In realising a life's ambition—for if he had any other
ambition he would hardly have accepted the Wardenship of All Souls'—at forty-five Mr. John Sparrow has achieved something notable. A close runner-up when Sir Hubert Henderson, who was fifteen years older, was chosen Warden last year, Mr. Sparrow was the confidently favoured candidate this time. Part barrister, part academic, he will now presum- ably become almost wholly academiC, as befits one to whom it falls to preside over what must be reckoned by common consent the most brilliant academic society in the world. Dinner at All Souls' on a Sunday evening, when its non-resident Fellows, like Lord Simon and Lord Brand and Sir Dougal Malcolm, come up to dine, often bringing guests as distin- guished as themselves with them, is an experience no one who has enjoyed the hospitality of All Souls' on such nights is ever likely to forget. If in his new office Mr. Sparrow should swell to the dimensions of an ostrich it could well be forgiven him.
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