spirit of many has been stirred at one time or
another—by the abomination of St. Giles's Fair at Oxford. Every September the learned Society of St. John lets out standing-room to all kinds of shows, and Oxford becomes for two or three days as little like an abode of sweetness and light as can be well imagined. This she seems to have seen ; and she further had, we suppose, in her mind a certain trial in which an ill-advised champion of humanity got into serious trouble. He levelled an accusation of cruelty against the general instruction of children in the acrobatic art, and so far was within his right; he mentioned the name of a particular person, and there laid himself open to attack. Mrs. Marshall wisely puts her complaint in the form of fiction. " Bosco " and Mrs. Mooney are imaginary characters, and cannot bring an action for libel. Nor is it likely that any professor of the art will fit the cap, and own himself aggrieved. Certain is it that there are cruel practices in connection with the training of young acro- bats, and Mrs. Marshall deserves many thanks for calling attention to them. Her contention, briefly, is this. The boat-children have had the protection of the law accorded to them, and have had their status materially benefited thereby. Why should not the "caravan children" be similarly protected ? The story is fairly interesting. A curious liability to blunder attends all who endeavour to tell a University story. Here we have Mr. Bernard Clifford, the philanthropic Fellow of a College, returning to his rooms, and finding his servant waiting for him at past 1 o'clock in the morning. All college servants are bound to be outside by 10 o'clock, except, of course, on some special occasion.
Previous page
