New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18


One Of the features OF college etiquette 70 whit,
I refer is a custom which entoins that freshman
must not speak to a man Of another year IN the
street unless he Is first addressed by this exalted
individual. who usually forgets to notice him svsn
after entertaining him at breakfast To ons un-
familiar with the ways OF the place this seem,
pure rudeness. But Americans who sometime.
forbid freshmen to carry canes. who sell tia IN
nocent youths tickets to free privileges. such a,
riding in the university lifts. and who have bss,
known to display a rsmaTkabIs amount OF IN
genuity IN devising many other ways OF torment.
ing perhaps have little to say
= The regulations and restrictions OF Oxford u,.
while having the pleasant OF antiquity can
not be quite easily dismissed. II is no urfva
ton to be forbidden to play marbles or shoot Ar
rows in the High Street. nor is 1t very irksom. N
wear cap and gown the prescribed occasions
But to who have been accustomed to live
whore they chose during their college sz=s =
where II is decidedly novel experience to put I.
mildly. to be required to leave college befor.
p m. II at all during the evening 70 be required
to pay a shilling fine for each out-of-eolsge grsst
departing after II. Is the rule In some colleges
and to be liable to all sorts OF dire penalties II
they stay out FIVE minutes after the clock haa
struck II. Still. the wisdom OF these provisions
seems to have been proved by the fact that thar
have endured long
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature OF studsn.
life apart from studies is found in college ath-
letics. AT few other universities IN the world
venture to say. IS the love for outdoor sports 50
general at Oxford. This desire 10 be playing ar
something in the open air seems to be inherent m
the nature OF the upper class Englishman so that
when he comes to Oxford. the home OF healthy
sport. he Is truly in his element The climate OF
England. far more than any climate in the United
States encourages these SPORTS for. although Eng
land has few but gray days for her people in win
ter. she has. has we'll said. more "out-
of-door days than almost any other land College,
rivalry Is also stimulus. Since the comparatively
small membership Of each college is divided among
so many different sports. IL is highly desirable that
each should do what ne can In some sport 70
uphold the athletic prestige OF his own college
among a score of rivals. Thus the man who does
nothing in the way of athletics is severely con-
demued by college spirit: and this Is as It should
be-
But this widespread popularity of these sports
though worthy of emulation all universities,
does not teach Americans a lesson so much
needed as does the manner OF engaging in them.
Nearly every mas heard of the recent inter-
ference OF our President to check the brutality OF
our football game-a brutality that none Of us can
deny. Unhappiy. IT Is this insane desire to win
instead Of sportsmanlike love Of the game for
the games sake. that pervades all our sports The
result is that the American athlete. unlike the
oxonian. cannot play his game IN the afternoon
merely a little healthy diversion and TO give
himself clearer head. but is dominated by the
lust of victory that all other thoughts are driven
from his mind.
On actually beginning work at the university We
found the atmosphere that surrounds us-since It
is so different from the atmosphere to which most
OF Us have been accustomed-a very potent infu-
ence. Among other differences. that which seemed
the most marked to me was the absence OF the
restless spirit of industry which is aII-psrvading
at home and acts as q constant spur. The climate
OF Oxford has something TO do with this lack of
strenuousness. for the air is damp. heavy and re-
Taxing in its influence. The students comfortable
mode of life also makes In the same direction. The
table OF an American boarding house does not
usually tempt one to hnger after meal. while
at Oxford the custom OF having several meals
served In the students enables congeniaI
spirits to gather about hospitabIe board IN par
ties pleasant that it is hard break away from
them. Indeed. the very hearth OF an Oxonians den
aures to sOciability. A steam radiator or an uzlv
stove, on the other hand. being so distressingIy
prosac IN itself discourages not at all that prosaic
virtue work.
1 am very willing to give abundant credit TO the
Oxford freshman for being well prepared as a gen
eral thing when he begins residence here. TO take
up the work Of the university. His training has
not been so widely comprehensive as the training
of the American freshman. who commonly has
gained at least valuable point OF view IN a great
many subjects, but the training OF Oxford
man. while on narrower lines. has. I inclined
TO think. been much thorough; and his
knowledge appears 10 have become a more init
mate part of him and less a mere requirement to
be lost IN time. An interesting insight into the
learning of the budding Oxonian may be cleaned
from observing MS library In addition 10 his text
books, here will be found many works by such
authors Ruskin, Browning Emerson Darwin
Ibsen and Matthew ArnOld-a Heterogeneous array
Of celebrities. IN truth. but all men OF such pro-
fundity of mind that interest IN them be-
tokens much.
Besides these characteristics Of the freshmen.
have noted among my fellow students OF all years
certain traits that 10 me typical OF the OK
ford mind-if there may Justly be said TO DO
such a thing as typical Oxford Mind since
have found so little pedantry. I should
judge that it is looked upon with extreme dis
FAVOR Some of the most intellectual men ot
Oxford. far from making any parade OF learning.
are so unassumins that you would give them
credit for only the most mediocre ability. until
better acquaintance reveals them to YOU Only
the other day friend relating TO how he
had dtsgraced himself by MISLEADING learned don
for freshman. Again. anything like sentimental
enthusiasm is chilled by its reception. The man
who goes into raptures things hardly exists
here at all. and. If he did. he would probably DO
regarded with a quiet. amused kind OF tolerance
that would bring him earthward with a thud. OF
piece with all this is the marked critical attitude
Of Oxford One is tempted 70 say that there Is
such keeness for seeing faults and frailtiss
that virtues are apt to be unjustly sighted To
destroy illusions. to show that idols are made OF
clay and TO demonstrate that all authorities are
but erring human creatures-this seems 10 DO a
characteristic trend of the Oxonian's mind
should say that these traits. in the MAN,
scholarly They may be a trihe depressing TO the
stranger at first but when he becomes accustomed
10 them, they give stimulus 20 investigation.
while encouraging original views rather than .
blind reliance upon authority
To sum up my Impressions OF Oxford / need only
one short sentence-I am glad TO be here
-(Macmillan's Magazine
-s
MOUNTAINEERING ADVENTURE