SIR,—Mr. Moraes writes as if sex in Oxford were something
new, and as if its practice were confined to men's colleges only.
Between 1926 and 1929 I spent a number of happy nights in St. Hugh's College, walking in the front door and straight upstairs, leaving around 6.30 a.m. by a small window from which one could drop down on to an outhouse, and so over the chestnut palings into the road. Further priceless tuition was given and received in a barn at Godstow, summer term only. The young lady, whose name I can't give, as she is married to a man high up in a large company, left St. Hugh's by the same route around midnight. Wait- ing in the road, I helped her over the fence.
Sine qua non was a commoner's gown and plenty of face. You could generally get back into the col- lege pretending you had slipped out unseen by the porter, soon after he unlocked the lodge. On two occasions a friend at St. John's who was paying court to another young lady of St. Hugh's, accompanied me, and we left together.
I only reveal this because it is irritating to be so constantly reminded that the youth of today is more virile and adventurous than the youth of yesterday. BERNARD MILES Mermaid Theatre, Puddle Dock, EC3 PS: In my day the young ladies of St. Hugh's were considered the liveliest in the university.
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