, 1906-01-29


ell rather extensively, If one Is at all OK
trayagant he is stranded at his first
venture. Men contemplating the
scholarship must not entertain any idea
that they are to live IN Easy street
for three years. He has a hard and
new work TO perform. The scholar has
a duty and a responsibility put upon
him, just rs the state has a duty and
a responsibility put upon It TO see that
it provides scholars n representa-
tive scholars at that.
What does the scholarship mean?
That is a big question. As is the case
with most educational questions, the
answer must depend upon the individ-
ual. Two things that it means to any
individual are these: Three years stu
dy in Oxford-which includes number
less adyantages-and over a year OF
travel wherever the holder of the schol-
arship may wish-which means end
less opportunities. These of course
have disadvantages, but such as can
never balance the positive advantages.
Is the scholarship worth having?
This also depends upon the individual,
and upon what he wishes to do with
himself. In all cases Of which l can
think, | answer strongly in the affirm
alive. However, l should not advise
one who wants a technical or scientific
education to come to Oxford, unless he
has a knowledge of German which is
sufficient to enable him to work in Ger
man universities during his lengthy va
cations, of course he can learn much
German while here. l also advise all
men not to compete until they are pre-
pared to do graduate work,
How can the scholarship be obtain
ed? BY passing a simple examination
which on the surface looks difficult but
which in reality is not; it is quite ele-
mentary. The most difficult condition
to satisfy is the qualification for the
scholarship in the opinion of the selec-
ton committee and fellow-students. 1t
was Mr.. Rhodes wish that strong men,
physically, mentally and morally, be
sent to oxford. Book worms and men
of book learning only, he did not want.
The more "alI around the man, the
better scholar and representative he
will be.
Last January Q905) fewer men took
the qualifying examination in the Unit
ed States than in Arpil, 1904, but it was
noticeable that a larger per cent of
those who took it in 1905 passed. There
are two subjects which cause the
American to fail, first Latin and Greek
grammar, secondly, Latin prose compo-
.sition. Except for the latter / should
say hat candidates fail because the ex-
animation is SO easy. An idea has
spread through the states that a great
knowledge of Greek is necessary; this
notion is entirely false. Six months
good work on it will qualify any man.
Americans are at present in Oxford
who spent less time than that upon
Greek and were successful in the ex-
animation. All that is required is a
knowledge of the grammar and m
Greek book-think of it, one book!
The requirement in Latin is the same,
with knowledge of prose composition
added. This is the important paper.
| venture to say that if n does a good
paper in this subject he will pass in
all papers, provided, of course, he does
respectable work in them. One should
study Latin composition until he can
write idiomatic Latin; then he. is GER
tain to succeed. In algebra, anyone
who has worked through ar element
airy algebra-about a years work-will
have no difficulty with that paper. In
arithmetic any grammar school pupil
of the eighth grade could do the prop
err set with ease. Where, then, is the
bugbear of a very difficult examina-
tion?"
No man should desire the scholar
ship until he is prepared to do gradu-
ate work. The older the man the bet
ter, just so he is under %. My reasons
for this statement are too lengthy and
numerous to give here; however l I'm
convinced that the above statement is
a correct and proper one. Next Jan,
uary $500 an examination will be
held in Laramie in order to qualify
candidates for the scholarship at Ok
ford. The examination is in no way
competitive, it is merely qualitative.
In our state there should be eight or
ten candidates at the least. Every man
in Wyoming who is under twenty-five
years of age and unmarried (Which are
two conditions of the scholarship has
an equal chance of winning the advant-
ages and opportunities which a Rhodes
scholarship offers. No man is bar
red" 1t is desirable that men outside
of the university as well as university
men compete, for of our educational in
%stitution we have many men suited for
and worthy of the scholarship. write
a year in advance SO that men who
have never before thought of the
Rhodes scholarship may start now to
IDrenare for II takes hard and earnest