Evening journal., 1923-01-05

read, and 20 dream over MS feau
ing. He has time to train his min
20 reason coolly and dispassionately
He has ample opportunity 20 cult
vate his taste for the best thing
OF life. He has both time and op
portunity TO find himself and tn
niche he is best fitted TO Ill in thu
later years.
/ To a lesser degree this is true Of
every college the world over. oxford
and Cambridge approach perfection
The tendency among American col
/ leges during the last decade has beer
10 emphasize the ttilitarian phase oi
education at the expense OF the col.
| tural, although a reversal OF the
pendulum seems imminent. oxford
has never swerved from its original
purpose clinging tenaciously and
sometimes absurdly 10 It's archaic
orga nizatlon and routine The
Rhodes scholar who goes to England
10 equip himself for some definite
activity in the world of finance abors
under a delusion that is soon de-
stroyed Nothing could be farther
from the aim OF tho learned men
who control the destinies OF the va
rious colleges.
The difference IL that between an
educational institution and a scat OF
learning, between studying" a GER
tain branch Of learning and read
ing in that subject. There are no
classroom Rotations AT oxford. ex-
aminatione are infrequent. and the
students connection with the faculty
is limited 10 weekly conference
with his tutor and occasional attend
ance at a lecture. He spends the
morning in reading. the afternoon
on the athletic field. and the evening
in conversation.
From the point OF view OF many
Of us, 81 would seem a great waste OF
time and money. Yet behind the
apparent ease and leisure. there Is an
amazing intellectual activity among
the ndergraduates--an activity thst
is not dissipated upon a score Of out
side interests. should like to recall
a few incidents that came TO my
notice to illustrate this point. for II
we base our judgments upon results
they are interesting IN themselves.
One evening l found myself one Of
a group OF students who had gath
cred by chance In tho rooms OF an
American. They we've I'm no way
different IN age and appearance
from group OF seniors in any coll
lege. The charm and polish OF Their
conversation alone distinguished
them. Before a very pleasant nalf-
hour had slipped away I discovered
that one OF them had Just published
a first volume OF poems which had
been highly praised by the best
critics OF the day. AMI, IN addition.
that he had a plav running in one
)f the London theatres. Still more
was the discovery that
another Of the group had already
produced two novels AMI conducted |
literary column In a newspaper Of |
world standing. Still another had
Won first honors IN the examinations
or the diplomatic corps and was
,nly waiting TO complete mis- course
'efore assuming a responsible posi-
ion IN an important embassy. A
ourth had exhibited teachings in the |
National Gallery. The others, with |
'ut exception, had accomplished |
OF but slightly less prom |
hence. Their ages ranged from q |
o "a, and fNe'' came from widely |
'arying etauons IN life. Surely !
more than mere chance
lad a hand in developing those
minds OF such a maturity. The best
,art' OF st all was their unassuming
manner. their love Of cricket and
ennis and rowing. and their en-
huS!asm for the better things Of life
The more l went about Oxford and |
net various groups. the m ore l was !
that such men as these |
more nearly approached the rule |
han the exception.
The Union Is an honored institu- |
ion in the university. Here are
leld the debates between Undergrad
ates or between undergraduates and |
men Of political prominence, at in
ervals throughout the college year
had the privilege OF hearing a de-
.ate between a member of the pres
mt Coalition Cabinet and an under
raduate. The latter attacked the
'ol!cy OF the cabinet in no uncer-
ain terms. driving home several
cling points, and quite unabashed
" the prominence OF the man he
vas challenging In response the
minister was forced 70 exert himself
o the utmost 10 defend himself and
lis colleagues. knowing full well that
is speech would be quoted word for