University “Rag” is Amusing for Oxford

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1948, Page 8

University “Rag” is Amusing for Oxford

• LONDON, May 28,

The people of Oxford have jasf had the pleasure of seeing nine young undergraduates jump into the Isis “for the love of a lady.’’ It was part of a rag as a climax to Eights' Week. It w.as based on the story of Zuleika Dobson, one of Max Eeerbohm’s heroines. Her pesonakty was such that the undergraduates used to jump in the river to drown themselves and their sorrows. The men students of the Oxford University Labour Club decided w elect a modern Zuleika Dobson and discover how many members would be willing to swim for her. They chose vivacious, 20-year-old Anne Whates, of Ladv Margaret Hau. from five competitors, and over 100 students declared that her charms were such that they were willing to take the plunge. There might have been more if the voters had been less hazy about what they were voting for. Some thought they were voting for the girl they would like to throw in the river others for the girl they would most like to jump into the river with, others again thought that the voting was for the girl they would most like to jump into the river from. Some merely wanted to be in the swim.

The temperature of the Isis, at, 33 degrees, however, cooled the araour of all but nine. Watching them from a safe seat in a punt was Miss Whates, dressed in early Edwardian fashion. An unfashionable note was a bottle of rum which she had brought to warm the cockles of the nine noble hearts after their dip. “My heart bleeds for these unfortunate men,” said Miss Whates, “but in times such as these one must not allow one’s personal feelings to divert one from the path of duty.”