The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-26
Gossip at
the Capital
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, June 25.
For the first time a member of the dip
lomatic corps of Washington has re-
ceived a diploma while on duty at his
post in this city. His name is Mr.. Soa-Ke
Alfred SEE, an attache of the Chinese le-
cation, and he received his sheepskin
from the Central High School today. The
Alfred" portion of his name has been
adopted since his arrival in this country
four years ago because it was more in
keeping with the names used in America.
At the Chinese legation, however, he is
known as young Sze," in order to dis
tinguish him from an elder brother. He
is at present a few months over twenty
years of age, He is tall, but rather
slight of build. His personality is most
pleasing, and he has made friends with
all with whom he has come in contact
and his popularity is not due to mere
curiosity He Is universally respected
and admired for the perseverance with
which he has attacked his studies, and
for the scholarly record of over 90 per
cent. out of n possible hundred which
he has made in his four years course.
This high per cent. Places him near the
top of the list of graduates, and ahead
of over one hundred students, who are
studying at their own schols, in their
own land and among their own people.
When the difficulties in his way are con-
sidered, Mr.. SEE has accomplished a re-
markable feat in entering a strange land
and making a higher record than native
students.
Mr.. SEE came to this country four
years ago as a student translator for the
recent minister, Yang Yu, now at st.
Petersburg. He was then but sixteen
years of age, but so well advanced was
he that Yang Yu recommended to the
home government that he be made an at
tache. This office he has now held for
almost two years. When Mr.. Yu de-
parted recently for his new post at St.
Petersburg he was desirous OF having
Mr.. SEE accompany him, but alfred"
was very anxious to remain at Washing
ton until receiving his high school di-
p,oma. Next fall he expects to enter one
of the leading colleges. and after taking
full course, to study law. This will
necessitate his remaining in America for
at least seven years more, and at the end
of that time he will return to China and
will probably be in line for the diplo-
matte service. He will be q years of age
when he returns to his home near Shang-
hal after an absence of eleven years,
but he will be fitted by education and
| training to fill almost any diplomatic po-
sition that may be offered to him. Mr..
Sees early education was obtained at
| Shanghai, whore he attended st. Johns
college. an American institution. His
| knowledge of English was obtained at
| this school, so that when he landed dt
| San Francisco he understood more Eng
| lsh than the average European tourist.
At the Central High School,, which he
| entered within a few months after ar
| riving in America, he has pursued clas-
! sical course, taking among other studies,
| Latin French, German, English mathe-
| mates and the college course in physics.
agnapiallV
French and Latin, and declares he loves
| the French language almost as much as
| his native tongue. German he dislkes,
| on account OF the marsh accent, although
he has mastered its dialect very well.
| Whi.e no complete canvass has been
| made to ascertain the nationality of men
employed in the United States navy, a
| naval official said today enough informa-
| tion was in the possession of the de-
partment to Justify the assertion that 80
| per cent. are foreigners. I'VE have made
| great progress, however" he continued,
| "in Americanizing the navy during the
| last few years. Three years ago over 80
per cent, of the seamen on American
naval vessels were foreigners, The gain
| in Americans has, il is true. been made
| principally through naturalization, but
| even that Is a source Of qualification.
The trouble is not so much in the diffi-
Guilty OF getting recruits, as IL is In the
| course watch congress Is pursuing to-
wards the navy. The enlisted force Of
the navy now amounts to 10000 men, IL
was that when We had nothing but a lot
| Of old tubs. No increase has been allowed
| since we began building our new war
ships. We had the greatest trouble In
! apportioning a sufficient number OF men
| 10 put the Iowa in commission. We now
have on hand seven new gunboats which