The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-13
EUROPEAN LETTERS.
THE UNIVERSITY TOWN OF
MERRIE ENGLAND.
A visit to Oxford, and a RaInbIe
Through its Many Seats of Learn
ing-The BOdleyan Library and
It's Ancient TOmeS-In London.
OXFORp, EngIand, .IuIy e, ISNO.

to much learning ourselves, we must con
fess to feeling of disappointment.
This sensation certainly docs not arise
from any previous expectation which
fails OF realization. No, indeed the mag
ntude of the numerous schools surpasSes
our most vivid imagination-th innunl-
cradle thousands of volumes of untold
value, portraits of all persons who can
possibly lay claim to the honor, all of
these things more than come up to our
expectation. But with it all there is Il
sense of coldncss pcrvading these heavy
English walls, want of warmth or flor
idity in the style of architecture which
chiis and oppresses us. None of the de
IiphtGul cheerfuIncSs which so charms the
eve even in the dusty traccrles of dcarold
NIclrosc. Moreover, the buildings and
statues arc grimy and scaling from the
effect of ages of this damp climate, and
some of the most exquisite sculptures SO
black as to represent the African rather
than the Anglo-SaXOn race, and we are
tempted to recommend Tree use OF
American sapolio.
A visit to the Budleyan library, to a
student or boOkw0rn, would be treat
indeed, and even our unCultlvated taste
is charmed with the many curious old
books, beautifully illuminated and writ
ten bv hand Think of the immensely of
the labor. Among tlr Sc we note mis-
sal Of Queen Margarc' dating A. d. 1850;
n manuscript edition of Wyclifc's Bible
of 1882; the Coptic Gospels, A. d. 1l73;
A small horn book of the reign of Charles
l. such as was used to teach the children
to read. This was a most singular pro
dnction, printed paper pasted on pad
die shaped piece of wood probably 4X4
inches, the top covered with aba he hi"
etc, etc. as in our old elementary spelling
hook. and below this the Lords Prayer.
We also glance at the first book printed
in the English language, done by CaXton
in 1474.
We next visit the Oricl College, chiefly
interesting as the alma mater OF Arnold,
kcblc and WilbcrtorCc, and BrazcnoZc
College (curious namely to which we are
indebted for IIcber.
The most interesting of the colleges to
us is that of ChriStChurCh, i'll whose large
dining room we view the portraits OF
many distinguished men; a most striking
one of Gladstone by Mabry, his almost
fierce expression being set off by the sweet
face of DR.. Henry Hall i'll an opposite cor
ner. Of course this grand display has to
be disgraccd by the beety phiz OF old
Henry VIII, who looks down without
blush on the spot where he accomplished
his most disgusting act, i'll divorcmg
sweet Anne Bolcyn. 1t does, indeed, seem
strange to us that Englishmen of this
dav can take pleasure i'll preserving the
memory of one so debascd, even though
our Methodist brethren and Others will
insist that he was the founder OF our
church. God save the mark.
Before leaving the subject Of portraits,
we must mention that which most tOrci-
blv impressed us in the gallery of the Bod
leyan library. Dean Stanley seemed to
look upon us and to read our inmost
soul Never do we remember to have
seen a more thoroughly speaking likeness
ola thoroughly great and good man,
and regret that we have no note OF the
artists name.
From the large dining hall of Christ
church, in which unhappy Charles held
his last parliament, we descend to the
glorious cathedral. At first VIC are op-
Dressed here with a chilly sensation; its
huge columns, plainly free from the orna-
mental tluLing to which our eyes have
been accustomed, and of a peculiar color.
neither gray nor white, are not pleasing
until one enters far enough to catch the
glow of it's most richly colorcd windows,
through which the light streams with
wonderful effect, bringing i'll the sweet
cl,ccrfulnesS of one of our own Southern
days. of which, by the way, these poor
English know little. Our experience
(mnst Icngthy-halfa week goes to prove
that it rains on an average SIX times each
day.
Once more our notes remind us that we
intended to mention a portrait OF John
Locke, who, someone tells us is the great
est man ever educated dt Oxford, and Of
especial interest to us as having drawn
up the charter of the lord proprlctors to
the province of Carolina, both North and
South.
The ambulatory in the wall of the ca
thcdral's ClereStory iSeSpeclally beautiful,
,alfording passage for choristers i'll the
,,ld davs in the heart of the massive walls
aud extending from one side of the great
est window around nave, transcpt and
aisle, back again to the opposite side OF
the chanCcl.
The rcvedos presented an cXquisitcly
carved crucilix of some brown stone, i'll
cnInr resembling bronze, and the chanccl
floor is simply adorned with the sweet
words "SpfS CaTItaS FIdCS.
1t was our good fortune here to meet a
most charming gentleman who, without
a sixpenCe, gave us much information OF
deep interest, pointing out one window
which had been buried twcnty-tour years
when So many Others were destroyed,
and in it's richness aflording an idea OF
the loss incurred by this church alone by
the ardent tervor, called religion, OF some
of the Retormcrs.
This window gave likncss of the la' t
Abbot of Oseney, the first Bishop OF Ok
ford, while one near by, of which the frag-
ments had been carefully collected and
with great skill replaced, gave a repre-
seutation of. the death of Thomas A.
Beckit, of WHICH the head only was want
ing. slight omission, but rather I'M
portant to the full appreciation OF the
scene.
A rambIe through the botanical gar
dcns brings us to Magdalen Collcge-here
pronounced Maudln, and we are told
fhat the character of the saintcd Magda.
T., L.avc rise to the English word maud
lin, with all it's horrible meaning. Sad
thought to us. We would rather rcmcm.
Der her, as restored to her true woman,
hood bv the sweet mercy of the dear
Savior, both hers and ours, who saw III
her nothing maudlin, but only what was
worthy His saving and healing inilucnc,
and love. At Magdalen chapel we ar>
struck most forcibly by an illustration
upon glass Of the day ofjudgment. This
was in colors grave and sombre, and yet
most realistic, presenting most awtu
idea of the orthodox opinion of that day
which we all agree will be "the great and
tnrrihle 1aV Of he ord. "
A half day being all that our bric
allowance can give to Oxford, we now
take a swift train which soon lands Us