Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-11-30
OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
How the Audience In the Galleries Be-
HAYES During Commencement Exercises.


HAYES During Commencement Exercises.
A bright and observant woman, just
returned from tour of Europe, thus re-
lates her experience at Oxford on the
evening of degree day: "We sat in the
great hall where the exercises were to
take place. 1t seemed as if all the dig
nitaries of church and state were pres
emit, besides vast crowd of people who
packed every gallery to overfowing.
Professor Roberts sat at the organ wait
ing for the entrance Of the faculty and
students. The Marquis of Salisbury,
chancellor of the university; the Earl of
Carnarvon, high steward, and all the
proctors, burgesses, Librarians, keepers,
orators, professors and moderators were
present. 1t was a dignifed occasion.
Suddenly from the highest gallery
came thin voice:
"'Oh, Mr.. Roberts, won't you please
to oblige us all by playing that beauti-
full composition entitled "Her Golden
Hair Was Hanging Down Her Back?"
"Not head was turned in the hall.
The crowd sat in studied silence. l
thought it the most shocking thing I had
ever heard of, but the great people
around me seemed to take not the slight
est notice of it. In minute or two the
voice was heard again:
ooh, Mr.. Roberts, are you going to
oblige us with that sweetest of melodies
this evening entitled "Her Golden Hair
Was Hanging Down Her Back?" Per-
haps you have forgotten it, Mr.. Rob-
erts?'
Cup arose a man on the other side Of
the hall.
"'Perhaps the gentleman making the
request of Mr.. Roberts does not under
stand that this is too dignified an occa-
sion for the music he has mentioned.
Mr.. Roberts would like to play for us
all nocturne or something of similar
character.
"But Mr. Roberts sat still.
cat last the procession entered and
the crowd awoke. Walk right to the
front, gentlemen, and don't be bashful,
said voice in the gallery, while from
the opposite side came running fire of
words that were bold, sarcastic and
witty. The graduates read their papers
or tried to read them, but not word
was heard from one of them. The sallies
from the crowd were SO vigorous and so
constant that they riveted the attention
of the entire audience. One of the grad
yates wore flaming red necktie, which
the galleries did not admire.
Take off that red rag!' they called
from all sides. He read on. of with
that red rag!' Get out and borrow an
other tier We'll excuse you for ten
minutes, but for heavens sake get on
another tiel' I'VE can stand the speech,
but we can't stand that tieP of with
itl'
"As the student paid NO attention to
these remarks, one Of the gallery gods
leaned over the railing in full view of
the audience, and taking off his own tie
threw it down to the stage, calling out:
Here you are, my boy. I'll lend you
this till you can get another. Return it
to "a High stre a;as-is .s.-..s....a.,4.ss.ssss
.Late n the eSs sl4ns I I met seteraI
friends among the faculty and ex-
pressed surprise that such interruptions
were allowed.
"'Oh, that is what we go for, ex-
planned one of the professors. Nobody
cares to hear the papers read. All want
to listen to the remarks from the gal
leries. The wit was not at all up to the
standard this year, not at all. Last year
it was really very clever. Itmade most
of us laugh. New York Press.