Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
Rhodes Winners at Work

! brought upon himself great ridicule
| throughout the entire university by
posting on a bulletin board notice
| that he was an egent for steamship
company END would book return SELL
ings for Americans going home. One
would have thought that he had COM
mittcd a CRIME. Americans are not
the only ones who look with some con-
tempt upon this attitude toward work
and the rigid caste system in England.
That view is held by the Rhodes
scholars from the English colonies, who
arc more like Americans than any
other people I have ever met.
They hold their heads high, speak
freely and carelessly and are proudly
independent. They understand democ-
racy as we do and it is often easier to
strike up a friendship with them than
with the pure-bred Englishmen. Some
of the nest men In the world today
are coming from Australia, South
| Africa. New Zealand, Canada and New
| foundland.
The English are strange people.
The seem to regard these citizens of
their empire as slightly inferior. I re-
monstrsted against this attitude one
day with a too-typical Englishman
whose fortune was made in Australia.
well, aftah all, they are colonials.
aren't thsy?"
Then I realized that I myself was be-
ing tolerated as an American, and
should get down on my knees and bow
to the supreme authority of the mother
country land those who own it,
1t must not be thought that TT
Rhodes scholarships. as far as Ameri-
cans are concerned. are complete
failure. They are doing great good In
taking Americans abroad. ! remember
one rather uncultured boy from Hobo
ken who went to oxford and returned
a broadened, we'll educated gentleman
who would have done credit to any
diplomatic corps.
We must perforce admire Cecil
Rhodes for a very original and gigantic
conception. He had great idea, which
is sure to bear richer fruit. I cannot
but feel that the Davidson scholarship,
in bringing young English students to
our colleges. will hasten understanding
and intercourse between the two ma
tions. 1t seems already to be operat.
ing successfully
It is absurd that our two countries
should not understand each other, and
no matter what may be the defects OF
the Rhodes or the Davidson plan, the
scholarships are certain to be beneficial
to England and America alike. With
little different attitude on the part of
both of our peoples they would score
complete success There Is a sober
midway between the sentimentalist who
bewails the future of the great English
speaking nations and the blind anti
British propaganda - path upon
which the scholarships will help orient
us properly. However, one important
fact prevents such an understanding.
An Englishman will never understand
the American college week end spirit.
ut was bad enough that student run
down from oxford to London for a
week end, a trip of some so miles, for
Just a day or more in town. but when
cnamored youths fly over the English
Channel for a week end in Paris or to
tea dance with some American flapper
who has dragged her family 5000 miles
across the ocean in order to keep the
date, this is utterly ncomprehensible to
the self-respecting Englishman, both as
to the enterprise, energy and money ex-
penditures involved. He will shrug his
shoulders with a touch OF scorn and
say:
American push"
Who can tell what the Sphinx thinks
about, II at all?