The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-12

thorough training and careful prepa-
ration"
The most interesting testimony adj
! duccd by Dr. rrttchctt is, Of course,
fhat of the Oxford tutors concerning
the Rhodes scholars from America This;
Is useh TO support his contention as to
american dinuseness and supcrhciality.
There are. 1t must be remembered, con
ditions which somewhat qualify any
conclusion as to the value Of the OK
lord test. Our Rhodes scholars arc not
CHOSEN upon the single basis OF schol-
arship. BY the will OF Cecil Rhodes,
1t was provided tina, their athletic abil-
Ky and their general capacity for lead
ership among their fellows should lave
a recognized Influence upon their selcc-
tion It does not follow that the
Rhodes scholars would be tho best rep
rescntatives of the scholarship in our
colleges. even II pure scholarship were
the single test. for our best scholars
might prefer German to English uni
fcrsities. or be willing to stay in the
United states. However, the Rhodes
scholars from this country arc con-
ccdcd to he bright and able young men
Tar above the average of tho students
In our colleges. The testimony Of tho
oxford tutors, therefore, having been
secured from them without their
knowledge OF its possible use, is .inn-
minatinG and valuable"
Tbs opinions of the tutors vary.
American pride is grateful for the fol-
lowing expressions. each paragraph
being the opinion coming from a diff
ferent tutor
The Rhodes scholars who have come
to this college from the United states
are, IN point Of natural ability fully
inc equal of cur ordinary open schol-
ars. In point Of energy, seriousness and
force OF character. they are. in my
judgment, decidedly their superiors
gather from the reports Of the tu-
tors In this college that the American
Rhodcs scholars are quite up to the
level OF the average British under
graduate i'll ability. and rather above
1t In industry and interest in their
work.
The American Rhodes scholars arc
certainly. as q body. more strenuous
and serious than the ordinary under
graduate, and l should say that, apart
from early training, they compare very
1aroraply with the ordinary scholar.
Inc American scholars in this college
40 not oner wide basis for Induction.
put my Impression would he that while
the men from the best universities are
quite as good as all hut our very best
nome products, those from the inferior
universities have the disativantagc OF
thinking they arc good when they are
not
They are Intelligent. Interested In
rrl I,irit .,s. liza
the average young Englishman.
Otir American scholars are Intelligent,
Keen and alert ana there las not heen
= mint Of slackncss 81, idleness since
they first came Ii they arc
not as clever as our opei. scholars. they
are certainly. in industry ana SERIOUS
ness of purpose, The equals Of any bod,.
OF men in oxford
The other aspect Of tic ease Is no,
pleasing. Oxford tutors are n.sc,i-
cailS agreed that the American stu
dents WHO have been and are in their
charge had a training thai has becn
"diftuse. superficial ana dcficien, in
tic roofing qualities. without witch
no true scholar was ever produced
iierc arc some bits OF testim ony SHOW
ing the general feeling or the tutors
ABOUT their work. we arc MOI quite
so well satisfied. The American schoi-
ars who have come TO US are intelli-
gent and Interested in many subjects.
iSut they seldom or never Settle down
10 do 4 long spell Of thorough work
They have nearly al! ceased to develop
by the time they graduated in the
states. and do not really feel inclined
20 80 iiinch further. In any
~, ha: w..
prcSsions or not our American sclol-
ars seem inclined to drift from ono sub
Ject 10 another. taking a bird's-eye
view or each, and resting content with
that.
Nith regard 70 the American Rhodes
scholars tsays anothar, think that
their training III America has in most
eases encouraged smattering in a large
number OF subjects AS n general rule,
they know nothing well, but Know
something about a great many things
tn" KIND Of Knowledge you might gel
from attending public lectures More
Owe, apperentiy. even in sclentiilc
studies, they have not been accustomed
TO Keeping their hold on work for any
great length OF time The exanina
tionE appcar 10 be in work which has
not been done v1ry long before the date
OF the examination intended TO test it,
rs consequences they at first find the
oxford system difficult, for the double
reason mat they are expected TO get ul1
subject thoroughly. and are tested by
an examination much longer and more
severe than that to which they have
been accustomed, and on an extensive
range OF work, some OF which has
necessarily been done a considerable
time before the examination takes
place
With certain exceptions (says third
tulor) the American Rhodes scholars
nave been Inclined to be rather too
mechanical and dependent in their
work. and generally to get up. rather
nan set into, things. Generally they
nave shown little sense Of scholarship
anu their American training does NOT
seem 10 prepare them for tho honors
work In certain eases they seem
sinGulariy uncducated. One notices
among both the ADLER and ordinary stu
uchts the same general characteristics
N .T,G, ".