FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   >>  
hen he gazes at the double line of big windows between composite pillasters supporting the rather severe cornice. For in this building, in addition to the "congregations," or meetings, of the Senate consisting of resident and certain non-resident masters of art, the examinations for degrees were formerly held. Here on the appointed days, early in the year, the much-crammed undergraduates passed six hours of feverish writing, and here, ten days later, in the midst of a scene of long-established disorder, their friends heard the results announced. Immediately the name of the Senior Wrangler was given out there was a pandemonium of cheering, shouting, yelling, and cap-throwing, and the same sort of thing was repeated until the list of wranglers was finished. Following this, proctors threw down from the oaken galleries printed lists of the other results, and a wild struggle at once took place in which caps and gowns were severely handled, and for a time the marble floor was covered with a fighting mob of students all clutching at the fluttering papers, while the marble features of the two first Georges, William Pitt, and the third Duke of Somerset remained placidly indifferent. Although there is no space here to describe the many early books the library contains, it is impossible to omit to mention that among the notable manuscripts exhibited in the galleries is the famous _Codex Bezae_ presented to the University by Theodore Beza, who rescued it, in 1562, when the monastery at Lyons, in which it was preserved, was being destroyed. This manuscript is in uncial letters on vellum in Greek and Latin, and includes the four Gospels and the Acts. It was a pardonable mistake for the old-time "freshman" to think the Pitt Press in Trumpington Street was a church, but no one does this now, because the gate tower, built about 1832, when the Gothic revival was sweeping the country, is now known as "the Freshman's Church." The Pitt Press was established with a part of the fund raised to commemorate William Pitt, who was educated at Pembroke College nearly opposite. The University Press publishes many books, and gives special attention to books the publication of which tends to the advancement of learning. The two Universities and the King's printer have still a monopoly in printing the Bible and Book of Common Prayer. The magnificent museum founded by Richard, Viscount Fitzwilliam, is a little farther down Trumpington Street. I
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   >>  



Top keywords:
established
 

Street

 

Trumpington

 

results

 
galleries
 
marble
 

William

 
resident
 

University

 

includes


vellum

 

Gospels

 
mention
 

mistake

 
library
 
pardonable
 

impossible

 

letters

 
famous
 

monastery


presented

 

freshman

 

rescued

 
preserved
 

manuscript

 
Theodore
 

notable

 

destroyed

 

exhibited

 

manuscripts


uncial

 

Universities

 
printer
 

monopoly

 

learning

 

advancement

 
special
 
attention
 

publication

 

printing


Fitzwilliam

 

Viscount

 

farther

 

Richard

 
founded
 

Common

 
Prayer
 

magnificent

 
museum
 

publishes