Drink, sex and snobbery
How pitfalls faced by Cambridge University freshers haven’t changed in a century
As thousands of students around the country prepare for their first week at university their parents may be forgiven some trepidation at what lies ahead for their offspring.
But a newly discovered document reveals that the pitfalls of fresher’s week appear not to have changed much in the last 100 years.
A guide written for new students by a Cambridge undergraduate in 1893 shows that even then freshers appeared to be obsessed with drink, sex and looking good in front of their peers.
In a list don’ts for young students, Arthur John Story, an undergraduate at St John’s College, advises new arrivals not to “get too familiar” with their landlady’s daughter, not to spend too much on their wine collection and not to be snobbish.
Among the manual’s words of advice was one many a contemporary young fresher might want to heed the first time they move away from home, particularly given the state of most student’s finances.
Story writes: “Don’t attempt to keep every brand of wine under the sun. Most Undergrads cannot distinguish ‘Bordeaux’ from ‘Burgundy’ if served in a decanter.”
He adds: “Don’t, if you are in lodgings, get too familiar with your landlady’s daughter, as she is probably more clever than you.”
He does add however: “With other men’s landlady’s daughters you may be less particular, but even then — Take care.”
And in an admonition towards the age-old tendency of some better off students to lord it over their peers he states:
“Don’t let your residence in Cambridge cause you to assume superiority over other less fortunate.”
However, Story was not above exercising his own class distinctions when it came to student dalliances, warning:
“Don’t take the girl from the tobacconists or confectioner’s home. You gain nobody’s respect by doing so and the girl’s only notion is to encourage a good customer.”
Story’s manual, titled The Fresher’s Don’t, is one of a number items going on public display at St John’s College as part of Open Cambridge 2016, including letters, diaries, photographs and personal items.
They reveal that while some aspects of student life have changed for the better — the lack of washing facilities is now a thing of the past — some things, such as homesickness, neglecting one’s studies and the thrill of independence, remain a constant feature of university life.
Cu th bert Holt house in 1909, proudly clutching the giant wooden spoon traditionally awarded to the maths student who came bottom of his class
The diary of Abraham de la Pryme, an undergraduate at St John’s in the 1690s, recounts the pranks that even then were part of student life.
He describes one episode during which some students tricked the local people of Cambridge into thinking that a house was haunted.
The result was close to mass hysteria, prompting a passer-by to rebuke the students’ behaviour, shouting “Fy, Fy! Go home for shame!”
The ‘passer-by’ happened to be Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists of his age.
The exhibition also features newspaper clippings of more modern College escapades; such as when a group of Engineering students suspended a car from the Bridge of Sighs in 1963. It took the college’s maintenance team two hours to free the car and remove it using a punt.
Also included in the display are photographs of St John’s student Cuthbert Holthouse clutching a giant wooden spoon in 1909.
This was a trophy traditionally awarded to the maths student who came bottom of his class and was a sought-after prize until the practice was abolished in the early part of the 20th century.
Holt house, who was the last recipient of the spoon, later returned it to St John’ s and it now hang sin the Fellows’ Combination Room in Second Court.
In his manual of don’ts — there are no do’s — Story wisely urges new students not to walk around as if they own the place, stating: “We have often been surprised to see Undergrads walking four-a-breast and jostling all comers, even ladies, into the gutter.”
But there is one piece of advice that the new crop of freshers are unlikely to heed in the coming weeks as they start making their first acquaintances.
“Don’t by any chance speak to girls without introduction ,” says Story .“However innocent maybe the motive, such practices are the worst distraction a student can offer.”
Don’t let your residence in Cambridge cause you to assume superiority over other less fortunate.” Arthur John Story, Cambridge undergraduate in 1893 who wrote a list of don’ts for young students