The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-19


In Cambridge University. With its twenty
three colleges aud even large nun her
Of students. II il doubtful II there il one.
The undergraduates, il he would battle.
must provide his own bath. They sell
such baths in all the furniture ard supply
stores in both towns, and If he does not
inherit one Nth thu scan'v furniture Of
his rooms rrorl tho laei occupant. the
student -hinE to wash occasionally IN
ms thre" years course at the university
must buy one
When Re moves no usually carries il with
him. In moving, with an old sheet OF
piece nj rough hurlap tied over the top.
IT, is a fine receptacle for books and papers.
Thi, under graduate bsthtub il almost
three fee, IL diameter. six inches or 80
deep and built Of tin painted over. oak
color outside and white within. The stu
den, usually keeps it under the bed
In the morning his scout" lat Oxford.
or "gyp" tat Cambridge, that is. his man
servant here il usually one of these for
every half dozen undergraduates slides
i, out. half fills il with cold water and the
bath is ready.
The undergraduate equipped with big
sponge, stands in the two or three inches
OF " alter and >vabs himself with the sponge
This is, the cold tub in which the British
youth is supposed 10 delight.
If be- would take of the chill in winter
In defiance II tradition. he can boil his
little kettle Oh an alcohol stove and warm
the bath. a. far a. is possible. with the
contents
Down nt the boathou-e after rowing,
or az the pavilion in the athletic field. after
cricket or otball. he can stand on l"aden
or wooden grating and turn on shower
from above or adopt the sponge treatment.
The sponges are huge things holding
pint or 50 of water, 80 the result If very
similar. A. these places he will find no
warm water AT all.
II anything better in the way Of a bath
is wanted he can patronize the Turkish
hc,h establishment there il one run by
private enterprise in each university town.
or take a "trip 10 London. There il no
other way.
These are the bathing facilities, outside
Of q dip in the river, offered by the two
great British universities Tie comforts
in the students rooms are equally -canty.
unless the undergraduate provides them
himself
The prospect recently inspired IAN Ameri-
can mother" with a son to enter az Ok
ford to write to the London Times an in
dignan, letter Of complaint.
Ought L. she asked "to subject my
boy, after tour years student life AZ Har
ward, in rooms hung with fresh. yet mex
pensiye paper. carpeted with soft toned
rugs and furnished nh perfect simplicity,
bu. with a regard for comfort and cleanli
ness. to the squalor Of such rooms as vas
shown?
is i, necessary in order 10 turn out the
polished wcll-groomed, refined English
man. whom admire much in Amer
lea. 10 suhjec' youth TO half-painted
doors. ragged carpets, shabby furniture.
shockingly greasy cushions, untidy wall
paper. dirty mattresses and blankets. and
To extraordinary DISCOMFORT
is II not IN --.i'. Of these that they have
become the finest gent lemen IN the world'
] do not helieV. in the discipline ut dirt
Discomfort and rigid simplicity are no
plain But ! do hesitate in my admiral ion
of tho great university that countenances
unnecessary disregard of cleanliness.
Now, the facts about this complaint ara
that the condition Of tho carpets, furniture
and ct ceteras Of the students rooms ara
his own concern and his family's entirely
n this j. unsatisfactory he l. expected To
remedy il by providing his own
The colleges in the British universities
,lr cier,aka 20 educate n youth, 10 feed him
and lodge him and 10 exercise a general
suDe vision over his health and conduct;
r'it they do not pretend 10 supply him with
the comforts Of home His comforts ara
his own affair.
So far a. it is able, each college lodges
- men within its own walls For those
loft on of this arrangement II finds lodgings
IN The town and supervlses their manage
,nent The college provides a room and
service. for which the student pays He
or his family supple, the furniture and
'duiImente
The usual arrangement Is that the retu
ing tenant of the rooms. having completed
his course. sells his furniture To his scout,
or "gyp," who IN turn dispo-es Of 1t at a
profit 10 the newcomer whom he expects
ia servo in turn II there IL anything
broken or lacking he newcomer must
hr:y IL. Then hc can supplement the ts'd,
"hair,, table, bookcase carpets, linen and
tableware " it'll such OF his personal treasures
a. he wishes to bring 20 the university.
In some case the colleges have tried to
abolish the cXtortion~ possible under this
system by hnving the furniture them
selves and reLt.ng j with tho rooms to
the students BIT the arrangement Is
purely voluntary.
II tho Undergraduate doesn't like the
equipment provided h.. can supply mis- own.
He ~ill have 10 pay for II in either case,
SO IL Is simply a choice between renting
man on MS own account and buying out =
right
50 hat, So far a. tho furnishings 81 coll
lern rooms are concerned, their sQualor,
Of luxury, i regarded a. the undergratlu-
yates own affair. III" can remedy hat con-
onipn, due 80 tho habits OF his predeces-
sor- if he plca-es. II i- all a question Of
expenditure.
~ the same time, II l. true that in tho
university rooms the American student,
a'cI,t nmsd 10 llip at Harvard ar Yale
i'll probably bn none ton we'll pleased
with his surroundings, 80 FAR ~ hiS rooms
are concerned Inc buildings are old
and tim has u"' improved their interior
condition.
Modern corvencnccs are rcmarkahic
tor thcir ahse,lcp. Cracks in the walls
and warped doors and window sasheS
admit draHgh's. The only heat Ii from
u small open fire IN tho sitting room. There
are many college rooms still lighted by oil
lamps
Each student in college has 80, Of three
rooms 10 himself that is a study or living
room, a bedroom and small boX-like
pantry w which 20 keep coal aud food and
tho necessary alcohol stove, The rooms
have double outer doors. the outer one of