Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24
OXFORD COLLEGES.
THE QUAINT HALLS AND PlCTU-
RESCUE oUADRANGLES
Canficie of the Beers Head-Cbarscteris-
ties of the Institutions Where tho
Blue Bloods HE Themselves.

Canficie of the Beers Hoad-Cbarscterts-
ties of the Institutions Where tho
Blue-BIoods HE Themselves
Georgetown College Journal
From my first view of Oxford from the
train saw that oil my expectations would
be realized. On closer inspection found
that it lost none of its attractiveness; on
the contrary, each day discovered in it
new beauties. Towers and spires. quad
rangles, old and new, with their wealth of
carved stone-work, beautifully shaded col
lege walks and gardens. and the entire alb
sence of factories and tall chimneys, oil
unite in making il the fairest city Of Eng
land.
The interest Of Oxford centres about its
twenty-five colleges. which form one great
university. There is most naturally GER
tain amount of rivalry between the
various colleges. One college boasts OF its
ancient STYLE; another looks TO its modern
comfort and elegance as its recommended
ton; q third prides itself upon its ath-
lectics and the excellence of its kitchen;
one has the reputation of offering the
most "gentlemanly society another of
being more profound in learning, and so
on IN great variety.
THE BoAR's HEAD cASTIcLE.
Each separate college not only has IFS
history, but once had its traditions, OF
which, however, the practical views OF
modern times have scarcely left US one.
To my mind. by no means the poorest of
these traditions was the one related of a
scholar of Queens College, who. being at
tackled during solitary walk by a wild
boar. threw his Aristotle down the ami
mails throat and returned home In triumph
with the head.
On this account the boar's head played a
prominent part in the Christmas festivities
at this college, and continued to be greeted
until late years with the following verses:
The boar's head In hand bear l.,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary.
And pray you, masters, merry DO
Quot estis in convivio
Caput apri defero
Keddens laudes Domino.
The boar's head, a. understand,
is the brayest dish in the land
Being thus bedecked with gay garland,
Let us servire conviyio,
Caput, etc.
Our steward has provided this
in honor OF the king Of bliss,
Which on this day 10 be served Is
In Reginensi Atrio,
As il would be impossible TO mention in
particular the architectural beauties OF all
the college editices, will content myself
with noting the most beautiful and I'M
portant among them. Although none OF
them, taken separately, are extraordinarily
fine, yet the tout ensemble of so many struc-
lures Of various styles and ages produce
an effect unrivalled in its kind by any in
Europe. and of especial interest and
novelty to tho American traveller.
QUAINT "MAUDLN " COLLEGE.
Magdalen College, established in 1856 by
William OF Waynehete, Bishop of VIM
chester. with its cloisters craven with
quaint emblematic sculpturing and its ivy
grown walls and extensive walks running
side by side with the Cherwell, was to me
the most beautiful of all the colleges. Its
chapel tower, li5 feet in height, Is mag
nificent and noble proportional structure,
dating back from the historical year 1892.
Here, on the summit, on every LIST OF
May, the old practice survives OF singing
a HYMN at sunrise. The origin of this Gus
tom, which has been kept up by the choir
since the time of Henry VII. has been the
subject Of much discussion. Some con-
slider il q Protestant substitute for the
requiem mass for the soul of the founder,
Henry VII, while others look upon 1t as a
relic of sun-worshlp. and so GdhuC sub Judtce
lis est. There, also, at Magdalen IS the
famous Addison's Walk, tit place for
poetic inspiration.
New College, or more properly tn Col
lege of 81. Mary's of Winchester, is next 10
point Of beauty to Magdalen. Its name
arose from its being the second college
established, William of Wykeham having
founded il in 1850. The gardens and clois-
tiers are most picturesque. The former are
partly surrounded by the old city walls,
still in almost perfect preservation. The
chapel contains famous window repre-
senting the Last Judgment, the work OF
sir Joshua Reynolds.
PLACE FOR THE SMELLS.
Christ Church College is the largest and
perhaps the most imposing college, but
with little of that charm and romance
which surrounds Magdalen. Itwas found
ed by Cardinal Wolsey, and completed by
Henry VIII. in 1926. Christ Church IS emil
ncntly the aristOcratic college of Oxford;
it IS here that the blue blood of England IS
educated. You are admitted into the col
lege bY q massive gateway which opens
out into the great quadrangle, the largest
in Oxford.
Above this gateway rises Toms
Tower" in which is the great bell OF
Christ church which weighs 1900 pounds,
and daily gives the signal for closing all
the college gates by lOl strokes ct 300 T.
NJ. The bell bears the curious inscription
of doubtful classic worth: = In Thom9
l1ude TesOnd bin bum sine frdude."
The pride OF Christ Church, however, or
rather of all Oxford, is the dining-hall, the
largest ball in England after Westminster
Hall. II Is one of the most splendid monu,
ments Of the Middle Ages, with carved
oaken roof and wainscotlng. From the
walls hang the portraits OF former inmates
who have distinguished themselves as
statesmen. generals, poets, men or learn
ing, or as the college benetactors.
THE OLDEST HALL OF LEARNING.
To Merton College is generally ascribed
the honor of being the Oldest college. Its
founder was Walter ID. Merton. chancellor
of England in the reign OF Henry ILL.,, who,
an old manuscript tells rs, was animated
TO found il by an intelligent attachment to
| learning. 10 the Church, and to his native
| land.n The correct date of the foundation
ofthis college is most probably 1865. though
1856 is the date commonly assigned to 1t.
| The library, which was built about LA9, is
the oldest existing library in England. AS
an example o. the power and importance
| which the colleges enjoyed during the Mid
die Ages it might be interesting to note
that Merton College once had the privilege
10 hang. draw, and quarter.
The Church of st. Mary the Virgin IS a
fine old pile. and on account of its long
and intimate connection with the uni
versity ought not to be passed by. The
tower and spire, 100 feet high. date from
the year 400. The church. IN common
with all the other old churches of Oxford,
was built with chancel and nave. FOR
many years before his conversion Cardinal
Newman was pastor of st. Mary's. Here,
also, il my memory serves me right, Amy
Robsart. the unfortunate heroine OF
Keniiworth," is buried.
The University of Oxford was the grand
legacy Of Catholic to Protestant England.
1t was essentially the product Of . those
dark days of ignorance and superstition"
as some love to call the Middle Ages.
whose so-called darkness, llumined by
monuments of learning and institutions OF
charity, outshines in many particulars the
Wanted light Of the nineteenth century.