The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-11
(By Dr.. Wallace y. Stearns Of the
University Of North Dakota.)

An American visitor to one Of the
old universities will ind himself I'M
pressed first Of all by the statd, set
tied ways, and by the traditions that
compel recognition. Oxford n
Cambridge we're already old when our
Harvard and Yale were founded.
They were in existence while yet men
could find. land. India II you please.
by sailing westward. Robert Puileyn
lectured at Oxford sometime In the
eleventh century and from this OK
ford began. But probably this pioneer
Of university extension lectured IN otn-
er cities as well.
In truth Oxford began in the ACTIVE
ties Of the Friars. Here was a sort OF
literary retreat where gathered mol.
students-and together they studied
and lectured and learned. Travelling
scholars turned in here; from the con-
tinent scholars came to d their
stores OF wisdom. They were there
what they justly claim to be today
company of scholars.
There is unrest at Oxford. Jealous
sons of the colleges by the Isis are de-
sirous Of undermining. They would
add engineering and add OF enlarged
schools Of science. But as q body
IItcS are oIlSC oAA NAAh6 W SHS
classical tradition. The Greats
schools" are still in the lead. The pol.
ished ~classicist is still the ideal And
yet in spite of her. dinky horse cars
and canals. Oxford is by no means out
Of the world. Oxford teens. huns
fairly, with activities of England's ripe
scholars. The Dons you meet stand at
the fore. they have seen, many OF
them. the farther shores Of discovery.
their feet have gone out into all the
corners Of earth. Their souls are Key
ed up tense. 1t is their duty to divine
things ere yet they have happened.
The American accustomed to one
centralized, monarchical universities.
is at first at a loss to fathom the depths
OF university administration. Oxford Is
a group Of colleges. each with its ira
ditions. famous men. antiquities.
memorabilia. esprit de corps. and so
on. Yet all are Oxford. Each had Its
or gratitude. All souls college vas
built originally as an agent to offer
prayers for those who died in the
French vars. Christ church II a
monument Of the ambitions Of the
great Wolsey. Ballot college II dear
to every Scotchman's heart. There
are some twenty-four colleges in all.
Although separate they are united as
a 8kCcs0I LIB pOW 4IS BbS0S
university c~onvocations are the occa-
sions when Oxford as . whole crowns
the efforts Of successful men Of the
several colleges who at last are pre-.
pared to write themselves AZ "A. B.
(Oxon.") Then the gorgeous robes.
pink. scarlet, black and the hoods
ranging from the bachelors lamb
skin to the beautiful silk hoods Of the
Masteic and Doctors degrees. are all
hpn,0ht n,,< ~HA hl~nAAd Sn q arAnA
that would remind N Of the field Of
the cloth Of gold.
The student enrolls in M Of the
colleges. has residence and board, at.
tends prayers, has his proctors, ad-
wiser, tutor and rules. His tutor I'M
dertakes the direction of his studies;
assigns his reading. quizzes him. Sc
lects his lecturers. and keeps tab"
on his work.
So far he II Q student or scholar OF
Lincoln. Christ church. Balliol. Penn
broke. st. Johns, New, etc. But on
examination days as a man from his
chosen Cor assigned) college he comes
before the schools for final examina-
lions, chiefly oraD. that 10 the exam
liners for his inal assize. His own col.
lege Dons may Be among his examip.
has been good the finals may be mere
formalities. For the man who has
Stacked" been dull or unfortunate,
or who for some other reason II down,
these "vivas' Viva voce) are periods
Of torment. A favorite picture among
students IL that Of the poor fellow the
night before the vivas. half raised In
bed. their hair bristling with fright.
looking at the vultures or harpiea
seated on the fOotboard. The features
Of these uncanny birds E those OF
their examiners. and the taseels on
! the mortar-boards stand erect, brist-
ling also as by the venom of the ven.
ON Of the pending exam.
There are two classes Of graduates,
honor schools and pass schools. Hon.
or men are marked hrsts. seconds.
thirds and fourths. Those who do not
| pass as honor men become pass men.
These last, to borrow from Plato's re.
| public. are the "Hoi PoIloi," the
spopulace, u UNI nulla honoris.