New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-24
HOLD UP DIR. PARKIN.
Customs Men Suspicious of Rhodes
Scholarship Examination Papers.

When DIR. George r Parkn- of oxford Uni
versity. arrived yesterday the Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse. he had much difficulty in
passing the examination papers for the Rhodes
scholarships without having their contents re-
yealei. Dr. Parkin brought with him in a bulky
envelope the examination papers for the ninety
six Cecil Rhodes Canadian and American free
scholarships at Oxford The huge envelope
was wound with yards Of red tape and sealed
with great blotches OF sealing wax
The customs officials naturally wanted the
envelope opened DR.. Parkin refused to allow
the seals to be broken. asserting that the ex-
animation would be worthless II the contents Of
the, papers were disclosed at this time The ex-
aminations are 10 begin April IS.
Because OF Dr. PariSins representations the
customs officials decided not 10 break the en-
veope but to hold 81. pending decision from
Washington. The men telegraphed 20 the Sec
retary os the Treasury asking an immediate de-
cision When DR.. Parkin's identity had been
proved 10 the satisfaction OF the Treasury De-
partment md the contents Of the envelope
satisfactorily explained. the envelope was or
dered returned to DR.. Parbin intact. This was
done at II go a. m, when Or. PaTkin LETT the
pier to go 10 the Manhattan Hotel.
DR.. Parkin said there were nineJy-six scholar
shIps 10 be distributed in America and Canada.
The preliminary examinations would be held on
April - simultaneously in all the States ana
Irovtrces.
The examinations he said. "are similar 70
those that are required by Harvard. with the
exception that oxford demands knowledge OF
Greek II an American wishes a technical edu-
cation he should not try TO go to oxford. for
there are schools in this country much more suit
able for his purpose. The three chief requisites
10 gain admission 10 oxford are intellectual and
athletic ability and force of character. For the
last three centuries oxford has been turning out
with the regularity Of clockwork the literary
statesmen of Europe. She wants young men of
promise OF power of culture, manness and
character.
Her graduates do not have professional, but
a classical training. such all our great men
have received. LOngfelIoW. Hay and President
Eliot men with a classical education. are just
as important as Rockefeller and Carnegie a
university that can produce men such as Hay
and Roosevelt should be proud of its work
America is now world power. and she needs
men with the world knowledge that oxford can
give them. An oxford student gains an educa-
tton that enables him to stand unashamed with
the greatest statesmen.
The men chosen from this country will go 70
the university next year. They will receive
scholarship of $500 year and will have at
least $500 left over above all their expenses,
which can best be used for a tour on the
Continent.
Cecil Rhodes's one romance was his stay AT
Oxford He went there after working for some
years in South Africa, and when he left IT he
said that ne might not have learned much, but
he had read Aristotle He took from Aristotle
the precept on which he modelled his life-that
the greatest happiness came from the constant
pursuit OF n great purpose. Cecil Rhodes wor-
ried all his life TO promote the peace Of the
world and he founded this scholarship the
greatest In the history of the world, that his
sxl,E nat afQ wi
has found IL advantageous to have a constant
stream OF young men passing between her and
England and the United States will find this to
be 10 her advantage also.