The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-08-29
RHODES SCHOLOR
TELLS OF OXFORD
DESCRIBE STUDENTS LIFE
CONWAY. YOUNG MAN TALKS
OF ANCIENT ENGLISH
INSTITUTION.

Oxford University, England's an
cient educational institution, was in
terestingly described by Claud d. Mel
son of this city, Rhodes scholar in
that university, at the Methodist
church here yesterday. Mr.. Nelson
told the part the Rhodes scholar plays
in the students life of the great in
stitution, his address being in part as
follows:
"Oxford, a city of $4,000, is situated
about 60 miles from London, at the
confluence of the Thames and the
Cherwell, a position which has made
it of great Importance in English his
tory. 1t celebrates this year it's mil
lenary.
THE University is composed of %
colleges, from University College,
founded 872, to Keble College, dating
from about. 1870. Each college has
it's own government, traditions, and
endowment; but they are becoming
more centralized; the University has
charge of all examinations, the grant
ing of degrees, and much of the dis
cipline and instruction. About 5000
students are in residence each year.
"The University secures discipline
by means of fines chiefly; the college,
in addition to fines, employs "gating;"
each college is locked up at 9:05 p. M,
and eating is merely disciplinary
prohibition against being out of col
lege after closing time, used as pun
ishment for minor ofenses.
Each stair case in college has two
servants, who make fires, keep the
rooms in order, bring food from the
college kitchen, etc. A student is
walked in time for morning chapel,
preceded by cold bath. Then comes
breakfast, according to order, served
in ones room. One often entertains
at breakfast. From 10 to 6 the stu
dent attends lectures, sometimes a
conference with his tutor, and reads in
one of the several rooms. From then
till tea, at 4:30, his time is usually oc-
cupied with some form of athletics.
At tea several men are usually gather
ed in one of their rooms for the most
social time of the day; it is then that
English and Americans get acquaint-
ed. Dinner is eaten in the college hall
at z; the evening is devoted to debat-
ing societies, social chat or study, as
inclination and opportunity prompt.
Besides lectures, instruction is Civ
en- through the tutor, who. directs ones
reading, answers questions and gives
test examinations. The only examina
ton which counts in ones standing,
however, is the final examination for
the degree, so that the student must
retain for two or three years all infOr
nation which is to be of service in
winning class. The pass degree is
easy to obtain; but the honors stan
dard-and every Rhodes man reads
for honors-is very high one. Those
who pass are divided into four classes.
"Oxford has a very cosmopolitan
student body; English, Scotch, Irish,
Welch, American, Colonial, German,
Oriental, Indian, Egyptian, etc, af-
fording good opportunity for observa-
tion of avery kind of man
Rhodes had the idea Of the scholar
ships even before he had any money.
1t was w. T. Stead, editor of the Re
view of Reviews, who induced him to
extend the scheme to America. Later
Rhodes decided to give five scholar
ships yearly to Germany. His idea
was that acquaintance among students
Of the British Empire, America and
Germany would be the most effective
step toward that worldwide peace for
which he longed.
"Amerca is entitled to one scholar
from each state two years of every
three. The British colonies have an
almost equal number.
"The candidate for the Rhodes
scholarships must first pass the Ok
ford entrance examinations, then all
from one state who have passed go be-
fore a committee from that state, who
proceed to a choice, governed by Mr.,
Rhodes suggestions, the records and