COLLEGE POLITICS 247 



occasion the rest of the governing body were rather 

 indignant at the attitude of the Professor to what 

 seemed a very reasonable request, the matter was put 

 to the vote, and the chapel placed at the disposal of the 

 Fellow in question. At the following College meeting 

 the Fellow withdrew his request. His daughter had 

 been so unfortunate as to break her leg while playing 

 lawn tennis ; she was to be married quietly in the neigh- 

 bouring village church as soon as she could get about. 

 The Professor smiled, and said, with really incomparable 

 humour, Solvitur non ambulando. 



One great scene took place when an organ was 

 offered by one of the Fellows to the College chapel. It 

 was thought that the Professor would object so strongly 

 that the proposal was deferred. Eventually, however, 

 it was brought forward. The Master began by saying, 

 " I have a proposal to make about the chapel, which I 

 fear you will not like, Professor." The Professor flared 

 up and said, " No, indeed, I never come here without 

 hearing something that I dislike very much." The 

 offer was then stated, and every one then welcomed it 

 with cordiality and enthusiasm. The Professor waited 

 till they had done, and then, with a little bow to the 

 donor, said, " Words entirely fail me to express my 

 sense of the generosity and public spirit which prompts 

 this offer. But I am bound to say that I object in toto 

 to music in a College chapel. It is entirely out of cha- 

 racter, and I am therefore bound to oppose what I 

 believe to be against the best interests of the place." 

 The usual scene took place, the Professor voting in a 

 minority of one. But when the organ was erected, he 

 contrived to say something pleasant to the giver about 

 its improving the appearance of the chapel* 



As well as of bootmakers and publishers, Newton 

 was pardonably impatient of Bores : 



* A, C. Benson, Cornhill Magazine, June, 1911. 



