290 LETTERS TO PROFESSOR WALLACE [CHAP. xxiv. 



Honorary Graduates, and I shall arrange all about that. A 

 silk hood goes round the neck and hangs down the back. 

 It is put on by the head Servitor after you have been 

 officially capped by the Principal. It is part of the public 

 function. You must not feel the least anxious about the 

 event, as you will be surrounded by a host of people to 

 whom your name is a household word, who know well the 

 value which your work has been to this country, and who 

 appreciate you accordingly. I shall be only too pleased to 

 answer any question of detail you may write and help you 

 in every way. Yours very sincerely, ROBERT WALLACE. 



March 2. 1900. 



DEAR PROFESSOR WALLACE, I am very glad to know 

 some part of what the form is on this great occasion. I 

 hope that by following whatever directions you give me 

 quite exactly that all will be right, i.e., that I may do all I 

 ought to do ! But I cannot help being a little nervous ; I 

 feel the honour so very great indeed, and also the kindness 

 I am receiving. Your account of the ceremony itself has 

 made my mind much clearer. Walking upstairs is a great 

 difficulty to me, but on flat ground, with my light ebony 

 stick, I do not think my lameness is more than a very 

 little observable. I am as near as possible 5 feet 6 inches. 

 This is relative to the graduation gown. My head really is 

 so full of this unprecedented distinction I am afraid I 

 trouble you too much. 



March 7, 1900. 



I am very much obliged to you indeed for all the care 

 that you have been so kindly taking for me, and for making 

 everything so clear to me amongst other points, your little 

 note about convenience of cheques. I think you have 

 arranged everything as nicely as possible for me. All 

 matters for the journey I expect my doctor will look after 

 nicely. But when you write again, I suppose on the great 

 occasion, as the cap is to be put on, that I appear without a 

 bonnet ? I have now read your letter over again that I may 

 be quite sure that I thoroughly understand everything. 



P.S. There is yet one more inquiry I am venturing to 

 trouble you with. My doctor [Dr. Eustace Lipscomb] is an 

 M.B. (Cambridge) ; on such a special occasion, should he 

 wear his hood ? 



March 3, 1900. 



I shall be very much obliged if you would secure me 

 rooms at the Balmoral Hotel, as you mention. Namely, a 



