Cambridge Trifles, Or, Splutterings from an Undergraduate Pen (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881. Excerpt: ... VIII. HALL, AND OTHER THINGS. It is a difficult matter to treat of Hail with all the solemnity that it deserves. It forms a very important item in the life of the University man. For many it divides the day into two eras, before Hall and after Hall; and they regulate all their proceedings accordingly. I do not mean to say, of course, that they talk of anything as occurring B.H. or A.H., but they imply it. Hall is a place where everybody may be found. Those that have been shut up all day at their studies emerge, and those that have been wandering about the face of the earth in pursuit of pleasure immerge; it matters not of what set, or of what persuasion a man may be, but he is pretty certain to turn up in Hall. The primary object of assemblage there is, I believe, to feed, but there are other minor processes connected with Hall. It is a period of recreation and small talk. Some, indeed, there are that cannot talk smally, and have to sit still and listen: while others, who are still further gone, cannot disentangle themselves from the enchantments of shop, and form little societies for its maintenance. But they are very exclusive, and generally also excluded. I once happened for three successive nights to lose my usual place, and had to take my seat amongst a select circle of mathematicians. I did not join extensively in the conversation, but I was very much saturated with it. When, however, on the fourth night, I got back to my former place, some of my newly-acquired knowledge inadvertently leaked out of me. My immediate neighbour inserted a fork into me. Such things are not tolerated among the common type of Hallist. There are peculiarities about Hall that distinguish it from most other forms of eating. It might, perhaps, by the fastidious be termed some...