Abstract

The English Universities in Winter

It is informed that the Cambridge and Oxford lose much of their enchantment, in externals at least, to those who have seen them only in their summer attire, if they revisit them at the wintry season. Customs in the two towns and at the colleges in the same town vary much. The final grace is said at the high table. The sign for it in at least one hall in Cambridge is that the head-waiter places a large silver loving cup before the presiding officer. On rising from the table the dons retire to a room which they call In Cambridge "combination" room, and in Oxford a "common" room. It is usually a large and handsome room, hung with the portraits of eminent graduates of the College. In retiring to this room, it seems to be the custom in Oxford to take the dinner napkin along. However, it is not so in Cambridge.