The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
UNDERGRADUATE Life at Oxford.

There has been OF late in the London
press some dcpreciatory comment on the
ideas, habits and morals of Oxford under
graduates. An article in the Speaker was
particularly severe in its reprobation. The
young men, on their part have not lacked
defenders, conspicuous among whom is one
who describes himself as n college tutor OF
many years standing, and who writes
long letter to tho Guardian He insists
that a large body Of students ought not to
be sweepingly condemned on the score OF
the shortcomings of few individuals. and
he AYERS that the tone Of university life Is
quite as exemplary as that which pervades
the British community at large
The Speaker did not mince it's accusa-
tions. The substance of it's charges was
that, at Oxford cXtrnvagant expenditure is,
practically, compulsory for every one who
would not be IA total social failure and pass
his time in calling isolation. Moderation
in expenditure and manners was said to be
regarded with contempt: RowCliness, es-
pecially il it succeeds in securing the rustl-
cation Of the offender is the high road to
honor; study and responsibility of life, the
high road to social obloquy." Gambling
horse racing betting drinking and elabo-
rate dress were alleged to be the prevalent
features OF undergraduate society. The ex-
travagance was said to be rendered worse by
etfeminaCy. The blood" Of former DAYS
was at least, n sportsman, and his rooms
bore witness to the fact by their ornament
alton with hunting crops boxing gloves and
fencing sticks; to-day one finds soft Orien-
tai rugs, hanRings and cushions, the cigar
atta inltpal pf tho nina and al1 ba -;o;n
Beductvencss OF so-called estheticlsm.
The Speakers arraignment eliminated in
the following words drunkenness. in
fact, is expected Of every self-respecting
member Of college after 10 o'clock in the
evening. All is effeminacy and debauchery.
As to reading, the only books known to the
modern undergraduate are contraband
translations OF French novels. The idea Of
his desiring TO do well at the University
examinations Is smiled at as an old-fogy
notion. a silly, early-Victoran view, Of
University aims that went out with anti
macassars and crinolines. Study is looked
upon as degradation, and the sole object OF
the average undergraduate is to outstrip
his fellows In prohgacy and depravity"
The college tutor" admits that there
are grains Of truth In the indictment.
There have been periods, he comedies,
when one vice or another has been sufIl-
clently conspicuous at Oxford to excite
grave concern among the friends of the
University. 1t Is within his own knowledge
that, about eight years ago, and, again,
about five years ago, but, on each occasion
only for a term. good many men in sew
eral of tho colleges carried drinking to
for apnalIu chnrt ri,,l
years ago, there was good deal OF indul-
gence In betting and card-playing for high
stakes, 1t Is also acknowledged that the
so-called aesthetic movement" was not
without temporary influence on Oxford,
but he says that it practically ceased when
its foremost representative fell into the
hands of the criminal courts Atits worst.
the moro vicious outcome Of this movement
was restricted to a very small circle. On
the other hand, 1t is roundly denied that
the men chargeable with such delinquencies
were or arein any way representative Of the
majority. or Of public opinion, in most COL
leges. They are often the most In evidence.
simply because they are most talked about,
and, consequently. are selected by the
most casual visitor as typical. 1t u.s. at the
same time, admitted that, although
probably nine-tenths OF the whole num-
her OF undergraduates would in no way
follow or admire such men, they do not
suppress them IA they might do, II 1t were
not so much easier to neglect them than to
organize public opinion against them. Tho
college tutor" however, can recall several
extreme cases whore the latter course was
adopted and he does not believe that the
exemplars OF the worst kinds OF folly or
vice are ever really looked up 10 by their
fellow undergraduates unisAs thsy also