Evening journal., 1923-01-05

l hrst came across Rhodes schol
ars in Italy. in a little village at tn'
northern end OF Lake Garda. Go
ing into an ancient cathedral one
morning. / noticed two Americans
inspecting the carved stone that
made the church worth seeing. In
the next moment we were acquaint-
ed. and before the day was over,
r,4ans had been formulated for
nilgrimsge to Venice-a typically
American proceeding. In the fort
night that followed I had ample OPP
portunity OF noting in them a point
OF view toward things artistic that
was strilingly different from thet
exhibited by the average American
boy Of their age. From what l
could gather Of their life in a small
Ohio county seat and OF their col
Iera DAYS in an obscure Middlewest
institution. It was obvious that their
taste and discrimination and caiho-
licitv Of viewpoint had been foster
ed elsewhere. And that had been,
OF course, at oxford.
Later I met others IN places rang
ing from STEAMBOAT 10 Normandy
and invariably they made the same
impression upon me. Their person
aIltles differ, but their point OF view
was strikingly Identical. They had
learned to seek out the best In
whatever engaged their attention
and they brought TO this selective
prncess a critical standard that was
refreshingly sound. At heart they
wer, as thoroughly American as
could be found enywhere-good-
nstured, aggressive. and occasion
sllv tuuultuous. In outward ap-
pearance and behavior they repre-
scented the American college boy at
his best. The subtle difference, de-
cided, was the impress OF Oxford
Surely" said Hawthorne, "the
world has not another place Ike
oxford; Il IS a despair 20 see such
a place and ever 20 leave II, for II
would take lifetime and more than
one. TO comprehend It and enjoy II
satisfactorily" The sheer beauty
Of the town alone would be enough
10 instill a heightened appreciation
Of things most worth while. and 20
foster a love Of the beautiful for its
own sake
The beauty Of oxford is the re-
suit OF the application Of culture
and refinement throughout centuries
OF slow growth and improvement |
10 Is not the charm brought forth |
at a given moment by the skill Of |
an architect. but by the intermit- |
tent and overlapping efforts OF a |
succession Of inspired dreamers.
There Is a small college not far |
from Chicago which has sent three
Rhodes Scholars TO oxford. |
know St by sight and reputation
low Of he'd brick buildings separat-
ID from a dusty highway by plot
81 ground set with scrubby trees.
In front. an incessant honking OF
automobiles all day long; behind,
he roar of suburban trains at eight
minute intervals. I had the pleas
ire OF seeing one OF these boys in
lis new quarters The walls we're
Jung with prints and etchings. The
helves were full OF books that
poke for themselves. From his
-indow could see a patch Of vel
ct lawn surrounded by ivy-covered
holsters, and at one side lazy
rock wandered among a profusion
Z towering shrubs. Two mottied
Ger were running beneath a grove
Z 'elms. their hoofs making no
ound on the turf.
"A bit different from -" I re-
marked.
He smiled. There was no need
an answer.
His was an extreme case. There
-ere. others who had been more
svored IN their preparation for OK
ord, ones whose early environment /
ad closely Appropriated its charm.
let even these favored few we're
esuiv conscious OF that subtle d.f-
srence which distinguishes the old
town from anything TO be
sund IN America or any other
ountry.
Three years OF constant associa-
on with beauty cannot fail 10 leave
heir impress upon the least suscep-
BILE mind. Peace and tranquility
over over the ivy-wrapped clois-
,rs and the quiet waters OF the
herwerl and the ancient quad
angles. However busting and ami
lated may be the traffic IN the
own, there Is always a restfulness
eh.nd the protecting walls Of the
olleges, a feeling OF aloofness from
he cares and worries Of the world
utade. The student has time 70