The evening times., 1895-12-10

TIE Pbilodcmic Club of the Georgetown
University held an exciting meeting to
elect the four public debatcrs for the
Merrick medal. Alter several fruitless
ballots victory was finally decided in favor
OF Robert Dick Douglas, Ont,rbridge Hor-
scy, jr., John F. O'Brien ard Francis Z.
Slattery.
All Of these young men are more or less
familiar to the Washington public. Robert
Dick Douglas is native oT Greensboro,
y. c., and as the manager OF athletics
has made hosts nf frieHis MI a cqtia intanc,.s
here. IN a literary way Mr.. Iougias has
distinguished himself as ctiitor-in-chlcf of
the Georgetown Journal Ic is bright
writer, ready speaker and in addition
has some claims tp uratOrcal accomplish
mcnts. Mr.. Douglas has been II member
OF the debating club for the past four
years, and when in the freshman class
was one of the public speakers ar tue
Phjlon'mosIan Society. HeIs twenty years
Of age, and, according to 4 description in
a late paper, is sturdy youth with tnusled
locks" r''" ''''"' $3.50
STUDENT OF PROMISE
Outcrbridge Horsey is a MaryIa ndrr and u
young student of great promise. Mr. Hor-
seys claim to popular favor lies in his Il bic
captaincy OF the baseball team last season.
He is very popular with his comrades, and
avcortiing 10 tueir. yeruic,, ''wni put up Il
good fight for the prize"
John F. o. Brien is acknowledged the.
strongest candidate In the field. He is
from WATERFOWL, N. Y, ard is considered
one of the brightes; scholars III Georgetown.
He is specialist in English as she should
he spoke. and his impromptu speeches are
always noted for their wit aud apthess
Mr.. o. Bricn is one of the univsfsit " 's chain.
pion football pla yers, and his appearance on
the diamond is always rapturously ap-
plauded.
Francis b. Slattery is from Boston. and
Presents the bcsnect tacied. crrdite appear
ance becoming scholar from the Hub.
Mr.. SlaItery has Il precedent in his fa vor,
lnasInucsi as his elder brother ca rrIed off the
Merrick medal about five years go. He is
especially noted for his mastery OF Greek.
As a clear, forcible speaker with polished,
graceful manners, Mr.. Siattery has 10 com
peer i'll his class.
on the whole. the fight will be to the
knife. and all the more Interesting since
the opponents are so ably marched A
meeting or the club was held yesterday.
and after much discussion ii was decided 10
postpone the subject of the debate until he
next regular meeting. The date was named
for February %. and after the suhiect *
definitely chosen the d,batcrs will draw
lots for the affirmative and negative Sides
Of The contest.
MAGNIFICENT DIE MEDAL
The Mcrrick debating medal was pre-
sentcd to Georgetown College in 1872 by
tue late Hon. Richard L. Merrick. the distin-
cuist,s! lawyer of this city. II is mag
nifircnt die medal. containing 500 worth
Of puTr gold. and is Of exquisite design and
The last winner of this handsome trophy
was j. Neale Power of the DISCREET. Mr..
Robert J. Collier. a distinguished young stu
ient Of Oxford. England. gained the prize
in '93. and Condo NJ. Pallen OF st. Louis is
in his chosen profession.
Mr.. Collier, the son of Peter Fennimore
Collier. of New York. the publisher of
Town Topics" is row in TIE city On u
visit To Lis alma mater.
Mr.. Collier is at present studying En-
rlisb literature at Christ College. OK
ford. and has come home on a short Christ
mas vacation. .sf -.....--s.
Speaking of tie great English Univer-
sity. he said that out OF its four thousand
students only two are Americans.
The reason for this said Sr- Collier.
lis quite apparent. when the subjeo, re
ccives little reflection. There is 10 de-
nying hat the English systcni-of education
in the lower grades is much more perfect
than ours.
English boys, who study at Yarrow,
Eton, or any of the great public schools.
are infinitely better equipped in rudimen.s
han we 3re. Consequently, they are ready
fer oxford and its perfect system. when
Americans apply-no matter where they
come from, Yale. Harvard. or any other
American university-tEcy find themselves
below par in the very fcunGation of gcCd
education. Most of them get discouraged,
md take up some special branch. for which
he German universities are famous.
1.-The German universities get the bulk
Df our American students. Then come
he French. The English. as / have said,
get least OF all. They have the highest
standard known to modern education ard
oxford is today. as it was centuries ago,
he first university of the world" ..r,.
Mr.. Collier is tall handsome young
llan. who has evidently brilliant literary
'uture. He graduated with honors from
he Georgetown University in 90.