AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
59
Through the mediation of Mr. Nunn, Oxford also had a share in opening my eyes to higher things, as I was
invited to spend a long weekend with an Oxford don, and realized the great gulf that seemed to be fixed between all
that had gone to make up my own life and the outlook and prospects of those more favoured. I was impressed with
the venerable aspect of the Bodleian Library, little dreaming then that in later years the Bodleian would be sending a
request that all my books should be placed upon its shelves.
The sketch of Magdalen, like the one of Cambridge, is inserted to be a reminder of these early kindnesses. One
strange experience that I remember vividly was lunch on the top of Magdalen tower.
It has been my lot to discover that my writings have led some readers to conjure up a vision of `an elderly,
scholarly, venerable, gentleman', to quote one reader, and in order that there shall be no doubt but that the earthen
vessel whose fashioning has occupied us in this record, should be seen as a very homely ordinary unpretentious
fellow, we will make our next entry one that is anything but highbrow.
The first example is a copy of a postcard sent home, and will give some indication of the relationship established
between father and daughter, and the method adopted to stimulate enquiry.
`Dear Ruth,
Why would Droitwich be the place for you when you are a "pickle"? See the encyclopaedia. Please
tell Mummy I hope to write this afternoon. My love to four sweethearts now.
Dad'.