23 MAY 1925, Page 11

CORRESPONDENCE

A- LETTER FROM CAMBRIDGE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The lovely. air of May is full of the fumes of motor-cars and the motor-car controversy. At the recent Senate- house discussion one speaker, having the courage to say what many others were thinking, made a plea for prohibition, either in whole or in part. Result—a memorial to the Council, a. new report, and the promise of a new discussion. The evils of the undergraduate motor vehicle fall under two heads": (1) Noise and danger, (2) disintegration of University life, especially at week-ends ; and the attack has been somewhat disorganized by a confusion of objectives. A Minor controversy has also sprouted from the parent tree. Should the editorial columns of the Cambridge Review exhale an 'air of pure impartiality or should the editor have his fling like other people ? Amongst ex-editors—a distinguished class—there is manifest disagreement. In, any event, the probability, at the time of writing, is that the freshman of October, 1925, will be obliged to content himself with a " ptish-bike dUring his first year of residence.

Another controversy, of less general interest, arose out of the proposal to attach a canonry of Ely to the Regius Professorship of Divinity. The opponents of the proposal were routed overwhehningly, although its supporters had, in the earlier stages of the dispute, temporarily endangered their chances by the omission of the word not in a fly-sheet. Collectors of first editions should treasure that fly-sheet.

Early in the term Mr. Sheppard gave us the opportunity of seeing his rollicking, modern version of the Cyclops again, together with his Helen. Whether he is right in defining the play as a " romantic comedy " is still arguable, but with Mr. Frank Birch as Menelaus there was certainly no lack of comedy.

Fenner's, in this weather, is at its best, and the University side has made a good start against Sussex and Lancashire. The promise, in particular, of Ranji's nephew pleases everyone. Meanwhile, Tripos anxiety makes itself felt and examiners prowl darkly round and murmur that they cannot accept engagements for the next few weeks. Candidates, on the other hand, look forward to that blessed period between the end of the examination and the end of term. They may well do so. It is one of the best weeks of graceful idleness that they will ever have.—I am, Sir, &c.,

YOUR CAMBRIDGE CORRESPONDENT.