Correspondence
A Letter from Cambridge [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sill,—The attractions of Cambridge in the May term have been the theme of many pens. To those on the spot the charm is not always quite so obvious as might be expected. The present term, for example, opened under conditions about as disagreeable as could be imagined. The weather at the end of April was incredibly cold and wintry, and we have it on the authority of the Cambridge Review (of date May 20th) that " less than a fortnight ago snow was lying on the Gogs." Snow was lying on the Gogs : the words minister subtly to Cambridge self-esteem. There is some- thing Alpine, not to say Himalayan, in the picture that they conjure up. We are often taunted with our lack of mountain- ous surroundings, and it must in candour be admitted that the watershed of the Cam makes no very marked indentation upon the wide horizon. The Gog Magog hills—to give them their full title—do not conspicuously justify their gigantic appellation. People are even said to have passed them by without becoming aware of their existence. Now we feel better. Our mountains may not reach the level of the eternal snows, but at least they can retain their white canopy into the second week of May. Since then the snows have melted, and we have donned our spring livery once again. Chestnut, lilac and laburnum are all at their loveliest.
The builders have been busy enough, in spite of the hard times. The two new blocks at Downing have been completed and are actually in occupation. Downing is sui generis; its architecture differs- entirely from that of any other College in the University. It was built in the year 1800 in a style then regarded as the last word in classical elegance. According to contemporary taste, it put the crude Gothic of older founda- tions to utter confusion. Only the boldest dared to question the orthodox creed. One of the heretics was Maria Edge- worth, who visited the College in its early days and made the shame-faced confession—almost as if she were acknow- ledging a secret vice—that she could not bring herself to prefer it to the Chapel at King's. Downing stood at one time in a spacious park, which must have been the envy of many Colleges with older traditions but more confined space. It has suffered inevitably from the invasion of bricks and mortar. The northern and southern frontages were sacrificed years ago, and now the new College buildings have made further encroachment on the green sward. Nevertheless, they are good of their kind and the architect has succeeded in harmonizing them—not too easy a task—with the earlier structure. The iron gateway which is to give access to Tennis Court Road, and which the College owes to the gener- osity of the Miss Kennys, will serve as a fitting memorial to one of Downing's most distinguished sons. Even King's Parade is suffering change. The temporary railings in front of King's College (the old railings disappeared ten years agd) have been replaced by a low stone parapet. The innovation had its critics. It would lead, we were told, to all manner of horrors. People would strike matches against the parapet to light their cigarettes ; the tourist would eat his luncheon upon it, and scatter his odious paper-bags and banana-skins over the sacred turf behind. There is reason to hope that these gloomy forebodings will be falsified. No doubt the parapet has introduced an unfamiliar feature into a familiar Scene ; but we shall grow accustomed to it as we have grown accustomed to much else. Indeed, we are beginning already to think it an improvement. Loud was the outcry when the time-honoured row of trees disappeared fririn the front of St. Catherine's. Yet to-day no one regrets
them ; rather we are grateful for n change that gives an uninterrupted view of one of the most attractive of Cam- bridge Courts. When the newly-planted grass plots have come to maturity, St. Catherine's will present as fair a face to the world as any of her sisters.
Magdalene, whose numbers and repute have grown out of all knowledge since the War, has also a building programme. The fine new block on the west side of Bridge Street is in an advanced stage of construction. It is only an instalment of an ambitious project, the ultimate completion of which must depend upon ways and means. Another building project, which has aroused keen expectation, tarries somewhat on the way. In a pleasant meadow beyond the Backs, once known as the King's and Clare cricket ground, is to stand a new and imposing University Library. The site is a splendid one, but the nature of the subsoil has presented unforeseen difficulties. It has proved too swampy to bear so heavy a structure, and tile builders have found it necessary to drive piles some thirty feet down to the underlying rock. The completion of the work will necessarily be delayed. and meanwhile the operation of pile-driving does not add to the amenities of the neighbourhood.
Death has taken its accustomed toll oil the University. I3oth Professor Karl Breul of King's and Canon J. II. Gray of Queens' leave gaps that will not easily be filled. Many generations of undergraduates, by no means confined to his own College, will cherish affectionate memories of " Joey Gray." lie was a familiar figure at Fenner's, and an enthusi- astic supporter of all forms of University athletics. It is no form of words to say that he was a man whom everybody loved at sight, and who can never have had an enemy in the world. Peace to his ashes ; he will be sorely missed. Other personahia deserving of record are that Cambridge has once more a President among her Heads of Houses ; that Professor Einstein has delivered a lecture in the Senate House to a large audience, some of whom are credibly reported to have understood some of it ; and that Mr. Rudyard Kipling has so far reconciled himself to our " witless learning " as to accept an Honorary Fellowship of Magdalene.—I am, Sir, &c.,
YOUR CAMBRIDGE CoRmIESPONDE\T.
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