Almae Matres; (Dedicated, Without Permission, to the Freshmen and Dons of Oxford.) (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. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... away to seek the lady's husband, and brought him to the procuratorial judgment-room, in time to find his indignant spouse locked away in a cell for the'night. The denouement can he easily imagined; and we may suppose that, if the student did call the next morning on the senior Proctor, it was not to receive the sentence of rustication, which would otherwise have been passed on him. Accidents of a similar nature are often occuring, through the stupidity of the Proctors. I have known the most respectable daughters of most respectable tradesmen treated like the lowest of their sex, and no apology made them when the mistake has been discovered. A curious case of over-credulousness in a Proctor occurred not long ago. A dissipated Undergraduate brought from London an actress of low character, and introduced her as his sister to several Dons, one of the Proctors being among the number. He was so pleased with her charming manner, that he asked the young man, and his pretended sister to lunch. It was only when a glass of wine was Bpilled over her dress, that, forgetting her part, she gave vent to too forcible an expletive, which ended the repast, and caused the young man's just expulsion. The fact is, that Oxford Dons live so long in monkish seclusion, that they forget what gentlewomen are like, if they have ever known it. Oxford Tradesmen. 117 The power, therefore, of the University extends over the liberty of the female population of the town, and even over their character, which the stupidity or obstinacy of a Proctor may blast at will. No less does it affect the freedom of all residents. Any person who is proved to have influenced the morality of the Undergraduates in any way may be forced to quit Oxford. Again, it extends over the custom of the...