第 13 节
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lay down key and crosier before the iron conqueror。
If you consider; dear reader; what profound snobbishness
the University System produced; you will allow that it is
time to attack some of those feudal middle…age
superstitions。 If you go down for five shillings to look
at the 'College Youths;' you may see one sneaking down
the court without a tassel to his cap; another with a
gold or silver fringe to his velvet trencher; a third lad
with a master's gown and hat; walking at ease over the
sacred College grass…plats; which common men must not
tread on。
He may do it because he is a nobleman。 Because a lad is
a lord; the University gives him a degree at the end of
two years which another is seven in acquiring。 Because
he is a lord; he has no call to go through an
examination。 Any man who has not been to College and
back for five shillings; would not believe in such
distinctions in a place of education; so absurd and
monstrous do they seem to be。
The lads with gold and silver lace are sons of rich
gentlemen and called Fellow Commoners; they are
privileged to feed better than the pensioners; and to
have wine with their victuals; which the latter can only
get in their rooms。
The unlucky boys who have no tassels to their caps; are
called sizarsSERVITORS at Oxford(a very pretty and
gentlemanlike title)。 A distinction is made in their
clothes because they are poor; for which reason they wear
a badge of poverty; and are not allowed to take their
meals with their fellow…students。
When this wicked and shameful distinction was set up; it
was of a piece with all the resta part of the brutal;
unchristian; blundering feudal system。 Distinctions of
rank were then so strongly insisted upon; that it would
have been thought blasphemy to doubt them; as blasphemous
as it is in parts of the United States now for a nigger
to set up as the equal of a white man。 A ruffian like
Henry VIII。 talked as gravely about the divine powers
vested in him; as if he had been an inspired prophet。 A
wretch like James I。 not only believed that there was in
himself a particular sanctity; but other people believed
him。 Government regulated the length of a merchant's
shoes as well as meddled with his trade; prices; exports;
machinery。 It thought itself justified in roasting a man
for his religion; or pulling a Jew's teeth out if he did
not pay a contribution; or ordered him to dress in a
yellow gabardine; and locked him in a particular quarter。
Now a merchant may wear what boots he pleases; and has
pretty nearly acquired the privilege of buying and
selling without the Government laying its paws upon the
bargain。 The stake for heretics is gone; the pillory is
taken down; Bishops are even found lifting up their
voices against the remains of persecution; and ready to
do away with the last Catholic Disabilities。 Sir Robert
Peel; though he wished it ever so much; has no power over
Mr。 Benjamin Disraeli's grinders; or any means of
violently handling that gentleman's jaw。 Jews are not
called upon to wear badges: on the contrary; they may
live in Piccadilly; or the Minories; according to fancy;
they may dress like Christians; and do sometimes in a
most elegant and fashionable manner。
Why is the poor College servitor to wear that name and
that badge still? Because Universities are the last
places into which Reform penetrates。 But now that she
can go to College and back for five shillings; let her
travel down thither。
CHAPTER XIV
ON UNIVERSITY SNOBS
All the men of Saint Boniface will recognize Hugby and
Crump in these two pictures。 They were tutors in our
time; and Crump is since advanced to be President of the
College。 He was formerly; and is now; a rich specimen of
a University Snob。
At five…and…twenty; Crump invented three new metres; and
published an edition of an exceedingly improper Greek
Comedy; with no less than twenty emendations upon the
German text of Schnupfenius and Schnapsius。 These
Services to religion instantly pointed him out for
advancement in the Church; and he is now President of
Saint Boniface; and very narrowly escaped the bench。
Crump thinks Saint Boniface the centre of the world; and
his position as President the highest in England。 He
expects the fellows and tutors to pay him the same sort
of service that Cardinals pay to the Pope。 I am sure
Crawler would have no objection to carry his trencher; or
Page to hold up the skirts of his gown as he stalks into
chapel。 He roars out the responses there as if it were
an honour to heaven that the President of Saint Boniface
should take a part in the service; and in his own lodge
and college acknowledges the Sovereign only as his
superior。
When the allied monarchs came down; and were made Doctors
of the University; a breakfast was given at Saint
Boniface; on which occasion Crump allowed the Emperor
Alexander to walk before him; but took the PAS himself of
the King of Prussia and Prince Blucher。 He was going to
put the Hetman Platoff to breakfast at a side…table with
the under college tutors; but he was induced to relent;
and merely entertained that distinguished Cossack with a
discourse on his own language; in which he showed that
the Hetman knew nothing about it。
As for us undergraduates; we scarcely knew more about
Crump than about the Grand Llama。 A few favoured youths
are asked occasionally to tea at the lodge; but they do
not speak unless first addressed by the Doctor; and if
they venture to sit down; Crump's follower; Mr。 Toady;
whispers; 'Gentlemen; will you have the kindness to get
up?The President is passing;' or 'Gentlemen; the
President prefers that undergraduates should not sit
down;' or words to a similar effect。
To do Crump justice; he does not cringe now to great
people。 He rather patronizes them than otherwise; and;
in London; speaks quite affably to a Duke who has been
brought up at his college; or holds out a finger to a
Marquis。 He does not disguise his own origin; but brags
of it with considerable self…gratulation:'I was a
Charity…boy;' says he; 'see what I am now; the greatest
Greek scholar of the greatest College of the greatest
University of the greatest Empire in the world。' The
argument being; that this is a capital world; for
beggars; because he; being a beggar; has managed to get
on horseback。
Hugby owes his eminence to patient merit and agreeable
perseverance。 He is a meek; mild; inoffensive creature;
with just enough of scholarship to fit him to hold a
lecture; or set an examination paper。 He rose by
kindness to the aristocracy。 It was wonderful to see the
way in which that poor creature grovelled before a
nobleman or a lord's nephew; or even some noisy and
disreputable commoner; the friend of a lord。 He used to
give the young noblemen the most painful and elaborate
breakfasts; and adopt a jaunty genteel air; and talk with
them (although he was decidedly serious) about the opera;
or the last run with the hounds。 It was good to watch
him in the midst of a circle of young tufts; with his
mean; smiling; eager; uneasy familiarity。 He used to
write home confidential letters to their parents; and
made it his duty to call upon them when in town; to
condole or rejoice with them when a death; birth; or
marriage took place in their family; and to feast them
whenever they came to the University。 I recollect a
letter lying on a desk in his lecture…room for a whole
term; beginning; 'My Lord Duke。' It was to show us that
he corresponded with such dignities。
When the late lamented Lord Glenlivat; who broke his neck
at a hurdle…race; at the premature age of twenty…four;
was at the University; the amiable young fellow; passing
to his rooms in the early morning; and seeing Hugby's
boots at his door; on the same staircase; playfully
wadded the insides of the boots with cobbler's wax; which
caused excruciating pains to the Rev。 Mr。 Hugby; when he
came to take them off the same evening; before dining
with the Master of St。 Crispin's。
Everybody gave the credit of this admirable piece of fun
to Lord Glenlivat's friend; Bob Tizzy; who was famous for
such feats; and who had already made away with the
college pump…handle; filed St。 Boniface's nose smooth
with his face; carried off four images of nigger…boys
from the tobacconists; painted the senior proctor's horse
pea…green; &c。 &c。; and Bob (who was of the party
certainly; and would not peach;) was just on the point of
incurring expulsion; and so losing the family living
which was in store for him; when Glenlivat nobly stepped
forward; owned himself to be the author of the delightful
JEU…D'ESPRIT; apologized to the tutor; and accepted the
rustication。
Hugby cried when Glenlivat apologized; if the young
nobleman had kicked him round the court; I believe the
tutor