The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-11
Trinity College, Dublin.

The celebration OF the tercentenary OF
Trinity College. Dublin. has directed atten-
ton to the history Of this interesting in
stituton. Some rather vague ideas had
hitherto prevailed on this side Of the Allan
tic regarding the points of likeness and
difference between this seat Of learning
and the better known English universities
of Oxford and Cambridge.
One distinction. indeed. Is obvious. In
both Oxford and Cambridge there is large
number OF colleges and halls. although the
organization of the university is absolutely
independent Of all such private teaching
houses. The University OF Dublin. on the
other hand. consists but Of single college.
to wit: Trinity. and all attempts made to in
crease the halls of residence have failed. A
Trinity Hall. opened in 1917. was so entirely
neglected at the end OF n quarter OF a CEN
fury that it was employed rs meeting
place for doctors and formed the germ
OF the Royal College Of Physicians In Ire
land. Again, on the suppression of the
Carmelite Seminary OF Jcsuits in 1880. their
possessions and hall were handed over to
the fellows OF Trinity College. who re-
modelled them and named them the New
College. This hall also had but n brief
tenure Of existence. and later efforts in tho
same direction having met with the same
ill success. the authorities OF Dublin Uni
vcrsity ceased to think seriously of assimi-
lating that institution to the English model.
We should note here that the University Of
Dublin must not he COMPOUNDED. as it often
is in tho minds OF Englishmen. with the
Royal University. an institution due to
Lord CAIRNS. which may be said to hold
the same position in Ireland az the London
University holds in England.
From it's foundation, three hundred years
ago, Trinity College. Dublin. has attracted
| students from Wales and the nearer Eng
lish counties. as we'll as from Ireland. A
note in the hand OF one Of tho early pro-
vosts enumerates among the undcrgradu-
atcs twelve strangers of Dcrbyshire" and
eight strangers OF Cheshire" At present
boys from all the great English schools are
to be found on the books Of Trinity College.
From the fact that for some years after the
establishment OF the Irish college the pro-
voSts and sometimes the fellows were
chosen from among Oxford and Cambridge
dons. arose the usage. still in existence.
which permits graduates OF dublin to be-
come members OF the two English universe
| ties without further residence or acadcm-
teal exercises. n privilege which is. OF
course. reciprocal. On tho whole. the Irish
university has been more closely in rcla-
tionship with Cambridge than with Oxford,
yet it is still governed in the main by the
legislation obtained during the Chancellor
ship Of Archbishop LAUD. who was not only
an OXonian but added the inner quadrangle
to st. Johns College. Oxford.
Almost from tho first. Trinity College.
Dublin. has been vigorously supported by
the nobler families OF Ireland. who entered
their sons there in preference to sending
them to England. We learn. however. from
the London Quarterly. to which we are in
dcbtcd for many of the facts hero noted.
that marked characteristic OF the Dublin
University Is the democratic sentiment.
Tuft-hunting is unknown rs q feature of
Irish academic life. In Trinity College,
Dublin the son of peer has no more court
paid to him than the son of small city
tradesman who has ambitions and has
learned the value of education: neither docs
the possessor OF a large income secure by
its means the smallest consideration beyond
that accorded to the siZar whose parents
can allow him nothing. The national sense
OF humor protects the Dublin under
graduate from hundred fo!lics prevalent
among his English brethren. withcrs the
Alterations and pretcnsions to which WE'LL
born or clever youths are liable. and Ia one
OF the most powerful educative influences
OF the place.
Trinity College. Dublin. no longer suffers
under the reproach involved in the desi gna,
ton "the silent sister," much less can sho
be described. as Oxford once was. as the
widow OF sound learning" BY MAcCUL
LAGH and by w. II. HAMILTON. the inventor
of quatcrnions. she has been placed among
the first mathemutic schools in Europe. anC
in medicine the same service has been per,
formed for her by STOKES and GRAVES. I,