294 ELIZABETH GARY AGASSIZ 



the hour, and I believe they were to have a dance in 

 the evening to let off the exuberance of their joy. One 

 pleasant habit I observed in all the Colleges. There 

 was a sort of sitting-room, or as they called it con- 

 versation-room, very cosy and comfortable, which 

 seemed open to all where they gathered after dinner 

 for a cup of coffee. Here we ended our pleasant day, 

 and it was my last visit to Newnham. 



But I cannot leave Cambridge without a word on 

 other things beside the Colleges for Women; of its 

 ancient Colleges and Chapels, its pretty bridges over 

 the river Cam, where the students row and have 

 their fun, of the shady and peaceful old courts around 

 which the Colleges are built. In June when we were 

 there the flower season is in its glory and the stu- 

 dents' balconies and windows are full of color among 

 the dark ivy which clothes the walls. 



We had a glimpse also of a college student's room, 

 for a young friend invited us to take tea with him af- 

 ter Vespers. It was a cheerful, comfortable half -study 

 and half -sitting-room, but by no means [so] luxurious 

 as many of our students' rooms. Perhaps this was an 

 individual case, but I was told it was not considered 

 "good form" to have very elegantly furnished rooms. 



I had but three or four days in Oxford and but for 

 the feeling that you may wish to have such a glimpse 

 as I can give you I should hardly venture to speak of 

 my personal experience there. 



The aspect of things at the Oxford Colleges for 

 Women was of course in a general way the same as at 

 Newnham and Girton their internal arrangements, 



