Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-07
RHODES TAXES MANS WIT
Remarkable Will Requires Conditions Hard
Of Ful6lment.
UNITED STATES STUDENTS FOR OXFORD
Belief that Carnegie, Rockefeller or
Morgan VIII Respond TO This
OHer by Inviting BrItons
to YankeeIRnd.

Copyright, 1902. by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON. April 6.-(New York World Ca
blegram-special Telegram)-Cecil Rhodes
will is regarded as one Of the most remark
able documents ever published.
1t disposes Of $40, 900, 900, but It is ex-
pected that the estate, IL realized under
favorable conditions. may aggregate 81, 000.-
900 more. The impression is general that
the educational requests, though inspired
by the Hottest public spirit. are so visions
airy and impracticable that they must place
a premium on priggishness. it being beyond
the wit Of man to devise a scheme under
which possession OF moral characteristics
and aptitude for public work can be OWNED
in an embryonic state.
The inducements offered the United States
to send promising students to oxford, two
three-year scholarships of $1,000 a year
each being provided for each Of the pres
ent states and territories, is regarded as
the most admirable feature Of the will.
1t is believed here that Carnegie, Rock
efeller or ]. P. Morgan will respond to this
advance by Offering similar inducements to
British students to complete their educa-
tion In American universities. Oriel col
lege, oxford, to which Rhodes bequeathed
$500, 900, is one of the poorest of the Ok
ford houses, it's income being greatly re-
duced by depression in the value of agri-
cultural land in which the bulk of its en-.
dowments consist.
But the whole scheme will tend to the
general enrlching Of oxford university. The
estate near Capetown known as Groote-
schuur, estimated to be worth 81, 500, 900, IL
left an Official residence for the premier Of
the federated states Of South Africa, with
5000 annually as equippage money. Until
the fadaratfop ie astablIebod Al. a...a. III
be used for a public park.
The will as published makes no mention
OF any legacy to relatives or friends be.
yond bequeathing the Dalhsm Hall estate
to Mr.. Rhodes eldest brother, Colonel
Frank Rhodes, late OF the Royal artillery,
and to his male heirs, with remainder to
the third brother, Captain Ernest Rhodes.
and his male heirs, Frank Rhodes being
over so and unmarried, while Ernest has
two sons.
d Conditions Attached.
The Dalham bequest is surrounded by odd
conditions. The testator declares: at is
the essence Of a proper life that every
man should have some definite occupation
during some substantial period thereof and
l object to an expectant heir developing
into what l call a loafer, and whereas the
rental from the Dalham estate is not more
than sufficient for the maintenance Of the
estate, and my experience is that one Of
the things making for the strength OF Eng
lish is the ownership Of country estates
which could maintain the dignity and COM
fort of the head of a family, but that this
position has ruined by the practice Of
creating charges upon estates for younger
children or the payment Of debts, and
whereas l humbly believe one Of the
secrets Of England's strength has been the
existence Of country landlords who devote
their efforts to the maintenance of these
on their own property" therefore he pro-
vides absolutely against any incumbrance
on the Dalham estate by dispossessing any
tenant for life who makes such incum-
brance, and he provides that no male heir
shall be entitled to become a tenant for life
who has not followed some profession or
business for ten years and also been a
member Of a militia or volunteer corps.
1t is pointed out that in English law it
is not possible to impose restrictions in
perpetuity on freehold property, as the will
proposes to do. and that the first male heir
whom 1t is sought to dispossess for nom
performance of the foregoing conditions
can get those provisions set aside.
In fact, the whole tenor OF the will Is so
vague and idealistic that it may easily lead
to a splendid crop Of litigation.
Mr.. Rhodes made handsome provisions in
money for his relatives during life.