Flunked

Bernard Marmaduke FitzAlan-Howard, Premier Duke and Earl and Hereditary Marshal and Chief Butler of England, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Norfolk, Baron Maltravers, Baron FitzAlan, Baron Clun, Baron Oswaldestre, 19-year-old scion of one of England's oldest families, Roman Catholic, last week "flunked" responsions--college entrance examination at Oxford. The young Duke has never been to school, but has been "educated" privately by a tutor. It may have been argued that his aristocratic lineage entitled him to many privileges, but Oxford has long been noted for its democratic independence. Magdalen College refused to enter King Edward when he was Prince of Wales because Queen Victoria made stipulations that the head of that institution would not accept; and so the young Prince had to go to the "House" (Christ Church). And many a noble lord with erroneous ideas about his own importance has been reduced to equality by a summary ducking in a fountain or a "de-bagging" (trousers taken off in public) humiliation.

The sheltered Duke has for the time being escaped such untoward events; but he may yet pass his responsions and live to find out that he is a person of no importance with the university town of Oxford, except, perhaps, to the tradesman and a few fawners, despite his magnificent titles and his 49,900 acres of land.