he became gradually reconciled
to his fate, and began seriously to discuss the question whether Miss
Hardcastle should wear her hair in curls or bands. A freshman of
seventeen, who had no pretensions in the way of whiskers, and who was
too happy to be admitted on any terms to a share in such a "fast idea"
as the getting up a play, was to be the Miss Neville; and before the
hall bell rang for dinner, an order had been despatched for a dozen
acting copies of "She Stoops to Conquer."

Times have materially changed since Queen Elizabeth's visit to
Christ-Church; the University, one of the earliest nurses of the infant
drama, has long since turned it out of doors for a naughty child; and
forbid it, under pain of worse than whipping, to come any nearer than
Abingdon or Bicester. Taking into consideration the style of some of the
performances, in which under-graduates of some three hundred years ago
were the actors, the "Oxford Theatre" of those days, if it had more wit
in it than the present, had somewhat less decency: the ancient
"moralities" were not over moral, and the "mysteries" rather Babylonish.
So far we have had no great loss. Whether the judicious getting
up of a tragedy of Sophocles or Aeschylus, or even a comedy of
Terence--classically managed--as it could be done in Oxford--and well
acted, would be more unbecoming the gravity of our collected wisdom, or
more derogatory to the dignity of our noble "theatre," than the
squalling of Italian singers, masculine, feminine, and neuter--is a
question which, when I take my M.A., I shall certainly propose in
convocation. Thus much I am sure of, if a classical play-bill were duly
announced for the next grand commemoration, it would "draw" almost as
well as the Duke; the dresses might be quite as showy, the action hardly
less graceful, than those of the odd-looking gentlemen who are dubbed
doctors of civil law on such occasions; and the speeches of Prometheus,
Oedipus, or Antigone, would be more intelligible to the learned, and
more amusing to the ladies, than those Latin essays or the Creweian
oration.

However, until I am vice-chancellor, the legitimate drama, Greek, Roman,
or English, seems little likely to revive in Oxford. _Our_ branch of
that great family, I confess, bore the bar-sinister. The offspring of
our theatrical affections was unrecognized by college authority. The
fellows of ---- would have done any thing but "smile upon its birth."
The dean especially would