Aspects of Modern Oxford. By a Mere Don. (Seeley.) — The "Mere
Don" (who might as well have put his name on the title- page of this volume as he subscribed it to the articles of the Portfolio) discourses very pleasantly and smartly about things academical, about his own order, for which he gives a most effec- tive apologia, about the undergraduates, the sightseer, examina- tions, University journalism, and other kindred topics. He directs a gentle satire against some of his predecessors. Who does not recognise the " neglected sizar," who " threw off his thread- bare coat, leapt into the vacant seat [vacated by the fainting of the regular stroke], and won his crew at once the proud position of head of the river by the simple process of making four bumps on the same night" P He has a smart rap at the unappreciated geniuses who, having failed to get their due from University examiners or to please the censorship of College Deans, tell them through the papers of the Press that they are effete survivals of an obsolete system. He utters a not unreasonable complaint of the stress of routine work, which makes Oxford life a weariness, alike to the flesh and the spirit. And he tells some capital stories. Indeed, the humour is one of the most attractive things in the book. How good is this. " College tutors in these days are expected to work. It is on record that a tourist from a manu- facturing district, on seeing four tutors snatching a brief hour at lawn-tennis, remarked, 'I suppose there's another shift working inside ? ' Such are the requirements of the age and the manu- facturing districts."
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