2 8S The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present. 



might consider his path safe and easy, and that he might 

 contemplate with some feeling of certainty the fruition of 

 the good things looming in the future. But B.N.C. had 

 its Phoenix Club; and in addition to lecture-room.s, 

 literary societies, and debating clubs, Oxford at that time 

 had its tandem-drivings, its professors of billiards, its 

 hunting-stables. Between these J. T. D. seemed to get 

 a little " mixed/' and to have shared the view of the 

 " coster," who when before the ^^ beak " for an infraction 

 of the liquor-law, thus philosophized over the matter. 

 ^^ The fact is, sir," said he, ^^ there's such a lot of wisdom 

 in the world now, that there don't seem no room for 

 nothink else." 



Newman, Gaisford, the Master of Balliol, Hawkins, 

 were names to conjure with at Oxford, at that epoch ; 

 and so were those others — Quartermaine, Seckham^ 

 Symonds, Wheeler. 



A Pindaric or Anacreontic ode were " nuts '^ to many 

 a classic-minded wearer of cap and gown ; but there 

 were those also who saw more beauties in that old 

 hippie song, in which the Oxford vendor of horses hopes 

 to tempt the possible purchaser of an awful screw by 

 afiGlrming that — 



" If the Pope of Rome to England came 

 To get an boss to ride on, 

 This bit o' blood's the werrj quad 

 I'd set liis grace astride on." 



Jealous of the progress made by their pupil in the 

 unorthodox teachings of Messrs. Symonds and Co., the 

 principal and tutors of Brazen Nose College shut their 

 gates upon their too-sporting alumnus, and urged 

 him to seek from the sister-University those honours 



