The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-17

boys from eighteen to twenty years of
age for Undergraduate work.
The controversy which ragged over
this Interpretation of the will for some
weeks viii doubtless be recalled by
educators generally. The consensus of
opinion, however, seems to be that the
obvious inference to be made from the
| terms of the bequeSt is that Mr..
Rhodes meant that the young Ameri-
cans sent to Oxford should be of the
same general age and class as the
young Englishmen who go up from the
great public schools. The analogue of
such a man in this country would be
found in the good student who has
just finished high school or acquitted
himself creditably at a preparatory
academy and not among students who
have completed their university course,
or full-fiedged graduates DESTROYS of
taking postgraduate course at the
famous English institution.
This is the Interpretation by the fore
most educators who are not disposed
to bubble, according to English edi-
tOrial opinion.
In selecting young men as bene-
ficiaries of his generosity, Rhodes,
practical, hard-headed man of affairs,
said: Il wish to foster sentiment
rather than learning"
All of the scholarships, too are for
Oxford, where Cecil Rhodes received
his masterful training, and it was be-
cause he believed that that historic in
stitutiOn could more fully round a man
out physically, mentally and morally,
he selected it in preference to the
other great seats of learning. 1t is
said that he was fond Of quoting the
familiar line, What Oxford thinks to-
day England thinks tomorrow"
DR.. Parkin, when in Minneapolis,
said that it was a common expression
in England, "the men of Oxford are the
rulers Of the British empire"
Life at Oxford Unique.
Life at Oxford will be a unique ex-
perience for the American young man,
in the opinion of college men at the uni
versity. The rules are strict and dis
obedience is severely punished. There
are many infractionS Of them, but the
man who breaks them repeatedly and
escapes dismissal must have a genius
for intrigue and politics, and the full
equipment of first class preVaricator.
A professor at the university, who is
qualified to speak of the conditions
obtaining at Oxford, says it is a gIo-
riOus place for the student entirely de-
voted to study, but a sorry place for
most young men.
i do not mean that the studies are
so ardUous, but merely the social side
of Oxford life. The American boys
Will lind themselves in a herd by them
selves, If I am not greatly mistaken.
Your Eng1iShman, young or old, is by
nature exclusive, even if he is one of
the best fellows in the world when you
come to know him, and this exclusive
ness will make it mighty unpleasant
for our boys"
1T may drive some Of them to the
bump supper which is a joust of aw-
full proportions, including rotations
deep as a well and o so long drawn
out. Here is what a friend of mine
wrote about them recently:
1.-The bump supper is going fast.
thank heaven. In it's place we have
the college wine which, in more or
derby, regular form, is to be found in
the junior common rooms now pos
sessed by several colleges. These en-
tertainments do not too severely tax
the hosts purse, are fine fields for rub
bling off prejudice and shyness by en-
forced cOntiguity with men whom one
might otherwise feel inclined to hold
aloOf." In fine, he says: "They are
excellent places for leveling up and
| down and communicating a good and
easy standard of manners. At them.
there is little danger of excess, and if
they be sometimes stiff, what else can
be expected from a fortuitous assem-
blage Of under graduates of opposite
tastes, various antecedents, and who
are alternately hostile, bashful and
bumptious"
1t has been suggested in connection
With the American institute at Oxford
that opportunity might be afforded for
instruction to be given there regard
Ing American institutions; that this
should be done partly to keep alive the
interests of the Rhodes scholarships
the history of the institutions of their
country, and partly that instruction in
these neglected matters might be given
TO English students at Oxford Edu
Gators have pointed out that it would
be an admirable thing If this work
could be taken up by two renowned
American professors Of learning on a
leave of absence.
DR.. Northrop is not disposed to ha
enthusiastic over the Rhodes schema
Tor conserving the peace of the world
although he thinks 1t may posses mer-
1t. He says:
In some respects do not like tho idaa
OF taking large numbers Of young Amer
IcanS 10 oxford to get an education ar
50 early a period as the junior wear but
Ine right men are selected thew will
undoubtedly get much good of q DecuIiaT,
character in that institution. And their
combined influence at Oxford NAV NOT he
without some benefit to the English str-
dents there. 'ii SUI
OF course the intention of Cecil Rbodes
was to bind the English speaking nnonIe
more closely together, and If Is 01Iite
likely that his comprehensive plan NAV
nave influence of that kind.