Great Britain -- Description and travel; Railroad travel -- Great Britain; Railroads -- Great Britain
The members of the University are divided into those who are on the
foundation and those who are not. Those on the foundation are the dean,
president, master, warden, according to the charter of the College; the
fellows, scholars, called demies at Magdalene, and post-masters at Merton;
chaplains, bible-clerks, servitors, at Christchurch and Jesus. The
qualifications for these advantages vary; but leading colleges--Oriel and
Balliol--have set an example likely to be followed of throwing fellowships and
scholarships open to the competition of the whole university, so that the
best man may win. The disadvantage of the system lies in the fact, that
having won, the incentives are all in the direction of idleness.
The degree was formerly obtained by passing first through a preliminary
examination termed a "little go," and afterwards through the "great go." The
latter, successfully performed, entitles, at choice, to the title of B.A.
(Bachelor of Arts), or S.C.L. (Student of Civil Law). With time and money,
the degrees of M.A. or B.C.L., and eventually D.C.L., may be obtained,
without farther examination. But very recently an intermediate examination
has been imposed.
A candidate for a degree in music has only to perform an exercise previously
approved by the professor of music in the music schools.
Doctors of Divinity and Masters of Arts wear a stuff gown, with two long
sleeves, terminating in a semicircle. The full dress of Doctors of Divinity
is scarlet, with sleeves of black velvet--pink silk for Doctors of Law and
Medicine.
Bachelors wear a black stuff gown, with long sleeves tapering to a point, and
buttoned at the elbow; noblemen undergraduates a black silk gown, with full
sleeves, "couped" at the elbows, and a velvet cap with gold tassel; scholars
the same shaped gown, of a common stuff, with ordinary cloth cap; gentlemen
commoners a silk gown with plaited sleeves, and velvet cap; if commoners, a
plain black gown without sleeves, which is so hideous that they generally
carry it on their arm.
The expense of maintaining a son at the University may be fixed at from 200
pounds, as a minimum, to 300 pounds a-year; the latter being the utmost
needful. But a fool may spend any amount, and get nothing for it. The
fashion of drinking has gone out to a great extent; and the present race of
undergraduates are not more random and extravagant than any set of young men
of the same age and number would be if thrown together for two or three
years.
At the same time, it is not the place to which a father to whom economy is an
object should send a son, least of all one previously educated on the milk
and water stay-at-home principle.
As a general rule, it is not among the nobility, and sons of the wealthy
gentry, that much excess is found to prevail; but among those who at the
University find themselves for the first time without control, with money and
with credit at command.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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