PREFACE

This work does not purport to be either a history or a guide book. Of Oxford Guide Books, and of Histories of Oxford, there is already an adequate provision, and there is no dearth of Oxford Reminiscences, or of Studies of Oxford Life and Manners. But there may still be room for a modest volume which, while unscrupulously omitting whatever seems tedious, or of purely local interest, recalls the stories concerning which experience shows the average stranger to be most curious, and answers the questions which the average stranger, when visiting the various colleges, is most apt to ask.

The book, indeed, is the outcome of an experience which revealed the nature, and the limits, of that curiosity. It was lately the privilege of the writer to act as guide to some ladies who were visiting Oxford for the first time, and he made a mental note of the points on which they showed themselves most avid of information. They did not, he found, desire to burden their memories with dates, or to be entertained with lists of the names of the Heads of Colleges and Halls, and they were content to admire the architecture without entering into technical details. On the other hand, stories of human interest—stories introducing well-known names—stories of events in which the history of Oxford came into close touch with the history of England—were constantly and eagerly demanded.

Why was Shelley expelled from University? Why did Dr. Johnson throw the boots out of his window at Pembroke? What is the truth about the Brasenose Hellfire Club, and the ghost? What was the origin of town and gown rows? Is it true that Froude’s book was publicly burnt at Exeter? What was Oxford like at the time of the Civil War? What sort of people were the Tractarians, the Wesleyans, the Æsthetes and the Positivists? Why was Jowett so famous? Why are so many Jesus men called Jones? Which was Gladstone’s college, and which was Lord Randolph Churchill’s? Why do they have boar’s head for dinner on Christmas Day at Queen’s? Is it true that Beau Nash was an Oxford man? Can you tell me any stories about Charles Reade—or Sir Richard Burton—or Southey—or de Quincey—or Pater?

Such were a few of the questions asked. The book answers them, and answers a good many other questions of the same sort. It proceeds on the assumption that every college, at some period of its history, through some notable name on its books, has been profoundly interesting, not only to the University, but to the world, and it dwells on those interesting moments and those interesting incidents as fully as space permits.

FRANCIS GRIBBLE.