The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-06
Committee of Prominent Americans TO
Assist I'm Carrying Out the SchoI-
arships Provisions.
COMMENT OF THE LONDON PRESS
on THE ''NOBLE ASPIRATIONS, OF
THE DEAD PHILANTHROPIsT.
How the Educational Scheme Is
Viewed by Americans-Preside
PattOn's Statement.

LONDON, April 5.-The war in South
Africa, politics and every topic usually of
interest was forgotten to-day in the alb
sorbing discussion of Cecil Rhodes's will
Regarding that extraordinary document
some new facts have been ascertained. The
total of Mr.. Rhodes's fortune is likely to
prove to be e5,OOO.00O, or slightly under that
amount. The executors are Lord Rosebery,
Earl Grey, Lord Milner. Alfred Belt, DIR.
Jameson. L. L. NIiceIl and B. A Hawksley
10 whom he bequeathed the residue of his
estate. They will divide about e1, 100000 or
e1,5O0O0O among them. According to the
terms of this legacy the amount is to be di-
vided during their life time but as each
legatee dies his share goes to a common
fund, until the surviving legatee becomes
its sole owner. Hence, one of the executors,
the majority of whom are already enor-
mously wealthy. will one day inherit what
Will then have probably accumulated into
nearly 100000. The executors it is
learned. have unusually full powers and
can construe and add to the will as seems
TT Hence. the omission Of British Column
bia, Nova Scotia and other Canadian
provinces from the list of scholarships is
quite likely 10 be corrected and each prov
ince Of Canada may be put on the same
One OF Mr.. Rbodes's most intimate asso-
ciates said: HE drew up his will in the
same spirit in which he approached all
great undertakings. In his most important
tasks he merely sketched the outlines and
. left Us to AL in the details. His trustees
are given plenary power In the matter of
the scholarships Mr.. Rhodes saw the
scheme was so vast that any attempt to too
rigidly lay down the lines might result in
harm, so, beyond endeavOring to meet the
legal requirements. he tried to leave the
fulflment OF his plans to those with whom
during his life time he had frequently dis
cussed them.
Regarding the American requests the
same authority said: in offering Amer
leans and Germans inducements TO go to
oxford Mr.. Rhodes had a dual aim. First,
putting the youth or England in intimate
touch with what he termed the two most
progressive nations OF the world so that
they might be brOddened and Spurred to
more strenuous efforts; secondly, bringing
the best specimens OF Americans and Ger
mans on such terms with the English peO-
pie and customs that they might become
missionaries of better international un-
derstanding.'
when the trustees can meet and all the
preliminary arrangements are settled, re-
quest will be made 10 several prominent
men IN the United States TO form a COM
rnittee 10 act in conjunction with the Eng
lish committee and assume certain respOn-
sibilities for which the executors are palpa-
bly, united by absence from the United
States ana ignorance OF llS CuSlOIDS-
The afternoon papers all devote lengthy
editorials to the Caesar will" as IL Is
termed. The Globe, referring to Mr..
RhOdes's hope OF friendship between Great
Britain. the United States and Germany,
says: I'VE only hope that these noble
aspirations may be realized In their en-
tfrety. England has done her part and
there only remains the hope that future
German editors may be among Mr..
Rhodes's Oxford students and so gain a
knowledge of England, now so lacking.
The St. James Gazette, referring TO the
fntimatiOns that the best young Americans
viii be drawn 10 oxford, SAYS: we heart
ilv hope so. and from no other desire than
that oxford should equip them 70 be profit
able servants of their motherland- We wei
come them.
The Westminster Gazette SAYS 1t believes
the inCursiOn of Americans, Germans and
cOlOnials ought to bring new life and new
ideas 10 oxford. adding: I'VE hope the
university Will welcome it and prepare TO
meet il in a cordial spirit. Whether II Will
have a unifying effect in the empire and
promote the good relations with America
and Germany which Mr.. Rhodes desired,
will depend largely on the spirit In which
the university arises to the occasion, and its
ability 10 meet the wants of these stu
dents"
The Pail Mall Gazette, referring to the
American beQuest as the great feature OF
the will saws: "A more remarkable pro-
vision for bringing the two great English
speaking powers of the world into closer
touch was never before dreamed OF Inc
great American Nation cannot fail 10 be
deeply touched by this splendid bid for Its
friendship made by the dead