Part 9 (1/2)

”I a

They had now turned round by the west end of St Mary's, and were passing Brasenose; and Mr Larkyns drew Verdant's attention to the brazen nose that is such a conspicuous object <vg069jpg> over the entrance-gate ”That,” said he, ”was modelled from a cast of the Principal feature of the first Head of the college; and so the college was named Brazen-nose+ The nose was for Brazennosian, who had to sit upon it for two hours, and was

---A na the reat respect for Mr Larkyns, yet we strongly sus- [footnote continues next page]

[70 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

not ~countenanced~ until he had done so These punishradually wore down the nose to its present s,” continued Mr Larkyns, pointing to the Radcliffe, ”is the Vice-Chancellor's house He has to go each night up to that balcony on the top, and look round to see if all's safe

Those heads,” he said, as they passed the Ashmolean, ”are supposed to be the twelve Caesars; only there happen, I believe, to be thirteen of theinal Heads of Houses”

Mr Larkyns' inventive powers having been now soo back to Brazenface and have some lunch

This they did; after which Mr Verdant Green wrote to hisaccount of his friend's kindness, and the trouble he had taken to explain the hts that could be seen by a Freshovernor, Verdant?” asked the friend, who hadthe to my mama - mother, I mean!”

”Oh! to the missis!” was the reply; ”that's just the sa his friend He has, however, the benefit of a doubt, as the authorities differ on the origin andnotices, to the last two of which the editor of ~Notes and Queries~ has directed our attention:

”This curious appellation, which, whatever was the origin of it, has been perpetuated by the symbol of a brazen nose here and at Staraphy, but in one undivided word, so early as 1278, in an inquisition now printed in ~The Hundred Rolls~, though quoted by Wood froram's Memorials of Oxford~

”There is a spot in the centre of the city where Alfred is said to have lived, and which may be called the native place or river-head of three separate societies still existing, University, Oriel, and Brasenose Brasenose claims his palace, Oriel his church, and University his school or acadee is still called in its for's Hall,' which is the name by which Alfred himself, in his laws, calls his palace; and it has its present singular name fro been originally located in that part of the royal mansion which was devoted to the then important accoram's Memorials in the British Critic~, vol xxiv, p 139

”Brasen Nose Hall, as the Oxford antiquary has shewn, may be traced as far back as the time of Henry III, about thereign, 6th Edward I, 1278, it was known by the name of Brasen Nose Hall, which peculiar na, as the same author observes, to the circuate It is presue of the portal was not forenuine produce of the mine; as is the nose, or rather face, of a lion or leopard still reave name to the edifice it adorned And hence, when Henry VIII debased the coin by an alloy of ~copper~, it was a coone to Oxford, to study in ~Brasen~ Nose' ”

-~Churton's Life of Bishop Smyth~, p 227

[AN OXFORD FRESHMAN 71]

Well, had you not better take the opportunity to ask them to send you a proper certificate that you have been vaccinated, and had the measles favourably?”

”But what is that for?” inquired our Freshman, always anxious to learn ”Your father sent up the certificate of ht that was the only one wanted”

”Oh,” said Mr Charles Larkyns, ”they give you no end of trouble at these places; and they require the vaccination certificate before you go in for your responsions, - the Little-go, you know You need nottold you this It will be quite enough to say that you understand such a thing is required”

Verdant accordingly penned the request; and Charles Larkyns sht his friend the very beau-ideal of a Freshman ”By the way, Verdant,” he said, desirous not to lose any opportunity, ”you are going to ith S it, - but I suppose you would go properly dressed, - white tie, kids, and that sort of thing, eh? Well! ta, ta, till then 'We iven, our hero, when Hall was over made himself uncommonly spruce in a nehite tie, and spotless kids; and as he was dressing, drew aIt was to be composed of quiet, steady men, ere such hard readers as to be called ”fast htful and rational conversation on the literature of ancient Greece and Rome, the present standard of scholarshi+p in the University, speculations on the forthco prize-poems, cohtful topics of <vg071jpg> a kindred nature; and the evening would be passed in a grave and sedate lasses of wine had been leisurely sipped, they should have a very enjoyable tea, and would separate for an early rest, ratified and improved

This was the nature of Mr Verdant Green's speculations; but whether they were realized or no,the scene a few hours later to Mr Smalls' room

[72 ADVENTURES OF MR VERDANT GREEN]

CHAPTER VIII

MR VERDANT GREEN'S MORNING REFLECTIONS ARE NOT SO PLEASANT AS HIS EVENING DIVERSIONS