The Mother of College Cities. Kingston Can Look Up To Oxford With Interest. Oxford as a seat of learning dates from Al- fred the Great. Some writers credit it even carlier., But the original town was obliterated at the Danish Conquest Modern Oxford goes back only to William the Conqueror. The monasteries founded about that time were practically the beginning of the present col- leges. Oxford is monastic. Even the town plan is cruciform--four wide streets lead out toward the points of the compass from the central place called "Carfax," a corruption of "Quatre voies," "Four ways." Oxford and Cambridge differ from Harvard and Yale. The United States universities are homogeneous. The English universities are heterogeneous The American universities are made up of a president and faculty ruling several thousands twelfth century monastic days. But the col lege is famous, not more for its beauty than for its grand choir Ranking among|the first three in England, it is worthy of the great master who, as organist and leader, made it in great part, Sir John Stainer. Passing up "High," on the left, 'one sees the weather- beaten buildings of University college, said to be the oldest institution in Oxford. It has on its alumni roll few greater than Percy Bysshe Shelley, in whose honor, after they had expelled him in disgrace, they raised a beautiful memorial, one of the sights of Ox- ford. On the right, back from High Stree} are the grand old buildings anl °luxuriant gagdens of New college. It is in every way dhe of the " i Rid led St. JouN'§ CoLLEGE. of students on defined lines, The English uni versities are made up ol Scores ol couileges, eacn with a dinerent foundation and dincring radically In Custos aid rules A stuucut from vxtord 1s apt 10 say tnat ne 1s an vriel, a Merton, or a Magdalen man ratner tnan an Ox1o0rd man Some one has said that only two cities in Europe have souls, Lontion and Uxtord 1 he lateer nas an "atmosphere Lruly, 1t 1s a place one.cannot _forget--so tull of rehics- tnat tne Spirits of tne departed seem to nover around We 1orget the depressing and relaxing ci mate; we look about and see a wide valiey hemmed in by hilis sucn as Lungland alone nas, and a peacerul stream winding its way, wntie around, mdden mm part by ancient enns and girt witn spacious lawns and meadows, hes the cluster ot bundings called "the university No otuer word tnan cluster' seeins to ex press tne idea. 1 hough tne twenty colleges of Uxford are indepgnuent ot one anotoer, and could go on as usual (save tor tue ntercol legiate 1ectures) 1 tney were miles apart, they nestie so closely togetner that it 1s hard to tell which 1s wnich, There are exceptions--Magdalen in the soutneast corner ot tne town, Vyorcester in the nortnwest, stand almost by themselves, but it takes care to distinguish Jesus, Lincoln, and Iixeter, with Brasenose near by, and a still worse puzzle 1s. tne cluster around Merton street and Bear lane, comprising Merton, Orel, Corpus Christi and part of Cnrist church." I nese two groups lie respectively on the north and south sides of the "righ" (street), which experts declare to be unbeaten \t its toot is Magaalen, with fine cloisters and majestic tower, while in ftont is Magdalen hyidge. 'Lhe old bridge was torn down mn 1776, and one built of solid stone, It spans the little Cher well whicn is a branch of tne Thames, joining it half a mile below. On fine days in May and June this river, when thronged with punts and in kurope for arcmtectural beauty canoes, presents 'a hne sight I'he willows overhanging from the old city wall are seen, with the large: dining hall, and the great "sepia" window in the chapel, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, depicting the judgment day, and leaving an impression in one's mind that lives At Magdalen the gardens are extensive, In cluding the famous "water walks of Addison and a grove of elms of sixty acres: "Here, within 'a stone's throw of the High street, deer graze peacefully and the cawing rooks build their nésts in the tree-tops, unmindful of man's presence."+ One of the four open air pulpits still in existence 1s on a corner of the wall of Magdalen, and just across the quad. is the old "Grammar Hall," a relic irst in the "Varsity, alike in study and in sport. 'Lne visitor 1s mpressed wit portions of tne old street, wnere Crammer was ccnained betore beng led to nis. martyrdom, wnere Any Kobsart was buried, and where sermons to the uwnuergraduates are preached on dun- day evenmngs; beaind it the sadcumne camera, winch conwaiiits part ot tue Boalewdn hbrary, and just bemnd tms 'again tne so-called Di- vinity sChools, contaimng tac main body O01 the great Bodleian, wnose cnambers repay hours Ol carci seemg--+hen-we came mo Broad strect, where, mn front of-"Balhol," the casual passerby, would nuss a smail cross" of stone nubedded in the macadam on the street around the corner is St. Giles' and here be hoid a beautitul monument, which tells the tale--tne "Martyrs Memonal, comnifmorat mg the courage and taitn ot tne three ST #orm# ers, nidiey, Latuner and Cranmer And tnere is Bailiol, the great reading college, made famous by many but by none more tnan the great jowett--the college of Matthew Ar- noid and Aitred Milner, the college which has furmsned more hgads of -colleges tor Oxford tnan all tne others put togetner But the largest college in the university 1s Christ Churcn Its massive tower looms up as, recrossing the High street, you pass down St. Aldate's Lhe "Great Quadrangle," much the largest in, Oxford; the magnificent mediac val dining hall, a veritable art galiery in it self; she cathedral, one of the finest of Nor man remains, are the "most striking features At. St. Jonn's college, a side of tne first-quad rangle represents all that 1s Jeft of the original bund.ngs of St. Bernard's coliege, founded: in 1437 L he beautiful garden front was due to Archbishop Laud, whose ghost i$ said to haunt the library and quadrangle. The col lege possesses the notes made by the famous churchman during his trial, his skull-cap and the staff upon wnich he supported himself as he walked to the scaffold. Of its founder, a merchant tailor, Sir Thomas White, is told a quaint story of how wse the site for the college I hree trunks an elm tree grow from one root were » him the sign for cation, as they fitted in. with a dream vouch an inspiration. In the library of St reserved qa rich store of ecclesiasti vestments, the gift of Archbishop Laud tl gardens, laid out as late as 1750, are 1¢ most beautiful of all the beautiful college gar dens in Oxford; the herbaceous borders are famous, and the tamenesg of the birds which inhabit tle shrubberies is captivating No one who goes to Oxford should neglect St. Mary's the Virgin church, approached from High street by the beautiful porch, with e twisted columns, added by Archbishop Ime Correge City's Prue / ' ) Laud's chaplain, Dr. Owen, in 1637. The church, tradition. ays, was originally built ig the reign of Alfred the Great. it is two-stor- ied, not beautiful in interior, but full ef in- tensely interesting relics. In the choir Cran- mer was tried in September, 1555, and under the curious wooden pulpit he made the famous "recantation of his recantation." Here Amy Robsart was given a public funeral by the university and laid to.rest in the.choir, when the vice-chancellor, who gave the sermon, lost the favor of Leicester bys speaking of the "poore layde" as having been "pitifully mur- dered". Only thrée years before Newman be- came vicar, mm 1828, a curious rélic of olden days was done away with. On St. Scholastica's Day the Mayor and GQorporation of Oxford were at one time compelled to go forward and make restitution for the massacre which took place on that day in 1354. In very early times they arrived with ropes around their necks; later on they had only to make a propitiatory offering, .and finally the record of the squab- ble between collegians and townsmen was abolished, much to the relief of all concerned The chapel at Keble college does not inspire one with admiration, but it is noticeable for gorgeous colored mosaics. The college bears the stamp of modern origin and ecclesiastical, teaching. In the library are valuable manu- scripts connected with the great and pious man whose name it bears. It is one of the most democratic of the colleges, and the pay- ment of £82 per annum enables the student to reckon to a penny the expense. Instead of having only one meal in the hall, all meals are served there, and the rooms of the students are arranged along corridors running through the buildings, not upon separate stairc This memarial college is almost an unsatisfy- ing tribute. John Keble was a saint--a poet of elevated and sanctified genius; a preacher, teacher, and leader of singular sweetness and modesty, without loss of austere strength .or strictness of principle. He went in and out among the poor as well as the rich. His loy- alty to the church was intense. Albher friends shared his affections, The Bodleian library was founded by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, built between 1444 and 1480, restored by Sir Thomas Bodley about 1610. Near by are the beautiful Rad- cliffe Camera, erected in 1749 to contain the books given by Dr. Radcliffe, but now used as a reading room for the Bodleian; the Claren don, built from the proceeds ef Clarendon's "History of the Great Rebelljon," and at first - graceful spire 180 feet high. St. Martin's church was demolished in' 1896 te open the crossing of the four streets, but the ancient tower was preserved. All Saints' church is a fine example of the classic Queen Anne style, The Church of St. Peter-in'the-East is very ancient and contains Saxon as well as Norman features. Then there are the churches of St. . Algate, St. Giles, St. Thomas and St. Barna- bas, besides six new parish edifices, and the places of worship of other communions. THE CHRIST S MOTHER KISS. In the peasant districts of Germany, and, in fact eastward through the great Balkan ranges into many provinces Of Russia, thére'is a pret- ty Christmas morning *ceremomal connected with the mother of each home. The people who follow this custom live in districts where scores of customs, dating in, origin far back of the birth of Christ, still prevail. Christmas in their mind is not so intimately associated with the birth of Christ as that it marks the * turning of the sun back to spring and summer warmth. The Christmas celebrations begin on De- cember 21, the tithe of the longest night and shortest day of the year. They continue down to New Year's. Christmas morning is really the morning" of Dec. 22, when the day begins to lengthen and the night to shorten. All the family are up by four o'clock that morning, when the "dead before the dawn" prevails The ground is covered with snow. The air is keen and filled with frost crystals. ®The break- fast table is spread and iy groans with every- thing good the village and the farm can pro vide. Extra candles, for which many a penny has beensaved, are placed in every room i The mother comes in to the table. She stands at her chair. Upon her head 1s some pretty, hand-worked ornament A spotlessly white handkerchief is crossed at her throaf, The father comes Jnto the room and, advanc ing to her, kisses her, not on the lips, but on the forehead, just above and between the two eyes. The eldest child follows the father and kisses her as he. did. Then come the other children, down to the youngest, perhaps a guest or two, and the servants. All gently kiss her. This is the Christmas mother kiss, and bread is not broken on that day im any family until it is given. Now the origin of this custom has a direct connection with the rejoicing over the first sign of spring. In the -peasant lore three MAGDALEN FouNDERS' Tower AND CLOISTER MAGpALEN CoLLeGe, TOWER AND Brine the home of the Clarendon Press; and the Sheldonian Theatre; the hall for public occa- sions, designed by Wren and presented by Archbishop Sheldon. The university also pos sesses the New Examination Schools, the Ashmolean buildings, Taylor Instithition, The Galleries, Science Museum, Indian Institute, and Botanic Gardens. The gateway to the quadrangle at Christ's contains the famous bell, "Great Tom." The éxquisite tower of Magdalen, the-buildings of All Souls', the:cha- pel and garden buildings of St. John's, the library of Corpus Christi, and the quadrangles of Corpus, Oriel, Wadham Balliol and Uni yersiy are treasures in architecture, in which feature they have not always been successfully imitated in the modern buildings. Four col eges for women 'have been establighed--Som-, ervitte Hall, Cady Margaret Hall, St Hugh's Hall. and St. Hilda's. For .non-conformists the imposing Mansfield college was founded in 188 and a year later Manchester college, transferred from London, resumed in new juarters, . The bishopric®.of Oxford was constituted at the Reformation. Christ Church; the cathe- dral (also- college chapel), originally belonged to the priory of St. Frideswide. It was built in the twelfth century and has graceful and dignified interior. The exterior is much hid- den. St. Mary's church, near the centre of High street s richly decorated tower, with things are necessary to make a home happy the sun's warmth to provide food, the mother's hand to guide the home life, the father's arm to protect from foes. Home and Christmas are indissolubly connected, hence the mother kiss comes with the advent of Christmas. The recognition lof the father is later--at harvest time, when the year's hardest work is ended and the fruit of his labors are in the granary His kiss of respect comes at that time, but the mother's is given on the greatest holy day of the year The favorite Christmas folk-song in the west country. i$ 'the one that Amyas Leigh sings in. "Westward Ho," and is known as the "Carol of the Cherry Tree." In Provence the froft is anapple, and in Christian parts further ¢ / 1g-tree. But the story, in all; essentials, is the same, and it relates how the Saviour commanded the trees to bend and feed Him, even before the Incarnation, The life of the average newspaper reporter contains infinite variety. He goes from ract course to the pulpit-side, from the prize-ring to the bier, from the morgue to the opera; to- day recording the utterances of the statesman, to-morrow giving -the last words of the mar on the scaffold--ever painting scenes from life--ever writing the mottled history of a busy world 5 MR. SMOKER oes How Does This List of Special Prices Please Your Purse ? Tuckett's Club Special $1.75 per box 50, or 3 for 25¢c. Retailed in all cigar stores 10c. straight. Henry Irvings, 10c., 4 for 25c.; La For- tuna, 10c., 3 for 25c.; Van Horne, 10c., 4 for 25c.; Milo, 10c., 4 for 25c.; Grants, 10c., 4 for 25c.; Bachelor, 10c., 4 for 25c; La Maratana, 10c.; 4-for 25c.; Jap, 10c., 4 for 25¢, Grandas Clear Havana Cigars Retailed in all first class stores at 10¢., 4 for 25c. Limestones, 5c., 6 for 25c.; Peg Tops, 5c., 6 for 25c.; Gainsborough, 5c., 6 for 25c.; Sir Robert Peels, 5c., 6 for'25¢c.: Col- lege Inn, 5c., 6 for 25c¢.; It, JC 6 for 25¢.: E. L.,, 5c. 6 for 25¢c.; Col. Steele, 5¢c., 6 for ese; Bouquet, 5c., 6 for 25¢. RN \o _= HENRY CLAY, REG. IMPORTED $5.50 per box 50. BOCK, reg. regalia Martela size, $5.50 per box 50. BOCK, reg. Panetalas size, $7.00 per box 50. MANUEL GARCIA, reg. Senoritas size, $5.00 per box 50. MANUEL GARCIA, reg. Regalia Marcela size,, $5.50 per box 50. MANUEL GARCIA, reg. Albertoz size, $6.00 per box 50. LA CAROLINA, reg. $7.00 per box 50. "Xmas Presents. Cigar Cases . . $ 50to $3.00 Cigarette Cases . 25to 2.50 Pipes ara .. 1.00 to 16.00 Tobacco Pouches . . ....... 50to 2.50 Cigar Holders . . .......... 1.00to 2.75 Cigarette Holders . ..... 1.00to 4.00 Tobacco Jars. . ........... 1.00t6 3.00 Tobacco Sets . . 1.00 to 3.00 Playing Cards in fancy box : 1.50 Jap Cigars, in fancy box, 25..:...,. 2.00 Lord Tennyson, in fancy Box, 50... 4.00 Irvings, in fancy box, 25 ie. 2.00 Diana Cigarettes, gold tipped, 50 in tin, $1.50. Dematrino, plain, 50 in tin, $1.50. Murad, 50 in tin, 75c. Mogul, 50 in tin, 75¢c. B.& H, 50in tin, $1.25. B. & H., 100 in tin, $2.50. B.B.B. PIPES, two in case, $5.50. G.B.D. PIPES, 2 in case, $10.00. A.W.C. PIPES, 6 in case, $15.00. A. W.C. PIPES, 2 in case, $6.00. THE COLLEGEINN | CIGAR STORE ~. 202 PRINCESS STREET W. CUSICK, Mgr. W. J. BAKER, Prop. TELEPHONE 850