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R,CHARD MONCKTON MILNES was born in the year - OUDL Home

R,CHARD MONCKTON MILNES was born in the year - OUDL Home

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Oxford <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 'Seventies 247Memorial Bible, pr<strong>in</strong>ted, bound, and exhibited on oneday, <strong>the</strong> 30th of June, 1877, <strong>was</strong> described by Mr Gladstone,who opened <strong>the</strong> Caxton Exhibition on that sameday, at 2 p.m., as 'a feat which might be called <strong>the</strong>climax and consummation of pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g'. There <strong>was</strong>certa<strong>in</strong>ly a sport<strong>in</strong>g element, <strong>the</strong> ambition for a 'record',<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> achievement. One perennial publication of <strong>the</strong>Press orig<strong>in</strong>ated with <strong>the</strong> 'seventies, that jejune yet <strong>in</strong>dispensable'weekly', which evoked from <strong>the</strong> Lyrafrivola of A. D. Godley, sometime Public Orator, <strong>the</strong> immortall<strong>in</strong>es addressed To an old Friend, and conclud<strong>in</strong>gas follows:Place me somewhere that is far from <strong>the</strong> Standard and <strong>the</strong> Star,From <strong>the</strong> fever and <strong>the</strong> literary fret,—And <strong>the</strong> harassed spirit's balm be <strong>the</strong> academic calmOf The Oxford University Gazette!It <strong>was</strong> like <strong>the</strong> new Secretary to substitute for <strong>the</strong> endlessfly<strong>in</strong>g notices of University engagements and affairs thispunctual, accurate, compact, well-pr<strong>in</strong>ted hebdomadalfolio! Mr Price <strong>was</strong>, <strong>in</strong>deed, one of <strong>the</strong> big six (or so) <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> Oxford of those days. Council, Chest, Press all found<strong>in</strong> him <strong>the</strong>ir courage and <strong>the</strong>ir security. A few pla<strong>in</strong>words from him settled many a debate or division <strong>in</strong>Congregation. He <strong>was</strong> an authority. The trust reposed<strong>in</strong> him, even by young men, <strong>was</strong> immense. He <strong>was</strong> <strong>in</strong>his prime dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 'seventies. Years after, at <strong>the</strong> ageof eighty, he retired from his University offices, and hisfriends, to manifest <strong>the</strong>ir appreciation of his characterand services, enterta<strong>in</strong>ed him at a well-attendedd<strong>in</strong>ner <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hall of <strong>the</strong> Queen's College, of whichhe <strong>was</strong> an Honorary Fellow, President Magrath presid<strong>in</strong>g.The Master of Pembroke <strong>was</strong> no orator; he hadeven a slight impediment <strong>in</strong> his speech; and he nevertaxed <strong>the</strong> patience, or <strong>the</strong> emotions, of his audience. Butcould any who heard him on that occasion ever forget

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