Great-Grandson 72
Of all dull literature, nothing is duller than the alumni bulletins of universities which one has not attended. Yet persons who were never within gunshot of the University of Pennsylvania were struck by an article in the current General Magazine and Historical-Chronicle (quarterly) of the Pennsylvania alumni association. Therein, Dean Emory R. Johnson reported that he had, during a recent visit to Chufu, in the Province of Shantung, China, invited as a matriculant to the University of Pennsylvania a young gentleman whose genealogy has no peer for well-authenticated length or world-wide distinction, Duke K'ung, aged 6. The Duke is 72-times-great-grandson of Confucius.* Where is the university that can boast, as Pennsylvania may be able ten years from now, of having the honor to enlighten a scion of a founder of a 24-century-old philosophy? What bursar has collected fees from the seed of Plato, Aristotle, Buddha or Mohammed? Sheltered in his ducal palace, sustained by a state pension antedating Christianity, served by his stepmother (it is polygamy that has kept Confucius line unbroken) small Duke K'ung seemed to have an excellent chance of reaching an age where-- U. S. immigration policy permitting--he might cause U. S. headlines: "Kid Confucius, Freshman, Comes to Old Penn" or, since many an able Chinaman has played on a U. S. college team, "Duke Boots Hot One to Trounce Tiger Soccerites."