Education: Athletic Oxford

Only once since the War—in 1923 with two U. S. oarsmen in the boat—has Oxford defeated Cambridge on the water. Last year Cantabrigians defeated the Dark Blue in rowing, track, cricket, hockey, tennis, soccer, boxing. Four years ago Oxford ruled that no man over 23 might be allowed to compete in athletics. Observers construed this to be a curtailment of U. S. participation in Oxford sports (since most Rhodes Scholars are 22 or so when they enter), in the hope that if Americans were out of the running, more young British athletes might be attracted to Oxford rather than Cambridge. But still Oxford continued its unparalleled losing streak. Last week the 1926 rule was rescinded.

Further indication of studious Oxford’s sudden interest in winning intercollegiate contests—an aspiration hitherto regarded by many an Oxonian as unworthy and “American”—is found in the fact that famed Old Blues have lately been enlisted to coach the varsity teams; college and hall teams have been encouraged to train diligently, schedule hard matches.