New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-22
MR.. COLLETTDS LECTURE.
1T WAS ABOUT OXFORD. AND GIVEN IN BE-
HALF OF THE WILSON INDUSTRIAL
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.

one Of the most interesting OF Alfred NJ. Collects
lectures was that given yesterday afternoon on OK
ford at the Young Women's Christian Association
No East Fifteenth-st. In his usual charming
manner he described the historic old town ana
cathedral and It's great university.
Though It Is a fact not generally known SAID
Mr. Collet. "the history OF oxford is older than
that of the university. In the early part of the
seventh century n Saxon lady named Frideswide
founded a nunnery on the present site OF christ
church College. This nunnery was destroyed at
the Reformation and under Cardinal Wosey the
buildings were converted for use as college, ana
the church OF the nunnery became the present OK
ford Cathedral.
at was formerly supposed that Alfred the Great
had founded the university. but that theory has
lately been found untenabe. All that Is known is
that at the time OF the Norman conquest OXFORD
was an important city. The nunnery OF st. frldes-
VIDE was converted into a priory. over which pre-
sided a. cultured Norman named Guimond. Inc
King held his court at Woodstock. near by and 1t
is natural TO suppose that the learning which "AS
dawning on the continent OF Europe found homo
at ST, Frideswides. The city increased In I'M
portance and became of the principal mer-
chandse centres OF the Thames.
Mr. Collett's description of the university was
particularly interesting. AT first" said he, II
was more like a single college in character me
lectures were held wherever 1t was convenient. ana
the students lodged in the various nails throusho'
the city, This naturally produceo d iach VI We
cipl!ne and In the thirteenth century waiter De
Merton Bishop of Rochester, founded small COL
lege where the students might be lodged and taught
under one roof. This the beginning OF the
present college system. and every century has
added It's three or four colleges until at the present
dav there are about twenty-three or twenty-lour
colleges together with some small haHs. Later Oh.
in the seventeenth century. the lecture schoos "euo
collected together into one building under SlF
Thomas Bodley This was the seat OF me eNamina-
lions until few years ago. when the large lIpiaIy
founded by Sir Thomas encroached SO seriously
upon the examination rooms that new ouiidihs
necessary ,,,.s a..
Seventy fine stereoptcon views illustrated the
lecture Among them were pictures or Masualeh
College All Souls College. the University CoIlege;
ST Mays Church. Christchurch College OXFORD
Cathedral the river Isis. the University boat race
Merton College. Corpus Christi College Oriel COL
lege Brasenose College. the old Divinity ScnooL
New College Exeter College Balllol College, Trim
ity College oxford Castle. Worcester College gar
dens and many others. ..n. ,,,,.,,
oxford is to-day town OF 10000 inhaotants
said Mr. Collect but IL not for the presence
of the university Il would scarcely have an exist
ence az a city The feud between the town and the
University has continued down to the present day,
and IL has only been by process OF long struggle
that the city has recovered some of It's rights from
the overwhelming university. -,
Mr. Collects lecture was for the beneht or the
Wilson Industrial School for Girls and MISSION the
Oldest institution Of its kind In the city.