Cambridge Slang, A .D .1795.

said " he had just been convened in the combination ( query comminution ) room , and was very near rustication , merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party . ' So ho , Jack ! ' briskly rejoined another , ' almost presented with a travelling fellowship ? very nigh being sent to grass , hey ?'" He next learns that the men at the different

colleges are known , some as Jesuits , some aa Christians , some as Johnian Hogs or Trinity Bull-dogs , some as Clare Hall Greyhounds , others as Sidney Oivls , & o . But he can make nothing of the uses of tbe words cut and sport . A man is cut in hall , cut at afternoon lectures , cut at a ball , & c , while , on the other hand , he cuts a figure ,

cwts chapel , cuts gates , cuts examinations , & o . Some , says the writer , even " cut their tutors . I own , I was shocked at the latter account , and began to imagine myself in the midst of so many monsters . " Bat his horror is increased when he hears " a lively young man " assert " that , in consequence of an intimation from the tutor relative

to his irregularities , his own father came from the country to jobe him : ' but , faith ! ' added he , carelessly , " I no sooner learned he was at the Black Bull ( an inn so called , in High Street ) than I determined to cut the old codger completely . '" Still worse is " one most ferocious spirit , " who declares that he is " resolved to cut every man

of Magdalen College ; concluding , with an oath , that they were a parcel of rippish quizzes . " As to the word sport , he learns that men " sported knowing , and they sported ignorant ; they sported an wgrotat , and they sported a new coat ! They sported an exeat , they

sported a dormiat , they sported their outer , a lion , a lioness , a cat , and a levari * . " The astonishment oi " A friend to Alma Mater , bnt an enemy to all ambiguity , " may be more easily imagined than described .

In the rejoinder , " A Cantab " first of all remarks on the absence of all mention of the Wooden Spoon—the last on the list of the junior optimds , the third and lowest class of those who have taken honours . Even the lowest of the hoi polloi , who are his inferiors , make him their butt , and reiterate the stale and perennial remark , "that

wranglers are born with gold spoons in their mouths , senior optimes with silver , junior optimes with wooden , and the hoi polloi with leaden ones . " As to the hoi polloi , he says , if there be one only , he is " a Bion , who carried all his learning about him , without the slightest inconvenience ; " if two , they are dubbed " the Scipios , Damon and

Pythias , Hercules and Atlas , Castor and Pollux ; if three , "the three Graces , or the three Furies , or the three Magi , or Noah , Daniel and Job ; if seven , " the seven wise men , or the seven wonders of the world ; " if nine , "the nine unfortunate suitors of the Muses ; " if twelve , " the twelve apostles ; " if thirteen , " they deserved a round

dozen , or , like Americans , should bear thirteen stripes on their coat and arms ; " and so on , in addition to which they were known also as " constant quantities and martyrs . " " A Cantab " then explains the titles of the various undergraduates—the fellow-commoner , pensioner , izer , & o . —with only one of which I need trouble your readers . He

says , " a Harry or errant Soph I understand to be either a person four-and-twenty years of age , . and of an infirm state of health , who is permitted to dine with the fellows , and to wear a plain , black , full-sleeved gown ; or else he is one who , having kept all the terms by statute required previous to his law-act , is , 7 toc ipso facto , entitled

to wear the same garment , and thenceforth ranks as bachelor by courtesy . " Later on he adds , " The Jesuits are the inhabitants of Jesus College ; the Christians , those of Christ ' s ; the Johnian hogs were originally remarkable , on account of the squalid figures and low habits of the students , and especially of tho sixers , of St . John ' s

College ; Catherine-Puritans , inhabitants of Catherine Hall , so punningly called from Kathairo ; they are also yclept Catharine-doves , for the same reason—doves being emblems of purity . Hence , perhaps we derive the epithet of ' a plucked puritan . ' Trinity bull-dogs , from their ferocious deportment , in consequence of peculiar immunities

attached to their college , and of their remarkable dress . I am yet to learn the etymology of Sidney Oivls and of Clare Hall Greyhounds . " He closes his letter with two stanzas from a poem by Kit Smart the poet , himself of Pembroke—written in 1741 , while yet at collegeand "intituled The Pretty Bar-keeper of the Mitre . " They are as

follow : — " Her snuff-box if the nymph pull'd out , Each Johnian , in responsive airs , Fed with the tickling dust his snout , With all the politesse of bears .

Dropt she her fan beneath her hoop , Ev ' n stake-stuck Clarians strove to stoop . The sons of culinary Kays , Smoking from the eternal treat ,

Lost in ecstatic transport , gaze , As though the fair was good to eat ; Ev ' n gloomiest King ' s men , pleased awhile , Grin horribly a ghastly smile . Q .

CLUB HOUSE PLAYING CABDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , Ms per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If bi post Hd per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , BtSzique , Ecart ^ , & c , Mogii Quality lod per pack , Us per dozen packs . —London : W . W . Morgan , 67 Barbican , E . C .

Masonic Teaching—What It Really Is.

MASONIC TEACHING—WHAT IT REALLY IS .

( Continued from page 180 . ) I have no desire to attempt an addition to this , it embraces all that could well be said , but having learnt another form more particularly appertaining to ourselves , I may be permitted to repeat it . So refined a virtue , if possessed by a monarch , adds lustre to every gem that adorns his crown ; if by the warrior , it imparts unfading freshness to the

wreath that shades his brow . It is the companion of true honour and the ameliorator of justice , on whose bench , when enthroned there , interposes on behalf of the victim a shield of defence impenetrable by the sword . As the vernal showers descend to refresh the vegetable creation , so mercy acting upon the heart returns nature to its source

in a purer stream . It is the attribute of the Deity on whom the best of us must rest our hopes and dependence , for at the final day , when arraigned at His bar , and the actions of life are unveiled to view , though justice may demand the fiat , let us hope His mercy will avert the awful doom .

My object was to have sent this to you last mail , but finding the task longer than anticipated at the outset , anxiety to complete it must plead an excuse for delay . The second portion combines various subjects more or less symbolical , and were I to give details of them your patience would be sorely tried , and I fear my integrity

impugned j hence reference must again be made to those skilled in the liberal arts and sciences for more particular information . I may , however , proceed with what may be termed the moral advan . tages of geometry . It is one of the first and noblest of the sciences , and the basis upon which the superstructure of Masonry is erected .

By geometry we may trace her various windings to her most concealed recesses , discover the wisdom , power and goodness of the G . A . O . T . U ., and view with delight the beautiful variety which decorates and graces the vast machine ; by it we may discover how the planets move in their orbits , and mathematically demonstrate their

various revolutions ; by it also we may rationally account for the return of seasons , and the mixed and beautiful variety of scenes each season displays to the discerning eye , and how numberless worlds all formed by the same Almighty being , and governed by his unerring laws roll around in the vast expanse of space . Whilst such objects

engage our attention , how ought wo to improve , with what grand ideas should such knowledge fill our minds ? It was a survey of nature and an observation of her beautiful proportions which first induced man to imitate the divine plan , and study symmetry and order . This gave rise to society every useful art . The architect began to

design the plans then laid down , and having improved by time and experience , produced those beautiful works of art which have secured the admiration and imitation of every succeeding age . Knowing that your Biblical knowledge is extensive , I shall merel y refer you to the portion of tho sacred volume respecting the building

of the temple , and content myself by observing it is from the plans of K . S . to carry on and complete that structure that we deduce the ori gin of our system of government . The two great pillars placed at the entrance to the temple were intended as a memorial to the children of Israel of the happy deliverance of their forefathers from bondage .

and in commemoration of the miraculous pillars of fire and cloud , which had two wonderful effects , the fire having given light to the Israelites and facilitated their escape , whilst the cloud proved darkness to Pharaoh and his host , and retarded their pursuit . K . S . ordered them to be placed at the entrance to the temple that tho children of Israel

might have the happy event before their eyes in going to and returning from divine worship . You may not perhaps concur in the general opinion that speculative Masonry , as practised , has arisen out of operative ; be that as it may , it is not my intention to enter the arena of discussion upon

such a point , or say one word disparagingly of those worthy students of the Craft whose efforts may be accepted as proofs of erudition and zeal to promote the interest of the Order . Suffice it for me to say that architecture has gone hand in hand with civilisation , while for the rise of the various orders ( laying aside our interpretation ) consult

your books of reference . Ere this you will have gained some information as to Masonic symbolism . A prominent feature therein is that in connection with the seven liberal arts and sciences , and of these I purpose giving a definition so far as my memory will serve .

Grammar teaches the proper arrangement of words according to the idiom or dialect of any particular country or people , and is that excellency of pronounciation which enables us to read or write a language agreeable to reason , orthography , and the strict rules of literature .

Ehetoric teaches us to speak fluently upon any subject , not merely with propriety , but with all the advantages of force and eloquence , wisely contriving to captivate the hearer b y strength of argument and beauty of expression , whether it be to entreat , exhort , admonish , or applaud . Logic enables us to guide our reason discreetly , and to direct