The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
BIG OXFORD PAGEANTS
TO BE RECORD-BREAKING
Notable Historical Event Is to Be Held in Famous
College Town.

Lonlon. April @-Having performed
her annual feat OF defeating Cambridge
IN the classical Thames regatta three
weeks ago. the old city of Oxford is
looking forward and is already astir
with elaborate preparations for the cele-
brations to take place during July in
commemoration Of the attainment of its
1,eoO years Of recorded history.
The celebration wiz be opened by
service in the cathedral. attended by the
municipal authorities. which will be fol-
lowed by luncheon in the town han.
Later in the day procession win pro-
ceed through the picturesque windInRs
of the High" TO New College Gardens.
where an oration viii be delivered, and
thence, II the college authorities VIII
permit. to Worcester College Gardens,
TO witness q representation of certain
episodes in oxford's history.
certain American lady. a young
widow Of one OF the directors Of the Tin
Plate Trust, now temporarily residing
in England. has received something OF
a shock. She read that the Prince Of
Wales was shortly to be entered at Mag
dalen College. Oxford, and saw here
chance for possible social advancement
She, therefore. gravely wrote a letter TO
''the secretary Of the college. asking
what his fees were per term and II any,
thing extra would be charged for her son,
aged twelve. to have a room next TO his
royal highness.
Evidently she took the place for some
sort of a private institution. and the
reply that her son was much too young
to be entered there. and that II was
usual for an undergraduate to matricu-
late before he went up caused her con-
siderable astonishment. Report has 1t
that she promptly sent and bought a
dictionary in order to look up the word
''matriculate."
There is a story circulating in the clubs
and drawtng-rooms at the moment that
is too good to be lost TO print. A certain
earl, finding himself desperately short Of
money a little while ago, bethought him
self Of the family jewels-some Of which
were Of considerable value. Upon some
pretext or other, he got them from his
countess and set out TO one Of the best
known firms Of jewellers in town, and
gave instructions for them to be copied
exactly in the best artificial stones II
was possible to obtain, insisting that the
imitation should be so exact that her
lsdyship would not detect the substitu-
ton.
The manager listened deferentiaIly,
and when his lordship, had finished al
most took his breath away by informing
him that the countess had given pre-
cisely similar instructions over two
years previously, and that what he held |
In his hands at the moment were the re- |
suits Of their workmanship, and that |
the genuine articles reposed in their |
safes at that moment as security for
substantial sum they had advanced her
ladyship upon them. Now the earl is |
wondring what the deuce his wife did |
with the proceeds.
Mr.. Hammerstein tells me that 5000 |
of subscriptions have already been re-
Ceived from Z summer season at the /
Grand Opera House, thanks largely to
the honorary committee, which includes
the Duke of Argyll. the Duke Of Nor
folk, the Earl of Hardwood. Lord How
ard de Walden, the Countess Of Radnor, 4
and Lady Ailwyn Fellowes.
Mascagnfs new opera, "Ysabel," is
TO be staged during the session, but what
is likely to gain the most patronage for
the opera house is the English opera,