The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-01-15

martyrs, refOrmers, scientists, eXptor-
ers. stand about the several colleges
of Cambridge and look down from the
walls upon q generation that should
be grateful for having inherited so
much wisdom, and thankful for the
wonderful foresight of those who
founded these educational bulwarks
for the English speaking race.
TO DAYS CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS.
The Cambridge students of to-day
strike the stranger as a splendid lot OF
healthy, earnest young men. The de-
scriptions of Cambridge life at the end
of the last century which have been
given us would not hit the mark now.
In those days beer drinking and roy
STEERING and dog fancying and horse
riding occupied most of the time of the
young lords. More angles we're de-
cribed on billiard tables than in the
class rooms. This sort of thing is very
much looked down upon nowadays,
and the boys who make display of their
wealth are by no means the most pop
ular. When the young princes were
sent to Cambridge the Prince of Wales
left positive instructions that their
companions were to be absolutely
selected from the students whose
morals, capacity and industry stood
highest, and that under no circum-
stances should they associate with the
fast set of young ~extravagant lords
and rich mems sons who sometimes
boast that they do not have to live by
their learning. Economy, decency,
manliness, and ~earnestness seem to be
inculcated here as much as book learn
ing. I was told by several Fellows
that from ESQ to &2OO per annum was
ample to meet the entire expense of a
young man at Cambridge. That more
than this sum was not only unneces-
sary, but undesirable. On the ship
coming owe l met the sons of a rich
Philadelphia iron master just from an
American college. The stories those
young men told me of the extravaganza
of college students in the United States,
if true, were enough to make us out of
conceit with the higher schools of our
own country. Compare the simple
rooms Of Cambridge students, and
Cambridge profes 5ors, too, for that
matter, with some of the suites of
our own college ''swelldom." And
yet what a procession of great men
these little rooms, with their narrow
staircases, low doors and diamond
paned leaden window easements, have
seen. Our rich men, most of them men
of simple habits and tastes, would do
we'll to follow the present generation of
wealthy Englishmen and insist upon
no vulgar display at college. Let them
think of the splendid young men Cam
bridge is turning out at a cost per an
mum of from $3.50 to 81, 900. The first
mentioned sum, so the faculty say,
preferred.
LUNCH WITH THE FELLOWS.
But, I am struggling to talk about
bimetallism as I find it here in England
to day. have come from London on
the invitation of Prof. Foxwell to lunch
with him and in the evening dine with
the Fellows in the famous and spacious
old dining hall, where for centuries the
under graduates have fed, seated on
the long oaken benches, clothed in their
college gowns, while the Fellows, look
ing still more somber, have enjoyed
the good living of the college on a sort
of platform under a dais of carved oak.
by so much that is fasci-
mating and interesting and suggestive
of all that is strongest and grandest
and best in the history of the English
people, it requires real courage to get
down to such a latter day discussion
as that of bimetallism. 1t was a hard
struggle. Crossing from the closter on
the west side the Bridge of Signs" 7
found my way to Prof. FoxwelTs rooms,
the classic windows of which give
views of the college grounds.
Here may be found one of the most
complete libraries onpolitical economy
in the world. Prof. FOxwelI ranks in
branch of modern sturdy view
much as our own DR.. John s. Billings
does in modern medicine and surgery.
He is absolutely up to date. As DR..
Billings has gathered from all countries
the world the current medical litera-
ture, 81 has Prof. Foxwell garnered all
current literature on political economy.
In both instances, of course, the super
structure has been raised unon a rare