OPINIONS ON OXFORD
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. Johnson, writing in your issue of August 30th on " Oxford Social Round," starts from the proposition that an incident involving a number of youthfully absurd practical jokes has strengthened the impression that Oxford is " an academy of mad orgy and peculiar decadence." Solicitous, therefore, of the good name of Oxford—and with the intention of dissipating this injurious impression, he proceeds calmly to depict an Oxford of " parasite dons," " foetid moral atmosphere," " petting parties to canned syncopation " and " elderly libertines," who, he would have us believe, surround and pervert the poor undergraduate. Far better —and far more honest had he been, if he had declared from the outset that he was going to indulge in some random mud slinging, than,, making the excuse that he must white- wash Oxford, attempt to conceal the fact that he was doing his best to bring it into disrepute.
Finally, with regard to his criticism of University journalism as " somewhat of a scandal," he is as well aware as any other member of the University, that positions on the staffs —as well as space in the papers, are alike open to such under- graduates as can produce the best articles. And, with regard to his own statement that " it has become even more the choice instrument of the political and social pushers," it will be of interest to contemporaneous members of the University that Mr. Johnson has seen fit to arrogate to hiMself the right to cast the first stone.—I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
KEITH BRIANT,
Sub-Editor of the Isis.
Queensberry, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, 'Scotland.
Previous page
