Physical and Social Habits of Cambridge Men.—Their Amusements, &c

Summary

Mens sana in corpore sano.

—Horace.

Some remarks already dropped here and there may have given the reader a hint of the comparison between the intellectual teaching of Cambridge and that of some other places to which I am proceeding, and which is one of the principal objects of this work. Before arriving at this, however, it is necessary to look at our English friends all round, physically, socially, morally, religiously.

To a vegetarian, a teetotaller, a “eupeptic” of any sort (lovely names these are, and show a sublime taste in the people who invented and use them) and, I fancy, to a New Englander generally, the Cantab's life would not appear the most regular, nor the kind of one best adapted to promote health, strength, and longevity. He is never up before half-past six in the morning, and seldom in bed before twelve at night. He eats a hearty dinner of animal food at 4 P. M., drinks strong malt liquors with it, and not unfrequently strong wine after it. He is not shy of suppers and punch. He often starts himself for his morning's work with the stimulus of a cigar.