New-York tribune., 1905-03-12

usually his friends throughout the II the
first year is spent in college, where there is
close communion OF fellow students the fresh
man makes large circle OF friends. If. the
trary, he is outside where his intimate scquaint-
anees are few he completes his course without
cotere Of friends. This coterie Of friends is the
basis Of that social life which forms so large a
part of university training. And, failing this
man forefeits half the benefits of course at any
university; at Oxford his career would be all but
failure. 1t is TO guard against this evil that
freshmen are given rooms in college.
The rules for attending chapel differ with differ
ent colleges. In some colleges chapel is required
every day. In others, terminal attendance Of
thirty-two long they In the morning IS
sufficient. In some colleges, too, there is rollca
at 1855 o'clock which counts as presence at
morning service At all colleges terms residence
is counted only by attendance requested And
since graduation depends as much residence
as on examination. it is morally impossible for a
to take his degree when his chapels are short
This accounts for the anxious care with which
the Oxford undergraduate rises at g.
We agreed that it would be best not to have any
settled American organization club. We thought
1t best to have any meetings. strictly American.
seldom as possible once term began. We had come
over get the English point Of view, and the best
way to gain our end was to cultivate the acquaint
ance of our future fellow students. We unani-
nous that to be mutually intimate, to the exclu-
sion OF English friendships would defeat our pur-
pose. We had always known Americans and would
always know them. 1t was more to purpose.
now. 70 become intimate, so far as possible. with
Engllshmea- Everyone. / believe. followed this
course to the best of his ability and the plan has
worked well.
At first we seemed object Of curiosity 70
fellow students. more to be looked at than to be
talked to. And since they made no advances. we
judged it polite to keep distance. We thought
it their duty. If they desired. to introduce them
selves; it was plainly not part to start
quaintance.
The first night however. we were surprised by
the absolutely informal and abrupt entry OF two
or three men. They calmly took the chairs
we had vacated. asked for cigarettes cup
OF tea and made themselves quite at home.
They volunteered the information that they were
football enthusiasts. perhaps a varsity blue.
the captain OF the college football team. We were
requested TO show up al the football grounds. on
the next afternoon. for practice. After few
ments' explanation OF the necessary clothing they
became silent and after some minutes OF this. 10
us. embarrassing silence. they left without word
as abruptly as they had entered.
Soon two three came in. This time
perhaps, they We're boating enthusiasts They told
us that rowing the most important branch Of
athletics at Oxford: that each freshman was sup
posed 10 row. and that they expected US 10 do
as other freshmen did Furthermore. as Rhodes
scholars. were supposed to be athletes. and the
river was a fitting place 10 make good our reputa-
ton They requested TO appear al the college
barge the next day ready TO row. We pleaded as
excuse that We had already promised to play
'footer." but to avail There time TO row
after football practice.
Thus they went around to each freshman request