Page:Literary Landmarks of Oxford.djvu/134

102 the amiable and amusing custom of "tucking the freshmen.

Wood thus explains what "tucking" was: "That is to set the nail of the thumb to the chin, just under the lip; and by the help of the other fingers, under the chin, they would give a mark which sometimes produced blood." Other writers tell us that not infrequently, in order to intensify the humor of the performance, salt and water were applied to the fresh wound.

It is to be hoped that later-day second-class men, in their search for novel and ingenious tortures upon their juniors will not accept this as a hint for future playful entertainment.

John Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, was Student and Fellow of Exeter; and he became its Rector in 1612. The Hall-porter, in 1899, who had been servant of the College, boy and man, "for fifty years, come next October," spoke proudly to the Landmarker of a silver tankard, the gift of Rector Prideaux, and itself called, familiarly, "Prideaux," as being still in the Buttery, but not visible to strangers' eyes, even for the usually all-obtaining shilling! It seems, according to the Hall-porter in question, that it is a custom for Exeter Hall-porters in general, on their appointment to office, to keep " Prideaux " filled up with beer (and "Prideaux" holds a quart), for the benefit of