the honor degree from Oxford. It has seldom been conferred upon Americans, although Longfellow and Holmes obtained it, and this present June a former citizen of Indiana, the present Mayor of Oxford, Mr. Robert Buckell, was thus honored.

Each college has a social life within itself, its members always club together, work together, and strive to maintain its peculiar reputation. Thus, Oriel is famous for its theology, Christ Church for its noblemen and aristocracy, University College

Angelo and the Sheledonian Theatre, where the degrees are conferred.

Here, near the platform, are two benches, where in by-gone days the tradesmen of the town sat during the exercises. The proctor, whose office is much the same as our guardian of the peace, announced the name of the candidate and then walked twice back and forth past these benches. If the young man had been careless and forgotten to settle his bills, the proctor's sleeve was plucked by an irate tailor or merchant, the indebtedness made known, and the young man pre

vented from receiving his degree till the account was settled. It, well illustrates the conservative nature of the English, and the tenacity with which they cling to old traditions that these benches still stand where they were a hundred years ago, and although not filled now with angry creditors, nevertheless are still passed by the proctors.

With the preservation of this custom there are others equally interesting; such as the singing of Christmas carols at your window by the choir boys from the University chapels, and

the May day celebrations. At exactly five o'clock on the morning of May 1, a Latin hymn to the Holy Trinity is sung from Magdalen Tower by the choir habited in

surplices. After this, and the pealing of bells, the members of the choir always throw down their caps and gowns, for no reason except that it has been done from time im