A CHANCE FOR MILLIONAIRES.

Evening Star, Issue 12687, 13 June 1907, Page 1

A CHANCE FOR MILLIONAIRES.

[Fbom Oue Special CoßßgaPOK&gjrr.] ~LONDON, Slay 3. Oxford, the oldest university in England, is sadly in need of funds to bring it up to date. The Chancellor (Lord Carton) has issued an appeal to the nation asking for £250,000, to be applied to the most urgent necessities of university training. Oxford’s income, has for many years been inadequate to meet the ever-growing demands of modem education. She has to work with revenues and machinery more suited to the eighteenth century thaii the twentieth. Her revenues have fallen off through the depression in agriculture that has accompanied the growth of England under Freetrade, and the wealthy classes of this country have shown little or no disposition to emulate the magnificent bequests made to American universities by the plutocrats of the United State*. Nor does there seem to be any hope of adequate assistance from the State. This country has been governed on the principle that the State should relegate the nation’s activities as much as possible to private enterprise. And thus Oxford, the claim of which is of so wide and almost national a character, is forced to appeal to private generosity to meet its urgent needs. These needs fall under two main beads —the promotion of modem studies, literary and scientific; and the provision of funds necessary for the due maintenance of the world-renowned Bodleian Library. In inviting contributions towards these objects, Lord Curzon states that, while providing for the endowment of new subjects of a scientific or modem character, there is no intention to impair the old traditions of Oxford as a university preeminently of the “humane” studies and literary culture. These, indeed, must run the risk of being lost if new funds are not forthcoming, and if the old endowments are diverted to support new and expensive equipments. Oxford does not ignore the claims of histoiy, of theology, nor, in paiticular, of classical archaeology. The funds available for these studies are inadequate, but they are inadequate because of the constant and increasing demands of science. If the teaching of modem languages and the equipment and endowment of science were placed on a sure footing, the resources of the University, thus relieved, would probably suffice for the prosecution of the older studies even in their newest developments. Among modem languages English should stand » first at an English university, but the professors of English at Oxford are at present much overworked, and an increased staff of teachers is greatly desired. The claim of foreign languages and literature is 'hardly less imperative. At present there is a deplorable lack of means for the pnblic teaching of the languages and literature of modern Europe, and the creation of first-rate professorships in French and German language and literature in particular is urgently needed. A similar provision for other foreign languages will be the natural sequel. In many departments of science Oxford is unable, for want of the necessary funds and appliances, to supply the scientific basis for subsequent practical work. An electrical laboratory is needed, and there should he provision for giving men the scientific training which will fit them foithe practical profession of the engineer. Oxford is almost the only university which does not provide adequate facilities in this respect, and at which it is impossible to qualify for admission to the Institution of Civil Engineers. Oxford needs, also, equipment for the pursuit of a study which is of ever-increasing importance—ths study of hygiene in its social and industrial bearings. Further, in view of the large number of Oxford students directly inteiested in the subject, it is desirable to provide greater facilities for instruction in scientific agriculture. As regards the Bodleian Library, Lord Curron says: “It is lamentable that the usefulness of a library the fame of which is world-wide should be marred because thj curators cannot conveniently store the books which they possess, nor mako readers comfortable, nor provide them with easy means of reference to the contents of the shelves, nor even keep their collection up to date by necessary purchases.” From this brief summary it is dear that Oxford cannot bo re-endowed adequately from within. She appeals to the nation, and one can only hope that the response will be prompt and generous.