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W. Earl Hall World War II stories, 1944

Letter #43

slug-Cambridge, Oxford-4
By W. EARL HALL
Globe-Gazette Managing Editor
Letter No. 43
Oxford, England--Rivalry between American universities is pretty much confined to the football field.  But here in England, it's a 2-way rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and it is even more acute in things academic than in things athletic.
When a student or alumnus of either refers to "that other place," you know immediately what is meant.  They don't deign to mention names.  Occasionally an Oxonian will refer to a Camabrian as a "dweller in the mud flats."
At Oxford the academic emphasis has been, and is, on the classics and the humanities while at Cambridge, science and technology have been stressed.
The university here is in a beautiful setting, on rolling land along the Thames.  Cambridge, on the other hand, is in a relatively level and uninteresting location.
Cambridge is a strictly university community but Oxford, particularly since the advent of the Morris motor works near by, is about as important industrially as academically.
This another way of saying that whereas in Cambridge, there is no "town and gown" problem, for lack of "town," the problem at Oxford is real.  Down through the centuries, more than a little blood has been shed.
While Oxford isn't as old as Bath, York, Chester and a number of other English cities, it has a recorded history dating back to 912 A.D.  William the Conqueror converted the village to military use in 1066 because of its strategic position on the Thames.
The remnants of an ancient castle and portions of a city wall still viable in the gardens of one of the colleges are reminders of Oxford's military importance in the 11th and 12th centuries.
In the latter part of the 12th century, groups of students began to be attracted to Oxford for some reason not revealed by history.  Morton College was founded in 1284 and lays claim to being Oxford's oldest.  This claim is disputed by University and Balliol colleges.
One by one over a long period, other colleges were established.  At present there are 21 for men and 4 for women, all incorporated in Oxford university.  The definition of a university as "a collection of colleges" quite likely stems from Oxford.
It isn't surprising that the buildings of Oxford, grouped about their quadrangles, present a pageant of architectural styles covering every period from Saxon times--Norman, Perpendicular, Gothic, etc.
The colleges of Oxford have been the training ground for many of Britain's leaders in all fields of activities--poets, scientists, statesmen and kings.  Edward VIII, as the Prince of Wales, distinguished himself more socially than scholastically at Magdalen college.  Cardinal Wolsey, Edward Gibbon and Oscar Wilde are other Magdalen (promounced Maudlin) products.
Each college maintains its own particular set of traditions, a fact made evident to me when I dined at Worcester and Oriel on successive evenings.  One of Oriel's claim to fame is its magnificent silver service, still sparkling despite a hundred years of use or more.
My trip out here from London, by motor, was with Iowa's football coach, Maj. Eddie Anderson, stationed at a nearby general army hospital.  With us was the Dutchess of Marlborough, whose home is at Blenheim palace not far from here.
And my return to London was in a train compartment with Lady Sarah Churchill, daughter of the dutchess, the bride of an American naval officer, Lt. Russell of Newark, N.J.  The "Uncle Winnie" mentioned by her several times in the course of our conversation was none other than Britain's prime minister, Winston Churchill.
For years before the birth of a son, Lady Sarah was employed at manual labor in a motor manufacturing plant.  This impressed me as being rather reflective of how class barriers have been swept aside in Britain these past few years under the impact of war.
--  30  --

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slug-Cambridge, Oxford-4 By W. EARL HALL Globe-Gazette Managing Editor Letter No. 43 Oxford, England--Rivalry between American universities is pretty much confined to the football field. But here in England, it's a 2-way rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge and it is even more acute in things academic than in things athletic. When a student or alumnus of either refers to "that other place," you know immediately what is meant. They don't deign to mention names. Occasionally an Oxonian will refer to a Camabrian as a "dweller in the mud flats." At Oxford the academic emphasis has been, and is, on the classics and the humanities while at Cambridge, science and technology have been stressed. The university here is in a beautiful setting, on rolling land along the Thames. Cambridge, on the other hand, is in a relatively level and uninteresting location. Cambridge is a strictly university community but Oxford, particularly since the advent of the Morris motor works near by, is about as important industrially as academically. This another way of saying that whereas in Cambridge, there is no "town and gown" problem, for lack of "town," the problem at Oxford is real. Down through the centuries, more than a little blood has been shed. While Oxford isn't as old as Bath, York, Chester and a number of other English cities, it has a recorded history dating back to 912 A.D. William the Conqueror converted the village to military use in 1066 because of its strategic position on the Thames. The remnants of an ancient castle and portions of a city wall still viable in the gardens of one of the colleges are reminders of Oxford's military importance in the 11th and 12th centuries. In the latter part of the 12th century, groups of students began to be attracted to Oxford for some reason not revealed by history. Morton College was founded in 1284 and lays claim to being Oxford's oldest. This claim is disputed by University and Balliol colleges. One by one over a long period, other colleges were established. At present there are 21 for men and 4 for women, all incorporated in Oxford university. The definition of a university as "a collection of colleges" quite likely stems from Oxford. It isn't surprising that the buildings of Oxford, grouped about their quadrangles, present a pageant of architectural styles covering every period from Saxon times--Norman, Perpendicular, Gothic, etc. The colleges of Oxford have been the training ground for many of Britain's leaders in all fields of activities--poets, scientists, statesmen and kings. Edward VIII, as the Prince of Wales, distinguished himself more socially than scholastically at Magdalen college. Cardinal Wolsey, Edward Gibbon and Oscar Wilde are other Magdalen (promounced Maudlin) products. Each college maintains its own particular set of traditions, a fact made evident to me when I dined at Worcester and Oriel on successive evenings. One of Oriel's claim to fame is its magnificent silver service, still sparkling despite a hundred years of use or more. My trip out here from London, by motor, was with Iowa's football coach, Maj. Eddie Anderson, stationed at a nearby general army hospital. With us was the Dutchess of Marlborough, whose home is at Blenheim palace not far from here. And my return to London was in a train compartment with Lady Sarah Churchill, daughter of the dutchess, the bride of an American naval officer, Lt. Russell of Newark, N.J. The "Uncle Winnie" mentioned by her several times in the course of our conversation was none other than Britain's prime minister, Winston Churchill. For years before the birth of a son, Lady Sarah was employed at manual labor in a motor manufacturing plant. This impressed me as being rather reflective of how class barriers have been swept aside in Britain these past few years under the impact of war. -- 30 --