The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-09
He LIKES OXFORD.
Frank BristOW Writes Home
About His Impressions.
Goes in for Rowing With Other
American Students.
SAYS CLIMATE is RAW.
Describes Town as Having Trace
of the Medieval.
Other Items of General Interest
to Kansas Readers.

SaIina, Kan, Nov "a letter dated
October f8, received from Frank B.
Bristow of Salina, who now is stud
ent at Oxford, says In part:
I'VE arrived last Wednesday night
and have been very busy ever since.
Our college was open, and we were
received at once. My rooms are well
furnished and have a good outlook
Everything points to a pleasant year
Americans have always been popular
at Merton, and the four of US who ar
rived this year have been well treat
ed. School work has just begun, but
it promises to be interesting. There
are plenty of diversions for student,
e. G.. the college common room, the
American club, the Chess club, the I'm
ion, or debating club, and numerous
others, In addition to the theater, attn
letics, etc. I am down for rowing.
Some things, notably wearing ap-
parel, are cheaper here, but others are,
If anything, more expensive. Things
are run here on a basis which would
be considered extravagant in America.
For instance, the building in which
reside is a four-story structure about
40x10O but with accommodations for
only 16 students.
"OXford is a queer old town OF about
80, 600, a mixture Of the up-to-date and
the medieval. Its residential section
is exceedingly beautiful, as is also the
surrounding country. The worst fea-
ture is the climate, which is usually
raw and damp, and after a month OF
pleasant weather, it started on its reg
ular program the day before we ar
rived and the sun has scarcely shone
since"
Mr. Bristow also sends little pam
phlet printed by the Rhodes scholars
who went over together on the steam
ship Haverford, Of the American line.
1t gives the names. colleges, addresses,
ETC., of all the members of the party,
and some humorous statistics from
which are culled the following:
Average Rhodes Scholar.
The average Rhodes scholar is
feet. liz inches tall, weighs 155 pounds,
is % years and months old. The party
includes nine 6-footers and nine minis
ters' sons.
Plainsman- "Seasickness does not
bother me. I'm used to it. 1 come
from the rolling prairie"
are: Presbyterians, Z; Methodists, s;
Baptists, 8; Congregationalists, 3; Ep1s-
copalians, 8; Dutch Reformed, l; Luth-
eran, l
Political parties represented-Demo-
cratic. Is; Republican, 8; Independent,
2; Socialist, 1.
For education, IA; against, IA
For woman suffrage. 6; against, 81
Favorite author3Tennyson 6; Brown
ing 4, Dickens 4, Stevenson 4, Scott :,
3, a
footnote says that Shakespeare was
barred from the contest on the ground
of professionalism
Favorite actress-Maude s, Ethel 6,
Henrietta 4, Maxine 4, Viola 3, An
nette III.
Favorite drink-B1ue ribbon TO- white
ribbon II.
Statistics, vital and near vital-Old-
est, Bristow; tallest, Stuart; heaviest.
Ziegler; seasickest. Loomis; wisest'
Hooton; busiest, Bryan; youngest,
Shepardson; shortest, Roberts; lightest'
Lyans; drollest, Hamilton; sleepiest,
Davis.
Bridge champions-Ransom and
Boyce.
''50'' champions-Brice and Hartley.
Chess Observation-Disclosures
Switchboard champions-Lange and
Ormond.
Motto-Keep your mind off your
stomach, else you're apt to lose your
mind.