The _Standard_, giving its account of "Speeches," at Eton, on Fourth
of June, said, "The speakers were attired in Court dress, the Oppidans
wearing their black school gowns." Since when have Oppidans worn
"gowns," black or otherwise? Those who used to wear gowns were the
Collegers. Surely the custom, sanctioned by some centuries, has not
been changed. The "Oppidans," or Town Boys, could not possibly be
metamorphosed into Gown Boys--at least so writes to us