RHODES SCHOLARS
Sir-The collection of comments on Rhodes Scholarships by Rhodes Scholars that you print will remind some of your readers of what Sarah Millin said of Rhodes and his scheme in her biography of the man, which I believe ig the best. After setting forth the conditions he laid down for the scholarships, Mrs, Millin writes: "It seems not to have entered his mind that he himself could never have won a Rhodes Scholarship. He was nothing of a scholar, he was nothing of a sportsman, he lacked most of the qualities he lumped under ‘conscious rectitude,’ and there is no evidence that he ever led or took an interest in his schoolmates." Mrs. Millin goes on to say that "abnormal people are pathetically respectful of normality." Rhodes was abnormal, and his scholars were to be the pick of the normal; in her words, "decent fellows." A word may also be said aboyt the extraordinary allocation Rhodes made to America as compared with the British Empire. He provided that the United States should have two scholarships for each State, or ninety-six all told. There were to be sixty for the Empire. In an article on the scholarships in the official Oxford Handbook some years ago, it was asked if Rhodes knew how many American States there were. Mrs. Millin, writing later, says he did not. Rhodes was so ignorant of the growth of the United States that he thought there were still only the original thirteen States, which rebelled against Britain. According to Mrs. Millin, neither his man of business in South Africa nor the Chartered Company’s solicitor knew better. She does not cite authority for these statements, but it is difficult to believe she did not make sure of her facts. The number of American scholarships has been reduced to thirty-two, chosen from groups of States. This must~be one of the most amazing examples of ignorance in high places. It should be a little chastening to us when we are moved to complain that Americans are woefully ignorant
about us.
A.M.
(Wellington).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19480102.2.13.5
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 445, 2 January 1948, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
344RHODES SCHOLARS New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 445, 2 January 1948, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in