Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-27
WEARY OF FEAST|NG
Town of Oxford, England, Is
1000 Years Old.
ANNIVERSARY is OBSERVED
For Two Weeks Is Kept in State of
Delirious Excitement.

Special Cabegram to The Star.
LONDON, July 27.-Oxford is at last
tired with feasting. with pageants and
professions in honor Of Its reaching the
ripe old age of LOCO years. For two
whole weeks the venerable old town has
been in a state of delirfous excitement,
which attracted visitors from the whole
country and among these hundreds of
Americans.
Most Of them came to the merrymak
ing old town with the idea that it was
the Oxford Of the university that was
celebrating, but this was not so, it was
the city of Oxford which began its career
many years before the scholars came
to begin the contest between town and
gown" and for this reason it was ar
ranged to celebrate the jubilee in the
month of July, when the undergraduate
may not, except by special permission,
appear In Oxford, and he has had no
part in the festival, for the city is
thousand years old and the university
is mere baby in comparison.
Documentary Evidence.
1t is not true that the university was
founded by Alfred the Great. But it
seems true that the city was there set
down as a place of some Importance in
A. D. 912. For Oxford has its document
tary evidence in the English Chronicle.
Died Aelthered Eardorman of the Mer-
clans, and King Eadweard took 10 him.
self Lundenbyrg and Oxnaford and all
the lands that were obedient thereto
Oxford city cannot forget that it has
a history apart from the university which
has always tried to overshadow it: that
the students from the continent first came
thither because Oxford could defend itself
against pikestaffs and longbows: that
it has given hospitality to parliament
when King Charles was hard pressed
Though rather unwillingly); that it gave
refuge in its castle-you may still see
the jagged teeth Of ito Matilda, whom
Stephen the king was Observation-Disclosures,
who, while the bridge which oxford had
built was guarded. draped herself I'm
white and stole unobserved across the
frozen and snowbound river, that 1t has
been there as a village. a town, city
for at least thousand years, and that
it has a right to the celebration, after
which it is now resting.
Situation in Somerset.
An extraordinary state Of affairs exists
at the little Somerset village OF Holton.
The aged rectors position as clergy
man in charge passes unrecognized among
the parishioners. and often he has to
conduct service in the parish church with
empty pews as congregation
The village has a population Of 200, and
the old-fas hioned church has accommoda-
ton for 40. The churchyard, instead of
having the well kept appearance SO ia
miliar with village churches. is a scene
Of utter desolation-
The church is practically boycotted by
the villagers, and in consequence Of this
there are no funds for the upkeep. The
Rev. Joseph Sorrell. the rector. began
~ N Hn1fnn c
ago. The village churchgoers developed a
dislike for the incumbent. and after
time none Of the villagers attended his
services. and at the present time. after all
these years, there are occasions when
perhaps intervene and not soul
attends the church.
Strangers Attend.
Sometimes. not very frequently. stran-
gers find their way into the village and
attend the church. On those occasions
the rector conducts the full service with
solemn impressiveness. even though the
may consist Of one person
He delivers his sermon as though the
church were full OF worshipers. and for
the hymns he has to start tune. there
being no organist.
No less than twenty-one services are
held In the church each week. and at
least twice each day. as there is no one
else to do 1t, the rector himSelf rings
the bell. announcing to the unheeding
Practitioners that service is about to be
held. Whether or not any one puts In
an appearance, the service is held.
Entrance to the churchyard is gained
through wooden gate, which is fast
rotting, and is held closed by means of
a piece of rope. The graveyard is very
neglected, because there is no one &c
attend to it. Vegetation has now reached
such a height that the tombstones are
aim cost hidden.
The rector. who is over eighty years
Of age. resides in the rectory. absolutely |
alone.
The recent announcement of Lady Mar
jorie Manners engagement to the
Marquis OF Anglesey has set tongues wag
ging about Prince Arthur Of Connaught. |
who is said to have long resisted the |
state marriage the royal family have de- |
sired for him with q Russian princess \
and resisted 1t because he had lost his /
heart to this beautiful daughter Of the |
Duke OF Rutland.
Prince Arthur Is said to have vowed /
that he would remain single II he could |
not marry Lady Marjorie. But with |
the unattainable definitely removed. he L
may become more tractable to his royal Il
relatives, who are anxious that he shall /
make . marriage which will pave thai