Though it is far from any mountain, Oxford University is a pretty good place to study climbing. The gates of all colleges are locked at midnight, so for generations night-foundered students have made a practice of climbing in over the college walls. Rasher spirits, who like night climbing for night climbing's sake, have attacked the spiky heights of Oxford's 73-ft. Martyrs' Memorial,* and left it capped with proofs of their prowess—on several occasions, a chamberpot. Last week, two members of Oxford's Mountaineering Club who had tackled the spire got a sharp comeuppance.
At 2 a.m., using Alpinists' gear—hook, rope and nylon...