Seven Lectures on the United Kingdom for use in India: Reissued for use in the United KingdomMackinder, Halford John
History
Seven Lectures on the United Kingdom for use in India: Reissued for use in the United Kingdom
Mackinder, Halford John
Great Britain
We will return for a moment to Oxford and see something of the
working of the Universities. Here is a solemn procession of the
dignitaries of the University of Oxford. This is the President of the
University, called the Vice-Chancellor, and beside him, as a member
of the University, is the Prince of Wales, the son of the King. In
front of them are two Bedels carrying the maces of state. Next we
have the interior of one of the many libraries of the University. It
is the library of Merton College. The first duty of the University
is to treasure and increase knowledge. The second is to impart that
knowledge, so that it may be used for the good of mankind. But there
is also a third, which, for an imperial nation, is very important.
How comes it that young Englishmen, at home and in all lands of
the earth, have learned to work together? In part, no doubt, it is
because the schools have taught them not to think too highly each of
himself. In part, also, it is because they have learnt from books,
and are intelligent. But in part it is due to the games which they
play at school and at the University. These games not only develop
the body and give decision to the character, but they also teach
each man to sacrifice himself for the common cause. If eight men
row a boat in a race, no one can win victory for himself alone, but
submitting his will, must strive that his boat may win against the
boat which is chasing it.
[Sidenote: 36. Oxford Boats--The Start.]
[Sidenote: 37. The same--The Race.]
[Sidenote: 38. The same--A “Bump”.]
[Sidenote: 39. The same--After the Race.]
Let us look for a moment at two or three scenes in these contests at
Oxford, where men learn to work together, to keep their tempers, to
bear defeat, and to try again. The subject is one of great interest
to us here in India, for our young men now play the same games as the
English. Here is the start for the race. The boats are arranged in
procession at equal distances. All start together at the firing of a
pistol. Each tries to overtake and touch the boat in front of it. A
boat which succeeds in the effort starts the next day in the place
ahead of the boat which it has overtaken. Thus at the end of many
days a boat may work its way up to the head of the procession. But
a man who rowed in that boat would not say that he won the race--he
would only claim to have rowed along with other good men in the
victorious boat. Thus all men will know that he has not only learnt
to strive hard, but also to obey. Here is the race in progress, and
here is a “bump”; the second boat has caught the first, and the man
who steers the first boat is good-temperedly acknowledging defeat by
holding up his arm. Here lastly are the boats resting at the close of
the race.
[Sidenote: 40. A Football Match--England v. Scotland.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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