The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-27


 some one has said is "mirrored only There are many other phases of OK. ford and its life, and particularly many other topics in connection with Rhodes Scholars that l could, and should very much like to discuss. but realizing that l have already squandered a good deal of the readers. time, and wishing, ere 1 cease. 10 touch upon subject of a somewhat more serious nature, I turn half unwillingly from the seductive la bors of the scribe to the more ardu- ous task of the exhorter. In the spring of 1905, in the city of Montgomery, there occurred an inci- dent which, however leniently or in- it. I cannot myself but consider as a sad commentary upon the efficiency of the higher education of our State. The reference is to the Rhodes Scholar | ship examinations then and there con- | ducted, when, from our great common | wealth of Alabama, with it's 2,00O, 900 didate to qualify for this highIy-eligi- ble post. True, our State was not the only black sheep in the Union herd. There was a very sable flock of twen- all. her alphabetical prominence, mark l her out as but too conspicuous an of fender. It is usual when in search of solace for, such fiascoes as these, to lay more than legitimate stress upon a difference in the educational methods in vogue, respectively, in the United
 
 1 gesting that in the latter country the study of the classics is pursued with a thoroughness and singIe-mindedness that in our more modern world would | be regarded as little better than an tique. To some extent this difference does exist, hang the balance of ad- vantage want as 1t may: but to accept the not passing the Rhodes examination beggars at once our patriotism and eredulity The requirement. of the In a Han .fsa nol- | lie Wars, Xenophon's .Anabasis Latin Prose Composition, Greek and Latin Grammar. Algebra and Arithmetic. The papers are based upon the entrance 1 examination of the University of Ox- ford, little test known, by the way, as .smalls." If this fact be borne in mind, together with two others, first, 1 that no candidate can even sit for the examination who has not completed at least his sophomore year at some in- secondly that there are in Alabama at least two, and I think three. colleges which which profess su tQ' and do. confer de; that the true explanation of our recent fallnres to produce passes" at the Rhodes examination does not lie in a nagnihed difference between national Ideals Of education; and to argue fur ther that point would seem, I fear, either to detract from the readers in- telligence, or to leave. him with the erroneous impression that am striv- ing to preclude the obvious inference that the efficiency of our higher insti- tutions of learning can be called into fix myself on either horn of the dilem- ma I venture to suggest two explana- 1 tions for our recent short comings as regards the Rhodes scholarship.
 In the first place. 1 do not believe that the young men of my State have given MT. Rhodes's offer the considera- tion which it's generosity, to say noth- ing of an intelligent self-interest on their part. demanded for it. Tn sup port of this belief, is the astonishing 1 fact that although this scholarship has been offered on two separate occasions, the sum total of aspirants so far dis coverable is seven. This brings us to the question, what is RhodeS's scholar ship that it should be treated with such seeming indifference? To begin with. l 1t means three-yearS' course of study at one of the worlds greatest universi- ties. Because Oxford Is supreme in the l classics, 1t does not follow that 1t is | deficient in other branches of learning. In law. history medicine, theology, | philosophy and all languages its place
 in the educational world is in the very | forefront, while, if in the natural
 sciences and in pure mathematics its ! yields the palm in these departments, 1 to few if any, American universities. | But only about One-half. even less. of
 these Rhodes scholars time is neces- | than six months in the year he Is at l liberty to wander where 1t pleases him, | and he generally finds if he has not | been extravagant with his f3OO, that
 there Is enough left him to gratify any
 reasonable desire for travel The capi-
 tals of the premier nations of Europe
 are certainly within financial reach of
 him. and his facilities for learning l to speak modern languages in the I countries themselves are unexception-
 able. In short so numerous and varied