pathy between myself and the junior members of the College,
without which they must infallibly meet the fate of the man who reads his
books for himself and neglects the dictation of his Tutor. Moreover, I
have to spend the later part of the afternoon in reading the Cr--, I
should say, the admirable and scholarly version of Professor Jebb--to
three Commoners who are taking up Sophocles for Honour Moderations."

"Your day," I said, "seems indeed to be somewhat occupied. Let me at
least hope that the work which you are doing will win you the applause of
the learned, and a place among the Educationists of the century."

* * * * *

On leaving Feedingspoon, it happened that the first man whom I met was
Fadmonger, _the_ Fadmonger, the one with a Continental reputation. He
had been ordered to play golf in the morning, and was returning from the
links. As we walked together towards the North of Oxford, I was about to
repeat to him the substance of my conversation with Feedingspoon. But on
my mentioning the latter's name, Fadmonger interposed, and said that he
really could not trust himself to speak on that subject. He then
discoursed upon it at great length, using the most violent language about
Obscurantism, Packed Boards, the Tutorial Profession, Sacrifice of
Research to Examination, Frivolous Aims and Obsolete Methods, and the
like.

"What," he cried indignantly, "are we to think of a curriculum--so
called--which includes the _Republic_ of Plato and excludes the
_Onomasticon_ of Julius Pollux?"

"Assuredly," I replied, "there can be only one opinion about it."

"Exactly," he said; "you are one of the few sensible men I know. Our
methods, I can tell you, are getting us into serious discredit abroad. I
should just like you to hear the things which are said about Literae
Humaniores by Professor Jahaleel Q. Potsherds of Johns Hopkins, and
Doctor Grabenrauber of Weissnichtwo. They think very little of this
University at Johns Hopkins."

"Indeed," I said; "I am pained to hear it."

"Yes," replied Fadmonger; "it worries me a good deal. I have almost
resolved to give up the rest of my lectures for the Term, and go to the
Riviera for a complete change. . . .

"No," he continued, after a pause, "there is nothing to be hoped from the
College Tutor. Obscurantist he is, and obscurantist he will remain: he
is our great impediment to serious study--study, that is, of anything
except so-ca