OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 10

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.

A COMPARISON AND A CONTRAST. THEBE is littk? doubt but that, so ion* as Cam and *sis flow, the rival merits of England's two great universities will continue to afford matter for much heated discussion to the loyal partisans of both.- The controversy has raged for centuries with unabated wal, and the rivalry which shows itself in the display of Dart and Light Blue on the tow-path in modern days is the counterpart of that which in more stormy tunes found vent in deeper matters. CLASSICS OR SCIENCES? First and foremost, of course, comes the point of classics and mathematics; and the fact that, while at Oxford the best classic of his year is the holder of the highest honour Oxford can give, at Cambridge the Senior Wrangler, as Head of the -Mathematical Tripos, is the first among bis peers, is responsible for a great number of point., of difference. Oxford, possessing the best classical schools in the world, is naturally the head and front of classical learning. Hence, in the first place, a good deal o rivalry between Cambridge and Oxford classical scholar,: secondly, on the whole a more literarv tendency in Oxford life, and alse a stronger leaning towards conservatism as regards old methods and ideals In one important respect, however, Oxford has proved herself much more receptive of new ideas, and the result has been a great improvement in many ways. The system ot inter-collegiate lectures has been very largely adopted at Oxford, whereas, at Cambridge, though it has been introduced to a certain extent, it is not nearly so firmly established as at the sister university. By this system nearly all honours lectures given by college tutors and lecturers are open to all members of the university, the college tutor" being recognised by the university as a teacher in his special faculty. The result, is the greater accessibility of the learning of the university, a breaking down of' excessive college "clique," and a more organise! and united polity. RHODES SCHOLARS AND LADIES. The will of the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes has also given Oxford the honour of leading the way as a centre of learning for the British realms across the sea. The Rhodes students, being, as they are bound to lie. the pick of the colonies, of America, and of Germany, and being nl.-o by the conditions of their election gifted with the faculties of will and command, as well as of study, are certain to have a strong influence upon the social and intellectual life of Oxford. As regards the higher education of women, Cambridge is, of course, the centre, probably owing to the fact that women are, as a rule, more, attracted by the exact sciences than by classical learning. At Oxford, on the othei hand, there is not the same amount of friction between men and women students as at Cambridge: Possibly it is that the women students keep more to themselves, and again the question of granting degrees to women has not yet. been flung into the Oxford arena, where it is quite possible that it might arouse a disturbance quite as lively as that which Cambridge witnessed four or five years ago. RIVAL. CLAIMS. The question of which university has produced the greatest nuuibri of noted men is one which admits of endless argument. It is, however, tolerably certain thai in law, in letters, and in the Church Oxford has the pre-eminence; in mathematics and science Cambridge bears away the bell; in dip macy and the service of the State the palm is fairly divided. Oxford may truthfully lay claim to priority in point of age, both as a. university and as concerning its individual colleges, though both took rise in the same centuries, the twelfth and thirteenth. From the standpoint of historic interest and architectural and natural beauty, lovers of each university can point to some special world-re-Downed example of the charm of each. "That sweet city with her dreaming spires which has inspired i*> many poets is acknowledged to be perhaps the most beautiful in England, or some say in Europe- The Highstreet of Oxford is unequalled by anything which Cambridge can show. The magnificent university buildings, the beauties of Magdalen with its splendid tower, the imposing range of Christ Church, are among the most striking features of Oxford con-

cretc side of existence. Against these Cambridge boasts the splendours of King's College Chapel, the magnificent pile of Trinity, the largest collegiate foundation in the world. _ CONTRASTS. We have riot space to do more than mention the little differences of outward things that mean so little- to the rest of the world, and so much to the.' Varsity man. So far as college life is concerned the Oxford man and his Cambridge contemporary are beings from different sphere'. His speech is alien, his etiquette, his drees, just, as at an earlier age the mark of Winchester, of Harrow-, of Rugby, or of ICtou is indelibly branded on each loyal scholar. As regards social advantages, unless a Cambridge man be also a Trinity man, Oxford has the greater inducements to offer, the colleges, all round, being larger, better endowed, and older established. , ~ ,\. . , The animal " red-letter days of the sister universities are each unequalled in the eyes of the supporters of Isis or of Cam. The Cantab's female relatives, of course, think " May Week" the height of bliss, while "Coinmem." affords an equally delightful chance to the mothers and sisters of the Oxford man. A hundred and one little mannerisms are as the laws of the Mcdes and Persians at Oxford and Cambridge both, and help to make up for their denizens the local colour which binds man so closely to his surroundings.