ROOF-TOPS OF CAMBRIDGE
The Night Climbers of Cambridge. By " Whipplesnaith." (Chatto and Windus. 7s. 6d.) IT is generally supposed that the colleges of our two great university cities are no more than the architecturally delightftil habitations of undergraduates and dons. But The Night Climbers of Cdmbridge evidently indicates that they...are21hore than this. In the eyes of the select few of both undergraduates and dons these buildings rise up from the surrounding flatness of the countryside as mountain tops from an Alpine valley, Inspiring in the advelituittis the same .passiohp 'and crav_ifigt. They exist not only to be lived in but also to be climbed. Climbing in Cambridge is, hoivever, of necessity, a furtive affair for " college authorities have set their official faces against roof-climbing." Expeditions must therefore take . place, at night.
" Every roof-climber in Cambridge," we are told, " probably started on his evil course in the same way, namely, by climbing into college." From".fhis- he develops a thirst for the sport and turns from climbing through urgent necessity 'to climbing
for the sheer joy of it. And indeed by now there can ftw buildings in Cambridge, worthy of the cliinbet's ait, which have not felt on some dark night taut fingers clutching at their sides and legs straddling their highest pinnacles. Some buildings, of course, require greater skill than do others, and apparently mastery over King's College Chapel is the apex of a man's climbing career in Cambridge.
St. John's, Pembroke, King's and Trinity and the more interesting architectural fields for the climber's skill are dealt with • in detail, and much, no doubt sound, advice offered to those who may wish to attempt them. As regards outfit, gym shoes, long trousers, an old and smooth jacket are recommended, while the advisability of using a rope is a controversial matter in Cambridge climbing circles.
Though the ascent of the Everest peaks could not be treated in more serious vein than are these Cambridge climbs yet the book is full of lighter moments and amusing anecdotes. Many will probably recall the attempt of certain climbers to attach to the turret of King's College one winter night towards the end of 1935 a vast banner bearing the word " Save Ethiopia," but few will know the full details of this attempt., . This, and other stfth eicapades, hiiVe in this-, book
been most amusingly recounted. . -
The Night Clii,lbers of CambrOge,_which has some fiftY extraordinarily good photographs, makes a novel and enter- taining addition to the literature of climbing.
R. F. ScoTT.
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