TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1907, Page 47

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

A CHANCE FOR MILLIONAIRES. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, May 3. Oxford, the oldest university in England, is sadly in need of funds to bring it up to date. The Chancellor, Lord Curzon, has issued an appeal to the nation asking for I!25(1,006, 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 modern education. .She has to work with revenues and machinery more suited to the eighteunth century than the twentieth. Her revenues have fallen off through the depression in agriculture that has accompanied the growth of England under Free Trade, 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 States. Nor does there seem to be any hope of adequate assistance from the State. This country lias 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 heads —the promotion of modern studies ; literary ’and scientific; and the provision of funds necessary for the due maintenance of the world-renowned Bodieian Library. In inviting contributions towards these objects, Lord Curzon states that, while providing for the endowment of new subjects of a scientific or modern character, there is no intention to impair the old traditions of Oxford as u University, pre-eminently of the ‘humane” studies and literary culture. These, indeed, must run the risk of being lost if new funds are not forthcoming, arid if the old endowments are diverted tdbgupport new and expensive equipments.-. Oxford does not ignore the claims of history, of theology, -ffor, in particular, ■ of classical arcliaeology. 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 modern languages -and the equipment and endowment of science were placed on a sure footing, the resources of the University, thus relieved, would probably suflice for the prosecution of the older studies even in their newest development. Among modern 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 public 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 be provision for giving men the scientific training which will fit them for the 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, the study of hygiene in its social and industrial bearings. Further, in view of the large number of Oxford students directly interested in the subject, it is desirable to provide greater facilities for instruction in scientific agriculture. As regards the Bodleian Lib.ary, Lord Curzon says: “It is lamentable that the usefulness of a library the fame of which is world wide, should be maned because the curators cannot conveniently. store' the books which the.y possess, nor make, readers I'dmfortahle, nor provide them with easy means of reference to the contents of the shelves, nor even

keep their collection up to dat • by necessary purchase’*.”

From this brief summary it is <l\ir that Oxford cannot be re-endowed adequately from with n. She appeals to the nation, and one can only hope t'larft the response will be p ompt and generous. © © © MR. SANTLEYS JUBILEE. A good many years have passed since Mr. Charles Sant ley sang in oratorio at the Dunedin Exhibition, and afterwards on the concert platforms of the colony, but time has not dealt hardly with the famous baritone. That he still retains a foremost place in the aiTections of the public was shown by the enthusiasm which marked his jubilee concert at the Albert Hal! this week. The vast build ing was thronged in every part, and Mr. Santley received a great ovation. The only song which appeared against his name in the programme of this jubilee concert was by Handel, a secular song, his performance of which has long been famous, “ O ruddier than the cherry.” He sang it with all the old qualities which have made him famous, with the single exception of the rich vocal tone, which was scarcely to be looked for. This was, of course, not the only song he sang; the enthusiastic audience could not let him off so easily, and in singing Hatton’s “ To Anthea ” with as much ardent fervour as a young man of twenty five might, and certainly with more than most young singers woukl. he gave an example of another branch of the singer’s art, in which his sincerity is no less truly felt, the much-abused art of ballad singing. He had to sing yet another song, and gave “ Simon the Cellarer.” During an interview in the programme Lord Kilmorey, as chairman of th? executive committee, made a short speech, in which lie offered to Mr. Santley the gratitude of his many admirers and the congratulations and good wishes of his friends. He announced to the audience that the testimonial fund by subscriptions, sale of tickets, etc., now amounts to about £2OOO, and that the list is to remain open until June. He presented to Mr. Santley an album containing the portraits of the executive committee and the artists who took part in the concert. Mr. Santley warmly thanked all concerned, reminding the audience that although he first appeared in London fifty years ago, yet he has been singing for well nigh sixty years, and also emphatically declared that this was not a farewell con cert. Perhaps the most striking testimony to the place which he holds was to be found in the large number of artists who appeared on the platform to do him honour and to give their help in the pro gramme. The singers were Mmes. Albani. Suzanne Adams. Clara Butt, and Ada Crossley, Messrs. John Coates, Ben Davies, Edouard de Reszke, and Kenncrley Rumford, while Miss Fanny Davies, Herr Fritz Kreisler, and Mr. \V. H. Squire played solos on their respective instruments, and Dr. Cowen, Cav. Alberto Randegger, and Mr. Landon Ronald (the last named as musical director, appeared to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra). © © © ALL LIVING STATUES INDECENT. A somewhat belated crusade is being started by the clergy against the living statues which now figure so prominently in music-hall programmes. The Archbishop of Canterbury ami the Bishop of London have both condemned the practice of allowing women to enamel their bodies and pose as famous statues for the “•edification” of music-hall audiences. Why they delayed their protest until the living statue boom was nearing its end is hard to say; at best the controversy w ill only serve to give the boom a fresh lease of life just when the public were beginning to grow a little tired of the whole business. Whether this public exhibition of the female form in the guise of a statue is artistic or the reverse is a question upon which opinions differ widely. Personally I fail to see anything artistic in the appeal it made.s to the sort of audience that flocks to the music-hall for recreation. But tim living statue has a notable protagonist

in Mr. \V. T. Stead, who championed “Lb Milo” so warmly when he wrote his celebrated article “Drivel for the Dregs.’ 1 Mr. Stead thought La Milo’s poses were the only redeeming feature in the programme of the Pavilion Music Hall. (_)t course, La Milo and her imitators, and the managers of the halls harp incessantly upon the artistic note, but a good deal of this talk about the ideals of the artiste and the aesthetic influence of tiie living st ituary upon music-hall audiences is inspired with an eye to the boxoffice receipts. This question has been put during the week to a number of well-known artists: “Do you consider the living statuary, as now appearing at certain places of entertainment, artistic ami elevating or degrading to public taste?’’ The fol lowing replies have been published: — Mr. llamo Thornycroft: “So far from stimulating interest in art, these shows tdmply vulgarise it. What do people go to see them for? To admire art? Certainly not. They go to gratify their low and depraved taste.” Sir L. Alma Tadema, R.A.: “Living statuary is certainly not so artistic or elevating as the art it represents.” Mr. Briton Riviere. R.A.: “I have grave doubts as to any good -moral, intellectual, or artistic—from living statuary exhibitions, ami recognise in them many possible dangers to society.” Sir William Richmond. R.A.:—“l have never seen living pictures, ami never mean to.” Mr. Solomon J. Solomon. R.A.: — “Public interest in living statuary is certainly not artistic." Mr. W. Q. Orchardson, R..\.:—“l have not seen the exhibitions referred to, but should say ‘neither’ to your questions.” Mr. Seymour Lucas. R.A.: ■Degrading.” Mr. (‘onrad Dressier:—“lmpossible to get at the beauty of statuary with living models.” Mr. Havard 'Thomas:—“Often quite entertaining; no harm to public taste.” Mr. Derwent Wood: — “If artistically presented, living statuary ‘turns’ at music-halls should be elevating to the tasteful public, but to vulgar minds degrading.” Mr. A. Hacker, A.R.A.: ‘ They are rarely artistic, and certainly not elevating to the general public.”