PRINCE VICTOR AT MIDDLE TEMPLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1324, 7 April 1885, Page 3

PRINCE VICTOR AT MIDDLE TEMPLE.

The Prince of Wales has not wavered in his friendship for the Middle Temple, and has nominated his son Prince Albert Victor as student. Hia name stood on the list in tho Hall prior to his entrance just the same as the names of the others and less distinguished did. It seems in all things there is to be no distinction made in the career of the young Prince as a student to that of the rest. He is to be clad in the robe dt chambre, or gown, which id the common uniform of the diner in the Hall, and is to t<\ke his chance of fiuding a. table, not seeking any particular companionship. It will be liberty, equality, and fraternity. These are the principles this time-honored institution is conducted upon as regards eating the way up to the barristership—a three years' process. The tableß accommodate four, of whom one is captain —usually he who comes first. Sometimes diffident juniors lock up to seniority in time—that is, to the one who has attended most terms. The price of the dinner is two shillings each, paid in advance, and two shillings a term for the rober. The captain's only privilege is to carve and propose the kind of wine that shall be drunk with tho boiled beef and apple tart, which mostly prevail at the festive board. Life in the Temple is a singular experience for many a youth fresh from the University, unlike anything he has met with there, and not without its use. The Middle Temple is famous for numbering in its ranks Indian and and Colonial students. It is the favourite Inn of the Irisb, and the Dublin University students, who come there are of a high educational calibre. A good many Irish M.P.'s have joined and blossomed from the Middle Temple into barristers^; but however unpalatable they may be in the Commons when upholding the cause of Old Ireland, which evidently means their own in particular, in the social atmosphere of the Middle Temple Hall they are the best of good fellows, often wise, mostly witty, and here and there learned. The Prince will, doubtless, not shirk contact—in the Hall—as there for him and those who are honored by him for the time will be the be-all and end-all of the connection, though with Temple men, really professional, these turn out often to be happy long-life connections.