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mind and body； more active； fonder of eating； endowed with a lesser
and a less romantic sense of life and of the future； and more
immersed in present circumstances。 And certainly； for one thing；
English boys are younger for their age。 Sabbath observance makes a
series of grim； and perhaps serviceable； pauses in the tenor of
Scotch boyhood … days of great stillness and solitude for the
rebellious mind； when in the dearth of books and play； and in the
intervals of studying the Shorter Catechism； the intellect and
senses prey upon and test each other。 The typical English Sunday；
with the huge midday dinner and the plethoric afternoon； leads
perhaps to different results。 About the very cradle of the Scot
there goes a hum of metaphysical divinity； and the whole of two
divergent systems is summed up； not merely speciously； in the two
first questions of the rival catechisms； the English tritely
inquiring； 〃What is your name？〃 the Scottish striking at the very
roots of life with； 〃What is the chief end of man？〃 and answering
nobly； if obscurely； 〃To glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever。〃 I
do not wish to make an idol of the Shorter Catechism； but the fact
of such a question being asked opens to us Scotch a great field of
speculation； and the fact that it is asked of all of us； from the
peer to the ploughboy； binds us more nearly together。 No
Englishman of Byron's age； character； and history would have had
patience for long theological discussions on the way to fight for
Greece； but the daft Gordon blood and the Aberdonian school…days
kept their influence to the end。 We have spoken of the material
conditions； nor need much more be said of these： of the land lying
everywhere more exposed； of the wind always louder and bleaker； of
the black； roaring winters； of the gloom of high…lying； old stone
cities； imminent on the windy seaboard； compared with the level
streets； the warm colouring of the brick； the domestic quaintness
of the architecture； among which English children begin to grow up
and come to themselves in life。 As the stage of the University
approaches； the contrast becomes more express。 The English lad
goes to Oxford or Cambridge； there； in an ideal world of gardens；
to lead a semi…scenic life； costumed； disciplined and drilled by
proctors。 Nor is this to be regarded merely as a stage of
education； it is a piece of privilege besides； and a step that
separates him further from the bulk of his compatriots。 At an
earlier age the Scottish lad begins his greatly different
experience of crowded class…rooms； of a gaunt quadrangle； of a bell
hourly booming over the traffic of the city to recall him from the
public…house where he has been lunching； or the streets where he
has been wandering fancy…free。 His college life has little of
restraint； and nothing of necessary gentility。 He will find no
quiet clique of the exclusive； studious and cultured； no rotten
borough of the arts。 All classes rub shoulders on the greasy
benches。 The raffish young gentleman in gloves must measure his
scholarship with the plain； clownish laddie from the parish school。
They separate； at the session's end； one to smoke cigars about a
watering…place； the other to resume the labours of the field beside
his peasant family。 The first muster of a college class in
Scotland is a scene of curious and painful interest； so many lads；
fresh from the heather； hang round the stove in cloddish
embarrassment； ruffled by the presence of their smarter comrades；
and afraid of the sound of their own rustic voices。 It was in
these early days； I think； that Professor Blackie won the affection
of his pupils； putting these uncouth； umbrageous students at their
ease with ready human geniality。 Thus； at least； we have a healthy
democratic atmosphere to breathe in while at work； even when there
is no cordiality there is always a juxtaposition of the different
classes； and in the competition of study the intellectual power of
each is plainly demonstrated to the other。 Our tasks ended； we of
the North go forth as freemen into the humming； lamplit city。 At
five o'clock you may see the last of us hiving from the college
gates； in the glare of the shop windows； under the green glimmer of
the winter sunset。 The frost tingles in our blood； no proctor lies
in wait to intercept us； till the bell sounds again； we are the
masters of the world； and some portion of our lives is always
Saturday； LA TREVE DE DIEU。
Nor must we omit the sense of the nature of his country and his
country's history gradually growing in the child's mind from story
and from observation。 A Scottish child hears much of shipwreck；
outlying iron skerries； pitiless breakers； and great sea…lights；
much of heathery mountains； wild clans； and hunted Covenanters。
Breaths come to him in song of the distant Cheviots and the ring of
foraying hoofs。 He glories in his hard…fisted forefathers； of the
iron girdle and the handful of oat…meal； who rode so swiftly and
lived so sparely on their raids。 Poverty； ill…luck； enterprise；
and constant resolution are the fibres of the legend of his
country's history。 The heroes and kings of Scotland have been
tragically fated； the most marking incidents in Scottish history …
Flodden； Darien； or the Forty…five were still either failures or
defeats； and the fall of Wallace and the repeated reverses of the
Bruce combine with the very smallness of the country to teach
rather a moral than a material criterion for life。 Britain is
altogether small； the mere taproot of her extended empire：
Scotland； again； which alone the Scottish boy adopts in his
imagination； is but a little part of that； and avowedly cold；
sterile and unpopulous。 It is not so for nothing。 I once seemed
to have perceived in an American boy a greater readiness of
sympathy for lands that are great； and rich； and growing； like his
own。 It proved to be quite otherwise： a mere dumb piece of boyish
romance； that I had lacked penetration to divine。 But the error
serves the purpose of my argument； for I am sure； at least； that
the heart of young Scotland will be always touched more nearly by
paucity of number and Spartan poverty of life。
So we may argue； and yet the difference is not explained。 That
Shorter Catechism which I took as being so typical of Scotland； was
yet composed in the city of Westminster。 The division of races is
more sharply marked within the borders of Scotland itself than
between the countries。 Galloway and Buchan； Lothian and Lochaber；
are like foreign parts； yet you may choose a man from any of them；
and； ten to one； he shall prove to have the headmark of a Scot。 A
century and a half ago the Highlander wore a different costume；
spoke a different language； worshipped in another church； held
different morals； and obeyed a different social constitution from
his fellow…countrymen either of the south or north。 Even the
English； it is recorded； did not loathe the Highlander and the
Highland costume as they were loathed by the remainder of the
Scotch。 Yet the Highlander felt himself a Scot。 He would
willingly raid into the Scotch lowlands； but his courage failed him
at the border； and he regarded England as a perilous； unhomely
land。 When the Black Watch； after years of foreign service；
returned to Scotland； veterans leaped out and kissed the earth at
Port Patrick。 They had been in Ireland； stationed among men of
their own race and language； where they were well liked and treated
with affection； but it was the soil of Galloway that they kissed at
the extreme end of the hostile lowlands； among a people who did not
understand their speech； and who had hated； harried； and hanged
them since the dawn of history。 Last； and perhaps most curious；
the sons of chieftains were often educated on the continent of
Europe。 They