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Show AMERICAN OXFORD STUDENTS. There is no doubt that the purpose of Cecil Rhodes in providing for the education of so many American students at Oxford was to partially Americanize that staia and most provincial university. uni-versity. But there is a fear in this country that the result will be to Anglocize the Americans. John Corbin in the preface of his book "An American Amer-ican at Oxford" doubts the advantages" to an American Amer-ican through an education at Oxford. He says the university is not superior to American universities, universi-ties, Tiut if it were "the difference would not compensate com-pensate for the loss of his American university course, with all it means in forming life-long friendships among his countrymen and in assimilating assimi-lating the national spirit." He finally suggests that "the executors should be most vigorously urged to select the scholars from the graduates of American universities." We think the last suggestion is good, but do not share the fear that Oxford will Anglocize the American students. It might one or two, but nearly a hundred are provided for by the will, and one hundred American young men there will either be a leading force or a distinct American faction, with their Americanism always to the fore that will not be assimilated as the wolf assimilates the lamb. There will be a large German contingent, contin-gent, and if the final result is not a shaking up of the old stubborn, pride-caparisoned institution, that will cause it to adopt modern methods, then there is nothing in signs, nothing in human nature. na-ture. Still, we believe the American students should be selected from graduates or from those who have completed the sophomore course at home, for the advantages of the acquaintances made and the spirit awakened in the home school. |