone not believer in the tenets OF the
Church of England could obtain a degree.
This has been changed, l belive, only
since 1870.
Life at Oxford is no more expensive
for student than at any one of the
great colleges Of the United States. 4
student can live as well and have every
thing that he should have with an in
come of 81, 500 a year. There are plen-
tv Of students who are getting along on
half that. Two thousand dollars year
would be most liberal estimate. The
students that were classed as rich, were
the sons of wealthy families wko allowed
them 81 900 a year pocket money. Of
course there is fast set at Oxford, as
there is in every university town. The
members OF this set spend money reck-
lessly, and often get into debt, but their
expenses have nothing to do with any
proper estimate of the cost of stu
dent life here. The standard examin-
alton for admission to Oxford is no high
er than at our best colleges. The require
ments after that are very much less. An
undergraduate OF ordinary abilities can
finish the course in any one of the col
leges here within three years, and in three
years he will study six months only in
of three terms of only eight weeks each.
They have six weeks holiday at Christ
mas. It is easy to see from the short
period of study and the predominance
given to classical studies, that not much
OF general educatlon can be obtained
at Oxford. Strangers who come to OK
ford often ask where the university is,
not seeming to understand that there are
thirty colleges comprised in the lnivers1-
ty system at Oxford. While they are
generally classed together and pursue the
same lines of study, yet they are separate
and distinct organizations. Some of the
colleges are very rich and some are very
poor.
Adult students from the United States
object very seriously to the close hours
that the students are required TO keep.
In the first place they are required to be
in their apartments at 8 O'Clock in the
evening. If they come in after 8 they
are fined twopenoe; if they come in after
10 they ere fined a shilling; if they come
in after IL they are fined half crown; if
after twelve they are obliged to pay
pound, and three appearances after mid
night subject student to expulsion.
The students are required to live during
the first year or two at Oxford in the col
lege building. It is only in the second
year, or in the latter part of their course.
that they can obtain permission to live
in lodgings People who lodge students
can only take them after permission is
given by the faculty of the college where
the student is enrolled. and only after the
lodging house keeper has agreed to make
reports daily upon the character and con-
duct of the student ledger. AS q matter
Of fact, the lodging house keeper rarely,
if ever makes reports against the stu
dents. This is pretty generally under
stood by the college authorities, and they
never permit students to lodge outside
when their conduct has been at all ques-
tionable during their preliminary course
of study.
Students quarters in the various col
leges consist of sitting-room and bed
room. The sitting-room is also used as
dining room. The rooms are cared for
by male servant, called scout. He al
so serves the meals. The students break
fast and lunch in their rooms; they dine
in the commons. I visited number of
the dining halls of the various colleges.
They are very handsome, and are fitted
up very much like the dining rooms of
the various inns Of of court in London.
The walls are all in dark woods, with
portraits and the coats of-arms of the
various colleges and patrons ornamen-
ting them. The ceilings are in dark
wood. The tables for the students run
lengthwise with the room. At the end of
the room and at right angles with the
students tables, upon g platform raised
foot and a half above the floor, is the
table for the dCns Of that particular col
lege. This is similar TO the relative plac-
ing of the tables of the barristers and
benchers in the inns of court dining
rooms. A blazing open fire opens up
cheerfully this rich and handsome frame
work of dark wood and ancient Orna-
ments. The dons put on full dress for
their dinner, and the students wear their
mortar board caps and black gowns.
These gowns and caps have to be worn
by the students whenever they enter any
of the colleges. Often student walking
in the street will take off his loose gown
and carry it over his arm, but the mo
ment he enters any of the college build
ings he must put it on, or he would be
refused admission.
The morning after the dinner l took
breakfast with party of students. The
party was made up of chatting students,
who talked freely and irreverently upon
every subject that came up. This break
fast gave me hurried glimpse of the in
terror life of the student at Oxford.
The social life here is one of the strong
est of its characteristic features. Stu
dents meet at breakfast in their rooms
and make up jolly parties seeking amuse-
ment, and possibly at times compar-
ison of notes coucering their studies.
But you do not get the impression from
many of the students that there is any