RULES GOVERNING CURRENT BOWDOIN PRIZES EXPLAINED

Announcement has been made by the committee in charge that the competition for the Bowdoin Prizes for 1919-20 is now open to all resident students of the University. These prizes are of two groups, the first of which are awarded for dissertations in English, and the second for dissertations in Greek and Latin. Each of these classes are subdivided so that those who hold degrees will be judged and awarded prizes distinct from these which are given undergraduates. The competitions close on April 1, 1920, and on that date all essays and translations must have been handed in to the Secretary of the Faculty. There are six prizes to be awarded in the English group and three in the classical group, ranging from $50 to $250.

English Group.

A first prize of $250 and two second prizes of $100 each for dissertations in English are open to resident students who do not hold an academic degree or have not had an equivalent training, and also for other candidates for the degree of A. B. or S. B. in the University. Although the first prize can be awarded to but one man, either or both of the two second prizes may be divided between two competitors if the committee sees fit.

Essays offered in competition for these prizes may be on any subject approved by the Chairman of the Committee on Bowdoin Prizes. Theses that form part of the regular work in an elective course may be offered in competition, with the consent of the instructor in the course, or, subject to such consent, may be rewritten for the prize competition.

Three prizes of $200 each for all other resident students are offered for essays of high literary merit belonging to a special field of learning. For the present year a prize will be offered in each of the following groups: IV, English, Fine Arts, and Music; V, History, Government, Economics, and Business Administration; VI, Philosophy and Education.

Competitors are at liberty to select the subjects of their essays, provided they are approved by the committee. Although an essay offered by a graduate may not contain more than 15,000 words, if desired, it may be part of a doctoral thesis.

Greek and Latin Group.

In the classical group two prizes of $50 are offered to undergraduates as specified above, one of which is for a translation in Greek and the other in Latin. The subject for the Greek of the passage in J. B. Bury's "History of Greece," Chapter 12, Section 1, beginning with "Sparta had achieved the task," and ending with "from a friend of Lacedaemon."

The prize in Latin is offered for a translation into Latin of the passage in Prescott's "Ferdinand and Isabella." Vol. II, Part II, Chapter I, beginning with "No sooner was the internal organization" and ending with "a by-word of political knavery." A prize of $100 is offered for an original essay in Greek or Latin of not less than 3000 words written by a holder of an academic degree who has been in residence for one full year within the period 1918-20.

The founder of these prizes. James Bowdoin, graduated from the University in 1745. He was a member from 1757 to 1774 of His Majesty's Council for the Province, and was active there as an opponent of the ministry. He was president of the convention which framed the Constitution of the Commonwealth in 1779 80, and was Governor of Massachusetts from 1785 to 1787. Governor Rowdoin bequeathed 400 pounds, the interest which was to be used for these prizes. In 1901 George S. Rowdoin of New York give $15.000 to be added to the practice of the formers bequest.