Scholars of Life

Down and out in Paris, grimly poking through garbage cans for rubbish to swap for food, Science Student Jean-Claude Rebours. 20, often thought with irony of the tough philanthropist whose ideas had goaded him into studying the city's clochards--its beggars and bums. It was the notion of Millionaire Jean Walter, who died two years ago at 74, that French lycees placed too much emphasis on book learning. "Our educational system fails to prepare French youth for the tasks to be faced as men," he wrote sternly. "There is not enough contact with life." Jean Walter himself met life head on. He confounded his parents by refusing a comfortable job in the family steel factory, instead bicycled across Europe, studying architecture and geology firsthand.

Living by Wits. Walter's wandering paid off, he became a distinguished architect and a shrewd and lucky purchaser of mining properties. Twenty years ago, to celebrate his acquisition of an enormously profitable lead and zinc mine at Zellidja, Morocco, Walter began passing out some of the world's least lavish and most demanding scholarships. Each year, 300 young lycee graduates (average age: 18 1/2) get $70 each, and certificates explaining their mission. Then the Zellidja scholars are thrust off to begin research projects, pledged not to use any money except the $70 stipend. They are on their honor to live by their wits.

Science Student Rebours lived for a month last summer with a wine-soaked old biffin (rubbish forager) named Jean-not. He shared a filthy hut at the rear of a cafe with Jeannot and the biffin's sidekick, an evil-tempered, alcoholic tramp named Tintin, who has since died of delirium tremens. Rebours' total expense account of about $19.50 included 14 Camembert cheeses, 20 loaves of bread, six helpings of fried potatoes bought to celebrate Jeannot's discovery of some marketable shoes, plus 190 glasses of wine downed to keep up with his tipsy pals. But just as Philanthropist Walter intended, Rebours' dip in the depths paid off. He was so successful at putting his experience on paper that he decided to quit science for journalism. Last week France-Soir tentatively promised Rebours a job soon as one of its reporters.

Bicycling to the Baribas. Most Zee scholars go even farther to confront life. Last summer one scholar wangled a mechanic's job on a U.S.-bound Danish steamer, thumbed his way to Illinois and wrote a thesis on French influences there. Architecture Student Franc,ois Calsat pedaled a creaky bicycle all over the jungles of French West Africa, won a top prize for his study of architecture and folkways among the Dahomey tribes. Highlight of his report: an account of a month spent as guest of 80-year-old Tunko Cessi, bangana of the warlike Bariba tribe.

When the life-confronters return, Zellidja Foundation trustees judge the best reports, pass out awards--another measly $70-$90 in cash, plus the privilege of doing the whole thing again. For next year, the trustees are uneasily trying to decide whether to give Zee scholarships to girls. Mused one Zellidja officer: "The girls would like to have a try, but how many French families would like their daughters to hitchhike around the world?"

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