ENGLISH UNIVERSITY LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

ENGLISH UNIVERSITY LIFE.

BY UNDERGRADUATE.

It Is not very easy to give an impression of Cambridge. Everybody here seems to have a different one, but I defy anyone to produce a normal being, a Cambridge or an Oxford man, who has not loved every moment of his time either at Cambridge or Oxford. I suppose there are some people who would be unhappy anywhere. . Cambridge University consists of about seventeen colleges I think that is the right number. Some of them are quite difficult to find. They vary in size, from Trinity with its 600, to Downing with its 100 or less. There are nearly 4000 undergraduates in Cambridge altogether. Things get very lively when these people get excited, as they do sometimes. I " came up " to Cambridge in October, 1911. I felt very nervous about it. During your first term you are called by superior second-year beings a "fresher," and by dons and others a "freshman." I felt awfully fresh;

At most of the Cambridge colleges the "fresher" has to spend his first year in lodgings. He must attend chapel and dinner at his college, and in fact his, life differs in no important respect from the man in college. The colleges can only give rooms to about two-thirds of their men, so they generally give this advantage to second and third year men. I believe at Oxford freshers are taken in at once, and third or fourth year men go out.

My landlady seemed a decent* .woman. 1 had been warned against landladies. Someone had said that an undergraduate's life with, his landlady resembled married life in that it was a . case of the survival of the fittest. I determined to survive if possible. Later, however, I got influenza, and lost & few pounds in the struggle. My rooms, a pleasant sitting-room and a clean bedroom, seemed fairly nice, but the " sitter '* looked more like a respectable dining-room than a bachelor's den. An undergraduate has breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea in his digs. These may all be supplied from the college kitchen, his landlady may supply them, or he may buy his own stores, and the landlady will endeavour to cook anything that he wants within reason. The firstnamed is a very expensive way. The colleges all agree in charging huge prices for everything. A landlady is compelled by the colleges to do any light service free of. charge nuchas boiling eggs, making tea and coffee, and cutting bread and butter. As soon as possible I bought a cap and gown, and a surplice. My college has a particularly elaborate gown. It is dark blue with "black facings. Each college has its distinctive gown. Every undergraduate must wear his cap and gown to lectures, and to dinner in hall; and must also wear them after dark every day. This gets rather a nuisance sometimes. Nevertheless this rule is generally kept, except by very great bloods who affect to despise the proctors. All "freshers" have a wholesome fear of the proctor with his attendant "bulldogs." The proctors are chosen from among the. college tutors and dons. Thei 1 * duty is to see that University rules are kept. They go about after 8 p.m. The " Prog," as he is called, wears an ordinary M.A. gown and cap. and clerical bands, the bulldogs, the men who attend him, remind one of nothing more than a couple of churchwardens. They wear long tail coats and high silk hats. They are supposed to be very fleet of foot, but this is to be doubted. It is a grievous sin to .smoke in academical dress. An unwary man is caught in the act by a proctor coming round a corner. The " bulldog" approaches, and in ju very deferential though firm manner, tells him that Mr. would like to speak to him . . . . The undergraduate approaches and gives his name and college. .Next day the " bulldog "* calls on the victim ""and receives a cheque for 6s Bd. The whole thing is done in a very polite manner. Sometimes, however, the bulldog receives a blow right on the nose, and the gentleman bolts down a side street. But it is rather dangerous and not quite an advisable course _to pursue. If.- you are caught it means being " sent down " perhaps for the rest of term. Of course there are slight compensations. A funeral is held. The rusticated person sits in a cab, heavily draped with crepe. This leads a huge procession consisting of every cab, taxi, and motor in Cambridge. Hundreds of undergraduates appear in widows' weeds. College surplices are worn by some, and there are an enormous number of " clergy." Everyone is swathed in crepe. The procession moves slowly along amidst much wailing and groaning of sirens. The "widows'* and "clergymen " do not sit inside the cabs and hansoms. They sit on top. The railway people are in a horrid state of perturbation. Something always happens. Once ! a huge quantity of luggage was piled on) the line, and the train was kept back an hour and a-half. The "corpse" is placed in a carriage and eventually makes his way home. I suppose he feels awkward then. The ** governor* l has to be faced, and it is really rather a disgrace to be sent down. Besides, the time has to'be made up sooner or later before he can take Eis degree. There are tame very strict rules of etiquette at Cambridge. A most grievous sin is for a fresher to call on a senior. He may return a call, and if he finds the senior out must continue to call until ho finds him in. A card may not be left. Second year men are particularly down on any infringement of this rule. They have had one year of fresherdom. and feel the dignity of their position. < Third year men are much nicer in this respect. However, one meets senior and they generally call on any bright freshmen. As a matter of fact, during the first term the ordinary fresher is quite worn out with invitations to breakfast and tea. You have to carry a little engagement book about with you, and you are generally booked for the week ahead. And, oh! the joy of those teas. Bread and butter is not-eaten at all, but huge quantities of iced cakes, hot muffins, and toast. It is a capital offence to produce, either a tea cosy or\ sugar tongs. They are absolutely barred. On Sundays a sermon of a very learned character is preached by some Oxford or Cambridge professor or learned man. All the masters and members of the senate attend in state. A procession starts from the Senate House and crosses to Great St. Mary's Church. A huge silver mace is carried before the vice-chancellor, and it looks really very fine. The masters look such grand old fellows; their hair is generally snowy white. The proctors also attend, with the bulldogs, who wear a very special kind of dress. It is a sort of very long flowing gown, wonderfully decorated I -with gold braid. One of them carries a Bible on a chain, and this he gives to the proctor when he enters the church. An old law states that any person ,in statuo ' pupilarii may approach the proctor and ask him to read any portion of scripture he, the undergraduate, may choose. We all talk about this rule, but no one seems Bo dare to make use of it. However the 44 prog" still carries th.3 chained bible, so perhaps someone may yet summon up courage to ask him Let us hope for the proctor's sake that it is not Matt. I. AH colleges and lodging, houses are) closed at ten o'clock. Anyone returning after that hour is fined 2d. If you are in you cannot get out for love or money, and if you are on the ground floor your window is locked from the outside. If you return after twelve o'clock without special leave a big fine is imposed and a nasty talk with one's tutor follows.