MAUD DESCANTS ON HARVARD AND U. S.

"I had come over here expecting to find Harvard a hotbed of collegiatism; my disillusionment was most welcome," John Maud, Davidson Scholar from Oxford declared in an interview with a CRIMSON reporter last night. "Coming over on the boat I had read several novels of College life in America, and I must confess that I proceeded to Harvard with the greatest trepedation. Oxford is tremendously amused at the so called 'College Spirit'."

The Davidson Scholar comes from New College, one of the three large colleges of Oxford University, and finds points of difference quite striking. "You are much busier here than the majority of Oxford students appear to be Meals in English colleges are always a social event. Here one dashes into a cafeteria and dashes out again with as little delay as possible; there, even when eating at college, we take a great deal of time. Most entertaining comes at meal time and a lunch invitation may easily last from noon till tea time, while a dinner invitation always takes from 7 until 12 o'clock."

Outside Activities Secondary

"Extra curriculum activities at Oxford are decidedly secondary." Maud answered, responding to a question. "One can serve both God and Mammon there because of their relative importance in our minds. Outside activities are necessary to some extent, but they do not encroach upon the primary motive of our college life, studies. Such a paper as the CRIMSON would be entirely too much of an effort for us to make and still devote ourselves to studies."

Asked to designate the striking differences between the two colleges in general atmosphere," he replied, "Oxford is much more leisurely--if we are going to a class we start early so that we can walk slowly and converse enroute. One never sees students bustling around to a lecture with only a few minutes left in which to arrive there. Your Yard is often deserted but one may always see men strolling leisurely around our campus smoking and talking. There seems to be more of a spirit of comraderie.

"You dress differently here than we do, not that New College is especially fashionable, but everyone there wears a well cut coat and flannel slacks; here the most prominent men make no effort to present a smart appearance."

When queried as to the relative scholastic standing of the two universities, he replied, "In Oxford one may do almost as little work as he likes, the only demands upon him being a preliminary exam in the second term, and then nothing else until finals at the end of the course. Your College, however, checks you up much more carefully than does the University. That is where the difference of our tutorial system comes in."

"Class discussion seems rather futile to me. When a man is alone with his tutor he expresses himself without restraint and the tutor gets a clear insight into each of his scholars. Your exams can be passed by cramming., A mere surface knowledge will not suffice to convince our tutors of our industry. We do not have to attend lecturers or take quizzes. Oxford leaves it up to the person to use his own initiative in educating himself. Harvard does not especially nurture the individual."

When asked about the comparative facilities of the two universities, he replied. "My heart leaped with joy when I saw Widener Library, if knocks any-think we have into a cocked hat. Your Fogg Art Museum is also very good, but I do rather miss the concerts."

"Yes, I am very glad I chose Harvard, Princeton was offered, but upon inquiring I was told that it bore more resemblance to a country dub than a university and that Harvard was the most cosmopolitan of your American colleges.