New-York tribune., 1903-08-29
THE CECIL RHODES GIFT.
Ho,v the Scholarships WI Be Re
gardeG IN This Country.

0lTa6H 3it MS tOUUtTy.
81, considering the probable success Of the schol-
,-sgfrs at oxford given TO the United States by
-, iate Cecil Rhodes two things at least
-. that in America the desire for a college edu
os+fo7 steadily becomes more widespread, even
,,r The youths who must make large sacrifices
T-- 81. and that youths with the scholarship, the
&c nersonaI character and the promise OF later
-sse~erir desired by 8Ir. Rhodes IN the bene-
s.ts-fes from his gift frequent the colleges in
-o--',fl MAGAZINE Every year scores of college
s,rssnts cross from the United States to Europe,
liking their passage on cattle steamers act
80. a. tutors or guides. in order to grasp certain
f--s,,tsFes which Europe offers and America does
- surely II these youths are willing to occupy
i.sor,s tlla1 may be CALLING, and even 10 endure
r,rsdarable personal discomfort in order to round
- tbeir education by means of foreign travel
,--ozr provfucaIisn1 Will some newspapers
,---e suggested keep American young from
o,~sutiug the generous gift which viii open to
them tie learning, traditions and rich culture of
oxford.
.rrrs PURPOSE OF Mr. Rhodes was 70 provide two
--,.,-is rom each State Territory. Of the age
g which American boys enter college-serenteen
- +v-en1g--One-Evfrl three years cf residence as
,7ar,pr7aflrlares at an oxford college. He did
.7tend n have his gift used for graduate work
:. 0rford but rather he meant 10 give lads OF
special premise Al opportunity to understand and
sara in the OXFORD training which has been the
q. English thought and action whom these same
lars have been ra4gac 10 admire The beleficiaries
gre 20 be selected not only for their high scholar
s1iD hlt also for marked qualities Of manliness
.,- leadership among their schoolfellows and even
for proacsency in spert. Youths Of the muscular
CHRISTIANITY which the late Bishop Brooks de-
lighted 70 preach are the persons Mr.. Rhodes de-
sized 70 aid.
Il doubt much if just the kind Of youth desired
D. Mr. Rhodes viii meet the administrators OF
the eft half way. In the first place. until the end
of the first year Oxford the holder Of the Rhodes
scholarship viii have little chance at anything
except classics and mathematics for by the re-
o-ireneuts Of oxford colleges he win take Re-
E2cnsious on entering. and. as a marked man
wishing 10 do well M0de1zstions at the end Of
lis first year. This Will IeaVe him two years for
his preparation for honors. or for special work
For some years interest in American schools IN
Greek and Latin has been decreasing. The ten
dency is for the colleges To force down into the
preparatory schools mere Of science, of the mod
ern languages and OF the study Of English COM
position and literature. Very recently expert
enced and successful master Of a secondary school
iod the writer that he could longer arouse
among his pupils any interest ia Greek. and that
what maintained such interest as Laere is in Latin
Is the o1J-TeDeated statement that knowledge or il
IS necessary 10 Intelligent Use OF English How
different ali this from the attitude IL English
schools. At Harvard College many students enter
without Greek, and the majority do not go on
WIN Greek or Latin after they nave lnatrIculated
The usual course for the first year includes French
German, Introductory n history, 4
course in English composition. a general course
IN English literature ana Introductory course
n economies government philosophy or me arts.
Inc youth OF Wei defined sclenunc trend subsu-
Tutes for some Of Lhes Sc more of the follow
ing subjects: Physics. chemistry botany. zoology.
geology or mathematics leading directly 10 courses
during his second year in engineering In some of
The colleges provided certain regulations as TO a
IarJ1aelt be followed = bow is from the start al
most entirely free TO choose whatever courses he
pleases. After the first wear there ls but little
prescribed work in the leading colleges of the
United States and even IN the most conservative
the freedom Of choice increases yearly. Therefore
natural science promises some freedom for three
years but in the other groups little freedom till
-EoIaTsbip can set Of az least three and IN some
cases four, years OF q fuller or an entirely free
choice in American colleges.
The kind Of lad whom Mr.. Rhodes had in mind
who IS already q leader. or wishes 70 become
cne-tases in the colleges Of the United States not
the classics and mathematics but courses looking
recognizing that they VIII be from twenty-five to
school viii end or before they obtain salary
sufficient 10 support them comfortably. ta1e each
year IN colleges permitting the arrangement
enough courses 10 win the B A. degree in three
years instead Of four. Is II likely that youths Of
these interests and Of this temper-and it is TO be
most closely meet the requisites for the Rhodes
scholarships-wiI be enthusiastic about adding
school carrying both languages at least extra
year, and taking a course in which they are given
end then only 70 a limited degree as compared
with what IS allowed IN the leading American col
ieges- Moreover, professors OF economies sOciol-
oEy- history ana government are often able TO
place advantageous openings IN tie way of their
0e oFerlookec oy q youth whose family or friends
cannot be expected 10 provide 0pening when
1-e co--ege course IS ended Naturally such op-
pqftLIlues m the United states would not be so
likely 70 IA, n the way Of the young American
eli these reasons that boys OF the class Just de-
Scflle4 N4-l enter lhe home cOllegeSE