Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-07-06
AMERICAN RHODES SCHOLARS.
Their Influence Considered From a,
English Point of View.

Their Influence Considered From an
English Point of View.
The Americans who. have come to
Oxford have little idea of thorough
education; many have no standard OF
work. The American system of edu-
cation is to teach something about
everything (without adding every
thing about something). A lady came
from Somerville with certificates at
testing her proficiency in 80 subjects =
Or, again, another American, who|
wished to study the history of the
Tudor period, admitted that he could
not read manuscripts, nor did he know
any of the European languages which
are essential for the understanding of
that age. His history tutor advised
him to go to Italy for his first vaca-
ton, and soon received a letter from
the budding historian to say that he
had not learned much Italian, but
had met most charming young lady.
Another influence which must be
fought is the tradition of German edu-
cation, the pedantry and theses; the
ordinary course for an American schol-
ar is to obtain his Phi. D. either, in
Germany or in America at very
early age, and then to go back to his
university as lecturer. Hence the
ridiculous theses. The head of col
lege is said to have been confronted
by young American who declared
that his special subject was the "Syn-
thesis of the Universe
What, then, will be the ultimate ef-
fects of the Rhodes scholarships? The
Americans-and probably this applies
equally to the colonials-have been
received with great friendliness, which
is one of the natural peculiarities of
Oxford, but which has appealed svery
strongly to them. This hospitality has
bred much good feeling, which is
bound to affect the general attitude
of Americans toward Englishmen.
One of the former recently made a
fine harange in college debate on
the subject of Anglo-American friend
liness; he dwelt at some length on the
reverence with which his countrymen
regarded the old country, the affec-
ton. the faithfulness and the loyalty
of all Americans. Then he paused for
moment: "But, gentlemen. let me
be frank with you; there may have
been, there have been, times in the
! past-on the Fourth of July, for in
stance-when have ventured to twist
| the Lions tail; but that was only in
| jest
Yet further than the international
cordiality which the practical author
of the movement doubtless intended
| primarily to encourage, we may with
out rashness predict great influence
on American literature arising from
the scholarships. It is sometimes
suggested that the present cessation
of literary activity of high order in
America is due to the gradual weak
ening of the ancient respect for Eu
ropean tradition. If there is want
! of standard in American education, il
is most noticeable in this. The pro
fessor of literature at a prominent
western university (and it is mainly
from the west that the Rhodes schol
ars Gomez was asked by New York
| publisher to edit four books of para
/ disc Lost" as volume in a series o.
| classics. He had never read it. How
ever, he mastered those four books
| during the railway journey from New
/ York, some 500 miles, and wrote hi
notes on his arrival. So extreme n
instance as this serves to show Jh'
contrast between American universit.
| life and ours.-London Academy.
A thin parchment, called "glassine,
has just come into use as protection