The Coolidge examiner., 1933-02-10
Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington. D. C-WNU Service.


THE prince of Wales recently
opened the splendid new $780,
900 extension of the Taylorian
institution at Oxford university,
thus adding another unit to the
already pretentious group of build
ings that make up one of England's
famous institutions of learning.
Oxford is, perhaps, the best known
In America of all foreign univer-
sites, owing to the Rhodes scholar
ships, granted since 1904 under the
will of the late Cecil J. Rhodes,
South African magnate. Each year
32 American college students, usu-
ally graduates, are selected on the
basis of their records in American
colleges and personal interview,
and are awarded three years
scholarship at an Oxford college.
An equal number are selected from
the British commOnwealths and the
colonies of the empire. In all, about
200 Rhodes scholars are In resi-
dence at oxford each year.
Rhodes, who believed that event
ually all the English-speaking peo-
pies of the world would make COM
mon cause, hoped through these
scholarships to produce leaders for
his dream.
One hears unsympathetic observ-
ers at Oxford refer to the Ameri-
can Rhodes scholars at the univer-
sity as ''the last of the aristocrats,"
implying that they. too. often band
together and keep themselves aloof
from their fellow undergraduates A
difference in age and different
heritage of interests. hobbies, and
traditions do make fusion, even
Orientation, difficult.
Most of the Rhodes scholars with
whom one becomes acquainted at
Oxford are of a fine type-friendly.
helpful, bit reserved, as perhaps
might become a national of another
country, and studiOusly inclined.
Some of the American Rhodes schol-
ars have been elected to Oxford's
most exclusive social and literary
clubs and societies, and most of
them have enviable scholastic and
athletic standings during their resi-
dence at the university. The Rhodes
idea may be said to be fulfilled to
the extent that mutual understand
ing has been fOstered by the contact
and conflict of youthful ideas of
representative members of the Eng
disappearing nations.
Why Americans Like Oxford.
Twenty-Five years have elapsed
since the first Rhodes scholars ar
rived at Oxford. On the evening
of July 5. 1929, a considerable num-
Der of that group attended the
trustees dinner in the Hall of
Rhodes house, on South Parks road
Nearly all the 90 guests were old
Rhodes scholars. The largest num-
Der were from the United States,
come, for this event, all the way
from such distant lands as South
Africa and Australia. Stanley Bald
win presided and the prince of
Wales. as principal speaker. pro-
posed the health OF the Rhodes
scholars.
In addition to Rhodes scholars,
many other Americans are attract
ed to Oxford by the unriyaled re-
sources for research afforded by the
Bodleian library, and also because
the atmosphere of the city is con-
ducive to literary and academic
work. Oxford is a mecca for
American college professors and in
structors on sabbatical leave.
In contrast to American schools,
OXfOrdS lectures have relatively lit
tie Importance. No attendance rec
ords are kept and an undergradu-
ate might possibly go through his
entire course without attending a
single one The real check is the
tutor, to whom the Undergraduate
is Immediately assigned upon his
arrival and to whom he must report
at least once a week for assign
ments, recitationS and informal dis
cusSions. The tutOrial system al
lows for much greater development
of students natural bent and in
dividuality. but it is practical only
where the number of students is not
large. The average number of stu
dents at an oxford college is about
200. In the regular course of events.
examinations do not come until near
the end of the second year of resi-
dence. and everything depends upon
the showing made in them.
The teaching staff at Oxford con
sists of university professors, read
erS, lecturers and demonstrators.
numbering more than lO0 and about
$50 college fellows, tutors and lee
turers.
AS in the case of American uni
versities, there are faculties lead
Ing to specific degrees, the principal