WHAT THE "WOULD" SAYS.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3000, 26 September 1878, Page 4

WHAT THE "WOULD" SAYS.

The Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Oxford has recently gone a-begging. The present occupant, Dr Sewell, of New College, having vacated bis post, it was offered to the head of Lincoln College, Mark Patlison. Being refused by him, it was then offered to Dr Evans, ot Pembroke College; and as he was unwilling to accept the responsibility, it was then offered to Dr Jowett, of Balliol, by whom it will in all probability be accepted. A curious thrill will probably run through a cortain portion of the interested public when the celebrated Master of Balliol iadds to his many titles to fame that of ■Vice-Chancellor.

Lord Beaconsfield may puff the Sultan as much as he pleases, but he cannot alter the opinion of Constantinople that His Majesty is a piece of hopeless imbecility. In addition to this the popular party have spread areport widely believed, which attacks the Sovereign's legitimacy. In any other country, a prince of whose genuine birth such doubts might be entertained would still.be royal on his mother's side ; but the Sultans, as is well known, ask no questions whatever as.to the origin of the consorts they collect in their harem. It is not difficult, therefore, to understand the emotion produced by the bare suspicion that, the mother being a slave, the father was an American groom.

Commander Cameron, of South African fame, is about to proceed to Asia' Minor for the purpose of surveying that tract of country through which it is talked of having a short railway cut to India. Have I found the terrible explanation of many of the black and impressive twin arches that span the brow of beauty, to the wonder and admiration of man P I copy an advertisement gratis :—" Unwin aud Albert supply, artificially, perfectly natural-looking eyebrows, twenty-one shillings the pair, forwarded on receipt of P.O. order with color desired ! "

Speaking of Nilsson, I was grieved to learn from her that America has run away-with, all her earnings ; so that she has to recommence coining money with her voix dor. It is almost good news for the musical public, which is guaranteed by this necessity from any defection from the stage it might have dreaded; but it is hard upon the poor little woman, who viust now sing 1 for her supper. I wonder whab amount of truth there is in a certain very ugly rumor that has reached my ears concerning the cause of the disgrace which has befalletn the Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander-in-Chief of the Eussian Armies. That peculation and dishonesty were universal and prevalent iv all classes of tbe Russian ±£mpire I knew, but I had supposed the line must be drawn at the Imperial gates— wrongly, I am told. The following is an incident of Lady Waldergrave's ball at Strawberry Hill: Two ladies closely masked, beautifully dressed, and with charming figures, entered and sat down in the corridor. Their advent was observed by two gallant gentleman, who had been watching the scene instead of. joining in the dance ; but now, attracted and fascinated by the appearance of the two fair unknown ones, they determined to avail themselves of the privilege conceded by the wearing of a domino, and, without waiting for an introduction, to ask the ladies to dance, it being further agreed that they should compare notes afterwards as to the respective merits of their partners. The ladies, acting in the true spirit of, the ball, at once consented to dance, and speedily proved themselves well qualified to thread the mazes of the valse. The two happy couples -were respectfully so satisfied wiih each other that they agreed to continue the arrangement during the rest 'of the evening. The running on both sides was very warm—in fact, dangerously so ; till, in an unwary moment, the ladies removed their dominos, and the revelation was made that they stood jn the position to each other of mother and daughter; and, in fact, that the lucky partner of the daughter was cognisant of this the whole time, and had-thus artfully got his friend to take the mamma off his bands.

The presentation in the Guildhall iibrary was marred by a very disagreeable occurrence, which was, in fact, the single event in that portion of the celebration. After the Plenipotentiaries had made their bows to the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, a misguided gentleman jumped up, and in a very clear and wholly unexcited^voice exclained, " Traitors to the Constitution! " It w % as, of course, a highly improper, scandalous, and generally disgraceful interruption. What followed was a characteristic commentary on the chivalry of Jingoism. The infatuated denouncer of Ministers was in a twinkling torn from his seat, and hurled upon the floor. It is only safe to kick and hit a man when he is dawn; and about a dozen gentlemen heroically seized the opportunity" of pummelling, with their fists, sticks, and boots, the body of the prostrate miscreant, who, it -is gafe to say, would have escaped with impunity had he been in a position to challenge his assailants successively to single combat. But at last even the honor of Jingoism was satisfied. Cries of " Shame ! " and V Fair play ! ". were raised, and the opinion seemed to be gaining ground that the luckless man had had enough. But there were others- who thought differently, and something very like a Tree fight round, and for, his body began. While the uproar was at its unseemly, height the Pleiiipotentaries left the library for the Guildhall, there to receive the freedom of the City. It was not an auspicious prelude.—Ateas.