The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-24
PROF. B0LLES
ON OXFO
Able Address Delivered Before
the UniVersa|iSt Club.
AMERICA STRONGLY FAVORED
Oxford Falls 10 Educate Its Students for
the Stress and Strain Of Business Life
as the American College Does.

Al the mid winter meeting of the Uni
last evening. Edwin C. Boles. ID. D.,
professor of history at Tufts college,
spoke In a highly interesting and instruc-
tive manner of oxford university. Eng
land.
Referring TO the Rhodes scholarships,
that as a member of n New England
college faculty. he wanted TO state that
II a young man wants a practical educa~
tion he had better remain in America, as
the American college has a life OF vigor
and activity which supplies the better
training for the business OF his life's work
The only merit oxford has over Ameri-
can colleges, he said. outside her marvel
lous devotion 10 aquatic sports, is the
grounding II gives the students I'm those
principles OF highest character that de-
velop the English gentleman. When
American colleges can supply that miss
ing link here they will have become the
grandest and highest colleges in the
world.
The club was called TO order at the close
OF the banauetting. which commenced at
o'clock. Ratcliffo q. T. Hicks presided.
Rev. Edward NJ. Barney. pastor OF the
High Street Universalist church. Paw
tucket, was elected 10 membership The
club voted to authorize the president TO
unite with the Unitarian clubs president
in signing the petition to be presented TO
the legislature relating 10 prison reform.
PROFESSOR BoLLEs.
Prof Bolles was introduced as the first
speaker his subject. my Visits 10 OK
orJ eli In arah In
the ancient university and the town. Civ
ing full description OF the picturesque
features OF the colleges and explaining
the absolute lack OF the hustle and rush
Of the world In the quadrangles of the
big UNCOVERED college buildings. The
methods Of study pursued in oxford were
touched upon. showing the differen, Q
existing between the English university
and those OF American colleges. where
class room work is in vogue. The venof-
able structures were described In detail.
stress being laid upon the antiquity and
their harmonious surroundings.
Life in these institutions" he con-
tinued has charming medieval flavor,
not nusty. but Of the conservativeness
Of age aud antiquity. II Is even now
undergoing a change and the old classical
regime and curriculum Is being modified.
But as member OF n New Engla I'd
college I want 20 say that II our young
man OF this country wants n practical
and thorough education on tho lines that
will az him for his lfe's work he had
better stay AT home. The American
college is one OF a life full Of vigor and
strength. It supplies the student with
the elements necessary for success.
The American at Oxford can never get
anything but in one particular that will
NJ him for his life's work more than here
AZ Brown or at my college. The only
thing he cannot get here r. that which
IS the answer TO the question you ask
an Englishman who has been 10 oxford
when you inquire why he sends his son
there. Tho response is that he wants his
boy 10 be bred an English gentleman. The
traditions, the conventions, the very at
unosphere Of oxford all bear on that point
which we define as the educated gentle
man, not the man OF smartness, OF the
aggressive assertion OF today. but the
gentleman OF that commanding power
which only comes from the training which
especially fosters IL.
when we get that ideal 10 the Ameri-
can college and supply the missing link
between tho intensely practical of tho
20th century and the calm, sublimity OF
the past. then the American college will
be the grandest and highest institution
ever 20 be found for the training OF our
young men for the best.
1--WE take our athletics more strenu-
ously than the English and we are bound
10 surpass them. but In one thing oxford
surpasses us. and that Is In her rowing.
There IL less individuallsn IN an English
crew than In an American. The personal
equation that sometimes ends I'm com
piications here does not exist over there"
President Faunce of Brown university
and William 4 Morgan also spoke.