The First 1,100

Cecil John Rhodes believed in a master race. He got mad whenever he thought about how pudding-headed George III and his pig-headed advisers had split that race. The money Rhodes made digging diamonds and empire-building in South Africa he left for Oxford--to unite Britain and the U.S. (Germany was added, as an afterthought) as the leaders of a world at peace. He thought Rhodes scholarships would turn the trick in a century or two.

The first Rhodes scholars were named in 1903. There have been 2,215 since--about half from the U.S.*Last week one of the earliest scholars, Frank Aydelotte,

American secretary to the Rhodes trustees, took a look at the first 1,100 Yanks who went to Oxford that way (The American Rhodes Scholarships, Princeton University Press; $2). Had Rhodes scholarships produced a batch of Anglophiles? Aydelotte thinks not. Says he: "The American Rhodes scholar learns to respect his country as the jingo never does. He learns to be jealous of her action in those things that matter."

Rhodes expected his beneficiaries to study hard, and they do; 81.5% of the U.S. scholars since 1931*have taken "Firsts" or "Seconds" at Oxford. Rhodes also wanted the chosen ones to play hard. Though nobody gets a Rhodes just because he is an athlete, or loses one because he is not, 85% compete on Oxford college teams.

Above all, Rhodes wanted his scholars to be leaders--men who in later life would "esteem the performance of public duties as their highest aim." If he meant government and politics (and Aydelotte thinks he did), then his scholars have betrayed him; less than 7% have gone into government service. But the Rhodes trustees and Aydelotte are not sorry: "A man can render public service . . . without holding government office." Some 35% are in education, 21% in law, 13% in business, 5% in medicine, 5% in journalism and radio. Present trends: toward government service and journalism, away from law and the ministry.

Among the 200 Rhodes scholars who rate Who's Who in America: Henry Holt & Co.'s President Joseph Brandt, ex-OWI Director Elmer Davis, FCCommissioner Clifford J. Durr, Arkansas Senator. J. William Fulbright, Author Christopher Morley.

*Rhodes allotted two scholarships to each state. Some biographers claim that Rhodes thought there were only 13 states. *Before 1918, appointments were handed out by states. Now the best candidates are chosen from six-state districts, a violation of Rhodes's will which has improved the caliber of scholars.

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