CORRESPONDENCE
A LETTER FROM OXFORD
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—The changelessness of Oxford under the dead hand of the Middle Ages is an appearance which neither Royal Com- missions nor girl undergraduates can seriously affect. Oxford has scarcely shrugged her spires at these earthquakes. But where the principles of " Enlightened Reform " have failed,' those of commercial efficiency have too desperately succeeded.' The Roebuck Hotel is now in process of demolition to make room for a sixpenny emporium, and those graceful eighteenth- century windows, now gaping under the sledge-hammer, will shortly be replaced—I suppose—by vast areas of plateglass, revealing dime commodities, and framed in the Woolworth- Parthenon style. A like fate hangs over other ancient and delightful buildings,
" and yet, God has not said a word."
Though commerce is disfiguring the city with quick changes, our -manners and modes change infinitesimally. Ejaculations of public contempt arc still bandied between " athlete " and " aesthete," though perhaps the number of those wlio try to combine the muscular bravado of the former with the sensitive niceties of the latter is increasing. The two sects are, however, for the first time, united on the subject of dress. Both wear trousers bellying like balloons deflated and creased and tinted mauve, fawn, sage-green, cerise ; some arc even in the key of blue ; the high-necked jumper, plain, purl,' or variegated, is worn indifferently by the refined and the roistering. Black silk jumpers with white roll-collars are expected to take the place of evening stiff shirts ; but no Dons so far have abandoned collar and tie.
The set pieces of the term—the Torpids and the O.U.D.S. performance—went off with more than customary success. If the bloodthirsty were disappointed in the total number of
blimps, they were cheered by the fairest weather seen for years in race-week. If every beholder had a different theory as to the meaning of Peer Gynt, there were few who would not agree on the excellence of the performance ; only the desert scene was universally condemned, for it was more like a " number " in an inferior revue than a scene in a significant play.
The Playhouse, too, has had a more interesting series of plays this term than ever before : Tchekhov's Cherry Orchard was a triumph. I am glad to hear that Mr. Fagan's venture in starting the Playhouse has been better supported this term by undergraduates than previously.
Musical activity has for a long time been as efficient as it is ambitious. The force imparted by Sir Hugh Allen before he became Director of the Royal College of Music has, if anything, gained momentum rather than subsided. The Bach Choir gave a fine performance of the Matthew Pass-ion ; and private clubs, such as the O.U. Musical Club Union, and some College Musical Societies, have given concerts of London standard (for professional services reinforced the amateur), and have performed the works of composers ranging from Bach to Bax.
• It is with great regret that I record the death of Mrs. Wells, wife of the Vice-Chancellor, after a long illness. The Vice- Chancellor has the deep sympathy of the whole University in his bereavement.—I am, Sir, &c.,
YOUR OXFORD CORRESPONDENT.
Oxford. March 14th, 1925.
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